The use of technology in policing should be regulated to protect people from wrongful convictions

Joanna Pozzulo, Carleton University The proliferation of technology for everyday living can be seen through ChatGPT writing term papers or robots serving meals at a restaurant. Technology can also be used towards less utilitarian ends. Unfortunately, deepfakes — digitally altered images of people — can be used to spread misinformation. A new edited volume, which… Continue reading The use of technology in policing should be regulated to protect people from wrongful convictions

What is doxing, and how can you protect yourself?

Rob Cover, RMIT University The Australian government has brought forward plans to criminalise doxing, bringing nationwide attention to the harms of releasing people’s private information to the wider public. The government response comes after the public release of almost 600 names and private chat logs of a WhatsApp group of Australian Jewish creative artists discussing… Continue reading What is doxing, and how can you protect yourself?

The use of technology in policing should be regulated to protect people from wrongful convictions

Joanna Pozzulo, Carleton University The proliferation of technology for everyday living can be seen through ChatGPT writing term papers or robots serving meals at a restaurant. Technology can also be used towards less utilitarian ends. Unfortunately, deepfakes — digitally altered images of people — can be used to spread misinformation. A new edited volume, which… Continue reading The use of technology in policing should be regulated to protect people from wrongful convictions

Artificial intelligence needs to be trained on culturally diverse datasets to avoid bias

Vered Shwartz, University of British Columbia Large language models (LLMs) are deep learning artificial intelligence programs, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The capabilities of LLMs have developed into quite a wide range, from writing fluent essays, through coding to creative writing. Millions of people worldwide use LLMs, and it would not be an exaggeration to say these… Continue reading Artificial intelligence needs to be trained on culturally diverse datasets to avoid bias

AI tools produce dazzling results – but do they really have ‘intelligence’?

Paul Compton, UNSW Sydney Sam Altman, chief executive of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, is reportedly trying to find up to US$7 trillion of investment to manufacture the enormous volumes of computer chips he believes the world needs to run artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Altman also recently said the world will need more energy in the AI-saturated future… Continue reading AI tools produce dazzling results – but do they really have ‘intelligence’?

Several companies are testing brain implants – why is there so much attention swirling around Neuralink? Two professors unpack the ethical issues

Nancy S. Jecker, University of Washington and Andrew Ko, University of Washington Putting a computer inside someone’s brain used to feel like the edge of science fiction. Today, it’s a reality. Academic and commercial groups are testing “brain-computer interface” devices to enable people with disabilities to function more independently. Yet Elon Musk’s company, Neuralink, has… Continue reading Several companies are testing brain implants – why is there so much attention swirling around Neuralink? Two professors unpack the ethical issues

Cybercriminals are creating their own AI chatbots to support hacking and scam users

Oli Buckley, University of East Anglia and Jason R.C. Nurse, University of Kent Artificial intelligence (AI) tools aimed at the general public, such as ChatGPT, Bard, CoPilot and Dall-E have incredible potential to be used for good. The benefits range from an enhanced ability by doctors to diagnose disease, to expanding access to professional and… Continue reading Cybercriminals are creating their own AI chatbots to support hacking and scam users

The government wants to criminalise doxing. It may not work to stamp out bad behaviour online

Jennifer Beckett, The University of Melbourne This week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the government was seeking to strengthen laws to combat doxing. Its ongoing review into Australian privacy law will now be expanded to include doxing, as will other laws covering hate crime and hate speech. Doxing (sometimes doxxing) is shorthand for “document drop”… Continue reading The government wants to criminalise doxing. It may not work to stamp out bad behaviour online

Desperate for Taylor Swift tickets? Here are cybersecurity tips to stay safe from scams

Cassandra Cross, Queensland University of Technology The global superstar Taylor Swift is bringing her Eras tour to Australia later this month, with sold-out shows in Sydney and Melbourne. With Swifties numbering in the thousands, fans who didn’t initially secure tickets are understandably desperate to find some. Enter the many fraudsters seizing this opportunity. Sadly, the… Continue reading Desperate for Taylor Swift tickets? Here are cybersecurity tips to stay safe from scams

The difference between cybersecurity and cybercrime, and why it matters

Roderick S. Graham, Old Dominion University A Texas woman in her 50s, let’s call her “Amy,” met a man online calling himself “Charlie.” Amy, who lived in Texas, was in a bad marriage. Charlie said he was a businessman and a Christian, and wooed her. “He was saying all the right things,” Amy later told… Continue reading The difference between cybersecurity and cybercrime, and why it matters