⚖️ AI Copyright Ruling, Military Data Sold, Apple ID Transfers
Good morning. It’s Wednesday, February 12. Today we are covering:
Thomson Reuters Wins First Major AI Copyright Case in the US
Apps sold location data for US military and intelligence personnel serving overseas
Apple Now Lets You Move Digital Purchases From One Apple Account to Another
Microsoft wants to hand off much of its Army HoloLens program to Palmer Luckey’s Anduril
Seeking God, or Peter Thiel, in Silicon Valley
Let’s dive in
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Thomson Reuters Wins First Major AI Copyright Case in the US
By Kate Knibbs via WIRED
Thomson Reuters won a landmark AI copyright case against Ross Intelligence, with a U.S. judge ruling that Ross illegally reproduced content from Westlaw, rejecting all fair use defenses.
The ruling strengthens copyright protections against AI companies training models on proprietary materials, with Judge Stephanos Bibas emphasizing that Ross aimed to create a market substitute, undermining Westlaw’s value.
Legal experts suggest this decision could significantly impact AI companies like OpenAI and Google, making fair use defenses harder to argue in ongoing copyright lawsuits.
𝕏: In the first US legal decision on whether AI training is 'fair use', delivered today, the judge ruled against the AI company. Their copying was not fair use. 🎉 The paragraph below is huge, and could give a sense of what's coming in other ongoing cases… - Ed Newton-Rex (@ednewtonrex)
Apps sold location data for US military and intelligence personnel serving overseas
By Ben Lovejoy via 9to5Mac
Location data of U.S. military and intelligence personnel was sold by a Florida-based data broker, originating from mobile apps with revenue-sharing agreements with the Lithuanian ad-tech firm Eskimi.
The data, likely collected through SDKs embedded in apps, was then resold by Datastream, a U.S. data broker, potentially exposing military personnel at sensitive locations, including bases storing nuclear weapons.
Cybersecurity experts warn that ad-tech companies function as surveillance businesses, frequently selling location data to corporations and governments, raising urgent privacy and national security concerns.
𝕏: A Florida-based data broker says it obtained sensitive data on US military members in Germany from a Lithuanian firm. - Robert Morton (@Robert4787)
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Apple Now Lets You Move Digital Purchases From One Apple Account to Another
By Juli Clover via MacRumors
Apple now allows users to migrate digital purchases—including apps, music, books, TV shows, and movies—from one Apple ID to another, consolidating multiple accounts.
The migration requires two-factor authentication, matching country settings, and that the secondary account has no remaining balance; after completion, purchases and subscriptions transfer to the primary account.
This feature is not available in the EU, UK, or India, and once migration is complete, the secondary account can no longer be used for purchases.
𝕏: In the category of I thought this would never, ever happen: Apple is finally. Yes, finally, allowing users to (kind-of) merge their Apple IDs. - Mark Gurman (@markgurman)
Microsoft wants to hand off much of its Army HoloLens program to Palmer Luckey’s Anduril
By Will Shanklin via Engadget
Microsoft plans to handover most of its Army HoloLens program to Palmer Luckey’s Anduril Industries, shifting its role to providing AI and cloud infrastructure, while Anduril will oversee hardware, software, and production.
The IVAS (Integrated Visual Augmentation System) program, initially plagued by nausea, headaches, and visibility issues, has received improved prototypes, but the Army seeks to reduce its $80,000 per unit cost before large-scale adoption.
Anduril has recently expanded its defense partnerships, including a December 2024 deal with OpenAI to integrate GPT-4o into military drone defense systems, further cementing its role in AI-driven defense technology.
𝕏: Anduril just announced it’s taking over from Microsoft the US Army’s program to make new infantry goggles - Evan (@StockMKTNewz)
Seeking God, or Peter Thiel, in Silicon Valley
By Emma Goldberg via The New York Times
Peter Thiel is spearheading a growing Christian movement in Silicon Valley, using his influence to promote faith among tech elites through events like ACTS 17 Collective, which gathers industry leaders to discuss Christianity.
The ACTS 17 Collective, founded by Michelle Stephens, has hosted speakers like Francis Collins and Garry Tan, aiming to introduce faith to tech professionals while fostering networking and professional advancement.
Amid Silicon Valley’s history of secularism, figures like Elon Musk and Joe Rogan have publicly expressed interest in religion, reflecting a broader cultural shift where faith is becoming a topic of discussion among influential tech leaders.
𝕏: I wrote about the turn toward Christianity in Silicon Valley - Emma Goldberg (@emmabgo)
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