Happy Nice Mall

What’s this: Stronger government oversight, rules that require organizations to meet minimum cybersecurity standards, closer partnerships with the private sector, a move away from the current market-first approach, and enforcement to ensure new rules are followed.

peer: The new strategy will take cues from some of the country’s most famous regulatory icons, such as the Clean Air Act or the formation of the Food and Drug Administration. Still, not everyone is happy with it. Read the whole story.

Patrick Howell O’Neill

Secret police: A police system continued to monitor protesters even after protests around George Floyd murder ended

Despite public claims that he was taking action, a multi-agency task force of federal, state, and local police formed to monitor protests in Minnesota during the murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin continued to operate in secret after the trial. The result is according to emails and documents reviewed by MIT Technology Review.

Known as Operation Safety Net (OSN), the program held regular meetings, conducted policing operations, continued close coordination, and updated intelligence documents until at least October 2021, long after the “demobilization” was publicly announced in April 2021.

Read the full story here.

This is the second story in this research series. Our first story on how Operation Safety Net hindered freedom of protest, here.

Sam Richards and Tate Ryan-Mosley

must read

I scoured the internet for today’s most entertaining/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 War in Ukraine will ignite a global energy crisis

The IEA warns countries to reduce demand now. (NYT)

• Why do Russian tanks have cages on them? (Economist)
• Online movement to assist Ukrainian researchers. (boundary)
• Russia’s killer drone fuels fears about AI in warfare. (wired)

2 Another wave of covid is coming

Cases are increasing in Europe and the UK – the US will be next. (Atlantic)

• We have to monitor our immunity to monitor how we are doing against Covid. (Atlantic)

• Moderna is seeking approval to administer the 4th dose. (CNBC)
• Pfizer already wanted the same thing. (WaPo)

3 China’s current internet dark age could be Russia’s future

The two countries tend to learn the worst from each other. (NYT)

• Why is Russia risking splint? (EN)

4 We have the technology to give up fossil fuels

And distributing it quickly will actually save us money, writes Bill McKibben. (New Yorker)

5 Vitalik Butherin worried about the future of crypto

The creator of Ethereum was disappointed that all the wealth was on display. (Time)

• Crypto keeps Russia’s YouTubers afloat. (boundary)

• Ethereum’s transition to proof-of-stake has been announced. (EN)
• Time is running out to change the world. (EN)

6 Clubhouse has become a lifeline for anti-war Russians

The unpopular audio app until now is not on the censors’ radar. (Login)

7 EllieQ is a robot to accompany your grandparents

Pleasant? Or is it dystopian? You decide! (wapo)

8 Zelensky deepfake quickly downloaded on all channels

The way platforms respond is a plan. (wired)

• A deep fraud of Putin’s “proclaiming peace” has now also been exposed. (Reuters)
• Reminder: The biggest threat of deepfakes is not the deepfakes themselves. (EN)

9 Is Starlink’s offer of internet access in times of crisis just a PR stunt?

For many, Musk’s purpose is unclear.scientist)

10 New touch technology that makes VR more immersive

“Chemical haptics” promises to take realism to a whole new level. (New Scientist)

We can still have beautiful things

A place for comfort, fun and distraction in these strange times. (Any ideas? Write me or tweet me.)

• gorgeous cherry Trees in China.
• Ever wanted to know how to draw a nose? Understood.
• Researchers may be on top to discover a kind of ‘Atlantis’ but in Yorkshire, England.
• A fun interactive to introduce you to ‘scam rap’.

Word of the Day

“This is not the war to defend Russia that your grandparents were fighting. This is an illegal war. Your lives, your limbs, your future are being sacrificed for a senseless war doomed by the entire world. Arnold Schwarzenegger Addressing the Russian people†Best coq au vin in a powerful video he posted on Twitter.