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Google launches a lawsuit targeting text message scammers
6 months ago
- Google has filed a lawsuit against a China-based criminal organization called 'Lighthouse' for running a 'Phishing-as-a-Service' operation.
- Lighthouse provides software kits with fake website templates, including those mimicking U.S. sites like the USPS and West Virginia DMV, to scam victims globally.
- The lawsuit aims to deter scammers and protect users, even though the defendants' identities are unknown and they are beyond U.S. jurisdiction.
- Google is also supporting three bipartisan bills in Congress aimed at combating scams, including the GUARD Act, the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act, and the SCAM Act.
- The lawsuit comes as Google faces its own legal challenges, including antitrust rulings and settlements.
Google Has Chosen a Side in Trump's Mass Deportation Effort
6 months ago
- Google hosts a CBP app using facial recognition to identify immigrants and alert local police about contacting ICE.
- Google removed apps designed to warn communities about ICE presence, sparking criticism from developers.
- The CBP app, Mobile Identify, aids local law enforcement in immigration-related arrests under the 287(g) program.
- ICE's 287(g) program has agreements with 596 agencies in 34 states, expanding local police immigration enforcement powers.
- Developers criticize Google for supporting government actions targeting vulnerable groups, calling the company 'evil'.
FFmpeg Calls Google's AI Bug Reports "CVE Slop"
6 months ago
- FFmpeg maintainers criticized Google for using AI to report a security bug in a 1995 video game code.
- Google's AI tool, Big Sleep, found a bug in FFmpeg's LucasArts Smush codec, affecting 'Rebel Assault II'.
- FFmpeg developers patched the bug but questioned the fairness of trillion-dollar corporations using AI to find issues in volunteer-maintained code.
- Google's 'Reporting Transparency' policy mandates public disclosure of vulnerabilities within a week, starting a 90-day clock, regardless of patch availability.
- FFmpeg is a critical digital infrastructure used in major platforms like Google Chrome, YouTube, and VLC, maintained mostly by volunteers.
- The incident highlights tensions between corporations and open-source volunteers over responsibility for fixing obscure issues.
German court rules Google must pay €572M for violating antitrust rules
6 months ago
- A German court ruled that Google abused its dominant market position in the price comparison sector.
- Google must pay €572 million ($665.6 million) in damages to two German price comparison companies, Idealo and Producto.
- Idealo sought €3.3 billion in damages, citing Google's self-preferencing of its own shopping comparison service.
- Idealo plans to continue its case against Google to seek full damages.
- Google intends to appeal the rulings, stating its 2017 changes are working well.
- Google claims rival comparison shopping services have equal opportunities to display ads.
- The ruling follows an EU investigation into Google's spam policy and a recent €2.95 billion fine for antitrust violations.
Google is killing the open web, part 2
6 months ago
- Google is deprecating XSLT support in Chrome, citing security issues, without providing a solid justification or fixing the library.
- Google suggests a JavaScript polyfill as an alternative but refuses to ship it in-browser, shifting the burden to web developers.
- The deprecation of XSLT is seen as part of Google's broader strategy to control and enshittify the open web.
- The article criticizes the WHATWG for prioritizing corporate interests over the open web's original vision.
- The author advocates for resisting Google's moves by continuing to use XSLT, RSS, and other deprecated technologies.
- The article explores alternative browsers like Pale Moon and WaterFox, which still support XSLT and RSS.
- The Gemini protocol is mentioned as an example of alternative web technologies that resist corporate control.
- The removal of plugin interfaces like NPAPI is criticized for limiting the web's extensibility and user control.
- The author calls for a new browser war to reclaim the web from corporate control and promote open standards.
- The article concludes with a call to resist and continue using technologies like XSLT, RSS, and JPEG XL.
Google boss warns 'no company is going to be immune' if AI bubble bursts
6 months ago
- Google's CEO Sundar Pichai warns no company, including Google, would be immune if the AI bubble bursts.
- Pichai acknowledges the current AI boom has elements of 'irrationality' but compares it to the internet's early days, expecting AI to be similarly profound.
- Alphabet's shares have doubled in value, reflecting market confidence in its AI strategy, including developing AI superchips to compete with Nvidia.
- Pichai highlights the 'immense' energy needs of AI, which accounted for 1.5% of global electricity consumption last year, stressing the need for new energy sources.
- Google plans significant UK investments in AI, including £5bn over two years, aiming to strengthen the UK's position as an AI superpower.
- AI's impact on jobs will be profound, requiring adaptation, with those leveraging AI tools likely to perform better in their professions.
- Alphabet remains committed to achieving net zero by 2030, despite acknowledging delays due to AI's energy demands.
Don't blindly trust what AI tells you, says Google's Sundar Pichai
6 months ago
- Google's Sundar Pichai warns against blindly trusting AI tools, stating they are prone to errors.
- Pichai emphasizes the importance of a rich information ecosystem and using AI alongside other tools like Google search.
- Experts criticize big tech firms for not making AI systems more reliable and instead shifting fact-checking responsibility to users.
- Google's AI Overviews faced backlash for providing inaccurate responses, highlighting concerns about generative AI's tendency to relay false information.
- Gina Neff, a professor of responsible AI, urges Google to take more responsibility for AI accuracy, especially in sensitive areas like health and news.
- Google introduces Gemini 3.0 and integrates it into search to compete with AI services like ChatGPT, marking a 'new phase' in AI development.
- BBC research found AI chatbots, including ChatGPT and Gemini, provided inaccurate summaries of news stories.
- Pichai acknowledges the tension between rapid AI development and implementing safeguards, advocating for bold yet responsible progress.
- Google increases investment in AI security, including open-sourcing technology to detect AI-generated images.
- Pichai disagrees with Elon Musk's fears of an AI 'dictatorship,' stating no single company should monopolize AI technology.
Gemini 3
6 months ago
- Gemini 3 is introduced as Google's most intelligent AI model, combining all previous Gemini capabilities.
- Gemini 3 features state-of-the-art reasoning, multimodal understanding, and improved contextual awareness.
- The model outperforms Gemini 2.5 Pro on major AI benchmarks, including LMArena, Humanity’s Last Exam, and GPQA Diamond.
- Gemini 3 Pro is available across Google products, including AI Mode in Search, the Gemini app, AI Studio, and Vertex AI.
- Gemini 3 Deep Think mode enhances reasoning further, achieving higher scores on complex benchmarks.
- The model excels in learning, building, and planning, offering tools for education, coding, and long-horizon planning.
- Google Antigravity, a new agentic development platform, leverages Gemini 3 for autonomous software development tasks.
- Gemini 3 is designed with advanced safety features, undergoing comprehensive evaluations to ensure security and reliability.
- The rollout of Gemini 3 includes availability for general users, developers, and enterprises, with Deep Think mode coming soon for Google AI Ultra subscribers.
How to Disable Gemini on Android, Gmail, Chrome, Photos. Opt Out of AI Tracking
5 months ago
- Gemini AI now has access to Gmail, Chat, and Meet via Google Workspace smart features.
- Smart features are off by default in the European Economic Area, Japan, Switzerland, and the UK but on elsewhere.
- Steps to disable Gemini in Gmail, Drive & Docs include turning off smart features in settings.
- Google Photos requires separate settings to disable Gemini features.
- Chrome users can disable Gemini by toggling off AI innovations in settings.
- Android users need to disable or uninstall Gemini to prevent tracking.
- Gemini can access Messages, Phone, WhatsApp, and Utilities on Android regardless of previous settings.
- Google's update lacks transparency and informed consent, raising privacy concerns.
- Big Tech's trend of auto-opt-in features without clear consent is criticized.
- The update highlights the need for more transparency and user control over data.
Google's new 'Aluminium OS' project brings Android to PC
5 months ago
- Google is developing 'Aluminium OS', a new operating system merging ChromeOS and Android for PCs.
- The project aims to unify Google's desktop and mobile platforms to better compete with Windows and macOS.
- Aluminium OS will leverage AI, with deep integration of Google's Gemini AI models.
- The OS will target various form factors including laptops, detachables, tablets, and mini-PCs.
- Google plans to transition from ChromeOS to Aluminium OS, with legacy support for existing Chromebooks.
- The new OS is expected to launch in 2026, possibly based on Android 17.
- The future of the ChromeOS brand remains uncertain, with possible retention or rebranding.
Ilya Sutskever – We're moving from the age of scaling to the age of research
5 months ago
- Press room information
- Creator resources
- Advertising options
- Developer resources
- Usage policies
- Privacy and security policies
- How to use YouTube
- Try new features
- Copyright notice: © 2025 Google LLC
AirDrop support for Pixel 10 likely exists because of the EU ruling
5 months ago
- Google introduced cross-platform AirDrop support for Pixel 10, enabling file sharing with iPhones.
- This move may be linked to EU regulations (DMA) that forced Apple to adopt interoperable wireless standards.
- Apple was required to support Wi-Fi Alliance's Wi-Fi Aware standard, replacing its proprietary protocol.
- Pixel 10 users now have native AirDrop-like functionality via Quick Share, thanks to DMA compliance.
- Apple still opposes the DMA and may push for its revocation, making this feature's future uncertain.
Major fire rages at Hong Kong housing estate [video]
5 months ago
- Press room information
- Contact details
- Resources for creators
- Advertising options
- Developer resources
- Terms of use
- Privacy, policy, and security
- How YouTube works
- Try new features
- Copyright notice: © 2025 Google LLC
Making tiny 0.1cc two stroke engine from scratch
5 months ago
- Press room information
- Contact details
- Resources for creators
- Advertising options
- Developer resources
- Terms of use
- Privacy, policy, and security
- How to use YouTube
- Try new features
- Copyright notice: © 2025 Google LLC
Linus and Linus
5 months ago
- Press room information
- Creator resources
- Advertising opportunities
- Developer resources
- Usage policies
- Privacy and security policies
- YouTube updates
- Try new features
- Copyright notice: © 2025 Google LLC
Building the Perfect Linux PC with Linus Torvalds
5 months ago
- Press room information
- Creator resources
- Advertising options
- Developer resources
- Usage policies
- Privacy, policy, and security
- How to use YouTube
- Try new features
- Copyright notice: © 2025 Google LLC
The Absent Silence (2010)
5 months ago
- The author recalls searching for a famous José Saramago quote about God and silence but initially fails to find it, leading to paranoid thoughts about censorship.
- Saramago was an atheist critical of religious authorities but not in a confrontational manner like Richard Dawkins.
- The author realizes their search failure was due to incorrect search terms, not censorship, highlighting the importance of precise queries.
- This incident leads the author to reflect on Google's secretive handling of information, comparing it to a library that doesn't disclose its sources or selection processes.
- The author contrasts public libraries, which operate on mutual trust with the public, with corporations like Google, which prioritize profit and secrecy over public interest.
- The piece ends with the author questioning whether Google's executives truly understand the implications of their secretive practices.
Google Tells Advertisers It'll Bring Ads to Gemini in 2026
5 months ago
- Google plans to introduce ads to its AI chatbot Gemini by 2026.
- Ad placements in Gemini are separate from ads in AI Mode, Google's AI-powered search experience.
- Details on ad formats, pricing, and testing remain unclear.
- Google has not shared prototypes or technical specifics about the ads in Gemini.
EU investigates Google over AI-generated summaries in search results
5 months ago
- EU investigates Google over AI-generated summaries in search results.
- Examination of whether Google used website data without appropriate compensation to publishers.
- Investigation includes YouTube videos' use in improving Google's AI systems and opt-out options for creators.
- Google claims the probe risks stifling innovation in a competitive market.
- AI Mode, Google's conversational answer feature, also under scrutiny.
- Concerns that AI Overview summaries reduce website traffic and ad revenue.
- Daily Mail reports a 50% drop in clicks since AI Overview's introduction.
- Creators and publishers may not be compensated for content used in AI training.
- Critics argue Google's terms force creators to allow AI training on their work.
- Campaign groups welcome the investigation but call for immediate action to protect publishers.
- EU's digital rules enforcement faces backlash from US lawmakers and tech companies.
Ads are showing up on Google's AI Mode now
5 months ago
- Google has started showing ads in its AI Mode, similar to its AI Overviews.
- Ads in AI Mode are based on user conversations, not just keyword matches.
- Initial tests show minimal ads, with one example being a local car dealership link.
- Google faces a challenge balancing ad revenue with user experience.
- Search results have been criticized for ad saturation and SEO filler, pushing users toward ad-free alternatives like ChatGPT.

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#google

Google launches a lawsuit targeting text message scammers

Google Has Chosen a Side in Trump's Mass Deportation Effort

FFmpeg Calls Google's AI Bug Reports "CVE Slop"

German court rules Google must pay €572M for violating antitrust rules

Google is killing the open web, part 2

Google boss warns 'no company is going to be immune' if AI bubble bursts

Don't blindly trust what AI tells you, says Google's Sundar Pichai

Gemini 3

How to Disable Gemini on Android, Gmail, Chrome, Photos. Opt Out of AI Tracking

Google's new 'Aluminium OS' project brings Android to PC

Ilya Sutskever – We're moving from the age of scaling to the age of research

AirDrop support for Pixel 10 likely exists because of the EU ruling

Major fire rages at Hong Kong housing estate [video]

Making tiny 0.1cc two stroke engine from scratch

Linus and Linus

Building the Perfect Linux PC with Linus Torvalds

The Absent Silence (2010)

Google Tells Advertisers It'll Bring Ads to Gemini in 2026

EU investigates Google over AI-generated summaries in search results

Ads are showing up on Google's AI Mode now