Tech
European court upholds EU-US Data Privacy Framework data-sharing agreement | Computer Weekly
Europe’s General Court has upheld the lawfulness of the data-sharing agreement between the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) following a legal challenge.
The court today dismissed legal action brought by a French MP to annul the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF).
It found that the framework, which businesses rely on to transfer data between the EU and the US, ensured “an adequate level” of protection for personal data passing between the EU and the US.
The decision provides certainty for organisations and businesses that rely on the DPF to exchange data between the EU and the US.
However, the court’s ruling on 3 September could still be subject to a further appeal to the European Court of Justice, which has struck out two previous data-sharing agreements between the EU and the US.
French MP Philippe Latombe challenged the lawfulness of the EU-US Data Privacy Framework on the grounds that US intelligence services collect data in transit from the EU in bulk without adequate safeguards for the privacy of EU citizens.
He argued that the US Data Protection Review Court (DPRC), set up to hear complaints from EU citizens who believe their privacy rights have been breached by US intelligence agencies, was neither impartial nor independent of the US executive.
The Luxembourg court dismissed both claims, finding that there was nothing in European case law – established in the Schrems II case in 2020 – that requires US intelligence agencies to seek prior authorisation before intercepting bulk data from the EU.
The court found that it was sufficient that the US intelligence agencies were subject to judicial oversight by the DPRC. It found that the US court had safeguards in place to ensure the independence of its members from the executive.
The DPRC’s judges can only be dismissed by the attorney general, and then only for cause, and intelligence agencies may not hinder or improperly influence their work, the court found.
“Therefore, the General Court finds that it cannot be considered that the bulk collection of personal data by American intelligence agencies falls short of the requirements arising from Schrems II … or that US law fails to ensure a level of legal protection that is essentially equivalent to that guaranteed by EU law,” the court said in a statement.
Schrems considering appeal
The latest challenge to the EU-US data-sharing agreement follows two earlier challenges brought by Austrian lawyer Max Schrems.
The European Court of Justice struck down the EU-US Safe Harbour agreement in October 2015, in a case that became known as Schrems I.
In July 2020, in Schrems II, the court struck down a successor agreement, Privacy Shield, on the grounds that it did not provide European citizens with adequate right of redress when data is collected by US intelligence services.
The US adopted Executive Order 14086 in 2022 to strengthen protections for individuals under surveillance by US intelligence agencies. An order from the attorney general in the same year led to the creation of the Data Protection Review Court.
Schrems, honorary chairman of nyob, a non-profit organisation that campaigns on data protection and privacy, said he was considering appealing the General Court’s decision to endorse the Data Protection Framework.
He said the General Court appeared to have “massively departed” from the ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union in Schrems II, which struck down the predecessor agreement to the Data Privacy Framework in 2020.
Schrems said actions by President Trump in the US, who has threatened to remove the independent heads of the Federal Reserve and the Federal Trade Commission, show that the independence of the Data Protection Review Court cannot be guaranteed.
“The court in question is not even established by law, but just by an executive order of the president – and can hence be removed in a second. It is very surprising that the EU court would find that sufficient,” he said.
EU-US data transfers protected for ‘some time’
Joe Jones, director of research and insights at the International Association of Privacy Professionals, said the court’s decision would keep EU-US data transfers “on an even keel” for some time, and would support a “significant chunk” of transatlantic trade.
“Many eyes will now turn to whether the case will be appealed to the Court of Justice, which has traditionally taken a more expansive approach to data protection cases, and has a two out of two strike rate against EU-US data adequacy decisions,” he added.
The Business Software Alliance, a trade body for the software industry, said the decision provided stability for businesses and consumers in the EU and the US that rely on cross-border data flows.
The EU-US Data Privacy Framework is essential for the digital economy and helps companies adopt technologies that drive growth and competitiveness.
“The safeguards built into the framework assure a high level of privacy protection,” a spokesperson added.
The European Commission opposed Latombe’s legal challenge, supported by Ireland and the US.
Tech
This Unique Air Fryer Cooks Your Food in Heat-Proof Glass—It’s on Sale Right Now
Want to be the hero of your next Super Bowl party? Check out the Ninja Crispi Portable Glass Air Fryer, an intriguing twist on the air fryer that’s a perfect option for air frying your favorite frozen snacks at your next potluck—it’ll help you win the day by frying up a batch of wings at your buddy’s house. It’s currently marked down as low as $150 on Amazon, depending on your color preference.
Basically, every other air fryer works by circulating hot air through a purpose-built, egg-like basket. But the genius of the Crispi is that its glass fryer tray doubles as a serving tray and a sealable fryer dish. The heating element and fan live in a hat-like unit with clamps that attach to heat-shock-resistant borosilicate glass frying baskets with ceramic-coated trays inside. While the actual “fry” setting can be a little intense, the “bake” setting works perfectly for softer foods like veggies. Either way, the results spoke for themselves in our testing, with crispy fries and nuggets even outside in freezing temperatures.
Our reviewer Matthew Korfhage found the “recrisp” setting particularly useful for bringing leftover pizza slices and noodle dishes back to life. That makes it a great choice for office lunchtimes, where you can leave the Crispi itself in a drawer at your desk and ferry leftovers from home. You only have to wash a normal glass dish, rather than the entire fry basket like most options, so this would also work well for dorms or even camping, if there’s an outlet nearby.
Of course, you’ll have to make a few compromises in order to take your precious air-fried snacks with you on the go. While the glass container does a surprisingly good job of insulating the food during cooking, the temperature range isn’t quite as exact as some of our other favorite air fryers.
You’ll also have to be a little bit flexible on your aesthetic choices. While the pastel-hued Cherry Crush, Frosted Lilac, and Ginger Snap colors are marked down to the lower $150 price, the less pronounced Sage, Stone, and Cyberspace Gray are slightly higher at $160, but still under the usual $180 price tag. There’s also a Racing Green Bundle that includes all three sizes of glass crisping tray for $190, if you think you’ll end up buying them anyway.
Tech
All-Clad Is the Expensive Gold Standard. The Factory Seconds Sale Makes It More Affordable
All-Clad Deals used to be difficult to find, but thankfully, the Factory Seconds Sale has come back around for a little while. These sales tend to only last for a few days—this one expires at midnight tomorrow, January 21—though they sometimes are extended. In any case, these sales offer a reliable way to score a solid deal on All-Clad kitchenware, which is normally very expensive. We love and swear by All-Clad, as do many professional chefs.
Factory Seconds are products with minor imperfections that still perform as intended. Sometimes an item is “second quality,” meaning it might have some blemishes or dents. Sometimes an item just has packaging damage. Every product page lists the exact reason for the “Factory Seconds” designation, as well as its warranty; most items are backed by All-Clad’s lifetime warranty. Note that you’ll need to enter your email to access the sale, and flat-rate shipping adds $10. Orders ship in 10 to 15 business days. We’ve highlighted our favorite deals below.
Make sure to check out our related buying guides, including the Best Chef’s Knives, Best Meal Kit Subscriptions, and Best Coffee Makers.
Best All-Clad Factory Seconds Deals
We include this pan at every possible opportunity when it’s on sale because it’s such a solid kitchen companion. Many WIRED Reviews team members have it in their kitchens. The shape allows you to make a pan sauce or sear up some steaks. The high walls prevent grease splatter, and you can use it like a wok or Dutch oven in addition to a regular ol’ pan. It’s dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.
This roaster is a staple in my kitchen during the colder months of the year. It’s safe to use in the oven and under the broiler at up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, and it has enough room for roasting meats or vegetables in large portions (it can hold up to a 20-pound turkey). You can also transfer it to the stovetop to whip up a quick sauce with the roasted drippings. The manufacturer recommends hand-washing.
This hard-anodized nonstick pan is versatile enough to make just about anything. Eggs, vegetables, a pan sauce, and stir-fries are all contenders. It’s made with a PTFE coating. Make sure not to get it too hot, and use nonstick-safe tools and hand-wash it to preserve that coating for as long as you can.
This nonstick pot has a PTFE coating and therefore should be hand-washed. It can be used to simmer, stew, or steam thanks to its tall sides and included lid. It also comes with a steamer basket for all of your vegetable and/or dumpling needs. The pieces nest together for easier storage.
So technically, this thing isn’t a spatula, but in my house that’s what we’d call it. Whether you’re Team Turner or not, nonstick-safe tools can be difficult to come by and they’re crucial to keep around if you’re cooking on nonstick cookware. I like having backups so I don’t have to constantly do dishes. This turner is heat-safe up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and will come in handy for everything from eggs to grilled cheese sandwiches.
The exact reasoning for this being a Factory Seconds item isn’t listed, but a good cast-iron skillet is indispensable for every home chef. It has two pour spouts for easier siphoning or serving, and the finish is resistant to scratches and stains. The skillet is oven-safe up to 650 degrees Fahrenheit.
What Are All-Clad Factory Seconds?
The Factory Seconds Event is run by Home and Cook Sales, an authorized reseller for All-Clad and several other cookware brands. The items featured in the sale (usually) have minor imperfections, like a scuff on the pan, a misaligned name stamp, or simply a dented box. Every product on the website lists the nature of the imperfection in the title (e.g., packaging damage). You’ll need to enter an email address to access the sale.
While the blemishes vary, the merchant says all of the cookware will perform as intended. Should any issue arise, nearly every All-Clad Factory Seconds product is backed by All-Clad’s limited lifetime warranty. (Electric items have a slightly different warranty; check individual product pages for details.) We’ve used more than a dozen Factory Seconds pots, pans, and accessories, and they’ve all worked exactly as advertised. Just remember that all sales are final, and note that you’ll have to pay $10 for shipping. It’s also worth noting that the “before” prices are based on buying the items new, but we still think it offers a good indication of how much you’re saving versus the value you’re getting.
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Tech
‘Veronika’ Is the First Cow Known to Use a Tool
Justice for Far Side cartoonist Gary Larson: A team of scientists has observed, for the first time, a cow using a tool in a flexible manner. The ingenuity of “Veronika,” as the animal is called, shows that cattle possess enough intelligence to manipulate elements of their environment and solve challenges they would otherwise be unable to overcome.
Veronika is a pet cow in Austria. Her owners don’t use her for meat or milk production. Nor was she trained to do tricks; on the contrary, for the past 10 years she has developed the ability to find branches in the grass, choose one, hold it with her mouth, and scratch herself with it to relieve skin irritation.
Until now, only chimpanzees had convincingly demonstrated the ability to employ tools to improve their living conditions. Recent studies also point to whales as the only marine animals capable of using complex tools. This European cow is about to join that exclusive group of ingenious animals.
Videos of Veronika circulating online caught the attention of veterinary researchers in Vienna. They visited the farm, conducted behavioral tests, and carried out controlled trials. “In repeated sessions, they verified that her decisions were consistent and functionally appropriate,” a press release stated.
Veronika’s abilities go beyond simply using a point to scratch herself, explain the authors of the study published in Current Biology. In the tests, the cow was offered different textures and objects, and she adapted according to her needs. Sometimes she chose soft bristles and other times a stiffer point. The researchers say she used different parts of the same tool for specific purposes and even modified her technique depending on the type of object or the area of her body she wanted to scratch.
Although they consider using a tool to relieve irritation “less complex” compared to, for example, using a sharp rock to access seeds, the specialists greatly value Veronika’s ability. For now, she demonstrates that she can decide which part of the tool is most useful to her. The finding suggests that we have underestimated the cognitive capacity of cattle, according to the authors.
Why Is Veronika So Skilled?
The team acknowledges that it’s still too early to say that all cows can use tools with the same skill as Veronika. For now, the researchers are trying to determine how this cow developed an awareness of her surroundings.
Researchers believe her particular circumstances played a role. Veronika has lived for 10 years in a complex, open environment filled with manipulable objects—a very different experience from that of cattle raised for milk and meat production. These conditions fostered exploratory and innovative behavior, they say. They are now searching for more videos of cattle using tools to gather further evidence about their cognitive abilities.
“Until now, tool use was considered a select club, almost exclusively for primates (especially great apes, but also macaques and capuchins), some birds like corvids and parrots, and marine mammals like dolphins. Finding it in a cow is a fascinating example of convergent evolution: intelligence arises as a response to similar problems, regardless of how different the animal’s ‘design’ may be,” said Miquel Llorente, director of the Department of Psychology at the University of Girona, who was not involved in the study, in a statement to the Science Media Centre Spain.
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