Tech Sightings, September 9, 2014

Posted September 9th, 2014 at 2:31 pm (UTC-4)
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The Great Internet Slowdown: Tomorrow’s Protest Against the FCC’s New Net Neutrality Rules

The first great Internet Slowdown on September 10 is a concerted effort by some of the Web’s largest companies to protest the FCC and the U.S. government’s handling of net neutrality. A spinning, loading wheel will appear on many websites to remind people that they will be left in the slow lane if they do not pay their ISPs extra money, according to the new rules.

Kids Need to Learn Digital Literacy — Not How to Code

Teaching kids how to code is great, but it is more important to give them a basic understanding of how technology and software work. Digital literacy, not just for students, will be crucial for future careers.

Loneliness Narrows the Uncanny Valley

Research conducted at Darmouth College in the UK and Harvard University in the U.S., shows that people are more likely to perceive life in inanimate objects when feeling disconnected from society. Researchers say people starved for social contact begin attributing human characteristics to objects such as a doll or a robot.

Cisco: Malicious Ads Hit Amazon, YouTube, Yahoo

According to Cisco, malicious advertisements intended to spread malware have been popping up on YouTube, Amazon and Yahoo. The advertisements redirect users to more than 700 websites set up to download and distribute malware.

Google Seeks Help Defining ‘Right to Be Forgotten’

Google and privacy and freedom of information experts met Tuesday to come up with a definition for the “Right to be Forgotten” the European Union now requires. At the center of discussion is the question of when to remove search result links that might include outdated or irrelevant data.

Shark Tank’s Mark Cuban Wants to Erase Your Digital Footprint

Like so many others, Mark Cuban, startup investor and star of the TV show Shark Tank, has to think twice before tweeting anything. To remedy the situation, he created Cyber Dust, an application that makes text disappear after a follower reads it.

How to Ditch Google for More Privacy and Fewer Ads

If you are using Google’s search engine and various other products, you are likely giving away your personal data to advertisers in return for good service. There are other viable options, though, that can at least give you email service without ads.

Aida Akl
Aida Akl is a journalist working on VOA's English Webdesk. She has written on a wide range of topics, although her more recent contributions have focused on technology. She has covered both domestic and international events since the mid-1980s as a VOA reporter and international broadcaster.

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