Researchers say social, ethical and political concerns in the UK about artificial intelligence (AI) are mounting and greater oversight is urgently needed, according to the Guardian. Otherwise, we could expect to see the kind of social disruption that greeted the advent of genetically-modified (GM) foods during the past decades. The Guardian's report notes that there are no testing standards or requirement for AI to explain their decisions. There is also no organisation equipped to monitor and … [Read more...] about Artificial intelligence risks GM-style public backlash, experts warn
UK news
Social media stars breaching rules on promoting brands, watchdog says
The Guardian reports on a rise in complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the UK advertising regulator, who says ‘influencers’ on social media sites such as Instagram and Twitter fail to declare that they are being paid to publicise products. The newspaper defines 'influencers' thus: Social media celebrities who have large and engaged followings online. They get paid money to publicise products and can command tens of thousands for one post. This is about disclosure where … [Read more...] about Social media stars breaching rules on promoting brands, watchdog says
Artificial intelligence survey finds UK public broadly optimistic
This article titled "Artificial intelligence survey finds UK public broadly optimistic" was written by Ian Sample Science editor, for theguardian.com on Monday 24th April 2017 23.01 UTCApart from fears of mass unemployment, accidents with machinery, restrictions on freedom, increased economic inequality and a devalued human experience, the public are broadly optimistic about the arrival of artificial intelligence, according to one of the first surveys of British opinions about the technology. … [Read more...] about Artificial intelligence survey finds UK public broadly optimistic
Please stay, please go – Europeans make their case to UK voters
This article titled "Please stay, please go – Europeans make their case to UK voters" was written by Letters, for The Guardian on Monday 20th June 2016 19.22 UTCDon’t EXIT … EXIST! As citizens of France and as citizens of the world – whatever our social or artistic milieu, whatever our opinions – we are writing to say that we love you. We love Britain, your culture, your history, your civilisation, your temperament, our common history. You cannot vote to leave us, for to leave Europe would be to … [Read more...] about Please stay, please go – Europeans make their case to UK voters
Theresa May unveils UK surveillance measures in wake of Snowden claims
Yesterday, the government presented plans to Parliament for a wide range of powers that will permit security agencies to view the activities of everyone in the UK who goes online. Known as the Investigatory Powers Bill, if it becomes law next year it will enable the security services to conduct a wide range of activities - including seeing the names of every website people have visited, and the power to hack devices and run operations to capture large amounts of data as it transits the … [Read more...] about Theresa May unveils UK surveillance measures in wake of Snowden claims
Guardian to launch new platform to streamline access to web content
News that The Guardian newspaper is planning to aggregate its presence on the web under a single entry point, theguardian.com domain, is an interesting milestone for a mainstream medium whose innovation in extending its presence and brand beyond its traditional printed newspaper origins in the UK makes it a stand-out among mainstream publishers. A web address change may not seem like that big a deal. But if you're a content publisher putting out the type of content online that attracts … [Read more...] about Guardian to launch new platform to streamline access to web content
Number 10 hands out Twitter exclusives to favoured journalists
A discussion topic in episode 701 of the FIR podcast, published today, looks at a question asked in the Metro newspaper last week: should British politicians take notes from Barack Obama’s campaign team? The Metro's excellent report looked at the key role social media played - especially Twitter - in both of the US president's election campaigns in 2008 and 2012 in enabling direct engagement with reporters and opinion-makers as well as with voters in communities across the United States (see … [Read more...] about Number 10 hands out Twitter exclusives to favoured journalists
Facebook riot calls earn men four-year jail terms amid sentencing outcry
In the aftermath of the civil disorder that gripped London and a number of other English cities last week - it included murders, assaults and a great deal of property destruction and damage - attention is firmly on the system of justice in England and what's happening to the thousands of people arrested and charged with an offence of one kind of another, typically looting or doing criminal damage. For the past few days, our TV screens have been filled with video footage of police in full … [Read more...] about Facebook riot calls earn men four-year jail terms amid sentencing outcry