Feds Want to Ban the World’s Cutest Hacking Device. Experts Say It’s a ‘Scapegoat’

image via vice.com
image via vice.com

"We shouldn't be blaming manufacturers of radio transmitters for security lapses in the wireless unlock mechanisms of cars," Bill Budington, Senior Staff Technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said in a statement to Motherboard. "Flipper Zero devices, because of their ease of use, are convenient scapegoats to blame for gaping security holes in fob implementations by car manufacturers. Banning Flipper Zero devices is tantamount to banning a multi-tool because it can be used for vandalism, or banning markers because they can be used for graffiti. Moreover, tools like the Flipper Zero are used by security researchers involved in researching and hardening the security of systems like car fobs—banning them will result in tangible harms."

https://www.vice.com/en/article/4a388g/flipper-zero-ban-canada-hacking-car-thefts

Canada to Ban Flipper Zero Devices Over Car Thefts

image via pcmag.com
image via pcmag.com

Canada’s Minister Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne announced the ban on Thursday, explaining that “criminals have been using sophisticated tools to steal cars. And Canadians are rightfully worried.” “Today, I announced we are banning the importation, sale and use of consumer hacking devices, like flippers, used to commit these crimes,” he tweeted.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/canada-to-ban-flipper-zero-devices-over-car-thefts

Google and Canada reach deal to avert news ban over Online News Act

image via bbc.com
image via bbc.com

The agreement announced on Wednesday requires Google pay C$100m (£58m, $74m) annually, indexed to inflation, to news outlets. The statement said that Google would pay a "single collective" which would distribute the funds to eligible news agencies "based on the number of full-time equivalent journalists engaged by those businesses".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67571027

Facebook Threatens to Block News Content in Canada Over Proposed Bill

(Photo by STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Facebook’s parent Meta mentioned the possibility on Friday as Canada’s parliament has begun considering Bill C-18(Opens in a new window), also known as The Online News Act. The legislation is designed to require internet platforms such as Facebook and Google to reach commercial agreements to share revenue with news organizations.

In a statement(Opens in a new window), Meta says the company shouldn’t have to pay news publishers at all. Rather, the social network provider argues it provides free marketing to media companies by making it easy for people to voluntarily share news articles online.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/facebook-threatens-to-block-news-content-in-canada-over-proposed-bill