Federally Chartered Banks and Thrifts May Participate in Independent Node Verification Networks and Use Stablecoins for Payment Activities
Yesterday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) released a letter stating that national banks’ and federal savings associations’ had the authority to participate in independent node verification networks (INVN). The letter also clarifies that these entities can use stablecoins to conduct payment activities and other bank-permissible functions.
Army Research Lab Announces Acquisition of Two New Supercomputers
The Defense Department has added two new supercomputers to its arsenal, announcing the acquisition earlier this week. The computers will seek to establish a cumulative capability of more than 23 petaflops of performance. The agency believes that the supercomputers will enter production service at some point in mid-2021. The supercomputers
Coinbase to Suspend XRP Trading Following SEC Suit Against Ripple
On Tuesday, January 19 cryptocurrency trading firm Coinbase plans to fully suspend trading of XRP, the currency in which the US Securities and Exchange Commission sued Ripple Labs over last week. Coinbase first listed XRP on its retail platforms in February of this year. However, after just under a year
Apple supplier Lens Technology accused of using forced Uighur labor
Lens Technology, a Chinese supplier of consumer electronics components for brands such as Apple, has been accused of capitalizing on Uighur Muslim detention in China and using forced labor workers to produce the tech. A report from Tech Transparency details the accusation, claiming that the workers were paid little to
New Lawsuit Takes Aim at Ring After Smart Doorbell Hijacking
Amazon Ring users are suing the manufacturer following a series of hacks on the smart camera devices. The class-action lawsuit joins together complaints filed by 30 users spanning 15 families. The families allege that the company has not provided updated security measures despite the onslaught of security incidents, furthering that
U.S. to allow small drones to fly over people and at night
On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that small drones will soon be able to operate at night in the US and fly over people. This represents a significant step towards the current trend in automated commercial delivery services. The long awaited drone rules will also address security concerns
China’s new data privacy law ‘will state how facial recognition can be used’
According to the Legislative Affairs Commission of China, the country’s new law on data privacy will include provisions to protect personal biometric information, despite the high state of surveillance. The law aims to confront growing concerns over the government’s prolific use of facial recognition technology and biometric data. The law,
Smart Doorbell Disaster, Many Brands Vulnerable to Attack
Doorbells that have been created to allow homeowners to see and protect themselves from unwanted visitors can potentially cause more security issues than they protect from. Last week, the NCC group published a report assessing smart doorbell models made by Victure, Qihoo, and Accfly, and three other vendors. The report
New York Issues First-In-Nation Moratorium On Facial Recognition In Schools
On Tuesday, the Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, signed a law into place banning facial recognition and other biometric technology in schools, effective until June 2022. The law affects both public and private schools and is in place until a study can be conducted with input from teachers, parents,
Researchers Sent ‘Smart Fabric’ Capable of Detecting Microscopic Vibrations to Space
Emerging technology has been deployed to space, according to the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. The new device is a fabric that can detect microscopic vibrations and could allow soldiers to measure their heart rates at any time. The device could also be used in pressurized spacesuits to allow astronauts