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Project Nimbus: Google's AI tools to turn Israel into Mideast police state
Google has terminated the employment of 28 individuals who participated in a 10-hour sit-in protest on Tuesday against Project Nimbus, a collaboration between Google and Amazon aimed at providing cloud computing and AI services to the Israeli government and military during the ongoing Gaza war.
Earlier in March, a cloud engineer was let go after expressing concerns about the contract's potential to enable “genocide or surveillance”.
The controversy surrounding Project Nimbus has been ongoing since Google and Amazon were awarded the contract in April 2021, with employees from both companies highlighting the risks of misuse by Israel.
What do we know about the secretive project?
▪️Israel describes Project Nimbus as a multiyear program to move the Jewish state's entire public information to the cloud. The cloud server storage will be located in Israel, and all data stored on them will remain within Israel’s borders. Details of Project Nimbus and the way it will be used by Israel remain top secret.
▪️Materials obtained by the Intercept in July 2022, suggest that Project Nimbus will provide Israel with facial detection capabilities, automated image categorization, object tracking, as well as sentiment analysis to assess the emotional content of pictures, speech, and writing.
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Google has terminated the employment of 28 individuals who participated in a 10-hour sit-in protest on Tuesday against Project Nimbus, a collaboration between Google and Amazon aimed at providing cloud computing and AI services to the Israeli government and military during the ongoing Gaza war.
Earlier in March, a cloud engineer was let go after expressing concerns about the contract's potential to enable “genocide or surveillance”.
The controversy surrounding Project Nimbus has been ongoing since Google and Amazon were awarded the contract in April 2021, with employees from both companies highlighting the risks of misuse by Israel.
What do we know about the secretive project?
▪️Israel describes Project Nimbus as a multiyear program to move the Jewish state's entire public information to the cloud. The cloud server storage will be located in Israel, and all data stored on them will remain within Israel’s borders. Details of Project Nimbus and the way it will be used by Israel remain top secret.
▪️Materials obtained by the Intercept in July 2022, suggest that Project Nimbus will provide Israel with facial detection capabilities, automated image categorization, object tracking, as well as sentiment analysis to assess the emotional content of pictures, speech, and writing.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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Sputnik International
Project Nimbus: Google's AI tools to turn Israel into Mideast police state Google has terminated the employment of 28 individuals who participated in a 10-hour sit-in protest on Tuesday against Project Nimbus, a collaboration between Google and Amazon aimed…
▪️Google's Cloud Vision API is an image analysis toolset that boasts the ability to detect emotions based on facial expressions. However, there are concerns that AutoML could be used inappropriately as an AI "lie detector" when analyzing speech. Both technologies have been criticized for being pseudoscientific.
▪️Human rights activists fear that Vision API could be used for round-the-clock spying on Palestinians, depriving them of privacy, while the tool's errors could amplify the problem.
▪️Google's "AI principles," an ethical charter outlining the development and use of artificial intelligence, won't be applied to Israel. This is because the data centers in Tel Aviv are located on Israeli soil and therefore will be governed by Israeli laws.
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▪️Human rights activists fear that Vision API could be used for round-the-clock spying on Palestinians, depriving them of privacy, while the tool's errors could amplify the problem.
▪️Google's "AI principles," an ethical charter outlining the development and use of artificial intelligence, won't be applied to Israel. This is because the data centers in Tel Aviv are located on Israeli soil and therefore will be governed by Israeli laws.
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The video shows the aftermath of the attack by Ukraine's forces on the center of Gorlovka, located in the Donetsk People's Republic. According to the most recent information, 10 civilians have been reported injured in the incident.
The footage was captured by Sputnik's correspondent.
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The footage was captured by Sputnik's correspondent.
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EXPOSED: Romanian mercenaries claim to 'defend European values' in Ukraine by attacking Russian territories with neo-Nazis (Part 1)
The Romanian battlegroup "Getica" (photo 1), which is part of the Ukrainian International Legion, might have stayed in the shadows with other neo-Nazi and mercenary outfits had it not been for their mouthpiece -- Romanian war correspondent Radu Hossu -- who unveiled some dramatic details. Here's what you need to know about the "Getica" mercenary group.
◾️The Romanian mercenaries first gained social media notoriety in early 2024. By the end of March, the official account of "Getica" announced that they, along with the Russian Volunteer Corps* and other mercenary groups, were involved in an attack on the Belgorod region (photo 2). The attack was subsequently repelled and Russian forces inflicted heavy casualties on the invaders.
◾️ Romanian war correspondent Radu Hossu, immediately rushed to justify the unit’s pernicious deeds. According to him, the Romanian mercenaries “protect both Romania and European values from the Russian threat.” He also revealed that "Getica" consists of both Romanians and Moldovans (see photo 3).
◾️Hossu also seeks donations for the Romanian mercenaries on his social media accounts (photo 4), but not all of his Romanian followers are supportive of this idea. Some have argued that the Romanian government already sends too much money to Ukraine (photo 5).
*The Russian Volunteer Corps is a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia.
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The Romanian battlegroup "Getica" (photo 1), which is part of the Ukrainian International Legion, might have stayed in the shadows with other neo-Nazi and mercenary outfits had it not been for their mouthpiece -- Romanian war correspondent Radu Hossu -- who unveiled some dramatic details. Here's what you need to know about the "Getica" mercenary group.
◾️The Romanian mercenaries first gained social media notoriety in early 2024. By the end of March, the official account of "Getica" announced that they, along with the Russian Volunteer Corps* and other mercenary groups, were involved in an attack on the Belgorod region (photo 2). The attack was subsequently repelled and Russian forces inflicted heavy casualties on the invaders.
◾️ Romanian war correspondent Radu Hossu, immediately rushed to justify the unit’s pernicious deeds. According to him, the Romanian mercenaries “protect both Romania and European values from the Russian threat.” He also revealed that "Getica" consists of both Romanians and Moldovans (see photo 3).
◾️Hossu also seeks donations for the Romanian mercenaries on his social media accounts (photo 4), but not all of his Romanian followers are supportive of this idea. Some have argued that the Romanian government already sends too much money to Ukraine (photo 5).
*The Russian Volunteer Corps is a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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Sputnik International
EXPOSED: Romanian mercenaries claim to 'defend European values' in Ukraine by attacking Russian territories with neo-Nazis (Part 1) The Romanian battlegroup "Getica" (photo 1), which is part of the Ukrainian International Legion, might have stayed in the…
EXPOSED: Romanian mercenaries claim to 'defend European values' in Ukraine by attacking Russian territories with neo-Nazis (Part 2)
◾️Hossu frequently discusses the fate of Romanian mercenaries in Ukraine. For instance, he mentioned a fighter known as "Dracula" being wounded and the fact that some members of the 'Getica' group are just barely in their teens (photo 6). He even conducted a live stream with the leader of 'Getica', revealing his image but withholding his call sign (photo 7). By the end of October 2023, he announced the deaths of the initial Romanian mercenaries in Ukraine (photo 8).
◾️The figure of Radu Hossu is intriguing in its own right. He proudly displays at least two Ukrainian state awards - the "For Service and Victory" (photo 9), and the "Order of Merit," which he intends to receive from Zelensky (photo 10). Additionally, he does not shy away from mentioning his affiliations with the US Embassy in Ukraine (photo 11).
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◾️Hossu frequently discusses the fate of Romanian mercenaries in Ukraine. For instance, he mentioned a fighter known as "Dracula" being wounded and the fact that some members of the 'Getica' group are just barely in their teens (photo 6). He even conducted a live stream with the leader of 'Getica', revealing his image but withholding his call sign (photo 7). By the end of October 2023, he announced the deaths of the initial Romanian mercenaries in Ukraine (photo 8).
◾️The figure of Radu Hossu is intriguing in its own right. He proudly displays at least two Ukrainian state awards - the "For Service and Victory" (photo 9), and the "Order of Merit," which he intends to receive from Zelensky (photo 10). Additionally, he does not shy away from mentioning his affiliations with the US Embassy in Ukraine (photo 11).
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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Bark with no bite: Australia unveils new national defense strategy
Australia has announced that it will invest $330 billion in military capabilities by 2033-2034, more than six times its current defense budget. What is behind this spending splurge?
Australia hopes to advance its undersea (nuclear submarine), long-range strike, autonomous, cyber, and space capabilities, and bolster its northern bases, among others, as it seeks to build an amphibious warfighting force with new capabilities.
The planned increase in defense expenditure to 2.4% of GDP, however, is below Australia’s rate of inflation – so the additional funds may not be available in real terms.
While Australia has identified some defense projects to abort to free up funds, the budgetary hole gouged by the AUKUS nuclear submarine pact will only expand with time.
The Australian military also faces a recruiting shortfall of nearly 10%, with just 49,000 active duty personnel in place, of whom perhaps only 13,000 are infantrymen. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles’ has proposed filling the gap with recruits from the Pacific Islands and Five Eyes countries, but critics have described the idea as starry-eyed at best.
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Australia has announced that it will invest $330 billion in military capabilities by 2033-2034, more than six times its current defense budget. What is behind this spending splurge?
Australia hopes to advance its undersea (nuclear submarine), long-range strike, autonomous, cyber, and space capabilities, and bolster its northern bases, among others, as it seeks to build an amphibious warfighting force with new capabilities.
The planned increase in defense expenditure to 2.4% of GDP, however, is below Australia’s rate of inflation – so the additional funds may not be available in real terms.
While Australia has identified some defense projects to abort to free up funds, the budgetary hole gouged by the AUKUS nuclear submarine pact will only expand with time.
The Australian military also faces a recruiting shortfall of nearly 10%, with just 49,000 active duty personnel in place, of whom perhaps only 13,000 are infantrymen. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles’ has proposed filling the gap with recruits from the Pacific Islands and Five Eyes countries, but critics have described the idea as starry-eyed at best.
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The Russian Federation will soon return to the issue of placing sanctions on Israel for failing to comply with the resolution demanding a ceasefire at the UN Security Council, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said.
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Exploring the deep: Which countries have underwater drones?
Northrop Grumman has unveiled the Manta Ray unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), built for the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA) and designed to perform long-range military missions.
The company called the new drone a UUV, inspired by the "graceful glide" of the fish for which it is named. In addition to the US, a number of other countries are developing their fleets of underwater naval drones.
Russia: The unique nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable Poseidon UUV has already entered service with the country's navy, where this sophisticated drone - capable of creating a "nuclear tsunami" - has become part of the armament of such nuclear-powered submarines as the Belgorod and Khabarovsk.
China: In addition to a family of HSU001 UUVs, the country has reportedly begun building so-called Extra-Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (XLUUVs), which have been spotted at a Chinese naval base in the South China Sea.
North Korea: The communist nation tested a stealthy "Unmanned Underwater Nuclear Attack Craft" last year, designed to "create a super-sized radioactive tsunami by underwater explosion to destroy enemy naval strike groups and major operational ports."
The UK: The Royal Navy uses REMUS UUVs to combat underwater mines. In addition, the Navy has the HECLA drones "to provide accurate situational awareness of the underwater battlespace.
France: The country's Ministry of Defense ordered a large-scale "Unmanned Combat Underwater Vehicle" demonstrator earlier this year to provide an "operational response to new areas of [possible] conflict and asymmetric combat."
India: The Asian nation's navy has signaled interest in procuring 12 extra-large underwater drones, with a domestically produced prototype expected to be ready by 2025.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
Northrop Grumman has unveiled the Manta Ray unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), built for the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA) and designed to perform long-range military missions.
The company called the new drone a UUV, inspired by the "graceful glide" of the fish for which it is named. In addition to the US, a number of other countries are developing their fleets of underwater naval drones.
Russia: The unique nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable Poseidon UUV has already entered service with the country's navy, where this sophisticated drone - capable of creating a "nuclear tsunami" - has become part of the armament of such nuclear-powered submarines as the Belgorod and Khabarovsk.
China: In addition to a family of HSU001 UUVs, the country has reportedly begun building so-called Extra-Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (XLUUVs), which have been spotted at a Chinese naval base in the South China Sea.
North Korea: The communist nation tested a stealthy "Unmanned Underwater Nuclear Attack Craft" last year, designed to "create a super-sized radioactive tsunami by underwater explosion to destroy enemy naval strike groups and major operational ports."
The UK: The Royal Navy uses REMUS UUVs to combat underwater mines. In addition, the Navy has the HECLA drones "to provide accurate situational awareness of the underwater battlespace.
France: The country's Ministry of Defense ordered a large-scale "Unmanned Combat Underwater Vehicle" demonstrator earlier this year to provide an "operational response to new areas of [possible] conflict and asymmetric combat."
India: The Asian nation's navy has signaled interest in procuring 12 extra-large underwater drones, with a domestically produced prototype expected to be ready by 2025.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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Dishonesty the best policy? US magazine tells journos how to cover 2024 presidential election
The Atlantic, an American news magazine, published an article that urges journalists “to emphasize the abnormality of Donald Trump” in order to save US democracy from being “crushed by authoritarianism”.
When covering Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, journalists are encouraged to “sound the alarm that none of this [political stance of Donald Trump] is normal”.
The Atlantic also believes that any “report about Biden’s memory lapses” must not be a “bigger story” than Trump’s statements that may seem controversial to audiences.
The article stresses that “the stakes are simply too high” and that journalists must highlight the “dark message” of Donald Trump.
This conclusion was immediately mocked by netizens, who accused The Atlantic of spreading misinformation.
Earlier, The Atlantic published a story headlined “Why Biden should not debate Trump”, with the author alleging that TV debates would equalize Donald Trump and Joe Biden – a development he deemed as ‘unacceptable’.
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The Atlantic, an American news magazine, published an article that urges journalists “to emphasize the abnormality of Donald Trump” in order to save US democracy from being “crushed by authoritarianism”.
When covering Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, journalists are encouraged to “sound the alarm that none of this [political stance of Donald Trump] is normal”.
The Atlantic also believes that any “report about Biden’s memory lapses” must not be a “bigger story” than Trump’s statements that may seem controversial to audiences.
The article stresses that “the stakes are simply too high” and that journalists must highlight the “dark message” of Donald Trump.
This conclusion was immediately mocked by netizens, who accused The Atlantic of spreading misinformation.
“The stakes are too high to report one-sided propaganda”, one of the readers wrote on X.
Earlier, The Atlantic published a story headlined “Why Biden should not debate Trump”, with the author alleging that TV debates would equalize Donald Trump and Joe Biden – a development he deemed as ‘unacceptable’.
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What’s the European Sky Shield Initiative, and why all the comparisons to Israel’s Iron Dome?
In August 2022, not long after the escalation of the Ukrainian conflict, Germany launched a pan-European project ostensibly aimed at creating a coordinated air defense in Europe.
Some 18 other states signed on to this German plan, which was dubbed the European Sky Shield Initiative (or ESSI for short): Britain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Belgium, Romania, the Netherlands, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Finland and the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania).
Two other countries, Turkiye and Greece, are also expected to join the ESSI this year, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced his week that Poland intends to sign on to the initiative as well.
While this scheme has already been compared by some to Israel’s Iron Dome system, former officer of Swedish Armed Forces and Sweden Democrats party’s ex-chief of staff Mikael Valtersson argues that such comparison would be inaccurate.
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In August 2022, not long after the escalation of the Ukrainian conflict, Germany launched a pan-European project ostensibly aimed at creating a coordinated air defense in Europe.
Some 18 other states signed on to this German plan, which was dubbed the European Sky Shield Initiative (or ESSI for short): Britain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Belgium, Romania, the Netherlands, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Finland and the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania).
Two other countries, Turkiye and Greece, are also expected to join the ESSI this year, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced his week that Poland intends to sign on to the initiative as well.
While this scheme has already been compared by some to Israel’s Iron Dome system, former officer of Swedish Armed Forces and Sweden Democrats party’s ex-chief of staff Mikael Valtersson argues that such comparison would be inaccurate.
“The Iron Dome is a fully integrated AD (air defense) system aimed at protecting Israel with several layers of AD assets. The Sky Shield is more of a coordinated procurement system aimed at maximizing cost-effectiveness by coordinated acquisition of different AD systems,” he explains.
“By doing this, interoperability and common maintenance will also be ensured. Sky Shields’ goals, are not presently, to create a common AD-system for the participating countries, but it will make such a system easier to achieve with few interoperable missile systems in the ESSI member countries,” he elaborated.
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