Talking Tech: Buffalo shootings show tech platforms respond too slowly to violent live videos
It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for another edition of Talking Tech. It’s Jayme Deerwester dispensing this week’s tech headlines so Brett Molina can enjoy a day off.
Last weekend’s mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket last weekend, which killed 10 people and wounded three, shows that tech platforms still respond too slowly to hate-filled, violent live videos – and to the video clips that appear in their wake, critics say.
Eleven of the 13 people who were shot Saturday at the Tops Friendly Markets store were Black, said Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.
The hate-fueled shooting rampage was streamed online through the Twitch platform, primarily used to share clips from video games.
Considered alongside other livestreamed shootings, including the Easter Sunday killing of a 74-year-old Cleveland grandfather in 2017 and New Zealand mosque shootings in 2019, some are asking what will spur technology companies to take stronger measures.
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Thursday’s tech tip
Got naked photos on your phone?
When you’re storing sensitive images, you need to take extra precautions. And don’t rely on Google Drive or iCloud alone. For one, they’re obvious targets for hackers. If someone gets their hands on your Google login or Apple ID, they get access to all your photos, including those meant for only certain eyes.
The most secure option for storing images is cloud storage, which allows you to set up your private encryption key. That means only you can unlock the photos, videos and documents you store there.
Happy Friday eve! And thanks for reading.