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 News
Game Over: Chinese Company Deploys Facial Recognition to Limit Youths' Play
Tencent Games says it has been using facial recognition to enforce China's rules on how much time people under 18 can spend playing video games.
From ACM News
Prominent Women Call for Tech Giants to Act Against Online Harassment
The signatories included the tennis champion Billie Jean King, and the actors Thandiwe Newton, Ashley Judd and Emma Watson.
From ACM News
The Tech Cold War's 'Most Complicated Machine' That's Out of China's Reach
A $150 million chip-making tool from a Dutch company has become a lever in the U.S.-Chinese struggle. It also shows how entrenched the global supply chain is.
From ACM TechNews
Crashes Involving Tesla Autopilot, Other Driver-Assistance Systems Attract Scrutiny
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is requiring automakers to report crashes involving vehicles with advanced driver-assistance systems.
From ACM TechNews
Musical Chairs? Swapping Seats Could Reduce Orchestra Aerosols
Researchers used a computer model to determine whether rearranging musicians could significantly reduce aerosol buildup on the stage of a concert hall.
From ACM TechNews
The Internet Eats Up Less Energy Than You Might Think
Claims about the Internet's energy consumption typically are exaggerated by well-intentioned scientists, a new study finds.
From ACM News
Google Seeks to Break Vicious Cycle of Online Slander
The search giant is changing its algorithm, part of a major shift in how Google polices harmful content.
From ACM News
New York's Vaccine Passport Could Cost Taxpayers $17 Million
The state's contract with IBM details a Phase 2 of the Excelsior Pass, which could include uses that some advocates say raise privacy concerns.
From ACM News
Archaeologists vs. Computers: A Study Tests Who's Best at Sifting the Past
When it came to the tedious task of categorizing pottery fragments, a deep-learning model was found to be just as accurate as four human experts, and far more efficient...
From ACM News
Thousands Descend on Miami to Glorify Bitcoin
It was the largest Bitcoin event in the world and the first major in-person crypto conference since the pandemic started. The jargon, the liquor, and the millionaire...
From ACM News
A.I. Drone May Have Acted on Its Own in Attacking Fighters, U.N. Says
A United Nations report suggested that a drone, used against militia fighters in Libya's civil war, may have selected a target autonomously.
From ACM News
A Rural-Urban Broadband Divide, but Not the One You Think Of
Many more people in cities lack broadband access than in rural areas, but lawmakers are primarily focused on extending high-speed access to remote areas.
From ACM News
Want Your Nails Done? Let a Robot Do It.
Start-ups are using technology to take a robotic approach to manicures, offering a simple way to provide foolproof nail polish.
From ACM News
Meet Virtual Reality, Your New Physical Therapist
While use of the gaming technology for improving physical ailments is still in the early stages, it shows promise — and it's fun.
From ACM News
Something Bothering You? Tell It to Woebot.
When your therapist is a bot, you can reach it at 2 a.m. But will it really understand your problems?
From ACM TechNews
Florida Will Fine Social Media Companies That Bar Candidates
Florida has become the first state to fine social media companies like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter for banning political candidates from the platforms for more...
From ACM News
Why Apple and Google's Virus Alert Apps Had Limited Success
The virus-tracing effort raises questions about the power of Big Tech to set global standards for public health tools.
From ACM TechNews
Going to the Moon via the Cloud
The wide availability of high-performance computing accessed through the cloud is fostering creativity worldwide.
From ACM TechNews
The Costly Pursuit of Self-Driving Cars Continues On. And On. And On.
The development of self-driving vehicles has become a goal that only the most well-heeled companies are currently pursuing.
From ACM TechNews