My friends, good afternoon! Here’s your Tuesday Tech Drop, the latest news from the intersection of tech and politics.
Hack attack update
Several law enforcement groups from across the world, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, say they’ve taken control of platforms used by an international ransomware group that claimed responsibility for a crippling hack of computer systems in Fulton County, Georgia, among others, Axios reports. The hack affected phone systems and bill- and tax-paying systems, and restricted access to certain court records. State authorities have been tight-lipped about what data was accessed and whether any data was leaked, but they’ve said the hack didn’t reach District Attorney Fani Willis’ office and won’t affect her election-related RICO prosecution of Donald Trump and his co-defendants.
Read more at Axios
Techies of one accord
A group of 20 top tech companies on Friday signed a symbolic statement declaring their intent to help users identify so-called deepfakes, or videos produced with the aid of artificial intelligence to simulate actual people, in the lead up to the 2024 elections, NBC News reports. Note that none of the participating companies — including Meta, TikTok and X — actually vowed to remove manipulative deepfakes from their platforms; but they did offer a lot of vague assurances, such as a pledge to “counter risks from the creation and dissemination” of deceptive A.I.-generated content. I’m wary about over-celebrating this step in the right direction until we see it in practice.
Read more at NBC News
Speaking for the voiceless
Last week, the family and friends of gun violence victims promoted a new campaign that recreates their loved ones’ voices using artificial intelligence. The Guardian reports that the campaign, called “The Shotline,” uses A.I. to recreate victims’ voices to be used in messages that can be sent to lawmakers. It’s jarring, yes, but advocates say it’s needed to spur…
Read the full article here
