### Issue 1699 - Monday 26th September, 2022

## In Today's Issue

- Optus made its customer database public, someone downloaded it all and is selling it
- AI generated images banned by Getty due to copyright risks
- Framework Chromebook, Logitech G Cloud gaming device, 1080p Chromecast with Google TV
- Another reminder of how fucked the eSafety Commissioner is
- Too much cheap stuff after a 4 day backlog of Ozbargain posts

## The News

### Optus made its customer database public, someone downloaded it all and is selling it

Practically every single Optus customer, past and present, has had their personal information "stolen" in what I think is Australia's biggest ever data breach. I use the word stolen loosely here as the method this data was obtained seems to be 100% due to the vast incompetence of Optus, who had an API open to the internet, no authentication or access controls, where anyone could ask it for customer records. Someone literally hit up api.optus.com.au with a script and started downloading everyone's data - what the fuck?! There are now millions of Australians who have their passport/Medicare/drivers licence number, along with their name, DOB, email addresses and phone numbers floating on the dark web, ripe for identity theft. Toby Murray has a nice blog post explaining how to protect yourself against that happening.

### AI generated images banned by Getty due to copyright risks

Getty Images has joined other art related websites and banned AI generated images. Their CEO told The Verge that "there are real concerns with respect to the copyright of outputs from these models and unaddressed rights issues with respect to the imagery, the image metadata and those individuals contained within the imagery", placing Getty at legal risk. Considering the AI image generators are trained on (mostly) copyrighted material indiscriminately scraped from the internet, it's only a matter of time until someone sues someone over a piece of AI generated art used commercially. Getty's main competitor, Shutterstock, hasn't banned AI images outright.

### Framework Chromebook, Logitech G Cloud gaming device, 1080p Chromecast with Google TV

- The easily repairable and upgradeable Framework Laptop is now available in Australia - but only the 12th-gen Intel version. They've also announced a Chromebook if you're into that sort of thing, but it doesn't appear to be available in Australia yet.
- Logitech's "G Cloud" handheld gaming device is official. It runs Android and has full support for Xbox Cloud streaming. Inside is a relatively weak Snapdragon 720G, paired with a 7" 1080p screen. RRP is AU$5550, launches Oct 18th in the US. No Aussie release date.
- There's a new Chromecast. It's the same as the current Chromecast with Google TV, but is only 1080p and doesn't support Dolby Atmos. It has an RRP of $59 and is available now. Wouldn't surprise me if this thing goes on sale for $39/$45 regularly.

## Something I Saw On The Internet

### Another reminder of how fucked the eSafety Commissioner is

Ariel Bogle has a great article outlining the wide ranging power of the eSafety Commissioner and the Online Safety Act's recently released draft industry codes. These codes were developed by "eight industry sections" (at gunpoint by the eSafety Commissioner) aim to censor what you can and can't see on the internet by trying to classify every single piece of content on the internet into various "classes" and ban specific types of content. I cannot understate how deep this censorship will go. Email providers, search engines, app distribution services, ISPs, manufacturers of equipment and an ominous "all websites that can be accessed by Australian end-users, including end-user online storage" are in this code's remit. Put aside the moral arguments for this nanny state bullshit and put on your nerd hat - how the hell do you practically do this sort of thing, or even do it so it actually works and doesn't have a shitload of collateral damage?

## Bargains

- The Last of Us: Remastered for PS4 - $9 from Amazon
- Far Cry 6 for Xbox/Playstation - $19 from Amazon
- Red Dead Redemption II for PS4/XB1 - $24 from Amazon or JB Hi-Fi
- Command & Conquer Remastered Collection for PC - $10.48 on Steam
- SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition for PC & Mac - $7.48 on Steam
- Samsung T7 Shield portable SSD 1TB or 2TB - $149/$299 + delivery from Bing Lee
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker - $97.46 + delivery from EB Games
- AirPods Pro 2nd Gen - $359.99 from Costco
- Nokia G20 smartphone (Telstra locked) - $129 from Coles
- Google Pixel 6a 5G 128GB - $599 from JB Hi-Fi
- Philips Hue A60 B22 Bluetooth White Starter Kit - $85.99 from Amazon
- 15% off Nintendo eShop and Google Play Gift Cards from Coles as of Wednesday
- Dell Thunderbolt Dock WD22TB4 - $351.90 from RonaRigs
- Nikon Nikkor Z 105mm f/2.8 or 50mm f/2.8 macro lens - $1385/$809 from Amazon
- Echo Show 10 + Echo Dot (4th Gen) + Ring Video Doorbell 4 - $399 from Amazon
- Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro - $299.96 from Amazon
- Refurb Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB/256GB - $1077/$1177 from Wise Market
- Chromecast with Google TV 4K - $77.75 from Sydney Mobiles eBay store
- 4x Tenda SP9 wi-fi smart plugs - $39.80 from Shopping Square
- Edifier S351DB Bookshelf Speaker and Subwoofer 2.1 Speaker System - $339.15 from Amazon

## The End

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