Exploring Digital Resource Consumption and Innovations in 2024
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Digital technology is increasingly demanding resources, potentially leading to heightened geopolitical tensions, as highlighted by the situation regarding rare earth elements in China. In response to the growing prevalence of misinformation, Facebook has rolled out new initiatives aimed at enhancing transparency regarding the origins of advertisements. Meanwhile, China has subtly launched a mobile app for monitoring and controlling its population.
The crypto projects Libra and Gram face significant regulatory pushback, reflecting a similar hostility towards Facebook and Telegram's digital currencies. In genetic research, Russian scientists persist in their efforts to create genetically modified embryos using CRISPR technology. Additionally, recent studies suggest that organic farming might actually cause more pollution than traditional farming methods due to the environmental impact of land clearing.
Innovation and Startup Developments
By the year 2025, it is projected that connected devices could contribute significantly to global digital pollution. In 2019, the digital sector's environmental impact accounted for 4.2% of global energy consumption and 3.8% of greenhouse gas emissions, which is notably higher than France's footprint. These figures are expected to rise, with projections indicating that by 2025, digital consumption will represent nearly 6% of humanity's total footprint and greenhouse gas emissions could reach 5.5%.
Equipment alone is responsible for 39% of digital sector emissions and 76% of non-renewable resource depletion. It is estimated that this equipment will account for 18% to 23% of environmental impacts by 2025, a substantial increase from just 1% in 2020. Connected televisions are expected to represent 9% to 26% of environmental impacts by 2025, while smartphones will account for 4% to 16% of the digital footprint.
Frédéric Bordage warns about the critical depletion of raw materials needed for our digital devices, suggesting that at the current pace, digital resources will soon be viewed as critical non-renewable resources. Thus, a key challenge moving forward will be to secure digital technology amid resource scarcity while addressing the geopolitical implications of resource conflicts.
Facebook's New Initiatives Against Misinformation
Facebook has announced new strategies to tackle misinformation and voter suppression in anticipation of the 2020 election. This move coincided with the removal of a network of Russian accounts targeting American voters on Instagram. The company plans to enhance transparency by providing more information about page owners and clearly labeling content flagged as false by independent fact-checkers.
Hack and Data Leak Insights
Analyzing "Study the Great Nation"
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"Study the Great Nation," an app created by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has become the most downloaded app on China's App Store, reportedly with over 100 million users. The app features news articles, quizzes, and a ranking system that allows users to compare scores with colleagues. This initiative is part of a broader strategy by the CCP to reinforce its ideological influence through digital channels.
Reports indicate that the app collects user data and may serve new purposes, such as evaluating journalists' loyalty to the Party through mandatory exams administered via the app. Alarmingly, an independent audit revealed potential security vulnerabilities, such as backdoor access to users' devices and the collection of sensitive data.
Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Regulations
Public authorities are wary of the currencies proposed by Facebook and Telegram. While Facebook aims to create a "money internet" with its Libra currency, Telegram's Gram is positioned as an alternative to traditional payment systems. Central bankers from 26 nations recently convened to address the risks associated with these decentralized currencies. In France, the Economy Minister has vowed to prevent Libra's authorization, citing concerns over monetary sovereignty.
The SEC has intervened to temporarily halt Telegram's fundraising efforts in the U.S., arguing jurisdiction over American investors involved in the ICO. As a result, these investors are now prohibited from reselling their tokens.
Scientific Advances in Genetic Modification
A Russian biologist has confirmed ongoing research into creating genetically modified babies using CRISPR technology. The biologist, Rebrikov, has begun altering the genetic code of human donor eggs, aiming to prevent hereditary deafness. He has identified five pairs of deaf parents willing to participate in this groundbreaking research.
While attempting to mitigate potential unintended mutations, Rebrikov is also editing the eggs of a non-deaf woman to study the effects of his modifications.
The Impact of Organic Farming on Climate Change
Recent research has revealed that organic farming may contribute more to climate change than conventional methods due to the additional land required for equivalent food production. This finding underscores the complexities of agricultural practices and their environmental impacts, suggesting that simply adopting organic methods may not be sufficient to combat climate change effectively.