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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER 08 - 13 JANUARY, 2024
Hello and Welcome,
Welcoming Members to January 2024
Our Committee hopes you are all still enjoying the festive activities, so we have decided not to hold any meetings during January. This will give members more time with family and friends and recharge their batteries, ready for another busy year.
We will be holding our club's Annual General Meeting very soon; however, it is prompting an urgent call for Committee nominations. Please consider.
— John Lucke
Meetings This Week
NO MEETINGS
Meetings Next Week
NO MEETINGS
Schedule of Current & Upcoming Meetings
First Tuesday 18:00-20:00 — Main Meeting
First Saturday 13:00-14:00 — Penrith Group
Second Tuesday 18:00-20:00 — Programming
Third Tuesday 10:00-12:00 — Tuesday Group
Third Saturday 14:00-16:00 — Web Design
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Go to the official Sydney PC Calendar for this month's meeting details.
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Penrith meetings are held every 2nd month on the 1st Saturday from 1-2 pm.
The next scheduled meetings are in March, May and July 2024.
NOTE: THE COMMITTEE SAYS, "THERE ARE NO CLUB MEETINGS in JANUARY."
ASCCA News:Tech News:
Marketers Claim to Listen In on Households
See the InfoPackets article by John Lister on December 27 2023, at 07:12 am EST.
A marketing company claims it can listen to private conversations in peoples' homes and gather data for targeted advertising. It's unclear if Cox Media Group (CMG) is "revealing" a poorly kept secret or exaggerating its capabilities to boost business.
CMG's marketing team made the claims in a pitch to other marketers. The details were revealed through a leak to 404 Media. (Source: 404media.co)
According to the leaked report, CMG promoted the technology as "Active Listening" and asked potential clients, "What would it mean for your business if you could target potential clients actively discussing their need for your services in their day-to-day conversations?" It appears it claimed to be able to listen in through phones, devices and smart TVs.
Trigger Phrases
The pitch gave examples of conversations householders might have that could identify them in a target market. These included "The car lease ends in a month — we need a plan" and "We need to get serious about planning for retirement."
CMG also told potential clients they could sign up to monitor householders in a ten or 20-mile radius. Once identified as suitable customers for a particular advertiser, householders would start seeing ads delivered by CMG "through streaming TV, streaming audio, display ads, YouTube, and Google and Bing search." (Source: storyboard18.com)
When questioned about the leak, CMG said its businesses "do not listen to any conversations" and that all data it collects is done in compliance with terms and conditions accepted by users. It added, "We regret any confusion; and are committed to ensuring our marketing is clear and transparent."
Hype Vs Reality
That leaves several possible explanations. One is that CMG technology analyses audio from people's homes and "listens out" for trigger phrases that could help target ads. Another is that it is developing such technology and plans to use it after attracting clients. A third possibility is that it has, at the least, significantly overhyped the technology to potential clients.
Many tech users have reported situations where they've spoken about something and seen a related ad shortly afterwards. However, most tech experts believe the amount of processing required to run a "listening operation" would not be financially viable for marketers. They also note that the sheer amount of data marketers and tech platforms can access on users, particularly by cross-referencing with friends and other contacts, means "listening in" isn't necessary.
What's Your Opinion?
Do you think CMG has the tech capabilities it promoted in the pitch? Do you believe any tech companies are monitoring the audio of conversations to target ads to customers? Do such reports and claims make you think twice about accepting terms and conditions on gadgets and services?
Assange to get final High Court chance for appeal in February
See the iTWire article by Sam Varghese | Thursday, 21 December 2023 at 09:07 am.
Demo for Julian Assange
The UK High Court will hold a two-day public hearing on 20 and 21 February 2024, at which WikiLeaks founder and publisher Julian Assange will have his final chance to appeal against his extradition to the US.
WikiLeaks said the hearing would be held before two judges who would review an earlier High Court decision on 6 June 2023, which refused Assange permission to appeal against his extradition.
A second appeal was filed on 13 June. Assange's extradition was given the green light in June 2022 by British Home Secretary Priti Patel.
Assange has been held in the high-security Belmarsh Prison since he was arrested following a US extradition request on 11 April 2019.
The February hearing will determine whether or not the WikiLeaks founder can argue his case further before British courts. If that fails, he may be able to approach the European Court of Human Rights.
Apart from his supporters, Assange has received backing from American and Australian politicians. In November, 16 American politicians from both sides of the political spectrum wrote to US President Joe Biden asking him to end the extradition bid.
In September, 63 members of Australia's Parliament published a letter in the Washington Post, calling for Assange to be freed. Six of this group travelled to Washington, DC, to lobby for the charges against Assange to be dropped.
John Rees of the Free Assange campaign said: "The US is attempting to convict Assange under the 1917 Espionage Act. If they get away with it, they will have succeeded in redefining journalism as spying.
"Every journalist will be intimidated. Every newspaper and broadcaster will look at material critical of the government and feel significant pressure not to publish for fear of prosecution and imprisonment.
"This is the most important press freedom case of the 21st century, and we need to ensure we don't lose any hard-won freedoms."
WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said: "There is no press without the protection to operate freely. Julian's case is a landmark moment; the UK needs to decide if it wishes to be a haven for a free press or to be complicit in degrading a core value of our democracy. This is the last chance for judges in the UK to halt this unjust extradition of an innocent man."
Store Opening Times May Hurt Google Rankings
See the InfoPackets article by John Lister on December 31 2023, at 12:12 pm EST.
A change to Google's search algorithm for local rankings has prompted fierce debate about what information is most helpful to customers. The rankings now vary minute to minute based on listed opening hours.
The change affects "local pack ranking". That section appears at the top of many Google search results pages showing three businesses close to the user's location and related to the search. The section, often marked "Places", gives basic information about the business, including its address and user ratings.
Many businesses recently noted their appearance or non-appearance in this spot would vary throughout the day, even when carried out by the same user from the exact same location.
Rankings Drop After Hours
It soon became apparent that Google had adjusted its algorithm to give much more weight to whether the businesses appeared open to customers at the moment of the search based on listed opening hours.
It's unclear if Google is removing "closed" businesses from the search rankings or simply pushing them down the list. Either way, the effect is essentially the same, given only three companies are shown in a local pack ranking.
Google posted on the former Twitter to confirm the change, saying, "The team tells me we've long used 'openness' as part of our local ranking systems, and it recently became a stronger signal for non-navigational queries. This might change in various ways as we continue to evaluate the usefulness of it, however." (Source: twitter.com)
Time Not Always of The Essence
A press release for SEO consultancy UNMiss pointed out users may be planning a future visit or researching options for a non-emergency situation, both cases where a business not being open at the moment of search makes no difference. It also noted that being "open" or "closed" doesn't make as much sense for a business that operates via appointments rather than unscheduled visits.
Another potential problem is that websites may now be tempted to change their listed opening hours to appear open 24/7. Google has warned against that, noting that its algorithm is constantly changing. Other search engine experts have indicated that listing inaccurate opening hours can cause problems getting support from Google or earning a "verified" status. (Source: searchengineland.com)
What's Your Opinion?
When searching for businesses, does it matter if they are open at that moment? Was Google right to make this change? Should Google approach this issue differently depending on the type of business?
The logic is simple: somebody searching for a type of business may want to go to a physical location or phone a company immediately. However, critics of the change have noted that it's often not the case.
Fun Facts:
Why Aren't Drones Allowed in National Parks?
See the How-To Geek article by BERTEL KING | PUBLISHED 28 December 2023.
National parks are beautiful places but think again if you're considering bringing your drone to take pictures.
Drone
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Drones are prohibited at national parks due to safety concerns, including the potential for crashes and environmental damage.
Drones are considered a noise and visual nuisance that disrupts the natural habitats of animals and ruins the experience for visitors.
If caught flying a drone without a permit at a national park, you can face jail time and a hefty fine. It's best to check the rules and use the B4UFLY app.
Drones are a great way to get excellent footage of beautiful places, but they're off-limits at America's national parks. Why? Let's look at the reasons in detail.
Why Drones Are Prohibited at National Parks
We've reached a point where drones are increasingly affordable for regular people, and many excellent drones are available today. Still, they come with more restrictions than other consumer electronics, regardless of your proximity to a national park. You need to register your drone before you can fly one in the first place. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also requires drones to broadcast their ID and their location through a process known as Remote ID.
That's because making something airborne makes it much more dangerous, and the number of people you could indirectly impact increases significantly, which is why we still don't have flying cars! Plus, we're discussing national parks, our concerns go far beyond how drones impact people.
Drones Are a Noise and Visual Nuisance
National parks are areas of land protected from human settlement and development. They serve as areas of conservation where plants and animals are free to thrive. Such parks are also places that people visit to see said plants and animals in their natural habitats.
Drones are not part of that habitat. The sight of a small vehicle with propellors ruins the environment for the animals living there and the people visiting. The sound of a drone can be disruptive to people and wildlife alike.
There Are Safety Concerns for Visitors, Wildlife, Geography, and Monuments
Like any vehicle, drones can crash. They risk causing accidental injury to park visitors or unintended structural damage. A nasty crash also poses the risk of fire, which can spread throughout and beyond park boundaries.
Many parks contain geographic features that have formed over eons. Others contain one-of-a-kind human-made creations. Either way, you don't want to scar the environment with a malfunctioning drone.
This is not a theoretical concern. Again, according to the National Park Service:
Small drones have crashed in geysers in Yellowstone National Park, attempted to land on the features of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, been lost over the edge of the Grand Canyon, and been stopped from flying in Prohibited Airspace over the Mall in Washington DC.
There's a Risk of Getting Lost in Inaccessible Places
Drones suffering from power loss or malfunction aren't just a safety concern. Sometimes, they go down to areas that no one can reach. Your drone may fall into a place where it's dangerous for you or anyone else to pursue it. Alternatively, the area may be accessible, but to do so requires such a degree of personnel and equipment that the effort comes at great taxpayer expense.
Can You Fly Near a National Park?
The National Park Service will only allow you to launch, land, or operate a drone from a national park with a particular use permit. The application for said permit comes with a fee, and approval isn't guaranteed.
What if you're close to, but not inside, park boundaries? Well, the National Park Service only has jurisdiction within national parks. If you're standing on privately owned land outside the park, you can fly there, assuming you have the landholder's permission. In those circumstances, you must still adhere to line-of-sight rules.
What if you fly a drone in a national park?
Flying a drone at a national park without a permit is considered a misdemeanour, but the punishment can be severe. Someone who breaks the rule risks up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine. The legal basis for this is disputed, but it's ultimately up to park rangers to enforce the prohibition, and they can exercise their discretion.
How to Tell if You're Near a National Park's Airspace
For help confirming whether you can legally fly in an area, the Federal Aviation Administration (in partnership with developer Aloft) provides the B4UFLY app on the Apple App Store and Google Play. The FAA also provides a detailed set of resources for drone owners on its website, Know Before You Fly.
NOTE:
Even though the Federal Administration recommends the B4UFLY app, the maps aren't guaranteed to be accurate. "The app said this area was safe" may not be accepted as a valid defence if you're caught flying in an authorized area, so it's best to double-check with another source if you're unsure.
Where Can You Read Up on the Law Yourself?
The National Park Service gets the authority to make rules concerning the public use of drones under title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 1.5.
The National Park Service director released Policy Memorandum 14-05 in June 2014, which provided specific rules for superintendents on the permitted and prohibited use of drones in National Parks. The regulations detailed here come from that document.
Are There Alternatives to National Parks Where You're Permitted to Fly?
Understanding where you can fly helps to have a general idea of where you can't.
While there are varying degrees of ambiguity, for the most part, you want to avoid flying around the following locations:
Airports
Military bases
Government buildings
Schools
Stadiums
Near power lines
Over large crowds
What areas are left? If you live in a rural area or within a neighbourhood, it's generally safe to fly as long as you aren't in a prohibited area. Examples include a housing development near military bases and government buildings. These are the same areas where retailers attempt to deliver packages by drone.
Public parks are also safe to fly, as long as you follow the FAA's general rules. If you want to fly in an area similar to a national park, look into state parks instead. Laws there vary based on your state, so check the rules for the specific parks near you before visiting.
Meeting Location & Disclaimer
Bob Backstrom
~ Newsletter Editor ~
Information for Members and Visitors:
Link to — Sydney PC & Technology User Group
All Meetings, unless explicitly stated above, are held on the
1st Floor, Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney.
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