Google threatens to close gmail germany over privacy concerns

According to spiegel.de (german), Google is threatening to close down the german version of it’s popular gmail service if the german Bundestag passes it’s new internet surveillance law. According to googles german privacy representative, Peter Fleischer, the new law would be a severe blow against privacy and would go against Googles practice of also offering anonymous e-mail accounts.

If the Bundesregierung has it’s way, then starting 2008, any connection data concerning the internet, phone calls (With position data when cell phones are used), SMS etc. of any german citizen will be saved for 6 months, anonymizing services like Tor will be made illegal.

Personally, I applaud google for joining the protest against this absurd piece of fear-inspired legislation. A big corporation standing up against this might get some politicians to actually have a look at and think about the issue instead of just passing it through, “Cause it’s to defeat the terrorists!”.

Take action now: http://www.vorratsdatenspeicherung.de/ (german) | http://www.dataretentionisnosolution.com/ (english)

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Blur Reflective Spray Makes You Unphotographable

If this invention becomes a reality, the paparazzi might be out of a job. It's called Blur, the anti-photography spray. It's a spray full of super-reflective nanoparticles that screw with camera sensors and make wherever it's sprayed a white flash.

Sure, but wouldn't a super-reflective spray on your face make you look like you just went for a run in 90-degree heat? I mean, if it's reflective enough to screw up a camera it's probably reflective enough for people to see it when you aren't being photographed. Lindsay Lohan doesn't need any help looking like a sweaty crank fiend anyhow. If they somehow give this thing a matte finish perhaps, but I guess it needs to actually exist for such concerns to be legitimate. –Adam Frucci

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