The Financial Times reports China’s decision to discontinue the use of Intel and Amd processors – as well as the Windows operating system and implicitly the software that needs it to work – from its civil services: China react to the technological ban with a blow to the solidity of US Big Tech. The analysis by Andrea Monti, Professor of Digital Law at the University of Chieti-Pescara – Initially published in Italian on Formiche.net Continue reading “US-China war over processors goes beyond technological autonomy”
Free press, investigative journalism and rule of law
The news of the alleged unauthorised access to databases of the judicial authorities by a law enforcement officer and the alleged making available of the results to newspapers has (re)produced yet another debate on the limits of (or to) investigative journalism in relation to press freedom by Andrea Monti – Initially pubished in Italian by Italian Tech. Continue reading “Free press, investigative journalism and rule of law”
Italy: Journalistic sources, Does ‘national security’ warrant formal legal recognition to protect media professional secrecy?
In order to protect the confidentiality of journalists’ sources it is arguable that the concept of national security ought to be accorded a full legal status. This question has been reignited by the debate concerning EU regulation on the future measure on press freedom which pits those who want journalists to have absolute ‘freedom to investigate’ against those who believe that this freedom cannot be absolute or, in any case, cannot be exercised to the point of endangering national security by Andrea Monti – Initially published in English by INFORRM and in Italian by La Repubblica – Italian Tech. Continue reading “Italy: Journalistic sources, Does ‘national security’ warrant formal legal recognition to protect media professional secrecy? “
The self-censorship of generative AI now surpasses Orwellian Newspeak
In 2003, commenting on the proceedings of the “Open-Source Commission” established by the then government, I wrote in the glorious (and alas, now defunct) Linux&C magazine: “We are creating generations of functional illiterates subservient to the uncritical use of a single platform. People are already using systems with no awareness of their actions. Thus, when the spell-checker suggests that ‘democracy’ is not in the dictionary, they will, without question, simply cease to use the word -and forget about its existence. Twenty years on, these words retain extraordinary relevance when applied to the current developments in generative AI, which unfold under the collective gaze of a substantially indifferent populace – by Andrea Monti – Initially published in Italian by Italian Tech – La Repubblica and in English by Inforrm Continue reading “The self-censorship of generative AI now surpasses Orwellian Newspeak”
Breton’s letter to Elon Musk exposes a serious problem (but it is the EU, not X)
In a letter dated 10 October, Commissioner Breton informed Elon Musk that X is used for disseminating illegal content and disinformation within the EU. He reminded Musk of the regulations imposed by the Digital Service Act in terms of content moderation, and warned that he had received information from “qualified sources” about the circulation of—quoting verbatim—”potentially illegal content” that remains available despite notification from relevant authorities. Lastly, Breton states that it is obligatory (“you need to have in place” reads the letter) to have implemented effective measures to reduce risks to public order and safety arising from the spread of disinformation. He expects — expects, not hopes— immediate compliance with requests from police authorities and Europol. by Andrea Monti – Initially published in Italian by Strategikon – an Italian Tech blog Continue reading “Breton’s letter to Elon Musk exposes a serious problem (but it is the EU, not X)”