regulation Archives

AppWizard

April 17, 2025

Etiquette expert discusses “A Minecraft Movie” theater trend

The phrase "chicken jockey," referring to a baby zombie riding a chicken in the "Minecraft" universe, has gained popularity following the release of "A Minecraft Movie," leading to increased audience participation in theaters. Viewers are engaging in behaviors such as throwing popcorn and standing on chairs, driven by social media trends. The hashtag #ChickenJockey has over 53,000 posts on TikTok, indicating the trend's rapid growth. Some theaters, including Regal Cinemas, are introducing designated "chicken jockey screenings" to allow for enthusiastic participation while maintaining a respectful environment for all attendees.

AppWizard

April 11, 2025

Zerat Games removes controversial visual novel from Steam

Developer Zerat Games has withdrawn its visual novel from the Steam platform to avoid complications with Valve, while defending the game's themes of incest and sexual violence as fetishes. The studio expressed understanding that some may find these themes disgusting but advocated for the exploration of desires without harm. The game's removal followed actions taken by Valve in the UK, Canada, and Australia, where UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the content as illegal and mentioned new regulatory measures being implemented. Zerat Games aims to promote dialogue on diverse expressions of human sexuality despite societal challenges.

AppWizard

April 9, 2025

Horrifying rape and incest game on Steam faces calls to be taken down

A game titled No Mercy, released by Zerat Games in March on Steam, has faced backlash for its disturbing content, which includes themes of sexual violence and misogyny. Although designated for users aged 18 and older, minors can easily bypass this restriction. The game was not submitted for review to any age rating frameworks, and its graphic content includes elements such as incest and non-consensual sexual encounters, with promotional materials featuring pornographic imagery. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has condemned the game, urging tech companies to remove harmful content promptly. The situation has sparked calls for stricter regulations and oversight on platforms like Steam.

AppWizard

April 9, 2025

Fury over rape and incest game that tells players to be ‘women’s worst nightmare’, as Tech Secretary slams PC giant

The computer game "No Mercy" features a male protagonist who is encouraged to adopt a predatory mindset, promoting themes of violence and non-consensual acts. The game has received criticism from various figures, including Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, who described it as "deeply worrying" and called for its removal from the gaming platform Steam. Despite its disturbing content, "No Mercy" has received 'very positive' user reviews on Steam. The game includes elements of violence, incest, and blackmail, and features "unavoidable non-consensual sex." Concerns have been raised about the lax age verification process on Steam, which allows children to easily access the game. Child mental health expert Nova Eden noted that many parents mistakenly view Steam as a safe environment. Although LBC reported the game's inappropriate content to Steam, it remains available for purchase. The situation raises questions about Ofcom's ability to moderate online content, as it cannot investigate individual complaints. The Games Rating Authority clarified that while physical games must carry a PEGI age rating, digital games are not subject to the same requirement, leaving gaps in consumer protection.

AppWizard

April 6, 2025

Pentagon inspector general investigating Hegseth’s use of Signal messaging app

DoD's acting Inspector General, Steven Stebbins, is reviewing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of the Signal app for operational airstrike discussions in Yemen to evaluate compliance with policies on commercial messaging for official communications and classification mandates. Concurrently, House Oversight Committee Democrats are investigating the Department of Government Efficiency's data usage, while OPM is directing agencies to revise performance review processes to prioritize adherence to presidential policies. The Defense Department has mandated public reporting of canceled contracts linked to Trump's efficiency initiatives. The SSA is tightening identity-proofing requirements for benefit applications, discontinuing phone verification options. During a nomination hearing, Trump’s nominees for OPM and OMB faced questions regarding federal workforce reductions. The Army has abandoned plans for a billion-dollar software development contract after feedback on draft RFPs. Employees at the IMLS have been placed on administrative leave amid concerns over the agency's future and grant disbursement obligations following Trump's executive order aimed at eliminating smaller entities.

TrendTechie

March 13, 2025

Соучредитель файлообменника The Pirate Bay погиб в авиакатастрофе

Karl Lundström, co-founder of the torrent tracker Pirate Bay, died in a plane crash on March 10 while traveling from Zagreb to Zurich. The Slovenian police reported that poor visibility due to bad weather likely contributed to the accident. Lundström was a Swedish politician and businessman who significantly influenced file sharing since Pirate Bay's inception in 2003. He faced legal issues with copyright holders, receiving a one-year prison sentence that was later reduced to four months, and was fined 32 million Swedish kronor (approximately €3 million).

Tech Optimizer

March 7, 2025

Microsoft cleared in Indian antitrust probe on antivirus bundling | MLex | Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support allegations against Microsoft regarding anticompetitive behavior related to its antivirus software, Microsoft Defender, which has been bundled with Windows since 2015. The CCI emphasized that users can install alternative antivirus solutions, maintaining a competitive market.

AppWizard

March 6, 2025

Google Silently Tracks Android Device Even No Apps Opened by User

Recent research by Professor D.J. Leith from Trinity College Dublin reveals that Google collects significant amounts of user data on Android devices, even when users do not engage with Google applications. The study shows that pre-installed Google apps can track users without consent or opt-out options. Measurements were taken using a Google Pixel 7 with Android 14. Findings indicate that Google servers store multiple tracking identifiers immediately after a factory reset, before any user interaction. Collected identifiers include advertising analytics cookies and persistent device identifiers. This data collection raises concerns about compliance with EU data privacy regulations, such as the e-Privacy Directive and GDPR. Specific tracking technologies identified include the Google Android ID, DSID cookies, and NID cookies. User interaction data is also transmitted to Firebase Analytics servers. Users have limited control over the data stored on their devices, with disabling Google Play Services or the Google Play Store being impractical options.

AppWizard

March 4, 2025

Google’s ‘consent-less’ Android tracking probed by academics

Research by Doug Leith, a professor at Trinity College Dublin, shows that Android users are subjected to advertising cookies and tracking mechanisms that start collecting data before any app is launched, without user consent or the option to opt out. The study identifies systems within Android that send user data to Google via pre-installed apps like Google Play Services and the Google Play Store. One such mechanism is the "DSID" cookie, which is created shortly after logging into a Google account and is used for personalized advertising, lasting two weeks. Another tracker, the Google Android ID, is generated upon first interaction with Google Play Services and continues to transmit data even after the user logs out, with removal only possible through a factory reset. Leith's findings raise concerns about potential violations of data protection laws, particularly regarding the classification of the Android ID as personally identifiable information under GDPR. Google responded to the findings, emphasizing user privacy and compliance with privacy laws, while also stating disagreement with Leith's legal analysis. Additionally, the introduction of the Android System SafetyCore feature, which scans photo libraries for explicit content without user consent, has sparked user discontent, with many reviews criticizing the lack of consent during its installation.

Winsage

February 21, 2025

Microsoft trims File Explorer’s Recent, Favorites, and Recommended content in Europe

Microsoft has released the Windows 11 24H2 Preview Build 26120.3281 in the Dev and Beta channels. This update removes several features from File Explorer, including the Recent, Favorites, and Recommended content sections, as well as the Details Pane, to comply with the EU's GDPR. The change primarily affects Entra ID users in the European Economic Area. The update also addresses the Location API, previously used by Cortana, which is now deemed unnecessary following Cortana's discontinuation. Microsoft has not clarified whether location data will still be stored online. These updates are currently in Preview and may not be included in the final version. Past updates have caused issues, such as disrupting sound output and making File Explorer unusable.