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Following one of the worst defensive performances in NFL history, frustrations are boiling over around the Denver Broncos organization and not just from the players. CB Patrick Surtain IIs father, Patrick Surtain, was not pleased with how his son was being utilized in the Broncos defense and took to social media to vent his frustrations.

The Broncos gave up 70 points and 726 yards on Sunday to the Miami Dolphins in a pathetic defensive performance. The record for points scored in an NFL game is 73, and the Broncos set the record for most yards given up during a contest, so this effort ranks as one of the worst all-time performances.

Denvers season moves from bad to worse, as the team is 0-3, and there seems to be no hope in the near future. The Broncos mortgaged their immediate future to bring in QB Russell Wilson in what now appears to be a disastrous trade that could be setting back the organization for years.

With the Broncos season quickly circling the drain to irrelevancy, rumors are beginning to percolate that Denver may be selling off some of their veteran players prior to the NFL trade deadline. One name floated out there is PS2. The source of the speculation comes from a familiar place his father.

Surtain believes his sons future and potential are wasting away by playing for a defense that looks inept. He posted on social media, Toiling in the soil!! SMH 2 you deserve better

The comments led to speculation that Surtain II may not be pleased with the Broncos organization and could request a trade in the immediate future. If the Broncos are having a fire sale, would he be considered as one of the pieces to deal away?

MORE: NFL Standings

Surtain II is one of the top young CBs in the NFL, despite Sundays dreadful performance. He had been a lockdown CB before the game against Miami, but everyone has a bad game every once in a while, and the wheels fell off for the Denver defense Sunday.

To be fair, not many defenses are stopping WR Tyreek Hill, and the Dolphins coaching staff is utilizing him to his maximum effectiveness, moving him around the formation and causing matchup nightmares for defenses. Miami poses unique threats and possesses the most speed on offense in the NFL.

There will be better days for Surtain II, but will they be in a Broncos uniform?

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Patrick Surtain Takes to Social Media To Express Discontent With ... - Pro Football Network

September 28, 2023

PETALING JAYA Even innocent pictures or videos shared on social media can be turned into explicit content with artificial intelligence (AI), warns civil society.

Especially vulnerable are women and children.

Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) chairman Mak Chee Kin said parents should refrain from sharing pictures or videos of their children on social media.

He said tech-savvy, irresponsible individuals could do all sorts of things with images or videos found online.

In this era of AI and advanced technology, incidents of scammed or doctored images, and in some cases, voices, are happening.

The truth is that the more one exposes themselves to social media, the higher the risks they will encounter, he said.

He pointed out that even those innocently sharing images or videos of loved ones on social media could be victims of undesired consequences.

What was supposed to be a fun and happy thing could lead to unforeseen problems, Mak added.

Parent Action Group for Education chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said parents should prepare their children to be mentally strong and smart enough to face these technological challenges.

What we can do is take care of our own children and build their confidence and mental strength to overcome such situations.

Though it is easier said than done, it is best to talk about it with the children and strengthen their minds, she said.

When asked, Noor Azimah agreed that the culture of oversharing online is partly to blame, as children are too eager to share without realising the consequences.

Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor executive director Irene Xavier also said women should be cautioned to be wary of uploading pictures of themselves and their families.

We have cases of women who uploaded pictures of themselves in revealing positions for their boyfriends, and when the relationship goes sour, these pictures have been abused, she said.

She added that women should think hard before posting photographs of themselves.

In September, a Melaka lawmaker highlighted how a private Telegram group uploaded hundreds of doctored and obscene pictures of innocent victims, comprising female executives, housewives and even young men.

Kota Laksamana assemblyman Low Chee Leong said the doctored image included a 65-year-old grandmother wearing a bikini.

Earlier this year, Mstar also highlighted how certain quarters used AI to superimpose womens pictures in the nude.

It quoted user @magmalaya who made a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) cautioning women against posting too much on social media due to this.

The comment section of the post was also filled with users discussing how some were conducting business by selling the images.

Recently, in Spain, over 20 girls in a town came forward as victims of AI-generated nude images, which were created by feeding an AI app with fully clothed pictures of themselves on social media.

Some of the girls had received demands for payment from the creators of these images, or their pictures would be uploaded to adult websites.

MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong said devious individuals would usually conduct background checks on those they wanted to target through deep fakes.

Chong said some of the cases he handled were between boyfriends and girlfriends and married partners who had parted ways.

There are cases of perpetrators superimposing images of people in obscene acts, destroying their reputation, and even extorting them for money.

If you are a victim, dont keep it to yourselves. Speak to those around you or to non-governmental organisations that have expertise in dealing with such matters.

From there, weigh your options and decide what you want to do next, he said, adding that this included lodging police reports.

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The dark side of AI on social media - asianews.network

Ivan Mehta writes via TechCrunch: Reddit said Wednesday that the platform is revamping its privacy settings with an aim to make ad personalization and account visibility toggles consistent. Most notably though, it is removing the ability to opt out of ad personalization based on Reddit activity. The company said that it will still have opt-out controls in "select countries" without specifying which ones. It mentioned in a blog post that users won't see more ads but they will see better-targeted ads following this change.

The company is essentially removing the option to not track you based on whatever you do on Reddit. Additionally, Reddit is consolidating two toggles on showing ads based on activity and information from partners into one toggle. So there is no way to separate those two settings now. Reddit is seemingly removing toggles for getting post recommendations based on "general location" and activity on partner sites and apps. It's not clear if this means those parameters will be used for post suggestions by default and there is no way to turn them off.

The social network said it will also roll out controls to limit certain advertising categories such as alcohol, weight loss, dating, gambling pregnancy and parenting. The company noted that ad-limiting controls will possibly show you fewer ads from mentioned categories if the toggles are turned off, but won't possibly filter out all ads. Reddit justified this by saying it uses manual tagging and machine learning to label ads, so there is a chance that it is not 100% accurate. Reddit is also simplifying its location customization setting under a single menu, which will be easily accessible through settings on apps and on the web.

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Reddit Is Removing Ability To Opt Out of Ad Personalization Based ... - Slashdot

New submitter AsylumWraith shares a report: The US government aims to restore sweeping regulations for high-speed internet providers, such as AT&T, Comcast and Verizon, reviving "net neutrality" rules for the broadband industry -- and an ongoing debate about the internet's future. The proposed rules from the Federal Communications Commission will designate internet service -- both the wired kind found in homes and businesses as well as mobile data on cellphones -- as "essential telecommunications" akin to traditional telephone services, according to multiple people familiar with the plan. The rules would ban internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking or slowing down access to websites and online content, the people told CNN.

Agency chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel plans to unveil the proposal in a speech at the National Press Club on Tuesday, the people added, saying the FCC plans to vote Oct. 19 on whether to advance the draft rules by soliciting public feedback on them -- a step that would precede the creation of any final rules. In addition to the prohibitions on blocking and throttling internet traffic, the draft rules also seek to prevent ISPs from selectively speeding up service to favored websites or to those that agree to pay extra fees, the people added, a move designed to prevent the emergence of "fast lanes" on the web that could give some websites a paid advantage over others.

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FCC To Reintroduce Rules Protecting Net Neutrality - Slashdot

The blockchaina cryptographic, decentralized digital ledgerstands as one of the most innovative technologies of the 21st century. Despite its growing popularity and widespread applications, the essence of blockchain technology often remains shrouded in complex technical terms and daunting jargon. This article ventures to demystify blockchains intricacies by elaborating on its critical components, its profound impact on various industries, and its influence on market dynamics.

What Exactly is the Blockchain?

Mention blockchain, and many peoples minds default to Bitcoin. While Bitcoin was indeed the first to leverage blockchain technology, the blockchain itself is a far more expansive construct. Essentially, it serves as a digital ledger that chronologically records transactions across multiple computers. By virtue of its decentralized structure, the blockchain is less susceptible to the vulnerabilities that often plague centralized systems.

While Bitcoins public blockchain is perhaps the most well-known, blockchains come in different varieties. Some, like Ethereum, go beyond simple transactions, allowing for more complex operations like executing smart contracts. The adaptability of blockchain to various needs, from cross-border payments to data authentication, reinforces its versatility and widespread applicability.

Decentralization and Its Importance

Decentralization isnt merely a catchy phrase; its the cornerstone of blockchain technology. In a decentralized network, power isnt confined to a central authority; instead, control is dispersed across multiple nodes or participants. This structure safeguards against a single point of failure and offers enhanced security and transparency, making the network more resilient to attacks and manipulation.

However, decentralization presents its challenges, particularly in reaching a consensus among disparate nodes. To that end, different blockchain implementations use various consensus algorithms, like Proof of Work (PoW) or Proof of Stake (PoS), each with its specific benefits and limitations. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of these algorithms is fundamental for anyone looking to engage meaningfully with blockchain technology.

Market Dynamics and Price Predictions

As blockchain technology continues to gain traction, so does the cryptocurrency market. Whether youre a seasoned trader or a newbie, interpreting the volatility of bitcoin and crypto price predictions is paramount for investment decisions. Forecasting in the crypto sphere is far from an exact science and typically involves an array of methods, including technical analysis, machine learning algorithms, and sentiment analysis.

Smart Contracts and DApps

Smart contracts serve as the linchpin for many blockchain applications, especially within the realm of decentralized finance (DeFi). These self-executing agreements are coded directly into the blockchain, enabling trustless, automated transactions. They operate under predetermined conditions, offering transparency and reducing the need for intermediaries, thus cutting down on costs and execution times.

Similarly, decentralized applications (DApps) are applications that run on a blockchain. These DApps are gaining prominence in various sectorslike content distribution, supply chain management, and healthcaredue to their ability to deliver decentralized, transparent, and secure services. By eliminating the middleman, smart contracts and DApps are transforming traditional business models.

Beyond Financial Transactions

Although it originated in the financial sector, blockchains potential applications are virtually limitless. Consider healthcare: blockchain can facilitate secure, immutable records, thereby revolutionizing data integrity and patient privacy. Similarly, in supply chain management, blockchain offers unparalleled traceability and real-time updates, fostering more transparent and efficient systems.

Increasingly, governments are exploring blockchain for public services, such as secure voting systems. While these applications are still in developmental phases, the prospective impact of blockchain in various sectors highlights its transformative capabilities and why its more than just a platform for cryptocurrencies.

A Brief Summary

Deciphering the complexities of blockchain technology is far from trivial, but the endeavor is undoubtedly rewarding. As blockchain continues to mature, its myriad applicationsfrom its role in decentralized finance to its potential in non-financial sectorswill continue to captivate public interest. Navigating this vibrant landscape requires not only a technical understanding of what blockchain is but also an appreciation of its transformative potential in shaping the future of digital interaction.

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The Complexities Of Crypto: How To Help Break Down The Blockchain - UKTN (UK Technology News