Artificial intelligence (AI) has become the defining technological story of the 2020s. Generative models like ChatGPT, MidJourney, and Claude have captured the public imagination, fueled multi-billion-dollar corporate investment, and triggered widespread debate over the future of work, creativity, and economic growth.
But with climbing valuations and increasingly grandiose narratives, a central question emerges: are we in the middle of a speculative bubble similar to the dot-com boom of the late 1990s, or is AI a transformative revolution ? We look at the parallels, explore how AI might be different, and outline how Runbox is approaching AI in the midst of this development.
Thinking about stepping away from Big Tech but not sure where to turn? You’re not alone. More and more people are questioning how their data is used — and tired of being tracked, targeted, and profiled for profit. Some are choosing European services protected by GDPR, while others turn to open source tools that put transparency first. We’ve put together a list of solid alternatives for everything from email to maps.
We all depend on our devices – for work, for school, for staying connected with friends and family, and keeping up with daily life. When the latest model of phones, laptops, tablets and other gadgets become available, we are often tempted to upgrade, even if our current device works just fine. Big companies rely on this constant cycle of consumer desire for the next best thing to drive their massive profits. But with that comes the increasing problem of electronic waste, or e-waste. When we upgrade to the latest model, what happens to the old one?
The answer is that discarded electronics end up in landfills or are shipped off to developing countries, often in spite of going through proper recycling channels. The burden of managing the environmental consequences of this waste disproportionately falls on poorer countries. Below, we discuss the devastating impacts of e-waste and the environmental crisis it has caused, and the efforts to mitigate the harmful effects.
The internet has transformed how we communicate, access information, and connect with each other, but it can be challenging to navigate the mix of accurate information and misleading content. Fact-checking and content moderation are ways to help shine a light on confusing or inaccurate claims as we try to make sense of what we encounter online. And while fact-checking is crucial for ensuring the accuracy of information, some will argue that fact-checking and content moderation is a threat to free speech. This raises important questions about the role of online platforms and what responsibility they have to their users. Here we explore where fact-checking stands today, how platforms are handling content moderation, and the impact these changes are having.
The influence of big tech companies on our lives is undeniable. With limited oversight and a focus on maximizing profits, these corporations have become increasingly powerful. They rely on unrestricted access to our personal data to maximize profits, which puts them at odds with any form of regulation. They actively seek to shape policies that protect their lucrative revenue streams, and resist regulatory measures that could limit their power.
Without accountability, big tech companies put profits ahead of our privacy. They leave us vulnerable to misinformation and bias, and contribute to the shaping and manipulation of public opinion. As the digital world continues to develop, we’re likely to see more attempts to deregulate to protect their bottom lines.
In today’s digital world, protecting our personal data has never been more crucial. With governments, corporations, and hackers all vying for access to our information, it’s important to understand where our data is being stored and who has access to it. Certain countries, such as the United States, have become a concerning destination for data, with its extensive surveillance infrastructure and lack of robust privacy protections.
Climate change and environmental degradation are among the most critical challenges facing the world today. The year 2024 stood as a stark reminder of the pressing and escalating environmental and climate crises. From record-breaking temperatures to intensified natural disasters, the year’s events underscored the urgency of global action.
By participating in this conversation, we hope to contribute to raising awareness about the accelerating impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and deforestation. This blog post captures the key environmental and climate-related developments of 2024, supported by data, illustrations, and sourced information.
We’ve written before about domains and how you can use your own domain with Runbox. However, there are some considerations to be made before you decide to get a domain and it’s easy to overlook some of the responsibilities you might be taking on.
In this blog post we want to add some further details to the topic of registering and owning a domain based on some of the ongoing considerations (and problems) our own customers have had to face when managing their domains.
Oslo District Court has found Grindr’s sharing of personal data illegal as a result of the Norwegian Consumer Council complaint from 2020. Accordingly, Grindr has to pay EUR 5 million, as fined by the Council.
Our guardians of personal data and privacy: NDPA, NPAB, and NCC
As we have written multiple times in our blog series about GDPR and consequences of this EU-regulation, Norway has a long history of protecting citizens’ personal information. It started out with the first Personal Data Act implemented in 1978 with the purpose of protecting the individual against privacy being violated through the processing of personal data. The law was updated with GDPR clauses in the year 2000.
In 1980, the Norwegian Data Protection Authority (NDPA) was established as an independent authority whose task is to monitor compliance with the Personal Data Act. It is important to note that the NDPA has two roles: supervisory authority and ombudsman.
The NDPA decisions may be appealed to NPAB, Norwegian Privacy Appeals Board (Personvernnemda), whose decisions are final.
During recent years, another Norwegian governmental public body, the Norwegian Consumer Council (NCC), whose role is to protect consumers’ interests, has become involved in privacy, more precisely the misuse of personal data that big tech companies are involved in. As a governmental-independent agency, the NCC is free to chose the cases they want to work on.
Sharing of personal data is illegal without specific consent: The Grindr case
Recently, the NCC has put effort into the task of preventing the big tech companies from using personal information for surveillance-based marketing that the users have not consented to. Neither have users given consent to how personal data is transmitted to the companies’ partners.
The year 2023 was marked by significant environmental and climate-related events that underscored the urgent need for collective global action. From escalating greenhouse gas emissions to unprecedented weather extremes, the planet experienced alarming signs of environmental degradation and climate disruption. This blog delves into the most pressing issues of 2023, accompanied by illustrations and sourced data to shed light on the state of our environment.
Rising Carbon Emissions
Despite global efforts to curb carbon emissions, 2023 saw a continued increase in atmospheric CO₂ levels. According to the Mauna Loa Observatory, CO₂ concentrations peaked at 424 parts per million (ppm) during the year, a stark reminder of the relentless upward trajectory.
Key Contributors:
Energy Sector: Fossil fuels continued to dominate global energy production, with coal consumption hitting record highs in some regions.
Deforestation: Large-scale deforestation in the Amazon and Southeast Asia contributed significantly to carbon emissions.
Industrial Activities: Rapid industrialization in emerging economies exacerbated emissions, outpacing efforts to transition to cleaner technologies.
2023 was a year of extreme weather events that affected millions of lives and ecosystems:
Heatwaves: Record-breaking heatwaves scorched parts of Europe, the United States, and Asia. Southern Europe saw temperatures surpassing 48°C, severely impacting agriculture and water resources.
Flooding: Catastrophic flooding displaced millions in Pakistan, Nigeria, and Italy, with damages running into billions of dollars.
Wildfires: Uncontrollable wildfires ravaged forests in Canada and Greece, releasing massive amounts of carbon and destroying biodiversity hotspots.
Biodiversity loss reached critical levels in 2023, with numerous species teetering on the brink of extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reported that:
28% of species assessed were threatened with extinction.
Coral reefs, which host 25% of marine species, suffered extensive bleaching due to rising ocean temperatures.
Melting Ice and Rising Seas
The Arctic and Antarctic regions continued to lose ice at alarming rates in 2023. The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) reported:
The Greenland ice sheet lost an estimated 400 gigatons of ice, contributing significantly to global sea level rise.
Antarctic sea ice reached its lowest extent in recorded history during the winter months.
Plastic pollution remained a critical issue, with over 8 million tons of plastic waste entering the oceans annually. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch expanded further, threatening marine life and ecosystems.
Efforts to Combat Plastic Waste:
Legislative Actions: Countries like Canada and the EU implemented bans on single-use plastics.
Innovative Solutions: Startups and NGOs developed ocean-cleaning technologies and biodegradable alternatives.
The environmental and climate challenges of 2023 serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of our planet. While progress was made in renewable energy and policy initiatives, the pace of degradation continues to outstrip solutions. Addressing these challenges demands an unprecedented level of global cooperation, innovation, and commitment from all sectors of society.
What can you do? Educate yourself, advocate for sustainable policies, and make environmentally conscious choices in your daily life. The fight for our planet’s future requires all hands on deck.
