Technology

Shopping app Phia accused of cookie stuffing to claim unearned affiliate commissions

Phia, a shopping startup co-founded by Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, is facing allegations of engaging in 'cookie stuffing,' a deceptive affiliate marketing practice. According to a Bloomberg investigation, the app allegedly used this technique to claim commissions on sales it did not genuinely influence or generate. Cookie stuffing involves placing tracking cookies on users' browsers without their knowledge, tricking retailers into crediting the app for purchases. The accusations raise serious ethical and legal questions about the startup's business practices. Phoebe Gates is the daughter of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Flock Safety cease-and-desist letter sparks backlash, but context tells a different story

A Newport Beach lecture series called The Saturday Salon posted what appeared to be a cease-and-desist letter from surveillance tech firm Flock Safety on Instagram, sparking widespread criticism. The post, which garnered over 3,000 likes, prompted accusations that Flock was attempting to silence public debate about its surveillance technology. Flock Safety has previously faced scrutiny over its tools and partnerships with law enforcement agencies. However, a closer reading of the letter's text suggests the situation may be more nuanced than the initial social media reaction implied. The story was reported by The Verge, which reviewed the full contents of the letter.

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TechnologyBBC Tech ·

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Remake Arrives 13 Years After Original

The BBC's Tom Gerken has reviewed the newly released remake of Assassin's Creed Black Flag, the popular pirate-themed action game. The title has been rebuilt entirely from the ground up, rather than receiving a simple remaster. Originally released 13 years ago, the game had developed a strong following among fans of the franchise. The remake has been highly anticipated by players eager to revisit the seafaring adventure with modern production values.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Meta pulls Instagram AI feature following user backlash

Meta has removed a controversial artificial intelligence feature from Instagram after facing significant pushback from its users. The decision was confirmed by Meta to journalist Dylan Byers of Puck News. The feature had drawn criticism from Instagram's user base, prompting the company to act. No further details were provided about the specific nature of the feature or the timeline of its removal.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Meta disables Instagram AI image feature after backlash over consent concerns

Meta has shut down a newly launched feature that allowed users to generate AI images by tagging public Instagram accounts. The tool, announced earlier this week as part of Meta's Muse Image AI model, enabled anyone to use content from public profiles without the account owner's permission. The feature drew significant backlash due to its deepfake potential and lack of consent safeguards. Meta acknowledged the criticism and updated its blog post to confirm the feature had been turned off.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Reinforcement Learning Enables Self-Correcting Quantum Processors

Researchers have developed a method that uses reinforcement learning to continuously recalibrate quantum processors. The approach leverages error information generated during quantum error correction to fine-tune control algorithms in real time. Rather than requiring manual or scheduled recalibration, the system adapts autonomously as errors are detected. This could significantly improve the stability and reliability of quantum computers over extended operation periods.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Drone Surveillance of Illegal July 4th Fireworks Results in $100K Fine

Law enforcement agencies are increasingly deploying drones to monitor and deter illegal fireworks activity, particularly around the July 4th holiday. The expanded aerial surveillance effort led to at least one fine totaling $100,000. Police and firefighters have both been involved in using drone technology for this enforcement purpose. The initiative reflects a broader trend of using unmanned aerial vehicles to address public safety violations during major holidays.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

FCC fines eight alleged DJI front companies $25,000 each over foreign drone ban

The Federal Communications Commission has fined eight companies $25,000 each for allegedly helping DJI circumvent the United States' ban on foreign drones. The firms are suspected of acting as front companies that allowed DJI products, including cameras and drones, to enter the US market under different brand names. Among the companies named are Cogito Tech and Fixaxo Technology. The FCC has given the firms until July 20, 2025 — just 10 calendar days — to respond to its inquiries or face further regulatory action. The crackdown follows earlier reporting that identified brands such as Xtra and Skyrover as potential vehicles for disguising DJI-made products sold in the US.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Bluesky Makes Toni Schneider Permanent CEO After Interim Role

Toni Schneider has been officially appointed as the permanent CEO of Bluesky, dropping his interim title. Schneider previously served as CEO of Automattic, the company behind WordPress, and is also a partner at venture capital firm True Ventures. He expressed strong commitment to the platform, describing himself as fully dedicated to its mission. Bluesky has positioned itself as an unconventional alternative in the social media landscape.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

China recovers its first reusable rocket using a novel retrieval method

China has successfully recovered its first reusable rocket, marking a significant milestone in the country's commercial space ambitions. The recovery method employed differed from SpaceX's established approach, introducing a new technique for catching and retrieving spent rocket boosters. The achievement signals China's growing intent to develop cost-effective, reusable launch technology to compete in the global space industry. Analysts noted that China appears to be closely following SpaceX's lead in pursuing rocket reusability, while adapting its own engineering solutions. The milestone is seen as a major step forward for China's domestic commercial spaceflight sector.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Apple Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft by Former Employees

Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing former Apple employees now working at the AI firm of stealing its trade secrets. The complaint alleges a systematic pattern of theft benefiting OpenAI and names several defendants, including IO Products — Jony Ive's hardware startup acquired by OpenAI in 2025. Also named are Tang Tan, OpenAI's chief hardware officer, and Chang Liu, who moved from Apple to OpenAI in January. The lawsuit highlights growing tensions between the two tech giants as OpenAI expands into hardware development.

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TechnologyNYT Technology ·

Apple Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Theft of Company Secrets

Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the artificial intelligence company of stealing its trade secrets. The legal dispute marks a significant deterioration in the relationship between the two tech firms. The two companies had entered into a partnership in 2024 to integrate OpenAI's AI services into Apple devices. That collaboration has since broken down, culminating in the current legal action.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Apple Files Lawsuit Against OpenAI Alleging Trade Secret Theft

Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the artificial intelligence company of stealing its trade secrets. The tech giant claims the alleged misconduct was orchestrated by OpenAI's senior leadership. A long-time former Apple employee is also implicated in the accusations. The lawsuit marks a significant legal confrontation between two major players in the technology industry.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

First Images of Quest Shipwreck Reveal Deterioration and Rich Marine Life

The Quest shipwreck has been photographed for the first time, offering a rare visual record of the sunken vessel. The ship was found to be in worse condition than researchers had anticipated. Despite its deterioration, the wreck has transformed into a flourishing underwater ecosystem. Marine life has colonized the structure, making it a thriving habitat beneath the surface.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Pokémon Go Fulfills 10-Year-Old Promise With Massive Mewtwo Battle in Times Square

Pokémon Go marked its 10th anniversary with a large-scale live event in Times Square, New York City, this week. Nearly 2,000 players, including many content creators, gathered on Thursday evening to take part in a special collaborative battle. The event recreated a scene originally teased in the game's very first trailer from 2015, which had shown players teaming up to catch a powerful Mewtwo. Times Square's billboards went dark before dramatically lighting up to reveal a Mega-Evolved Mewtwo, bringing the decade-old promotional vision to life.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Ransomware Negotiator Jailed 6 Years for Secretly Working With Attackers

A ransomware negotiator has been sentenced to six years in prison after being found to have covertly worked on behalf of the very attackers he was hired to defend victims against. The man was brought in to represent ransomware victims during negotiations, but instead betrayed their trust by collaborating with the criminal perpetrators. His dual role allowed attackers to gain an unfair advantage in negotiations at the direct expense of the victims he was supposed to protect. The case highlights a serious conflict of interest and breach of trust within the ransomware response industry.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Study Warns RFK Jr.'s Proposed Measles Vaccine Change Could Harm Young Children

A study has examined the potential health risks of proposed changes to the measles vaccine under RFK Jr.'s influence on US health policy. The research focuses on toddlers who receive combination vaccine shots, describing them as among the most vulnerable populations. The findings suggest that altering the current vaccination approach could have toxic consequences for young children. The study raises concerns about the public health implications of departing from established measles vaccination protocols in the United States.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

ICE Threatens to Deport Witnesses After Fatal Houston Shooting of Mexican Immigrant

ICE officers fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican immigrant, during a traffic stop in Houston earlier this week. Advocates are calling on the Department of Homeland Security to release bodycam footage of the incident. DHS says the agents involved were not equipped with body cameras, citing a 76-day government shutdown that cut federal funding for ICE and CBP equipment. The shutdown itself was triggered by congressional disputes over DHS reforms following the killing of two civilians by federal agents earlier this year. Witnesses to the shooting are now reportedly facing deportation threats from ICE.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Fizz Expands Lawsuit Alleging Maveron VC Leaked Confidential Data to Rival Sidechat

College social app Fizz has broadened its legal action against competitor Sidechat, adding new allegations of confidential information misuse. Fizz claims that a venture capitalist from Maveron shared sensitive startup details with Sidechat after receiving them during a fundraising pitch meeting. The alleged breach reportedly gave the rival app an unfair competitive advantage. The case highlights growing concerns around investor confidentiality obligations during the fundraising process.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

SK Hynix Raises $26.5B in Record-Breaking Wall Street Debut

South Korean memory chipmaker SK Hynix made its Wall Street debut on Friday, opening at $170 per share and raising $26.5 billion. The listing surpassed Alibaba's record for the largest U.S. debut by a foreign company, according to the Associated Press and CNN. The company's valuation had already crossed $1 trillion in May, briefly making it South Korea's most valuable firm ahead of Samsung. SK Hynix is a key supplier of DRAM and high-bandwidth memory chips, components that are in high demand due to rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. The chipmaker is one of Nvidia's primary RAM suppliers and stands among three major companies benefiting from the ongoing AI-driven memory boom.

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