The News

Electric buses can be shut down by Chinese manufacturer, Norwegian agency claims

Last week, Norwegian public transport agency Ruter said testing showed that Chinese brand Yutong buses — which are currently in service in Norway — allow remote software updates and diagnostics access (Guardian). This prompted fears it could be used to shut down the vehicles remotely, so now the UK, too, is looking into the claims (FT). There are some Yutong buses on Australian roads, including in Canberra (ABC News) but the bus-maker told the ABC News that this doesn’t include the model tested by Ruter.

The Sizzle: One of the loudest voices about what China could do with electronic devices like cars has been CyberCX’s Alastair MacGibbon who says “all connected vehicles” made by China are vulnerable to remote sabotage. He has also raised concerns about the BYD vehicles in car lots around Australia. These device makers always say that they don’t have those capabilities — but would you really expect them to say if they did, I guess? Anyway, I guess MacGibbon’s recommendation for politicians and public servants to avoid using these vehicles is fine. To be honest, if we get into some full blown war with China, unusable buses will be one of the last things on my mind.

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Disney v YouTube is a taste of the future of content wars

Disney is in a stand-off with YouTube in a fight that tells you a lot about how the internet is eating everything (Verge). At the end of last month, Disney pulled 20+ channels from Google’s online cable TV streaming platform, YouTube TV, over claims that the tech company was offering “below-market rates” to carry its content. Meanwhile, Google says that Disney is “proposing costly economic terms that would raise prices on YouTube TV customers” (Verge). This blackout includes ESPN, ABC, Disney Channel, Nat Geo, and a bunch of other big channels.

The Sizzle: I wanted to flag this because we’re at a tipping point. Fewer and fewer people are paying for things like Foxtel or even watching terrestrial TV. Meanwhile, platforms like YouTube are increasingly filled with high-quality video that wouldn’t be out-of-place on traditional TV.

What’s the difference? YouTube pays zero upfront to anyone putting video on their platforms only giving a share of advertising revenue. In the past, companies like Disney have been able to essentially go to platforms like YouTube TV and say “we know you need football and cable news and cartoons” and have been able to charge enormous carriage fees because they were essential. Now, with all the content online for free, I think Google is emboldened to play hardball because of all the competition from online, free content. Now, Disney (and every other major content provider) has to prove that what they have is more valuable than everything else online.

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First known warrant for ChatGPT data gets a bit funky with it

The first known search warrant to OpenAI for user data was a “reverse prompt” request from US Homeland Security Investigations to unmask a dark web CSAM website admin (Forbes). The suspect had shared with an undercover cop prompts and responses that he had given and received from ChatGPT (like “What would happen if Sherlock Holmes met Q from Star Trek?” lol). So, HSI asked OpenAI for the user associated with this data. The agency figured out the man’s identity through other means, but Electronic Frontier Foundation pointed out that governments are turning towards using AI chatbots as a source for investigations. 

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Leftovers

Australia:

Rest of the world:

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Oh, Also

Forget solar - try powering your house using disposable vapes

You know how some YouTube videos overpromise and underdeliver? I Powered My House Using 500 Disposable vapes is not one of those. Enjoy.

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Bargains

Electrical & Electronics

Computing

Mobile

The End

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