A businessman has won the “right to be forgotten” by Google after taking his case to the High Court, because he wanted a past crime he had committed to be removed from Google’s search engine results.

What Crime?

The (un-named) businessman was hoping to remove details from Google of a conviction from 10 years ago, and of the six months jail sentence he was given for ‘conspiring to intercept communications’. The businessman was forced to take Google to court after Google refused his requests to have the information removed from its search engine results. The man’s legal argument was that the details of his past conviction were disproportionately impacting his life, and were no longer relevant, and therefore, it was not it was not in the public or the man’s interest for Google to show the details in searches.

What Does The “Right To Be Forgotten” Mean?

The legal precedent for what has become known as ‘the right to be forgotten’ was set by the Court of Justice of the European Union back in 2014. It was the result of a case brought by Spaniard Mario Costeja Gonzalez who had asked Google to remove information about his financial history from its search engine results.

In this particular case, the ‘right to be forgotten’ means that Google has to remove all search results about the businessman’s conviction, including links to news articles.

Had Shown Remorse

The judge ruled in favour of the businessman, stating that he had shown remorse. Google has said that it will respect the judgement made in the case and pointed out that it has removed 800,000 pages from its results following ‘right to be forgotten’ requests.

Not So Lucky

Another businessman who also brought a ‘right to be forgotten’ case against Google, and who had committed a more serious crime of ‘conspiring to account falsely’ was not so lucky, and lost his case. It was decided, in the High Court, that the man, who had spent four years in jail for the crime, had “mislead the public”, and that it would still be in the public interest for Google to keep the information about the man and his crimes in the search engine results.

Less Than Half

Google’s own Transparency Report from May this year revealed that of the 2.4 million requests made since 2014 to remove certain URLs from its search results, Google has only complied with less than half. Google doesn’t actually have to comply with a request, and can refuse to take links down if can demonstrate that there is a public interest in the information remaining in the search results. Google can also re-instate links that it has already taken down in a previous request if it can show that it has grounds to do so.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

It is good news that powerful international tech companies whose services are widely used, and who have the power to influence opinion and affect lives can sometimes be held accountable to national courts. There is a strong argument that they should not be a law unto themselves, and that they may not always be the best party to judge what is in the public interest.

The ‘right to be forgotten’ is particularly significant because it is something that all EU citizens will have when GDPR comes into force next month. This will impact businesses, many of whom may expect to receive ‘right to be forgotten’ requests, and will need to get their data management in order to both comply with GDPR generally, and to be able to respond quickly to such requests and avoid possible fines.

Reports that the state-run university-based ‘Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology’ (KAIST) has been working on military robot research with defence company Hanwa have resulted in threats of a boycott by more than 50 AI researchers from 30 countries.

Killer Robots?

Although the threat of the boycott of KAIST appears to have been effective in exposing and causing KAIST to agree to stop any work related to the development of lethal autonomous weapons (killer robots), the story has raised questions about ethical red-lines and the regulation of technology in this area.

KAIST opened its research centre for the convergence of national defence and artificial intelligence on 20 February, with the reported intention of providing a foundation for developing national defence technology. It has been reported that a now-deleted announcement about the work of the centre highlighted a focus on areas like AI-based command and decision systems, navigation algorithms, large-scale unmanned undersea vehicles, AI-based smart aircraft training systems, as well as smart object tracking and recognition technology.

Fast Exchange of Letters

It has been reported that almost immediately after a letter containing the signatures of more than 50 AI researchers expressing concern about KAIST’s alleged plans to develop artificial intelligence for weapons, KAIST sent its own letter back saying that it would not be developing any lethal autonomous weapons.

The President at the university, Shin Sung-chul, went on to say that no research activities that were counter to human dignity, including autonomous weapons lacking meaningful human control, had been conducted. Shin Sung-chul is also reported as saying that KAIST had actually been trying to develop algorithms for “efficient logistical systems, unmanned navigation and aviation training systems”, and that KAIST is significantly aware of ethical concerns in the application of all technologies including AI.

Who / What Is Hanwha Systems?

Hanwha Systems, the named partner from the defence / military world in the project, is a major weapons manufacturer based in South Korea. The company is known for making cluster munitions, which are banned in 120 countries under an international treaty.

Outright Ban Expected

To accompany the welcome re-assurances from KAIST that it will not be researching so-called “killer robots”, it is widely expected that the next meeting of the UN Security Council countries in Geneva, Switzerland will call for an outright ban on AI weapons research and killer bots.

Already Exists

As well as the Taranis military drone, built by the UK’s BAE Systems, which can technically operate autonomously, ‘robots’ with military applications already exist. For example, South Korea’s Dodaam Systems manufactures a fully autonomous “combat robot”, which is actually a stationary turret that can detect targets up to 3km away. This ‘robot’ is reported to have already been tested on the militarised border with North Korea, and is reported to have been bought by the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Many of the key fears about AI and machine learning centre on machines learning to make autonomous decisions that result in humans being injured or attacked. It is no surprise therefore, that reports of possible research into the development of militarised, armed AI robots play on fears such as those expressed by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk who famously described AI as a “fundamental risk to the existence of civilisation.”

Even with the existing autonomous combat turret in Korea there are reported “self-imposed restrictions” in place that require a human to deliver a lethal attack i.e. to make the actual attack decision. Many fear that the development of any robots of this kind represents a kind of Pandora’s box, and that tight regulations and built-in safeguards are necessary in order to prevent ‘robots’ from making potentially disastrous decisions on their own.

It should be remembered that AI presents many potentially beneficial opportunities for humanity when it is used ethically and productively. Even in a military setting, for example, an AI robot that could e.g. effectively clear mines (instead of endangering more humans) has to be a good idea.

The fact is that AI currently has far more value-adding, positive, and useful applications for businesses in terms of cost-cutting, time-saving, and enabling up-scaling with built-in economies.

A new report by security firm Positive Technologies shows that 1 in 10 employees would fall for a social engineering attack.

What Is A Social Engineering Attack?

Social engineering cyber-attacks rely upon the element of human error e.g. convincing / fooling a person into downloading malicious files, unwittingly corresponding with cyber-criminals, sharing contact information about employees and transferring money to hackers’ accounts, or clicking on phishing links.

Test

The results of the report are based on ‘penetration tests’ which involved sending 3,300 emails to employees containing links to websites, password entry forms and attachments. As the name suggests, a penetration test is an authorised simulated attack on a computer system, which is performed in order to evaluate the security of that system.

Tricked

The results showed that, worryingly, 17% of the messages were successful in convincing the recipients to take actions that would have resulted in a compromise of a workstation and potentially the entire corporate network if the attack was real.
The tests showed that 15% of employees responded to emails with an attachment and link to a web page, while only 7% responded to test emails with an attachment. The most effective method of social engineering identified in the test was reported to be sending an email with a phishing link. In this case, 27% of recipients clicked on a link that led to a web page requesting credentials.

Real Company Names Convincing

The study showed that messages received from what appeared to be the account of a real company resulted in 33% or risky actions being taken by recipients, whereas messages from fake companies only resulted in 11% success.

Emotional Response Sought

Cyber-criminals often use methods that are designed to produce an emotional response that will make people forget about basic security rules. For example, in the tests, an email subject line of ‘list of employees to be fired” resulted in a 38% response, and “annual bonuses” brought a 25% response.

Overly Trusting If Not In IT

One interesting finding highlighted in the report was that 88% of those outside of IT work (and presumably less aware of the risks), such as accountants, lawyers and managers, opened / clicked on suspicious links and even corresponded with attackers. However, 3% of security professionals also responded.

Kept Trying To Open

The study found that some recipients who couldn’t open the malicious files even resorted to trying to open the files or enter their password on a fake site up to 40 times!

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Clearly, there is a case for better education and training among employees about the variety of methods, and the level of sophistication that cyber-criminals now use in attacks. Employees need to be able to spot potential attacks, and have clear policies, instructions, and help on hand about how to proactively protect the company, and how to respond to certain types of attack. One of the simplest forms of defence against threats entering the company via email is to make it policy never to open suspicious emails / emails from unknown sources.

In reality, attackers now use a combination of methods to breach the defences of companies, plus there are evolving new threats, such as fileless hacking and fileless malware attacks facilitated by the PowerShell scripting language that is already built-in to Windows. Some basic ways that your business can improve security against social engineering attacks are :

• Blocking delivery of email attachments with extensions that are executable e.g. (.exe, .src), system (.dll, .sys), script (.bat, .js, .vbs), and other files (.js,.mht, .cmd).
• Authenticating the domain of an email sender e.g. using the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) protocols.
• Authenticating a sender’s identity using other protocols e.g. Domain-based Message Authentication.
• Conformance (Dmarc) protocol.
• Regularly updating the operating system, anti-virus, and other software patches.
• Implementing an on-demand malware detection system.
• Scanning files before and after opening them.

Dubai is once again in the news for being an adopter of new technologies after an announcement that it will be hosting a trial of digital vehicle number plates next month.

Smart Plates

The ‘smart plates’ will have digital screens, GPS and transmitters, and according to the head of the Vehicle Licensing Department at Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the digital plates will make life easier for drivers.
The trial of the new plates is scheduled to start next month and end in November, and one of the key things that is being tested, as well as the Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) Tag2Connect (T2C) platform, is thought to be whether any issues / problems may be caused to the hardware and operation of the plates by Dubai’s desert climate.

The smart plates system incorporates Blockchain technology, the same technology behind the Bitcoin cryptocurrency.

Why Have Digital Number Plates?

In reality, the plates will have benefits for Dubai’s government as well as for drivers e.g. through being able to track vehicles (via transmitters in the plates), and for the police to gather detailed information quickly about cars and their drivers.

Ways in which drivers could benefit from using the plates include:

• Allowing real-time communication with other drivers about traffic conditions or any accidents ahead.
• Contacting the police and ambulance services if the vehicle is involved in a collision.
• Enabling plates to be changed using the RTA’s app or website.
• Enabling automatic deductions from users’ accounts for e.g. payment for fines, parking fees or renewing registration plates.

Other Technologies Adopted In Dubai

Dubai is making a name for itself internationally as a place that is proactive in adopting the latest technology. For example:

• Back in February 2016, Dubai committed to putting all its documents on Blockchain’s shared open database system by 2020 in order to help to cut through Middle Eastern bureaucracy, speed up civic transactions and processes, and help bring a positive transformation to the whole region.
• In February last year, it was announced by Dubai’s Roads and Transportation Agency, that passengers could be able to use Ehang 184, electric-powered, pilotless, self-flying drone taxis. The app-hailed taxis can travel at 100 mph / 160km/hr top speed, this means that it can travel 31 miles in one trip.
• Plans for high-speed Hyperloop pods to open by 2020. These pods should be able to transport passengers to the UAE’s capital Abu Dhabi in just 12 minutes (covering distances of over 120km / 75 miles).
• Plans to expand the use of technology in transport, and hopes for self-driving vehicles to be making a quarter of all journeys by 2030.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Some may say that given the wealth of Dubai and the speed of its development in recent years, it is not a big surprise that it is able to afford trials and adoption of the latest technology, and that its road network and geography make it well-suited to driverless vehicles, drones etc.

Some commentators, however, have expressed concerns about the tracking of drivers, and potential issues surrounding privacy and information security.

New transport technologies that are planned for Dubai, such as driverless vehicles, have also experienced some bad publicity recently with the woman killed in Arizona last month when she was hit by an autonomous Uber car.

Smart number plates are an example of how smart technology is providing business opportunities, and bringing simpler, more centralised systems around the world. For example, it is thought that the smart plate system in Dubai will bring together on a single platform all stakeholders e.g. manufacturers, dealers, workshops, insurers, licensing authorities, police and vehicles owners. This could be an example of how greater transparency could be brought to an industry using technology.

The latest energy report from Apple has stated that the company has hit a new milestone in green energy usage by making all of its 43 data centre sites across the world operate using 100% renewable energy.

Not Quite What It Seems

Although the effort is admirable, the claim that has led Apple’s CEO Tim Cook to stress that the company is committed to leaving the world better than it found it, is not as transparent as it appears.

It is not possible for all the data centres to be connected to a completely renewable energy supply at the moment, so what Apple actually means is that the data centres can be 100% ‘renewables powered’, thanks to the clean energy that Apple buys and puts back into the power grid that can be offset against its global power consumption.

For example, Apple has explained that, where it can’t create new renewable energy projects due to local constraints, the tech giant purchases renewable energy from newer projects in nearby markets, or through available utility green energy programs.

What About The Manufacturing of Phones and iPads?

Some critics have pointed out that the manufacturing of iPhones, iPads and other machines creates carbon emissions. Apple is reported to be taking steps to tackling this less environmentally-friendly aspect of its work by sourcing lower-carbon materials, and by making suppliers commit to using green energy when making Apple hardware.

6 Years of Effort

Apple’s announcement is the culmination of six years of financing, building, or locating new renewable energy sources e.g. solar and wind farms, near the company’s facilities. According to Apple, it now has 25 operational renewable energy projects, and 15 more in construction, spread across in 11 countries. In contrast, 8 years ago, only 16% of its facilities were powered by renewable energy. That number had increased to 93% by 2015, and to 96% by 2016.

Lisa Jackson Hired To Help

One of the ways that Apple has been able to steer itself to its current position on the environmental high ground was to hire former EPA administrator Lisa Jackson as VP of environment, policy, and social initiatives. Lisa Jackson was better known at the time for serving under President Barack Obama 2009 to 2013 to tackle matters such as climate change, improving air quality, and expanding the conservation of environmentalism.

Goal

Apple’s goal of going 100% green has meant reducing its greenhouse gas emissions (CO2e) by 58% since 2011, thereby preventing 2.2 million metric tons of CO2e from entering the atmosphere.

Growing The Clean Energy Market Around The Facilities

One of the key ways that Apple has reached its latest milestone target is by growing the clean energy market around the facilities of the company. This has involved working with local utilities and regulators to build places such as new solar or wind farms that pump new green power onto the public grid. This method has worked well in markets where most of the existing energy comes from ecologically unfriendly sources like coal or oil.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Some critics would say that with $285 billion in cash reserves, Apple has the money to plough into working towards this environmental goal. However, even though it could afford to buy up existing green power to get to the 100% goal, it has chosen to take adopt an “additionality” standard, which is a preference for sponsoring the creation of new renewable power sources. This, and the idea that it can grow clean energy market around the facilities of the company have been real environmental benefits rather than just paper exercises. Apple has also hired-in expertise to help guide its efforts.

This story is an example of how businesses, albeit a giant (wealthy) tech businesses can choose to operate in a more value-led, socially responsible and ethical way that has wider benefits for society, as well as for the company’s brand image. A greater focus on reducing environmental impact and working to develop more renewable energy sources are things that more companies will need to adopt in the future, and is something that is likely to be valued by customers and other stakeholders.