riQQ's recent activity

  1. Comment on Dutch regulator fines Uber $966m for automating driver suspensions in ~transport

    riQQ
    Link

    The Dutch data protection authority has fined ⁠Uber €825m ($966m) for deactivating driver ⁠accounts through automated systems without adequately informing them, according to a 17 August decision.

    The penalty would be the second-largest issued yet under Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

    It is behind only a €1.2bn ($1.4bn) fine ⁠imposed on Meta by Ireland in 2023 for unlawfully transferring European Facebook users’ data to the United States. Meta is appealing.

    Uber said it would also appeal.

    21 votes

  3. Comment on Fixing a Framework laptop bricked by a BIOS update in ~tech

    riQQ
    Link Parent
    Especially because it seems to be caused by a bug in their BIOS updater software.

    Especially because it seems to be caused by a bug in their BIOS updater software.

    12 votes

  4. Comment on Fixing a Framework laptop bricked by a BIOS update in ~tech

    riQQ
    Link Parent
    Not all the mainboards have two BIOS flash chips.

    Not all the mainboards have two BIOS flash chips.

    6 votes

  5. Comment on Fixing a Framework laptop bricked by a BIOS update in ~tech

    riQQ
    Link

    For three years, the laptop has served me well, until Framework suggested via newsletter to install the latest BIOS3 update, version 3.20, with a bunch of security fixes. Unfortunately, the system hung and displayed a corrupt image on the screen, signifying a failed BIOS flash.

    Naturally, I reached out to Framework support, who told me to unplug the laptop, let the battery drain, and power it back on again afterwards, hoping the laptop would recover by itself. Unfortunately, it never did, and after giving Framework a bunch of information, they informed me that since my 1-year warranty has expired, I have no option but to purchase a new Framework motherboard, which will cost at least CA$500.

    A quick search revealed that many people had issues with BIOS flashes with this specific BIOS update on the Framework forums, even those in warranty, and on a different thread, people have been having similar issues with BIOS flashing in general on this model since at least March of 2025. To my knowledge, Framework has never acknowledged the issue or offered any indication that the problem was fixed, so buying a new motherboard would simply be playing Russian roulette if I ever wanted to update the BIOS again, on top of spending CA$500+ through no fault of my own.

    Thus, I opted against buying a new motherboard and embarked upon a journey to flash the BIOS myself. I documented this journey in excruciating detail so that hopefully, by following along, you’ll understand exactly how you might fix similar problems.

    As the owner of a Framework laptop who wants to benefit from the upgradability down the line, I would like to see Framework clean up their act and deliver on the promise they made when they sold the product. As such, I call upon Framework to:

    1. Immediately stop encouraging any users out of warranty to update their BIOS until the updater is fixed;
    2. Fix the BIOS updater as soon as possible;
    3. Provide immediate relief to any out-of-warranty customers whose laptop was bricked through a BIOS update, either through motherboard replacement like warrantied customers, or the free delivery of a toolkit and detailed guidance to perform the repair;
    4. Provide official documentation for BIOS flashing, raw BIOS images, and instructions to restore the serial numbers and UUIDs;
    5. Design all future motherboards to be easily recoverable from bad BIOS flashes; and
    6. Immediately cease any unnecessary data sharing with third parties.
    26 votes

  7. Comment on GOG confirm they are working towards GOG Galaxy on Linux in ~games

    riQQ
    Link Parent
    Firefox mobile on Android here.

    Firefox mobile on Android here.

    1 vote

  8. Comment on GOG confirm they are working towards GOG Galaxy on Linux in ~games

    riQQ
    Link Parent
    Ah, I didn't even notice at first. As I checked the behavior now, I noticed that they also show up when you zoom into a post via the zoom gesture on mobile. As the page does not have responsive...

    Ah, I didn't even notice at first. As I checked the behavior now, I noticed that they also show up when you zoom into a post via the zoom gesture on mobile. As the page does not have responsive design I had to zoom in when reading. They also show up when tapping a post.

    1 vote

  9. Comment on GOG confirm they are working towards GOG Galaxy on Linux in ~games

  10. Comment on How Die Zeit built a searchable database of Nazi party members in ~humanities.history

  11. Comment on A hacker's arrest reveals Microsoft can track users via a Windows device ID in ~tech

  12. Comment on How did I miss Pay Per Crawl? in ~tech

  13. Comment on Moroccan intelligence insider reveals widespread use of Pegasus hacking software in ~tech

    riQQ
    Link

    A former member of Morocco’s domestic intelligence service has helped to provide an unprecedented insight into how the north African state used hacking software – including Pegasus spyware – to target journalists, human rights defenders, French politicians and Spanish cabinet ministers and police officers.

    Pegasus, which is manufactured by the Israel-based NSO Group, allows its operator to access everything on a target’s mobile phone, including emails, text messages and photographs. It can also activate the phone’s recorder and camera, turning it into a listening device.

    6 votes

  15. Comment on Germany set to restrict its Freedom of Information Act in ~society

    riQQ
    Link Parent
    Though it looks like this is from last year, so the context is different and therefore the numbers are not directly comparable.

    Though it looks like this is from last year, so the context is different and therefore the numbers are not directly comparable.

    1 vote

  16. Comment on Web flash support arrives in LineageOS in ~tech

    riQQ
    Link Parent
    I also have problems with my USB C port on a Pixel 6a. Seems to be a new weak spot. Before I never had an issue with the older USB port standards on my previous smart phones.

    I also have problems with my USB C port on a Pixel 6a. Seems to be a new weak spot. Before I never had an issue with the older USB port standards on my previous smart phones.

    1 vote

  17. Comment on Germany set to restrict its Freedom of Information Act in ~society

    riQQ
    Link Parent
    I don't know how it works in the US but in Germany the government petition only guarantees that they have to look at it / discuss it publicly. The government doesn't have to change anything if...

    I don't know how it works in the US but in Germany the government petition only guarantees that they have to look at it / discuss it publicly. The government doesn't have to change anything if they don't want to. I'm not sure if this would have a bigger impact as the NGO petition.

    2 votes

  18. Comment on Germany set to restrict its Freedom of Information Act in ~society

    riQQ
    Link Parent
    This is only a private petition by an NGO. It doesn't mandate any action by the government. There is also a similar mechanism in Germany for petitions to the German federal parliament (Bundestag).

    This is only a private petition by an NGO. It doesn't mandate any action by the government.

    There is also a similar mechanism in Germany for petitions to the German federal parliament (Bundestag).

    4 votes

  19. Comment on Germany set to restrict its Freedom of Information Act in ~society

    riQQ
    Link
    There's a petition against the proposed changes signed by more than 500.000 people. https://weact.campact.de/petitions/spd-stoppt-den-frontalangriff-auf-die-informationsfreiheit (in German).

    Critics fear the reforms could weaken government transparency by curbing civil society's access to official information and limiting requests from foreigners.

    There's a petition against the proposed changes signed by more than 500.000 people.
    https://weact.campact.de/petitions/spd-stoppt-den-frontalangriff-auf-die-informationsfreiheit (in German).

    13 votes