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Submission Summary: 0 pending, 4 declined, 1 accepted (5 total, 20.00% accepted)

Submission + - Facebook and Instagram pushing users to auto-follow Trump and JD Vance

Submitted by SouthSeb
SouthSeb writes: Since yesterday, many users from both Facebook and Instagram (both owned by Mark Zuckerberg's Meta) are reporting that their accounts started to auto-follow Trump and JD Vance on the social media apps.

Official FB explanation was that these users were previously following the official POTUS and VP profiles, which just changed hands.

But plenty of users are challenging that statement. According to them, they never followed any of these accounts. Also, they claim they tried to unfollow them just to find in the next few hours that they were being followed again.

Some people also noted that the "changing hands" explanation may not be true because the previously Biden and Harris accounts got actually archived.

Submission + - Google's Gemini auto installing in smartphones without permission

Submitted by SouthSeb
SouthSeb writes: Yesterday I received an e-mail from Google touting their AI assistant Gemini and all the fabulous things it could do for me. The e-mail expressly said:

If you wish to switch your device's primary assistant to Google Assistant, you can do that in Settings.

But it's worth noting that in the small final letters the e-mail stated:

When you use Gemini, Google collects your activity, like your chats and location info. This data is stored in your Google Account and used to improve Google AI and services with help from trained reviewers.

So, what did I do? Thanks, but no Google. Moved it to thrash and ignored it. But, to my surprise, next morning I woke up and noticed that Google already installed it and made the switch, without my permission. So I did a search and found a Reddit tread showing that I'm not alone. So, it seems Google is now not only auto installing the AI assistant on people devices. But since it uses their private data for training, it is also doing it without their permission.

Submission + - Apple ordered to open up in-app purchases in Brazil (techcrunch.com)

Submitted by SouthSeb
SouthSeb writes: Following other countries, Brazil antitrust agency ordered Apple to allow app owners to show external links for subscriptions and purchases or process in-app payments themselves. The order came after a complaint from MercadoLibre, Amazon's largest competitor in Latin America.

Apple has 20 days to comply or face fines of US$43,000 per day.

Submission + - Honda and Sony to build an entertaining EV (techcrunch.com)

Submitted by SouthSeb
SouthSeb writes: Since cars are expected to fully drive themselves in a near future, how to mantain their occupants entertained seems to be the next big question. It makes one wonder if cars are going to radically change and become more and more like living rooms or office spaces on wheels.

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