Across the United States, utilities are planning new gas-fired power generation at their fastest rate in years — in part to supply tech companies who are building out massive data centers driven by AI hype. Generative AI remains a climate disaster. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-16/us-natural-gas-power-plants-just-keep-coming-to-meet-ai-ev-electricity-demand #tech #ai #climate #datacenters #genai #generativeai #cloud

For decades, internet politics has been shaped by a cyberlibertarian perspective that obsessed about government while enabling the corporate dystopia we live in today. If we want a better internet, we must abandon that perspective and reclaim sovereignty over digital technology.

Disconnect

Reclaiming sovereignty in the digital age

Cyberlibertarianism must die if there’s to be any hope of a better future for the internet

#tech #internet #politics #socialmedia #brazil

Last month, an appeals court in New Zealand ruled that Uber drivers were employees, not contractors. In response, the extreme right-wing government is planning to change employment law to make it much easier to define workers as contractors.

1News

Govt aims to clarify contractor law following Uber case

The business sector has welcomed the announcement, while unions say it could undermine worker rights.

#tech #nz #newzealand #uber #gigeconomy

“Barlow’s distaste for regulation combined with an early sense that the internet would change the world (and thus should be defended from the government by the people who use it) likely helped lay the groundwork for the unhinged growth of the corporate walled gardens we have today.”

Slate Magazine

John Perry Barlow Gave Internet Activists Only Half of the Mission They Need

He taught us to fight against a government that would constrain the internet. He left out corporations.

#tech #digitalrights #surveillance #regulation

Google and Microsoft recently admitted their emissions are soaring as they build out data centers to power the AI boom. But new analysis from The Guardian suggests the data center emissions of Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple are 662% higher than the companies reporting.

the Guardian

Data center emissions likely 662% higher than big tech claims. Can it keep up the ruse?

Emissions from in-house data centers of Google, Microsoft, Meta and Apple may be 7.62 times higher than official figures

#tech #ai #datacenters #microsoft #google #apple #meta #climate

it’s funny that cyberlibertarians spent so much time worrying about government surveillance then private tech companies went ahead and build the most invasive and extensive surveillance apparatus we’ve ever known out of the thing the they promised would liberate us all

Business Insider

Billionaire Larry Ellison says a vast AI-fueled surveillance system can ensure 'citizens will be on their best behavior'

Billionaire Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison said he expects AI surveillance systems to reach a point where all citizens are under constant watch.

#tech #surveillance #larryellison #ai

Why does an iPhone cost what it costs? The base price has actually been pretty consistent, but since Apple isn’t selling many more phones every year, it added premium tiers to keep shareholders happy. It’s not unlike Sony’s new $799 PS5 Pro: soak the customers who will pay more.

Disconnect

Roundup: The price of an iPhone

Read to the end for a very special PS5

#tech #apple #iphone #smartphone

In Memphis, Elon Musk’s xAI is skirting environmental rules and has at least 18 generators burning methane gas next to Black communities without a permit. It will eventually use 150MW of electricity — enough to power 100,000 homes — mainly to power the Grok chatbot. https://www.npr.org/2024/09/11/nx-s1-5088134/elon-musk-ai-xai-supercomputer-memphis-pollution #tech #elonmusk #ai #xai #grok

Brazil seized $3.3 million from the local bank accounts of X and Starlink to pay fines imposed by the Supreme Court.

Bloomberg.com

Brazil Withdraws $3.3 Million From Musk Companies

Brazil withdrew 18.35 million reais ($3.3 million) from the bank accounts of Elon Musk’s X and Starlink to pay for fines imposed by the Supreme C...

#tech #twitter #brazil #starlink #elonmusk

Hackers, fraudsters, drug dealers, and other criminals are moving from Telegram to Signal and Session after the arrest of CEO Pavel Durov.

404 Media

In Wake of Durov Arrest, Some Cybercriminals Ditch Telegram

Hackers, fraudsters, and drug dealers are all leaving the platform in one way or another. Some are worried that Telegram may start providing user d...

#tech #signal #telegram #crime