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404 Media·

Studies question comets' role in starting life and examine sea ice and mummy medicine

This science roundup covers three studies. One model-based study of more than 100,000 comet impact simulations suggests cometary delivery of prebiotic molecules such as hydrogen cyanide was rare and that life more likely arose from Earth's interior. A second study proposes that sea ice on ocean exoplanets could concentrate chemicals for abiogenesis, and a third analyses historical Mumia vera products. The articles contain no security-relevant content.

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EFF Deeplinks·

EFF Warns Narrowing Fair Use for Generative AI Training Would Harm the Public

The EFF has filed an amicus brief in In re OpenAI, arguing that narrowing the fair use doctrine would affect far more than generative AI developers. It warns that requiring lawful acquisition of training data or mandatory licensing would entrench large tech firms, impede research and journalism, and cast doubt on routine copying in everyday internet use.

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EFF Deeplinks·

Russia again pulls VPN apps from Apple's App Store, EFF calls it a crackdown

VPN app developers report that their products have again been removed from Apple's App Store in Russia. The EFF says this follows earlier Roskomnadzor action against VPN apps and a Russian move to add Apple and Microsoft to its state surveillance registry, which reportedly gives authorities access to local users' correspondence.

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404 Media·

AO3 fanfiction archive offline for weeks after security incident

The Organization for Transformative Works, which runs Archive of Our Own (AO3), says a security incident has taken the site down for maintenance. Restoration is estimated at about two weeks and could take up to a month. The operator says it does not expect any data loss, and it has ruled out a link to the recent PHP security issue because AO3 runs on Ruby on Rails.

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404 Media·

Study of 25,000 psychedelic support hotline calls finds cannabis linked to highest distress rate

A study in Science Advances analysed 25,419 anonymised interactions with volunteers on the Fireside Project's Psychedelic Support Line between April 2021 and February 2026. Callers who had used cannabis reported the highest distress rate (47.2 percent), and 43 calls described 'facilitator abuse' at ceremonial or retreat settings, mostly involving ayahuasca. The authors note sampling bias and self-reported data, and found that callers' satisfaction depended most on whether volunteers seemed genuine and caring.

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EPIC·

EPIC urges FCC to reject exemption allowing unconsented political robocalls

EPIC has filed reply comments opposing a Club for Growth petition to the FCC. The petition seeks an exemption from TCPA consent rules so political callers could use artificial or prerecorded voices, including AI-generated ones, to reach wireless numbers without prior express consent. EPIC says no workable definition of a political call exists and urges the FCC to deny the petition in full.

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404 Media·

Proton cancels AI re-interviews after report on pressure to use AI over security

Proton CEO Andy Yen cancelled near company-wide 're-interviews' that would have required staff to explain their AI use, after 404 Media reported on aggressive AI adoption that overrode security concerns. The investigation cited employee accounts of a fear-based culture, an AI manifesto from CTO Bart Butler, and a Slack exchange in which Yen dismissed a request to pentest new code before release. Yen said the push to use AI would continue and that the re-interview measures would feed into performance reviews.

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