in the clear: 2024-04-29

This is a running list of various media I've looked at each week. It's mostly for reference and to give an impression of the type of news that I'm exposed to. Bullets are written by me and numbers are summaries of the respective article from an LLM.

If you have any suggestions or know of other good news sources, please leave a comment in the guestbook or reach out to me directly. I can't spend all my time reading about current events, but I like to try and stay informed whenever possible.

WSJ: It’s Not Just the Fed Driving Up Your Mortgage Rate

1. Mortgage rates have risen above 7% in 2024, influenced by factors like credit scores and the 10-year Treasury yield.
2. Different lenders can provide varying mortgage quotes, which can result in significant cost differences for borrowers.
3. Credit scores significantly impact mortgage rates; those with scores of 800 or more can secure lower rates.
4. Other factors like geography and the lending institution can also affect the mortgage rate offered to a borrower.
5. The difference in rates between lenders can sometimes be over a quarter of a percentage point.
6. Mortgage companies and credit unions often offer lower rates than banks, reflecting competition in the market.

WSJ: Cheaper Teslas? China Says ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet’

1. Tesla is accelerating the launch of more affordable models due to competition from Chinese automakers with cheaper electric vehicles.
2. Chinese EV market is seeing a price war, with companies like BYD reducing plug-in hybrid prices to around $11,000.
3. Tesla responded by cutting prices for its cars in China by nearly $2,000, bringing the price of its Model 3 to around $32,000.
4. China, the world's largest EV market, is not only important for Tesla and other automakers but is also starting to export its cars.
5. Despite the price war, many Chinese automakers, including BYD, have large cash cushions and are in a strong financial position.
6. BYD, a leading Chinese automaker, has room to cut prices further while remaining profitable, thanks to its vertical integration and cost-saving measures.

Lawfare: Know-Your-Customer is Coming for the Cloud—the Stakes are High

1. The US government is developing know-your-customer (KYC) rules for cloud service providers, which will require verification of users and reporting when "foreign persons" use cloud infrastructure to train large AI models.
2. The rules aim to enhance US national security by making it harder for hostile states and non-state actors to use the cloud to train AI systems for malicious purposes.
3. The KYC rules are part of a broader trend of the US government tightening oversight of digital technologies to address national security concerns.
4. The rules could apply to major US cloud providers like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, and Google Cloud.
5. The proposed rules would require cloud companies to collect customer data and report when foreigners use their infrastructure to train large AI models.
6. This initiative is a response to the increasing risks associated with advanced AI systems, which could potentially be hijacked by bad actors for cybersecurity risks.

Lawfare: FISA Section 702 Reauthorized for Two Years

1. The Senate reauthorized Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) for two years as part of the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (H.R. 7888).
2. The reauthorization includes a controversial provision that expands the definition of an “electronic communication service provider” (ECSP), which privacy experts and civil libertarians have criticized.
3. The Justice Department has maintained that the change is a technical modification due to internet technology changing since FISA 702 was passed, and that it would be unlawful to target any person inside the US.
4. The reauthorization was expedited due to some carriers threatening to stop cooperating with Section 702 orders if the authority lapsed.
5. The reauthorization is a significant win for national security hawks and the Biden administration, but the shortened reauthorization period means the FISA debates will return to Capitol Hill in 2024.
6. There has been no public reporting indicating that the short lapse in reauthorization led to a gap in 702 collection.

NYT Opinion: Colleges Have Gone off the Deep End. There Is a Way Out.

1. The text describes the author's experience with campus protests during his time at Harvard Law School, where protests were a common part of student life.
2. The author highlights the negative impact of aggressive protests, including shout-downs and intimidation, on free speech and dissenting opinions.
3. The author emphasizes the importance of protecting free speech and upholding the rule of law in universities.
4. The text discusses the concept of civil disobedience, noting that it involves accepting the consequences of breaking an unjust law.
5. Lawlessness, such as indefinitely occupying a public space or violating others' rights, is distinguished from civil disobedience and free speech.
6. The author suggests that campus chaos often results from administrators abandoning neutrality and favoring intense activist students, leading to double standards and privileges.

ScienceNews: Rain Bosworth studies how deaf children experience the world

1. Rain Bosworth, an experimental psychologist, studies how people, particularly deaf children, learn and process sign language.
2. Bosworth's research suggests that babies have an innate sensitivity to sign language, challenging the notion that spoken language is superior to signed language.
3. She has found that babies can differentiate between formal signs and non-sign gestures, indicating an innate ability to understand sign language.
4. Bosworth established the PLAY Lab at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf to study language and attention in youth.
5. She is passionate about reframing negative perceptions of sign language and deaf people, challenging the idea that sign language impairs speech development.
6. Bosworth emphasizes the importance of early sensory input in shaping our development, highlighting the benefits of learning sign language at an early age.

Lawfare: Challenges in the Online Child Safety Ecosystem

1. Federal law requires online platforms to report child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) through the CyberTipline.
2. Law enforcement officers struggle to accurately prioritize reports for investigation due to a lack of essential information and overwhelming report volume.
3. NCMEC could enrich reports with additional data sets, such as identifying if an uploader is associated with an IP address known for sharing CSAM.
4. Technical improvements to the CyberTipline are slow, partly due to NCMEC's inability to match industry salaries for engineers, leading to frequent poaching of their staff.
5. Law enforcement faces challenges in correctly identifying and marking low-priority reports, such as memes, as they may not have the "Potential Meme" checkbox marked.
6. Fourth Amendment issues arise when a file is detected based on a hash match to known CSAM but was not reviewed by a person at the platform, leading to debates on the necessity of a search warrant to view the file.

The Economist: Immigration is surging, with big economic consequences

1. The West is experiencing a significant increase in immigration, with countries like America, Canada, Britain, and Australia having their highest number of new arrivals ever.
2. This immigration surge has economic consequences, including an increase in GDP, but also a potential decrease in GDP per person, a common measure of living standards.
3. Many of the recent immigrants are low-skilled, which can lead to lower wages for local workers in the same skill bracket.
4. The increase in low-skilled immigration has resulted in a shift in the type of immigration, with fewer skilled workers and more working backpackers and students.
5. While the surge in immigration can lead to a more diverse workforce, it can also strain public services due to increased demand.
6. The fiscal impact of low-skilled immigrants can be negative, as they may require more in public services than they contribute in taxes, especially as they age and retire.

WSJ: The New Math of Driving Your Car Till the Wheels Fall Off

1. The cost of car ownership has increased, with new vehicle prices and maintenance costs rising.
2. This has led to a trend of drivers keeping their cars for longer periods, with the average age of vehicles hitting a record 12.5 years in 2023.
3. New technology and longer loan periods have also contributed to this trend, making cars more expensive to repair and leading to longer payment periods.
4. Some car brands, like Lexus and Toyota, have fewer reported problems in the first three years, making them more cost-effective in the long term.
5. Electric vehicles tend to have higher rates of problems, partly due to their batteries and advanced technology.
6. The decision to trade in a car often depends on the cost of repairs, the value of the car, and the trust the driver has in the vehicle.

NPR: Eight newspapers sue OpenAI, Microsoft for copyright infringement

1. Eight newspapers, including The New York Daily News and The Chicago Tribune, have sued OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement.
2. The lawsuit alleges that ChatGPT, OpenAI's AI chatbot, used articles from these newspapers to train its model without permission or payment.
3. The newspapers claim that ChatGPT sometimes falsely attributes reports to them, which can harm their reputation.
4. OpenAI is accused of using copyrighted material to create a direct competitor to newspapers, which are already struggling with declining revenue.
5. The newspapers are seeking unspecified monetary damages and the end to using their copyrighted work.
6. They also want the destruction of any AI models OpenAI uses that incorporate their publications, which experts say could be incredibly challenging.

NYT: At Brown, a Rare Agreement Between Administrators and Protesters

1. Brown University students dismantled their tents after an agreement with administrators to discuss divestment from companies connected to the Israeli military campaign in Gaza.
2. The agreement was facilitated by the Brown Divest Coalition and Jewish Voice for Peace, following protests across various US universities.
3. The process involves student meetings with the Corporation of Brown University, advisory committee discussions, and a final corporation vote in October 2024.
4. Brown University emphasizes that its endowment is not directly invested, but managed by external specialists who share the university's values.
5. Disciplinary proceedings related to the encampment and investigation of harassment or discrimination reports will still be carried out.
6. Brown's president, Christina H. Paxson, acknowledged the call for meaningful change but did not condone the encampment, citing concerns about inflammatory rhetoric.

IAPP: NSA transparency report shows increased foreign spy reports involving US citizens (WSJ Story)

IAPP Summary: The U.S. National Security Agency's disclosure report showed U.S. citizens appeared 31,000 times in the agency's foreign spy reports in 2023, The Wall Street Journal reports. The information was collected under the newly renewed Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows the NSA to gather foreign intelligence information while also collecting an "unknown number of communications belonging to Americans.

IAPP: A comprehensive guide to creating a sustainable cookie program

1. Cookie management is required by most privacy and data protection laws, with specific rules in Europe, the US, and California.
2. Establishing a cookie governance program involves designating a responsible individual, outlining roles and responsibilities, and creating a cookie governance policy.
3. Companies must ensure a technical mechanism for managing cookie preferences, provide notice of cookie types, and follow privacy-by-design principles.
4. Regular testing and audits are essential to maintain compliance, as well as updating practices as laws and business needs change.
5. Employees should be trained on cookie governance, and a privacy review process should be in place for new technology or cookie usage.
6. Proper notice and opt-out links are required in privacy notices, and businesses must evolve their cookie program to maintain compliance as technologies and privacy landscapes change.

The Economist: Disinformation is on the rise. How does it work?

1. Disinformation is increasing, often created using AI and spread by state-backed groups. An example is the use of AI-generated videos and audio to influence Taiwan's 2024 election.
2. Disinformation can be spread through "coordinated inauthentic behavior" (CIB), where a single software controls multiple social media accounts to amplify a message.
3. A common tactic is to use "spreader" accounts with large followings to disseminate disinformation, often mixed with genuine content to avoid detection.
4. AI is also being used to detect and mitigate disinformation, such as identifying CIB networks and flagging fake news sites.
5. The rise of AI-generated news sites, like "dc Weekly," is a new challenge. These sites often feature innocent content, but also spread disinformation.
6. The World Economic Forum ranks disinformation as a top global risk, highlighting the urgent need for governments, companies, and individuals to address this issue.

• There was also another disinformation article today by the Economist

NYT: The Comfortable Problem of Mid TV

1. The article discusses the current trend of "Mid TV," which refers to well-produced, competent shows that are not exceptional or groundbreaking.
2. Examples of "Mid TV" include new shows by talented actors like Donald Glover and Keri Russell, which are entertaining but lack the nuance and impact of their previous work.
3. The rise of streaming services has led to an increase in TV production, causing an overflow of content and a pressure to create familiar, algorithm-friendly shows.
4. The article argues that while there is less truly bad high-profile television today, there is also a lack of ambition and risk-taking in the current TV landscape.
5. The golden age of TV, which was marked by original, provocative, and important shows, has given way to a period of safe, competent television.
6. The author emphasizes that this is not a critique of the quality of TV today, but rather a commentary on the shift towards a more uniform and less ambitious TV production.

CNN: A third of Americans could have had data stolen in big health care hack

1. A ransomware attack on UnitedHealth Group subsidiary, Change Healthcare, affected potentially one-third of Americans.
2. The attack disrupted pharmacies and medical claims processing across the US, with health providers cut off from billions in payments.
3. UnitedHealth CEO, Andrew Witty, apologized for the incident, admitting hackers breached the subsidiary through a poorly secured server and paid a $22 million ransom.
4. The investigation is ongoing, and it may take several months to identify and notify those affected, as the company is still combing through the stolen data.
5. The incident has led to calls for cybersecurity regulations in the health care industry.
6. UnitedHealth has defended its actions, citing the need to protect patient data and restore systems, but lawmakers are pressing for more information on the extent of the data breach.

The Economist: What campus protesters get wrong about divestment

1. Campus protesters are advocating for universities to divest from assets linked to Israel, with the goal of influencing Israeli behavior through capital withdrawal.
2. Divestment campaigns can have symbolic value and may exert influence by starving targets of capital, but their success depends on the chosen target and the availability of alternative funding sources.
3. Universities' endowments are a small fraction of global financial assets, making it challenging for divestment to significantly impact large-scale operations like Israel's economy.
4. Divestment from Israeli assets could lead to a broad exclusion of companies doing business in Israel, potentially limiting the investment universe for endowments.
5. Divestment may carry costs for institutions, such as reduced portfolio diversification and increased fees for specialized investments.
6. Activists should be aware of the practical implications of divestment and the potential challenges in achieving their goals.

NPR: Net neutrality is back: U.S. promises fast, safe and reliable internet for all

1. Net neutrality has been restored in the US by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), classifying broadband as a public utility.
2. The rules aim to ensure faster, safer, and more reliable internet connections, with greater protections for consumer data and network security.
3. The regulations prohibit internet service providers (ISPs) from creating fast and slow lanes for different online services.
4. The decision follows concerns about the digital divide, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. The rules are subject to legal challenges and could be reversed by a future administration.
6. The new regulations are expected to go into effect 60 days after their publication in the Federal Register, but details of the 400-page draft order are yet to be released.

WSJ: Starbucks Is Running Out of Americans to Drink Its Expensive Coffee

1. Starbucks is facing a decline in transactions in its North American cafes and a fall in same-store sales in China.
2. The company is relying on growth in China to offset stagnation in its American market, aiming to open a new store every nine hours in China through 2025.
3. However, competition in China is fierce, with local coffee chains like Luckin Coffee and Cotti Coffee expanding rapidly and offering lower prices.
4. Foreign companies, such as KFC and McDonald's, are also increasing their presence in the Chinese coffee market.
5. Tea chains are also expanding rapidly, adding to the competition in China.
6. Starbucks' premium pricing strategy may limit its growth in the face of intense competition, as it refuses to lower prices and participate in price wars.

TechCrunch: Microsoft bans US police departments from using enterprise AI tool for facial recognition

1. Microsoft has reaffirmed its ban on US police departments using the Azure OpenAI Service for facial recognition.
2. The ban includes integrations with OpenAI’s current and future image-analyzing models for facial recognition.
3. Real-time facial recognition technology on mobile cameras, like body cameras and dashcams, is explicitly prohibited for identifying a person in uncontrolled environments.
4. The updated policy also bars any use of "real-time facial recognition technology" by law enforcement globally.
5. Microsoft's ban on Azure OpenAI Service usage pertains only to US police departments, not international ones.
6. The ban does not cover facial recognition performed with stationary cameras in controlled environments, like a back office.

Lawfare: The U.S. Needs a Strategy for the Second Quantum Revolution

1. The world is on the brink of a second quantum revolution, which could have significant implications for various industries and technologies, such as encryption, lasers, and MRI scanners.
2. The United States has historically been a leader in quantum research and development, but its dominance has waned, and there is a risk of falling behind China in this race.
3. The U.S. needs an updated, unclassified national quantum strategy to promote and protect its quantum ecosystem, and reauthorizing the National Quantum Initiative Act would demonstrate federal commitment.
4. Rapid advancements in quantum computing have been made, with companies like IBM and Microsoft demonstrating practical applications and fault tolerance, which could lead to a new era in quantum computing utility.
5. The quantum revolution could lead to a paradigm shift in various industries, potentially increasing their value by trillions of dollars by 2035, with sectors using large amounts of data being the most likely beneficiaries.
6. There are concerns about the potential impact of quantum computing on encryption and biosecurity, with the U.S. needing to prepare for strategic surprises and potential misuse of quantum technology.

Lawfare: The FTC Is The Tip of The Spear

1. The US Federal Communications Commission fined mobile telecommunication providers for selling customer location data without consent, despite a 2007 regulation requiring consent.
2. The FTC is set to publish rules relating to 'commercial surveillance' in the coming months, aiming to collect and retain less data about consumers and secure it better.
3. The FTC is also targeting 'dark patterns' or manipulative user interfaces that trick users into making decisions they wouldn't otherwise make.
4. The FTC's Director of Bureau of Consumer Protection, Samuel Levine, criticized the 'notice and choice' regime, stating it doesn't protect privacy as intended.
5. Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella announced security as the company's top priority, with a focus on data minimization and prohibition on the use of dark patterns.
6. The US cloud industry is pushing back against a Biden administration executive order requiring them to invest in know-your-customer (KYC) programs to prevent foreign cyber actors from misusing their services.

NPR: Scientists welcome new rules on marijuana, but research will still face obstacles

1. The Biden administration proposed reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance, acknowledging its medical benefits and reducing some restrictions on studying it.
2. Schedule III substances have accepted medical use, less potential for abuse, and lower dependence levels than Schedule I substances.
3. Reclassification may make it easier for researchers to study marijuana, particularly for those starting their careers.
4. The change will not significantly increase the number of marijuana sources for researchers, as the variety of products available for study is still limited.
5. The reclassification does not eliminate marijuana's health risks, as high THC levels can pose health issues and rescheduling will not improve risk surveillance.
6. Ongoing research is essential to understand the health impacts of marijuana, such as the rise in emergency room visits due to intoxication, cyclical vomiting, and psychiatric symptoms.

WSJ: Texas Ban on ‘Woke’ Banks Opens Door for Smaller Firms

1. Texas passed restrictions in 2021, limiting government business with financial firms that take a stand against firearms or fossil fuels, leading to megabanks pulling back from the state's municipal-bond market.
2. This political conflict has opened opportunities for smaller investment banks, such as Jefferies and FHN Financial, in the Texas market.
3. Firms seeking to provide services to Texas must now attest that they don't "boycott energy companies" or "discriminate against a firearm entity".
4. The ban has led to increased borrowing costs for local governments and potential higher interest payments on bonds issued in Texas.
5. Middle-market firms like Siebert Williams Shank and Jefferies have seen growth, with Siebert being the third-biggest underwriter of state and local debt in Texas in 2023.
6. Large banks are pulling back from the $4 trillion municipal-bond market due to higher rates, depressed borrowing, and potential backlash from state officials.

The Atlantic: Why Your Vet Bill Is So High

1. Corporations and private-equity funds have been acquiring smaller veterinary practices, leading to increased costs for pet healthcare.
2. This trend has been fueled by pet owners' willingness to spend money on their pets' well-being, viewed as a "low-risk, high-reward" investment sector.
3. As of 2023, Americans spent an estimated $38 billion on companion animal healthcare, a significant increase from $29 billion in 2019.
4. The cost of veterinary care has been rising faster than overall inflation, with veterinary-services category up 9.6% in March 2024.
5. There is a lack of regulation in veterinary medicine, potentially leading to higher prices and lower quality of care in some instances.
6. A study showed that when private equity takes over veterinary practices, prices and the number of expensive procedures tend to go up.

NYT: Meet the Men Who Eat Meat (and Only Meat)

1. The Carnivore Diet is a trend promoted by men, mainly on social media, that consists of meat, seafood, and eggs, with some allowing dairy and a small amount of fruit.
2. The diet is a more restrictive version of high-fat, low-carb diets like Atkins and keto, and proponents claim it aids in weight loss and mental acuity.
3. Health experts, such as Whitney Linsenmeyer, are skeptical of the diet's health benefits and note that it goes against nutrition science.
4. The diet has been endorsed by influential figures like Joe Rogan and Lex Fridman, and has become popular in the "manosphere" of the media.
5. The all-meat diet has been linked to improved health for some, such as Shawn Baker, who claims it resolved his chronic knee pain and gut issues.
6. Critics argue that the Carnivore Diet is high in saturated fat, which can increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.