Friday☕️

03 Jan 2025 — 4 min read

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Starting January 14, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will enforce the “Click-to-Cancel” rule to make it easier for consumers to cancel subscriptions and recurring payments. This rule ensures that businesses must provide a cancellation process that is as simple as the sign-up process. It applies to all kinds of subscription models, including free trials that convert to paid plans and automatic renewals. For instance, if you can sign up for a service online with a few clicks, you must also be able to cancel it online just as easily, without being forced to call or navigate unnecessary hurdles.

The rule also requires businesses to clearly explain the terms of a subscription—such as costs, renewal periods, and cancellation procedures—before collecting any payment. Businesses have until May 14, 2025, to fully comply with these changes. The goal is to prevent consumers from being stuck with unwanted services, giving them more control and ensuring transparency in how subscriptions are managed.

Economics & Markets:

The IRS has introduced new rules to make it easier to track and report taxes on cryptocurrency and other digital assets. Starting in 2026, brokers like crypto exchanges and certain wallet providers will need to report customer transactions to the IRS on a new form, called the 1099-DA. These rules cover any crypto sales or trades starting in 2025. The IRS is giving brokers time to adjust to these changes and is offering temporary relief from penalties while they prepare. These updates aim to simplify tax reporting for crypto holders and reduce confusion about what needs to be reported.

Geopolitics & Military Activity:

Environment & Weather:

Security:

Juniper Networks has issued a warning about hackers targeting its Session Smart Routers (SSRs) through a malware campaign. The hackers are taking advantage of routers that still use their original factory-set passwords, which they’ve added to their attack database. This allows them to take control of these devices and use them to launch powerful online cyberattacks. Juniper urges anyone using these routers to change the default passwords immediately and to set up better security, like firewalls and regular system checks.
In a similar issue, a security flaw in Four-Faith industrial routers is also being exploited. Hackers are using default passwords to take control of certain models through the internet, allowing them to send commands to these devices. Security experts are urging users to change default passwords right away and reach out to Four-Faith to find out if their router model is affected and if a fix is available.
These routers, used in businesses, factories, and critical systems, are key to managing internet traffic and connecting devices like sensors and machines. However, if default passwords are left unchanged, they become easy targets for attackers, putting entire networks and operations at risk. Acting quickly can help stop hackers from causing further damage.

Science & Technology:

Recently, YouTube announced a partnership with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to develop tools that address the growing challenge of managing AI-generated content. The initiative will allow actors and athletes to identify unauthorized AI-generated replicas of their likenesses and submit removal requests. This move reflects the increasing need for effective AI detection technologies as AI-generated images, videos, and audio become indistinguishable from real human content.
This effort follows similar advancements by companies like Meta, which have implemented AI detection tools across platforms such as Instagram to identify and label AI-generated media. The broader adoption of such tools highlights the tech industry’s recognition of the risks posed by realistic AI content. By focusing on the refinement and rollout of AI detection systems, platforms like YouTube and Instagram are addressing the need to protect creators and public figures while balancing innovation and content integrity.

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