mdbincbi

Smart TVs Are Invading Privacy And Should Be Investigated, Senators Say | Ars Technica

July 14, 2018 mdbincbi

Two Democratic US senators have asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate privacy problems related to Internet-connected televisions. “Many Internet-connected smart TVs are equipped with sophisticated technologies that can track the content users are watching and then use that information to tailor and deliver targeted advertisements to consumers,” Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) wrote in a letter yesterday to FTC Chairman Joseph Simons. “Regrettably, smart TV users may not be aware of the extent to which their televisions are collecting sensitive information about their viewing habits.” The…

‘I Was Truly Shocked’: Canadian Banned From U.S. Over Pot Investment | CTV News

July 13, 2018 mdbincbi

With the impending legalization of recreational marijuana this fall, Canadians with investments in American pot companies will have to be careful crossing the U.S. border following the news that one prominent businessman was banned for life. Sam Znaimer is a prominent venture capitalist in Vancouver who started investing in budding U.S. cannabis startup companies a few years ago. In May, Znaimer was trying to travel to the States when he was stopped by border officials. During the questioning, he said he was never asked about his personal consumption of the…

Canada’s First Commercial Spaceport Submits Environmental Assessment To N.S. – Halifax | Globalnews.ca

July 12, 2018 mdbincbi

Canada’s first commercial spaceport has submitted its proposal for environmental assessment, and is now awaiting approval from Nova Scotia’s environment minister to begin construction on the site that is expected launch its first rocket in 2021. The environmental assessment study filed this week by Maritime Launch Services Ltd. references surveys of at-risk species in the area, such as mainland moose and bats. The study, prepared by independent contractor Strum Consulting, also proposes mitigation efforts in the event of a fuel spill or launch failure, and cites consultations with local groups…

The U.K. Government May Mandate Charging Stations In New Homes | Digital Trends

July 11, 2018 mdbincbi

Building a new home in the United Kingdom could soon require some new car technology, too. This week, the U.K. government unveiled a new plan to create a more environmentally friendly future, and make the nation “the best place in the world to build and own an electric vehicle.” One of the key proposals involves requiring new homes to come with built-in electric vehicle charging stations. New lampposts would also need to have charging points, and hopefully, would create a “massive expansion of the plug-in network,” the U.K. government noted in…

Trade War Fallout: Why Oil And The Loonie Are Finally Headed Apart | CBC News

July 9, 2018 mdbincbi

It’s a relationship that Canadians had gotten used to. For years, when the price of oil went up, so did the value of the Canadian dollar. That led to a soaring loonie when oil prices were flying high, but double-takes while travelling in the U.S. once the wind came out of oil’s sails and the Canadian dollar was lower. But a funny thing has happened of late, as the symbiotic relationship between the two has weakened. Or, as Bank of Montreal economist Doug Porter put it, “The Canadian dollar continues to diverge…

U.S. Border Patrol Questions Crews Of At Least 2 Canadian Fishing Vessels In Disputed Waters | CBC News

July 5, 2018 mdbincbi

The federal government is investigating reports that two Canadian fishing vessels were approached, and crew members questioned, by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Canadian waters in the Gulf of Maine in late June. According to Global Affairs Canada, the incidents occurred June 24 and 25 around Machias Seal Island and North Rock. While details are scant, the fishermen are members of the Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association. Laurence Cook, the association’s chair, wrote on Facebook that the U.S. officials claimed they were “looking for illegal immigrants.” On Wednesday, Cook said further that border officials…

Fourth Of July Travel? Secret Service Warns Of Gas Pump Skimmers | CNET

July 4, 2018July 4, 2018 mdbincbi

Nearly 47 million Americans are expected to hit the road to celebrate what promises to be the busiest Fourth of July holiday weekend in history, according to AAA. That’s why Secret Service agents from 36 field offices will be out locating and recovering skimming devices from gas stations in 21 states during the holiday week, the agency said Tuesday. Skimmers are devices that detect and record credit card information at payment terminals, such as gas pumps. The devices are are getting smaller, smarter and harder to detect. Gas stations are…

Study Calls Out ‘Dark Patterns’ In Facebook And Google That Push Users Toward Less Privacy | TechCrunch

June 28, 2018 mdbincbi

More scrutiny than ever is in place on the tech industry, and while high-profile cases like Mark Zuckerberg’s appearance in front of lawmakers garner headlines, there are subtler forces at work. This study from a Norway watchdog group eloquently and painstakingly describes the ways that companies like Facebook and Google push their users towards making choices that negatively affect their own privacy. It was spurred, like many other new inquiries, by Europe’s GDPR, which has caused no small amount of consternation among companies for whom collecting and leveraging user data…

Revenue Agency Falling Behind As Uncollected Taxes Owed Rise To $44 Billion | CBC News

June 25, 2018 mdbincbi

The amount of tax that Canadians admit to owing Ottawa but haven’t paid rose to a record $43.8 billion this year, despite a Liberal government promise to “stabilize” that sum. And an internal Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) projection obtained by CBC News says the amount of unpaid tax owed is set to hit more than $47 billion by 2020. The steady increase in the tax debt — up by about $2 billion annually since the Liberals came to power — comes despite a major investment in the 2016 federal budget…

With Trump As Commander-in-Chief, Canada’s Dithering On Procurement Becomes Intolerable | CBC News

June 25, 2018 mdbincbi

Defence procurement is the government promise that keeps on rebooting. At the moment, Canada is preparing to purchase 25 second-hand F-18 fighter jets from Australia — pending U.S. approval —as a stop-gap measure until it can replace its fleet with new jets. The earlier plan was to buy 18 used jets, making this the roughly zillionth update to Canada’s defence procurement plan. This de facto refusal to truly modernize our fighter jet fleet will make Canada look like the runt compared to our allies. And by “allies,” I am referring mainly to…