Brazil's Supreme Court justices agree to make social media companies liable for user content
BRASILIA, Brazil — The majority of justices on Brazil's Supreme Court have agreed to make social media companies liable for illegal postings by their users.
Gilmar Mendes on Wednesday became the sixth of the court's 11 justices to vote to open a path for companies like Meta, X and Microsoft to be sued and pay fines for content published by their users. Voting is ongoing but a simple majority is all that is needed for the measure to pass.
The ruling will come after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned of possible visa restrictions against foreign officials allegedly involved in censoring American citizens.
The only dissenting Brazilian justice so far is André Mendonça and his vote was made public last week.
The social media proposal would become law once voting is finished and the result is published. But Brazil's Congress could still pass another law to reverse the measure.
The current legislation states social media companies can only be held responsible in those cases if they do not remove hazardous content after a court order.
Mauricio Savarese, The Associated Press
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Winnipeg Free Press
9 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
US-backed Israeli company's spyware used to target European journalists, Citizen Lab finds
ROME (AP) — Spyware from a U.S.-backed Israeli company was used to target the phones of at least three prominent journalists in Europe, two of whom are editors at an investigative news site in Italy, according to digital researchers at Citizen Lab, citing new forensic evidence of the attacks. The findings come amid a growing questions about what role the government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni may have played in spying on journalists and civil society activists critical of her leadership, and raised new concerns about the potential for abuse of commercial spyware, even in democratic countries. 'Any attempts to illegally access data of citizens, including journalists and political opponents, is unacceptable, if confirmed,' the European Commission said in a statement Wednesday in response to questions from members of parliament. 'The Commission will use all the tools at its disposal to ensure the effective application of EU law.' Meloni's office declined to comment Thursday, but a prominent member of her Cabinet has said that Italy 'rigorously respected' the law and that the government hadn't illegally spied on journalists. Mercenary spyware industry The company behind the hacks, Paragon Solutions, has sought to position itself as a virtuous player in the mercenary spyware industry and won U.S. government contracts, The Associated Press found. Backed by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Paragon was reportedly acquired by AE Industrial Partners, a private investment firm based in Florida, in a December deal worth at least $500 million, pending regulatory approvals. AE Industrial Partners didn't directly respond to requests for comment on the deal. Paragon's spyware, Graphite, was used to target around 90 WhatsApp users from more than two dozen countries, primarily in Europe, Meta said in January. Since then, there's been a scramble to figure out who was hacked and who was responsible. 'We've seen first-hand how commercial spyware can be weaponized to target journalists and civil society, and these companies must be held accountable,' a spokesperson for WhatsApp told AP in an email. 'WhatsApp will continue to protect peoples' ability to communicate privately.' Meta said the vulnerability has been patched and they have not detected subsequent attacks. Meta also sent a cease-and-desist letter to Paragon. Last month, a California court awarded Meta $168 million in damages from Israel's NSO Group, whose spyware was used to hack 1,400 WhatsApp accounts, including of journalists, activists and government officials. Journalists targeted The Citizen Lab's findings, released today, show that the use of spyware against journalists has continued, despite the backlash against NSO Group, and establish for the first time that Paragon was able to successfully infect Apple devices. Ciro Pellegrino, who heads the Naples newsroom of an investigative news outlet called received a notice on April 29 that his iPhone had been targeted. Last year, Fanpage secretly infiltrated the youth wing of Meloni's Brothers of Italy party and filmed some of them making fascist and racist remarks. Pellegrino's colleague, Fanpage editor-in-chief Francesco Cancellato, also received a notice from Meta that his Android device had been targeted by Paragon spyware, though forensic evidence that his phone was actually infected with Graphite hasn't yet surfaced, according to Citizen Lab. The Citizen Lab's report today also revealed a third case, of a 'prominent European journalist,' who asked to remain anonymous, but is connected to the Italian cluster by forensic evidence unearthed by researchers at the laboratory, which is run out of the Munk School at the University of Toronto. The Citizen Lab, which has analyzed all the devices, said the attack came via iMessage, and that Apple has patched the vulnerability. Apple did not respond immediately to requests for comment. 'Paragon is now mired in exactly the kind of abuse scandal that NSO Group is notorious for,' said John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the Citizen Lab. 'This shows the industry and its way of doing business is the problem. It's not just a few bad apples.' Stealthy spyware Paragon's spyware is especially stealthy because it can compromise a device without any action from the user. Similar to the NSO Group's notorious Pegasus spyware, which has been blacklisted by the U.S. government, Graphite allows the operator to covertly access applications, including encrypted messengers like Signal and WhatsApp. 'There's no link to click, attachment to download, file to open or mistake to make,' Scott-Railton said. 'One moment the phone is yours, and the next minute its data is streaming to an attacker.' Parliamentary oversight COPASIR, the parliamentary committee overseeing the Italian secret services, took the rare step last week of making public the results of its investigation into the government's use of Paragon. The COPASIR report said that Italian intelligence services hadn't spied on Cancellato, the editor of Fanpage. The report did confirm the surveillance, with tools including Graphite, of civil society activists, but said they had been targeted legally and with government authorization — not as activists but over their work related to irregular immigration and national security. Giovanni Donzelli, vice president of COPASIR and a prominent member of Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, declined further comment Thursday, saying the parliamentary report was 'more relevant than an analysis done by a privately funded Canadian laboratory.' Citizen Lab says it's 'rigorously independent,' and doesn't accept research funding from governments or companies. Italy and Paragon both say they've terminated their relationship, but offer starkly different versions of the breakup. Paragon referred questions to a statement it gave to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, in which the company said that it stopped providing spyware to Italy after the government declined its offer to help investigate Cancellato's case. Italian authorities, however, said they had rejected Paragon's offer over national security concerns and ended the relationship following media outcry. U.S. contracts Paragon has been keen to deflect reputational damage that could, in theory, impact its contracts with the U.S. government. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. A 2023 executive order, which so far hasn't been overturned by U.S. President Donald Trump, prohibits federal government departments and agencies from acquiring commercial spyware that has been misused by foreign governments, including to limit freedom of expression and political dissent. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded Paragon a one-year, $2 million contract last September for operations and support of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, public records show. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has also reportedly used the spyware. In December 2022, Adam Schiff, the California Democrat who at the time chaired the House Intelligence Committee, wrote to the administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration questioning whether the DEA's use of Graphite spyware undermined efforts to deter the 'broad proliferation of powerful surveillance capabilities to autocratic regimes and others who may misuse them.' ___ Byron Tau in Washington, and Lorne Cook in Brussels, contributed to this report.
Cision Canada
10 hours ago
- Cision Canada
Akkodis named a leader in aerospace & defense services and solutions by ISG
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In the Engineering Design & Innovation category, ISG highlighted Akkodis' ability in the use of AI, digital twins, simulation, and automation to accelerate innovation, manage complexity, and enhance productivity. Its strong partnerships with leading OEMs were cited as key enablers of scalable solutions. In MRO & Aftermarket (Europe), Akkodis was recognized for its integrated offerings, including Logistics Support (ILS), spare parts management, and Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO) services—enabled by its Design Organization Approval (DOA) certification since 2022. Leveraging advanced analytics, virtual asset modeling, and intelligent monitoring technologies, Akkodis enables proactive maintenance strategies that help reduce downtime, boost fleet availability and meet compliance requirements. In the U.S., Akkodis was rated a Product Challenger, with a strong digital foundation and clear potential for market growth. In Technology Transformation & Consulting, Akkodis was highlighted as a trusted partner in guiding complex digital journeys—from architecture and compliance to in-service support. ISG noted its ability to apply AI, robotics, IoT, and digital twins to enable value chain transformation. Proprietary AI platforms, strong industry partnerships, and a focus on sustainability enhance decision-making, efficiency, and client progress toward net-zero goals. Cybersecurity and regulatory expertise— including standards from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which advances measurement science and technology, and DO-326A, which provides guidance on aviation cybersecurity—reinforce Akkodis' value in mission-critical environments. Akkodis was also named a Product Challenger in Europe for Supply Chain Operations and Logistics Management – Overall Ecosystem, reflecting strong service depth and market opportunity. " We're honored by ISG's recognition of our work in Aerospace & Defense—a reflection of our domain expertise, decades of experience, and dedication to client success," said Jo Debecker, President and CEO of Akkodis. " We're committed to growing alongside our Aerospace & Defense clients and advancing innovations that help shape the future of global industries." " Akkodis demonstrates clear leadership in the Aerospace & Defense sector through its integration of advanced technologies like AI and digital twins across engineering, MRO, and consulting services," said Harish. B, Principal Analyst, ISG. " Its end-to-end capabilities—from design and production to predictive maintenance and regulatory compliance—enable clients to enhance operational performance, resilience, and mission readiness in complex environments." Akkodis will showcase its Aerospace & Defense innovations at the 55th Paris Air Show, June 16–22, 2025, at Chalet #303 – Line B, Le Bourget Parc des Expositions. Media contacts Anne Friedrich SVP, Global Head of Communications, Akkodis E. [email protected] Lisa Bushka VP, External Communications, Akkodis E. [email protected] About Akkodis Akkodis is a global digital engineering company and Smart Industry leader. We enable clients to advance in their digital transformation with Consulting, Solutions, Talent, and Academy services. Headquartered in Switzerland and part of the Adecco Group, Akkodis is a trusted tech partner to the world's industries. We co-create and pioneer solutions that help to solve major challenges, from accelerating the clean energy transition and green mobility, to improving user and patient centricity. Empowered by a culture of inclusion and diversity, our 50,000 tech experts across 30 countries combine best-in-class technologies and cross industry knowledge to drive purposeful innovation for a more sustainable tomorrow. We are passionate about Engineering a Smarter Future Together. LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X About the Adecco Group The Adecco Group is the world's leading talent company. Our purpose is making the future work for everyone. Through our three global business units - Adecco, Akkodis and LHH - across 60 countries, we enable sustainable and lifelong employability for individuals, deliver digital and engineering solutions to power the Smart Industry transformation and empower organisations to optimise their workforces. The Adecco Group leads by example and is committed to an inclusive culture, fostering sustainable employability, and supporting resilient economies and communities. The Adecco Group AG is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN). About ISG ISG (Information Services Group) (Nasdaq: III) is a leading global technology research and advisory firm. A trusted business partner to more than 900 clients, including more than 75 of the world's top 100 enterprises, ISG is committed to helping corporations, public sector organizations, and service and technology providers achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm specializes in digital transformation services, including automation, cloud and data analytics; sourcing advisory; managed governance and risk services; network carrier services; strategy and operations design; change management; market intelligence and technology research and analysis. Founded in 2006, and based in Stamford, Conn., ISG employs more than 1,600 digital-ready professionals operating in more than 20 countries—a global team known for its innovative thinking, market influence, deep industry and technology expertise, and world-class research and analytical capabilities based on the industry's most comprehensive marketplace data. For more information, visit
Globe and Mail
a day ago
- Globe and Mail
Wells Fargo Predicts Double-Digit Upside for Shopify Stock
The stock of e-commerce company Shopify (SHOP) jumped over 6% higher after Wells Fargo (WFC) raised its target price to $125 from $107 on Friday. This new target suggests about 12% upside potential from current levels. The bank believes Shopify could quietly become one of the biggest beneficiaries of the AI boom. Confident Investing Starts Here: Wells Fargo Sees Big AI Opportunity for Shopify Wells Fargo called Shopify a 'thematic AI story.' The firm said that though SHOP is not usually seen as an AI stock, there are clear signs the company is heading that way. It pointed to Shopify's growing use of AI within its operations, new AI tools for merchants, and partnerships with major players like OpenAI, Meta (META), and Perplexity. The analyst believes that these initiatives could help Shopify make the shopping experience better for users and help sellers manage their stores with more ease. Building on that view, Wells Fargo expects AI to bring major changes to e-commerce going forward. The firm believes AI will allow online stores to offer more personalized shopping, automate customer service, and better manage pricing and inventory. The analyst thinks Shopify is well-positioned to benefit from these changes. Looking ahead, the firm sees strong growth in what it calls 'agentic commerce,' where AI acts like a personal shopping assistant. Wells Fargo expects this space to expand quickly and reach $505 billion in sales by 2030. The analyst believes Shopify is in a good spot to capture a solid share of this market. Overall, Wells Fargo sees Shopify as more than just an e-commerce company. With the company's strong focus on AI, the firm views it as a smart, long-term bet in the AI space. Is SHOP a Good Stock to Buy? Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Moderate Buy consensus rating on SHOP stock based on 26 Buys, 11 Holds, and zero Sells assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. Furthermore, the average SHOP price target of $113.44 per share implies 1.82% upside potential. See more SHOP analyst ratings
