Today on Decoder, I want to lay out an idea that’s been banging around my head for weeks now as we’ve been reporting on AI and having conversations here on this show. I’ve been calling it software brain, and it’s a particular way of seeing the world that fits everything into algorithms, databases and loops — software. Software brain is powerful stuff. It’s a way of thinking that basically created our modern world. Marc Andreessen, the literal embodiment of software brain, called it in 2011 when he wrote the piece “Why software is eating the world” as an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal. But software thinking has been turbocharged by AI in a way that I think helps explain the enormous gap between how excited the tech industry is about the technology and how regular people are growing to dislike it more and more over time. In fact, the polling on this is so strong, I think it’s fair to say that a lot of people hate AI. And Gen Z in particular seems to hate AI more and more as they encounter it. There’s that NBC News poll showing AI with worse favorability than ICE and only a little bit above the war in Iran and the Democrats generally. That’s with nearly two thirds of respondents saying they used ChatGPT or Copilot in the last month. Quinnipiac just found that over half of Americans think AI will do more harm than good, while more than 80 percent of people were either very concerned or somewhat concerned about the technology. Only 35 percent of people were excited about it. Poll after poll shows that Gen Z uses AI the most and has the most negative feelings about it. A recent Gallup poll found that only 18 percent of Gen Z was hopeful about AI, down from an already-bad 27 percent last year. At the same time, anger is growing: 31 percent of those Gen Z respondents said they feel angry about AI, up from 22 percent last year. Now, I obviously talk to a lot of tech executives and policy people here on Decoder, and I will tell you, they all know AI isn’t popular, and they can all see how that’s playing out in real life. Here’s Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella talking about how the tech industry needs to make the case for the investments it’s making in AI: Satya Nadella: At the end of the day, I think this industry, to which I belong, needs to earn the social permission to consume energy because we’re doing good in the world. I think it’s safe to say that the tech industry and AI have not earned any of that social permission yet. Politicians from both sides of the aisle are opposing data center buildouts. Politicians in local communities that support data centers are getting voted out of office. And in the most depressing reminder of how much political violence has become a part of everyday American life, politicians who’ve supported data centers have had their houses shot at. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has had Molotov cocktails thrown at his house. It’s sad that I’m going to have to say this again on the show, and it’s sad that we’re going to have commenters who disagree, but this violence is unacceptable. If you want to meaningfully oppose AI in a way that lasts, you should speak loudly with your dollars in the market and your attention online, and you should speak loudly with your votes. You should participate in a democratic regulatory and political process. Anything else will get dismissed and perpetuate the cycle. That dismissal is already happening. I also think it’s incredibly important for our politicians and tech executives to make sure our political process makes people feel empowered, not helpless, which is a specific kind of nihilism they have all greatly contributed to. The violence is a result of that helplessness and nihilism. And the most powerful people in our society ought to reckon with that, especially as they run around saying AI will wipe out all the jobs. I’m not even exaggerating this. Here’s Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei saying he thinks AI will wipe out all the jobs: Dario Amodei: Entry-level jobs in areas like finan

Google Wallet is beginning to widely roll out a big redesign of the app on Android that upgrades the passes experience. more…

Nothing has just launched “Essential Voice,” the latest expansion of the brand’s AI suite, which is a major upgrade to voice-to-text. more…

Earlier this month, millions of OpenClaw users woke up to a sweeping mandate: The viral AI agent tool, which this year took the worldwide tech industry by storm, had been severely restricted by Anthropic. Anthropic, like other leading AI labs, was under immense pressure to lessen the strain on its systems and start turning a profit. So if the users wanted its Claude AI to power their popular agents, they'd have to start paying handsomely for the privilege. "Our subscriptions weren't built for the usage patterns of these third-party tools," wrote Boris Cherny, head of Claude Code, on X. "We want to be intentional in managing our growth to … Read the full story at The Verge.

Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook has named the botched 2012 launch of Apple Maps as his "first really big mistake" in the role, according to a Bloomberg report covering the town hall meeting that was held Tuesday with his recently announced successor, John Ternus. The Maps app launched with mislabeled landmarks, faulty directions, and a user experience that fell well short of Google Maps at the time. "The product wasn't ready, and we thought it was because we were testing more of local kind of stuff," Cook told staff. Reflecting on the debacle, Cook said it was "valuable," noting that he expressed regret to users at the time and suggested they use competing navigation apps instead. From the report: "We apologized for it, and we said, 'Go use these other apps. They're better than ours.' And that was some humble pie," Cook said. "But it was the right thing for our users. And so it's an example of keeping the user at the center of the decisions that we made." Cook added: "Now we've got the best map app on the planet. We learned about persistence, and we did exactly the right thing having made the mistake."The fallout led to the first major management shake-up of Cook's tenure, with software chief Scott Forstall – a close Steve Jobs collaborator – pushed out in the aftermath. (Fun fact: Forstall was recently invited back to Apple Park to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary.) On the bright side, Cook singled out the Apple Watch and its expanding health features as the work he's most proud of. He recalled receiving his first note from a user whose life had been saved by the device. "It caused me to just stop in my steps," he said. Cook conceded that his list of mistakes would be "extraordinary in length" (the never-released AirPower charging mat and Apple's abandoned car project would surely be high up there) but the CEO has successfully avoided the kind of product recalls and cancellations that have plagued other consumer device companies over the last 15 years. Cook became CEO in August 2011 and hands over the reins to Ternus, currently chief of hardware engineering, on September 1, 2026.Tags: Apple Maps, Tim CookThis article, "Tim Cook Calls Apple Maps Launch His 'First Really Big Mistake' as CEO" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Article URL: https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/23/surveillance-vendors-caught-abusing-access-to-telcos-to-track-peoples-phone-locations-researchers-say/ Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47874814 Points: 157 # Comments: 46

Apple is expected to bring several camera enhancements to the iPhone 18 Pro models this year, but there have been no fixed rumors suggesting these upgrades will require measurable, visible changes to the device's rear camera plateau. And yet a new series of dummies suggests exactly that. iPhone 17 Pro dummy (left) vs. iPhone 18 Pro (image: Vadim Yuryev) YouTube channel Max Tech's Vadim Yuryev recently shared images of dummy units for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max – as well as Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone. Dummy units are typically created by third-party case makers based on information that leaks out of Apple's partner factories. Yuryev says the dummy units have "much thicker cameras... The black glass on the cameras protrudes a bit more too." He also says the camera plateau itself is "a bit thicker" than on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and he provided the above image for comparison. The silver unit is the iPhone 18 Pro Max dummy, while the blue is an iPhone 17 Pro Max dummy. Other than the rear triple lens camera system, the two device's dimensions are said to be extremely similar – same thickness, but a slight height (.36mm) and width (.39mm) increase on the 18 Pro Max unit. Yuryev says he stands by the accuracy of the iPhone 18 Pro dummies, claiming they should be "spot on" like the iPhone 17 Pro dummy units he received last year, presumably from the same source – which we believe to be Sonny Dickson. The Main camera in the iPhone 18 Pro could have a variable aperture, which would provide users with more control over how their photos look. iPhone users would be able to manually adjust how much light gets to the sensor, cutting down on overexposure and providing new customization options for lighting and depth of field. The Telephoto lens in the iPhone 18 Pro models could also feature a larger aperture, allowing for more light in poor lighting conditions. At least one of the iPhone 18 Pro models could also feature a new three-layer stacked image sensor developed by Samsung. The advanced image sensor would make the camera more responsive, plus it could cut down on noise, increase dynamic range, and more. Will any of these upgrades necessitate a larger camera module? Theoretically, but no leak has explicitly said the lenses on either 18 Pro model will stick out more or that the camera plateau will get thicker. It's especially surprising given that the industry is actively targeting flat or near-flush camera systems in future devices, but Apple could well be taking a different tack. We'll know for sure when the devices arrive around mid-September alongside the company's first foldable iPhone. Update: Since this story was published, Yuryev has shared some more comparative dimensions: The total thickness of the iPhone 18 Pro Max including camera plateau is said to be 11.54mm (vs. 11.23mm on the iPhone 17 Pro Max), while total thickness including camera lens bumps is 13.77mm (vs. 12.92mm on the iPhone 17 Pro Max). Related Roundup: iPhone 18 ProThis article, "Latest iPhone 18 Pro Max Dummies Suggest Thicker Camera Plateau, More Protruding Lenses" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Apple is about to become a very different company. This September, Apple CEO Tim Cook is stepping down and will be replaced by John Ternus, the current head of hardware. But the shift is bigger than just a CEO transition - it's the most significant move yet into a world where Apple's executive team isn't handpicked by Steve Jobs. With the departure of Cook, who became CEO in 2011, the list of leaders who were in Jobs' inner circle is dwindling. There's still Apple's senior vice president of services, Eddy Cue, who joined in 1989, and has said that Jobs was like a "family member" to him. There's also longtime marketing exec Phil Schiller, wh … Read the full story at The Verge.

Eight bulbs are powered by a rechargeable battery built into a 6W solar panel. | Image: Govee Govee announced its first solar-powered lights today. They include a 6W panel with an integrated 4,800mAh battery that can be recharged with a single full day of sunlight (though if the weather's looking a little overcast, you can still charge it over USB-C). The Govee Outdoor Solar String Lights are available now through the company's online store and Amazon for $99.99 and feature eight color-changing bulbs on a 34-foot cable. On a full charge the bulbs will run for up to 13 hours, Govee claims, but that's with their brightness limited to just 10 lumens. The bulbs have a maximum brightness of up to 50 lumens, but you can expect the battery … Read the full story at The Verge.

Robinhood is facing a proposed class action in federal court in San Francisco accusing the company of running an illegal sports gambling business through its prediction markets platform while presenting those trades as investments. Five plaintiffs from California, New Jersey, New York and Michigan filed the complaint on April 22 against Robinhood Markets Inc. and Robinhood Derivatives LLC. They say they lost money after trading sports event contracts offered through the company’s app and website. NEW: Robinhood hit with class-action suit alleging illegal sports betting via prediction markets, seeking billions in losses in California court @RWW #PredictionMarkets pic.twitter.com/j9vKRAMSsx— Suswati Basu (@suswatibasu) April 23, 2026 The suit, seen by ReadWrite, says Robinhood “facilitates the sale of illegal and unregulated sports event gaming contracts to its customers through its mobile app and website” and claims users were “led to believe that sports event contracts are a modern, sophisticated form of investing on a federally regulated commodities exchange that can be accessed on a phone.” The plaintiffs add that, in reality, “the sports event contracts Robinhood sells are old-fashioned wagers on the outcomes of sporting events.” How the federal lawsuit portrays Robinhood as selling sports contracts According to the filing, Robinhood began selling event contracts on October 28, 2024, then moved into sports on March 17, 2025 through its partnership with Kalshi. The complaint says Robinhood continued “to maintain the fiction that users were trading event contracts on its ‘Prediction Markets Hub.’” The filing quotes Robinhood’s own explanation of the product. According to the complaint, Robinhood says, “[a]n event contract is a type of financial derivative that allows traders to speculate on a specific event. These contracts are generally structured around ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ positions, and fluctuate in price based on the projected occurrence of the event.” It also quotes Robinhood as saying that event contracts “pay out if the position held matches the correct occurrence of the event; otherwise, they expire with no value.” When Robinhood launched its Prediction Markets Hub in March 2025, the complaint says JB Mackenzie, the company’s vice president and general manager of futures and prediction markets, stated, “[w]e believe in the power of prediction markets and think they play an important role in the intersection of news, economics, politics, sports, and culture. We’re excited to offer our customers a new way to participate in prediction markets and look forward to doing so in compliance with existing regulations.” Later, when Robinhood added football contracts, Mackenzie said, “[a]dding pro and college football to our prediction markets hub is a no-brainer for us as we aim to make Robinhood a one-stop shop for all your investing and trading needs.” The plaintiffs argue the products work the same way as sportsbook bets, pointing to markets that they say mirror “Moneyline bets, point spreads, totals, player props, and parlays.” The complaint also notes growing legal pressure on prediction markets tied to sports. California tribes have separately sued Kalshi and Robinhood, Nevada previously forced Robinhood to pause sports contracts there, and a federal judge recently halted Arizona prediction markets. It quotes New York Attorney General Letitia James as warning, “[p]rediction markets may appear as modern, high-tech platforms for speculation or ‘forecasting,’ but in practice, many operate as unregulated gambling without the basic protections New York consumers both deserve and expect from properly licensed operators.” The suit seeks class-action status, restitution, damages, injunctive relief and attorneys’ fees. Robinhood had not answered the allegations when the case was filed. Featured image: Robinhood The post Robinhood faces new federal lawsuit over sports contracts framed as investments scheme appeared first on ReadWrite.

Microsoft is rolling out a new Agent Mode inside Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint this week. Previously described by Microsoft as "vibe working," the Agent Mode is a more powerful version of the Copilot experience in Office that Microsoft has been trying to sell to businesses. "When we first shipped Copilot, foundation models were not powerful enough to use Copilot to command the applications," admits Sumit Chauhan, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Office Product Group. "This meant Copilot was a passive partner in documents: it could answer questions but missed the mark when it was asked to take action on the canvas direc … Read the full story at The Verge.

Apple Maps has updated its "2026 Formula 1 Tracks Around the World" guide with a dedicated experience for the Miami F1 Gran Prix, which takes place on May 3 and will be streamed exclusively on Apple TV in the United States. The guide offers an immersive way to explore F1 circuits. It began with Albert Park in Australia, with more 3D circuit experiences to be added as the season progresses. The Miami experience adds detailed features at key locations in Miami International Autodrome circuit. As spotted by 9to5Mac, there are 3D landmarks for things like grandstands, The Marina, the Pit Building, the Finish Line, and more. The area also includes technical information about the circuit, along with local gates, race entrances, bridges, restrooms, and water stations. There are also some guides for fans attending the race, such as "A Local's Guide to Miami F1 Race Week" for dining and shopping recommendations, and "Hyperlocal F1 Miami Race Week Spots," for identifying prime viewing locations close to the track. The 2026 F1 season kicked off in Australia on March 8. Last October, Apple and Formula 1 announced a five-year partnership including exclusive streaming rights in the U.S. The partnership allows ‌Apple TV‌ to provide comprehensive coverage of Formula 1, including all practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix.Tag: Apple MapsThis article, "Apple Maps Gains Immersive 3D Experience of Miami F1 Grand Prix" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Caesars Entertainment is now facing a proposed federal class action that says the casino and hotel company failed to protect customer information during a second cyber incident, coming after its widely reported 2023 breach. The case was filed in Nevada on behalf of plaintiff Mark Huddleston, a Texas resident who says he has belonged to Caesars Rewards since 2007 and has regularly gambled with Caesars both online and in person. He says Caesars gathered personal information through those transactions and loyalty program activity over many years. NEW: Caesars hit with class action alleging 2026 data breach exposed customer info after 2023 hack, raising fraud fears. @RWW pic.twitter.com/vLVEJAIQ5G— Suswati Basu (@suswatibasu) April 22, 2026 Huddleston is seeking to hold Caesars responsible for injuries allegedly caused by “Caesars’s inadequate data security,” which the complaint says resulted in private information being exposed to unauthorized third parties. The filing refers to the incident as the “Data Breach.” According to the lawsuit, reviewed by ReadWrite, Caesars had already experienced a data breach in September 2023. It alleges that despite that earlier event, the company “failed to implement the requisite security measures, and failed to prevent another Data Breach from occurring in early 2026.” The complaint says customer data was again taken by cybercriminals, leaving proposed class members exposed to “an elevated and significant risk of fraud and identity theft.” Caesars alleged data breach puts privacy promises under scrutiny The suit says information affected in the 2026 incident included at least customer contact details and dates of birth. It adds that based on what was exposed in 2023, “it can be expected that even more sensitive information, including Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers were also stolen in 2026.” The complaint also points to Caesars’ privacy policy, which states: “We maintain physical, electronic and organizational safeguards that reasonably and appropriately protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of the information under our control.” Huddleston argues those promises were misleading. The lawsuit says Caesars “did not ‘maintain physical, electronic and organizational safeguards that reasonably and appropriately protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of the information under our control.’” It further claims customers still face long-term consequences because their information may remain in circulation. The filing says class members now face “a present and continuing risk of fraud and identity theft for years to come.” The proposed nationwide class would include “All persons in the United States whose Private Information was compromised in the Caesars’s Data Breach discovered in March, 2026.” Claims in the case include negligence, breach of implied contract, unjust enrichment, negligence per se, and alleged violations of the Nevada Consumer Fraud Act. The suit seeks damages, credit monitoring, identity theft protection services, and court-ordered security improvements.The Caesars case arrives as other gambling operators face similar scrutiny. ReadWrite recently reported the litigation tied to alleged Wynn Resorts data breaches, including a separate federal class action. We also found that German gambling company Merkur was hit by a major cyberattack. ReadWrite has reached out to Caesars Entertainment for comment. Featured image: Bernard Spragg via Flickr / CC0 1.0 The post Caesars faces new lawsuit after second alleged data security breach claims appeared first on ReadWrite.

Sportradar pushed back hard Wednesday after a short-selling firm accused the company of having meaningful links to unlawful betting sites. “A short report issued today contains factual inaccuracies about the company, and we unequivocally challenge these assertions,” a Sportradar spokesperson told ReadWrite. NEW: @Sportradar responds to claims its profits are tied to illegal gambling revenues, saying it "demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of our business."   @RWW pic.twitter.com/PYSOtJxBve— Suswati Basu (@suswatibasu) April 22, 2026 The company said the report misread both its operations and the wider betting market. The spokesperson added: “The report demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of our business and the industry and was authored by a short seller trying to erode shareholder value and profit from stock disruption.” Callisto Research published the report and disclosed that it held a short position in Sportradar shares. It says Sportradar’s image as a sports integrity specialist conflicts with allegations that some websites using its tools or feeds operate unlawfully. Callisto said it found “over 270 individual platforms” that it says use Sportradar products or services while operating illegally in regulated or prohibited markets. It also alleged that some lacked licences and that certain regulators had started reviews. ReadWrite has not independently verified those allegations. Sportradar compliance questions and short seller market reaction to alleged illegal betting Sportradar answered by pointing to its controls, licensing checks and public disclosures. “Sportradar works exclusively with licensed operators, follows strict global compliance, and due diligence standards, and we stand by our independently audited financial statements, risk disclosures, and information provided to investors and regulators,” the spokesperson said. The company also stressed its internal standards. The company added: “We conduct our business with the highest ethical standards consistent with company policies, laws and regulations.” The Callisto document focuses on examples where Sportradar widgets, virtual sports products, backend tools or branding allegedly appeared on sites aimed at places where gambling is limited or banned. Separate appendices released with research materials from Muddy Waters Research describe technical methods used to identify what the authors said were customer integrations. These included reviews of client IDs, widget loaders and licensing endpoints. Even so, code snippets, branding elements, old references or third-party integrations on external websites do not automatically prove a current commercial relationship. They also do not by themselves establish knowledge, misconduct or a regulatory breach by Sportradar. Short-seller reports are written by investors who benefit if a company’s share price drops. That does not mean every claim lacks merit, but it does mean the research comes from an interested party. Such reports commonly include disclaimers stating they are not investment advice. At the time of writing, Sportradar stock was down 23% ahead of reporting its first quarter results on May 6. The combo punch of @callistores and @muddywatersre has sent Sportradar reeling. $SRADTake your twenties, gentlemen. pic.twitter.com/Xv5kaozn4Q— Codfish Johnny (@CodfishJohnny) April 22, 2026 Sportradar sells sports data, integrity monitoring and betting technology to leagues, bookmakers and media groups around the world. Because the company has long promoted anti-match-fixing work and regulatory compliance, any prolonged scrutiny of those claims could draw investor attention even while management firmly rejects the accusations. As of publication, no regulator had publicly announced enforcement action against Sportradar tied to the specific allegations in the report. Featured image: Sportradar The post Sportradar denies short seller claims of links to illegal betting appeared first on ReadWrite.

With dummy models of Apple's rumored foldable iPhone now circulating, YouTube channel Max Tech's Vadim Yuryev has shared images and video of the book-style form factor compared to existing Apple devices, giving us a better idea of what to expect when it launches later this year. The foldable iPhone's inner display is said to have a 4:3 aspect ratio like an iPad, and it will have an iPad mini-sized OLED display when it's opened up. Most rumors say it will be 5.5 inches when closed, and 7.8 inches when open, making it a bit smaller than the 8.3-inch iPad mini (shown behind the dummy in the image above). Compared to an iPhone 17 Pro Max in landscape orientation, Yurydev says the width of the foldable is basically the same, but it has a 56.9 percent taller display (71 mm vs. 111.5 mm). Yurydev suggests this will provide a more immersive video experience at 16:9 and will be "awesome" for gaming using onscreen controls. pic.twitter.com/6E67aPrC3x— Vadim Yuryev (@VadimYuryev) April 22, 2026 Yurydev also shared a video showing what it might be like to interact with the outer display, which is probably smaller than many people will be expecting. According to The Information, it will measure just 5.3 inches – smaller than the 5.4-inch screen on the iPhone 13 mini – but that claim is an outlier, whereas most rumors put it at 5.5 inches. Either way, bigger hands may find it takes some getting used to. Further images give us an idea of the side of the device when folded. A Touch ID-integrated power button and a Camera Control button can be seen set apart on the right side, with volume buttons along the top like the iPad mini. Face ID is not expected to feature because of space constraints, while Apple apparently sees Camera Control as a key feature for the device, enabling users to maintain a steady grip while making any required adjustments, or do so one-handed if they wish. Note the raised camera bump or "plateau" that does not span across the entire back of the device. It houses a two-lens camera system, rather than three, which is expected. Yurydev says his dummy unit is exactly 11mm thick when it's closed. That contrasts with rumors suggesting the foldable could be around 9mm to 9.5mm when closed. Yurydev stands by the accuracy of his dummy, saying it should be "spot on" like last year's iPhone 17 Pro units. Yurydev did not disclose the thickness of the unit when open, but if it is 4.5mm as some rumors claim, the foldable iPhone will be Apple's thinnest device by far. iPhone Ultra: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable Apple is expected to unveil the foldable iPhone in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models (shown above), whose dimensions are expected to remain identical to the iPhone 17 Pro series, albeit with a smaller Dynamic Island and – based on these dummies – a potentially thicker camera plateau with lenses that protrude more. Apple may call its first foldable "iPhone Ultra," according to an oft-reliable Chinese leaker.Tag: iPhone UltraThis article, "Here's How the iPhone Ultra Compares to Other Apple Devices" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed an executive order blocking state workers from using confidential government information to make money on prediction markets, calling the practice a threat to public trust. The order was signed on Wednesday (April 22) in Albany and took effect immediately. It applies to covered state officers and employees. They are barred from using “any nonpublic information obtained in the course of their official duties” to seek gains or avoid losses through trades on prediction market platforms. They also cannot help other people profit by passing along inside information. NEW: @GovKathyHochul signs EO No. 60 barring state workers from using insider info to profit on prediction markets, violation means firing @RWW #PredictionMarkets pic.twitter.com/b6kyiGngD5— Suswati Basu (@suswatibasu) April 22, 2026 Violations can bring dismissal, other discipline, and possible referrals to law enforcement or ethics agencies. “Getting rich by betting on inside information is corruption, plain and simple,” Hochul said in the state’s announcement. “Our actions will ensure that public servants work for the people they represent, not their own personal enrichment.” We’ve all seen it. Anonymous traders betting on government secrets and walking away with massive payouts.Washington is fine with it. New York isn’t. pic.twitter.com/LUKXG5szCL— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) April 22, 2026 Prediction markets let users buy and sell contracts based on whether future events happen. The governor’s office said those events can include “outcomes of military activity, election results, or the severity of natural disasters,” along with “obscure and manipulable events” such as “the attire of public officials at appearances” or “the volume of social media posts made by an individual.” How the Hochul insider trading order reaches prediction markets The executive order says ethics rules need to keep pace with newer trading platforms. It states that “the maintenance of public trust is founded on the principle that public servants are charged with using their positions to benefit the public good,” and that officials should not use access to government information “for personal financial gain.” It also says the “recent proliferation of prediction markets” has raised the risk that people with privileged knowledge may try to profit by “trading on insider information.” Each public authority in New York is directed to adopt matching policies for officers and employees who serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. The order defines a prediction market as an exchange-traded platform or service not licensed or permitted by the New York State Gaming Commission, where participants trade contracts tied to future events including elections, sports, economic indicators, or the actions and speech of individuals. The move lands as prediction markets face heavier scrutiny across the country. We previously reported the controversy around a Polymarket contract tied to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, where questions were raised about settlement decisions and whether insiders could benefit from opaque processes. In a video statement posted on X, Hochul pointed to what she called “really suspicious bets with huge payoffs” including the Polymarket contract tied to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, markets on the timing and location of military actions in Iran, and even bets on the length of White House press briefings. She said insider trading in stocks has long been illegal, but argued similar conduct on prediction markets can happen with “zero consequences.” She also drew a contrast with Washington, saying, “some in Washington think this is fair, but here in New York, we say no.” The state has also been aggressive in policing other financial platforms. State regulators have pursued major crypto companies including Coinbase and Gemini in separate legal actions centered on compliance, disclosures, and consumer protections. At the same t

Prediction-market exchange Kalshi has publicly identified three political candidates it says violated rules that bar traders from betting on contests they can influence. Their names appeared in formal enforcement notices after the company first announced the cases without identifying anyone. Kalshi earlier published a company update titled “Enforcement update: Kalshi continues crackdown on political insider trading,” saying three investigations had been completed. The company wrote: “Today, we’re releasing notices related to three enforcement investigations.” It added that “All three cases concern political insider trading and were flagged because of our newly released safeguards to block political candidates from trading on their own elections.” Today, we're releasing notices related to three enforcement investigations.All three cases concern political insider trading and were flagged because of our newly released safeguards to block political candidates from trading on their own elections.Kalshi does not tolerate…— robertjdenault (@robertjdenault) April 22, 2026 It described the punishments but did not name the people involved. Public disciplinary records linked to the update identified them as Matt Klein, Mark Moran, and Ezekiel Enriquez.  Who are the alleged election candidates penalized by Kalshi? Prediction markets appear to be pushing deeper into the worlds of politics and sport, raising urgent questions about whether they can truly guard against insider advantage. Critics warn that when candidates, campaign operatives, donors, or others with privileged access are allowed to trade on election-linked contracts, the integrity of those markets is immediately called into question. Kalshi, for its part, says it is tightening the net. The company has stated stronger restrictions on politicians and athletes, increased automated surveillance, and improved reviews designed to identify conflicts before they can distort the market, following another two insider trading cases. The company said the three matters showed how internal controls can identify improper activity. In its update, Kalshi said the cases demonstrated how “developing proactive engineering solutions can help identify illicit trading activity.” Kalshi has also argued that prediction markets can function as information tools rather than gambling products. However, it depends heavily on confidence that insiders cannot profit from private knowledge or direct control over outcomes. The three candidate cases In the first matter, a settlement notice said Klein had “announced himself as a candidate for public office and was added as a market option for a contract on [election].” The notice continued: “As a candidate, Klein qualified as a direct decision maker for the contract and had direct influence on the outcome of the Underlying event.” Kalshi said Klein then traded “in violation of Rule 5.17(z),” which prohibits users from trading on markets where they are a decision-maker or have influence over the outcome. Under the settlement, Kalshi suspended Klein from direct or indirect access to the platform for five years and imposed a $539.85 financial penalty. Klein is a Democratic Minnesota state senator and reported he admitted making a $50 wager. In a statement on X, Klein wrote: “In October 2025 I heard from friends that there was a prediction market site with wagers on my primary race. I had never wagered on a predictions market previously. I was curious about how it worked. I set up an account and bet $50 of my own funds that I would win the primary.  !I was informed in March of 2026 that this was a violation of the platform rules. In compliance with their request, I paid a penalty and agreed to be suspended from the platform. That was the only wager I have ever made on a predictions market. This was a mistake, and I apologize.” pic.twitter.com/gjQgGGWxrx— Dr. Matt Klein (@DrMattKleinMN) April 22, 2026 The second case involved Mark Moran. Kalshi alleged that “in N

Honor has announced the 600 and 600 Pro, which it calls "accessible flagships," and they look… familiar. Especially in that orange. The Pro makes the iPhone comparison especially obvious thanks to its triple rear camera - it even has the same flash layout - while the 600 is just a hair subtler because it drops the Pro's 3.5x telephoto lens. Honor actually pulled the same move with last year's iPhone Air-inspired Honor 500, but that phone only launched in Asia. Both phones have IP69K water-resistance ratings (a tougher rating that covers testing with water jets closer to the phone), midsize 6.57-inch OLED displays, and big 6,400mAh batterie … Read the full story at The Verge.

Article URL: https://arstechnica.com/staff/2026/04/our-newsroom-ai-policy/ Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47872452 Points: 102 # Comments: 72

Article URL: https://crawshaw.io/blog/building-a-cloud Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47872324 Points: 595 # Comments: 304