AI tools are secretly training on real images of children

PLUS: Russia Is Targeting Germany With Fake Information as Europe Votes, and more. [View in browser]( | [Your newsletter preferences]( 06.10.24 [SUBSCRIBE TO WIRED]( [FOR UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THESE STORIES]( [Image of a hand holding strings of a puppet and the flags of the European Union and Germany. ]( ELECTION SEASON | 2-MINUTE READ [Russia Is Targeting Germany With Fake Information as Europe Votes]( BY MORGAN MEAKER A European Commission spokesperson says Russia is focusing on Germany more than any other EU country—and estimates the Kremlin is spending €1 billion on disinformation campaigns.   [A beach crowded with people swimming and sitting under red umbrellas on a sunny day]( HOT MESS | 2-MINUTE READ [Each of the Past 12 Months Broke Temperature Records]( BY JON BRODKIN, ARS TECHNICA Last June was the warmest in recorded history. It kicked off an alarming streak with no end in sight.   [EU flags waving on poles outside of a building]( REGULATION | 13-MINUTE READ [The EU Is Taking on Big Tech. It May Be Outmatched]( BY LUCA ZORLONI From the Digital Services Act to the AI Act, in five years Europe has created a lot of rules for the digital world. Implementing them, however, isn’t always easy.   [A red, yellow, blue, and green illustration of a child with the face cut out, a pixelated blue form in the same shape of the cut out, and a grid texture]( FACE/OFF | 3-MINUTE READ [AI Tools Are Secretly Training on Real Images of Children]( BY VITTORIA ELLIOTT A popular AI training dataset is “stealing and weaponizing” the faces of Brazilian children without their knowledge or consent, human rights activists claim. ADVERTISEMENT   [Model wearing a t-shirt with WIRED logo and a hat that says, “Angry Nerd”]( [Shop WIRED Merch]( [Get bags, bottles, hats, and other swag made with fair labor and ethically sourced materials.]( [SHOP NOW](   [3D clay illustration of a person on a couch holding a TV remote, their arm extends and twists around them as a clock on the wall fast forwards]( CLOUD SUPPORT | 4-MINUTE READ [All I Do Is Scroll Netflix Forever. Does That Count as Entertainment?]( BY MEGHAN O'GIEBLYN WIRED’s advice columnist answers questions about streaming and dreaming.   [Drake standing on stage under red lighting]( THE MONITOR | 3-MINUTE READ [The Plain White T’s Gave Drake a Plain Old L]( BY ANGELA WATERCUTTER Drake joined parody rapper Snowd4y for a remix of his “Hey There Delilah” cover, “Wah Gwan Delilah.” Some thought it was AI, the Plain White T’s cringed, and the jokes have been nonstop.   [A grid of nine selfies taken by Legacy Russell in various settings with a purple overlay effect on three of the squares]( DIAL UP | 7-MINUTE READ [AI Killed Images. Legacy Russell Knows How We Can Revive Them]( BY JASON PARHAM The author of "Black Meme" has ideas for how to protect digital culture from the rise of generative AI. It starts with embracing slow media.   [Collage of a shocked woman's head popping out of a toilet with a dark cityscape, lasers and explosions in the background]( POTTY HUMOR | 7-MINUTE READ [Who’s Afraid of 'Skibidi Toilet'?]( BY ADAM BUMAS The bizarre animated YouTube series is so huge that it’s caught the attention of concerned parents and the Russian government. But it’s still a mystery to almost anyone over 30—except Stephen Colbert.   [Side and distant view of a green and black electric bike on a woodland trail. Background: colorful streaks from various types of stone and rock.]( PRODUCT REVIEW | 3-MINUTE READ [Aventon's First Electric Mountain Bike Is a Great, Rugged Commuter]( BY STEPHANIE PEARSON The direct-to-consumer company’s debut electric mountain bike has a sticker price that’s hard to beat. ADVERTISEMENT   [WIRED logo image]( Thanks for reading. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? [Sign up here](. Plus, [browse more newsletters]( from WIRED. [(image) WIRED on Facebook]( [(image) WIRED on Twitter]( [(image) WIRED on Instagram]( [(image) WIRED on LinkedIn]( [(image) WIRED on YouTube]( [Podcasts]( [TikTok](   You’re receiving this email because you signed up for the Daily newsletter from WIRED. [Manage your preferences]( | [View our Privacy Policy]( | [Unsubscribe]( Have questions or comments? [Send us a message](mailto:hello@wired.com?subject=Daily newsletter feedback). Need help? [Contact us](. Copyright © Condé Nast 2024. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.