Awareness

FTC Staff Report Details Key Takeaways from AI and Creative Fields Panel Discussion

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 2, 2024

- Competing for work with AI: Participants said that generative AI outputs are starting to appear in the venues where creative professionals compete for work, potentially making it more difficult for consumers and potential publishers to find human-made work.

Key Points: 
  • - Competing for work with AI: Participants said that generative AI outputs are starting to appear in the venues where creative professionals compete for work, potentially making it more difficult for consumers and potential publishers to find human-made work.
  • Instead, participants urged AI developers to adopt an opt-in approach to using artists work, which would give artists control over whether they want their work to be used for generative AI.
  • You can learn more about consumer topics and report scams, fraud, and bad business practices online at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • Follow the FTC on social media, read our blogs and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.

Parenting with ADHD: 7 practical tips for success

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often goes undiagnosed in adults — including parents — but it has a significant impact on family life.

Key Points: 
  • Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often goes undiagnosed in adults — including parents — but it has a significant impact on family life.
  • A parent with ADHD may struggle with time management and staying focused.

Understanding ADHD in adults


ADHD involves patterns of inattention (forgetfulness, being easily distracted), hyperactivity (fidgeting, restlessness) and impulsivity (interrupting conversations or speaking out of turn). ADHD is highly heritable, which mean parents with ADHD will often have a child with ADHD.

  • An estimated eight per cent of children worldwide have ADHD, while only three per cent of adults meet criteria for ADHD.
  • One reason for this difference may be that symptoms of ADHD become milder as individuals age, especially hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms.

ADHD’s impact on parenting

  • Research has found that ADHD symptoms in parents are associated with harsher parenting behaviours (like yelling at a child, overreactive and severe punishments) and more lax parenting practices (like inconsistent discipline or providing few or no boundaries).
  • Together, these symptoms can make it more difficult for parents to remain calm and consistent when interacting with their child.
  • However, research also indicates that parents’ ADHD symptoms do not appear to impact their ability to be warm, caring, and loving.

Practical strategies for parents with ADHD

  • These strategies can be difficult to maintain for parents dealing with their own ADHD.
  • Here are some practical strategies that may be helpful to parents who have ADHD, or believe they might have ADHD: 1.
  • Seek professional support when needed for your own symptoms of ADHD If you suspect you have ADHD but have not been diagnosed, consult a health-care professional.
  • Also, parenting is a hard job that’s made even harder when you are experiencing symptoms of ADHD and/or when your child has ADHD.
  • Research shows that, for individuals with high levels of ADHD symptoms, using these types of compensatory strategies was associated with fewer negative parenting practices.
  • Consider how you think about your child Research suggests that parents with ADHD tend to attribute more blame to children (for instance: “my child spilled the milk on purpose”) compared to parents without ADHD.
  • Remember your strengths Adults with ADHD are fully capable of being warm, loving and highly engaged parents.
  • By implementing effective strategies for managing ADHD, and seeking out resources when needed, parents with ADHD can create a positive and fulfilling family life, and be a strong supportive source for their children who may be struggling with similar issues.


Sheri Madigan receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation, an anonymous donor, and the Canada Research Chairs program. André Plamondon and Joanne Park do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

ICYMI: FPF Webinar Discussed The Current State of Kids’ and Teens’ Privacy

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Privacy by design for kids and teens has expanded across the globe. As policymakers, advocates, and companies grapple with the ever-changing landscape of youth privacy regulation, the Future of Privacy Forum recently hosted a webinar discussing the current state of kids’ and teens’ privacy policy. The webinar explored the current frameworks that are influential worldwide, [?]

Key Points: 


Privacy by design for kids and teens has expanded across the globe. As policymakers, advocates, and companies grapple with the ever-changing landscape of youth privacy regulation, the Future of Privacy Forum recently hosted a webinar discussing the current state of kids’ and teens’ privacy policy. The webinar explored the current frameworks that are influential worldwide, [?]

Dating someone with a different mother tongue? Learning each other's language will enrich your relationship

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Are you in a relationship with someone who grew up speaking a different language to you?

Key Points: 
  • Are you in a relationship with someone who grew up speaking a different language to you?
  • In 2021, 9.5 million of the people in the UK – 14.1% of the population – had been born abroad.
  • These relationships often unite people from varied linguistic and cultural backgrounds, offering both enrichment and challenges.
  • The articles in this series explore the questions and bring answers as we navigate this turbulent period of life.
  • Language is our primary conduit for communication, and when partners do not share a common language, it can lead to misinterpretations, frustration and conflicts.

Learn each other’s languages

  • It’s likely that you and your partner have picked one language as your main form of communication.
  • Language is dynamic and evolves over time, much like your relationship itself.
  • This awareness is important for intercultural couples, who may not have the vocabulary in a second language to express everything they feel.

Recognise that you’ll never stop learning

  • Continuous learning and growth in each other’s languages and cultures are essential for the vitality of an intercultural relationship.
  • An open-minded approach to language learning can nurture a deeper connection and help avert potential problems.
  • Cooking together with ingredients and recipes from your partner’s culture can be a delightful way to strengthen your bond as you explore the rich flavours and stories behind each dish.
  • Attending cultural events and festivals together immerses you in their world, creating shared memories and a profound sense of belonging.

A relationship goes beyond a couple

  • An intercultural relationship extends beyond the couple.
  • The integration of diverse linguistic and cultural elements into a relationship can have a positive ripple effect on those around you.
  • Imagine a couple who actively embrace each other’s cultures and languages.
  • They not only communicate effectively with each other but also extend their openness to their in-laws, extended family and friends.


Jieun Kiaer receives funding from.Academy of Korean Studies

Australian Government Solicitor FOI and Privacy Law Conference 2023

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 2, 2024

1 November 2023

Key Points: 


1 November 2023
Read the keynote address prepared for delivery by Australian Information Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner Angelene Falk for the Australian Government Solicitor FOI and Privacy Law Conference on 31 October 2023.
Prepared speech – check against delivery

Acknowledgement of Country

  • I acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.
  • I also acknowledge and welcome other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people attending today.

Fundamental human rights

  • Both are fundamental human rights.
  • Privacy is recognised in Article 12 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and in many other regional and international agreements.
  • So, access to information is also a fundamental principle that enables us to exercise other rights.
  • Both rights are also challenged by the digital environment, and today I will share how we can stand up to this challenge.

Privacy’s wake-up moment

  • First, I would like to turn to privacy, as it has been a wake-up year for the protection of personal information.
  • The data breaches turned attention to the mass amounts of data that organisations can collect and store, and the risks this creates.
  • We see the increased community’s awareness and experience of privacy issues reflected in the matters to my office.

Community attitudes

  • And we know the community cares about their privacy as they told us in our Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey (ACAPS).
  • ACAPS is a survey we conduct every three years to gain a comprehensive view of Australians’ privacy attitudes and experiences and how recent events have impacted them.
  • - Nine in 10 Australians told us they have a clear understanding of why they should protect their personal information.
  • - 62% see the protection of their personal information as a major concern in their life.

AI

  • The increasing adoption of AI – including generative AI – could have broad-ranging benefits and risks for Australia’s economy and society.
  • The Australian Government identified AI as a critical technology in the national interest and has several initiatives underway to promote trusted, secure and responsible AI.

Privacy law reform

  • Last month, the Australian Government responded to the Attorney-General’s Department’s proposals for reform to the Privacy Act.
  • Other important developments include enabling individuals to exercise new privacy rights, including an enhanced right to access their personal information and a right of erasure, and take direct action in the courts if their privacy is breached.
  • There are also changes proposed to ensure privacy policies and collection notices are clear and easy to understand, including the development of standardised templates.
  • And the government has agreed in principle that organisations should be required to establish maximum and minimum retention periods for personal information, and specify these in their privacy policies.
  • This will increase the OAIC’s ability to take regulatory action on behalf of the Australian people in a flexible and proportionate way, and to address systemic privacy issues.

Evolution, not a revolution

  • It is a time of change, but I want to emphasise that what has been proposed is an evolution, not a revolution.
  • Because these obligations have existed for government agencies since 2018, we expect most are already at best practice status.

Privacy: how to, not don’t do

  • But one of the key messages that I hope you will leave with today is that privacy shouldn’t be viewed as a compliance exercise.
  • Protecting privacy is about treating an individual’s personal information with respect and care, and remembering you are only its custodian.

Access to information

  • Timely access to information promotes public scrutiny of government policy, participation in democratic processes, and allows individuals and governments to make informed decisions.
  • The FOI Act also seeks to facilitate:
    - providing access to information in effective and efficient ways
    - that government-held information is used for the public’s benefit, as it can inform evidence-based policy making and support innovation.

From compliance to proactive release

  • We advocate for administrative access schemes that provide individuals with fast access to their personal information, without having to make a formal FOI request.
  • A quarter (25%) of FOI requests were granted in full, 52% were granted in part, and 23% were refused.
  • Australians had the most success accessing their personal information and policy and procedural documents held by Australian Government agencies.

Open by design

  • It requires agencies and ministers’ offices to be open by design, or move more to a ‘push’ model where information is proactively provided.
  • The OAIC and our state and territory counterparts established the open by design principles in 2021 to encourage the proactive release of information and promote open government.
  • - Implement a best practice open by design approach to proactive disclosure.
  • I would also encourage those involved in the IPS review to use it as an opportunity to look more closely at proactive release in your agency and how it could be improved to foster an open by design culture.

Digital inclusion

  • But in our increasingly digital world, it is imperative that we make government information easily accessible – by all Australians.
  • And in thinking about making information available, and accessible, we must also consider what barriers people may face to digital access and inclusion, and factor these into the work we do at all times.
  • In this digital age, we must ensure that access to government information is not only upheld, but continually improved.
  • The premise of digital inclusion is that everyone should be able to make full use of digital technologies and the benefits they bring, while avoiding their potential negative consequences.

Conclusion

Human medicines European public assessment report (EPAR): Nulojix, belatacept, Date of authorisation: 17/06/2011, Revision: 21, Status: Authorised

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Human medicines European public assessment report (EPAR): Nulojix, belatacept, Date of authorisation: 17/06/2011, Revision: 21, Status: Authorised

Key Points: 


Human medicines European public assessment report (EPAR): Nulojix, belatacept, Date of authorisation: 17/06/2011, Revision: 21, Status: Authorised

Switching to plant-based diets means cleaner air – and it could save more than 200,000 lives around the world

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 2, 2024

But there are good reasons to persist in making deliberate choices about what’s on your plate.

Key Points: 
  • But there are good reasons to persist in making deliberate choices about what’s on your plate.
  • These choices not only impact your own health, they affect the health of the planet too.
  • Read more:
    Global food system emissions alone threaten warming beyond 1.5°C – but we can act now to stop it

Healthier diets, cleaner air

  • According to the World Health Organization, there were 4 million premature deaths linked to outdoor air pollution in 2019.
  • We studied what would happen to air quality if people around the world shifted towards diets that are healthier and better for the environment.
  • The health gains from cleaner air add to the benefits obtained from eating a more balanced diet.
  • For example, if everyone went vegan, the number of premature deaths from air pollution could fall by more than 200,000.
  • Our estimates suggest that cleaner air can have a positive impact on the economy.

Enabling change

  • We argue that dietary changes should thus be placed firmly on the policy menu.
  • Shifting to healthier and more plant-based diets offers a wide range of benefits beyond clean air.
  • Achieving ambitious progress in all these areas at the same time will be challenging if we rely on technological solutions alone.
  • The prices charged to customers factored in the impact of food products on soil, water use, health and the climate.
  • In this way, overall food expenditure would be kept in check and low-income households would be protected.


Marco Springmann receives funding from the Wellcome Trust and Horizon Europe. Toon Vandyck does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Why Taylor Swift belongs on English literature degree courses

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 2, 2024

When I started my podcast, Studies in Taylor Swift, in the spring of 2021, I felt that I was simultaneously helping to invent, and trying to catch up to, the academic discipline of Taylor Swift studies.

Key Points: 
  • When I started my podcast, Studies in Taylor Swift, in the spring of 2021, I felt that I was simultaneously helping to invent, and trying to catch up to, the academic discipline of Taylor Swift studies.
  • I went on to design a summer school course at Queen Mary University of London on Taylor Swift and Literature in 2023.

Dear reader

  • We talked about the line “You drew stars around my scars / But now I’m bleedin’”.
  • The idea was to try to figure out how the “but” worked – whether the scars had reopened or new ones had been created.
  • It is also a song about the speaker herself, someone who keeps getting “marooned” on the shores of the past.

Hits different

  • On the other hand, there is clearly something about the idea of classes on Taylor Swift as literature that catches the popular imagination.
  • In media discussions, her name is sometimes juxtaposed with another one: Shakespeare.
  • The Times published Bate’s article alongside a quiz asking readers whether Swift or Shakespeare had written a particular line.
  • But this is born from a popular misconception about what it is we do in literature classes – even Shakespeare classes.


Clio Doyle teaches a class on Taylor Swift and Literature at the Queen Mary Summer School.

Assessing data protection practices of UK tracing agents

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 29, 2023

Earlier this year a women’s charity raised concerns with us about the alleged actions of a tracing agent – an investigator using various methods to find a person’s current address details.

Key Points: 


Earlier this year a women’s charity raised concerns with us about the alleged actions of a tracing agent – an investigator using various methods to find a person’s current address details.