Social Media Discussion

[LordMortis]

The question I have is how--I'm sure Apple doesn't expose any on-device biometric info to apps, and I'm doubtful that even Google does (though I'm less sure there).

Apple lock it off unless you give consent. I gave consent to their pedometer and the Lose It app to interact to better progress my weight loss. It's only a guess but if you install shitter app on your phone, you accept the terms and then apple will force "X would like access to your...." which you then need to explicitly confirm. I don't think most people think about it too hard. Not sure how that works on an Android. Alphabet based environments are much more cavalier about sharing your data without being explicit about it. I know just by virtue of having their calendar on my IPhone, their search now links my phone to my gmail account on my computer, which then links to google searches in the same firefox browser, which then translate into Amazon, etc... Alphabet are insidious about finding and tracking my data, which makes me glad the IPhone gates other apps. Google (and other apps) is always asking if it can peek into other things on my phone. That reminds me. I really do need to investigate duckduckgo again.

[Zaxxon]

The question I have is how--I'm sure Apple doesn't expose any on-device biometric info to apps, and I'm doubtful that even Google does (though I'm less sure there).

Apple lock it off unless you give consent. I gave consent to their pedometer and the Lose It app to interact to better progress my weight loss. It's only a guess but if you install shitter app on your phone, you accept the terms and then apple will force "X would like access to your...." which you then need to explicitly confirm. I don't think most people think about it too hard. Not sure how that works on an Android. Alphabet based environments are much more cavalier about sharing your data without being explicit about it. I know just by virtue of having their calendar on my IPhone, their search now links my phone to my gmail account on my computer, which then links to google searches in the same firefox browser, which then translate into Amazon, etc... Alphabet are insidious about finding and tracking my data, which makes me glad the IPhone gates other apps. Google (and other apps) is always asking if it can peek into other things on my phone.

That will grant access to the associated data (eg steps and the like in your case), but not to the actual biometric info--eg your FaceID, fingerprint, etc.

[ImLawBoy]

Are people using biometrics to log into Twitter? I'm trying to figure out how they're getting biometrics.

I'm then wondering if their lawyers have familiarized themselves with the Illinois law regarding biometrics . . . .

They might have an inkling.

in Newswire Published on July 18, 2023
Twitter Captured, Stored Illinois Users’ Biometric Data Without Consent, Class Action Says

That, at least, explains how they're getting biometrics. It's not via logins, but rather via scanning of images uploaded to Twitter as part of their attempt to identify and tag pornography.

[LordMortis]

data collected from steps taken is biometric data, as is a pulse ox, heart rate, glucose monitoring, sleep patterns, etc... You're limiting it to security standards because MFA is what computer people have come to think about biometrics as but biometrics is literally the statistical analysis of biological data.

Edit: Or they're just scanning pictures.

[Zaxxon]

data collected from steps taken is biometric data, as is a pulse ox, heart rate, glucose monitoring, sleep patterns, etc... You're limiting it to security standards because MFA is what computer people have come to think about biometrics as but biometrics is literally the statistical analysis of biological data.

We're getting off-topic here, but it is not, in this context. Biometrics in the context of infosec is specifically the use of physical or behavioral characteristics for purposes of identifying or verifying identity of a person. Your step count, and even the combination of items you listed, will not positively identify you beyond doubt. In the context of your phone, it's your face, fingerprint, iris scan, etc.

But ImLawBoy found the specifics in play here, and they're not phone biometrics but rather analysis of data already shared via Twitter.

[LordMortis]

We're getting off-topic here, but it is not, in this context. Biometrics in the context of infosec is specifically the use of physical or behavioral characteristics for purposes of identifying or verifying identity of a person. Your step count, and even the combination of items you listed, will not positively identify you beyond doubt. In the context of your phone, it's your face, fingerprint, iris scan, etc.

I think that's what I said when I said people in computers are used to limiting the term to be used for MFA (MulitFactor Identification) but the term outside of information security is much bigger. From my link to the ring above.

The Readiness Score provides a holistic picture of your health using over 20 biometric signals. Oura senses if you’re feeling refreshed or stressed, and tells you if today is a day to push yourself or take it easy. With our research-grade temperature sensors, it can even tell you when you might be getting sick — sometimes even before you know it.

I couldn't tell you for sure what Muck is saying he will take or how he will take it. I was only saying your smartphone collects biometric data and bluetooth devices can collect a lot more and it's feasible the app could ask for permission to use it.

[Zaxxon]

I hear you. But this discussion was about Twitter. They're not worried about your pulse ox; they want facial recognition, etc. The discussion is inherently about information security. The term 'tweet' also has a broader definition outside this thread, but we're not talking about small birds.

[LawBeefaroni]

Photos is what got Google and Facebook in Illinois. And Twitter.

[Blackhawk]

From now on, anyone with a Xitter account should upload only pictures of Abe Vigoda. Avatar? Abe Vigoda. Family Christmas photo? Everyone is Abe Vigoda.

[Isgrimnur]

if you install shitter app on your phone

Designer Haikun-Deng has whipped up a toilet seat with in-built digital scales, so you can now literally see how much you weigh pre and post toilet stop.

[malchior]

If you haven't paid attention, today was a good day for Musk. He Xeeted out a thread where he said he's against antisemitism but then went on to blame ADL for tanking the value of his site.

Threatens lawsuit against them.

Elon Musk posted that he was against antisemitism Monday and blamed the Anti-Defamation League for lost advertising revenue since his acquisition of X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

The tech mogul posted his stance on free speech and antisemitism seemingly out of the blue on his verified account Monday afternoon. When asked by a user who was questioning his stance, Musk alleged that the ADL has been "trying to kill this platform by falsely accusing it & me of being anti-Semitic."

"If this continues, we will have no choice but to file a defamation suit against, ironically, the 'Anti-Defamation' League," Musk wrote. "If they lose the defamation suit, we will insist that they drop the the “anti” part of their name, since obviously …"

That's a mighty loud dog whistle.

[Blackhawk]

[Rumpy]

I think he's doing a fine job of killing it himself.

[GreenGoo]

I think he's doing a fine job of killing it himself.

As said, he's whistling to his dogs. There is zero chance he actually sues, and less than zero he wins.

[Isgrimnur]

I think he's doing a fine job of killing it himself.

As said, he's whistling to his dogs. There is zero chance he actually sues, and less than zero he wins.

That worked out so well for him when he was bragging about buying the place.

[GreenGoo]

But he's going to force the anti-defamation league to change their name!

Stickin' it to them wokites!

Free speech!!

[LawBeefaroni]

"I'm not antisemitic, I'm just trying to perpetuate antisemitic conspiracy theories. Geeez."

[Defiant]

Between Tesla and anti-Semitism, I guess he's just striving to be the Henry Ford of the 21st century.

[Carpet_pissr]

He’s probably already started construction on his idea of a right wing utopia city in some developing country’s jungle. Probably server farm.

Musklandia.

Barf.

[GreenGoo]

I hear the middle of the Atlantic has an opening.

[Rumpy]

Between Tesla and anti-Semitism, I guess he's just striving to be the Henry Ford of the 21st century.

Which is interesting because at one point Ford wanted to get into electric cars and thought there was something to it a century before Musk did. Even did some prospecting locally for his batteries, and there was news a few years back about how Musk had wanted to invest in our mines. Kind of odd how much of a parallel there is.

[Zaxxon]

Tl;dr:

[pr0ner]

Elon really needs to stop being so online.

And maybe sell Twitter at a loss.

[GreenGoo]

Elon really needs to stop being so online.

And maybe sell Twitter at a loss.

I assume he has a plan for twitter that involves selling at a loss, but I'm not very astute at this sort of thing, so I have no idea what that plan might be.

[LawBeefaroni]

Elon really needs to stop being so online.

And maybe sell Twitter at a loss.

I assume he has a plan for twitter that involves selling at a loss, but I'm not very astute at this sort of thing, so I have no idea what that plan might be.

If he had that plan, he could have sold by now. It's easily lost over 60% from the purchase price.

[GreenGoo]

And yet he keeps finding new ways to tank it further.

[Rumpy]

Elon really needs to stop being so online.

And maybe sell Twitter at a loss.

He reminds me of the type of person who will say or do anything without filter. It's similar in concept to people who have absolutely no filter for the pictures they take and then post, ie no judgement, like say, taking a picture of someone with their mouth full of food and think that constitutes a good picture. I've had it happen to myself recently too.

With Musk, he'll say something that is absolutely whacked and then is surprised when everyone reacts negatively. When caught, he'll spin it the other way around.

[malchior]

It's almost like he is part of an society that rewards and reinforces terrible behavior and encourages more bad behavior.

Elon really needs to stop being so online.

And maybe sell Twitter at a loss.

He reminds me of the type of person who will say or do anything without filter. It's similar in concept to people who have absolutely no filter for the pictures they take and then post, ie no judgement, like say, taking a picture of someone with their mouth full of food and think that constitutes a good picture. I've had it happen to myself recently too.

With Musk, he'll say something that is absolutely whacked and then is surprised when everyone reacts negatively. When caught, he'll spin it the other way around.

He's another broken POS rich boy who grew up to become an absolute monster. He's always been this way. He just has a louder voice so we see more clearly how shitty he has always been. He's trash with a lot of money.

[GreenGoo]

Guess what happens when the person with no filter is a good person? Nothing, because no one notices because they aren't publicly reinforcing racial stereotypes.

The problem isn't that he has no filter.

[Carpet_pissr]

And yet he keeps finding new ways to tank it further.

That, IMO, is The Plan.

[LawBeefaroni]

Yeah, it's not for financial gain, it's for ideological gain.

[Rumpy]

It's definitely not the only thing, but I do think it's certainly part of it.

[GreenGoo]

Yeah, it's not for financial gain, it's for ideological gain.

What is "ideological gain"?

[Blackhawk]

Yeah, it's not for financial gain, it's for ideological gain.

And sometimes it's the brand of echo-chamber lunacy that affects the super-rich.

[Carpet_pissr]

Yeah, it's not for financial gain, it's for ideological gain.

What is "ideological gain"?

Breaking the back of "woke". See other, competing (?) thread here about this.

[Smoove_B]

Yeah, it's not for financial gain, it's for ideological gain.

What is "ideological gain"?

Imagine you had an unimaginable pile of money and you were convinced Twitter was critical in the outcomes of the 2016 and 2020 elections. It would make sense then to purchase the platform so that you can shape it to help influence the 2024 elections. Well, unless you bankrupt it first because you're a goon. Then maybe it doesn't make much sense. But I genuinely believe it's that simple.

[GreenGoo]

Ok, that helps, thanks.

[Smoove_B]

All of the lawsuits that have been filed against Musk, related to Twitter X:

When Elon Musk bought Twitter in October 2022, a fairly ordinary tech company was transformed into a most unusual private corporation. Many strange things have happened at the Musk-owned social network, but this article will focus on just one puzzling aspect of Musk's leadership: His apparent refusal to pay bills.

Over two dozen lawsuits alleged that Twitter—which rebranded itself as "X" in late July—refused to pay money owed to vendors who started providing services to the company before Musk bought it. In fact, suing X seems to be the most effective method of collecting on unpaid invoices. This article will provide a summary of each lawsuit and an update on each case's status.

X agreed to settle some of the allegations, allowing some vendors to recoup at least part of what they were owed. Settlement talks are proceeding in other cases, and at least one went to arbitration. But X has taken a hard stance in fighting some unpaid-bill lawsuits, and several could head to jury trials.

Not paying bills....reminds me of someone. I'm sure it will come to me.

[Rumpy]

Seems like a rather callous thing for Musk to do. Never heard of any company not purposefully paying bills. And I can imagine the hesitancy of companies willing to get into contract with him as his reputation grows.

[Max Peck]

Never heard of any company not purposefully paying bills.

It's Trump's one weird trick, for one example.