Digital Privacy
Why did Michelle King, the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, resign from her position?
Michelle King stepped down over the weekend after refusing a request from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to access sensitive data of millions of Americans at the Social Security Administration. According to sources, this data included bank information, Social Security numbers, birth dates, and in some cases medical records of the over 70 million Americans receiving benefits through the agency. Instead of providing this sensitive information, King chose to retire rather than comply with the request. The White House later confirmed her departure, stating that President Trump has directed DOGE teams to identify potential fraud at the Social Security Administration as part of broader efforts to reduce perceived waste within federal agencies.
Watch clip answer (02:06m)
NBC News
14:04 - 16:10
What is fueling the rise in cyber attacks in India and how serious is the threat?
The Dark Web is a key driver behind India's unprecedented surge in cyber attacks, which are surpassing global averages. Nearly 56.8% of Dark Web content is linked to illegal activities including financial fraud and cybercrime, creating an underground economy that facilitates data breaches and identity theft. This growing threat significantly impacts businesses, with reports showing approximately 543 million digital assets linked to Fortune 1000 employees available for sale. Ransomware-related breaches have doubled annually over the past two years, severely affecting financial stability and corporate reputation. Despite India contributing 26% of the Dark Web's user base, awareness remains low, making Indian businesses particularly vulnerable targets for cybercriminals.
Watch clip answer (04:08m)
WION
11:24 - 15:32
What is causing alarm at the IRS regarding Elon Musk's DOGE team?
The IRS is alarmed about a request from Elon Musk's DOGE team to access sensitive taxpayer information and financial data. The situation has created significant concern within the agency, with political pressure reportedly coming from the White House. This controversy coincides with the sudden resignation of the Social Security Administration's acting head following what was described as a clash with Musk's team over access to sensitive data in that system. As reported by the Washington Post, a memorandum of understanding between the White House and the IRS has not yet been codified, meaning the DOGE team has not yet gained access to the sensitive IRS systems.
Watch clip answer (01:00m)
MSNBC
01:23 - 02:23
What advice does Megan Garcia offer to parents about app safety ratings for children?
Megan Garcia advises parents to seriously scrutinize apps even if they're listed as safe for children (12+). She warns that parents shouldn't solely rely on app store age ratings because proper checks and balances aren't always performed to ensure applications are what they claim to be. She notes that even with parental controls activated, children can still download potentially harmful apps that are labeled as age-appropriate. Garcia shares her personal experience, mentioning that she didn't know Character AI raised its age rating just before licensing its technology to Google in 2024, highlighting how these ratings can change without parents' awareness.
Watch clip answer (00:56m)
Al Jazeera English
12:31 - 13:27
What raised concerns about Character AI's safety for children?
Megan Garcia discovered the dangerous nature of Character AI when her sister tested the platform by pretending to be a child. The AI character Daenerys Targaryen immediately asked disturbing questions like "would you torture a boy if you could get away with it?" - despite interacting with what appeared to be a young user. This alarming interaction served as Megan's "first real eye opener" about how devious the platform could be. Considering her sister encountered this content within less than a day of use, it prompted Megan to investigate what conversations her son was having on the platform, revealing serious safety concerns about AI chatbots' interactions with children.
Watch clip answer (00:49m)
Al Jazeera English
10:18 - 11:07
What can parents do to protect their children from potentially harmful AI technologies they may not know about?
According to Megan Garcia, whose son tragically died by suicide after developing an attachment to an AI chatbot, parents face the fundamental challenge that 'it's hard to know what you don't know.' She emphasizes that children, not parents, are being targeted with ads for platforms like Character AI. Garcia advises that the best approach for parents is to actively educate themselves about emerging technologies. Rather than dismissing news stories with the belief that 'that could never happen to my child,' she recommends taking time to investigate these platforms. Her experience highlights the importance of parental vigilance in an era where children may encounter potentially harmful AI technologies before parents even become aware of them.
Watch clip answer (00:28m)
Al Jazeera English
14:11 - 14:39