EPA moves to scrap public notice rule for industrial air permits, including data centers

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The US Environmental Protection Agency is planning to eliminate a federal rule that requires public notification and comment periods when industrial facilities, such as data centers, apply for air permits. The change would allow data center developers and other industries to begin construction without informing or seeking input from nearby residents. Environmental advocates warn the move removes a key safeguard that lets communities respond to potential pollution risks. The proposal comes as data centers face increasing opposition from local communities over their environmental impact. Critics suggest the rollback is designed to accelerate industrial development under the current administration.

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Modders extract leaked DLSS 5 code from NBA 2K27 and test it across multiple games

An unofficial version of Nvidia's DLSS 5 AI upscaling technology has leaked after its code appeared in an early-access build of NBA 2K27. Members of the RenoDX modding community on Discord extracted the 'Neural Rendering' file and applied it to several games, including Control, Skyrim, Cyberpunk 2077, and GTA V. The leak was first reported by Notebook Check and VideoCardz before gaining wider attention. Demonstration videos show noticeable differences in visual detail, such as changes in character facial features, when various DLSS 5 settings are adjusted. Nvidia has not officially released DLSS 5 for general use, making this an entirely unofficial workaround by the modding community.

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TechnologyNYT Technology ·

Why Regulating Social Media May Take as Long as Curbing Tobacco

Experts are drawing comparisons between today's dominant social media platforms and the once-ubiquitous tobacco industry. Just as smoking was deeply embedded in everyday life, platforms like Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Snap, and Instagram now permeate modern society. The idea of a definitive 'Big Tobacco moment' — a sudden turning point that reshapes public behavior and policy — is being questioned. Historical precedent suggests that curbing the influence of such deeply entrenched industries is a slow, complex process. Society's reckoning with social media, much like its struggle with smoking, may unfold over decades rather than overnight.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Survey: More Americans Now Oppose Police License Plate Cameras Than Support Them

A new survey reveals that a majority of Americans are opposed to police use of automated license plate reader cameras. Public resistance to the technology has grown amid reported cases of law enforcement misusing surveillance systems. The findings highlight increasing concern among citizens about privacy and the potential for abuse of tracking tools. This shift in public opinion comes as scrutiny of police surveillance practices continues to intensify across the United States.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Meta patches AI glasses to prevent covert recording when safety light is covered

Meta has issued a fix for its AI-powered smart glasses to address a privacy concern related to covert recording. The update prevents the glasses from continuing to record when users physically cover the safety indicator light. The safety light is designed to signal to bystanders that recording is taking place, and obscuring it had previously allowed nonconsensual capture. The patch closes this loophole, ensuring the device stops recording whenever the light is blocked. The move is aimed at reducing privacy risks associated with the wearable AI camera technology.

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