π Gmail drops SMS, EU shuns cloud, Zizians erupt
Good morning. Itβs Monday, February 24. Today we are covering:
Google Confirms Gmail To Ditch SMS Code Authentication
It is no longer safe to move our governments and societies to US clouds
The Delirious, Violent, Impossible True Story of the Zizians
How the EU's DMA is changing Big Tech: all of the news and updates
Pollution from Big Tech's data centre boom costs US public health $5.4bn
Letβs dive in
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Google Confirms Gmail To Ditch SMS Code Authentication
By Davey Winder via Forbes
Google is replacing SMS code authentication in Gmail with QR codes to combat security vulnerabilities and curb SMS abuse.
The shift aims to reduce risks from phishing and reliance on phone carriers, enhancing protection against fraudulent activities.
This change is part of the tech industry's broader move from traditional passwords to more secure methods like passkeys and biometric authentication.
π: This morning, I have mostly been reading what appear to be largely AI-generated rehashes of my exclusive at Forbes about Google's plan to ditch SMS authentication codes. I am now convinced that, as far as journalism is concerned, AI has a looooooong way to go. I mean, seriously, my 7-year-old grandson could do a much better precis of my article. - Davey Winder (@happygeek)
It is no longer safe to move our governments and societies to US clouds
By Bert Hubert via berthub.eu
Bert Hubert's article argues that transferring government and societal operations to American clouds is legally flawed and strategically dangerous, especially in light of recent actions by Trump.
The piece criticizes the convenience of relying on US technology, warning that such dependency exposes Europe to risks like data hostage and business disruption.
European governments are urged to reclaim digital autonomy by embracing alternative software solutions and investing in homegrown innovation.
We now have the bizarre situation that anyone with any sense can see that America is no longer a reliable partner, and that the entire US business world bows to Trumpβs dictatorial will, but we STILL are doing everything we can to transfer entire governments and most of our own businesses to their cloudsβ¦ - Paul Schleifer (@PaulSchleifer)
The best way to reach new readers is through word of mouth. If you click THIS LINK in your inbox, itβll create an easy-to-send pre-written email you can just fire off to some friends.
The Delirious, Violent, Impossible True Story of the Zizians
By Evan Ratliff via WIRED
The article traces the rise and internal schisms of the Zizians, a radical offshoot from CFAR, MIRI, and the broader rationalist and effective altruism communities, whose intense debates over AI safety and decision theory eventually led to real-world violence.
The narrative details a chaotic series of events beginning with a violent protest at Westminster Woods in 2019, where masked demonstratorsβincluding trans womenβclashed with law enforcement amid allegations of corruption and harsh police tactics.
As the story unfolds, it interweaves tragic personal losses, bizarre legal battles, and escalating multi-state violenceβincluding suicides, murders, and faked deathsβleaving fugitive Ziz LaSota at large and casting a long shadow over the rationalist movement.
π: You may have seen Zizians headlines, as they entered the media and culture war maelstrom described as a "trans vegan cult" "anarchists" and AI doomers gone mad. But I can assure you, you don't know the story. Here's my best shot at it, years in the making - Evan Ratliff (@ev_rat)
How the EU's DMA is changing Big Tech: all of the news and updates
By Verge Staff via The Verge
The EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) is intensifying scrutiny on Big Tech, with Google facing potential charges for DMA breaches and Apple under pressure for its App Store practices.
Apple is overhauling its ecosystem by rolling out iOS 18.4 developer betas featuring Priority Notifications, enhancing interoperability on iOS and iPadOS, and reorganizing its App Store division.
Other tech giants like Epic Games and Meta are adapting to new rules, as Epic Games pushes an alternative EU iOS app store and Meta faces charges over its pay-or-consent ad model.
Pollution from Big Tech's data centre boom costs US public health $5.4bn
By Stephanie Stacey via Financial Times
Big Tech data centre operations have generated over $5.4bn in US public health costs over the past five years, according to research by UC Riverside and Caltech.
Air pollution from high energy use, fossil fuel-powered back-up generators, and hazardous hardware waste is linked to rising treatment costs for illnesses like cancer and asthma, with Google accounting for $2.6bn of the total.
The surge in AI infrastructure spending is exacerbating these issues and disproportionately affecting lower-income communities, highlighting the need for strategically sited data centres.
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