Public Chat Servers On The Rise As Alarming Reports Suggest Discord Chats Are Being Sold

If you happen to be using Discord as your go-to texting platform then this next piece of news is for you.

New reports are highlighting how you shouldn’t be trusting texting apps such as these that end up transforming your chats into something ephemeral. And that’s very true when you take into consideration a host of public servers that has the capability of tracking nearly 600 million people across 14k servers.

As per 404 Media, Spy Pet is one such service that is infamously selling users access to another platform featuring close to 3 billion Discord texts. They end up offering data credits to various clients who pay using Bitcoin, crypto, and Ethereum. Moreover, searching individuals will even unveil which servers their respective accounts are linked to such as GitHub.

Spy Pet has gone as far as to list nearly 86,000 more servers that entail zero bots but the fact that it exists is enough understanding for many to take a step back and reconsider its privacy and security.

As mentioned by the expert, Discord fails to generate texts through server channels like blog posts or even feeds on social media. It’s easier to access them publicly and search for them. However, it would not be wrong to add how plenty of bans do continually exist and the threat of your messages being handled and accessed by bots is scary, to say the least.

Private texts cannot be seen on Spy Pet and therefore remain secure till today. Moreover, Spy Pet is asking people more about training models linked to the AI domain or even federal agents in search of newer sources including widespread intel.

This is designed to make sure contacts for deals remain in place but users are getting very weary about the whole scenario every since this report has come out. As mentioned by 404 Media, pressing on links such as Request Removal would end up showing clips featuring entertainment figures who laugh at the mere thought of making advanced payments right before a sudden comment like ‘Are you serious’ pops up.

Users making use of Spy Pet could also be reassured that all searches being carried out on the device are more than safe and confidential and provide random names of users.

Here is where the author finds all public Discord chats he ever rolled out into the tab for research or for the sake of reporting in that particular server list of Spy Pet. Moreover, those who failed to pay for access to their texts could only witness benign elements that are faced by the public such as stickers, charted members, and even emojis with time.

Such indications being in the easy reach of Spy Pet misusing it is very concerning for obvious reasons and the new warning coming into play has people talking.

Image: Alexander Shatov / Unsplash

Read next: Pakistan Blocks Social Media Platform X for National Security
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Pakistan Blocks Social Media Platform X for National Security

In February, Pakistan blocked access to social media platform X, previously known as Twitter. The block was attributed to national security concerns. The interior ministry stated that the platform was inaccessible to users, but officials initially did not acknowledge any restrictions. Users had reported problems since mid February, and both the government and Pakistan telecommunication Authority (PTA) remained silent.

However, the Ministry of Interior recently confirmed the shutdown in a court submission, attributing it to X's failure to comply with lawful directives and address concerns regarding platform misuse. The ministry asserted that the ban was imposed to uphold national security, maintain public order, and preserve the nation's integrity. It also claimed that X was reluctant to resolve the issues.

In its reply, MoI cites the controversial 2021 social media rules stating that Twitter had not registered in Pakistan, nor signed an MoU to abide by local laws.

Which it claims made is “necessary” to ban X to “compel the platform”. pic.twitter.com/XEpUZSazXX

— Benazir Shah (@Benazir_Shah) April 17, 2024

Activists challenging the ban argued that it aimed to suppress dissent following the February 8 general elections, which faced widespread allegations of vote rigging and protests. The decision to block X came after considering confidential reports from Pakistan's intelligence and security agencies, citing hostile elements on the platform with intentions to destabilize the country.

The Sindh high court ordered the government to restore access to X within a week, following a challenge against the ban. Access to X has been sporadic, with users resorting to virtual private networks due to intermittent availability. Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, is a prominent user of social media platforms. Khan himself has a significant following on X.

In conclusion, Pakistan's decision to block social media platform X reflects concerns over national security and the platform's perceived role in fostering instability. Despite legal challenges, access to X remains restricted, prompting users to seek alternative means to access the platform.

Image: DIW-Aigen

Read next: Analysis of 200 Million Papers by Turnitin Shows that Many Students are Using AI tools to write their Papers
by Mahrukh Shahid via Digital Information World

Analysis of 200 Million Papers by Turnitin Shows that Many Students are Using AI tools to write their Papers

Turnitin used its new AI detector to check 200 million papers and it was revealed that most of the students had used Large Language Models (LLMs) to write the papers. About 11% which makes about 22 million papers had used 20% of AI written content. About 3% or 6 million papers had 80% AI written content. The chief product officer of Turnitin, Annie Chechitelli, says that technology is quickly incorporating itself in the education field and it is crucial for learning too. But most of the students in education are looking for ways to use technology for their own advantage and to perform better than everyone else.

From the past year, AI has slowly spreading its claws all over the world and now every other person is familiar with the use of AI and how they can benefit from it. Students are also using AI to write their papers and assignments but these kinds of practices are making students think less. Many of the AI tools like ChatGPT are being used by students daily to complete their work quickly. Tyton Partners conducted the survey to find out how many students use AI tools to write their papers and if they will continue using it even if their educational institutions ban them. 75% of the students said that they are not going to stop using AI even if their educational institutions ban the use of AI for students.

• Also read: ChatGPT Might Be Kinder and More Cooperative Than Humans, New Study Reveals

The amount of AI writing in papers prove that students are continuously using AI so educational authorities should impose some rules about use of AI. They should also talk with students to let them know what kind of use of AI is acceptable and which kind of AI usage is not acceptable in educational settings.

Image: AIgen

Read next: Google Continues to Be Popular Among Gen Z According to This Study
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

ChatGPT Might Be Kinder and More Cooperative Than Humans, New Study Reveals

According to a new study that was released in PNAS, ChatGPT may very well be at the very least somewhat more altruistic as well as cooperative than human beings. The Large Language Model using chatbot created by OpenAI is essentially programmed to be as respectful and polite as possible at all times, and on top of all of that there are also guidelines inhibiting it from producing any harmful or offensive materials.

It is important to note that there are certain scenarios that can result in these guidelines being circumvented in some way, shape or form. In order to ascertain how it behaved, the researchers that wrote this paper put ChatGPT through a series of behavioral tests. These were meant to gauge its trust, aversion to risk, capacity for fairness, level of cooperativeness and more. The tests were also meant to determine which of the Big Five personality traits it adhered to most accurately.

The API versions of ChatGPT 3.5 Turbo and Chat GPT 4 were used in the tests, along with the web versions of this AI. They compared the responses to those from over 19,700 individuals from a database that was publicly available, as well as responses from over 88,500 people who were in the database of the MobLab Classroom platform for experiments of an economic nature.

The Dictator Game was used to ascertain the level of altruism each version of ChatGPT showed. The Ultimatum game determined whether it was spiteful or fair, the Trust Game also measured altruism as well as its ability to reciprocate, with risk aversion being tested through the Bomb Risk Game.

Several other tests were used as well, but at the end of the day, they showed that ChatGPT’s responses to the Big Five were more or less the same as what humans said. What's more is that ChatGPT showed less neuroticism than humans, although it bears mentioning that all versions were more averse to new experiences than humans tended to be all in all.

Image: DIW-Aigen

Read next: Best AI Image Generators to Try in 2024
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Google Employees Take Massive Stand Against Company’s Billion-Dollar Cloud Computing Contract With Israel

Workers at Google are no longer taking the silent route when it comes to protests against the firm’s decision to establish greater working relations with Israel.

The news comes after the search engine giant opted to sign a $1.2 billion contract that would ensure Israelis attain undisrupted cloud computing services.

But the massive sit-in featuring hundreds of employees overtaking the organization’s offices in several locations including California and New York City has stunned the masses.

This particular sit-in was rolled out by a top activist group dubbed No Tech for Apartheid and is currently arising in Sunnyvale as we speak.

Image: Notechforapartheid / IG

The move is a massive display of how things have gone from bad to worse in such a short period and it’s resulting in a great escalation of protests and showing how people are feeling about top US firms displaying sympathy for Israel that’s committing crimes including genocide.

The fact that more than hundreds of thousands of innocent Palestinians have passed away during this period and the country’s defense forces vowing to never put an end to the ordeal is massively concerning for obvious reasons.

One of the firm’s top cloud engineers was also shown the door abruptly for opting to disrupt the company’s MD in Israel during a conference and that led to a widespread wave of backlash around the globe.

Just a few hours into the mass sit-in, many were quick to mention how workers could trespass and even disrupt operations, causing several individuals to leave, and then so many others continued to stay until being forced to exit by security.

But experts claim the message here is loud and clear and that is Google’s role in empowering Israel will no longer be accepted silently. The fact that the curtain has been unveiled over the firm’s Project Nimbus serving as a direct link of support for the IDF is concerning. And now this has really brought to light how strong of a coalition there is between the two.

We similarly saw No Tech for Apartheid roll out a single open letter that featured close to 18 other top firms that demanded tech giants Amazon and Google to cancel contracts and all work related to Project Nimbus. During that moment in time, it attained close to 93k signatories from the public. Additionally, the letter cited more reports about how the Israeli defense forces made use of Google Photos to better capture and identify Palestinians across the West Bank.

For now, Google has yet to generate a response for comments across media outlet WIRED. Let’s not forget how close to 600 individuals rolled out a petition that opposed the firm for sponsoring the entire conference. A few days later, Google’s engineer was fired and its trust and safety worker resigned to oppose the act.

So as you can see, people are sacrificing their jobs at such a prestigious organization because they feel they’ve had and seen enough of the outrageously violent ordeals taking center stage.

On the other hand, it’s interesting to see nearly 300 workers from top tech giant Apple roll out an open letter that showed how they were ready to openly oppose anyone not showing open support for Palestinians in Gaza. They are similarly urging the firm’s leadership to speak up on the matter that is in a dire outcry for displaying public support for those who have lost their voice in the region.

Read next: This Study Shows the Political Risks of Facebook Blocking News
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

This Study Shows the Political Risks of Facebook Blocking News

After Canada ordered Facebook to start paying news organizations if their news was posted onto the platform, the Meta owned social media juggernaut elected to stop showing news to Canadian users entirely. As a result of the fact that this is the case, a right wing meme page by the name of Canada Proud ended up receiving an influx of new users. According to the owner of the page, engagement is at an all time high, and this highlights just one of the many risks associated with a news ban.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Australia is going to be the next country to mandate such rules. Such a thing might be dangerous because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up leading to Facebook blocking news access on its platform to even more people than might have been the case otherwise.

Two studies that were revealed by Reuters showed that the lack of official news sources on Facebook could lead to detrimental changes in the manner in which the platform ends up getting used. The founding director of the McGill Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy, Taylor Owen, was the author of one of these studies, and he has stated that instead of news, people are consuming memes. This can lead to the spread of misinformation as well as result in an increased amount of political polarization with all things having been considered and taken into account.

• Also read: How Much Money Do You Need to Be Wealthy in America?

At this current point in time, anyone that shares news on Facebook in Canada will see a box stating that due to Canadian legislation, this content can no longer be shared. With the state of California and the UK also set to pass similar measures, only time will tell whether or not Facebook will be able to stop misinformation. A spokesman for the company has said that certain internal measures are being taken, but they have failed thus far and may not be able to stem the rapid spread of fake news.

Image: DIW-AIgen

Read next: Top 16 Freelancing Websites that Can Help You Earn Money in 2024
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Top 16 Freelancing Websites that Can Help You Earn Money in 2024

Freelancing is getting more and more popular with each passing day. Many people are freelancing and bringing a change to their traditional work routine. Companies are hiring people who can do remote jobs efficiently. With people getting used to freelance jobs, many freelancing websites are also getting popular. These sites hire individuals with proper skills and also pay them well.

If you are someone who is looking for some freelance websites that you can work on, we have searched for 16 of these sites. Let's take a look at them.

List of Top 16 Freelancing Websites

1- Fiverr

Fiverr is a really popular freelance website that offers different services like digital marketing, web development, content writing, voiceovers, etc. The individuals who work on Fiverr are called sellers and they have to make their gig to present to buyers. There are also different seller levels according to the work experience, reviews, and works of sellers. There are about 3.42 million active buyers on Fiverr who seek sellers who are perfect for their jobs.

Fiverr payments are guaranteed but sellers have to wait 14 days to withdraw their payments. Fiverr also takes up some commission from the sellers.

2- Toptal

Toptal is a freelancing site where experts in different fields work with different companies online. This means that people working at Toptal are highly experienced and skilled. If an individual wants to start working at Toptal, he has to pass 5 tests that include an English evaluation test and a project assessment. The tests conclude whether the person is capable of working on this site or not.

If you are someone who is a beginner or doesn't have professional experience, Toptal is not for you.

3- Jooble

Jooble works as a search engine where people can search for job vacancies and start working online. There are many freelancing jobs available there like web designing, data entry, graphic designing, and many more. You do not need to sign up to Jooble for job searching. Once you search for a job on it, Jooble presents all the freelancing opportunities that are available.

4- Freelancer

Just like other freelancing sites, Freelancer.com also allows individuals to work with many experts and companies. If you are someone looking for a job, you need to sign up as a Freelancer but if you are looking for someone to do the job, sign up as a Business Owner. To sign up as a Freelancer, individuals have to fill out a form with their details.

There are also contests on Freelancer.com that you can join and win. These contests are created by Business Owners and pay well. The only con of this site is that there are many fake clients on the site that freelancers have to beware of.

5- Upwork

Upwork is also a great international freelancing site that also has a wide range of freelancing work. Sellers have to create their profiles with their basic information and expertise. Upwork has a verified payment option that lets individuals verify their employers. It is hard to get work to Upwork because of the experts available on the app, but once you get work, you can get projects that pay well.

6- FlexJobs

Flexjobs have all types of jobs from freelancing to full-time and part-time. All the job postings on Flexjobs are verified and don't have scams and fake jobs. Unfortunately, there is a subscription plan that users need to pay to avail of work opportunities. There is a 30-day satisfaction guarantee on FlexJobs, meaning users can get a full refund of their subscription if they are not satisfied.

7- SimplyHired

There are many job opportunities for human resources, data entry, and finance available on SimplyHired. Companies all over the world post different jobs on it and individuals can choose a freelancing job. People can easily narrow down their job search according to their ZIP Code and location. There is some spam on the website too so be attentive to them.

8- Guru

Guru hires individuals with expertise in various fields like web and graphic designing, marketing, and programming. The individuals seeking a job can browse through many job postings and send quotes to the clients. There are also long and short-term projects available that freelancers can bid for and they can also fix a specific price for projects.

Even though the site is free, there is also a paid version available that makes your profile stand out. The payment is secure in Guru but freelancers have to look out for fake clients.

9- LinkedIn

Though LinkedIn is focused more on networking side, it is still a great platform to look for the freelancing job of your dreams. It is easy to use once you sign up for it. Even though it is a full-fledge social media site, many companies also post regular freelancing jobs and mention which skills they are looking for. If an individual is perfect for it, he can apply for the job.

Individuals should also keep on posting on LinkedIn so your profile can stand out. It is best to post about your skills and the work you can do.

10- Behance

If you are an individual who loves creative work like illustration, photography, and web design, Behance has a lot of freelancing opportunities for you. It's also a networking site so you have to follow profiles to see their content. There is a large group of individuals on Behance who are providing their artistic services and there are also individuals who are seeking them.

11- 99designs

If you are a designer who can offer freelance services like web, logo, and graphic designing, 99designs has many jobs waiting for you. When you make a profile on 99designs, the team reviews your application and assigns you a designer level according to your previous work.

12- Dribble

Just like the previous two freelance sites, Dribble also has a lot of creative talent. You need to create your work portfolio on the site and it will increase your chances of getting hired. It has a large global community that is dedicated to its work and also gives out design inspirations to new users.

If you want to do a freelance job on Dribble, you need to subscribe to its premium version which ranges from $5 to $15 a month.

13- People Per Hour

As its name suggests, People per Hour is a freelancing site that hires individuals according to the hours they work. There are many types of jobs available on the site that you can apply to like programming, journalism, and branding. You can also choose the location of the job you want. People per Hour is a great site for people who are looking for professional work.

14- ServiceScape

If you are a freelance writer, there are many writing opportunities like academic writing, content writing, editorial, and translation work available for you on ServiceScape. ServiceScape is different from other sites in a way that the freelancers do not bid on the projects, rather the clients themselves contact the freelancers to work with them.

The platform has a high commission fee of 50% that the freelancers have to pay after every project they do.

15- DesignHill

Many businesses from all over the world hire experts in the design field to do freelance work with them. All types of jobs related to designing are available on DesignHill. Individuals can also create their online store to offer their services on DesignHill. There is absolutely no service fee on DesignHill but people who are not related to the design field cannot work there because the jobs are only for designs.

16- TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit is a service site where services like delivery, house cleaning, and personal assistance are available. Individuals hire people for these services and the payment is done on hourly basis. The site is safe as the team does a proper review and background check when an application is received.

You have to set your city and location and it will show you jobs that are available in your area. However, the areas available on TaskRabbit are limited and the services are not available internationally.

Conclusion:

All these sites are safe to work but you should also check yourself about the credibility of client and their payment method. Do not hesitate to reach out to customer service if there is something wrong.

Read next: America’s Digital Detox: Which States Are Decreasing Their Tech Use In 2024

by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World