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The unsealed New Mexico Snapchat lawsuit alleges the company ignored child safety

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On September 5, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a lawsuit against Snap. Torrez claimed that Snapchat has become a platform rife with sexual exploitation, child grooming and other dangerous behaviors. That legal complaint was heavily redacted, but today, Torrez announced in a press release that he has filed an unsealed complaint, which goes into detail on how Snap allegedly knowingly created an environment that exposed children to sexual predators.

The unredacted accusations include how Snap employees encountered 10,000 sextortion cases each month. Still, the company never warned users because it did not want to “strike fear” among them. The statement also mentioned that Snap employees regularly ignored user reports related to grooming and sextortion. An account with 75 separate reports remains active, and Snap refused to touch any of this content, citing “disproportionate admin costs.”

Snapchat’s disappearing messages have long been a draw of the platform, but the suit alleges that they lull users into a false sense of security. Therefore, predators find it easier to solicit explicit images from users before extorting them for money, or these images will be sent to friends and family.

The unredacted complaint also notes that Snapchat’s “Quick Add” feature was suggesting adult strangers to minors, and Snap Map also lets adults find minors’ accounts. Quick Add was even proven to be dangerous as a New Mexico man, Alejandro Marquez, had used it to lure and rape an 11-year-old girl, as mentioned in the complaint.

The complaint also alleges that Snap's upper management routinely ignored former trust and safety employees who pushed for additional and improved safety mechanisms. CEO Evan Spiegel “prioritized design” over safety and even refused to preserve abusive images for review and for law enforcement to use as proof. The company also didn’t keep its child sex abuse images database updated, even rolling back changes and deleting evidence of matches.

Even worse, predators using Snapchat have taken to creating a “Sextortion handbook” to teach others how to target users at schools. Compounded with the fact that 90 percent of all reports are ignored and 30 percent of victims never received any assistance from Snap, predators could essentially roam freely.

That’s not the only issue New Mexico is concerned with. The complaint also accuses Snap of tolerating drug and gun sales. Drug dealers freely used the platform to advertise their wares without repercussions while also gaining “a huge amount of subscribers.” Teens have even died after using drugs they bought after seeing them advertised on Snapchat.

As harmful as these dangers are, Snapchat makes it difficult for parents to monitor their children’s Snapchat use, as only 0.33 percent of teens have joined the Family Center. Snapchat also doesn’t truly verify a user’s age, allowing fake birthdays to pass inspection. This contradicts Snap’s claims that it doesn’t let children under 13 years old use the app.

Based on these accusations, it would be easy to conclude that Snapchat is a dangerous platform for underage users. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation’s Director of Corporate and Strategic Initiatives, Lina Nealon, said: “In my conversations with law enforcement, child safety experts, lawyers, survivors, and youth, I ask them what the most dangerous app is, and without fail, Snap is in the top two.”

In a statement Snap sent to Engadget last month when the lawsuit was filed, the company claimed to be diligently removing bad actors and working with law enforcement. Today, Snap provided the following statement in regards to the unsealed complaint:

"We designed Snapchat as a place to communicate with a close circle of friends, with built-in safety guardrails, and have made deliberate design choices to make it difficult for strangers to discover minors on our service. We continue to evolve our safety mechanisms and policies, from leveraging advanced technology to detect and block certain activity, to prohibiting friending from suspicious accounts, to working alongside law enforcement and government agencies, among so much more.

We care deeply about our work here and it pains us when bad actors abuse our service. We know that no one person, agency, or company can advance this work alone, which is why we are working collaboratively across the industry, government, and law enforcement to exchange information and concept stronger defenses."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-unsealed-new-mexico-snapchat-lawsuit-alleges-the-company-ignored-child-safety-154235977.html?src=rss

Microsoft kills HoloLens 2, with no plans for a follow up device

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It looks like Microsoft’s AR platform HoloLens is being sent to a nice tech farm upstate. The company just announced that it’s discontinuing production of its HoloLens 2 headset, according to reporting by UploadVR. Microsoft has no plans for a followup device, so this is the end of the road.

The company has told its customers and enterprise partners that this will be the last time to purchase the headset before stock runs out. However, HoloLens 2 headsets will continue to receive "updates to address critical security issues and software regressions" until 2028. That will mark the end of software updates. The original HoloLens headset will stop getting software updates on December 10. That's in two months. 

We reached out to Microsoft to ask about its decision to end production of HoloLens headsets and if there’s any chance for a hardware update at some point in the future. We’ll update this post when we hear back.

This move isn’t that surprising, considering Microsoft scrapped plans for a HoloLens 3 headset back in 2022. Alex Kipman, the company’s mixed reality chief, said that same year that the “HoloLens is doing great” and that any rumors regarding the demise of the platform were greatly exaggerated. What a difference two years makes.

The HoloLens 2 first launched in 2019, just three years after the original. It was advertised as a device for enterprise consumers, so it never really entered the mass market. This was before decent passthrough became the norm in the AR/VR industry, so it had a lock on the enterprise market for a few years. It looks like that wasn’t enough. Microsoft nixed its entire mixed reality software suite last year. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/microsoft-kills-hololens-2-with-no-plans-for-a-follow-up-device-153319304.html?src=rss

VTuber Ironmouse breaks all-time record for concurrent Twitch subscribers

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A VTuber called Ironmouse now has the highest number of subscribers on Twitch, breaking the record previously set by Kai Cenat. As of this writing, Ironmouse has over 320,000 current subscribers on the website based on the counter on her profile, almost 14,000 higher than Cenat's record. Twitch subscribers pay either once or on a recurring monthly basis to support a creator's channel unlike ordinary, non-paying followers. Ironmouse, who uses a digital pink-haired anime girl avatar to interact with her fans, has been streaming regularly over the past 30 days as part of a "subathon" event."

Half of what she'll get from subscriptions will go towards charity, according to her profile, specifically the Immune Deficiency Foundation. As Polygon notes, Ironmouse has talked about her struggles with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) in the past. The immune deficiency disease apparently left her bedridden at some points in her life.

Ironmouse mostly streams herself playing games, singing, collaborating with other streamers and Vtubers, and just interacting with her viewers. On her bio page, she describes herself as "your cringe demon queen from VShojo," the talent agency for VTubers which she's a part of. She posted a thank you message to her subscribers on X after breaking Kai Cenat's record, while Twitch posted a message congratulating her for "hitting the all-time sub count record."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/vtuber-ironmouse-breaks-all-time-record-for-concurrent-twitch-subscribers-153029423.html?src=rss

Jeep recalls 194,000 plug-in hybrids due to fire risks

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Jeep's owner, Stellantis, has recalled about 194,000 plug-in hybrid SUVs from the brand due to a risk of fire. The recall impacts specific Jeep Wrangler 4xe models from 2020 to 2024 and some Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe SUVs from 2022 to 2024 — the company estimates about five percent of the vehicles will have the defect. It discovered the issue after 13 fires were reported, all when the vehicle was parked and off. 

Despite the risk, Stellantis is not yet having customers bring their hybrids in for servicing. Instead, the company claims a "remedy is imminent," and owners will get notified when they can come in. For now, Stellantis states, "Vehicle risk is reduced when the battery charge level is depleted. Accordingly, owners are advised to refrain from recharging. Out of an abundance of caution, the company is also advising owners of these vehicles to park away from structures or other vehicles until the remedy is obtained." Basically, good luck if this is your mode of transportation because you really don't want to use it.

The recall has the greatest impact on US-based customers, with 154,032 vehicles recalled across the country. There are just over 14,000 affected vehicles in Canada, 673 in Mexico and 25,502 outside of North America. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/jeep-recalls-194000-plug-in-hybrids-due-to-fire-risks-150059282.html?src=rss

Here’s how Sonos hopes to win back your trust after its app debacle

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It’s been a disastrous few months for Sonos after the company botched a major overhaul of its mobile app. In an effort to win back users’ trust, the company has laid out a plan that includes several new commitments.

“Our priority since its release has been — and continues to be — fixing the app. There were missteps, and we first went deep to understand how we got here, and then moved to convert those learnings into action,” Sonos CEO Patrick Spence said in a statement. “We are committed to making changes to get us back to being the brand people love by offering the best audio system for the home and beyond.”

There are two pillars that Sonos’ latest plan is based on: tackling the core causes of the app’s problems (it wasn’t fully ready and lacked critical features) and winning back users’ trust. In the first instance, Sonos is promising an "unwavering focus on the customer experience." That nebulous commitment involves deciding on "ambitious quality benchmarks" at the beginning of a product development cycle and not releasing products before those standards are met.

The company will appoint a quality ombudsperson, who will be a point of contact for employees who have quality and customer experience concerns. Sonos leadership will consult this person during the development process and before any product rollouts. The ombudsperson will deliver a semi-annual report to the executives and employees as well.

Next, Sonos is planning to make its testing processes more stringent, such as by opening up its beta testing program to more types of users and different kinds of setups. Testing periods will be longer too. As such, Sonos thinks this will help it to address user concerns faster.

In addition, Sonos has pledged to roll out major changes to its app gradually. That way, users can provide feedback and let the company make tweaks before a significant update becomes the default for everyone. As for smaller-scoped features, there will be an opt-in toggle in the app for those who want to try them out on an experimental basis.

When it comes to earning consumers’ trust again, Sonos is making a trio of pledges. First, as a goodwill gesture, Sonos is extending the manufacturer warranty for all home speaker products (home theater gear and plug-in speakers) that are still under warranty. The company has promised to keep rolling out app updates between every two and four weeks in order to "optimize and enhance the software experience."

Last but not least, Sonos will set up a customer advisory board. This will provide the company with "feedback and insights from a customer perspective to help shape and improve our software and products before they are launched."

The company plans to implement all of these changes by the end of the year, though some of them are already in place. Sonos also notes that, unless it's able to rebuild trust with users and improve "the quality of the app experience," none of its executive leadership team members will receive an annual bonus for the fiscal year that commenced today. However, the company didn't spell out the parameters for meeting those goals.

The company debuted its new app in May in preparation for the debut of the Sonos Ace, its first set of headphones. However, to its detriment, Sonos rushed the rollout of the redesigned app. It was buggy and lacked several important and fundamental features, such as the ability to adjust alarms (it was possible, but inconvenient, to do that on the desktop app).

The company has spent several months trying to fix the issues, which it says will end up costing between $20 million and $30 million to resolve. The problems prompted Sonos to delay the release of two new products. It also laid off 100 workers in August.

Sonos says that it has brought back over 80 percent of the app's missing features and it expects to have restored almost 100 percent in the coming weeks. It claims that "the reliability and speed of the app has improved with each release."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/heres-how-sonos-hopes-to-win-back-your-trust-after-its-app-debacle-144236940.html?src=rss

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Essentials bundle drops to its lowest price of the year ahead of Prime Day

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If you're on the hunt for a new ereader, early Prime Day deals might have just what you're looking for. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Essentials bundle is down to $203 right now, which is $55 off and the best price we've seen all year. It includes Amazon's higher-end ereader with 32GB of storage along with a fabric cover and its own wireless charging stand, so you'll have an attractive and dedicated spot to place the ereader for charging when you're not using it.

The Kindle Paperweight Signature Edition launched in 2021 and we called it "The best e-reader. Period." While other e-readers have come into the picture, it's still a great option — especially for Prime members. We gave it a 97 in our review thanks to features like a larger, more responsive screen and smaller bezels. The combination of the two gives this device an extra lux feel compared to alternatives. This edition also includes 17 individual LEDs, up from the five in its predecessor. The lights let you adjust the warm hue, similar to Apple's Night Shift.

It also has some logistical benefits like USB-C charging and wireless charging — with the e-reader lasting up to ten weeks on just one charge. The addition of the fabric case and wireless charging dock make it easy to keep your Kindle juiced up and damage free for only $13 more than buying the Paperwhite Signature Edition on its own. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-kindle-paperwhite-signature-essentials-bundle-drops-to-its-lowest-price-of-the-year-ahead-of-prime-day-141717270.html?src=rss

Microsoft delivers new Copilot+ AI PC features with Windows 11’s 2024 update

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Now that we're a few years into Microsoft's obsession with AI and its Copilot assistant, it's clearer than ever that Windows 11's role is to show off the company's artificial intelligence prowess. At least, that's the message I took away from today's announcement that the Windows 11 2024 (version 24H2) update is now beginning to roll out. While the OS itself is getting a few new features, like long overdue File Explorer tweaks, Microsoft is far more eager to hype up new Copilot+ AI PC capabilities.

There's "Click to Do," which triggers Copilot to assist you with whatever is on your screen, like removing an object in the Photos app, or summarizing a long article. It's seemingly easy to use — just hold the Windows button down and click your target — and Microsoft says it'll offer contextually relevant tips. As with so many of the company’s AI features, you can think of Click to Do as an on-demand super-powered version of Clippy, its infamous software helper from years past. But since Click to Do appears at your whim, and there are actually some potentially useful AI features, it should hopefully be far less annoying than that damn paperclip.

Windows 11 2024 update
Click to Do in Windows 11.
Microsoft

You'll also be able to upscale pictures in the Photos app by up to eight times their resolution. A slider will let you adjust precisely how much you'd like to increase the quality. This isn't particularly new—Adobe has its own AI-powered Super Resolution capability, as does the popular Mac photo editing app Pixelmator. But at least it's helpful to have it built directly into your OS. Generative AI-based fill and erase options are also coming to Paint, allowing you to remove objects or easily create new ones.

Microsoft has hinted at some AI-powered search improvements in the past, and it looks like those are finally arriving with the Windows 11 2024 update. Now you can find files using your own words, without worrying about esoteric search syntax. If you want to find pictures of your dog by the beach, you can just type that.

And of course, there's Recall, the company's debut Copilot+ feature for retrieving anything that happens on your computer. It was immediately criticized for being surprisingly insecure — researchers discovered that hackers could access the Recall screenshot database without administrator privilege. Microsoft immediately delayed Recall to revamp its security model: It's now making the feature completely opt-in, instead of flipping it on by default. Windows Hello biometric authentication is required to use Recall, and it's also encrypting the screenshot database and other interactions.

Windows 11 2024 update
Recall timeline in Windows 11.
Microsoft

Last week, the company detailed more of its security methods, including using VBS Enclaves to further isolate Recall from hackers. David Weston, Microsoft's VP of OS and enterprise security, noted in a blog post that "you are always in control" of the Recall experience. That reassurance may not be enough for users turned off by Microsoft's initial security flubs, though. If anything, Recall's rollout was a clear example of how the company was cutting corners to move quickly and be seen as an AI industry leader.

"Copilot will be there for you, in your corner, by your side, and always strongly aligned with your interests.," Mustafa Suleyman, the company's head of AI, wrote in an overly enthusiastic blog post. "It understands the context of your life while safeguarding your privacy, data and security, remembering the details that are most helpful in any situation."

Security will undoubtedly be a major concern for Copilot users moving forward, and according to Microsoft's Windows head, Pavan Davuluri, the company has learned from its troubled Recall launch.

"Ultimately, users want to have confidence with anything happening with sensitive data caches," he said in a briefing with press, adding that he believes the company has "gone above and beyond" to create that confidence. He also acknowledged that AI features enable "new attacks and defenses." For example, Windows has traditionally allowed administrator accounts to have total access to everything on a machine, but now users may want to see "additional rings of protection" with AI features.

Surface Pro Copilot+
The Surface Pro Copilot+ AI PC.
Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

Davuluri stressed that community feedback helped Microsoft make Recall more secure for users, and the company will continue listening as it carefully rolls out more AI-infused capabilities. That's also why all of the above Copilot+ features won't be rolling out to everyone immediately — they'll be available to Windows Insiders first, and then arrive via a phased rollout to "select devices and markets" in November. The Windows 11 2024 update will also have a staggered rollout starting today. If you're eager to snag it, make sure you've enabled "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" in Windows Update.

And what about features from this Windows 11 update that don't require Copilot+ PCs? They appear at the tail-end of Davuluri's blog post today, almost as an afterthought: There's Wi-Fi 7 support, HDR backgrounds, Energy Saver improvements to prolong battery life and better hearing aid support using Bluetooth LE. They sound like the Windows upgrades we used to see before Microsoft became completely AI-pilled, but they're certainly not as exciting as something like Click to Do.

Of course, that's all intentional. If you want to join the Copilot+ AI PC party, you'll probably have to get a new computer. And that's precisely what Microsoft and PC makers want.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/microsoft-delivers-new-copilot-ai-pc-features-with-windows-11s-2024-update-140048807.html?src=rss

Microsoft’s Copilot AI gets a voice and the ability to see websites you browse

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Beyond debuting new features for Copilot+ AI PCs and Windows 11's 2024 update, Microsoft is also giving its Copilot AI a makeover on the web, mobile and desktop. That includes a slightly friendlier interface wherever you access it, along with new capabilities like Copilot Voice, which allows you to talk conversationally with the AI assistant. Ultimately, Microsoft is aiming for Copilot to be seen as more than just a party trick for generative AI search and image creation — it's trying to make it a core part of your daily workflow.

That starts with a cleaner and simpler UI that makes Copilot look different than a boring old search engine. That new look hits Copilot on the web, iOS, Android and Windows today. You'll also be able to access Copilot from within Whatsapp, which could be useful if you want to avoid Meta's AI assistant.

Microsoft also plans to release more experimental AI features via Copilot Labs, similar to the way Google has given users access to early features with its own Labs. There's Copilot Vision, which lets the AI see everything you're viewing in Edge, and Think Deeper, a method for letting Copilot work harder on more complex dilemmas. Both features also have the potential to create new privacy and security issues, but Microsoft appears to have learned a bit from its messy rollout for Recall on Copilot+ PCs. Notably, these Copilot Labs offerings will only be available to people paying for Copilot Pro subscriptions.

Microsoft says Copilot Vision sessions are "opt-in and ephemeral," and nothing is stored for AI training. Any data related to your session is deleted once you're done. The feature also won't work on all websites, only a "limited list of popular websites." And Microsoft notes that Copilot only interprets images and text that you're seeing on a website; it's not doing any major content processing. The company also plans to take feedback from early users, refine safety measures and "keep privacy and responsibility at the center of everything we do."

There's no doubt that Microsoft has to re-establish trust with its users after the botched rollout for Recall, a feature that was meant to help you find anything you've done on your computer, but had some gaping security holes early on. "Ultimately, users want to have confidence with anything happening with sensitive data caches," Microsoft's Windows head, Pavan Davuluri, said when we asked him about the lessons the company learned from the Recall fiasco. He added that he believes the company has "gone above and beyond" to create that confidence by establishing new security standards for Recall.

Microsoft Copilot
Copilot Discover
Microsoft

There are less controversial features coming, as well: Copilot Daily uses Copilot Voice to delivery a summary of news, weather and potentially reminders about tasks every day. Based on the demos we've seen, it's a lot like an early morning podcast built just for you. Copilot Discover, meanwhile, will give you tips about AI features to use (pictured in the screenshot above), depending on Microsoft services you've used in the past.

Personally, I'm still a bit ambivalent about Microsoft's near-instant transformation into an AI company. That's particularly true since we're still dealing with inaccuracies and other issues from OpenAI's ChatGPT, which Microsoft relies on to power Copilot. These Copilot features seem a bit more useful than being a souped-up search engine, but the company still needs to prove it can build AI features with bulletproof security and privacy.

As with practically any AI product these days, Microsoft is also staggering the release of these Copilot features. Copilot Voice and Daily launch today, but Voice will only be available in English in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and New Zealand. Copilot Daily, meanwhile, only works in the US and UK for now. Copilot Vision will head to Labs over the coming days for a "limited number" of Copilot Pro subscribers, while Think Deeper is available for Pro users in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/microsofts-copilot-ai-gets-a-voice-and-the-ability-to-see-websites-you-browse-140030003.html?src=rss

How to get Microsoft’s Windows 11 2024 update (and be ready for new Copilot+ features)

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Windows 11 2024 (aka 24H2) is one of Microsoft's more confusing updates ever since it contains AI features for the new Copilot+ PCs that won't come to other machines. That wasn't helped by some baffling communication from Redmond that didn't make it crystal clear who would be receiving which updates and when. Now, Microsoft has announced in a news release that Windows 11 2024 is rolling out starting today, so here's how that process will work. 

The update will be a full operating system (OS) swap with new "foundational elements" that will effectively pave the way for new Copilot+ AI features arriving later. It'll be released to all PCs with Windows 11 and not just Copilot+ PC owners. It will not contain any Copilot+ AI features at first — just as Apple's latest iPhones and iOS 18 didn't have its vaunted Apple Intelligence to start with.

Improvements for all users on 24H2 include an updated taskbar, new USB 80Gbps speeds, RUST support and default BitLocker encryption. If you have the latest AMD 9000-series processors, a patch will improve gaming performance by 3-13 percent (if you don't already have it). You'll also get an enhanced battery saver, Bluetooth LE audio, HDR backgrounds and Wi-Fi 7 support.

If you've got Windows 11, you're eligible for the 2024 update, as the system requirements haven't changed. However, some users will get it sooner than others. The first phase of rollouts will come to eligible devices running Windows 11, version 22H2 and 23H2, so make sure you've got those. You'll also want to set up your machine to receive updates quickly and automatically, so navigate to Settings > Windows Update, and turn on "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available."

Otherwise, the timing of the update is a bit out of your control. After the first phase, Microsoft will make the 24H2 update available to "existing in-market devices based on hardware eligibility, reliability metrics and other factors that impact the update experience," the company wrote. Microsoft will at least let you know via the Windows Update Settings page when it's available for your device.

Nobody will get any of the key Copilot+ features at first (like Recall, Click to Do and improved Windows Search). Windows Insiders with Copilot+ PCs will be the first to receive them, starting in October. That'll be followed by a phased rollout to select devices and markets beginning in November. Again, you won't be eligible for these features (ever) unless you have a Copilot+ PC. For more on those features, check out our dedicated article. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/how-to-get-microsofts-windows-11-2024-update-and-be-ready-for-new-copilot-features-140019243.html?src=rss

Watch the trailer for Squid Game 2

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We are so close to getting season two of Squid Game — the show famously rejected for nearly a decade before becoming a sensation on Netflix. The streamer has just shared a full-length trailer ahead of the season's December 26 premiere, calling for viewers to "Get back in the game."

It features Gong Yoo reprising his role as the salesman. Yoo starts his day calmly, looking at the cityscape and getting ready alongside cheery music before the atmosphere turns sinister as he opens a safe, grabbing ddakji pieces. He then heads to the subway and approaches a new player, asking, "Sir, would you like to play a game with me?"

Netflix first announced Squid Game season two in 2022 but only set a release date in August — nearly three years after the first season came out. Next time, there shouldn't be as large a gap as Netflix also shared that the show's third and final season should arrive in 2025. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/watch-the-trailer-for-squid-game-2-133047996.html?src=rss