Latest news with #DavidChiu
CBS News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Deepfake porn website operator settles with San Francisco, agrees to shut down
The San Francisco City Attorney's office has settled with a company that operated websites creating "deepfake nudes", where artificial intelligence is used to turn photos of children and adults into pornography. City Attorney David Chiu announced Monday that Briver LLC has agreed to a permanent injunction prohibiting the company and its owners from operating any websites that create nonconsensual deepfakes. Briver LLC has also agreed to pay $100,000 in civil penalties. According to Chiu, Briver LLC operated two such websites, which offered users the opportunity to upload clothed images of real people to create realistic-looking nude images, usually for a fee. Before being shut down, the company's websites allowed users to create pornographic images of adults and children. In August of last year, Chiu's office filed suit against 16 of the most visited deepfake nude websites. The websites targeted in the lawsuit had reportedly been visited more than 200 million times in the first six months of 2024. As a result of the investigation, 10 of the sites are now offline or no longer accessible in California, according to the city attorney. Meanwhile, the lawsuit will proceed against the remaining defendants. "While our lawsuit has so far led to an initial settlement as well as shut down 10 websites that exploit women and children, we won't stop until all owners are held accountable and blocked from opening similar sites," Chiu said in a statement. "While generative AI holds enormous promise, these website operators are engaged in blatant sexual abuse and must be stopped." Chiu's office said the images are often used to extort, bully and humiliate women and girls. One such incident involved students at a middle school in Southern California last year. Celebrities, including Taylor Swift, have also been victimized by AI-generated explicit images. Anyone who may have been t he victim of nonconsensual deepfake pornography or has relevant information in the case is asked to contact the San Francisco City Attorney's Office through the agency's consumer complaint web portal or by calling 415-554-3977.
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
San Francisco launches review of parks nonprofit accused of misusing millions in funds
San Francisco city officials announced Friday that a "public integrity assessment" will be conducted on the San Francisco Parks Alliance, amid reports that the nonprofit improperly spent millions of dollars. City Attorney David Chiu said he and City Controller Greg Wagner will conduct the joint review of the group's finances and its agreements with city departments. The review was requested by Mayor Daniel Lurie's office, the city's Recreation and Park Department and the Port of San Francisco. "The public reports of financial mismanagement at the Parks Alliance are extremely troubling," Chiu said in a statement. "Any contributions meant to benefit the public should be used for that purpose." Wagner added, "The serious allegations we're hearing about Parks Alliance need to be addressed with urgency." According to Chiu, the Parks Alliance raises money for minor civic improvements and large-scale construction on public spaces. The group has agreements with the Recreation and Park Department along with the Port for these purposes. Chiu said many of the funds raised under the agreements can only be used for city-approved projects and cannot be used for Parks Alliance staff salaries or other unrelated administrative overhead. A recent report by the San Francisco Chronicle found the group used at least $3.8 million earmarked for public projects to instead cover its own operating costs. The group's former CEO and CFO have departed. Donors along with families who rely on city parks have expressed outrage over the allegations. One of the largest donors, the Baker Street Foundation, told CBS News Bay Area that it contributed $3 million to the organization to build two playgrounds at Crane Cove Park in the city's Dogpatch several years ago, but the projects have not materialized. Nicola Miner, part of the Baker Street Foundation board, said she learned only recently that $1.9 million of the donated funds had reportedly been spent on general expenditures. "I wanted a park here, that was what our money was for. The money was not for general operating expenses. And so, I just feel a real sense of betrayal," she told CBS News Bay Area. Miner said the greatest loss is felt by local families who had counted on the playgrounds for their children. "The fact that they took money away from families, I'm speechless. I actually can't even believe somebody would do that," she added. In the meantime, Lurie has instructed city departments to pause any outstanding grants to the Parks Alliance and has directed city departments not to enter into any new partnership agreements with the group.
Business Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Hong Kong tycoons, Hony Capital seek loan to build golf course
[HONG KONG] A consortium comprising private equity firm Hony Capital and Hong Kong property tycoons is seeking to raise a loan of about HK$2.3 billion (S$381 million) to back the ongoing construction of a golf course in the city, according to sources familiar with the matter. Proceeds of the five-year loan will be used to transform a restored landfill into an 18-hole, par-71 championship course in Tai Po district, located in Hong Kong's New Territories, the sources said, asking not to be identified as discussing private matters. The funds will also be for refinancing purposes, they added. Hony Capital is teaming up with Hong Kong's Lai Sun Development and the billionaire family controlling Far East Consortium International on the project, the sources said. The golf course, known as the Plover Cove Golf Club, will be the city's first such development on privately owned reclaimed land and is targeted to open in 2027. Construction began in August 2023, according to its website. A Plover Cove Golf Club spokesperson said the golf course would create up to 350 jobs and is on track for its planned 2027 opening. Hony, Lai Sun and Far East Consortium did not respond to requests seeking comment. The loan comes amid an ongoing legal battle with another Hong Kong golf course, which has sparked public debate over the use of government-owned land for golf facilities. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Tuesday, 12 pm Property Insights Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond. Sign Up Sign Up The city's government is seeking to overturn a court ruling against its plans to build a large-scale public housing development on part of a golf club in Fan Ling, which is popular among local elites, according to its website. However, this differs from the current Tai Po development, which involves privately owned land. China-based Hony Capital holds a 45 per cent stake in the Tai Po development, while the family of local Hong Kong tycoon David Chiu, chairman of Hong Kong-listed Far East, has a 40 per cent interest, the sources said. Meanwhile, billionaire Peter Lam-controlled Lai Sun Development holds the rest, they added. BLOOMBERG
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
San Francisco warns 2,000 people could be evicted if Trump yanks housing funds
San Francisco is joining a coalition of local governments to sue the Trump administration over new requirements which, they say, could threaten hundreds of millions of dollars in federal homelessness grants. Nearly 2,000 people in the Bay Area city alone could lose their subsidies and face eviction if the federal funding is cut off, San Francisco officials argued in a Monday court filing. The lawsuit, filed Friday in a U.S. District Court in Seattle, aims to prevent the administration from adding strings to Department of Housing and Urban Development funding related to DEI, immigration enforcement, abortion and "gender ideology," arguing the agency lacks the authority to do so without congressional approval. The coalition also includes Santa Clara County, two counties in Washington state, Boston, New York City and Columbus, Ohio. "The Trump administration is trying to impose grant conditions that are that are unlawful," San Francisco District Attorney David Chiu said in an interview Monday. "From our perspective, these conditions blatantly violate the Constitution and endanger people's lives, and we need to oppose those efforts and stand up in court for this funding in our communities." San Francisco's Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing receives more than $56 million dollars from HUD in the form of 35 program grants, according to the Monday filing. The money mostly goes toward rental assistance and supportive services to house chronically homeless residents. Chiu said local governments around the country had been engaging in "intense discussion" in recent weeks over the new funding strings. He said his office is bringing the lawsuit instead of Attorney General Rob Bonta because "it's local jurisdictions that are experiencing it and can prove the harm."
Politico
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
San Francisco warns 2,000 people could be evicted if Trump yanks housing funds
San Francisco is joining a coalition of local governments to sue the Trump administration over new requirements which, they say, could threaten hundreds of millions of dollars in federal homelessness grants. Nearly 2,000 people in the Bay Area city alone could lose their subsidies and face eviction if the federal funding is cut off, San Francisco officials argued in a Monday court filing . The lawsuit, filed Friday in a U.S. District Court in Seattle, aims to prevent the administration from adding strings to Department of Housing and Urban Development funding related to DEI, immigration enforcement, abortion and 'gender ideology,' arguing the agency lacks the authority to do so without congressional approval. The coalition also includes Santa Clara County, two counties in Washington state, Boston, New York City and Columbus, Ohio. 'The Trump administration is trying to impose grant conditions that are that are unlawful,' San Francisco District Attorney David Chiu said in an interview Monday. 'From our perspective, these conditions blatantly violate the Constitution and endanger people's lives, and we need to oppose those efforts and stand up in court for this funding in our communities.' San Francisco's Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing receives more than $56 million dollars from HUD in the form of 35 program grants, according to the Monday filing. The money mostly goes toward rental assistance and supportive services to house chronically homeless residents. Chiu said local governments around the country had been engaging in 'intense discussion' in recent weeks over the new funding strings. He said his office is bringing the lawsuit instead of Attorney General Rob Bonta because 'it's local jurisdictions that are experiencing it and can prove the harm.'
