Posts Categorized: IT and the law

Why robots will build the cities of the future

Posted by & filed under 3D Printing, Careers, Emerging Technologies, Ethical Issues, IT and the law.

Shinichi Sakamoto is 57, and works for Shimizu, one of Japan’s biggest construction companies. He is part of a greying, and dwindling, workforce. “The thing is, statistics show a third of [Japanese construction] labourers are over 54 years old, and they are considering retiring so soon,” says Mr Sakamoto, who is deputy head of Shimizu’s… Read more »

N.W.T. man becomes first convicted under Criminal Code for unsafe drone use

Posted by & filed under Drones, IT and the law.

Toufic Chamas, left, leaves court in Yellowknife with his lawyer, Tracy Bock, earlier this month. For illegal drone flying, Chamas was fined $3,000, sentenced to five days in jail, which he has already served, and isn’t allowed to drive for two years. Source: CBC News Date: October 26th, 2018 Link: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/drone-flyer-convicted-yellowknife-1.4879016 Discussion 1) Are there technological ways to… Read more »

‘Child porn links could make Bitcoin blockchain illegal’

Posted by & filed under blockchain, disruptive technology, Ethical Issues, IT and the law.

Researchers in Germany have found hundreds of links to child sexual abuse imagery on Bitcoin’s blockchain. This could make using the blockchain, a digital ledger of crypto-currency transactions, illegal.  The study, from RWTH Aachen University, also said other files on the blockchain may violate copyright and privacy laws.  Researchers said they had found eight files with sexual content…. Read more »

Canada’s privacy commissioner proposes right to change inaccurate search engine results

Posted by & filed under Civil Liberties, Ethical Issues, Google, IT and the law, IT Trends.

Canada’s privacy commissioner thinks you should have the right to ask that inaccurate, incomplete or outdated information appearing in search engines be either amended or removed — and that under Canadian law, internet companies should have to comply. Source: CBC News Date: January 26th, 2018 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/privacy-commissioner-de-indexing-forgotten-search-results-1.4505425 Discussion 1) Search engines are searching information from websites that they have no control over… Read more »

The robot lawyers are here – and they’re winning

Posted by & filed under Artificial intelligence, bots, Emerging Technologies, IT and the law.

Amid the dire – and somewhat overhyped – predictions of occupations that will be decimated by artificial intelligence and automation, there is one crumb of comfort. Yes, lorry drivers, translators and shop assistants are all under threat from the rise of the robots, but at least the lawyers are doomed too. Source: BBC Technology News Date: November… Read more »

Could Estonia be the first “digital country”?

Posted by & filed under Competitive advantage, Cybersecurity, IT and Politics, IT and the law.

Estonia says it’s the first country in the world to offer “e-residency” – granting anyone in the world a digital government ID and access to online services. Source: BBC Future News Date: October 20th, 2017 Link: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20171019-could-estonia-be-the-first-digital-country Discussion 1) “in 2007, an infamous crisis in which Russia waged what’s considered the first cyberwar on Estonia. Banks had their servers… Read more »

Google’s Search Changes May Not Level Playing Field

Posted by & filed under Civil Liberties, Ethical Issues, Google, IT and Politics, IT and the law.

GOOGLE WILL ALLOW rivals to bid on coveted advertising spots that it previously reserved for itself at the top of product search results in Europe, but there are widespread doubts that the move will create meaningful competition. Source: Wired Magazine Date: September 28th, 2017 Link: https://www.wired.com/story/googles-search-changes-wont-really-level-playing-field/ Discussion 1) “Google’s plan to auction space at the top of search results… Read more »

Self-Driving Cars Will Kill People. Who Decides Who Dies?

Posted by & filed under Artificial intelligence, Automation, Emerging Technologies, Ethical Issues, IT and the law, self driving cars.

To understand the trolley problem, first consider this scenario: You are standing on a bridge. Underneath you, a railroad track divides into a main route and an alternative. On the main route, 50 people are tied to the rails. A trolley rushes under the bridge on the main route, hurtling towards the captives. Fortunately, there’s… Read more »