Communications of the ACM
The news archive provides access to past news stories from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.
August 2019
From ACM TechNews
Legal Shield for Websites Rattles Under Onslaught of Hate Speech
U.S. lawmakers are debating Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects websites from liability for user-generated content.
From ACM TechNews
Sydney's $600M Smart Motorway Project to Be Put to the Test
Australia's New South Wales government will soon initiate trials for the $600-million (US$404-million) M4 Smart Motorway project.
From ACM TechNews
Two Fraudsters, One Passport – Computers Detect Fraudulent Identity Photos
Researchers at the University of Lincoln found that computers are more accurate than humans at detecting photos that have undergone face morphing, a digital manipulation which merges the images of two people into one face.
From ACM TechNews
Waiting-Room Anxiety Eased With Apps That Give Updates
Startups and large healthcare organizations are developing tools designed to give parents frequent updates on what is happening to their children during surgeries or hospital stays.
From ACM TechNews
Google Maps for Tissues
Researchers at the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in Germany have developed software to help make sense of vast datasets generated by modern light microscopy of biological tissues.
From ACM TechNews
WhatsApp Flaws Could Allow Hackers to Alter Messages
Cybersecurity firm Check Point Software Technologies found three potential ways to alter conversations in Facebook's WhatsApp messaging app.
From ACM TechNews
IBM, Other Companies Launch New Blockchain Network for Supply Management
IBM and a number of other multinational corporations have jointly developed a new blockchain network, with the goal of improving manual and cumbersome supply chain management.
From ACM TechNews
People With Autism Are Hot Hires for AI Jobs
Ernst & Young and other companies are recruiting people with autism for artificial intelligence jobs through neurodiversity hiring programs.
From ACM TechNews
Visa to Test Advanced AI to Prevent Fraud
Visa is launching a platform to help its engineers quickly test artificial intelligence algorithms designed to detect and prevent credit card fraud.
From ACM TechNews
'Typically, If You Think of a Coder, It's a White Male'
The nonprofit Girls Who Code is collaborating with U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) on legislation whose overarching goal is to help close the gender gap in computer science by gauging the effectiveness of federal programs in boosting…
From ACM TechNews
NHS to Set Up National AI Lab
The U.K. National Health Service is launching a national AI laboratory to enhance the care of patients and facilitate research.
From ACM TechNews
Most People Would Rather Lose Their Job to a Robot Than Another Human
Most people would prefer to lose their job to a robot than to another person, but at the same time would rather see a co-worker replaced by a human than a robot, according to a poll conducted at the Technical University of Munich…
From ACM TechNews
FDA Seeks Virtual Heart to Test Medical Devices
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working with French software company Dassault Systemes to develop a virtual model of the human heart for evaluating new medical devices and treatments.
From ACM TechNews
Facial Recognition Coming to a Supermarket Near You
Rapid advancements of AI and facial recognition technologies, combined with a dramatic decline in costs, means that these systems are now viable for use by supermarkets and other shops as a way to prevent theft.
From ACM TechNews
Apple, Eli Lilly, Evidation Present First Results From Digital Alzheimer's Study
A 12-week study by drugmaker Eli Lilly, Apple, and Evidation Health found consumer devices and mobile apps could potentially help identify people with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease…
From ACM TechNews
Boost in High School Students Taking Advanced Computer Science Could Change Face of Tech
Data from the College Board shows that more girls and minority high school students are taking the Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles course.
From ACM TechNews
Russian Hackers Infiltrating Companies via Office Printer
Microsoft warns hackers associated with Russian spy agencies are exploiting Internet-of-Things devices to infiltrate corporate networks.
From ACM TechNews
'Blood Pressure Video Selfies' Could Be Used to Monitor Patients
A new study has found that two-minute-long smartphone videos of patients' faces can be used to take blood-pressure readings of those individuals that are 96% accurate.
From ACM TechNews
Switzerland Strives to Be Global Leader in Opening Skies for Drones
The Swiss government is working to develop a system to handle ever-increasing aerial drone traffic, with the goal of allowing such unmanned aircraft to operate in more of the country's airspace.
From ACM TechNews
Users Can Sue Facebook Over Facial Recognition Software, Court Rules
The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled that Illinois-based Facebook users can sue the social network for using facial recognition software.
From ACM TechNews
Instead of Practicing, This AI Mastered Chess by Reading About It
A new chess algorithm evaluates the quality of chess moves by analyzing the reactions of expert commentators.
From ACM TechNews
Google Reveals Fistful of Flaws in Apple's iMessage App
Google researchers have disclosed six vulnerabilities in Apple's iMessage app that could make devices using it exploitable.
From ACM TechNews
Robot Racism? Yes, Says Study Showing Humans' Biases Extend to Robots
The results of a recent study suggest people ascribe racial characteristics to humanoid robots, and apply race-based prejudices to machines.
From ACM TechNews
Accenture Pushes Deeper Into Quantum Computing
The Accenture professional services firm is expanding its quantum computing consulting practice, reflecting growing corporate interest in the technology.
From ACM News
Robot, Heal Thyself: Scientists Develop Self-Repairing Machines
EU project creates robotic hands that can sense and fix damage without human intervention.
From ACM TechNews
Nigerian School Girls Learn Technology During Summer Break
Nigerian technologist Chinenye Udeh has launched a program that aims to boost gender parity in the technology industry in her home country, where women make up less than 20% of the technology sector.
From ACM TechNews
Machine Vision Can Spot Unknown Links Between Classic Artworks
A new machine vision system can analyze the poses of human subjects in fine art paintings throughout history, then identify other paintings that contain people in similar poses.
From ACM TechNews
Computer Model May Help to More Accurately Predict Volcano Eruptions
Scientists at the GFZ German Research Center in Potsdam, Germany, have developed a computer model which they say boosts the accuracy of volcanic eruption prediction.
From ACM TechNews
'Robot Tail' Could Help Reduce Risk of Falling for Elderly
Researchers at Keio University in Japan have developed a prototype robot tail to enhance human balance and help make seniors less susceptible to falls.
From ACM TechNews
How Jaywalking Could Jam Up the Era of Self-Driving Cars
Jaywalking could neutralize self-driving automobiles' purported benefit of reducing traffic congestion, and researchers are considering potential solutions.