Today’s Tech Sightings:

A man reads tweets on his phone in front of a displayed Twitter logo in Bordeaux, southwestern France, March 10, 2016. (Reuters)

Twitter Opens Up Account Verification

Twitter used to award its “verified account” blue badge to celebrities who might contend with fake accounts using their names. Now, any public Twitter account can apply to get the verification, provided users fill up a form with information about their influence level and various personal data. That includes any websites, birth dates, telephone numbers, email addresses and maybe even a scan of government-issued identity cards.

Google Rewards Indian Teenager for Service That Helps Local Fishermen Navigate

Google’s Community Impact Award – backed by $10,000 – went to 14-year-old Indian student, Advay Ramesh, for creating a GPS-powered app to keep fishermen safe. The inspiration for the app came to Ramesh after hearing reports about fishermen in the Indian city of Rameshwaram getting arrested for months for crossing the International Maritime Boundary with Sri Lanka.

Pokemon GO Players in Bosnia Brave Minefields to Find Pokemon

Bosnian de-mining charity “Posavina bez mina” has issued a warning to Pokemon GO players to avoid meandering into the country’s remaining minefields. In one of the latest of many Pokemon-related incidents, some Bosnian gamers ignored warning signs and deliberately walked into a minefield in search of Pokemon characters. Luckily, there were no injuries or deaths reported.

More:

• Milo Yiannopoulos Getting Permanently Banned From Twitter Is Not a First Amendment Issue
• Hidden ‘Backdoor’ in Dell Security Software Gives Hackers Full Access
• DDoS Attack Shuts Down Congress Website for Three Days
• After Third WhatsApp Shutdown, Brazil Plans to Draft Digital Data Bill
• Turkey Blocks Access to WikiLeaks After Ruling Party Email Dump
• Windows 10 Build 14393 Goes Live, May Be Last Before Anniversary Update
• Internet of Things Security Is Dreadful. Here’s How to Protect Yourself
• Your Guide to Online Privacy
• Firefox Will Block Nonessential Flash Content in August 2016, Require Click-to-activate in 2017
• Skype No Longer Supporting Windows Phone or Older Android Versions
• Amazon Drones Could Use Lamp Posts to Recharge