In response, Microsoft announced changes to Recall. Initially planned for a broad release on June 18, 2024, it will first be available to Windows Insider Program users. The company assured that Recall would be turned off by default and emphasised its commitment to privacy and security. Despite these assurances, Microsoft declined to comment on claims that the tool posed a security risk.
Recall was showcased during Microsoft's developer conference, with Yusuf Mehdi, Corporate Vice President, highlighting its ability to access virtually anything on a user's PC. Following its debut, the ICO vowed to investigate privacy concerns. On June 13, Microsoft announced updates to Recall, reinforcing its "commitment to responsible AI" and privacy principles.
Adobe Overhauls Terms of Service
Adobe faced a wave of criticism after updating its terms of service, which many users interpreted as allowing the company to use their work for AI training without proper consent. Users were required to agree to a clause granting Adobe a broad licence over their content, leading to suspicions that Adobe was using this content to train generative AI models like Firefly.
Adobe officials, including President David Wadhwani and Chief Trust Officer Dana Rao, denied these claims and clarified that the terms were misinterpreted. They reassured users that their content would not be used for AI training without explicit permission, except for submissions to the Adobe Stock marketplace. The company acknowledged the need for clearer communication and has since updated its terms to explicitly state these protections.
The controversy began with Firefly's release in March 2023, when artists noticed AI-generated imagery mimicking their styles. Users like YouTuber Sasha Yanshin cancelled their Adobe subscriptions in protest. Adobe's Chief Product Officer, Scott Belsky, admitted the wording was unclear and emphasised the importance of trust and transparency.
Meta Faces Scrutiny Over AI Training Practices
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has also been criticised for using user data to train its AI tools. Concerns were raised when Martin Keary, Vice President of Product Design at Muse Group, revealed that Meta planned to use public content from social media for AI training.
Meta responded by assuring users that it only used public content and did not access private messages or information from users under 18. An opt-out form was introduced for EU users, but U.S. users have limited options due to the lack of national privacy laws. Meta emphasised that its latest AI model, Llama 2, was not trained on user data, but users remain concerned about their privacy.
Suspicion arose in May 2023, with users questioning Meta's security policy changes. Meta's official statement to European users clarified its practices, but the opt-out form, available under Privacy Policy settings, remains a complex process. The company can only address user requests if they demonstrate that the AI "has knowledge" of them.
The recent actions by Microsoft, Adobe, and Meta highlight the growing tensions between tech giants and their users over data privacy and AI development. As these companies navigate user concerns and regulatory scrutiny, the debate over how AI tools should handle personal data continues to intensify. The tech industry's future will heavily depend on balancing innovation with ethical considerations and user trust.
Kadokawa Group, the parent company of renowned game developer FromSoftware, has fallen victim to a gruesome ransomware attack. The Japanese conglomerate, known for its diverse involvement in book publishing, the video-sharing service Niconico, and various other media enterprises, revealed the breach on Thursday. While the extent of the damage is still being assessed, the company is actively investigating potential information leaks and their impact on its business operations for the upcoming year.
The cyberattack, which occurred on Saturday, June 8, targeted the servers located in Kadokawa Group’s data centre. Niconico and its related services were the primary targets of this attack. Kadokawa Group stated that they are working on solutions and workarounds on a company-wide basis to restore normalcy to their systems and business activities. Despite the attack, Kadokawa assured that they do not store credit card information in their systems, which provides some relief regarding financial data security.
FromSoftware, the acclaimed studio behind hits like Dark Souls and Elden Ring, has not been specifically mentioned in Kadokawa’s disclosure about the affected businesses. This leaves some uncertainty about whether FromSoftware’s data and systems were compromised. However, Kadokawa’s broad approach to addressing the issue suggests a company-wide effort to mitigate any potential damage.
This incident is not an isolated one in the gaming industry. FromSoftware’s publishing partner, Bandai Namco, experienced a ransomware attack in 2022. Other prominent gaming companies, including Capcom, CD Projekt Red, and Insomniac Games, have also faced similar breaches. Notably, Rockstar Games suffered a major data breach in 2022, which resulted in the leak of an in-development build of Grand Theft Auto VI. In response, Rockstar took measures to enhance security, including limiting remote work.
Kadokawa Group is expected to provide further updates on the ransomware attack and the status of their systems in July. The company’s ongoing efforts to investigate and resolve the issue are crucial in determining the full impact of the breach.
While FromSoftware’s next project remains a mystery, fans eagerly anticipate the possibility of a Bloodborne sequel. Despite the current uncertainties surrounding the ransomware attack, the gaming community continues to look forward to future announcements from the esteemed game studio.
Kadokawa Group’s handling of this cyberattack will be closely watched as it unfolds, with implications for both their media operations and the wider industry’s approach to cybersecurity.
In the past ten years, public cloud computing has dramatically changed the IT industry, promising businesses limitless scalability and flexibility. By reducing the need for internal infrastructure and specialised personnel, many companies have eagerly embraced public cloud services. However, as their cloud strategies evolve, some organisations are finding that the expected financial benefits and operational flexibility are not always achieved. This has led to a new trend: cloud repatriation, where businesses move some of their workloads back from public cloud services to private cloud environments.
Choosing to repatriate workloads requires careful consideration and strategic thinking. Organisations must thoroughly understand their specific needs and the nature of their workloads. Key factors include how data is accessed, what needs to be protected, and cost implications. A successful repatriation strategy is nuanced, ensuring that critical workloads are placed in the most suitable environments.
One major factor driving cloud repatriation is the rise of edge computing. Research from Virtana indicates that most organisations now use hybrid cloud strategies, with over 80% operating in multiple clouds and around 75% utilising private clouds. This trend is especially noticeable in industries like retail, industrial sectors, transit, and healthcare, where control over computing resources is crucial. The growth of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has played a defining role, as these devices collect vast amounts of data at the network edge.
Initially, sending IoT data to the public cloud for processing made sense. But as the number of connected devices has grown, the benefits of analysing data at the edge have become clear. Edge computing offers near real-time responses, improved reliability for critical systems, and reduced downtime—essential for maintaining competitiveness and profitability. Consequently, many organisations are moving workloads back from the public cloud to take advantage of localised edge computing.
Concerns over data sovereignty and privacy are also driving cloud repatriation. In sectors like healthcare and financial services, businesses handle large amounts of sensitive data. Maintaining control over this information is vital to protect assets and prevent unauthorised access or breaches. Increased scrutiny from CIOs, CTOs, and boards has heightened the focus on data sovereignty and privacy, leading to more careful evaluations of third-party cloud solutions.
Public clouds may be suitable for workloads not bound by strict data sovereignty laws. However, many organisations find that private cloud solutions are necessary to meet compliance requirements. Factors to consider include the level of control, oversight, portability, and customization needed for specific workloads. Keeping data within trusted environments offers operational and strategic benefits, such as greater control over data access, usage, and sharing.
The trend towards cloud repatriation shows a growing realisation that the public cloud is only sometimes the best choice for every workload. Organisations are increasingly making strategic decisions to align their IT infrastructure with their specific needs and priorities.