Edition 14: Indecent (cyber) exposure
(This newsletter was sent to email subscribers on March 6, 2020.)
Happy Friday, muggles. A 360-year-old secret passageway was discovered in a wall at the U.K. Parliament — could it be Platform 9 ¾?! While historians uncover the details, here are some stories that shouldn’t be kept secret.
Data breach reveals that over 2,200 organizations have paid for access to our online images
Thurs Feb 27
Clearview AI, a controversial facial recognition app that has collected billions of people’s public photos from social media and other websites, has reported its first major data breach. The leaked documents showed that Clearview’s clients included retailers like Walmart and Wells Fargo, as well as law enforcement in at least 26 other countries, some with “records of human rights violations or authoritarian regimes.”
Why does our online privacy matter? The power of this technology is a huge draw for good and bad actors alike, so it’s imperative that we have a system that protects our interests. However, there are no federal regulations keeping Clearview from selling its services to any interested parties — and no way for people to control how their personal photos are being used by those clients.
U.S. sanctions bar Iran from accessing crucial coronavirus tracking tool
Mon Mar 2
Iranians are still unable to access a virus tracking map created by John Hopkins University that provides real-time updates of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide. With at least 107 confirmed fatalities, Iran has the second-highest death toll outside of China and is struggling to tackle the virus’s rapid spread without this invaluable resource.
Why is the U.S. blocking access? The software company that developed the mapping system automatically blocks Iranian residents from accessing its servers due to U.S. sanctions against the country. (This is not uncommon, as some U.S. websites, such as GoFundMe and Github, are also blocked in Iran.)
John Hopkins is currently trying to make the map accessible, but in the meantime, rumors are running rampant on Iranian social media networks, exacerbating panic, government distrust, and the spread of the virus.
The 2020 Census survey goes digital
Wed Feb 26
For the first time ever, the Census Bureau will have an online survey to help count our country’s residents. This new method promises to streamline the data-gathering process and make it more accessible to participants. However, some experts worry about possible cybersecurity risks, including identity theft, and encourage respondents to …
- Fill out the survey using a private network — for instance, from the comfort of your own home
- Delete any emails claiming to be from the Census Bureau — especially if they ask for money or your social security number
- Ask any door-to-door census takers for an ID number — which you can verify on the census’ website — before offering any information
The census, which is conducted every ten years, counts every person living in the U.S. and its five territories. The information is used (among other things) to draw congressional and state districts, determine states’ seats in the House of Representatives, and allocate federal funding for public resources.
Although participation in the census is mandatory, not everyone is enthused by the prospect … In the Latinx community, for instance, populations have been historically undercounted, possibly due to language barriers, income-level, education, and immigration status. A new study also found that 334 Texas polling sites — most of them in Latinx neighborhoods — had closed down between 2012 and 2018, further denying representation.
White House and lobbyists pressured EPA scientists to downplay the toxicity of a chemical that damages fetal hearts
Fri Feb 28
A new report reveals that a cleaning chemical known as trichloroethylene (TCE) causes immune disorders, cancer clusters, and fetal heart defects. And it may be in our tap water.
What is TCE?
TCE is a nearly ubiquitous chemical used to remove grease from almost any surface, including clothing, electronics, medical devices, and even aircraft. Although it is a known carcinogen, some studies insisted that it was not toxic in small doses, which is why it’s now everywhere. Millions of people are regularly exposed to the chemical, as it is often used on military bases and dry cleaners … and is then dumped near residential neighborhoods, contaminating the groundwater and soil.
EPA scientists have sounded the alarm on the true dangers of TCE for years, but researchers on the payroll of chemical companies and their partners have published research to help delegitimize those findings and sow doubt.
Additionally, the EPA report on TCE was edited by the federal government to replace 322 mentions of “cardiac toxicity” with the more vague (and less scary) phrase, “immunosuppression.” If no one raises the alarm, TCE manufacturers and its users — including the U.S. government — don’t have to spend the billions of dollars necessary to clean up the exposed facilities.
As a result of this investigation, the EPA may have to take action to regulate TCE use, but we don’t know how long it would take to implement those changes. In the meantime, millions of people will continue to be exposed.
What can you do to speed up the process? Contact your elected officials today to encourage them to take action against this toxic chemical.
New legislation proposes adding a gender-neutral marker on passports
Tues Feb 25
The House introduced a new bill that would offer a third gender option, “(X), Unspecified” on U.S. passports, passport cards, and consular reports for births abroad. Some states already have the X marker for state IDs and drivers’ licenses, but advocates welcome the bill’s extended benefits and progress towards inclusion.
The bill will likely face an uphill battle in the Republican-led Senate.
Argentina may become the largest Latin American country to legalize abortion
Mon Mar 2
Argentine President Alberto Fernández has proposed legislation to legalize abortion, a controversial issue within the predominantly Roman Catholic region. In 2018, a policy that would have legalized abortion up to 14 weeks was rejected in Argentina’s Senate, but this new bill is more likely to pass since it has the support of the president himself.
With roughly 45.2 million residents, Argentina’s residents nearly triple the combined population of Cuba, Uruguay, and Guyana — the only other countries in the region that allow for elective abortions. Some nations allow for exceptions in the case of rape or health risks to the mother, but in others, the procedure is completely banned and women have been imprisoned for years.
Three years into the Rohingya crisis: Myanmar continues to arrest refugees fleeing religious persecution
Fri Feb 21
Last month, 54 Rohingya Muslims were arrested by Myanmar officials for attempting to flee across the country’s border to escape a military-led crackdown against their people.
Why are Rohingya Muslims fleeing? For decades, Rohingya Muslims have faced discrimination from Myanmar’s predominantly Buddhist government and been denied citizenship. Violent clashes between the Rohingya and the government had escalated over the past few years. In 2017, the Myanmar military launched a deadly assault against the Rohingya, burning thousands of homes and killing at least 6,700 people — including 730 children under five — within a one-month period.
What is happening now? For the most part, the situation in Myanmar remains unchanged, and UN investigators worry that there will be more mass killings or “genocidal actions.” Many are attempting to escape to Thailand and Malaysia, a dangerous endeavor that requires being smuggled by boat.
Want to help? Here’s how you can donate to support Rohingya refugees and other persecuted Muslims around the world.
Updates on previous stories
- The U.S. has agreed to withdraw troops from Afghanistan within 14 months, with the promise that the Taliban will *not* allow for terrorist groups to launch attacks against the U.S. from Afghan soil. This turning point in the 18-year war comes months after the Washington Post unveiled The Afghanistan Papers, which showed that in reality, the war had been unwinnable from the beginning. (Original Story)
- In the last seven weeks, 34 separate bills related to AB 5 were introduced in California’s Legislature, most of them calling for exemptions to correct the negative impacts that many career freelancers, such as journalists and photographers, have experienced. (Original Story)
That’s all for this week. Have a magical weekend.✨
Be among the first to get this news by subscribing to the Below the Fold newsletter here.
