74 year old passenger grievously injured after car crash

May 23 2023

Yesterday, at around 1715hrs, police were informed of a traffic accident which took place in Triq Blat il-Qamar, Siġġiewi.

Police convened immediately on site and preliminary investigations revealed that a 23 year old man resident of Ħaż-Żabbar lost control of his Toyota Starlet and crashed into a house’s front porch.

Riding passenger in the car was a 74 year old resident of the same locality. A medical team was called onto the site to transport the passenger to Mater Dei Hospital. He was later certified as having suffered grievous injuries.

Police are still investigating.

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iPhones could soon have the ability to copy your voice

May 23 2023

As artificial intelligence continues to make its place a mainstay in our everyday lives, tech giant Apple has claimed that its iPhones could soon be able to speak using the user’s voices.

Speaking last Tuesday, the new iPhone feature, which is being called Personal Voice, will give users randomised text prompts to generate 15 minutes of audio.

Meanwhile, another feature by the name of Live Speech, will allow the user to save phrases they commonly use for the device to be able to utter during phone calls and in-person conversations.

If you are worrying about the ramifications about this new technology, Apple has claimed that such tools could help users who are speech impaired.

The tech giant used the example of an ALS patient who is losing his ability to speak, who through this technology might be able to reserve the ability to say ‘I love you’ to those who matter most to them.

On the flip side, critics have raised eyebrows at the possible security and privacy threats the technology might force us to face. Such concerns could include ‘stealing one’s voice’ and manipulating it for nefarious reasons.

Despite the threat, and the marching integration of AI into day to day tasks, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that ‘at Apple, we’ve always believed that the best technology is technology built for everyone.’

This feature could is expected to be released before the end of the year.

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Meta fined record €1.2 billion for transferring EU data to US

May 22 2023

Facebook and Instagram parent company META has been fined €1.2 billion by European privacy regulators for transferring EU user data to the US.

The Irish Data Protection Commission claimed that the European Data Protection Board had ordered it to collect an administrative fine amounting to €1.2 billion.

The DPC, which acts on behalf of the EU, was investigating Meta Ireland’s transfer of personal data from the EU to the US since the year 2020.

Meta was found to have failed in addressing the risks to the fundamental rights and freedoms of data subjects identified in a previous ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The CJEU ensures that EU law is applied the same way across all member states.

On its part, Meta stated its disappointment at being singled out, calling the ruling flawed, unjustified and as setting a dangerous precedent for countless other companies.

With no immediate disruption to Facebook in Europe, Meta’s representatives revealed that they intend to appeal the decision.

This is the third fine imposed on social media giant so far this year in the EU and the fourth in six months. EU regulators hit Meta with fines over data breaches by Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

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ITS students hold vigil for car crash victim Kasey Sciberras

May 22 2023

A large student crowd from the Institute of Tourism Studies joined together to present flowers and balloons at a vigil for the late traffic victim Kasey Sciberras.

Kacey was riding passenger in a Chevrolet Aveo, which the driver reportedly lost control of and damaged its front and rear whilst also hitting a wall and a pole. The accident occurred on the Central Link Road in Attard early on Sunday morning.

Kacey was reported dead on the spot, with two others, a 17 year old girl and a 20 year old man seriously injured.

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