Intercity Tech5: AI tour guides, Morse code for your smartphone and Facebook's hefty fine

So maybe it’s coming home, but it’s just not coming home yet. There’s always a tech talking point that we’re keen to share with you, and this week’s no different. Facebook never fails to provide us with a newsworthy headline, but will AI give us the best New York tour guide, and how are hackers selling access to airport security systems for a mere $10?

The final instalment in the Facebook saga

The Information Commissioner’s Office (‘ICO’) decided to issue Facebook with the maximum possible fine of £500,000 after they were unable to guarantee that Cambridge Analytica had destroyed of all the data they acquired. It raised some questions of political parties purchasing data for their own gain, especially in light of revelations last week that the Labour Party gathered information about thousands of prospective and actual parents through the ‘Emma’s Diary’ scheme that gives away free baby-themed products and offers medical advice.

The ICO has written to the UK’s 11 main political parties to inform them that their data protection practices will be under scrutiny, but with the flurry of political unrest over the past few weeks, will our politicians make our privacy a priority?

PayPal falls foul of its own automated policy

PayPal wrote to a deceased woman demanding the repayment of £3,200 after she sadly died of breast cancer. Her widower had told the company she had died, and provided all the necessary ID, yet the letter stated, "You are in breach of condition 15.4(c) of your agreement with PayPal Credit as we have received notice that you are deceased... this breach is not capable of remedy."

Mr Durdle was told by a PayPal employee that he should not have received the letter, and it was probably due to a bug, bad letter template, or simply human error, PayPal wrote off the amount, apologising for the upset caused and said it would thoroughly investigate. Does technology take the empathy out of customer relationships, and how do you know when to put a stop to automation?

Google is bringing back Morse code

When you’re writing a message to a friend, have you ever thought ‘Hey, I’d love to write this in Morse code’? Me neither. But Google’s GBboard keyboard is now letting us write messages in Morse code, whether you’re Apple or Android. They floated the idea at their last keynote event, and if you activate it on your GBoard, it’ll fill your screen with a series of dots and dashes. You can even download apps that can help you write in Morse code if you really want to commit to the code. So, if you’re looking for a different way to confuse your contacts via a message on your smartphone, maybe Morse code is the way to go…

Move over Lonely Planet, AI could become the ultimate tour guide

AI are the two letters scaring and inspiring our industry at the moment. But we’re trying to move AI into the arena of being able to understand us rather than just take notes on what we say. Last week, to focus on something other than data scandals, Facebook’s AI research lab began challenging AI powered programmes to understand language by getting them to act as tour guides around New York City. It's 'Talk the Walk’ dataset combines small maps of New York neighbourhoods, 360-degree photos, and dialogue of people guiding each other around in the same vicinity. Can AI become the tour guide of the future, giving you the lowdown on the best eateries, coffee shops, and how to navigate the subway system?

How secure are our airports?

We all know there’s good reason for the winding security queues through our airports. But what has the dark web got to do with the security at our airports? Researchers at McAfee’s Advanced Threat Research team found the credentials for security systems at some of our biggest international airports were being sold on the dark web for as little as $10. Airport staff with access to security and automation systems confirmed that the credentials were in fact valid. It’s unknown as to how this information managed to make its way to the depths of the dark web, but there are also other government systems linked to healthcare that have been potentially compromised. What are you doing to protect your own information or what is your business doing to heighten its cyber security measures?

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