TaboToka 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: Trump Doesn’t Want To Get Back On Twitter So Badly, He’s Appealing His Case To Get Back On Twitter

    TaboToka ( profile ), 30 Jun, 2022 @ 03:11pm

    YEAH!!!1 What does this have to do with technology?™

  • On the post: India’s Government Amps Up Facial Recognition Deployment, Claims The Only People Affected Are Criminals

    TaboToka ( profile ), 25 Jun, 2022 @ 05:13am

    "Nothing to to hide" and other misunderstandings of privacy

    tl;dr: The right to privacy is much more than shielding the guilty. The regular details of your life are none of the government's business. Before the inevitable "if you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide" trope rears its fugly head, here is a great read on what the right to Privacy really means: 'I've Got Nothing to Hide' and Other Misunderstandings of Privacy Daniel J. Solove George Washington University Law School (link to full paper at the top of the page)

  • On the post: Much Like Cord Cutting Itself, Big Media Execs Think TikTok Is A Fad That Will Just Fade Away

    TaboToka ( profile ), 24 Jun, 2022 @ 02:36pm

    Deja Vu!

    When I worked at a Major Metropolitan Newspaper ages ago, there was the same attitude from the publisher/editors about the threat from online sources. Craig's list killed classifieds almost overnight, and that was a steady stream of income gone. At that point, I think they had a small chance to take bold steps and maybe stayed relevant. Stock prices, weather, movie times, etc. all fell like dominoes. Suddenly the only thing the paper offered was yesterday's AP stories and some columnists you couldn't get elsewhere. I don't know if there was a way out back then, but I can tell you that doing nothing is a sure-fire recipe to get smashed to bits by your younger, hungrier competition.

  • On the post: Appeals Court: No, You Can’t Just Sue Twitter Because You’re Upset They Kicked Trump Off

    TaboToka ( profile ), 24 Jun, 2022 @ 02:26pm

    Wow, does she even know how to 1st amendment?

    Why can't she take a screen shot of one of TFG's dumps on his own version of Twitter, then post it on Twitter and "discuss, debate, comment" it?

  • On the post: Twitter Hit With $150 Million Fine For Using Two-Factor Authentication Data For Marketing

    TaboToka ( profile ), 27 May, 2022 @ 09:33am

    This is worse than nothing

    $150 million dollar fine? Their current revenue is in the neighborhood of $5 billion, so the fine is 3% of their revenue. Cost of doing business, and they'll write it off on their taxes. You want to stop this, prosecute whomever authorized this and send them to prison. 18 U.S. Code § 1029 (access device fraud) specifies penalties of up to 10 years. That will serve more of a deterrent than any tiny fine the FTC can come up with.

  • On the post: No, Twitter Doesn’t Want To ‘Censor’ Anyone, It Just Wants Everyone To Stop Attacking Each Other

    TaboToka ( profile ), 20 May, 2022 @ 01:54pm

    Go to any of Twitter’s competitors.
    Or start your own, like Mike Pillow and TFG did!

  • On the post: Lawsuit Attempts To Hold TikTok Responsible For Death Of 10-Year-Old Girl Who Engaged In A ‘Blackout Challenge’

    TaboToka ( profile ), 19 May, 2022 @ 09:50am

    It seems natural to want to point and assign blame (the collective towards the parents or the parents towards TikTok), but the best we can do is learn and maybe look at prevention. How could this have been prevented?

    • TikTok cannot stop kids from viewing things they could use to injure or kill themselves (i.e., moderation at scale).
    • Part of being a kid is doing stupid things, because their executive function isn't fully developed. We cannot change the kids.
    • Parents can and should monitor what their kids are up to. They can't catch everything, but if they find their kid is hurting or needs help, they can and should address it.

  • On the post: Funniest/Most Insightful Comments Of The Week At Techdirt

    TaboToka ( profile ), 15 May, 2022 @ 05:38pm

    It’s maybe easy for middle class white men to think privacy is not that important
    Required reading for anyone who thinks privacy is only valuable for the guilty:\ 'I've Got Nothing to Hide' and Other Misunderstandings of Privacy

  • On the post: EU Proposes It’s Own Version Of EARN IT: Effectively Mandates Full Surveillance Of All Messaging & No Encryption

    TaboToka ( profile ), 13 May, 2022 @ 08:16am

    "Thank goodness for Brexit, so we don't have any of these draconian EU laws!" What about these? "Those aren't as bad, did you even read the content?" Here's a specific example of one that's bad. "That won't become a law because we have special double-secret voting magic!!1 Plus it isn't as bad as those EU laws!!!' (rinse, repeat)

  • On the post: EU Proposes It’s Own Version Of EARN IT: Effectively Mandates Full Surveillance Of All Messaging & No Encryption

    TaboToka ( profile ), 13 May, 2022 @ 08:11am

    You think the UK won't come up with a similar law on their own? Can I have some of what you're smoking?

  • On the post: Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy Allegedly Removed ‘Unauthorized” Sheriff’s Gang Tattoo With A Bullet

    TaboToka ( profile ), 13 May, 2022 @ 08:02am

    And if you’re a cop not in the gang you’ll be aware it’s your actual life on the life if you rat them out – or just fail to conform. So the rot spreads.
    How can this possibly be fixed? Root out the leadership root and branch and then hold them personally accountable for unlawful activities of their subordinates? A national LEO permanent-record database so corrupt gang members can't job hop to escape consequences of their misdeeds? Mandatory training and zero-tolerance penalties for murder/racketeering?

  • On the post: Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy Allegedly Removed ‘Unauthorized” Sheriff’s Gang Tattoo With A Bullet

    TaboToka ( profile ), 13 May, 2022 @ 07:57am

    These are the people you surrender your autonomy to when you support gun control.
    Tell us you don't understand gun control without saying you don't understand gun control. Some added cold water: there are no number or types of firearms you could possibly own that would allow you to maintain your autonomy from the police.

  • On the post: Biden Broadband Event Showcases Why U.S. Telecom Policy, Press Coverage Is So Broken

    TaboToka ( profile ), 13 May, 2022 @ 07:49am

    How US Govt Works

    Which is to say there’s some mixed messaging here. We care about [snip] giving broadband companies $30/user/month of government grants, without demanding anything in return.
    FTFY There is no "mixed messaging" here other than the government lying again about Corporate Welfare, but that's nothing new.

  • On the post: Houston Passes Ordinance Forcing Businesses To Install Cameras, Provide Warrantless Access To Recordings

    TaboToka ( profile ), 29 Apr, 2022 @ 06:15pm

    They tried to make it well-written

    Granted, it is unconstitutional as hell, but it looks like they got someone who has some technical chops to at least put in the big words.

    Sec. 28-672. Camera required. (a) A business subject to the requirements of this article shall have digital high-resolution surveillance cameras sufficient to provide an overall view from the exterior of the building to the property line and each camera shall be placed in consultation with HPD. Each camera shall display the date and time of the recording. The camera must be capable of providing a digital image with a minimum resolution of two megapixels, a minimum aspect ratio of 1920 horizontal pixels by 1080 vertical pixels, and a minimum frame rate of 30 frames per second. The camera shall have Wide Dynamic Range capabilities. The camera shall be capable of exporting video footage in a non-proprietary MPEG-4 format.
    Just because something is capable, doesn't mean it must be set, does it? "But officer, I was trying to save space, so I set it at 320x200." Time-shift all the output recording by some random amount and display the date and time "of the recording".
    (b) Each camera shall be maintained in proper working order at all times. Each camera shall be operating at all times, including hours when the facility is not open for business.
    Is "proper working order" defined? I think I need to moisturize the lens with some Vaseline to keep it from cracking or something.
    (c) The owner shall, within 72 hours of a request, provide digital color video footage in connection with crime investigations to the police department.
    I will be printing them on 8 1/2 x 11 glossies with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back. Expect a UHaul to arrive in three days.
    (d) The owner or operator shall maintain a library of the recorded digital footage for not less than 30 days.
    I'm going to mix in the soundtrack to lolita while I'm at it.
    (e) A business subject to the requirements of this article shall have posted at all public exits and entrances signs or decals indicating that surveillance cameras are in use.
    Sigh

  • On the post: John Oliver Explains How Cops Lie To People To Rob Them Of Their Freedom

    TaboToka ( profile ), 20 Apr, 2022 @ 11:14am

    Citizenship 101

    Never, ever, ever talk to cops. There is no upside to doing so. The only two things you should ever say to a cop:

    1. I'm invoking my right to remain silent"
    2. I want to talk to (my/a) lawyer
    If you say anything else, you're screwed.

  • On the post: TSA Now Looking To Make It Impossible For People Wrongly Added To Terrorist Watchlist To Travel On The Ground

    TaboToka ( profile ), 20 Apr, 2022 @ 07:22am

    not actual “security” planning.
    Q1: Has a terrorist organization successfully executed an attack against rail that directly resulted in mass casualties (i.e., 10+ dead in a single incident)? Q2: Have there been sufficient and repeated attacks against rail that necessitate elevating the risk assessment? Q3: If the rail system is maintained as it is (i.e., no additional security), what is the likely outcome in terms of deaths due to terrorist actions within a year? 5 years? 10 years? Provide historical data and analytical models. Q4: What is the expected outcome of a "no-rail list" on the answer to Q3? Provide the data/analytical models that support this prediction.

  • On the post: Still Terrible: Intuit Hit By FTC Lawsuit Over Deceptive ‘Free Tax Filing’ Advertising Practices

    TaboToka ( profile ), 14 Apr, 2022 @ 01:51pm

    Then perhaps one could see the numbers of those making the most paying the least and wonder why the system works that way.
    When you defund the IRS under the guise of "small government" it means that rich people with accountants and lawyers constructing complex tax dodges for them will very rarely get audited. With their limited resources, the IRS will go after the Poors because they are easy pickings.

  • On the post: Josh Hawley May Be A Terrible Human Being (And Senator), But He Still Gets Fair Use Rights

    TaboToka ( profile ), 13 Apr, 2022 @ 01:48pm

    Ironically enough, you can sell copyrighted works under the fair use doctrine. For some interesting reading on how the courts have ruled for fair use, check out the index of fair use cases and read through the some of the decisions where fair use was found. There is a specific test the courts use to determine fair use (Title 17 Ch 1 §107):

    107 . Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include— (1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; (2) the nature of the copyrighted work; (3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and (4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.

  • On the post: Jury Awards $14 Million To Anti-Police Brutality Protesters Who Were Brutalized By Colorado Police Officers

    TaboToka ( profile ), 06 Apr, 2022 @ 06:13pm

    Ahh

    The costs associated with insuring against the risks
    This is the best possible solution. The insurance companies will police the police. PDs that are out of control will find themselves dropped by their insurers or will have much higher premiums. This will drive cities to crack down on their out-of-control PDs.

  • On the post: Taxpayers Shell Out $900k To Cover For Cops Who Charged 64 People With Possessing 1 Oz. Of Weed

    TaboToka ( profile ), 23 Mar, 2022 @ 06:55am

    Quick and easy fix

    Any settlement needs to come out of the police retirement fund. They want the power to live above the law, let them have the consequences and repercussions to go along with it.

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