May 2019 - nexa - server-nexa.polito.it

China’s new ‘social credit system’ is a dystopian nightmare
by Giacomo Tesio May 21, 2019

May 21, 2019

https://nypost.com/2019/05/18/chinas-new-social-credit-system-turns-orwells… Imagine calling a friend. Only instead of hearing a ring tone you hear a police siren, and then a voice intoning, “Be careful in your dealings with this person.” [...] Say you arrive at the Beijing airport, intending to catch a flight to Canton 1,200 miles south. The clerk at the ticket counter turns you away because — you guessed it — your social credit score is too low. [...] you are then forced to travel by slow train. What should have been a three-hour flight becomes a 30-hour, stop-and-go nightmare. All because the government has declared you untrustworthy. Perhaps you defaulted on a loan, made the mistake of criticizing some government policy online or just spent too much time playing video games on the internet. All of these actions, and many more, can cause your score to plummet, forcing citizens onto the most dreaded rung on China’s deadbeat caste system, the laolai. [...] The government algorithm will go as far as to install an “embarrassing” ring tone on the phones of laolai, shaming them every time they get a call in public. “Tapping on a person marked on the map reveals their personal information, including their full name, court-case number and the reason they have been labeled untrustworthy. Identity-card numbers and home addresses are also partially shown,” ABC reported. [...] The government claims that its purpose is to enhance trust and social stability by creating a “culture of sincerity” that will “restore social trust.” [...] Individuals can earn points, for example, for reporting those who violate the new restrictions on religious practice, such as Christians who illegally meet to pray in private homes, or the Muslim Uyghurs and Kazakhs in China’s far west whom they spot praying in public, fasting during Ramadan or just growing a beard. [...] Western criticism of the new system has been intense, with Human Rights Watch describing it as “chilling.” In response, Chinese Communist Party publications scoff that Westerners are simply too unsophisticated to understand the wonders of the new system. In the words of China’s Global Times, “The hypothetical theories of the West are based on their ignorance.” The massive social credit system, it goes on to say, is simply “beyond the understanding of Western countries.”

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Three conclusions to draw from Google denying Huawei access to software
by Giacomo Tesio May 21, 2019

May 21, 2019

https://fsfe.org/news/2019/news-20190520-01.html Following the U.S. administration's decision to effectively ban American companies from doing trade with the Chinese company Huawei, Google suspended all business with the company. This affects all software which is not covered under Free Software licences. In practice, Huawei's upcoming and potentially also current phones will no longer get support and updates for the Android operating system. They will also not have access to the proprietary Google apps and services like Gmail and Google Play. [...] without access to the default app store on most stock Android phones they will miss important security updates for the apps installed through it. [...] The following lessons can be drawn from this case: 1. The FSFE urges users to use Free Software operating systems and applications on their computing devices. [...] 2. Governments and especially the European Union should invest more resources in Free Software to gain independence from large enterprises and other states. 3. The FSFE urges companies to use as much Free Software as possible in their supply chains. [...] The earlier allegations against Huawei already showed that code for all critical infrastructure should be published under a Free Software licence. The latest episode of the Huawei affair illustrates that the same applies to apps and services. Just days before the European Elections, this should be a wake-up call for the next constituent Parliament to ask the European Commission for European directives that foster independence of European technical infrastructure and that build on Free Software, starting with the demand to release publicly funded software as public code.

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Nanni Balestrini (1935-2019)
by Francesco Ruggiero May 20, 2019

May 20, 2019

Gentilissimi, ho pensato di condividere il ricordo del poeta e artista Nanni Balestrini, scomparso ieri sera a Roma. Pioniere della poesia elettronica e autore, fin dal 1961, di macchinazioni testuali realizzate con l’ausilio di calcolatori. Balestrini ha attraversato l’opacità del presente cercando “punti di risveglio” nelle forme contraddittorie e combinatorie della lingua/codice. http://www.nannibalestrini.info/ Buona serata, Francesco -- Francesco Ruggiero Communication Manager Nexa Center for Internet & Society Politecnico di Torino - DAUIN Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24 - 10129 Torino web: http://nexa.polito.it mail: francesco.ruggiero(a)polito.it tel: 011 090 7219

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Paper: “Urbanism Under Google: Lessons from Sidewalk Toronto” by Ellen P. Goodman, Julia Powles :: SSRN
by J.C. DE MARTIN May 20, 2019

May 20, 2019

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3390610 Urbanism Under Google: Lessons from Sidewalk Toronto Fordham Law Review, Forthcoming 45 Pages Posted: 20 May 2019 Ellen P. Goodman Rutgers Law School Julia Powles UWA Law School Date Written: May 16, 2019 Abstract Cities around the world are rapidly adopting digital technologies, data analytics, and the trappings of “smart” infrastructure. No company is more ambitious about exploring data flows and seeking to dominate networks of information than Google. In October 2017, Google affiliate Sidewalk Labs embarked on its first prototype smart city in Toronto, Canada, planning a new kind of data-driven urban environment: “the world’s first neighborhood built from the internet up.” Although the vision is for an urban district foregrounding progressive ideals of inclusivity, for the crucial first 18 months of the venture, many of the most consequential features of the project were hidden from view and unavailable for serious scrutiny. The players defied public accountability on questions about data collection and surveillance, governance, privacy, competition, and procurement. Even more basic questions about the use of public space went unanswered: privatized services, land ownership, infrastructure deployment and, in all cases, the question of who is in control. What was hidden in this first stage, and what was revealed, suggest that the imagined smart city may be incompatible with democratic processes, sustained public governance, and the public interest. This article analyzes the Sidewalk project in Toronto as it took shape in its first phase, prior to the release of the Master Innovation and Development Plan, exploring three major governance challenges posed by the imagined “city of the future”: privatization, platformization, and domination. The significance of this case study applies well beyond Toronto. Google and related companies are modeling future business growth embedded in cities and using projects like the one in Toronto as test beds. What happens in Toronto is designed to be replicated. We conclude with some lessons, highlighting the precarity of civic stewardship and public accountability when cities are confronted with tantalizing visions of privatized urban innovation. Keywords: surveillance, democracy, data, smart city, urban, privacy, infrastructure, governance, municipal, cities, privatization, procurement, planning, autonomous vehicles (Sent from my wireless device; please excuse brevity and typos (if any))

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The new "sharecroppers": AI programs are being powered by thousands of low wage workers - Axios
by J.C. DE MARTIN May 20, 2019

May 20, 2019

https://www.axios.com/the-ai-sharecroppers-b316d333-ce00-47a1-afd5-219d6138… (Sent from my wireless device; please excuse brevity and typos (if any))

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Royal Mail has announced plans for the UK's first-ever parcel postboxes.
by Luigi Scorca May 20, 2019

May 20, 2019

The company said 1,400 of the new postboxes would be installed across the country in more than 30 locations over a six-month period, starting in August. Customers will be able to post parcels in the same way that they currently post a letter, provided that postage has been pre-paid using Royal Mail's own online labelling service. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48334721

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Gender Equality in ICT/IST research institutions_conferenza in livestreaming
by Maria SANGIULIANO May 20, 2019

May 20, 2019

Gentili, vi segnalo l'evento finale del progetto H2020 EQUAL-IST <http://equal-ist.eu> a cui abbiamo partecipato con Ca' Foscari- DAIS: si terrà a Bruxelles questa settimana, il 22, ma abbiamo anche un servizio di live web streaming a questo link: https://livestream.com/accounts/17747386/events/8685037 Trovate qui la pagina che presenta l'evento: https://equal-ist.eu/?p=379 Un saluto Maria -- Maria Sangiuliano, PhD Research Fellow Università Ca' Foscari Venezia EQUAL-IST H2020 Project <http://www.equal-ist.eu> DAIS-Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics <http://www.unive.it/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=166208> Campus Scientifico Via Torino, 155 30170 Mestre-Venezia Phone: +39 041 2348426 Mobile: +39 3407997555 Skype: mariasan3 -- Nota automatica aggiunta dal sistema di posta.

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69° Nexa Lunch Seminar | 22 maggio 2019
by Nexa Media May 20, 2019

May 20, 2019

Nexa Center for Internet and Society Newsletter Se non visualizzi correttamente questo messaggio clicca qui <http://nexa.polito.it/lunch-69> NEXA 69° Nexa Lunch Seminar Mercoledi 22 maggio 2019, ore 13.00 - 14.00 Politecnico di Torino http://nexa.polito.it/lunch-69 Incarnazione digitale. Custodire l’umano nell’infosfera Speaker Don Luca Peyron (Arcidiocesi di Torino – Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore – Milano) This event will be webcast live: https://nexa.polito.it/nexa-hangout-on-air La rivoluzione digitale cambia la società, il mondo in cui abbiamo contezza dell’umano e dunque di noi stessi ed il rapporto tra le generazioni. A partire dalla categoria di infosfera, che ci permette di affrontare la complessità della realtà trattenendola in un unico concetto, *quali scenari e quali direzioni di pensiero possiamo condividere per mantenere antropico il mondo che viviamo?* La dimensione spirituale quale contributo può dare al governo di questa complessità e quali intersezioni possiamo immaginare tra discipline scientifiche diverse come la *teologia*, la *filosofia* e le abituali discipline che applichiamo nel *digitale*? Il contributo della Teologia fondamentale, biblica e morale alla discussione ed al governo della rivoluzione digitale in una chiave transculturale ed educativo formativa. /Ingresso libero - Sarà disponibile un leggero rinfresco per coloro che si saranno registrati su http://lunch69.eventbrite.com entro il 20 maggio./ BIOGRAFIE - e informazioni supplementari [Peyron] Don *Luca PEYRON* presbitero della Diocesi di Torino, laureato in Giurisprudenza e licenziato in Teologia Pastorale, è stato consulente in proprietà industriale. Attualmente è direttore diocesano della Pastorale Universitaria e delegato Piemonte e Valle d’Aosta. Insegna teologia dell’innovazione all’Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano, Teologia dell’Educazione presso Iusto e tiene il laboratorio di spiritualità dell’innovazione presso l’Università degli studi di Torino, dipartimento di Management. Letture consigliate e link utili: * L. Peyron, /Incarnazione digitale/, Elledici, 2019. * L. Peyron, I. Andreis, /Elogio della generosità/, Elledici, 2018. * L. Floridi, /La quarta rivoluzione. Come l'infosfera sta trasformando il mondo/, Raffaello Cortina, 2017. * G. Manzone, /La tecnologia dal volto umano/, Queriniana, 2004. Che cosa sono il Centro Nexa e i cicli di incontri “Mercoledì di Nexa” e “Nexa Lunch Seminar” <https://www.facebook.com/nexa.center/> <https://twitter.com/nexacenter> <https://www.youtube.com/user/NexaCenter> #nexalunchseminar <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23nexalunchseminar&src=typd> #rivoluzionedigitale <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23rivoluzionedigitale&src=typd> #infosfera <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23infosfera&src=typd> Il Centro Nexa su Internet & Società del Politecnico di Torino (Dipartimento di Automatica e Informatica) è un centro di ricerca indipendente e interdisciplinare che studia Internet e il suo effetto sulla società. Maggiori informazioni all'indirizzo: http://nexa.polito.it/about. Durante i “*Mercoledì di Nexa*”, che si tengono *ogni 2° mercoledì del mese* alle *ore 18 in punto*, il Centro Nexa su Internet e Società apre le sue porte non solo agli esperti e a tutti coloro i quali lavorano con Internet, ma anche a semplici appassionati e cittadini. Il ciclo di incontri intende approfondire, con un linguaggio preciso ma divulgativo, i temi legati alla Rete: motori di ricerca, Creative Commons, social networks, open source/software libero, neutralità della rete, libertà di espressione, privacy, file sharing, big e open data, smart cities e molto altro. Al centro di quasi tutti gli incontri un ospite pronto a dialogare con i direttori del Centro Nexa, il Prof. Juan Carlos De Martin del Politecnico di Torino e il Prof. Marco Ricolfi dell'Università di Torino, nonché lo staff e i Fellows del Centro Nexa. Maggiori informazioni sui Mercoledì di Nexa, incluso un elenco di tutti i “Mercoledì” passati, sono disponibili all'indirizzo: http://nexa.polito.it/mercoledi. Si segnala inoltre che dal maggio 2012 *ogni 4° mercoledì* del mese *dalle ore 13 alle ore 14* il Centro Nexa organizza anche i "*Nexa Lunch Seminar*". Una lista di tutti i “Lunch Seminar” passati è disponibile all'indirizzo: http://nexa.polito.it/lunch-seminars. See our events calendar <http://nexa.polito.it/events> if you're curious about future luncheons, discussions, lectures, and conferences not listed in this email. Our events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. Responsabile Comunicazione Centro Nexa su Internet & Società: *Francesco Ruggiero*, tel: +39 011 090 7219, Mob: +39 349 1335082, francesco.ruggiero(a)polito.it <mailto:francesco.ruggiero@polito.it>. Maggiori informazioni sui Mercoledì di Nexa e i Nexa Lunch Seminar, sono disponibili all'indirizzo: http://nexa.polito.it/events. Weekly Events Newsletter. Sign up <http://nexa.polito.it/mailing-lists> to receive this newsletter if this email was forwarded to you. To manage your subscription preferences, please click here <https://server-nexa.polito.it/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nexa>. Connect & get involved: Jobs, internships, and more <http://nexa.polito.it/get-involved>.

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Google pulls Huawei’s Android license - The Verge
by Alberto Cammozzo May 20, 2019

May 20, 2019

<https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/19/18631558/google-huawei-android-suspension> Following the US crackdown on Chinese technology companies, Google has cut off Huawei’s Android license, dealing a huge blow to the besieged phonemaker. Reuters first reported the news, and The Verge subsequently confirmed Google’s suspension of business with Huawei with a source familiar with the matter. Reached for comment, a Google spokesperson said only “We are complying with the order and reviewing the implications.” The order, in this case, appears to be the US Commerce Department’s recent decision to place Huawei on the “Entity List,” which as Reuters reports is a list of companies that are unable to buy technology from US companies without government approval. [...]

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Bar e negozi di vicinato, il nuovo servizio Amazon Counter
by Luigi Scorca May 19, 2019

May 19, 2019

https://milano.corriere.it/19_maggio_19/bar-negozi-vicinato-nuovo-piano-ama…

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