NEW RESOURCES

Tubefilter: This database helps content creators find managers. “The database–which is free to access–has information about more than 10,000 managers and agencies who work with content creators. Creators can filter search managers/agencies by dozens of content categories, like beauty, education, ASMR, gaming, narrative storytelling, podcasts, pets, food, and more. They can also search by general geographic location and by the size of the management company/agency.”

TWEAKS AND UPDATES

Ars Technica: FCC prepares $75 monthly broadband subsidies for “high-cost” areas. “The Federal Communications Commission is paving the way for $75 monthly subsidies to make broadband service more affordable for low-income households in certain ‘high-cost’ areas. The $75 subsidy will be part of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) that generally offers $30 monthly discounts to people with low incomes. The ACP was created by Congress in late 2021 and implemented by the FCC to replace a previous pandemic-related subsidy program.”

The Verge: Google Search can now critique your grammar. “The grammar check feature appears to have been available since at least last month, although Google warns its suggestions might not be 100 percent accurate.”

AROUND THE INTERNET WORLD

New York Times: A New Frontier for Travel Scammers: A.I.-Generated Guidebooks. “The books are the result of a swirling mix of modern tools: A.I. apps that can produce text and fake portraits; websites with a seemingly endless array of stock photos and graphics; self-publishing platforms — like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing — with few guardrails against the use of A.I.; and the ability to solicit, purchase and post phony online reviews, which runs counter to Amazon’s policies and may soon face increased regulation from the Federal Trade Commission.”

WCVB: Boston City Hall Plaza Playground’s ‘Cop Slide’ now appears on Google Maps. “‘Cop slide’ appears to be sticking as the unofficial name for the massive slide at Boston’s City Hall Plaza playground. The attraction, which earned its nickname for the viral video of a Boston police officer taking a ride that became a tumble, now appears on Google Maps.”

SECURITY & LEGAL

TorrentFreak: Z-Library Rolls Out Browser Extensions in Anticipation of Domain Name Troubles. “Pirate eBook repository Z-Library has launched browser extensions that should make it easier for users to find the site if its current domains are seized in the future. While the site doesn’t explicitly mention the U.S. Government crackdown, it likely plays a key role in the decision to make these extensions available.”

Bloomberg: India House Approves Privacy Bill in Boon for Google, Meta. “The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023 that has been years in the making allows companies to export data to any country except those specified by New Delhi. The move is a boon for global enterprises such as Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Meta Platforms Inc. as it eases data flows and reduces their compliance burdens.”

RESEARCH & OPINION

Los Angeles Times: Column: A few sick days made it clear — Twitter is dying, and so is social media as we know it. “For over a decade, logging onto social media — especially Twitter — has been among the first steps of the day for countless professionals, students, and the very online; a way to instantaneously reenter the fray; get up to date on the latest news, trends and memes. Over the years, despite the chaos that tumbled down its feed, it became an orienting force; a way that we parsed and organized information for the coming day, or week. That force is, for all intents and purposes, extinguished.”

FedScoop: State Department shutters AI-based project that aimed to forecast violence and COVID-19. “The State Department is no longer pursuing an artificial intelligence project that aimed to ‘test the statistical relationship between social media activity overseas and activity by violent extremist organizations,’ an agency spokesperson told FedScoop. The shuttered pilot is one of several initiatives disclosed in the agency’s AI use case inventory and is still listed on the State Department website.”

Fast Company: Google Maps has become an eyesore. 5 examples of how the app has lost its way. “Google Maps still holds around 80% of the mobile market. But in recent years, I’ve found myself getting increasingly frustrated with the Google Maps experience, especially when it comes to general navigation and exploration of a map area. Here are the five main reasons Google Maps has become a cluttered, frustrating mess—and why I find myself turning to Apple Maps more often.” Good afternoon, Internet…

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