The UK Investigatory Powers Tribunal has ruled that GCHQ (the UK's domestic surveillance apparatus) illegally engaged in mass surveillance for more than a decade (starting after 9/11), during which time the foreign secretaries who were supposed to be overseeing their activities "delegated powers without oversight," allowing the spies to police their own activities. (Images: Defense Images, CC-BY-SA; Cryteria, CC-BY)
Watchdog: UK spies engaged in illegal surveillance from 2001-2012
Singapore deploys autonomous robots to catch smokers and other "undesirable social behaviors"
Singapore is testing autonomous ground robots that can move through crowds and detect undesirable social behaviors such as smoking in prohibited areas, illegal hawking, improper bicycle parking, and gathering in groups of more than five people. When a robot spots an undesirable person, it "will trigger real-time alerts to the command and control centre, and… READ THE REST
A laser camera that can see an entire room through a keyhole
"Non-line-of-sight imaging" is the technique of shining light in a direction and measuring all the ways it bounces off objects to determine their rough shape — including ones the person holding the camera can't see. That means that, historically, they've been able to use NLOS imaging to, say, detect an object hidden around a corner… READ THE REST
Apple pauses child porn surveillance plan
Apple announced that it planned to scan images on iPhones to see if they matched the signatures of known child abuse images. Though iCloud mail (and many cloud storage services) are already subject to such scanning, the fact that the scanning would happen on users' own phones alarmed users and privacy groups. Even if the… READ THE REST
Enjoy this stunning 1,000 piece 5-puzzle set for under $100
Jigsaw puzzles have been around forever and serve us in a variety of ways. From providing us a unique form of artistic entertainment to helping us keep our minds sharp, they serve as a multi-function intellectual and artistic tool. There never seems to be an end to their allure as we can tear them down… READ THE REST
This cordless stick vacuum could be your hardwood or carpet's saving grace
Messes happen and they happen often both in life and in the home. And, while we can't help you with your personal problems, those floors look like they could use some TLC, and we can offer just the thing. Grab the Orfeld H01 Cordless Stick Vacuum and make your home look brand new. Designed with… READ THE REST
With a 75-mile range, this indoor 4K TV antenna always has a clear reception and is under $45
With all the gizmos and gadgets you have around these days, your home is looking more like a wire jungle than a stylish abode. But if you want to live amongst some of the best technology todays' world has to offer, like stellar TV reception as you watch your favorite channels, wires are simply a… READ THE REST
