Communications of the ACM
An edited collection of advanced computing news from Communications of the ACM, ACM TechNews, other ACM resources, and news sites around the Web.
From ACM TechNews
Venice Is Watching Tourists' Every Move
Officials in Venice, Italy, are using technology to track the number of tourists in the city, and where they go.
From ACM TechNews
Social Media Manipulation by Political Actors an industrial Scale Problem
A 2020 survey of 81 countries by the U.K.'s Oxford Internet Institute uncovered evidence of social media manipulation of political communications in each country...
From ACM News
Microsoft, Oracle and Salesforce Join Push for Digital Vaccination Credentials
In the U.S., there is no federal system consumers can use to get easy access to their immunization records online and establish their vaccination status for work...
From ACM News
Millions Flock to Telegram, Signal as Fears Grow Over Big Tech
The encrypted messaging services have become the world's hottest apps over the last week, driven by growing anxiety over the power of the biggest tech companies...
From ACM TechNews
Slouch or Slack Off, This 'Smart' Office Chair Cushion Will Record It
"Smart cushions" designed by a Chinese technology company and used in office chairs have engendered controversy over privacy and surveillance.
From ACM TechNews
As Coronavirus Cases Surge, So Do Cyberattacks Against the Healthcare Sector
Cybersecurity firm Check Point found a 45% increase in cyberattacks against the global healthcare sector since November, versus a 22% uptick against all worldwide...
From ACM TechNews
Robot Foresters Could Plant Thousands of Trees a Day
Two types of autonomous robot foresters developed by Estonia's University of Tartu and robot manufacturer Milrem are planting trees from Milrem's driverless ground...
From ACM TechNews
U.K. Government Use of 'General Warrants' to Authorize Computer, Phone Hacking Is Unlawful: Court
The U.K.'s High Court has ruled that government security and intelligence services cannot use "general warrants" to indiscriminately hack domestic mobile phones...
From ACM TechNews
Airport Screening While Wearing Masks? Facial Recognition Tech Shows Up to 96% Accuracy in Recent Test
What was described as a controlled test of facial recognition technologies found potential for accurately identifying individuals on security lines at airports...
From ACM TechNews
Trump Administration Rolls Out Plan to Secure Maritime Sector Against Cyber Threats
The White House has unveiled a plan to protect the U.S. maritime transportation sector against cybersecurity threats.
From ACM TechNews
Nissan Source Code Leaked Online After Git Repo Misconfiguration
Software engineer Tillie Kottmann said Nissan North America's misconfiguration of a Bitbucket Git server led to the online leakage of the automaker’s source code...
From ACM News
Court Rules Deliveroo Used 'Discriminatory' Algorithm
An Italian court determined that companies can be held liable even if an algorithm unintentionally discriminates against a protected group.
From ACM TechNews
Telegram Feature Exposes Your Precise Address to Hackers
Hackers can exploit the Telegram messenger application employed in Android devices and iPhones to pinpoint users' precise locations.
From ACM TechNews
Malware Uses WiFi BSSID for Victim Identification
A newly discovered malware strain collects an infected user's Basic Service Set Identifier, in order to ascertain the location of the user and their Wi-Fi access...
From ACM TechNews
Open Source Developer, Manager David Recordon Named White House Director of Technology
President-elect Joe Biden's transition team announced that open source software developer David Recordon will serve as the White House Director of Technology.
From ACM TechNews
Shift Gears, Accelerate: CIOs Reordered IT Priorities in 2020
Chief information officers last year had to reprioritize corporate demands and establish new boundaries to prevent team burnout due to remote work and the ramp-up...
From ACM News
Digital IDs Make Their Mark
Encrypted identification data on a smartcard or smartphone can deliver significant benefits while boosting security, but raise concerns about privacy and the potential...
From ACM TechNews
Drone-Crowded Skies Get a Step Closer With U.S. Safety Rules
New regulations from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration will require most U.S. drones to broadcast a radio signal identifying them and their location.
From ACM TechNews