Howdy, Scholars!
Hold onto your keypads Guys! Again, Google has slipped on the virtual banana peel, and it's unusual this time. Imagine Google, the place where we all go to settle debates about the richest athletes and how long to boil an egg, got caught promoting AI apps that create nonconsensual deepfake nudes. Yes, you read that right. Google's search results were accidentally taking a walk on the wild side. One sunny afternoon you're just trying to find out "how to knot a tie," and suddenly, Google offers you a VIP pass to the world of "undress apps." It's like asking your grandma for Egusi (Melon seed Soup) recipes and getting tips on robbing a bank instead. Thanks, Google, but I think I’ll stick to the Egusi.
Google’s “Not Again” Moment
Google released a statement in reaction to this amusing error. They're laying out the digital equivalent of a red-carpet apology and guaranteeing their act will be cleaned up before you can say "algorithm malfunction." In an attempt to put an end to these strategies, Google, in its infinite wisdom, promised to expand its search policies. "We're sorry," they replied, "we'll fix this faster than you can say '404 Error.'" The worst part is that, even as they say this, they're endorsing the very apps they say they're opposing. It is comparable to your dentist at a dental convention giving out candy.
Google’s Cleanup Crew
Google is now on a mission to clean up this mess like a dad ,tidying up before mom gets home to save the day. They've pledged to take down these pornographic advertisements and fire any advertisers who violate their policies. Playing paintball with every offensive advertisement you see online is like that. Apps that generate "synthetic sexual content" are not permitted on Google's platforms, according to the company. Hopefully, this crackdown works better than my resolution to give up Bread and fast foods completely.
Deepfake School Dramas
While Google is busy untangling its web of ads, the real world is dealing with the chaos caused by deepfake technology. It turns out that high schoolers are getting their hands on AI tools to create nonconsensual fake nudes of classmates. This reminds me of a science fiction film where the story takes an unexpected turn and everyone wishes they had stayed in earlier days when they were still arguing over whether a hot dog counts as a sandwich or not. Law enforcement and schools are confused about how to handle this mess and are scratching their heads. Everyone is running in circles, not sure who to tackle first, it's like trying to catch a greased pig on a swampy farm.
2.9 Billion Data Exposed on the Dark Web
In another episode of “Data Dramas’, When Background Checks Backfire, it is revealed that 2.9 billion people's personal information was mistakenly leaked online by National Public Data, also known as Jerico Pictures. This turned the internet into a real-life treasure hunt. Yes! "one billion two the B!" It appears that they paid more attention to background checks than to internal security procedures. Instead, they left the door wide open, and the notorious hacker group USDoD breezed in, grabbing data like it was Black Friday at a tech store. The USDoD didn't just stop at taking a peek; they took the whole file cabinet and are now selling it online for $3.5 million. A bargain if you consider how much a Netflix subscription costs these days.
The Data Drama Unfolds
It turns out that National Public Data was gathering personal data without obtaining consent, similar to the friend who takes your favorite sweatshirt and conveniently forgets to give it back. They scraped data from non-public sources and then, rather than securing it, treated it like a junior school project, stored on a floppy disk under their bed. A lawsuit was filed in Florida, and among the shocked victims is Christopher Hofmann, who discovered his info was leaked thanks to an identity theft protection service. Imagine waking up to find out your personal data has been out partying on the dark web while you were busy on TikTok watching “Why a fat kid loves cake”. Meanwhile, cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes noted that USDoD has been the villain behind multiple breaches, including TransUnion’s last year. It seems they’ve got a hobby that rivals stamp collecting, except with data leaks.
National Public Data’s Next Steps
What is the National Public Data plan, then? They could consider investing in some traditional encryption as their security is currently as tight as a submarine's screen door. Ideally, they will begin to treat data as the valuable asset that it is, rather than as a random piece of change you find under the couch.
Pun Intended
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By Christopher Shittu