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Apple Vs. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom wants to create an encryption backdoor into Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP) Icloud feature. Encryption is the process of using mathematical algorithms to hide data like using HTTPS for websites, for emails in transit to prevent hackers from getting them easily, or password protected files. This action is based on the Investigatory Powers Act, and the U.K uses this, in positive terms, to defend children from exploitation and stop terrorists, The United Kingdom wants to, based on publicly available information, to protect children and combat terrorism, but actions, no matter how pure and benevolent, will always have consequences. Isaac Newton’s 3rd law of motion states, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction”, and this is the case for a encryption backdoor, a master key for governments or other entities to review encrypted data of a user; the backdoor would help in preventing the sharing of illegal content and terrorist ideas, but it provides a door for malicious hackers to break into and have those same surveillance powers. Most people, at least when one goes up to them, say “I don’t have anything to hide”, everyone has the right to apathy but for those that are of higher threat models (need of privacy) do not have the privilege to say “I don’t have anything to hide” as journalists, whistle-blowers, protesters, those with controversial ideas , and people who live in oppressive regimes need every last drop of privacy and security no matter how inconvenient it gets. There is an important nuance to discuss when fighting terrorism or protecting children in the world of cyber-security. Apple’s well known slogan, “Privacy. That’s Iphone”, is one of their key principles in offering great products at even greater prices, and they are currently challenging the United Kingdom’s request for a backdoor by removing ADP for users in the U.K. and going to court.
Further Research: Encryption, Apple’s Privacy History, and International Cyber-security Laws
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YouTube Turns 20
On April 23rd 2005, YouTube’s first video was only 19 seconds and titled “Me at the Zoo”. Now, YouTube, the beloved video sharing platform, is turning 20 years old this year, and now hosts short videos that are 15 seconds in length to hour long video essays including everything in between. The platform has helped educators make materials more accessible, provided access to historical media to millions, taught people how to fix household objects, created new and personal stories, and encompasses the best parts of the internet into one website.
Further Research: Online Video Sharing, Impact of the Internet, and Effects of Social Media
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Grok 3 xAI
Elon Musk started a technology startup named xAI in 2023, and after a failed bid for OpenAI, creators of ChatGPT and Musk was a co-founder, he released the third version of his AI model Grok 3. Grok is a word from “Stranger in a Strange Land”, a science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein in 1961, that means to fully and profoundly answer something. The model now stands alongside ChatGPT, Deepseek, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity. Grok 3 is still new, so there will be changes along the way, and the LLM will provide more healthy competition to the AI industry. One can go to xAI’s website through an internet browser in order to access the model.
Further Research: AI Models/LLMs, Elon Musk and Companies, and Technology Giants
References
Cerullo, M. (2025, February 18). Musk launches Grok 3 AI chatbot. Here’s what to know. (A. M. Lee, Ed.). CBS News. Retrieved March 5, 2025, from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-grok-3-xai-ai-chatbot-openai/
Cohen, L. (2025, March 5). 20 years & 125 million subscribers later…. YouTube Official Blog. Retrieved March 5, 2025, from https://blog.youtube/inside-youtube/20-years-125-million-subscribers-lyor-cohen/
Klienman, Z. (2025, February 22). Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row. BBC News. Retrieved March 5, 2025, from https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgj54eq4vejo