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WhatsApp users will be able to guard their “most intimate conversations” with a new password protected feature to hide messages, parent company Meta has said. Chat Lock will allow individuals to “lock and hide” private exchanges by removing them from the main inbox into a folder only accessible by password or biometric security, such as a fingerprint. Meta announced the development on Monday as the global launch began. Chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post: “New locked chats in WhatsApp make your conversations more private. “They’re hidden in a password protected folder and notifications won’t show sender or message content.” However the new privacy measures may intensify the stand-off between Meta and the UK government over the Online Safety Bill. In April, Meta protested against the legislation, which it said would undermine the end-to-end encryption used by WhatsApp where only the sender and intended recipient of a message are able to read it. The Government has denied the Bill would outlaw encrypted messaging, saying it aims to target child abuse content while retaining privacy online. Tech companies who refuse to comply with the Government’s demands to identify and remove such content from their platforms could face large fines. In response to this, Meta threatened to withdraw WhatsApp from the UK last March rather than submit to the proposed policies. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Apple has sounded the alarm over the UK government’s planned new laws for technology. The upcoming Online Safety Bill includes new rules that would force messaging apps to scan through users’ chats for problem content. But now every major secure messaging tool has argued that would also mean weakening security for everybody else. As such, the plans endanger UK citizens, Apple said. It joins other platforms such as WhatsApp and Signal in urging the government to reconsider the part of the rules that would give the government the power to weaken encryption, the technology that protects messages from being read while they are sent. Apple’s intervention came alongside a new open letter, signed by more than 80 national and international civil society organisations, academics and cyberexperts, written to the government and urging it to rethink its plans. It called the bill “deeply troubling” and warned that the new rules would put security at risk. Apple has criticised previous plans that also handed new powers to intelligence agencies and other organisations, such as the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act. But until now it has refrained from commenting on the Online Safety Bill, even as many of its competitors sounded the alarm on the powers included. “End-to-end encryption is a critical capability that protects the privacy of journalists, human rights activists, and diplomats,” Apple said in a statement to the BBC. “It also helps everyday citizens defend themselves from surveillance, identity theft, fraud, and data breaches. The Online Safety Bill poses a serious threat to this protection, and could put UK citizens at greater risk. “Apple urges the government to amend the bill to protect strong end-to-end encryption for the benefit of all.” Other companies such as WhatsApp and Signal have categorically stated that they would not weaken encryption, even if it meant their apps being banned or otherwise hampered in the UK. Apple did not give any indication of how and whether it would comply with the new rules if they go into effect. Read More Google kills its rival smart glasses to Apple Vision Apple releases urgent update to iPhone and iPad users Apple starts letting developers make apps for its upcoming headset

A tweet by Ozzy Osbourne showing him gaming on a Sony PlayStation VR2 has been banned for failing to mention that it was an ad. The tweet from Osbourne’s account in February read: “Did this spot with @PlayStation team. We had a lot of fun. Their new VR2 is really amazing.” The tweet included a video which began with a blue screen displaying the PlayStation logo before cutting to Osbourne in a living room taking a virtual reality headset and controllers out of a blue PlayStation box as his wife Sharon Osbourne told him that they needed to pack boxes and catch a flight to England. Osbourne replied that he wanted to play on his PlayStation and was shown swearing at dinosaurs via a VR headset and controllers before the video ended with the text: “Play has no limits,” followed by the PlayStation logo. We considered the wording, including the use of the word spot to refer to the video, was not sufficient to clearly indicate to consumers that the tweet was part of a commercial relationship between Sony and Ozzy Osbourne Advertising Standards Authority Sony, which responded to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) on both their and Osbourne’s behalf, said their agreement gave Osbourne’s management company final approval over the video’s script. The tech giant confirmed that Osbourne was contracted to post a tweet sharing the video as part of the agreement, with Sony specifying only that Osbourne must share the video in a way which clearly disclosed that he had worked with Sony. Addressing the tweet itself, Sony believed that the word “spot” in the text “Did this spot with the @PlayStation team” would be clearly understood by Twitter users to refer to an ad. They also believed that the placement of the wording at the beginning of the tweet meant it was sufficiently prominent for consumers to understand the commercial nature of the video before they watched it. The ASA said consumers should be made aware that a post was an ad before they engaged with it. The watchdog said: “We acknowledged the positioning of that wording in the tweet was both prominent and visible before the video started playing. “However, we considered the wording, including the use of the word spot to refer to the video, was not sufficient to clearly indicate to consumers that the tweet was part of a commercial relationship between Sony and Ozzy Osbourne and that the tweet was therefore an ad.” It added: “Because the ad did not make clear its commercial intent upfront, we considered it was not obviously identifiable as a marketing communication and concluded that it breached the Code.” It ruled that the ad must not appear again in the form complained about. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live No evidence to suggest Facebook not good for wellbeing, Oxford scientists say Harry and Meghan ring young online innovators after funding awards James Bulger’s mother condemns ‘disgusting’ AI clips on TikTok of murdered son

LONDON & NEW YORK & HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 25, 2023--

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Britain’s biggest police force is using “game-changing” facial recognition technology to catch prolific shoplifters. The Metropolitan Police asked 12 retailers to provide images of 30 of the worst offenders who steal from their shops in a pilot of the new software. They were compared against the force’s custody shots, and of 302 images submitted, 149 came up as positive matches. Those matches are now being investigated further with a view to building criminal cases. The software uses biometric measures of a person’s face and works even if part of their face is covered. It takes around 60 seconds to find a match. Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “We’re working with shops across the capital to target and track down criminals in a way we never have before. “We’re pushing the boundaries and using innovation and technology to rapidly identify criminals. “The results we’ve seen so far are game-changing. The use of facial recognition in this way could revolutionise how we investigate and solve crime.” He claimed that most of the prolific offenders were involved in other, more serious criminal activity. “What’s most powerful is what we’ve learned about those involved in this offending so far. It’s clear the majority are career criminals involved in serious crime,” Sir Mark said. “This data and information helps us focus our efforts in an even more precise way than we originally anticipated. “Through this tactic we’re not only improving how we protect shops and support the business community, we’re stepping further forward in identifying and tracking down serious criminals and protecting all of London’s communities. “The scale of business crime in London is huge. To be successful we have to be precise in our approach and this is a really promising step forward.” Met police last year." data-source=""> Chief executive of the Association of Convenience stores James Lowman said while the technology could save police time, there is still a challenge in getting offenders off the street. He said: “Using artificial intelligence to identify prolific offenders can be an effective way of drastically reducing the amount of police time it takes to make links between crimes committed against different businesses locally. “Whether its artificial intelligence or local intelligence that leads to criminals being identified, the real challenge remains apprehending these offenders and getting them off the streets.” The Met started using the software in August and began the retail pilot in late September. The new system can use images from CCTV, dashcams, doorbell cameras or phones. It uses the same algorithm as the Met’s live facial recognition technology, about which there have been well-publicised concerns over potential bias. Lindsey Chiswick, director of intelligence for the Met and national policing lead on facial recognition, said the algorithm has been independently tested by the National Physical Laboratory. She said: “Facial recognition technology, which is able to match faces after the event, has actually been around for quite a few years. “What’s changed and what is improving all the time, and in the last few years with real speed, is the accuracy of the algorithm. And that’s the real game changer here. “With this technology, it’s an algorithm that we’ve independently tested through the National Physical Laboratory so we have assurance it’s 100% accurate when it comes to retrospective usage, and we understand how it works.” Around 50,000 shoplifting incidents were reported to the Met last year, estimated to be between 5% and 10% of the offences that are actually committed. Emmanuelle Andrews, from human rights charity Liberty that has campaigned against the use of facial recognition, said: “Facial recognition has no place on our streets, in our shops – or in any other areas of our lives. “This technology threatens our privacy and stifles free speech – and we should all be worried about moves to expand its reach. “We’re also concerned about the creep of facial recognition technology into other areas of policing. “Let’s be clear: we cannot rely on tech to solve deep societal problems, this is an unjustified expansion of state surveillance and there are numerous alternatives.” Read More Facial recognition firm Clearview AI overturns UK data privacy fine Sadiq Khan, Met Commissioner to ask phone companies to ‘design out’ theft Microsoft gets go-ahead to buy Call of Duty maker Activision Incels using TikTok to spread ‘hateful beliefs’, research suggests Duke and Duchess of Sussex call for overhaul of social media Google to trial AI in UK traffic light systems to reduce stop-and-go emissions