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A Kansas Bookshop’s Fight with Amazon Is About More Than the Price of Books | The New Yorker
by J.C. DE MARTIN April 5, 2021

April 5, 2021

https://www.newyorker.com/news/us-journal/a-kansas-bookshops-fight-with-ama… (Sent from my wireless device; please excuse brevity and typos (if any))

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EXPLAINING THE NUCLEAR CHALLENGES POSED BY EMERGING AND DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY: A PRIMER FOR EUROPEAN POLICYMAKERS AND PROFESSIONALS
by Diego.Latella April 4, 2021

April 4, 2021

Segnalo EXPLAINING THE NUCLEAR CHALLENGES POSED BY EMERGING AND DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY: A PRIMER FOR EUROPEAN POLICYMAKERS AND PROFESSIONALS di. A. Futter (Univ. of Leicester)* e in particolare la Sez. IV e la Sez. VI dedicate a AI e Cyber. Penso che gli informatici dovrebbero iniziare a giocare un ruolo più attivo nella discussione su queste questioni, come per altro auspicato dallo stesso Futter alla fine della Sez. IV di questo articolo: "[P]rofessionals and academics working on this topic across Europe must educate policymakers on these technologies and the risks that they involve, so that the nature and seriousness of their application in the nuclear realm is understood at the highest levels. This would probably also involve engaging the private sector where many of the most important developments in AI and automation are taking place." Buona lettura Diego (*) Autore, fra l'altro, del libro "Hacking the Bomb: Cyber Threats and Nuclear Weapons" (Gerogetown Univ. Press), del quale raccomando la lettura. -- Dott. Diego Latella - Senior Researcher CNR-ISTI, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy (http:www.isti.cnr.it [1]) FM&&T Lab. (http://fmt.isti.cnr.it) https://www.isti.cnr.it/People/D.Latella - ph: +390506212982, mob: +39 348 8283101, fax: +390506212040 =================== The quest for a war-free world has a basic purpose: survival. But if in the process we learn how to achieve it by love rather than by fear, by kindness rather than compulsion; if in the process we learn how to combine the essential with the enjoyable, the expedient with the benevolent, the practical with the beautiful, this will be an extra incentive to embark on this great task. Above all, remember your humanity. -- Sir Joseph Rotblat I don't quite know whether it is especially computer science or its subdiscipline Artificial Intelligence that has such an enormous affection for euphemism. We speak so spectacularly and so readily of computer systems that understand, that see, decide, make judgments, and so on, without ourselves recognizing our own superficiality and immeasurable naivete with respect to these concepts. And, in the process of so speaking, we anesthetise our ability to evaluate the quality of our work and, what is more important, to identify and become conscious of its end use. […] One can't escape this state without asking, again and again: "What do I actually do? What is the final application and use of the products of my work?" and ultimately, "am I content or ashamed to have contributed to this use?" -- Prof. Joseph Weizenbaum ["Not without us", ACM SIGCAS 16(2-3) 2--7 - Aug. 1986] Links: ------ [1] http://www.isti.cnr.it

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Seeing stones: pandemic reveals Palantir's troubling reach in Europe | World news | The Guardian
by Alberto Cammozzo April 4, 2021

April 4, 2021

<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/02/seeing-stones-pandemic-reveal…> Covid has given Peter Thiel’s secretive US tech company new opportunities to operate in Europe in ways some campaigners find worrying Daniel Howden, Apostolis Fotiadis, Ludek Stavinoha, Ben Holst Fri 2 Apr 2021 22.11 BST Last modified on Sat 3 Apr 2021 12.15 BST The 24 March, 2020 will be remembered by some for the news that Prince Charles tested positive for Covid and was isolating in Scotland. In Athens it was memorable as the day the traffic went silent. Twenty-four hours into a hard lockdown, Greeks were acclimatising to a new reality in which they had to send an SMS to the government in order to leave the house. As well as millions of text messages, the Greek government faced extraordinary dilemmas. The European Union’s most vulnerable economy, its oldest population along with Italy, and one of its weakest health systems faced the first wave of a pandemic that overwhelmed richer countries with fewer pensioners and stronger health provision. The carnage in Italy loomed large across the Adriatic. One Greek who did go into the office that day was Kyriakos Pierrakakis, the minister for digital transformation, whose signature was inked in blue on an agreement with the US technology company, Palantir. The deal, which would not be revealed to the public for another nine months, gave one of the world’s most controversial tech companies access to vast amounts of personal data while offering its software to help Greece weather the Covid storm. The zero-cost agreement was not registered on the public procurement system, neither did the Greek government carry out a data impact assessment – the mandated check to see whether an agreement might violate privacy laws. The questions that emerge in pandemic Greece echo those from across Europe during Covid and show Palantir extending into sectors from health to policing, aviation to commerce and even academia. A months-long joint investigation by the Guardian, Lighthouse Reports and Der Spiegel used freedom of information laws, official correspondence, confidential sources and reporting in multiple countries to piece together the European activities of one of the most secretive companies in the world. The findings raise serious questions over the way public agencies work with Palantir and whether its software can work within the bounds of European laws in the sensitive areas where it is being used, or perform in the way the company promises. Greece was not the only country tempted by a Covid-related free trial. Palantir was already embedded in the NHS, where a no-bid contract valued at £1 was only revealed after data privacy campaigners threatened to take the UK government to court. When that trial period was over the cost of continuing with Palantir came in at £24m. The company has also been contracted as part of the Netherlands’ Covid response and pitched at least four other European countries, as well as a clutch of EU agencies. The Palantir one-pager that Germany’s health ministry released after a freedom of information request described Europe as the company’s “focus of activities”. Founded in California in 2003, Palantir may not have been cold-calling around European governments. It has, at times, had a uniquely powerful business development ally in the form of the US government. On 23 March, the EU’s Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) received an email from their counterparts at the US CDC, extolling their work with Palantir and saying the company had asked for an introduction. Palantir said it was normal practice for some of its “government customers to serve as reference for other prospective customers”. It said the ECDC turned down its invitation “out of concern of a risk of the contact being perceived as prejudicing ECDC’s independence”. [...]

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Final Substantive Report. - UN Open-ended working group on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security.
by Diego.Latella April 4, 2021

April 4, 2021

Spero possa essere di Vostro interesse UN Open-ended working group on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security. Final Substantive Report. https://front.un-arm.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Final-report-A-AC.290-2… Per ulteriori informazioni sull'attività UN in oggetto: https://www.un.org/disarmament/open-ended-working-group/ Buone Feste Diego -- Dott. Diego Latella - Senior Researcher CNR-ISTI, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy (http:www.isti.cnr.it [1]) FM&&T Lab. (http://fmt.isti.cnr.it) https://www.isti.cnr.it/People/D.Latella - ph: +390506212982, mob: +39 348 8283101, fax: +390506212040 =================== I don't quite know whether it is especially computer science or its subdiscipline Artificial Intelligence that has such an enormous affection for euphemism. We speak so spectacularly and so readily of computer systems that understand, that see, decide, make judgments, and so on, without ourselves recognizing our own superficiality and immeasurable naivete with respect to these concepts. And, in the process of so speaking, we anesthetise our ability to evaluate the quality of our work and, what is more important, to identify and become conscious of its end use. […] One can't escape this state without asking, again and again: "What do I actually do? What is the final application and use of the products of my work?" and ultimately, "am I content or ashamed to have contributed to this use?" -- Prof. Joseph Weizenbaum ["Not without us", ACM SIGCAS 16(2-3) 2--7 - Aug. 1986] Links: ------ [1] http://www.isti.cnr.it

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Bruce Perens: On Non-Judicical Punishment of Individuals
by Giovanni Biscuolo April 4, 2021

April 4, 2021

Buongiorno, ...ero qui ad aspettarlo :-D : Perens ci ricorda che la percezione delle cose cambia a secondo di come le si guardano, magari usando molteplici punti di vista... vale anche delle persone. «On Non-Judicical Punishment of Individuals», April 4, 2021, by Bruce Perens https://perens.com/2021/04/04/on-non-judicical-punishment-of-individuals/ --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8--- Non-Judicial Punishment is a key part of democracy and free-market capitalism, and highly problematical, at the same time. [...] Mr. Stallman is personally known to me. I could testify that he is extremely obnoxious. Due to his handicap, he has little perception of what the feelings and reactions of others might be to his thoughts and actions, even when they are based on a talmudic personal focus on freedom and ethics. [...] This leaves me somewhat surprised by the behavior of a number of companies and organizations that have emitted rather monochrome opinions. I would have everyone consider the issues I’ve discussed, and elaborate upon them, before they decide to cast stones. --8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8--- Happy hacking! Giovanni P.S.: RMS nega di essere affetto dalla sindrome di Asperger [1]... ma è davvero importante che un disturbo nell'interazione sociale sia ufficialmente classificato e diagnosticato clinicamente? P.P.S.: forse ci voleva davvero qualcuno diversamente abile socialmente per dare vita al movimento del software libero, eh?!? [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stallman#Personal_life -- Giovanni Biscuolo

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In Search of the ‘Human Element’: International Debates on Regulating Autonomous Weapons Systems - D. Amoroso, G. Tamburrini - The International Spectator. Italian Journal of International Affairs February 3, 2021
by Diego.Latella April 3, 2021

April 3, 2021

Carissim*, Segnalo In Search of the 'Human Element': International Debates on Regulating Autonomous Weapons Systems [1] D. Amoroso, G. Tamburrini The International Spectator. Italian Journal of International Affairs February 3, 2021 Buone Feste a Tutt* Diego -- Dott. Diego Latella - Senior Researcher CNR-ISTI, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy (http:www.isti.cnr.it [2]) FM&&T Lab. (http://fmt.isti.cnr.it) https://www.isti.cnr.it/People/D.Latella - ph: +390506212982, mob: +39 348 8283101, fax: +390506212040 =================== I don't quite know whether it is especially computer science or its subdiscipline Artificial Intelligence that has such an enormous affection for euphemism. We speak so spectacularly and so readily of computer systems that understand, that see, decide, make judgments, and so on, without ourselves recognizing our own superficiality and immeasurable naivete with respect to these concepts. And, in the process of so speaking, we anesthetise our ability to evaluate the quality of our work and, what is more important, to identify and become conscious of its end use. […] One can't escape this state without asking, again and again: "What do I actually do? What is the final application and use of the products of my work?" and ultimately, "am I content or ashamed to have contributed to this use?" -- Prof. Joseph Weizenbaum ["Not without us", ACM SIGCAS 16(2-3) 2--7 - Aug. 1986] Links: ------ [1] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03932729.2020.1864995 [2] http://www.isti.cnr.it

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Autonomous Vehicles Will Automatically Stop For Police, Roll Down Their Windows And Unlock Their Doors | MassPrivateI
by Alberto Cammozzo April 3, 2021

April 3, 2021

<http://massprivatei.blogspot.com/2021/03/autonomous-vehicles-will-automatic…> The National Institute of Justice, the RAND Corporation and the Police Executive Research Forum want to give law enforcement real-time access to autonomous vehicles. Last month, this so-called expert panel identified 17 high-priority law enforcement needs for autonomous vehicles. And as you can imagine some of them are very disturbing. Cybersecurity and Vehicle Communication Needs: Research on systems to enable law enforcement to identify a vehicle’s authorization to run in automated mode. Research on technology that enables law enforcement to communicate with vehicles in automated mode. Allowing law enforcement access to a vehicle's authorization is just a fancy way of saying they want backdoor access to an owners personal information. If you thought license plate readers were invasive before, just wait until a year or two from now, when they send officers all kinds of personal information related to the vehicle's owner[s]. Stakeholder Communication Needs: Surveys to identify the most useful data the autonomous vehicle industry can make available to law enforcement for investigations of crashes and other incidents. Police working with auto manufacturers to help them identify which embedded telematic surveillance devices they should have access to is not about public safety: it's about money. As the Medium explained, the real reason police want to be able to pull driverless vehicles over is so they can cite the owner[s] for any number of infractions. "Operators could face fines to the extent the car is not being operated in fully autonomous mode. For instance, the operator of a SAI L4/L5 car could be to blame if the systems had been inappropriately overridden (speeding due to fabricated medical emergency)." Back to law enforcement's 17 high-priority needs. Standardization Needs: Model training and guidelines for interacting with autonomous vehicles running in automated mode. Development of descriptions of standard behaviors (such as pulling off the road in a safe spot) that law enforcement will expect autonomous vehicles to perform across the United States. Police pull over driverless Tesla Model 3 that was using Smart Summon feature To reinforce the need to ticket autonomous vehicle owners, these so-called experts want to collaborate with vehicle manufacturers to establish backdoor access to the vehicle's data. "The panelists stressed the need for proactive problem solving with law enforcement, autonomous vehicle manufacturers and operators, and communities all working together. Law enforcement would benefit from having a better understanding of autonomous vehicle capabilities, and manufacturers would benefit from insights on the law enforcement implications of autonomous vehicles operating in communities, they said." Police view autonomous vehicles as "evidence sources" Law enforcement's desire to have backdoor access to autonomous vehicle's data could not be any clearer. "Participants also saw opportunities to use data generated by autonomous vehicles — for example, videos from an autonomous vehicle passing an active crime scene — to support public safety and crime investigations." As the "Panel Purpose and Process" section explains, law enforcement looks at autonomous vehicles as "evidence sources." "Tangential interactions (such as use of autonomous vehicles as evidence sources in investigations or exclusion of autonomous vehicles from zones where traffic is prohibited)" As the expert panel so eloquently stated, police need to have the ability to securely communicate in real-time with these "evidence sources." To law enforcement, autonomous vehicles means lost revenues and that is why they want access to a cars' windows, cameras and microphones. "Waymo’s cars are designed to pullover if they detect a police or emergency vehicle flashing from up to 100 feet away. After stopping, the car is unlocked and the windows roll down automatically, allowing Waymo’s support team to interact with law enforcement representatives via an intercom system." Giving law enforcement the ability to roll down a motorist's windows, unlock their car doors and speak to the occupants via an intercom system gives privacy-minded people like myself nightmares.

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annuncio GARR per sistemi di videoconferenza
by maurizio lana April 3, 2021

April 3, 2021

buongiorno, il GARR ha annunciato pubblicamente la disponibilità di una serie di servizi di videoconferenza, in parte già esistenti ma non molto noti, in parte in via di messa a punto (cfr. https://meet.garr.it/) sia per l'università (autenticazione tramite IDEM) sia per tutti (non necessaria autenticazione). mi colpisce la comunicazione pubblica della cosa via email, che evidentemente significa la scelta di spostarsi da un servizio ristretto/ridotto ad un servizio destinato ad un pubblico più ampio. GARR invece che Google o Zoom dovrebbe significare maggiore attenzione e rispetto di normative esistenti, e di principi etici. mi piacerebbe capire se e quanto fare lezioni in videoconferenza con i servizi offerti da GARR sia meglio che con Google o Zoom. me lo chiedo perché, ad esempio, uno dei servizi di videoconferenza si basa su Adobe Connect e dunque il software di base non è software aperto. grazie dell'aiuto Maurizio ------------------------------------------------------------------------ non credo a niente che sia facile, rapido, spontaneo, improvvisato, approssimativo. credo nella forza di ciò che è lento, calmo, ostinato, senza fanatismi né entusiasmi i. calvino ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maurizio Lana - 347 7370925

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Re: [nexa] annuncio GARR per sistemi di videoconferenza
by graffio April 2, 2021

April 2, 2021

Io posso parlare per quel che è la mia esperienza personale con i laboratori e corsi che tengo insieme a C.I.R.C.E. Utilizziamo jitsi e Big Blue Button. Siamo arrivati a fare laboratori con 30 persone connesse (a volte invitiamo a spegnere le telecamere e ad accenderle quando devono intervenire). In entrambi i casi con soddisfazione nostra e dei corsisti. Il problema, a mio avviso, non è di qualità del software che credo equiparabile, se non migliore dei vari google meet, zoom, adobe connect, etc., ma la quantità di banda disponibile. E questo credo che sia un problema risolvibile finanziando per bene GARR e riducendo il digital divide dei cittadini. saluti m Il 02/04/21 15:19, nexa-request(a)server-nexa.polito.it ha scritto: > Message: 4 > Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2021 15:19:16 +0200 > From: maurizio lana <maurizio.lana(a)uniupo.it> > To: nexa(a)server-nexa.polito.it > Subject: [nexa] annuncio GARR per sistemi di videoconferenza > Message-ID: <44b43655-9059-792e-a6fa-14e6e98e3ea5(a)uniupo.it> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed > > buongiorno, > il GARR ha annunciato pubblicamente la disponibilità di una serie di > > servizi di videoconferenza, in parte già esistenti ma non molto noti, in > parte in via di messa a punto (cfr. https://meet.garr.it/) > sia per l'università (autenticazione tramite IDEM) sia per tutti (non > necessaria autenticazione). > > mi colpisce la comunicazione pubblica della cosa via email, che > evidentemente significa la scelta di spostarsi da un servizio > ristretto/ridotto ad un servizio destinato ad un pubblico più ampio. > GARR invece che Google o Zoom dovrebbe significare maggiore attenzione e > rispetto di normative esistenti, e di principi etici. > > mi piacerebbe capire se e quanto fare lezioni in videoconferenza con i > servizi offerti da GARR sia meglio che con Google o Zoom. me lo chiedo > perché, ad esempio, uno dei servizi di videoconferenza si basa su Adobe > Connect e dunque il software di base non è software aperto. > grazie dell'aiuto > Maurizio > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > non credo a niente che sia facile, rapido, > spontaneo, improvvisato, approssimativo. > credo nella forza di ciò che è lento, calmo, ostinato, > senza fanatismi né entusiasmi > i. calvino > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Maurizio Lana - 347 7370925 > > > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > _______________________________________________ > nexa mailing list > nexa(a)server-nexa.polito.it > https://server-nexa.polito.it/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nexa -- Maurizio "Graffio" Pillole di informazione digitale - https://graffio.noblogs.org/ "C.I.R.C.E. - https://circex.org" AvANa - https://avana.forteprenestino.net/

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more on mente brillante di Stallman...
by Juan Carlos Gentile Fag�ndez April 2, 2021

April 2, 2021

sempre idee chiare. https://stallman.org/articles/dont-watch-covid-tv.html best juan --

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