‘Your body, my choice’: Harassment of women spikes in wake of election
In the week since President-elect Donald Trump was reelected, sexist and abusive attacks on women have ramped up on social media. That’s according to a new analysis from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), an international advocacy group that describes itself as “dedicated to powering solutions to extremism, hate and disinformation.”
Phrases like “your body, my choice,” “get back to the kitchen,” and “we own your body” have been trending on platforms like X and TikTok.
The group says the uptick in online harassment signals far-right internet trolls and extremists feel emboldened by the outcome of the election, which also heavily featured women’s rights issues.
In its report, the ISD said harassment is already moving offline, with young girls and parents sharing real-world experiences involving the phrase “your body, my choice” on social media, including “the phrase being directed at them within schools or chanted by young boys in classes.”
The analysis also found posts about repealing the 19th Amendment. The amendment guaranteed women the right to vote, rose 663% on X last week, compared to the week before.
North Korean soldiers in Russia ‘gorge on porn’ accessing internet for first time
North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia are experiencing unrestricted internet access for the first time, and many are reportedly using it to view pornography. According to Financial Times journalist Gideon Rachman, the troops, who have never had free access to the internet before, are “gorging on pornography.”
This marks a strange new chapter for soldiers who have been subject to strict digital controls in North Korea.
The U.S. Department of Defense was asked about the reports but stated it is unfamiliar with the details. A spokesperson emphasized the department is focused on the more serious aspects of the ongoing war.
They said they’re more worried about the increasing presence of North Korean troops on the ground in Ukraine.
Intelligence from both Ukraine and the U.S. suggests that more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers could eventually join war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed some of these soldiers have already been deployed to the Kursk region.
There are already reports of clashes between North Korean and Ukrainian soldiers. Some of those have resulted in casualties.
Zelenskyy believes there are currently around 11,000 North Korean troops in the region. This comes as Ukraine’s military incursions into Russian territory have largely stalled.
Harris, Trump look to win the West with 4 days until Election Day
As the presidential campaign heads into the final weekend, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris swing through the western U.S. to sway undecided voters. And crews in Spain search for survivors after a year’s worth of rain fell in just hours. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.
Harris, Trump look to win the West with days until Election Day
With just four days to go until Election Day and more than 65 million ballots already cast, the candidates are making their final stops on the campaign trail. On Thursday, Oct. 31, both nominees visited the western United States to make their case.
Republican nominee former President Donald Trump spoke at campaign events in New Mexico, Nevada and Arizona, while Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris held rallies in Arizona and Nevada.
At an event in Glendale, Arizona with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Trump repeated his stance of there being “an enemy within” the United States — a comment Harris has criticized in her speeches.
“If you have a smart president, somebody that knows what’s happening, you’re going to be fine,” Trump said, “But we do have an enemy from within. We have some very bad people, and those people are also very dangerous. They would like to take down our country. They’d like to have our country be a nice communist country or a fascist in any way they can, and we have to be careful of that.”
In Henderson, Nevada, Trump said Harris would not be able to handle the presidency, calling her “a child” when it comes to understanding the economy. He also announced former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would be working on “health and women’s health” if he’s reelected.
While in Reno, Nevada, Harris continued her warnings to supporters about another Trump presidency, calling trump “increasingly unstable” and “obsessed with revenge.”
“In less than 90 days, either he or I will be sitting in the Oval Office, and listen, here’s what we can imagine, right, we’ve all seen on TV — you’ve seen the Oval Office — just visually imagine what that day will be,” Harris said. “Because, if elected, Donald Trump on day one would walk into that office with an enemies list. When I am elected, I will walk in with a to-do list on behalf of you.”
The vice president told the crowd that people are “exhausted with Trump’s rhetoric.” She also appealed to female voters, criticizing Trump’s comments that he would “protect women” saying, “Trump does not respect the freedom of women.”
Harris’ Nevada rally was interrupted by protesters at times, but the vice president said it was “OK” and “we’re fighting for the right to be heard.”
Friday, Nov. 1, both candidates will hold rallies in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the final weekend of the 2024 election cycle begins.
‘Avengers,’ LeBron endorse Harris; Jake Paul backs Trump
Some famous faces put their names behind their pick for president on Thursday. Members of the cast of Marvel’s “Avengers” film franchise assembled to show their support for Vice President Harris while YouTube star Jake Paul backed former president Trump.
Actors Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo and others gathered together in a social media video supporting Harris. NBA superstar LeBron James also backed Harris in a post on X saying, “When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. Vote Kamala Harris.”
Social media influencer turned boxer Jake Paul put his endorsement behind the Republican nominee. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Paul laid out his reasons and asked his followers to do their own research.
“Regardless of your emotion, I’m just presenting you with facts,” he said. “Do I think Donald Trump is a perfect human being? No. I don’t think anybody on this planet is a perfect human being, myself included. To be frank, I’m not concerned with Donald Trump’s ‘character flaws’ or what he’s done in the past. What I’m concerned with is how good a president is he, because that is his job and that’s what’s going to affect the people of this nation.”
Why I Am Not Suspending My Campaign Let me be clear: Despite the immense pressures and intense assaults on my campaign and character, I intend to hold the torch and finish this race – to and after November 5th! The escalating corruption of the US political system and the… pic.twitter.com/CQrcOTX9vi
West accused the Pennsylvania secretary of state of improperly keeping him off the ballot for not filing all the required paperwork. The state’s top court agreed with the secretary of state, but a federal judge said while it does seem like Pennsylvania’s rules make it harder for third-party candidates to get on the ballot, it’s too close to Election Day to re-print ballots and re-test election machines without increasing the risk of error.
Flash floods claimed the lives of at least 158 people, with 155 deaths confirmed in the eastern Valencia region alone. Spain’s minister for territorial policy said Thursday dozens of people are still missing but they don’t have an exact number of how many.
Army specialist charged in female soldier’s murder at Missouri base
Her body was found in a dumpster at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri last week. Rancy, who’s with the 5th Engineer Battalion, is also charged with obstruction.
The Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division, which is the primary federal law enforcement agency of the United States Army, is overseeing the probe.
The department has not specified a motive for the killing. It is also unclear if Rancy and Roque knew each other.
OpenAI adds search and summary function to ChatGPT
Google has some new competition. OpenAI has added a search function to its artificial intelligence bot ChatGPT.
Paying subscribers are now able to activate a mode on ChatGPT that makes it respond to queries by searching the internet for the latest information and summarizing what it finds. The search capabilities are powered by Microsoft’s Bing search engine and will draw information from articles by publishers OpenAI has deals with, including The Wall Street Journal owner News Corp. and the Associated Press.
While this function is only for paying subscribers for now, OpenAI said it plans to bring search to all users eventually.
Google’s new AI will be able to control your browser, make purchases: Report
Google’s Gemini AI may soon take control of users’ browsers, potentially handling online purchases like shopping and booking flights. According to a report from The Information, this technology is part of a project codenamed “Jarvis” and would be a major step in Google’s consumer-focused AI strategy.
The new system would allow Gemini to navigate the Chrome browser autonomously. It would use virtualized clicks and screenshots to navigate, a method similar to Anthropic’s Claude AI.
Google is reportedly preparing an early preview of this capability as soon as December. A beta test will follow and focus on ensuring reliability and security for tasks involving money.
If successful, Gemini would bring unprecedented automation to daily browsing. Google aims to integrate AI into its wider ecosystem, including Chromebooks and Pixel devices.
However, the concept of AI making financial transactions independently raises concerns over security and user control, issues that Google will likely address in any trial phases.
For now, Google hasn’t officially confirmed these plans, but the project would align with its efforts to integrate AI into practical, consumer-focused functions.
The Wayback Machine returns in limited capacity after recent attacks
The Internet Archive is back online in a limited capacity after a massive cyber attack disrupted its services earlier this month. The site, known for its Wayback Machine, remains vulnerable, and full functionality has not yet been restored.
The Wayback Machine, which preserves billions of web pages, is now operating in read-only mode. Users can still access archived content, but cannot upload new material or update existing pages. The read-only mode affects all parts of the archive, including the ability to save new web pages.
Internet Archive
This month’s distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack overwhelmed the archive’s systems, taking down its normal operations.
Cybersecurity experts warn that such attacks are becoming increasingly common and difficult to defend against, particularly for platforms like the Internet Archive that rely on donations and grants for funding.
The downtime is more than an inconvenience for many, as it disrupts the preservation of vital online content.
The Internet Archive’s founder, Brewster Kahle, continues to give updates on the state of the website as well. Kahle said that while read-only mode has been restored, more maintenance will be needed, and that the website may be taken down again in the near future for the fixes.
The @internetarchive’s Wayback Machine resumed in a provisional, read-only manner.
Sorry, no Save Page Now yet.
Safe to resume but might need further maintenance, in which case it will be suspended again.
While limited access has been restored, the Internet Archive has not yet provided a timeline for a full recovery, though it assures users that the team is working to prevent future disruptions.
Hackers breach Internet Archive, exposing 31 million users’ data
Hackers breached the Internet Archive, exposing data from over 31 million users in what is being described as a politically motivated attack. The group claiming responsibility cited U.S. support for Israel as the motive behind the cyberattack, which began with a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack and escalated to data theft.
The Internet Archive, best known for its Wayback Machine, hosts billions of web pages and other media to preserve digital history. The hackers, who use account on X known as SN_BlackMeta, claimed that the attack is part of a larger operation started in May 2024.
While user passwords were encrypted, there are concerns about weak password vulnerabilities. The breach comes at a critical time for the Archive, which is already facing legal challenges over its book-lending program, raising questions about its ability to safeguard its users.
Founder of the Internet Archive, Brewster Kahle, took to X to reassure users, stating, “The data is safe.” Kahle says the Archive could be back up in a matter of days as staff works on fixing the issues created by the attacks.
The data is safe.
Services are offline as we examine and strengthen them. Sorry, but needed. @internetarchive staff is working hard.
The Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with no government affiliation, is widely regarded as a vital digital preservation tool, allowing users to access archived websites, books, and media. The hackers indicated that more attacks could be forthcoming.
Airlines announce partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink for free in-flight Wi-Fi
Several major airlines have announced a partnership with SpaceX to provide free in-flight Wi-Fi powered by Starlink. The move marks a significant shift in airline connectivity.
United Airlines and Air France are leading the charge, with both carriers planning to retrofit their entire fleets with the high-speed satellite internet service in the coming years. Expected to begin as early as 2025 for United, the move will give passengers free, reliable Wi-Fi during their flights, making it a major upgrade in an area that has long been criticized for poor performance and high costs.
Reuters
United Airlines has committed to installing Starlink’s satellite internet across its fleet of over 1,000 planes, allowing passengers to enjoy free Wi-Fi access on all domestic and international flights. Air France has announced similar plans, promising ultra-high-speed connectivity that the airline describes as providing a “ground-like” internet experience while in the air.
The introduction of Starlink technology into commercial aviation is seen by many industry analysts as a transformative moment for in-flight services, with Starlink poised to displace longtime leaders in the sector, such as Viasat and Panasonic, which have dominated the market for years.
Aviation experts say this partnership could revolutionize the sector, finally addressing one of the most frustrating pain points for air travelers, slow and inconsistent Wi-Fi. The enhanced bandwidth from Starlink’s satellite network is expected to provide faster and more reliable internet than the current systems, which often struggle under the demand of multiple users streaming and working simultaneously.
Getty Images
While this announcement has been celebrated by many as a long-overdue improvement for passengers, it hasn’t come without controversy.
Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX and Starlink, has recently faced criticism for his leadership of X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
A recent study revealed that Americans’ trust in the platform has plummeted under Musk’s control, placing it on par with the U.S. government in terms of public perception.
This decline in trust has raised concerns among critics who fear Musk’s involvement in the airline industry could bring about similar reputational risks for airlines adopting Starlink technology.
Additionally, Starlink has been a focal point of controversy in the Russia-Ukraine war, where its satellite network has been used for both civilian and military communications. Musk’s decisions regarding the availability of Starlink services in conflict zones have sparked debate, with some questioning whether his influence over such critical infrastructure is appropriate.
While many view the integration of Starlink into aviation as a win for passengers and technology, some fear that Musk’s controversial leadership could invite unwanted turbulence for airlines relying on his network.
United Airlines remains optimistic about the partnership, stating that it expects the first flight equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi to take off sometime in 2025.
With over a thousand planes to retrofit, the rollout will be extensive, but the airline believes it will set a new standard for in-flight connectivity, allowing passengers to stay connected at no cost throughout their journeys.
Wikimedia donates millions to left-wing activists that edit Wikipedia: Report
Wikipedia is the world’s largest online encyclopedia and one of the most visited websites, attracting more than a billion visitors each month. It is fast, easy to use and often the first suggestion in Google search results. However, concerns have been raised about whether this extensive resource provides biased results.
Wikipedia ads asking for donations have been seeing populating on the site for years. The Daily Caller obtained tax forms to find out where some of this money is going.
Among the nonprofits receiving grant money from Wikimedia are Art +Feminism, Black Lunch Table and Whose Knowledge, each receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars with the stated purpose of furthering their missions.
According to their websites, these organizations aim to edit Wikipedia pages with leftist ideologies. For example, Art + Feminism promotes a guide on how to write and edit Wikipedia content about transgender and LGBTQ+ individuals.
“When cis and trans women, non-binary people, Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities are not represented in the writing and editing on the tenth-most-visited site in the world, information about people like us gets skewed and misrepresented,” the website read. “The stories get mistold. We lose out on real history. That’s why we’re here: to change it.”
“Since 2014, over 20,000 people at more than 1,500 events around the world have participated in our edit-a-thons, resulting in the creation and improvement of more than 100,000 articles on Wikipedia and its sister projects,” the website read.
Whose Knowledge has similar objectives, emphasizing the need for more diverse representation in online knowledge, as noted in their “About Us” section, which says in part “most public knowledge online has so far been written by white men from Europe and North America.”
Whose knowledge hosts initiatives like “Decolonizing the Internet” to bring “thousands of images of women and non-binary people to Wikimedia.”
The nonprofit Black Lunch Table, which has also received over $300,000 from Wikimedia, also holds “edit-a-thon” events to “create and improve” Wikipedia articles to better represent Black artists.
The Daily Caller’s investigation suggests that following the flow of Wikipedia’s funding leads to support for organizations that align with leftist missions. This pattern of bias has been echoed by Wikipedia’s co-founder, Larry Sanger, who has criticized the site for straying from its original intentions, saying certain viewpoints have been “systematically silenced.”
Katherine Maher, the company’s CEO from 2016 to 2021, acknowledged that it was a mistake for Wikipedia to be “free and open,” advocating for the suppression of what she considered misinformation on the site. She now leads operations at NPR. The current CEO, Maryana Iskander, joined Wikimedia after serving as chief operating officer of Planned Parenthood.
Wikimedia, Art and Feminism, Whose Knowledge and Black Lunch Table did not respond to requests for comment.
Social media companies team up to address self-harm content
Meta, Snap, and TikTok have come together to start a new program to stop content featuring suicide or self-harm from spreading across social media platforms. The program, called Thrive, was created along with the Mental Health Coalition, a group of organizations that work to destigmatize those issues.
Through Thrive, Meta, Snap, and TikTok will be able to share what the companies call “signals” with each other about content concerning suicide or self-harm. If the content appears on multiple apps, similar actions and investigations can then be launched.
Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said Thrive will serve as a database all social media companies can access.
The company says when content featuring suicide or self-harm is discovered, it will be removed and flagged in the Thrive database so other social media companies can act. Meta also made it clear the program will target content not users.
Social media has increasingly been linked to a spike in depression and suicidal behavior in kids and teens, and companies like Meta, Snap, and TikTok have been widely criticized for not doing more to moderate content on their platforms. All three companies have been sued by parents and communities who say the social media platforms led to suicide deaths.
Scientists edge closer to better internet and navigation with nuclear clocks
Even with current technology, scientists continue to work on how to keep track of time. Nuclear clocks could be a vital step toward faster internet speeds and more precise GPS navigation.
A new report published in Nature reveals how researchers are making strides toward developing a nuclear clock. Currently, the world relies on atomic clocks. These work by turning laser light to specific frequencies, causing electrons to jump between energy levels. These atoms, the building blocks of matter, are what makes precise timekeeping possible.
Nuclear clocks go a step further. Instead of using signals from electrons, a nuclear clock would rely on the nucleus, where protons and neutrons are densely packed. It’s this area scientists believe can assist them in even more precise timekeeping.
While no nuclear clock has been completed yet, all the essential technology is in place. Far more accurate than current atomic clocks, there could be major upgrades in store for critical pieces of technology, such as GPS systems and internet synchronization.
Hurdles still exist on the way to these clocks, such as how most atomic nuclei require powerful X-rays to make the energy jumps needed for the clock to work. That adjoining technology isn’t quite here yet.
In their latest tests, researchers managed to create a device with a level of precision 1 million times greater than previous measurements. They even compared their results to one of the world’s most accurate atomic clocks. That marked the first time a direct frequency link between nuclear transitions and atomic clocks has been established.
Some day soon, nuclear clocks could change the face of many pieces of technology. It could change the way people navigate and keep time forever.
