Living in Ireland (the Republic, not the North) I've been presented with a demand to identify myself on a few websites. There is no option to educate the site admins that the Republic of Ireland is not part of the UK and that implying such will earn them a kneecapping in certain parts of Belfast.
Clearly there are some implementations that were as well thought out as the original law.
Valve doesn't trade publicly, you can't buy shares in it. It is owned by Gabe Newell (100% as far as I understand), who is a veteran gamer and game developer (which means he is well used to edgy and "edgy" nonsense from players and Gamers (TM). There are no investors or shareholders that can be paniced into a knee-jerk reaction.
In terms of the scale, Steam may be the dominant player in the PC gaming space, buy that pales in comparison to the scale of the console market space. In terms of a social hub Steam pales in comparison into the likes of Twitter, Reddit, FB, etc.
This whole affair reads like a sloppy attempt by the ADL to chalk up a quick / cheap win but did bugger all research or massively misunderstood Valve, Steam and the PC market space.
Or they realised too late their efforts had not uncovered a smoking gun and then just went for the "fling shit everywhere and some might stick" approach?
Sadly it could be just stupidity and blindly following policy:
Our licenses for DRM1 are starting to expire and they want a 20% hike for a renewal, what do we do? It is company policy to have DRM on eveything!
Who is cheaper?
DRM2 is 2.9837568% cheaper than what DRM1 is asking for.
Roll out DRM2.
But we haven't tested it for compatibility.
That's your mistake for not raising the issue in time, roll out DRM2. We can't have a gap in our patented Protect Shareholder Value program.
Having a tantrum throwing, spiteful and petulant, egotistical toddler in a suit cosplay as an international diplomat, spew gasoline on an international conflict, then flounce off in a sulk while blaming the Libs / Woke Mafia / victims of war crimes for their failure to simply do as he demands in conplete contradiction to anything that is in their best interests
I'd like to think it is a far-fetched possibility but Elmo is such an entitled tool ...
The "offer" was a dumb as the original idea.
"Hey cool people, if you're really cool you'll oust those refusnik mods and take over the subreddit. No, I'm not offering a decreased API fee for the new mods, you'll just do as I say just like my original idea".
Yes, I can see many many people take up this cunning new offer with the same amount of stick as the original idea and zero carrot to sweeten the deal.
Cloud gaming works, as long as you can deal with any shortcomings it has. The most successful cloud gaming systems currently are the gamepass type services where you get access to a large library out of the gate. Or if you bought a game digitally it is in your library for cloud gaming as well as logal installations.
Stadia had all of the same drawbacks and advantages of other clour gaming systems but demanded customers start from scratch. They had no deals with Steam, GOG, Epic, MSD, Sony, etc.
So you had to buy into their hardware ecosystem, and start from scratch with an empty game library. Compare that to established cloud gaming service services it was competing with and gamers with established libraries of games.
Stadia did not bring enough additional advantages to offset this and thus it simply did not gain traction.
That is not 'cos it was a cloud gaming service, it is 'cos it was a badly conceived cloud gaming service with no killer app / edge over competitors.
"And all they seem to be doing is wasting taxpayer dollars to learn how the 1st Amendment actually works."
Based on the repeated attmepts in some states to try the same shit again and again I'd say some of them are slow to learn, or are failing to learn at all.
One might go so far as to say they are not interested in learning as long as the cost of the lesson they are willfully ignoring is not coming out of their own wallet.
"the line between innovator and fraudster seems to have become alarmingly thin."
Or, it might be appropriate to say that Forbes due diligence when producing it's 30 under 30 list is possibly the only thing thinner than the line between innovator and fraudster?
... and the "lawmakers" are not in favour of creating laws that would in any way penalise them for their failure to perform their duties to even a minimal level.
"... could be a boon for entry to mid level editors"
Guess what's next on their list to replace with AI? They think it's mostly just spelling/grammar checking right ... that's perfect for a rules based AI ... should be even easier to implement!
I've used an offline password manager (KeePass) for years due to the fear of a single breach like this compromising all my data. I was recently wondering if my fear was overblown and it was time to look at online systems. Now I'm thinking I wasn't mistaken and I'm glad I'm stubborn / paranoid.
I feel sorry for the poor sods that are technically savy enough to understand just how big a deal this is, and for the technologically illeterate users that are going to be put through Hell when the DB is finally cracked 'cos "proprietary binary format" is just another way of saying "security through obscurity" which has worked so well in the past.
"Nonetheless, the FBI continued to pay for the licenses while it considered the legal and constitutional implication of the malware, ultimately shelling out $5 million for exploits it apparently never used".
Where is the proof that they never used it, or that they only tested it on the burner phones (which counts as using it)?
Better question, who did they give the burner phones to and were they informed they were subject to an extrajudicial prostate examination via their new shiny toy?
What are the odds that someone right now is saying "Scotty, I told you this could happen. I warned you not to pick that account and go with the other one. Did you listen to me? No, of course you didn't. Don't whine at me and demand I fix it. There is nothing to fix, this is working as intended. Don't call me again you annoying dipshit"?
... and the part of me that thinks this might be lies or a distortion of the truth is based on the simple fact that there is no way something like this would stay a secret forever.
The reputational damage, the endless wave of civil suits as everyone sues the tits off Google / Alphabet / whatever-shell-corporation-it-is-this-week, the fact anyone involved would be happily thrown to the wolves if it got Google /Alphabet off the hook legally speaking ... the consequences for when the game was up, not if, are so severe that it's difficult to see how it could get green lit.
Yes, I know corporate America and late stage capitalism seem to just dive headlong into short term profit at the exclusion of anything else (including long term sustainability) but the consequences here seem so bad that I can't see how this went beyond a dubious experiment that was shut down afterwards as the downsides vastly outweighed the positives.
I have no difficulty seeing Google / Alphabet (any US company frankly) being greedy enough to pull a stunt like this. Being smart enough to figure out a scam like this, yet somehow stupid enough to think it will never be uncovered? That's a whole different ballgame.
... 'cos that advert got things backwards. It's showing us what life would be like without encryption ... everyone's personal life exposed for anyone to exploit and prey upon.
Otherwise I'm confused about the message they are trying to send. Pedos only operate in greenhouses, telephone booths and similar spaces? Children locked inside a small unventilated and sealed environment won't suffocate? The UK government thinks taxpayers are idiots to be exploited at will?
Lazy implementations. AKA Geographic driveby victims
Living in Ireland (the Republic, not the North) I've been presented with a demand to identify myself on a few websites. There is no option to educate the site admins that the Republic of Ireland is not part of the UK and that implying such will earn them a kneecapping in certain parts of Belfast. Clearly there are some implementations that were as well thought out as the original law.
Surprise!
"Of course, that’s if DOGE’s numbers weren’t completely made up to begin with." Surprise plot twist! They totally are made up.
ADL misunderstood Valve as a company
Valve doesn't trade publicly, you can't buy shares in it. It is owned by Gabe Newell (100% as far as I understand), who is a veteran gamer and game developer (which means he is well used to edgy and "edgy" nonsense from players and Gamers (TM). There are no investors or shareholders that can be paniced into a knee-jerk reaction. In terms of the scale, Steam may be the dominant player in the PC gaming space, buy that pales in comparison to the scale of the console market space. In terms of a social hub Steam pales in comparison into the likes of Twitter, Reddit, FB, etc. This whole affair reads like a sloppy attempt by the ADL to chalk up a quick / cheap win but did bugger all research or massively misunderstood Valve, Steam and the PC market space. Or they realised too late their efforts had not uncovered a smoking gun and then just went for the "fling shit everywhere and some might stick" approach?
Illegal manufacture, distribution and sale. No point in going easy on these chucklefucks.
It could be something even dumber
Sadly it could be just stupidity and blindly following policy: Our licenses for DRM1 are starting to expire and they want a 20% hike for a renewal, what do we do? It is company policy to have DRM on eveything! Who is cheaper? DRM2 is 2.9837568% cheaper than what DRM1 is asking for. Roll out DRM2. But we haven't tested it for compatibility. That's your mistake for not raising the issue in time, roll out DRM2. We can't have a gap in our patented Protect Shareholder Value program.
Quicker to list what shouldn't go wrong?
Having a tantrum throwing, spiteful and petulant, egotistical toddler in a suit cosplay as an international diplomat, spew gasoline on an international conflict, then flounce off in a sulk while blaming the Libs / Woke Mafia / victims of war crimes for their failure to simply do as he demands in conplete contradiction to anything that is in their best interests I'd like to think it is a far-fetched possibility but Elmo is such an entitled tool ...
I'm making you an offer you can't refuse ... confuse?
The "offer" was a dumb as the original idea. "Hey cool people, if you're really cool you'll oust those refusnik mods and take over the subreddit. No, I'm not offering a decreased API fee for the new mods, you'll just do as I say just like my original idea". Yes, I can see many many people take up this cunning new offer with the same amount of stick as the original idea and zero carrot to sweeten the deal.
Gotta disagree
Cloud gaming works, as long as you can deal with any shortcomings it has. The most successful cloud gaming systems currently are the gamepass type services where you get access to a large library out of the gate. Or if you bought a game digitally it is in your library for cloud gaming as well as logal installations. Stadia had all of the same drawbacks and advantages of other clour gaming systems but demanded customers start from scratch. They had no deals with Steam, GOG, Epic, MSD, Sony, etc. So you had to buy into their hardware ecosystem, and start from scratch with an empty game library. Compare that to established cloud gaming service services it was competing with and gamers with established libraries of games. Stadia did not bring enough additional advantages to offset this and thus it simply did not gain traction. That is not 'cos it was a cloud gaming service, it is 'cos it was a badly conceived cloud gaming service with no killer app / edge over competitors.
Learning?
"And all they seem to be doing is wasting taxpayer dollars to learn how the 1st Amendment actually works." Based on the repeated attmepts in some states to try the same shit again and again I'd say some of them are slow to learn, or are failing to learn at all. One might go so far as to say they are not interested in learning as long as the cost of the lesson they are willfully ignoring is not coming out of their own wallet.
Thin line?
"the line between innovator and fraudster seems to have become alarmingly thin." Or, it might be appropriate to say that Forbes due diligence when producing it's 30 under 30 list is possibly the only thing thinner than the line between innovator and fraudster?
... and the "lawmakers" are not in favour of creating laws that would in any way penalise them for their failure to perform their duties to even a minimal level.
"... could be a boon for entry to mid level editors" Guess what's next on their list to replace with AI? They think it's mostly just spelling/grammar checking right ... that's perfect for a rules based AI ... should be even easier to implement!
That is one way to incinerate your customer base
I've used an offline password manager (KeePass) for years due to the fear of a single breach like this compromising all my data. I was recently wondering if my fear was overblown and it was time to look at online systems. Now I'm thinking I wasn't mistaken and I'm glad I'm stubborn / paranoid. I feel sorry for the poor sods that are technically savy enough to understand just how big a deal this is, and for the technologically illeterate users that are going to be put through Hell when the DB is finally cracked 'cos "proprietary binary format" is just another way of saying "security through obscurity" which has worked so well in the past.
"It’s very blatant that he’s barking at Musk’s command here…" Or he's dry-humping his master's leg and is looking for a treat / reward.
I had the exact same thought ...
"Nonetheless, the FBI continued to pay for the licenses while it considered the legal and constitutional implication of the malware, ultimately shelling out $5 million for exploits it apparently never used". Where is the proof that they never used it, or that they only tested it on the burner phones (which counts as using it)? Better question, who did they give the burner phones to and were they informed they were subject to an extrajudicial prostate examination via their new shiny toy?
Integrity Partners?
Yeah, I'm gonna go out a limb here and say that name is about as believable as Honest Joe's Pre-owned Cars.
Re: Re: Re: The less charitable read....
Given enough time 3D printing might get us downloadable cars ...
Re: Re: Re: Asn an Australian...
What are the odds that someone right now is saying "Scotty, I told you this could happen. I warned you not to pick that account and go with the other one. Did you listen to me? No, of course you didn't. Don't whine at me and demand I fix it. There is nothing to fix, this is working as intended. Don't call me again you annoying dipshit"?
Re:
... and the part of me that thinks this might be lies or a distortion of the truth is based on the simple fact that there is no way something like this would stay a secret forever. The reputational damage, the endless wave of civil suits as everyone sues the tits off Google / Alphabet / whatever-shell-corporation-it-is-this-week, the fact anyone involved would be happily thrown to the wolves if it got Google /Alphabet off the hook legally speaking ... the consequences for when the game was up, not if, are so severe that it's difficult to see how it could get green lit. Yes, I know corporate America and late stage capitalism seem to just dive headlong into short term profit at the exclusion of anything else (including long term sustainability) but the consequences here seem so bad that I can't see how this went beyond a dubious experiment that was shut down afterwards as the downsides vastly outweighed the positives. I have no difficulty seeing Google / Alphabet (any US company frankly) being greedy enough to pull a stunt like this. Being smart enough to figure out a scam like this, yet somehow stupid enough to think it will never be uncovered? That's a whole different ballgame.
They should ask for a refund ...
... 'cos that advert got things backwards. It's showing us what life would be like without encryption ... everyone's personal life exposed for anyone to exploit and prey upon.
Otherwise I'm confused about the message they are trying to send. Pedos only operate in greenhouses, telephone booths and similar spaces? Children locked inside a small unventilated and sealed environment won't suffocate? The UK government thinks taxpayers are idiots to be exploited at will?
It's probably the last one.