Communications of the ACM
An edited collection of advanced computing news from Communications of the ACM, ACM TechNews, other ACM resources, and news sites around the Web.
From ACM News
Blow to Amazon Union Drive as New York Workers Reject Latest Bid
Warehouse workers near Albany vote against forming a union by nearly two to one margin.
From ACM TechNews
French Tax Officials Use AI to Spot 20,000 Undeclared Pools
French tax officials used artificial intelligence to identify over 20,0000 undeclared private swimming pools, constituting about €10 million (over $10 million)...
From ACM TechNews
New Zealand VR App Helps Conquer Phobias
oVRcome, a phone-based virtual reality (VR) application designed to treat phobias, successfully completed a six-week clinical trial.
From ACM News
'They Couldn't Even Scream Any More. They Were Just Sobbing': The Amateur Investors Ruined by the Crypto Crash
Fuelled by hype and hysteria, the market in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies went from an obscure niche to a $3-trillion industry. Then the house of cards collapsed...
From ACM News
I Am Not a Robot: iOS Verification Update Marks End of 'Captchas'
Tests where you are asked to spot traffic lights or type out wobbly letters may be a thing of the past.
From ACM TechNews
U.K. Brownies to Learn Coding in Bid to Involve More Girls in Technology
Brownies, the second-youngest section of Girlguiding (scouting) in the U.K. for girls aged 7–10, are learning to code, while Guides (ages 10-14) are working with...
From ACM TechNews
People with Type 1 Diabetes in England to Receive Skin Sensor to Monitor Blood Sugar
The U.K. National Health Service will offer roughly 250,000 people in England with type 1 diabetes a skin sensor to monitor their blood sugar.
From ACM TechNews
Drone Operators Who Halted Russian Convoy Headed for Kyiv
A Russian armored convey headed toward Kyiv was halted by night ambushes by Ukrainian special forces and drone operators who are part of an air reconnaissance unit...
From ACM News
Pinterest Bans All Climate Misinformation
The image-focused social network says it will take down content that distorts or denies facts of climate crisis.
From ACM News
AI Beats 8 World Champions at Bridge
Victory marks milestone for AI as bridge requires more human skills than other strategy games
From ACM TechNews
Seconds Before Earthquake Rattled California, Phones Got Vital Warning
An early-alert system managed by the U.S. Geological Survey on Monday warned Californians of a 6.2-magnitude earthquake by phone, seconds before it struck.
From ACM TechNews
World's Largest Lab-Grown Steak Unveiled by Israeli Firm
Researchers at the Israeli firm MeaTech 3D said they have grown a 4-ounce steak in a lab, the largest produced thus far.
From ACM TechNews
South Korea Trials Robots in Preschools to Prepare Children for High-Tech Future
The South Korean government has launched trials of small robots in 300 nurseries and childcare centers in Seoul as teaching aids.
From ACM TechNews
Working of Algorithms Used in Government Decision-Making to Be Revealed
A new U.K. government standard for transparency requires ministers and public entities to disclose the underlying architecture of algorithms they use for decision...
From ACM TechNews
Twitter Admits Bias in Algorithm for Rightwing Politicians, News Outlets
Researchers at Twitter found that the social media platform amplifies more tweets from rightwing politicians and news outlets than content from leftwing sources...
From ACM TechNews
Privacy Fears as Moscow Metro Rolls Out Facial Recognition Pay System
Privacy activists warn the Moscow metro's Face Pay facial recognition payment system constitutes a sinister move by Russia to monitor and control its people.
From ACM TechNews
7-Eleven Took Photos of Australian Customers' Faces Without Consent, Privacy Commissioner Rules
Australian privacy commissioner Angelene Falk said facial recognition technology used in 700 Australian 7-Eleven stores interfered with customer privacy.
From ACM News
Zuckerberg Hits Back at Facebook Whistleblower Claims
Frances Haugen's testimony that social networking company puts profit before people just not true."
From ACM News
Huge Data Leak Shatters the Lie that the Innocent Need Not Fear Surveillance
The Guardian's investigation shows how repressive regimes can buy and use the kind of spying tools Edward Snowden warned us about.
From ACM TechNews