Archive for June, 2017

Man To Spend 180 Days In Jail For Turning Over Non-Working Password – Techdirt

The protections of the Fifth Amendment are running up against technology and often coming out on the losing end. Court rulings have been anything but consistent to this point. So far it appears password protection beats fingerprints, but not by much.

It all comes down to the individual court. Some view passwords as possibly testimonial in and of themselves, and side with defendants. Others view passwords as something standing in the way of compelled evidence production and punish holdouts with contempt of court charges.

That's what's happening to a Florida man suspected of child abuse. He claims he's given law enforcement his phone's password already, but prosecutors claim the password failed to unlock his phone. They believe his phone holds evidence of the physical abuse alleged -- a claim that seems a bit less believable than those made about child porn viewers and drug dealers.

The court, however, has sided with prosecutors.

A Hollywood man must serve 180 days in jail for refusing to give up his iPhone password to police, a Broward judge ruled Tuesday the latest salvo in intensifying legal battles over law-enforcement access to smart phones.

Christopher Wheeler, 41, was taken into custody in a Broward Circuit Court, insisting he had already provided the pass code to police investigating him for child abuse, although the number did not work.

All that can be said for certain is prosecutors still don't have an unlocked phone. As prosecutors and this judge see it, the only explanation is that Wheeler lied. That earns him six months of jail time. Maybe Wheeler should have said he couldn't remember.

As Wheeler was jailed Tuesday, the same issue was unfolding in Miami-Dade for a man accused of extorting a social-media celebrity over stolen sex videos.

That man, Wesley Victor, and his girlfriend had been ordered by a judge to produce a pass code to phones suspected of containing text messages showing their collusion in the extortion plot.

Victor claimed he didn't remember the number. He prevailed.

This would be the same judge who determined turning over a password had no Fifth Amendment implications. However, the court found it plausible the defendant might not be able to remember the password to a phone he'd last used over ten months ago. But the ruling doesn't necessarily say the defendant is telling the truth. It only goes so far as saying it's almost impossible to prove he's lying. Given the gap between the phone's seizure and the demand for a password, it's a plausible claim.

His co-defendant made no such claim. Like Wheeler above, Victor's girlfriend handed over a password but it didn't work. The court has asked her to explain why. Given the judge's earlier Fifth Amendment determination, it's safe to assume Hencha Voigt will be facing jail time if the explanation isn't to the judge's liking.

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Man To Spend 180 Days In Jail For Turning Over Non-Working Password - Techdirt

Erdogan Slams US for Building Air Bases in Syrian Kurdistan – Antiwar.com

With the Kurdish YPG advancing into the ISIS capital of Raqqa, and US officials already designating Mayadin the next ISIS capital, theres clearly a lot more US-backed invasions for the Kurds to take part in, and the US is looking to make the backing of those invasions more convenient, setting up airbases in Kurdish territory.

Thats not sitting well with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who expressed particular outrage at the US having an air base in the Kurdish town of Kobani, along the Turkish border and reiterating his long-standing opposition to the US having ties with the YPG at all.

I find the US approach to the YPG in no way chic, Erdogan insisted, saying that US soldiers and military officers are hand in hand, arm in arm with a group that Turkey considers a terrorist group. He conceded that he understands the US doesnt consider the Kurds terrorists.

At the same time, Erdogan promised retaliation without asking anyoe in future strikes against Kurdish targets in Syria. The Turkish military has launched multiple strikes against Kurdish YPG targets within Syria over the past year, to the point that the US has deliberately positioned troops in between the two sides to try to limit the extent to which Turkey can get at them without risking bringing the US directly into the fighting.

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Erdogan Slams US for Building Air Bases in Syrian Kurdistan - Antiwar.com

Basics of Video Marketing on the Internet – JOSIC – Digital Intelligence

Video Marketing is very cheap as compared to other forms of advertisement. It can also be said that one video can be equal to many other forms of promoting. This marketing technique can also be very cost effective and useful in driving more and more customers. And with the way video marketing is exploding, the day is not far when it will become the most powerful way of online marketing. You may not believe it but majority of the clients prefer to watch a video about the company rather than reading about the same company. Video marketing is becoming a large online marketing system. Several businesses nowdays are using video to reach out to their customers or clients. It is the mostought after thing in internet marketing today and websites like YouTube and Google videos are providing the options for uploading your video so that it can be viewed by a large number of people over the internet.

But creating a video not only will not make sure that your job is done as videos will not help you increase your page rank on Google as it's a viral and relays majorly on community submission and social tags. Only a video commercial will not help in increasing your search rank. But it can certainly increase your clientele as many people prefer watching then reading. In a recent survey it was found out that people prefer entertainment while learning and that is what videos do they entertain people while they get to know about your business. Sites like YouTube can provide a great marketing campaign and at present you can gain effectively from these marketing campaigns online.

A Majority of the people are still not using video marketing and are not comfortable with this marketing technique. It's a wide open area to be taken to boost your business through video marketing. In the future, it certainly will be the mostly used marketing tool, so why not get you ahead of time and get maximum benefits from video marketing technique today. Companies that want to reach masses would prefer this technique sooner or later as video marketing is effective and efficient.

Source by Daisy Rockwell

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Basics of Video Marketing on the Internet - JOSIC - Digital Intelligence

Seven reasons why your business needs online marketing – ITProPortal

Online marketing goes way beyond having a fancy website for your company. In todays internet-driven society, it has become necessary for businesses, both big and small, to create an online presence that attracts consumers. Why? To continuously reach wider audiences and boost sales.

The internet has opened doors to a whole new digital economy which many consumers prefer over the traditional brick-and-mortar outlets. According to sales forecasts generated by eMarketer, retail eCommerce sales are expected to reach $4.058 trillion by 2020 worldwide. This figure reflects the increasing trend of online shoppers.

Image Credit: Cordis Technology

(Image: Image Credit: Cordis Technology)

Unfortunately, a lot of businesses are unaware of the importance of online marketing, few do not have a budget and many simply cannot dedicate enough time towards making a digital marketing strategy. Business success is all about giving customers exactly what they want with ease. Leading firms across the globe are ahead of the competition for a reason; they know how to tap into evolving eCommerce markets led by internet-savvy consumers.

So, the real question isnt about having an online platform for your business, but rather, how to effectively use that platform to bring in sales. So, lets discuss a few reasons why your business should consider online marketing:

Online consumers are reshaping shopping trends and creating more opportunities for businesses worldwide. According to PwC Total Retail Survey 2016, 54 per cent of consumers buy products online on a weekly or monthly basis. This figure is expected to grow by 2020, reflecting the increasing time spent by customers online. So as a business, would it be a wise decision to let go of ever-increasing online sales opportunities? No matter what industry your business operates in, it is crucial to create an online image that appeals to customers. At the end of the day, you want to bring in sales both through online and on-store mediums. So why not capitalise on your online presence?

In such as fiercely competitive environment, foregoing the idea of online marketing is not even an option. A simple competitor analysis will show you how many of your rivals are opting for online marketing channels. The real trick is to do it better than them, way better. Digital marketing tools offer plenty of options to experiment with online branding and marketing. Your job is to make an online marketing plan that fits your business ideology, attracts customers and doesnt exceed your budget.

Long gone are the days when one-size-fits-all marketing approach seemed the best. Todays era demands a more customised and precision marketing strategy. For every product or service, there is a consumer somewhere out there. How do you find these customers and pitch your product offerings? Online marketing is the answer! With so many online channels and social media platforms, you can target specific markets anywhere across the globe. For Instance, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram let you search for specific consumer groups based on demographics, interests, geographical regions and more. This means you can advertise your products to the right consumers and improve your sales potential.

Not all businesses have big budgets for marketing. Smaller businesses seem to struggle the most when it comes to allocating funds for marketing purposes, which makes competition seem unfair. But online marketing has levelled out the playing for everyone. The world of the internet offers equal opportunities to all businesses no matter the size, budget or location. All you need to do is find the right online tools and services such as local listing management, content marketing, Search Engine Optimisation and Social Media Marketing to position your business online. Traditional advertising mediums such as billboards, Television or Radio can cost you a fortune and may not be impactful. However, digital marketing is not only cost-friendly, but offers more reachability across the globe.

Consumer demands are continuously shifting and to stay at the top, you must meet these ever-changing consumer preferences. This means you must be constantly updated and aware of what your consumers are looking for, what they want, what they like and what they dislike. This information is essential for marketing purposes and paving way for future product offerings. Traditional marketing methods are typically one-sided, where information whether in the form of images or text is placed on mediums for consumers to view, offering almost zero-interaction. On the other hand, digital marketing offers plenty of consumer interaction and engagement opportunities. Through commonly used social media platforms, you can interact with your consumers, gain insight on their preferences and build a better digital marketing plan.

Branding necessary for long term business success. Consumers may or may not remember a product or service, but are most likely to associate brands with their shopping experience. One tiny mistake can give your business a bad name in the market and in the minds of your consumers. Put it this way, a brand is a perception of a business which exists in the minds of your customers. It can take several years to build a positive brand image. However, online marketing is helping new and small business quickly position themselves in the market and move towards strong brand building. Through online channels, you can advertise and create memorable user-experiences which add to brand building. Remember, branding isnt just selling a product or service, it is a combination of consumer engagement, pre and post-sales services, value-for-money and more.

Business growth is a must. If your business isnt growing, you are bound to fail sooner or later. And to grow, you need to promote your business and widen your customer base, continuously! You cant rely on outdated marketing tools to give you that global reach. Online marketing can give you a head start and let you expand your business. Especially for small or medium sized businesses, digital marketing offers greater opportunities to build a brand and reach out to potential customers.

Now we can conclude that online marketing offers far more benefits that traditional marketing. For business which are still new to the digital world, help is always around the corner. If you think you dont have the right experience or resources, you can join hands with a professional digital marketing team and have everything sorted out for you. There are multiple digital marketing companies which offer services to help guide and navigate businesses online. Advancing technology is another reason why its time to move on and explore the potential of online marketing. So, whats holding you back? Take lead and gear your business towards to success.

Myra Bari, content writer and editor, Cordis Technology Image Credit: SFIO CRACHO / Shutterstock

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Seven reasons why your business needs online marketing - ITProPortal

Influencer marketing is becoming more standardized – Digiday

Influencer marketing sprang from the idea that social platform stars with loyal followings would be able to market more effectively to their fans. But now, like all marketing, the area is becoming more standardized.

Brands are taking advantage of a growing number of self-serve ad tools in the market. Heres how it works: An advertiser creates a list of influencers, usually about 20 that it wants to work with. Theyre determined by a host of attributes, from whether they speak to a market the company wants to reach, to brand-safety issues, to, of course, price. Most of the time, these influencers are so-called micro-influencers, who have smaller followings and theoretically more engagement.

Then, the advertiser provides creative assets to the influencers so theyll post it on their own social platforms. Its closer to a publisher relationship than a creator one and a far cry from the beginnings of the influencer marketing industry.

This is the most cost-effective way for us, said Jane Tattersall, vp of marketing at LottoGopher, a lottery ticket e-commerce advertiser, which is using engage:BDRs IconicReach self-serve platform for its advertising. The company has an in-house creative agency, so it didnt want to hire influencers for long-term relationships to make creative. Ive been using influencers a long time. When you need many of them, it takes a long time. Then, you have to negotiate a bunch of contracts.

The self-serve ad method is closer to a platform-style relationship: Brands only need to choose where to spend their money. At LottoGopher, the company has a program running with 20 influencers, and its hoping to add up to 20 more. It wants to reach more luxury and aspirational customers people who like expensive stuff and may play the lottery to get it and is supplying creative. This is much more cost-effective for us, said Tattersall.

There are other benefits: Brands have long bought into the wisdom that influencers with giant numbers of followers see less engagement. A survey of 2 million social media influencers by influencer marketing platform Markerly showed that for unpaid posts, Instagram influencers with fewer than 1,000 followers have a like rate of about 8 percent, while those with 1,000 to 10,000 followers have a like rate of 4 percent.

But working with small influencers sacrifices on reach. Combine the two, and it works out. Its like media. We cant afford or have aspiration to go with the No. 1 TV network. We get a cross-section of people who have a total audience across the broad base.

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The biggest volume of things on Instagram are actually advertiser-supplied creative now, said engage:BDR CEO Ted Dhanik. That already exists. All we did was automate the process. An advertiser uploads a creative, and an influencer posts it.

Prices are determined mostly by time. Influencers can leave posts up for between one and 12 hours. If its a big influencer, brands will pay a fee upfront. Others most influencers under 100,000 followers get performance-based coupon codes. If the post performs, they get paid.

Its notable because its in some ways the inverse model of brands using influencers like agencies. As Digiday reported earlier, major brands have begun going straight to social stars to make their creative for them. It marked a sea change: Cheaper and faster, influencers are essentially replacing agencies as content arms, a far cry from the early days when influencers entered into creator relationships or at least endorsement contracts with brands.

At Urban Floor, a national flooring company, the brand wanted to reach more luxury customers to break into the luxury homes and luxury living space. The company now supplies content to 10 influencers, each of whom has 500,000 followers, and they post them on their Instagrams, according to marketing head Jordan Sandoval. Its a very new concept right now, said Sandoval. But well try it out and see if it works.

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Influencer marketing is becoming more standardized - Digiday