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The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . BALTIMORE (AP) — Miles Brewster had 18 points in Boston University’s 75-71 victory over UMBC on Saturday. Brewster also had six rebounds for the Terriers (2-4). Matai Baptiste added 13 points while shooting 4 for 5, including 3 for 3 from beyond the arc while they also had nine rebounds. Michael McNair went 3 of 6 from the field (2 for 5 from 3-point range) to finish with 10 points. Josh Odunowo led the Retrievers (3-4) in scoring, finishing with 23 points and six rebounds. UMBC also got 18 points from Bryce Johnson. Marlon Short had 10 points and three steals. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Byfield scores in 200th career game as Kings hold off Kraken for 2-1 win
Product Liability Insurance Market Outlook: World Approaching Demand & Growth Prospect 2024-2030( MENAFN - GetNews) UK - 19th December, 2024 - BYD, the world's leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles (NEVs), has officially opened its new branches in Bristol and Warwick, marking a significant milestone in its expansion across the UK. The new branches will bring BYD's advanced electric vehicle products and services to local consumers. Following the successful operations of the Canary Wharf flagship store and Lakeside branch, the openings in Bristol and Warwick further extend BYD's presence in the UK, allowing even more consumers to experience the brand's innovative technology and sustainable mobility solutions. The grand opening attracted a host of notable guests, including key figures from business, finance, culture, and media, alongside a warm reception from the local Chinese community. As a global leader in electric mobility, BYD continues to champion technological innovation and environmental sustainability, earning the trust of consumers worldwide. The openings of Bristol and Warwick not only broadens BYD's brand influence in the UK but also offers customers greater access to electric vehicle purchases and aftersales services. At the opening event of South Bristol, Adam Harkins, Head of Network Development of BYD UK, emphasised the company's commitment to driving the transformation of the automotive industry through electrification and intelligent technology. He said,“The opening of our new branch in Bristol marks a significant step in expanding our presence in the UK. It's not only a milestone in our growth but also an important move towards making green and sustainable mobility more accessible to consumers across the region.” Geetan Jessen, General Manager of Harmony BYD UK, added,“We're excited to see the Bristol branch opening as it offers more UK customers the chance to embrace eco-friendly transport solutions. This also strengthens BYD's position as a leader in the global electric vehicle industry.” During the ceremony, Sing Cheung, Branch Manager of Harmony BYD Bristol, shared insights into the current status and future plans for the Bristol branch, as well as offering a detailed introduction to the models currently available. He highlighted the new vehicles on display, along with the range of services available at the branch, introducing how the team is committed to providing exceptional customer care and ensuring a seamless experience for all visitors. The opening of the Bristol and Warwick branches further expands BYD's presence in the UK market. New branches are strategically located in key retail hubs, and areas with a concentration of automotive brands, attracting numerous consumers interested in eco-friendly mobility, technological innovation, and sustainable transport solutions. Inside the store, customers will have the opportunity to explore a variety of BYD's popular electric models, including the highly anticipated BYD SEAL, BYD DOLPHIN, BYD ATTO 3, and the newly launched BYD SEAL U DM-i. to learn more about the benefits of electric vehicles and BYD's latest technological advancements in the EV sector. New branches also offer a wide range of services, including spacious showrooms, test drive areas, and professional aftersales centres, allowing customers to thoroughly experience the vehicles' performance and features. Each branch is equipped with advanced multimedia interactive facilities, enabling customers to easily explore vehicle functions and enjoy the driving pleasure and convenience of BYD's leading-edge technology. BYD's dedicated sales and service teams are committed to delivering an exceptional customer experience, demonstrating the brand's commitment to fulfilling consumer needs at every stage. The opening of the Bristol and Warwick branches is the result of a successful collaboration between BYD and its long-standing partner, Harmony Auto. Following the successful openings of the Canary Wharf and Lakeside branches, this partnership continues to showcase BYD's expanding influence in the UK market and the growing consumer interest in electric vehicles. Harmony Auto is actively working to extend BYD's sales network across the UK, with plans to open new branches in locations such as Oxford, Romford, and Cambridge in the near future. This expansion is a clear indication of both Harmony Auto and BYD's determination and long-term strategy within the UK market. BYD is driving the sustainable transport through continuous technological innovation, providing UK consumers with more eco-friendly and efficient mobility options. In the years ahead, BYD will continue to strengthen its presence in the UK, contributing to the country's environmental objectives and vision for intelligent transportation. About BYD BYD is a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Founded in 1995 as a rechargeable battery maker, BYD now boasts a diverse business scope covering automobiles, rail transit, new energy, and electronics, with over 30 industrial parks in China, the United States, Canada, Japan, Thailand, Brazil, Hungary, Uzbekistan, and India. From energy generation and storage to its applications, BYD is dedicated to providing zero-emission energy solutions that reduce global reliance on fossil fuels. Its new energy vehicle footprint now covers 6 continents, over 90 countries and regions. Listed in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges, the company is known to be a Fortune Global 500 enterprise that furnishes innovations in pursuit of a greener world. About BYD Europe BYD Europe is headquartered in the Netherlands and is the first overseas branch of the BYD Group, with a commitment to deliver safe and efficient sustainable solutions in new energy vehicles through world-leading technological innovations. For more information, please visit About Harmony Auto China Harmony Auto Holding Limited (03836) is a leading comprehensive automobile dealership group in China, listed on the Main Board of Hong Kong since 2013. The company specializes in the sale of luxury and ultra-luxury vehicles and is expanding into the global ·market for intelligent new energy vehicle services. Harmony Auto is committed to providing customers with efficient, convenient, and high-quality travel experiences that promote harmony between people and vehicles. In 2023, Harmony Auto entered into a strategic partnership with BYD, a global leader in intelligent new energy vehicles. Currently, Harmony Auto successfully operates several new energy vehicle sales and service outlets in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, Australia, Japan, and other Asia-Pacific regions and countries. The company is also expanding its presence in European countries such as the UK and France. Harmony Auto plans to further expand its market reach to more regions and countries, providing intelligent and green travel services locally, and contributing to global energy conservation, emission reduction, and sustainable green development. 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NORTH POLE, Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the North Pole bells ring with activity in preparation for Santa Claus' annual journey, Verizon Frontline is once again stepping in to ensure children worldwide can track the magic on December 24th. For the 22nd consecutive year, Verizon has partnered with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to provide reliable connectivity for the renowned NORAD Tracks Santa initiative. This year, Verizon's robust network will again support the program's toll-free hotline, enabling children to discover Santa's location as he travels the globe. The effort includes leveraging Verizon's C-Band spectrum to deliver high-performance 5G connectivity and redundant Wi-Fi, helping to ensure uninterrupted service for the hotline during its busiest time of year. "We're honored to continue this holiday tradition with NORAD, a partnership that has brought joy and wonder to families for more than two decades," said Maggie Hallbach, senior vice president, Public Sector at Verizon Business. "By combining innovative technology with holiday spirit, we help bring Santa's journey to life for children everywhere." Cutting-Edge Tools for Seamless Santa Tracking To bolster NORAD's operations, Verizon provides state-of-the-art equipment, including Cradlepoint routers, Wi-Fi jetpacks, and a Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) solution, alongside Verizon Frontline mobile assets for onsite support. Additionally, Verizon's Consulting Services team maintains the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system , an advanced call management solution that helps the hotline manage the 130,000+ calls it receives on Christmas Eve. Santa's Helpers Making the NORAD Tracks Santa initiative possible involves the dedication of nearly 900 in-person and 200 virtual volunteers, including Verizon employees, military personnel, and other government, corporate and community partners. Together, they'll answer questions ranging from "Where is Santa now?" to "What are Santa's favorite cookies?" How to Track Santa Hotline: Call 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) starting at 6 a.m. EST on December 24. Save the number on your Verizon phone as "NORAD Call Center" for quick access. Online: Visit www.noradsanta.org for live updates, games, and interactive features, or check NORAD's social media channels for video footage from SantaCams. Mobile App: Download the NORAD Tracks Santa app on Apple or Google Play for a magical experience right at your fingertips. Verizon Communications Inc. ((NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ ) powers and empowers how its millions of customers live, work and play, delivering on their demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity and security. Headquartered in New York City, serving countries worldwide and nearly all of the Fortune 500, Verizon generated revenues of $134.0 billion in 2023. Verizon's world-class team never stops innovating to meet customers where they are today and equip them for the needs of tomorrow. For more, visit verizon.com or find a retail location at verizon.com/stores. VERIZON'S ONLINE MEDIA CENTER: News releases, stories, media contacts and other resources are available at verizon.com/news . News releases are also available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit www.verizon.com/about/rss-feeds/ . Media contact: Geoffrey Basye geoffrey.basye@verizon.com (202) 748-1882 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Back when he lived in Newtown, Alan Jones had a wall covered in photographs of himself with the Pick and Stick crew. There were football players, political allies, celebrities and billionaires; the “Moses of the airwaves” had cultivated a powerful fellowship over his first 20-odd years on air, and still had half his radio career to run. Yet even then, some in his orbit had misgivings about getting too close to Jones. “The last place you wanted to end up was on his wall,” said one. Being close to Jones was, as one former staffer put it, “an exhausting thing”. It was like being smiled upon by a capricious emperor. The anointed ones, who ranged from sports stars to musicians to prime ministers and premiers, were graced with favours and largesse. But they had to pay homage or risk it all. Jones’ warning that a failure to respond to a request would “be the end of our friendship”, was ominous indeed. This patronage was one of myriad ways Jones transformed himself from an everyday shock jock into The Man Who Ran Sydney. In the era when talkback was king and he had a 20 per cent audience share, he used his intellect, charisma and money to exploit the platform like no one else. “His power isn’t explained by the size of his audience,” says Chris Masters, author of Jonestown . “It’s explained more by how he used it as leverage to advocate for his own interests and the interests of his powerful mates.” For decades, power protected Jones. He bullied his staff, bulldozed elected officials, and was perceived to favour handsome young men. Few were game to challenge him. Those who did paid the price. Jones was a man “drunk on power”, said one former staffer, and he “did not know when to stop”. But his grip loosened as society changed and Jones refused to change with it, as advertisers became reluctant to align themselves with his increasingly fringe views, and as movements such as #MeToo put the anatomy of power under the microscope. Power protected Alan Jones, seen here departing after giving evidence during the inquiry into Cash for Comment. Credit: Brendan Esposito Last year, Jones faced his own reckoning. The Herald’s chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont revealed allegations that he had used his power for sexual gratification, by groping and indecently assaulting young men, including one of his producers, without their consent. One of the men, who has since died, alleged that he “forces himself on young men and uses his power in a predatory way”. Another man, an employee, says he was groped by Jones. “He knew I wasn’t gay so it was about power dynamics,” he said. Police investigated. This week, Jones was charged with 26 offences involving nine alleged victims. He says he is innocent. The charges are before the courts. When one family contacted police a few years ago to raise allegations that Jones had indecently touched a relative, the officers were blunt. It would be the word of a social colossus against that of an ordinary person. Jones was not, the family recalled one of them saying, “Joe Blow from Bunnings”. Talkback radio used to be the only way ordinary people could speak directly to politicians, even if the microphone was controlled by the host. It was a win-win; listeners on so-called Struggle Street could get their problems addressed, politicians could talk directly to the people, and broadcasters were the powerbroker in the middle. “Forget the press gallery,” prime minister Paul Keating once said. “If you educate [broadcaster] John Laws, you educate Australia.” Articulate, relentless, merciless Jones outclassed all his rivals when he first fired up on air in 1985. He was an unlikely success story; a cross between a priest and a schoolmaster, who would sermonise and patronise in a voice so grating he was nicknamed The Parrot. Yet listeners loved it. “He played all the tabloid tricks,” says Masters. “Flatter your public, tell them ‘my listeners are my best researchers’. He ended up generating a kind of cultist following.” He slept three hours a day and seemed to devote the remaining 21 to work. He’d insist that his office reply to every letter. He’d often dictate them himself to his typist. In 1999, he wrote 3000 letters to government in eight months, the Herald learnt under freedom of information laws. Almost 140 of those were to the prime minister, premier, and a handful of ministers. He expected recipients to reply promptly. Failure to do so risked an on-air dressing down. Premiers and prime ministers would put a staff member in charge of responding within 24 hours. They were dubbed the Minister for Alan Jones. Alan Jones was a prolific correspondent with prime ministers, premiers and government ministers. Credit: Dallas Kilponen The line between policy and personal blurred. Once, he was pulled over by NSW Police highway patrol on a trip to Canberra and didn’t realise he was crossing two lanes of the Hume to get to the kerb. He was almost hit by a truck. The next day, he wrote to then-police minister Paul Whelan, attempting to get the “cowboy” officer sacked. “I’m sick and tired of defending the police force when it’s peopled by yahoos like this,” he wrote. He would text politicians at all hours, furiously criticising their decisions and offering unsolicited advice about how those decisions would end in disaster. Once, he flamed a senior NSW minister for what he described as unforgivable ignorance. “Who the f--- do you think you are?” the radio broadcaster told the elected member of parliament. A response that pleased him could lead to benevolence. Another letter, obtained by The Guardian under a similar FOI request 20 years later, involved a back-and-forth with then-Coalition sports minister Stuart Ayres about a sailing issue. Jones approved of Ayres’ actions. “That’s why you are a very good minister,” he wrote. “Is everything OK in the electorate? Yell out if I can help. With best wishes, Alan.” Many argue Jones, himself a failed political candidate for the Liberal Party, was only able to hold so much power because politicians surrendered it to him. Yet those who resisted grovelling found themselves in a bind. “It wasn’t that the ministers lacked courage,” said one former senior NSW Coalition minister. “It’s that you couldn’t convince a cabinet or party room to stand up to him too.” Taking on Jones about one thing meant the broadcaster would attack everything else that minister tried to do. “It subverted your ability to do other things,” he said. “It wasn’t worth the fight.” When Coalition premier Mike Baird backflipped on his plan to shut down greyhound racing after a sustained campaign by Jones, he was photographed arriving at Jones’ apartment at Circular Quay for a dinner of humble pie to win back support. Jones told his listeners the next day that the government would receive “full marks” from him if it reversed the ban. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott with broadcaster Alan Jones after he addressed a rally in Canberra. Credit: Andrew Meares Jones would frequently shower praise on his long-time friend Tony Abbott: the broadcaster was one of two speakers at an event last year marking 10 years since Abbott became prime minister. When Abbott was in the top job, Jones would send him a weekly missive with about 30 dot points, offering advice, warnings, and tips on who was white-anting him, said one person close to him. Staff heard him dictate a sign-off: “Go for the jugular, Tony.” Abbott denies the story. “Mr Abbott ran his own political strategy and famously wrote his own speeches and personally signed off his own media releases,” said a spokesman. Politicians found their own ways of managing him. “There were certain techniques that worked with Alan, like going into the studio in person,” the former minister said. “It was harder for him to be mean to you if you were right in front of him. Colleagues used to say they would take a young male staffer with them [to put Jones in a good mood], like a burnt offering. Writing him a handwritten note; he’d write to you, and what I learnt was that you had to write back yourself, and give him answers to keep him [from speaking about the issue on radio].” The aim was to keep their issue off-air, said the politician. Being lauded could be as dangerous as being rubbished. “If you got praised by him, it was probably because you leaked to him, so your colleagues would be suspicious – and generally rightly so. Alan never did anything without a reason.” Jones might have left politicians so intimidated that they couldn’t sleep before an interview, but no one was more attuned to the vagaries of his mood than those who worked for him. The former teacher and rugby union coach was an exacting boss. One producer remembers sitting in the car park before work in the wee hours of the morning, wondering if he could face it all again that day. “I don’t think he ever said hello to me in all the years I worked for him,” he said. “Every day started with incredible tension.” For their first six months, Jones would put a new producer to a kind of loyalty test involving verbal abuse and the rubbishing of their work. “It was routine humiliation,” said one. Once, when Jones was dissatisfied with the performance of his staff, he made them write to the finance department to say they didn’t deserve to be paid for their day’s work. Another time, Jones found some faxes that had not been replied to, and made staff cancel leave to write back. Alan Jones was a money spinner who called the shots at the stations that employed him. Credit: Nick Moir “The way he blew up at people was a craft,” said another former producer, who – like many people interviewed for this story – spoke on the condition of anonymity because he still feared Jones’ impact on his career. “He never swore, but it was an articulate spray that was like being lashed by lightning. It was personal, it was cruel, it was demeaning. But it wasn’t someone losing control. The sprays were directed at staff, at salespeople, at CEOs. There was no one at 2GB that Jones felt he couldn’t stand over.” Jones was the station’s money-spinner. “What he wanted, he got,” says Mike Carlton, who worked with Jones at 2UE before the breakfast presenter jumped ship to 2GB. “He would just send in his manager, ‘Alan wants this, Alan wants this done’, and management would cave because they were desperate to keep him on side.” Working for Jones was intense. Yet Jones kept staff loyal, partly with occasional explosions of generosity. A Christmas card with $500 inside. Tickets to Wimbledon. A lavish dinner. There was also the sense that, beyond the bullying, the program was doing some good. “A lot of the stuff he pointed out related to stupid government policy, and a lot of it ended up benefiting people who deserved a result,” said a former producer. “That’s where it gets a little bit tricky; without an aggressive champion, they would never have got the result they deserved.” Many wondered what drove him so relentlessly. It wasn’t money for its own sake; those close to him estimate he has given away millions over the years. He would pay friends’ children’s school fees, give them money to buy their first property, cover their health bills. He still pays for the reunions of school football teams he coached in the 1960s. “He’d give it to people who were broke, who needed money for legal fees,” said one person who worked with Jones. He would also allow people to stay in his opulent homes, in Sydney, the Southern Highlands, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The guest list raised eyebrows; one former producer recalls dropping some briefs over and meeting the “procession of [male] athletes who would stay there”, he says. “Many of them were emotionally needy; quite a few had come from broken homes, and didn’t have supportive family relationships. There was a bit of a theme going through that. Part of it was he didn’t want to be alone.” Jones’ sexuality was scuttlebutt for decades, raised publicly only in double entendre. Jones never commented, not even after being arrested in a London public toilet – that was also a gay beat – for “outraging public decency” (he was cleared). He once told this masthead’s David Leser that he didn’t “believe people should be asked to [comment] in relation to their private lives”. But many, like Masters, believe Jones’ sexuality may be key to understanding his accumulation of power. He grew up in Queensland when homosexuality was illegal, and moved in worlds in which it was spurned, such as schoolboys’ boarding houses when he was a teacher, and rugby union when he was a coach. “There were good reasons for him to don the mask,” says Masters. “We’ve seen this in other powerful men from that era, the power base was built around them as a protective screen. It’s the manipulations – where to go, who you know, who can pull strings – that keeps you safe.” As his power grew, Jones became complacent. His staff and his acolytes were afraid to challenge him. He didn’t verify information he’d been given before presenting it on air, and got things wrong. The end began with his 2012 attacks on Julia Gillard – who stood opposite his good friend Abbott in the parliamentary chamber – when he said she should be tied in a chaff bag and dumped at sea. Within a week of The Sunday Telegraph reporting Jones’ comments to a Young Liberal dinner that Gillard’s father, who had passed away not long before, had “died of shame”, around 70 advertisers backed away from his show and Mercedes-Benz confiscated Jones’ $250,000 sponsored car. Jones apologising for his remarks about Julia Gillard's father dying of shame in 2012. Credit: Dean Sewell The editor who published The Sunday Telegraph ’s story, Neil Breen – who is now a television reporter for Nine, owner of this masthead – paid the price for challenging Jones. “From that day on, it always had an effect on my career,” he said. It angered some of Jones’ supporters at News Limited. It prompted Jones to run interference when Breen worked in radio. It disrupted relationships that still haven’t recovered. “You were just up against forces,” he said. “He was a significant foe.” Jones’ final, self-inflicted blow came in 2019, when he told then-prime minister Scott Morrison to “shove a sock” down the throat of New Zealand’s then-prime minister, Jacinda Ardern. The condemnation was swift and significant, and advertisers – whose business covered his $4 million salary – fled. Jones was already on thin ice due to his alliances with fringe politicians such as then-MP Craig Kelly, and a mammoth defamation payout for blaming a family for the deadly Grantham floods. He resigned from 2GB in 2021. Without his platform, Jones’ power rapidly dwindled. Even if he had stayed on air, his influence may not have protected him from the indecent assault allegations. Over the past decade, abuse of power accusations have all but ended the careers of other once-untouchable men even if they are eventually cleared, like the late cardinal George Pell. The world has changed. Power is a less effective cocoon. While speaking up still requires enormous courage, victims are no longer stigmatised. Where allegations of predatory behaviour were once stifled, police now take so-called silent crimes seriously. Where stars were once allowed to behave as they wanted as long as they brought in money, companies must now actively protect their workers. “There’s been a very important shift in how we operate as a society,” says academic and former journalist Catharine Lumby, who once had a piece critiquing Jones pulled when she wrote for The Bulletin , which was owned by Jones’ good friend Kerry Packer. “The avenues of survivors of assault and harassment are more educated; there’s been a sea change in attitudes.” Those who knew Jones say he would have stayed in front of a microphone until he died if he could have, holding on to the power that kept him safe and the busyness that kept him from introspection. The haunted, brilliant, flawed man “was scared of what came next”, says a former staffer. “He didn’t want any time to look in the mirror. He wanted to fill every day so there was no time for self-reflection.” Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter .Community forum calls for action on learning disability supports
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Functional Polyolefin Hot Melt Adhesives Global Market 2024: Spurred by Rising E-Commerce & Environmental RegulationsFace biometrics are a common theme running through the most-read articles of the week on , along with the impact that deepfakes and synthetic data are having on the field’s market and development. New algorithms from Innovatrics and Incode performed well in NIST testing and a new training dataset of synthetic identities seeks to bridge the realism gap. A report from Entrust and Onfido reveals the alarming frequency of deepfake-fueled fraud attempts and a new group including the ACCS, AVPA and Privately is looking into defending age assurance systems against deepfakes. Facial recognition is also the mechanism that will be relied on to keep Australian teens off of social media and make Europe’s border protection plans operationally feasible. Elsewhere, Jordan Burris delves into Socure’s advice for the incoming American government on digital ID. A group of technology and child welfare advocates in Australia waded into that country’s , arguing for the a more moderate regulatory approach. The dangers of social media for children are well documented, but the proposal would affect how everyone uses the internet, while not everyone understands what is being proposed or how it would work. NIST published a new update to its 1:N FRTE track earlier this month, which shows particularly from Innovatrics and Incode. Both algorithms cracked the top 10 in multiple categories, while familiar entries from NEC, Idemia, Paravision, CloudWalk, SenseTime and Megvii showed top results. NIST also published guidelines for the U.S. federal government’s identity verification and access control system, which is based on ID cards. The new documents cover identity services. Both are final public drafts, and comments will be accepted until January 10. Digital identity should be given and a national taskforce formed to advance it, Socure says among five recommendations for the new government. Jordan Burris tells in an interview that the critical infrastructure status is a natural extension of designations already on the books, and explains how leadership and collaboration can enable a leap forward for America’s defense against fraud. Remote pre-enrollment may be the best way to with faster operations for the EU’s EES, but is running up against the requirement for fingerprint biometrics and concern about contactless fingerprint spoofing. There were key points from an industry roundtable held by eu-LISA, and featuring insights from numerous stakeholders including iProov and Mühlbauer. CBP is using to help maintain the security of biometrics and other sensitive personal data, and prevent another incident like the Perceptics breach. Even the automated tests themselves require robust data security, and they are likely to be used even more extensively as CBP migrates more systems to cloud environments. World ID enrollments are back on in Brazil, and off in the Dominican Republic, where a consumer rights regulator has ordered their suspension. The company has , from the physical appearance of its iris biometric-scanning orbs to the latest accusations of “abusive” contract clauses in the name of “privacy rocket science.” The frequency of deepfake attacks has reached every five minutes, according to the 2025 Identity Fraud Report from Entrust and Onfido. The report also shows more than half of all document fraud in the digital channel involves , and the crypto industry is a relatively common target. Deepfakes pose a potential threat beyond financial fraud as well, and stakeholders within the age assurance community have come together to launch the against presentation and injection attacks. The project is run by the ACCS, AVPA and Privately. Technology and law are both being turned against deepfakes, at predictably differing paces. Authologic’s digital ID aggregation business model gets a closeup from in the wake of its $8 million fundraise. The company’s founders believe malicious use of AI is a threat to civilization itself. Meanwhile in Minnesota, a court challenge to an anti-deepfake law has been led on a detour by an academic who filed a brief that appears to contain citations hallucinated by a large language model, according to . Synthetic data holds the potential to help train better facial recognition systems, but the existing databases fall short of the realism needed to realize that potential, say researchers from Idiap. They built a database with nearly 400,000 face images of , which they call Digi2Real, using foundational models, to address the realism gap. Please let us know about any interviews, editorials, podcasts or other content we should share with the biometrics and digital identity community either in the comments below or through social media. | | | |
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