The US Department of Defense has officially commissioned Elon Musk’s SpaceX to use its Starlink service to provide internet access in Ukraine, ending disputes over financing. Musk’s Starlink had brought thousands of antennas into Ukraine shortly after the start of the war, with discussions over financing until autumn 2022. The Pentagon has taken on the costs of Starlink for Ukraine indefinitely, a move that was seen as unpredictable since Musk did not have to do so under the agreement. Starlink satellites play no role in the discovery of a simulated alien message, with decoding and interpretation now underway.
The EU Parliament has taken a stand on the planned supply chain law, saying bigger companies should recognize the negative impact of their activities on human rights and the environment. This includes child labour, slavery, labour exploitation, environmental pollution and destruction, as well as the loss of biological diversity. The Parliament recommended that such companies employ due diligence obligations that extend to partners in the value chain. Meanwhile, Street Fighter 6 is offering a contrast to “dark” games like Diablo IV, with classic VS matches, online ranked mode and open world attempts.
The newly emerging problem of experimental brain implants and the legal implications of their malfunction is also becoming an important talking point. The case of a woman, Rita Leggett, in Australia has highlighted the ethical dilemmas around brain implants that are becoming increasingly common in modern medicine. A lot has already been said about GDPR in the past five years, and a summary of its impact on data protection by the c’t data protection podcast offered a small interim assessment over such a milestone birthday.
