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Hidden Cameras, Storms, and AI: News Roundup
In a week marked by technological developments and severe weather, several significant stories emerged. These included revelations about Jeffrey Epstein's surveillance practices, Amazon's Ring ending a partnership with an AI camera company, Meta's plans for facial recognition in smart glasses, and Waymo's reliance on DoorDash drivers to close car doors. Additionally, France continued to grapple with the aftermath of Storm Nils.
Emails released by the US Department of Justice revealed that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein requested staff install hidden video cameras at his Palm Beach, Florida home in 2014, according to Sky News. The aide informed Epstein that the cameras would be concealed in tissue boxes.
Meanwhile, Amazon-owned Ring announced it would no longer partner with Flock Safety, a company that produces AI-powered surveillance cameras, as reported by TechCrunch. The partnership, initially announced in October, would have allowed Ring doorbell users to share footage with Flock and its network of public safety agencies. Flock's footage has been used by various agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Secret Service, and the Navy, according to 404 Media. Ring stated the decision to cancel the partnership was made jointly with Flock.
Meta is reportedly planning to introduce facial recognition to its smart glasses as early as this year, according to a report in The New York Times, also reported by TechCrunch. The feature, internally called Name Tag, would enable wearers to identify people and access information about them through Meta's AI assistant. The company had initially considered releasing the feature at a conference for the visually impaired.
Waymo, the Alphabet-owned company, is facing unexpected challenges with its autonomous vehicles. According to TechCrunch, Waymo is now asking DoorDash drivers to close the doors of its self-driving cars. One DoorDash driver was offered $6.25 to travel less than a mile to close a Waymo vehicle's door, with an additional $5 upon completion.
Finally, France is dealing with the ongoing effects of Storm Nils, as reported by Euronews. Several regions remain at risk of flooding. While wind alerts have been lifted, authorities are maintaining vigilance due to the uncertain outlook, according to Météo-France.
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