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Imagine a volcano so special that it’s been granted the same legal rights as a person. While this might sounds like something straight out of a quirky sci-fi movie, this is no fictional tale. It’s a real, living, breathing part of New Zealand’s landscape — <keyword id="24070380" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mount-Taranaki" source="keywords">Mount Taranaki</keyword>. Tucked away on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island, Mount Taranaki is not only a towering 8,261 feet (2,518 meters) of volcanic might, but it also holds a sacred place in the hearts of local Māori tribes. In 2017, New Zealand made history by granting the volcano <keyword id="19969897" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="legal-personhood" source="keywords">legal personhood</keyword> — a first in the country. This means Mount Taranaki has the same legal rights as you, me, or any other human being. No, it can’t file taxes or sue anyone just yet, but it is now legally protected in a way that’s tied directly to the cultural significance it holds. <h2>Why does Mount Taranaki get all the attention?</h2>First, let’s talk about the volcano itself. Its snow-capped peak is stunning, poking up through a lush, dark green forest. This forest, known as Egmont National Park, forms a near-perfect circular ring around the volcano, and within it, you’ll find the curious "<keyword id="24070386" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="goblin-forest" source="keywords">Goblin Forest</keyword>." The kāmahi trees here are twisted and warped, growing around fossilized tree remains from past eruptions. The trees are also covered in hanging moss and liverworts, giving the whole place a hauntingly magical vibe. The volcano itself is a near-perfect cone, which is so symmetrical it served as the double for Mount Fuji in The Last Samurai (yes, Hollywood can’t get enough of this beauty!). But don’t let its picturesque shape fool you — Mount Taranaki has been through some serious transformations. Over the past 135,000 years, it has erupted multiple times, changing its shape dramatically and leaving behind signs of its violent past. In fact, studies suggest there have been at least 16 major shifts in the volcano’s structure. Talk about a dramatic personality! <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="115475455" title="From skin injections to swallowing a camera, here are some things Bryan Johnson has done to age in reverse" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>And yes, Mount Taranaki is an <keyword id="23386638" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="active-volcano" source="keywords">active volcano</keyword>. While its last major eruption occurred about 200 years ago, the mountain is far from dormant. Scientists estimate there’s a 30% to 50% chance of a major eruption within the next 50 years. For the 100,000+ people living nearby, this is a real concern. But don't worry — the volcano isn’t planning on exploding any time soon (hopefully), though it does occasionally spit out volcanic mudflows, also known as lahars. <h2>A sacred ancestor</h2>Now, you might wonder, why does this mountain get its own legal rights? The answer lies with the Māori people. For centuries, the Māori have considered Mount Taranaki to be more than just a mountain. They see it as a relative, even an ancestor. The relationship between the Māori people and the mountain is rooted in deep respect and cultural significance. In 2017, the New Zealand government recognized this profound connection by giving the volcano legal personhood, meaning that harming the volcano could be treated the same as harming a member of the tribe. It’s a powerful statement of the Māori worldview, where the land, mountains, rivers, and nature are seen as living, breathing entities deserving of respect and protection. By granting Mount Taranaki personhood, New Zealand is acknowledging this deep-rooted cultural connection and ensuring that the volcano’s rights are taken seriously. Having a mountain with human rights may sound like a quirky twist, but it’s part of a larger global movement towards recognizing the rights of nature. Similar legal actions have been taken in places like Ecuador and India, where rivers, forests, and even specific animals have been granted personhood to ensure their protection.

Do you know about the volcano that has the same rights as a human person?

The central government has prohibited as many as 156 <keyword id="22893276" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="combination-drugs" source="keywords">combination drugs</keyword> that are often administered as painkillers, multivitamins, and antibiotics, for fever and cold, among others. In a gazette notification dated August 21, the government said that the use of the drug Fixed Dose Combination of Amylase, Protease, Glucoamylase, Pectinase, Alpha Galactosidase, Lactase, Beta-Gluconase, Cellulase, Lipase, Bromelain, Xylanase, Hemicellulase, Malt diastase, Invertase, Papain is likely to involve risk to human beings whereas safer alternatives to the said drug are available. Upon recommendations of the <keyword id="20092000" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Drugs-Technical-Advisory-Board" source="keywords">Drugs Technical Advisory Board</keyword>, the central government, in the greater interest of the public, has prohibited the manufacture for sale, sale, and distribution for human use of those drugs across the country with immediate effect. The move from the government comes after the matter was examined by an expert committee appointed by the central government, and the said expert committee considered the administration of this Fixed Dose Combination as "irrational". The Drugs Technical Advisory Board also examined the said FDC and recommended that "there is no therapeutic justification for the ingredients contained in this FDC. The FDC may involve risk to human beings. Hence in the larger public interest, it is necessary to prohibit the manufacture, sale or distribution of this FDC under section 26 A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940. In view of above, any kind of regulation or restriction to allow for any use in patients is not justifiable," the notification read. The list of banned drugs also includes drugs used for hair treatments, antiparasitic, skincare, anti-allergic. The medicines combined in more than one drug in a single pill are Fixed dose combination drugs FDC, these drugs are also known as cocktail drugs. The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance supports the decision of the government. Sudarshan Jain, Secretary General, IPA told that, "this has been going for many years and there was a committee which reviewed the whole thing... This is a right step in the interest of patients and all aspects have been taken into consideration." "They have given the opportunity to give the data to support their products, so the right products will continue and when there is no data to support then companies have to withdraw it," Jain added. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/2024-tvs-jupiter-vs-honda-activa-6g-which-110cc-scooter-should-you-buy/slidelist/112730069.cms">2024 TVS Jupiter vs Honda Activa 6G – which 110cc scooter should you buy?</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/how-to/how-to-add-music-to-instagram-profile/articleshow/112732934.cms">You can now add music to your Instagram profile – here's how</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/audi-q8-facelift-launched-in-india-with-a-1-17-crore-price-tag/slidelist/112707701.cms">Audi Q8 facelift launched in India with a ₹1.17 crore price tag</a>

India bans 156 commonly used combination drugs citing possible risks to humans

In a recent op-ed published in the TIME, <keyword id="19918823" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="OpenAI" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="OpenAI" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="OpenAI">OpenAI</keyword> CEO <keyword id="19918827" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sam-Altman" source="keywords">Sam Altman</keyword> and <keyword id="22347613" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Thrive-Global" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Thrive Global" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Thrive Global">Thrive Global</keyword>’s <keyword id="22347614" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arianna-Huffington" source="keywords">Arianna Huffington</keyword> pose as champions of affordable healthcare. Soft-launching the new company <keyword id="22347612" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Thrive-AI-Health" source="keywords">Thrive AI Health</keyword> through the article, the duo speak of using <keyword id="19904566" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="artificial-intelligence" source="keywords">artificial intelligence</keyword> to help people take charge of their well-being and make expert health advice accessible to all. Most notably, they suggest that AI could help improve “both our health spans and our lifespans”. Thrive AI Health will primarily focus on promoting healthy behaviour, like the five foundational behaviours Sam himself swears by: getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, spending time in nature and meditating. Furthermore, this <keyword id="22347611" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="AI-health-coach" source="keywords">AI health coach</keyword> wouldn't just tell you to eat better or exercise more, but promises to take your preferences, your schedule and your health data into account. OpenAI’s Whoop coach already exists while Google and Apple are also planning to roll out similar tools soon. Related: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/ai-can-identify-clinically-anxious-youth-based-on-brain-structure-study/articleshow/108613080.cms">AI can identify clinically anxious youth based on brain structure: Study</a> According to the TIME article, the AI will be trained on the “best peer-reviewed science”. And here’s where it starts to get tricky. Both peer-reviewed and ‘under-review’ scientific literature consists of inaccurate and confusing interpretations when it comes to human health. Being an ever-evolving field of academia, the studies coming out in this domain have always been subjected to cherry-picking of data and misinterpreting the findings. So, will AI be able to navigate this challenge, especially considering the recent episodes of AI hallucinations even among the most advanced large language models? AI definitely holds promise to make affordable healthcare a reality at warp speed, but how could we make it safe if the training data itself is ambiguous? <h2>Dealing with <keyword id="18230708" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-hallucination" source="Orion">AI hallucination</keyword> </h2>It’ll be a hot while before we purge our minds of the memory of a Google AI search result stating that it was perfectly normal for 5-10 cockroaches to crawl into your penis hole and that this was how they got the name “cock” roach. So forgive us if we don’t jump with joy at the thought of relying on technology trained using LLMs for any sort of health advice. <div type="twitter" handle="JeremiahDJohns" handlename="JeremiahDJohns" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1794543007129387208"></div>We asked Dr Marcus Ranney — Longevity Physician, Founder of <keyword id="10673536" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="human-edge" source="Orion">Human Edge</keyword> and formerly General Manager with Thrive Global — what he thought about the limitations of using LLM-trained AI for healthcare. <a href="https://ever.humanedge.co/">Human Edge</a>, which provides wellness and fitness services, also employs generative AI tools. And Dr Ranney acknowledged that they had to deal with their share of AI hallucinations and inaccuracies. To tackle this little problem, Human Edge was taking the “man-in-the-middle” approach during training. Here, an actual healthcare professional would intercept the conversation between the AI and the user, and select the right answer from the options suggested by the tool. The other problem is that Thrive AI Health’s responses will obviously depend on the user’s input and what medical data they choose to share about themselves. While Altman and Huffington are thankfully playing it safe and only intend for this app to start off with generalised (and mostly harmless) tips, we do wonder if it could land some people in a soup simply because they forgot to share something or thought it inconsequential. <h2>Impact on doctors</h2>A common misconception that many harbour is that such healthcare tools could replace healthcare providers. We can argue this point by saying that AI is only supposed to support the healthcare system and not uproot it. But in a country like India, where we tend to rely on the pharmacist’s advice instead of a doctor’s appointment to save time and money, over-reliance on AI healthcare tools could be a real problem. However, Dr Ranney stresses on how this could serve as the first tier of health advice. It would certainly also help reduce the burden of overworked doctors who are also busy battling the surge of misinformation on the internet — cue the tiff between Indian actress <keyword id="689826" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="samantha-ruth-prabhu" source="Orion">Samantha Ruth Prabhu</keyword> and The Liver Doc. Read: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/samantha-ruth-prabhu-faces-heavy-backlash-after-recommending-hydrogen-peroxide-inhalation-to-cure-viral-fever/articleshow/111515126.cms">Samantha Ruth Prabhu faces heavy backlash after recommending hydrogen peroxide inhalation to cure viral fever</a> When someone as influential as the actress shares the “benefits” of inhaling hydrogen peroxide with her millions of followers, it is bound to make waves, no matter how dubious the source of the information may be. Talking about the barrage of confounding medical advice bandied on social media and its many dangers, the Human Edge CEO insists that a reliable AI health coach could actually be a much better source of information. <h2>Could an AI health coach lead to data breaching issues?</h2>Depending on how much you engage with it, this health coach will likely know every tiny detail about you — from how many minutes you spend on your porcelain throne every morning to how many times you stayed up past your bedtime that week. And let’s face it, not all of us are completely okay with this sacred information being made available to others. Altman and Huffington do seem to be particular about ensuring “robust privacy and security safeguards”, but the technology will also rely on potentially several billion data points — data from users. So the chances of a data breach, no matter how miniscule, do exist. As Dr Ranney said, we’re going to need a lot of regulation to prevent something like this. That being said, if Thrive’s AI health coach delivers on its promises, it’s going to be a huge deal that revolutionises healthcare worldwide. While Dr Ranney did share his viewpoints from an industry perspective, he says he’s very excited about Thrive AI Health — and frankly, so are we (even if it didn't seem like it).

OpenAI & Thrive-backed “hyper-personalised” AI health coach is in the works. Should you be excited or worried?

The <keyword id="1370377" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BPM-industry" source="Orion">BPM industry</keyword> in India is at the cusp of a transformation and the demand for AI-enabled talent is set to surge, redefining workforce needs across the sector. “My spectrum tells me, in the next 3-5 years, there’s going to be an uptick in AI-enabled workers till the time that models stabilise,” said Nitasha Atreya, the Head of Transformation, Digital Operations and Platforms at Wipro, during a panel discussion on “AI-Ready <keyword id="20041791" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bpm" source="keywords">BPM</keyword> Industry in India,” hosted by Business Insider India. While AI has the potential to streamline many business processes, industry experts caution against relying solely on AI. Human intervention is still required, which means skilling new talent and upskilling existing talent is vital to leveraging AI effectively. Investing in these areas allows organisations to better meet evolving demands with a workforce that complements AI-driven solutions. <div type="Youtube" id="3ewvUSYfG1M" title="Al-Ready BPM Industry In India" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3ewvUSYfG1M/mqdefault.jpg"><url><![CDATA[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ewvUSYfG1M]]></url></div> <h2>Why human intervention is critical</h2>As the demand for AI and generative AI models is rising among BPM clients, particularly for model-building capabilities, so is the demand for AI-skilled workers. “For us to have the right intervention for human-in-the-loop processes, it’s essential that we develop an AI-enabled workforce,” Mythily Ramesh, Co-Founder and Director of NextWealth told Business Insider. Ramesh shared industry projections that estimate AI could create up to 100 million jobs globally. AI models generate predictions based on historical data and probabilities, but human oversight is essential to ensure accuracy and minimise errors. “AI as an enabler or augmenting the human workforce is probably the way this industry is going to progress. With the risks that are associated with completely leaving AI to replace humans – it’s just not going to work,” explained <keyword id="23987938" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sundar-hariharan" source="keywords">Sundar Hariharan</keyword>, Vice President of Digital Business Experience Centre at Alorica IQ. <h2>Shaping the future of AI And BPMs with collaborative intelligence</h2>The panellists emphasised a significant challenge in AI model development: only 1 in every 100 models actually makes it to deployment. For all of these models, a rigorous process of training and fine-tuning is required, using either synthetic or human-generated data. This process is not just about feeding the model data but also validating the output to ensure it functions as intended. “There’s a lot of requirements for data training and validation,” said Ramesh, highlighting the substantial demand for data annotators, labelers, and specialists in areas like image and video annotation. These roles are crucial for ensuring that the data used to train models is of high quality and accurately reflects the task at hand. However, the skills required for these roles go beyond traditional data labelling. The workforce must move away from rigid Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and understand the context in which data is being used. This requires employees to make judgement calls that help refine the model’s performance, adapting to continuously evolving instruction sets. "It’s collaborative intelligence—human intelligence combined with artificial intelligence," Ramesh noted. To address this evolving demand for skills, companies like Wipro have implemented comprehensive upskilling programs. These programs are tailored to different business segments, from basic AI awareness (AI 101) to advanced training for developers, engineers, and architects—those working directly on the models. Atreya shared that over 10,000 developers and engineers at Wipro are currently receiving training across these programs. <h2>AI’s role in transforming BPM operations</h2>According to Suhrid Brahma, the Chief Technology Officer at WNS Global Systems, the core model of the BPM industry is changing. “There is a shift from focus on people, to outcomes and value-add as an industry,” he said. He outlines a three-part strategy for the upgrades needed in AI-driven BPM, beginning with AI in operations. By building an AI-skilled workforce and maintaining a ‘human in the loop’ approach, organisations can maximise the value of AI while keeping essential human oversight. The second area is AI for applications and platforms. Each BPM deal has a technological component, which varies from client to client, but AI should be woven directly into these enterprise systems to ensure seamless functionality. Lastly, he highlights AI’s evolving role in analytics, shifting from retrospective analysis to providing predictive insights that drive proactive decision-making across the organisation. “This whole industry will grow for sure. But the nature of work we do, the kind of value-add we do for clients and the kind of outcomes we deliver as an industry, will definitely change,” Brahma noted. <h2>Navigating an evolving AI landscape in BPM</h2>As AI continues to reshape BPM, the nature of customer needs is also changing. With AI, businesses now have the potential to drive end-to-end process automation, where one part of the process is handled by the BPM organisation and the other by the client, fostering a more collaborative approach to AI adoption. Hariharan noted that BPM providers are transitioning into more tech-driven organisations, as AI increasingly becomes a key enabler of business processes. However, the road to AI integration is not without challenges. Atreya pointed out several challenges like siloed technology limiting the potential of AI to drive meaningful results. Atreya highlighted that siloed technology often limits the ability of AI to drive results. Organisations must assess whether they are AI-ready, with a mature data infrastructure and robust data availability. According to her, the most pressing concern remains ensuring ethical and responsible AI deployment, as new regulations continue to evolve. For sectors like BFSI, tech integration is already advanced, but industries like logistics have an opportunity to leapfrog by integrating systems and running processes end-to-end with AI, according to Brahma. He emphasised the importance of data integration to fully benefit from AI. Looking ahead, the panellists see huge opportunities in sectors like e-commerce and automotive, where AI-driven services are changing the landscape. The key to success will be collaboration, integration, and a well-trained workforce prepared to drive this AI-enabled transformation. This article is part of a four-part webinar series in partnership with nasscom. These monthly webinars aim to delve deep and offer insights into the evolving BPM landscape. You can watch the full video of the third session <a href="https://youtu.be/3ewvUSYfG1M">here</a>. Disclaimer: This article is generated and published by the Insider Studios team. You can get in touch with them on <a href="mailto:insiderstudios@businessinsider.in">insiderstudios@businessinsider.in</a>

India's BPM industry to see sharp demand for AI-skilled talent over the next 3-5 years

From the time Sir Dorabji <keyword id="19904884" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tata" source="keywords">Tata</keyword> sponsored a handful of Indian athletes to the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, Tata group has been a constant in India's sporting landscape and the conglomerate's involvement only grew under <keyword id="19981455" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="ratan-tata" source="keywords">Ratan Tata</keyword>, who considered sport a "way of life". The chairman emeritus of Tata Sons died here at the age of 86 on Wednesday after being admitted to a hospital on Monday for "age and related medical conditions". His death triggered an avalanche of tributes from eminent personalities from all walks of life and sports was no different. From being the title sponsor of the glitzy Indian Premier League of cricket to supporting lesser-followed sports like archery to owning a football team in the Indian Super League to sponsoring a high-profile chess tournament, the Tata group has been deeply involved with the country's sporting ecosystem. Most of this involvement grew during Ratan Tata's tenure. "He always believed in 'sports is the way of life' and we are happy to carry forward the legacy. We have been the torchbearer of sports with 19 sporting verticals from football, hockey, archery to horse riding, boxing, karate, racket sports. You name it, we have it," an official involved with the JRD Tata Sports Academy, which was inaugurated in 1991 in Jamshedpur, told PTI. The growth in Tata Group's sporting involvement under Ratan Tata was the continuation of a legacy. After all, Sir Dorabji Tata, who played cricket, tennis and football, was the first President of the Indian Olympic Association (1924). This was after he had financed the Olympic appearance of four track-and-field athletes and two wrestlers at the Antwerp Games, helping organise their trials in Pune as well. Tata Steel Chess, which is also called the 'Wimbledon of chess', is a marquee event on global chess calendar, held at <keyword id="20385206" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wijk-aan-zee" source="keywords">Wijk Aan Zee</keyword>, the Netherlands. It wasn't always known that. It was Corus Chess Tournament for the longest time before Tata Steel took over the title sponsor company, thereby claiming the rights of this event from 2007 onwards. Five-time world champion and Indian chess legend <keyword id="20221790" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="viswanathan-anand" source="keywords">Viswanathan Anand</keyword> was among the first sports icons to pay tributes to the late industrialist, saying that he "touched all our lives". "It is with profound sadness that we bid farewell to a giant of industry and philanthropy. We received our Padma Vibhushan together, and I was truly touched by his humility and genteel nature," Anand wrote on X. "The chess fraternity owes much to the traditions that are so closely associated with the Tata Group. @tatasteelchess in Holland is an event that made us chess players particularly proud, especially when the Tatas took over Corus, and later starting a new tradition with @tschessindia," he added. "The chess world and I offer our deepest condolences to @RNTata2000, a human being who touched all our lives and always stood for the good of society. Rest in peace," Anand continued. Tata Foootball Academy started back in 1987 under <keyword id="23494114" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="russi-mody" source="keywords">Russi Mody</keyword>, the then chairman of Tata Steel, who had the backing of Ratan Tata for the project. The academy has been supplying national level footballers since early '90s with its some of its noted alumni being current All India Football Federation head and former goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey, Rennedy Singh, Dipendu Biswas and Kiran Khongsai. "TFA has played a pioneering role in Indian football by focusing on nurturing young talent and contributing significantly to the development of football in the country," the official associated with JRD sports complex said. "He (Ratan Tata) was there at the launch of Jamshedpur FC in the ISL in 2017. he interacted with the players and coaches, took photos with them. They also presented him with a signed jersey. He was very happy to see the team coming up and playing in the top tier ISL," he recalled. The enigmatic businessman was there to launch the hockey academy in Jamshedpur in 2019. "...perhaps for the last time he was here," the official said. Hockey India said Ratan Tata will be remembered as a "shining gem". "Your vision and endless contribution to our nation will never be forgotten. Your legacy will forever live with us till eternity. Hockey India pays tribute to one of Modern India's Pioneers - Ratan Naval Tata," it added. The legendary <keyword id="19919207" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sachin-tendulkar" source="keywords">Sachin Tendulkar</keyword> said Ratan Tata's legacy will continue through his foundations. "In his life, and demise, Mr Ratan Tata has moved the nation. I was fortunate to spend time with him, but millions, who have never met him, feel the same grief that I feel today. Such is his impact," <keyword id="20012835" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tendulkar" source="keywords">Tendulkar</keyword> wrote. The Tata Archery Academy in Jamshedpur has been the training ground for ace Indian archers Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das for several years. Given Tata Group's involvement in India's Olympic movement, it was hardly a surprise to see an outpouring of tributes from some of country's top athletes. "I'm very sorry to hear about the passing of Shri Ratan Tata ji. He was a visionary, and I'll never forget the conversation I had with him. He inspired this entire nation. I pray that his loved ones find strength. Om Shanti," posted India's track-and-field Olympic gold-winner, Neeraj Chopra. India's first-ever Olympics medal winner in badminton, <keyword id="20204318" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="saina-nehwal" source="keywords">Saina Nehwal</keyword> described him as a great man. "Ratan Tata sir aapki legacy hamesha humare saath rahegi. RIP (sic). (A great man and true visionary. Tata sir your legacy will always remain with us," she said. One of India's greatest spin bowlers and former captain Anil Kumble said, "Mr. Ratan Tata's contribution extends far beyond business. His legacy of giving back to society will continue to inspire future generations. Rest in peace." "An institution who embodied Excellence, Vision and Humility. A Philanthropist par excellence. A massive loss to society. Condolences to the entire Tata family. God bless his soul #RatanTata," wrote former India player and coach <keyword id="19958622" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ravi-shastri" source="keywords">Ravi Shastri</keyword>.

The Tata effect on Indian sports: Ratan Tata's demise mourned by India stalwarts

The government's <keyword id="20039960" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="One-Health-approach" source="keywords">One Health approach</keyword> is vital for both predicting as well as preventing any future <keyword id="21218421" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="zoonotic-outbreaks" source="keywords">zoonotic outbreaks</keyword> (disease that jumps from animals to humans), health experts opined on Saturday, ahead of the <keyword id="135993" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-health-day" source="Orion">World Health Day</keyword> which is marked every year on April 7. This year's theme '<keyword id="21218422" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="my-health" source="Orion">My Health</keyword>, <keyword id="21218423" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="my-right" source="Orion">My Right</keyword>' focuses on equal access to quality health care. "The government's focus on the '<keyword id="6494932" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="one-health" source="Orion">One Health</keyword>' approach, recognising the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health, is vital for predicting and preventing future zoonotic disease outbreaks," Dr. Rohit Garg, consultant, infectious disease, Amrita Hospital Faridabad, told IANS. The experts noted that the country's response to recent outbreaks of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Nipah virus demonstrates its evolving capacity to manage infectious diseases, adding that lessons from each event have helped the country improve its preparedness for future pandemics, including the hypothetical <keyword id="6328063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Disease-X" source="Orion">Disease X</keyword>. "India's response to recent disease outbreaks has been moulded by our experience with Covid-19. Recent moves to expand the existing network of biosafety-level 3 and 4 laboratories, to expand surveillance for respiratory viruses, invest in diagnostic infrastructure, and formulate a One Health approach towards emerging diseases are welcome and important steps towards tackling such challenges," Gautam Menon, Dean, Research and Professor of Physics and Biology, Ashoka University, told IANS. Besides ramping up testing facilities, expanding healthcare infrastructure, contact tracing during the pandemic and the vaccination drive were among India's significant measures. The latter was one of the largest globally, with India also developing an indigenous vaccine, Covaxin, alongside deploying other vaccines. "These actions highlighted the country's ability to mobilise vast resources and innovate under pressure," said Dr Rohit. Similarly, during the Nipah virus outbreaks, although more localised, India employed rapid response teams, enhanced surveillance and implemented containment measures. "India, post-pandemic, is very different in terms of capacity for pathogen surveillance and pandemic prevention or control when compared to pre-pandemic times. This is partly infrastructural, in terms of greater scientific and health capacity, but mostly structural in terms of better-defined roles for existing organisations, and creation of new multi-stakeholder institutions e.g. for OneHealth," Anurag Agrawal, Dean of Bio Sciences and Health Research at Trivedi School of Biosciences at Ashoka University, told IANS.

Ahead of World Health Day, experts reiterate importance of govt's One Health approach in preventing future zoonotic outbreaks

<keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> and Maldives have signed an agreement to introduce the <keyword id="19998949" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Unified-Payments-Interface" source="keywords">Unified Payments Interface</keyword> in the archipelago nation, which will have a "very positive" impact on its <keyword id="20260982" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tourism-sector" source="keywords">tourism sector</keyword>, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Friday during Jaishankar's three-day official visit to the Maldives. "Witnessed signing of MoU between (the) National Payments Corporation of India and (the) Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Maldives on (the) introduction of (a) digital payment system in the Maldives," he said in a post on X. Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (<keyword id="19998946" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NPCI" source="keywords">NPCI</keyword>), Unified Payment Interface (UPI) is an instant real-time payment system to facilitate inter-bank transactions through mobile phones. Addressing a press conference with his Maldivian counterpart Moosa Zameer after their "productive discussions", Jaishankar said that India, through its UPI, has "revolutionised digital transactions". Stressing that it has taken financial inclusion in India to new levels, he said "Today 40 per cent of the world's real-time digital payments take place in our country." "We see this revolution, every day in our lives. I am pleased to note that with the signing of the MoU today, we have taken the first step towards bringing this digital innovation to Maldives," he said. "I wish the very best to stakeholders on both sides and hope that we will soon see the first UPI transaction here. I should mention that it will have a very positive impact on tourism," he added. Tourism is the main source of economic activity for the Maldives, contributing nearly 30 per cent of the GDP and generating more than 60 per cent of foreign exchange. Jaishankar's visit aims to reset the bilateral relationship with the Maldives and is the first high-level trip from India after the archipelago nation's pro-China president, Mohamed Muizzu, assumed office last year. "India's partnership with the Maldives is based on our deep desire to work together for each other's welfare and interests. It is a partnership that has enabled us to always swiftly and effectively respond to challenges, as witnessed in the past," Jaishankar said. "It is a partnership that has enabled us to deliver results and bring tangible benefits to our people in accordance with their wishes, aspirations and priorities," he said. In a post on X, Jaishankar also said, "Jointly inaugurated six High Impact Projects in areas of street lighting, mental health, children speech therapy and special education." "Welcome renewal of MoU between National Centre for Good Governance and Civil Services Commission on (the) training of additional 1,000 civil services officers," he added. Addressing the joint press conference, Maldivian Foreign Minister Zameer said, "India has always been one of our closest friends and a vital development partner." He said the "enduring friendship" was built on a foundation of mutual trust and respect and has continued to flourish over the years. "High-level exchanges between our countries have deepened our dialogue and cooperation in areas of shared interest. We remain dedicated to strengthening and advancing this mutually beneficial partnership," he said. "Minister Dr Jaishankar and I agreed that much more needs to be done to promote trade and investment between the Maldives and India," he said, adding that both sides are committed to establishing "effective mechanisms to enhance economic cooperation, fostering a vibrant and prosperous partnership that will benefit both the nations." Zameer said he conveyed President Muizzu's proposal to begin negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between the Maldives and India. "This agreement alongside other economic and trade-related agreements will facilitate trade liberalisation and ease the risks of doing business in both our countries," he said. Zameer said that India and Maldives have also mutually agreed to further strengthen their partnership by continuing joint exercises and expanding training opportunities for officers from both countries, asserting that this reflects "our commitment to working together to ensure the security of our nations as well as ensuring the safety and stability of the Indian Ocean region." India's relations with the Maldives suffered a major setback last year when President Muizzu demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel manning three aviation platforms in the Maldives. Subsequently, the Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians by May 10, the mutually agreed date. "On regional and multilateral issues of importance, our countries have a common understanding and are united in our efforts to resolve them. We agreed to continue our cooperation on issues ranging from combating terrorism, violent extremism, drugs, human trafficking and to the promotion and protection of human rights," Zameer said. In his press statement, Jaishankar said that India and the Maldives "are not just close neighbours, we are also natural partners." "Today, we are mutually invested in each other's development and progress. In a globalised and interconnected world, we see a lot of volatility and global tensions. Even as the world is recovering from the impact of the COVID pandemic, we have been confronted with new challenges arising from international conflicts," he said. In this tumultuous environment, India has been and will be, an anchor of stability for its friends, partners and neighbours. To the Maldives specifically, India has provided support to deal with economic challenges through financial assistance and budgetary support, and by ensuring an uninterrupted supply of critical items, he noted. India's actions have been and will continue to be guided by its firm commitment to the philosophy of 'Sabka Saath, Sabke Vikas - which is- Together, we prosper', Jaishankar said. 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India to introduce UPI payment service in Maldives

<ul><li><keyword id="1688230" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Humane" source="Orion">Humane</keyword>, a San Francisco-based startup has launched its first product, the <keyword id="17868189" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="AI-Pin" source="Orion">AI Pin</keyword>.</li><li>It is an AI-powered smart device that comes with a small projector.</li><li>Here’s everything you need to know about AI Pin, which may someday replace your smartphone.</li></ul>Artificial intelligence (AI) is not just limited to chatbots anymore, with companies now integrating AI into their products to enhance the user’s experience. From companies using AI for customer service to using AI coaches in<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/gadgets/news/amazfit-cheetah-series-smartwatches-with-ai-powered-running-coach-launched-in-india/articleshow/103836676.cms"> smartwatches</a>, the technology has evolved a lot over the years. Humane, a startup founded by two ex-Apple employees, and backed by <keyword id="10387" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="microsoft" source="Orion">Microsoft</keyword> and ChatGPT developer OpenAI has introduced a new product that intends to kill Apple’s biggest profit maker – the smartphone. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The Humane AI Pin" comment="subhead" text="The Humane AI Pin">The <keyword id="19450710" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Humane-AI-Pin" source="Orion">Humane AI Pin</keyword></cmsannotation> Humane has announced the AI Pin, the company’s first consumer device is a two-part wearable which includes a small square-shaped device and a battery pack. It can magnetically attach to your clothes or other surfaces. It is priced at $699 (approx. ₹58,210) and users will also have to pay a monthly subscription of $24 (approx. ₹2,000), which gets them a Humane subscription, a phone number and mobile data. The AI Pin is powered by an unspecified Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset and runs on the company’s Cosmos operating system which is designed to route your queries to the right tools automatically, without asking you to download multiple applications. <div type="image" title="Humane AI Pin" msid="105113241" hostid="261" sizebytes="14504" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Humane AI Pin projects information on your hand&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The AI Pin has a green laser projector that can holographically project information on your hand or other surfaces. It is equipped with a camera that can recognize objects, look at food to provide you nutritional information and more. To control the device, you can use voice controls and gestures in front of the camera. Unlike voice assistants, it does not have a word to wake it and you will have to manually tap on a button to activate it. The AI Pin can basically be considered as the integration of AI chatbots like ChatGPT into a device, capable of placing calls, messaging and more. In addition to this, the device can currently provide real-time translation, answer questions, summarise your emails, provide nutritional information about your food and more. The company reportedly plans on adding more features such as navigation and shopping. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/multilingual-global-office-calls-might-soon-become-easier-with-ai-live-translate-call/articleshow/105087029.cms">Multilingual global office calls might soon become easier with AI Live Translate Call</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/protean-egov-technologies-ipo-how-to-check-allotment-and-gmp-value/articleshow/105093386.cms">Protean eGov Technologies IPO allotment – how to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/british-luxury-carmaker-lotus-cars-enters-the-indian-market-with-2-55-electric-suv/articleshow/105092076.cms">Lotus Cars enters India with Eletre, a luxury electric SUV priced starting at ₹2.55 crore</a>

Ex-Apple employees launch AI-Pin, a wearable which wants to replace your smartphone

<keyword id="19902762" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Google" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Google" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Google">Google</keyword> laid off thousands of employees in 2023 and many found their lives turned upside down with just an email notification. After all, when you have given your heart and soul to an organisation, it is never easy accepting the fact that you are being asked to leave at a moment’s notice. The situation becomes even more complicated when you have been with the company for more than a decade. Something similar happened with <keyword id="23300967" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nicholas-Whitaker" source="keywords">Nicholas Whitaker</keyword>, who had been working with the company since 2010 and found out about his <keyword id="20118388" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="layoff" source="keywords">layoff</keyword> abruptly. <h2>The 3 am email bringing bad news</h2>“My layoff experience was traumatic. I got an email at 3 am to my personal email, that I only found because a colleague pinged me on Linkedin in the DMs to ask if I was ‘Ok’ and if I was ‘safe’,” Whitaker told <keyword id="21390875" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Insider-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Business Insider India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Business Insider India">Business Insider India</keyword> in a conversation. He added that when his colleague enquired about his safety, he thought it was a “shooting or some natural disaster.” In other words, he didn’t even imagine that he was being laid off from Google. He then revealed that when he checked his work email, he discovered that he was locked out of his laptop and phone. He then checked his personal email and there it was, the “short and impersonal email” that told him that his role at Google was being eliminated. <h2>The layoff process was uncomfortable</h2>When Google announced large-scale layoffs last year, the company made a lot of headlines for handling them in an unprofessional manner. In March 2023, several Google employees had even written an open letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, asking him to deal with layoffs in a better manner. Whitaker, narrating his own experience, shared with Business Insider India that after receiving the dreadful layoff email at 3 am, he spent the next few months completing formalities to get his payments that were due. He said, “It took all of the next several months for me to mail back my laptop, badge and any gear that I had that was Google property. (I also had to) navigate unemployment, health insurance and get all of the documentation I had to submit to "self Offboard" and to receive payments that I was supposed to get.” “Along the way there were multiple errors and miscommunications from the team that made it all even more uncomfortable,” he said. Whitaker also noted a complete lack of communication and empathy from his old team at Google. “I got a single text message from my prior manager asking how I was doing a few days after I was laid off, but otherwise no one reached out to check on me or offer assistance from my old team. Overall I found the process to be brutally impersonal and inhumane,” he said. <h2>Experience at Google</h2>But was Google always “inhumane” in his experience? Not really. There were some amazing days too and Google, according to Whitaker, was a different company when he had joined. “My initial experience working at Google was like it was a completely different company. I started as a temp, contractor and then a vendor for Google back in 2010, and at the time I think it was something like 40,000 employees. It had a real startup feel to it. Teams were agile and collaborative, and there was a lot of room for growth. It may have been specific to my team and org, but it felt like you had a lot more room for experimentation and autonomy to make decisions, and failure wasn't seen as a bad thing, but a necessary part of innovation,” he said. Whitaker also said that a “class system” was there at Google, especially since he was a TVC (Temporary, Vendor and Contractor). “As a TVC you wouldn't be included in many of the activities and learning opportunities that full time employees had, and didn't get invited to extracurricular activities. There was a real bias towards culture at the time, and words like Don't be Evil, and be Googly were often used.” However, in general, he added that the atmosphere was positive and full of possibilities. “Colleagues generally were very supportive, collaborative and encouraging to work with. I was excited as this was my first time working in big tech, or Corporate America and I saw that period of time as a real coming of age for me. I learned how to be a professional at Google and appreciated all of the early guidance and support that I got from colleagues and leaders.” <h2>Helping others</h2>It has now been over a year since Whitaker was laid off. He now has his own venture and helps other people navigate their careers. Talking about what motivated him to kick-start his own venture, he said, “After 13 years in big tech, the last few years in particular being particularly difficult due to toxic teams and leaders, I didn't want to jump right back into that kind of experience again. A year before getting laid off, I had experienced a bad <keyword id="19956983" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mental-health" source="keywords">mental health</keyword> crisis that was the result of workplace bullying, gaslighting and toxic leadership. "I wanted to help others avoid and recover from similar situations and create a community where people can find mutual support and coaching on how to best navigate their careers in a conscious way. My severance after working so long at Google allowed me to fund the launch of my coaching business, and eventually ‘changingwork.org’." <keyword id="23300968" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Changing-Work" source="keywords">Changing Work</keyword>, Whitaker explained, is his way of addressing a deep need in corporate life — helping people rediscover their sense of purpose and alignment in their careers and finding ways to build more conscious leaders and businesses. He added, “What makes this so transformative for me personally is that it allowed me to step into a role where I could integrate all the lessons from my own career—especially the parts that were hardest for me. During my time at Google, I saw firsthand how high-pressure environments can lead to burnout, anxiety, and a disconnect from our true selves.” The recent tragic death of a young CA at Ernst &amp; Young (EY) employee in India has turned the spotlight on toxic work cultures prevalent in many high-pressure industries. Broader debates on burnout, mental health struggles, and unrealistic expectations in corporate environments in the workplace have occupied social media platforms. This incident serves as a painful reminder that companies must prioritize <keyword id="21050364" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employee-well-being" source="keywords">employee well-being</keyword> and mental health to foster sustainable, humane workplaces. And makes the work that people like Whitaker are doing all the more important. “I’ve spoken publicly about how mindfulness practice, coaching and therapy literally saved my life during some of my darkest times at Google. Changing Work is the culmination of that journey. It’s not just about helping others find balance and fulfillment—it’s about creating a space where I can live those values every day,” he concludes.

Fired from Google after 13 years of service, he used his severance to build a business around helping others with their careers

<ul><li>By 2024, the private data of almost three fourths of the world’s human population will be covered by stringent privacy regulations. </li><li>The rising demand for <keyword id="149953" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="privacy-rights" source="Orion">privacy rights</keyword> and transparency will create a centralized privacy user experience (UX) and enterprises will drive their own effective privacy programmes. </li><li>Over the next one year, a large number of organizations will include a Data Privacy or Protection Officer in its <keyword id="14297933" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CXO-suite" source="Orion">CXO suite</keyword>.</li></ul>A recent report by Gartner, <a href="https://www.gartner.com/document/4014350">Top Trends in Privacy Driving Your Business Through 2024</a>, has set the path for trends in data privacy and protection for the <keyword id="6356323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="enterprise" source="Orion">enterprise</keyword> over the next two years. The report works on the fact that <keyword id="6715869" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="data-regulations" source="Orion">data regulations</keyword> will cover information about 75% of the global population over the next two years. “By year-end 2024, Gartner predicts that 75% of the world’s population will have its data covered under modern privacy regulations. This regulatory evolution has been the dominant catalyst for the operationalization of privacy,” said Nader Henein, VP Analyst at Gartner. “Since most organizations do not have a dedicated privacy practice, the responsibility for operationalizing these requirements is passed onto technology, more specifically security, under the umbrella of the CISO’s office.” In this period, companies will need to budget for data privacy at an annual average of more than $2.5 million. This would include privacy programmes, technology, and skills to ensure compliance with increasingly strict regulations. The focus will need to be on these aspects: Data Localization This will be a critical focus since privacy laws seem to be heterogeneous, and the context of privacy will need to be relevant to the country of operation. Since the launch of GDPR in 2018, over 60 jurisdictions globally have enacted or proposed privacy and data protection laws; countries that include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, the US, Singapore and Thailand, and counting. Data localization will allow for the laws to be enforced as applicable in any particular region. This will increasingly become the priority for data privacy planning. Use of Privacy-Enhancing Computation (PEC) With the increasing proliferation of AI models and the complexity of data gathered through these channels, a tool for safer data processing and analyzing data will be desirable. This would help overcome the challenges due to multiparty data sharing, working with data from risky origins or doubtful bases. Gartner states that PEC will be commonly used over the next two years in large companies for business analytics, intelligence, or computing analytics. Adoption of AI Governance AI-based modules have been found very efficient for data analytics but research has shown an increased risk of data privacy breaches through them. Most of the AI processing in companies today takes very little cognizance of the data leakages it might inadvertently allow. The need of the hour is strict AI regulations and governance, and enterprises are becoming aware of this need very fast. Over the next two years, companies will bring together all aspects of data privacy and integrate them into a single, easily manageable, and transparent UX portal for data and consent management. By 2023, a third of all organizations will have adopted this strategy. One of the basic tasks of enterprise infrastructure will be a platform that will be handling the requests and the processes for consent and preference management (CPM). CXO Reshuffle in the New Normal As the world opens up after two years of the pandemic, the surfeit of data-driven by rapid and urgent digital transformations across the board- will need a whole new paradigm to handle privacy. In addition to the CPM and PEC, there will be the Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) or the Chief Data Privacy Officer, to manage the entire nine yards of data privacy- compliances, tools, technologies, customer connections, and safe business analytics. The new role is now beginning to take shape over the next two years, it will be a normal designation. The Advent of Data-protection-as-a-Service (DPaaS) Leveraging the panic around the gargantuan volumes of data being generated by unplanned and in many cases, knee-jerk digitization, many companies are now offering a Ready-to-go Data Protection Kit, as a service model. The market for DPaaS is expected to touch USD 19 billion by 2026. The demand for this service will burgeon in the coming months, because of its inherent ability to offer scalable, flexible, agile data privacy and management tools, at optimized cost. With privacy and security now taking the same path, there will also be rapid adoption of Data and Privacy management services. As workplaces become hybrid for a much longer-term than earlier anticipated, the risks of data proliferation, as well as privacy of market or consumer data, have become much higher. Over the last two years, companies have created their solutions to meet the challenge of data privacy and secure access, and over the next two years, they will reap the benefits of this foresight. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/ola-shuts-it-used-car-and-quick-commerce-businesses/articleshow/92480954.cms" style="">Ola shuts it used car and quick commerce businesses</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/the-third-phase-of-analytics-is-in-vogue-and-how-is-it-working-for-organizations/articleshow/92482821.cms" style="">The third phase of analytics is in vogue and how is it working for organizations</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/digital-twins-market-to-surge-as-e-tailers-enhance-their-offerings/articleshow/92483249.cms" style="">Digital twins market to surge as e-tailers enhance their offerings</a>

Three fourths of human population will be covered by data regulations

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A <keyword id="11910513" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="human-rights-watch" source="Orion">Human Rights Watch</keyword> report said 89% of remote-learning platforms it reviewed spied on children.</li><li>The platforms collected personal data and some sent it to tech companies for advertising purposes.</li></ul>COVID-19 lockdowns forced schools around the world to shut, and children moved online to continue with their learning. This may have compromised the <keyword id="11906585" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="data-privacy" source="Orion">data privacy</keyword> of millions of children, according to a new analysis.Non-profit Human Rights Watch <a href="https://www.hrw.org/report/2022/05/25/how-dare-they-peep-my-private-life/childrens-rights-violations-governments">analyzed 164 online education platforms</a> across 49 countries, including the US, UK, India, and China. It found that 89% of these either monitored or could monitor kids' online habits and usage, sometimes without parental knowledge or consent.The platforms were all endorsed by various governments to help kids move to online learning during the pandemic, HRW said. But the apps harvested information on kids' identities, the identities of their friends and family, where they're located, what they're learning in the classroom, and what kinds of devices they're using, informing online profiles that could then be used to target ads at them."In their rush to connect children to virtual classrooms, few governments checked whether the <keyword id="14046661" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="edtech" source="Orion">EdTech</keyword> they were rapidly endorsing or procuring for schools were safe for children," the report says."As a result, children whose families were able to afford access to the internet and connected devices, or who made hard sacrifices in order to do so, were exposed to the privacy practices of the EdTech products they were told or required to use during COVID-19 school closures," the report wrote.The researchers conducted their review between March to August last year, HRW wrote. They focused mostly on apps running on Google's Android operating system, as it's the most popular mobile operating system in the world, the report wrote. Android commanded a global market share of almost 70% in January, <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/272698/global-market-share-held-by-mobile-operating-systems-since-2009/">according</a> to Statista data.One way the apps track the data is through collecting advertising IDs, per the report. These allow advertisers to see what kinds of apps a person has installed on their phones, the authors said, allowing advertisers to push targeted messages. It found that children had their advertising IDs sent to Google-owned and Facebook-owned domains.Google and Facebook's parent, Meta, did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comments. A Google spokesperson <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/05/24/remote-school-app-tracking-privacy/">told</a> The Washington Post the company was investigating claims made in the report, and will respond accordingly if there were violations. A Meta spokesperson told the outlet the company restricted how children were being targeted in advertising. HRW's report comes on the heels of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/05/ftc-crack-down-companies-illegally-surveil-children-learning-online">warning</a> last week to education technology companies. The FTC said it would go after companies that illegally monitored children during online learning sessions."Students must be able to do their schoolwork without surveillance by companies looking to harvest their data to pad their bottom line," Samuel Levine, a director at the FTC, said in the release.Experts have called for online-learning platforms to shoulder more responsibility in determining what kinds of data should be collected from users."If it is not something we do in physical classrooms, it is not something that should be part of digital school life," Gartner analyst Bart Willemsen <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/26/tech/remote-learning-apps-data-collection/index.html">told</a> CNN.

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