Month: March 2023

Yesterday, the Italian Data Protection Authority (DPA) issued an order under Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requiring OpenAI to immediately stop processing local user data, effectively blocking ChatGPT until OpenAI complies with European data protection laws. (English coverage by the BBC.) In its order and accompanying press release, the DPA announced that it would open an investigation into whether OpenAI violated the GDPR by (1) unlawfully processing people’s data without their consent and (2) failing to implement any age-verification or other preventive measures for minors accessing ChatGPT. OpenAI has 20 days to respond or face a penalty of up to €20 million ($21.7 million) or 4% of OpenAI’s annual turnover.

The DPA’s order comes at a time of increased scrutiny over ChatGPT and similar generative A.I. models, and because the GDPR empowers data protection agencies across the European Union to address violations of local users’ data protection rights, Italy may be the first of multiple European countries to take aim at ChatGPT. However, the GDPR violations alleged by the DPA are not limited to new generative A.I. models like ChatGPT; data processing and age verification issues extend to a wide variety of A.I. and machine-learning applications. Depending on the results of the DPA’s investigation, this order may impact a broad range of A.I. systems beyond ChatGPT.

In both the United States and Europe, EPIC has long advocated for commonsense A.I. regulations and bans on particularly dangerous A.I. applications like emotion recognition and biometric identification. This past November, EPIC urged the FTC to use its authority under Section 5 of the FTC Act to prevent unfair and deceptive commercial data practices, including practices that violate the privacy of minors and those that use A.I. systems to process user data without meaningful notice and consent.

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Last week, EPIC, along with the Center for Democracy and Technology, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, and Public Knowledge, jointly filed reply comments with the Federal Communications Commission urging the agency to prioritize protecting consumers from data breaches by explicitly naming and outlining its multiple sources of legal authority to protect privacy. As the comments explain, this authority includes the FCC’s power to protect Social Security Numbers and not merely phone service usage information (what is traditionally described as Customer Proprietary Network Information, or CPNI). The reply comments build on EPIC’s original comments to the agency in February, which noted that the trajectory of breaches and inadequate data security at telecom companies has gotten worse over time. The comments also include updates regarding breaches that had happened at each of the three largest carriers already revealed within the first three months of 2023.

The advocates particularly urged the FCC to protect the privacy of Telecommunications Relay Service users (as TRS breaches could include transcript information) and non-customers (e.g., former customers and prospective customers). The comments reiterate that consumers should be informed of any breach and not be left in the dark just because the breached company has determined the breach is unlikely to result in harm. The comments also suggest that the Commission explore how the FCC and partner agencies might protect data collected from web-enabled vehicles.

EPIC regularly comments on regulations and testifies on policies to promote better cybersecurity practices that protect consumer data from unauthorized access and other misuse.

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EPIC submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) concerning an ODNI-led report on the government’s purchase of data, including sensitive data on Americans. On March 8, during a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) hearing, Sen. Ron Wyden revealed that the ODNI had “convened an outside panel to study and make recommendations related to the government’s purchase of data, including sensitive data on Americans” and that the panel had produced a “lengthy report” on that issue. During that same hearing, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Director Christopher Wray admitted that the FBI had previously purchased commercial database information that includes location data derived from internet advertising as part of a pilot program. 

EPIC has long challenged warrantless government surveillance and searches of sensitive digital data, including internet browsing and search history, and has called for hearings on the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act, which would end the government’s end-run around Carpenter by purchasing Americans’ personal information from data brokers. EPIC has also sought to obtain numerous government documents exposing details of various government surveillance programs utilizing private data brokers, mobile forensic technology providers, and hacking tools.  

EPIC has launched a campaign to significantly reform Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and related surveillance authorities to, among other things, prevent the warrantless search of Americans’ communications. EPIC’s reform priorities seek to prevent the government from using other surveillance authorities or simply buying Americans’ data to avoid constitutional privacy protections. 

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Spring is always an exciting season for children active in the 4-H or country-fair circuit. The arrival of April means it’s time for these junior fowl farmers to select the cockerel or pullet that will be the poultry half of their showmanship partnership.

For the next four to five months, these kids will be completely responsible for the care and training of their chosen chicken. Showmanship guidelines may differ from state to state and even from fair to fair, but a common directive is that the bird be in the competitor’s possession for at least 180 days prior to the event.  

A new guideline, however, is slowly changing the face of poultry showmanship across the country, making it more inclusive. Country fairs on the local and regional level have begun to add an adult division, allowing participants ages 18 and older to compete in showmanship. This exciting development gives adults another poultry competition option at country fairs, which traditionally only permit seniors to exhibit birds.

Allowing adults to participate in showmanship also turns this into a family event, one that parents and children can enjoy together.  

Not all local fairs offer this option for adults yet. 4-H, being geared specifically toward kids, will most likely restrict its competitive offerings to youth. If you are interested in having an adult poultry showmanship division at your fair, contact your fair office and ask for the contact information for the poultry superintendent. Reach out to the superintendent and explain how an adult showmanship division would not only benefit local poultry keepers and their families but also the fair itself. You never know what can happen until you try.  

Whatever age the showmanship competitor in your household may be, keep these five pointers in mind to make the experience even more positive.

Befriend Your Bird 

Having all the poultry physiology knowledge in the world won’t help you if your cockerel or pullet is uncooperative. Showmanship birds are not only held, they’re manipulated and even turned upside down as you describe their anatomy to the judge.

A skittish, agitated bird will make showmanship competition almost impossible. It’s therefore crucial to befriend your bird from Day 1.

Get your chicken accustomed to your presence. Hold it, stroke its feathers, and talk to it. It’s vital that your bird become used to hearing your voice while in your arms. Once you’ve reached this stage, move on to gently turning your chicken tummy up, stroking its belly and speaking to it reassuringly. When your bird is comfortable with this type of handling, it’s time to start practicing your showmanship presentation with it—including placing it in and removing it from a show cage head first so that this routine becomes fluid and ingrained for both of you.  

Read more: How can you get your chickens into show business?

Study the Standards 

Familiarize yourself with the American Poultry Association’s Standards of Perfection…

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I was in a bit of a pickle when I got my Leatherman Wingman back in 2019. 

I needed a comfortable multitool I could rely on for heavy use, I needed it to be affordable, and I needed it yesterday. I bought the Wingman without doing any research, hoping it would live up to its name. 

I haven’t been disappointed so far. 

After four years of rigorous testing, I can confidently say it’s one of the best multitools I’ve ever had. Solid and dependable, with 14 versatile applications, this is the perfect budget-friendly Leatherman for those who work hard and play harder. 

Leatherman Wingman Pros:

• 14 tools 
• Inexpensive
• Ergonomic
• 420 HC stainless-steel blade
• Lightweight
• Spring-loaded tools

Leatherman Wingman Cons:

• Short ruler
• Combo blade
• Poor wire strippers
• Useless file

Build Quality and Design

Leatherman is known for superior form and function. Founder Tim Leatherman pretty much invented the pliers-based multitool back in the 1980s, and his designs have only improved since then.

The Wingman is another gem in Leatherman’s long and prestigious line of working-class products, a true powerhouse that won’t fail under pressure.  

Check out Leatherman’s demonstration to get a feel for the Wingman and see the placement of all its tools. 

An Everything Tool

Leatherman positions the Wingman as a jack-of-all-trades type of tool, and I find myself using it for a wide variety of daily tasks. Even though not every single one of its 14 applications functions flawlessly, the most important ones do.

This isn’t surprising. Leatherman tools are all field-checked before they go into mass production. Because they’re designed for specific purposes and tested by real humans, few poor-quality materials or design errors move past the drawing board.  

High-Quality Materials

I was afraid Leatherman would cut corners to squeeze the Wingman into a lower price bracket. My fears were unfounded. It’s true that this model is a bit smaller than other multitools and doesn’t have as many functions. But the Wingman is still a quality product.

It sports a 420 HC stainless-steel knife blade, which gets incredibly sharp and has excellent corrosion resistance. This is a high-carbon variety of stainless steel, so it won’t be as rust-resistant as knives with more chromium in the blade. But mine hasn’t rusted yet. 

The Wingman also has four spring-loaded tools across two steel spring mechanisms. None of the springs have rusted out or given way so far, which surprised me because springs are usually the first to fail. 

Like most Leatherman products, the Wingman is designed to last a lifetime.

Ergonomic Design

This tool is lightweight enough to carry on a daily basis but big enough to get the job done. It helps to have some heft on your tool, and the seven-ounce Wingman does. I’ve been known to use it…

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