Latest news with #DavidHanson
New York Times
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘My Robot Sophia': An Unsettling Look Into the Soul of a Machine
In 2017, a robot named Sophia was granted Saudi Arabian citizenship, a dubious move on many fronts. Real human women had only earned the right to drive a car in the country a month earlier, and robot citizenship was also, somewhat transparently, a publicity stunt. Sophia, which is humanoid and powered by a proprietary artificial intelligence engine created by Hanson Robotics, has participated in a number of stunts since then, including appearances on 'The Tonight Show' and at a lucrative sale of its art during the 2021 NFT boom. All of these events and more appear in the new documentary 'My Robot Sophia' (on digital platforms), but the film skirts gimmicks to go in a more tricky and unsettling direction. It's an almost soulful portrait of the artist under capitalism, rather than another exposé on robotics and artificial intelligence. It's a bit parallel to Alex Garland's fictional film 'Ex Machina.' And in the Frankensteinian tradition, the robot's creator is not uncomplicated. The title of the film implies that Sophia belongs to someone. That someone is David Hanson, the chief executive of Hanson Robotics. A loner and an artist from a young age, he became fascinated with creating lifelike masks. His lab is crowded with them, rubber faces on little pedestals that seem, in the background of many shots, to be staring upward in open-mouthed wonder, or terror. That kind of image adds subtext, and it's all the more astounding because it's nonfiction. 'My Robot Sophia' is littered with visual tells, and if you're not actually watching with your eyes, you might miss what they're saying. The two directors have experience telling these sorts of sprawling stories that require a lot of patience, time and observation — Jon Kasbe with 'When Lambs Become Lions' and Crystal Moselle with 'Skate Kitchen' and 'The Wolfpack.' You see what they see. The film follows Hanson for years as he develops Sophia, tries to convince investors to stay on board, experiences some glory but more nail-biting failure at public appearances and, barely, weathers the pandemic. Atmospherically, it's dreamy — Kasbe and Moselle often catch Hanson as he's thinking, or as his face tries to mask some hurt or panic or, occasionally, joy. Hanson's human emotion provides an unnerving juxtaposition with Sophia, which cannot feel but, Hanson thinks, will some day. Or will at least be able to pretend it does, to the point that we won't know the difference. One could read the film as a sort of praise song to Hanson as misunderstood genius. But while 'My Robot Sophia' sets us up with that kind of surface analysis, it becomes pretty clear that there's a lot of dramatic irony at work. Hanson's ambition and drive are endless, but whether he's right — whether Sophia is the marvelous advance, the 'new art form' that will change humanity that he insists the robot is — seems dubious most of the time. Shooting ended in 2022, and the film leaves us watching Sophia plug itself into its own charger. It's hard not to muse on how even a basic chatbot a couple of years later can do these things, some of them seemingly better. Whether that's good or bad — well, 'My Robot Sophia' isn't going to tell us that.
The Star
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
UK to ban 'sim farms' used by scammers to send mass fraud messages
The government said the devices are used by criminals to hold multiple SIM cards, which as well as allowing scammers to send out thousands of messages to people at the same time, can also be used to create verified accounts on social media and other platforms in large volumes. — Designed by freepik LONDON: SIM farm devices capable of holding multiple SIM cards enabling scammers to send thousands of scam text messages at once are to be banned under UK government plans to crack down on fraud. The ban, the first of its kind in Europe, will make the possession or supply of the devices without good reason illegal, with unlimited fines in England and Wales and a £5,000 (RM29,098 or US$6,600) fine in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The government said the devices are used by criminals to hold multiple SIM cards, which as well as allowing scammers to send out thousands of messages to people at the same time, can also be used to create verified accounts on social media and other platforms in large volumes. The UK Home Office said recent data showed fraud had increased last year by 19%, and now accounts for more than 40% of all reported crime in England and Wales. UK Fraud Minister David Hanson said: "Fraud devastates lives, and I am determined to take the decisive action necessary to protect the public from these shameful criminals. "Two-thirds of British adults say they've received a suspicious message on their phone – equivalent to more than 35 million people – which is why cracking down on SIM farms is so vital to protecting the public. "This marks a leap forward in our fight against fraud and will provide law enforcement and industry partners with the clarity they need to protect the public from this shameful crime. "This Government will continue to take robust action to protect the public from fraud and deliver security and resilience through the Plan for Change." Nick Sharp, deputy director for fraud at the National Crime Agency (NCA), said: "Fraud is the crime we are all most likely to experience, and one that causes victims significant emotional and financial harm. "We know that fraud at scale is being facilitated by SIM farms, which give criminals a means and an opportunity to contact victims at scale with relative ease. "The ban announced today is very welcome. It will give us a vital tool to step up our fight against fraudsters, target the services they rely on, and better protect the public." The government said the new ban will come into effect six months after the Crime and Policing Bill receives royal assent. Scam text messages have become an increasingly common problem in recent years, with mobile operators regularly introducing new technology to help spot and block them before they reach the public. Rachel Andrews, head of corporate security at Vodafone UK, said the ban on SIM farms was an "important step" in preventing fraud. "Vodafone UK is committed to protecting all our customers from fraud, including activity enabled by SIM farms," she said. "So far this year we have blocked over 38.5 million suspected scam messages, and in 2024 that figure reached over 73.5 million for the year. "As an industry, UK telecoms operators have blocked more than one billion suspected scam messages since 2023. "However, we cannot fully tackle fraud in isolation; collaboration between industry and government is crucial. "This is a really important step taken by the Home Office and we fully support the inclusion of SIM farms in the upcoming legislation. "We look forward to working together on this issue." Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: "We welcome this move but let's not pretend Labour led the charge. This builds directly on the work the Conservatives did last year to crack down on SIM farms through the Criminal Justice Bill. "These devices are the weapon of choice for fraudsters. We acted to close that loophole, and it's right that Labour are finally scrambling to catch up. "Enforcement is now key, as criminals will always look for new ways to abuse the system. Ministers must ensure this legislation is watertight, or it risks being a ban in name only." – dpa
Scotsman
24-04-2025
- Scotsman
Fraud minister Lord Hanson outlines plans to ban Sim farms
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now Fraud minister Lord Hanson writes exclusively for the NationalWorld network to explain the government's plans to ban SIM farms - used by scammers to con the public Sign up to the daily Crime UK newsletter. All the latest crime news and trials from across the UK. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It only takes one text. One moment's distraction. One slip of attention. One convincing message which catches us off-guard. And, in an instant, everything can be gone. Savings drained. Identities stolen. Personal details lost to callous criminals determined to defraud us of everything we work so hard for. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And whilst the financial impacts of a scam text can be enormous – the emotional tolls often last a lifetime. The shame. The disbelief. The isolation. The questions that haunt so many victims: 'How could this happen to me?' And, make no mistake about it, anyone can be a victim. These fraudsters are getting smarter, faster, and more efficient – they are utilising the most up-to-date technologies to gain our trust, catch us off-guard, and trick us into acting before we've had a moment to think. These criminals are not just sending one text to one person. But thousands of texts to thousands of people, every single day. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This is the reality we face with SIM farms – technical devices capable of holding multiple SIM cards that allow criminals to send scam texts to thousands of people at once. This is fraud on an industrial scale. SIM farms allow criminals to weaponise our mobile networks, flooding the public with texts that appear legitimate but are designed to deceive, defraud, and destroy our trust. As the Minister responsible for combating fraud, I'm proud to announce that this government is banning SIM farms and ending this shameful practice through our new Crime and Policing Bill. Sir David Hanson, the minister for fraud | Crown Copyright In a landmark step, the UK will become the first country in Europe to do so and once again shows us to be a global leader in the prevention of fraud. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad We've all been bombarded with these scam texts for far too long – the figures are simply staggering. Recent data suggests that 64% of adults in the UK have received a suspicious message – this is roughly equivalent to 35 million people. And that's why this ban matters - because it strikes at the heart of an issue that we've all experienced. Beyond cutting off criminals' ability to target the public, I'm pleased that these measures will also boost law enforcement ability to act swiftly to both protect the public from fraud and bring these offenders to justice - delivering UK resilience and security as a foundation of our Plan for Change. This means raids, it means seizures, and it means fines. Because we are closing the net on criminal gangs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It also means working ever closely with industry. As part of our new, expanded Fraud Strategy, we are supporting where we can and challenging where we must – and I continue to urge all partners, including tech and telecoms companies, to go further and faster to tackle fraud. I will keep beating the drum for public awareness. Because the more we can equip the public with the knowledge and skills to starve the oxygen from these criminal networks – the more we can prevent these frauds from happening. So, if anything doesn't feel right, my message is simple: Stop. Think. Fraud. This really could make all the difference. Because it only takes one text. But by approaching this from every angle – we can all stay protected from scams. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Scotsman
24-04-2025
- Scotsman
Fraud minister Lord Hanson outlines plans to ban Sim farms
Fraud minister Lord Hanson writes exclusively for the NationalWorld network to explain the government's plans to ban SIM farms - used by scammers to con the public Sign up to the daily Crime UK newsletter. All the latest crime news and trials from across the UK. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It only takes one text. One moment's distraction. One slip of attention. One convincing message which catches us off-guard. And, in an instant, everything can be gone. Savings drained. Identities stolen. Personal details lost to callous criminals determined to defraud us of everything we work so hard for. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And whilst the financial impacts of a scam text can be enormous – the emotional tolls often last a lifetime. The shame. The disbelief. The isolation. The questions that haunt so many victims: 'How could this happen to me?' And, make no mistake about it, anyone can be a victim. These fraudsters are getting smarter, faster, and more efficient – they are utilising the most up-to-date technologies to gain our trust, catch us off-guard, and trick us into acting before we've had a moment to think. These criminals are not just sending one text to one person. But thousands of texts to thousands of people, every single day. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This is the reality we face with SIM farms – technical devices capable of holding multiple SIM cards that allow criminals to send scam texts to thousands of people at once. This is fraud on an industrial scale. SIM farms allow criminals to weaponise our mobile networks, flooding the public with texts that appear legitimate but are designed to deceive, defraud, and destroy our trust. As the Minister responsible for combating fraud, I'm proud to announce that this government is banning SIM farms and ending this shameful practice through our new Crime and Policing Bill. Sir David Hanson, the minister for fraud | Crown Copyright In a landmark step, the UK will become the first country in Europe to do so and once again shows us to be a global leader in the prevention of fraud. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad We've all been bombarded with these scam texts for far too long – the figures are simply staggering. Recent data suggests that 64% of adults in the UK have received a suspicious message – this is roughly equivalent to 35 million people. And that's why this ban matters - because it strikes at the heart of an issue that we've all experienced. Beyond cutting off criminals' ability to target the public, I'm pleased that these measures will also boost law enforcement ability to act swiftly to both protect the public from fraud and bring these offenders to justice - delivering UK resilience and security as a foundation of our Plan for Change. This means raids, it means seizures, and it means fines. Because we are closing the net on criminal gangs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It also means working ever closely with industry. As part of our new, expanded Fraud Strategy, we are supporting where we can and challenging where we must – and I continue to urge all partners, including tech and telecoms companies, to go further and faster to tackle fraud. I will keep beating the drum for public awareness. Because the more we can equip the public with the knowledge and skills to starve the oxygen from these criminal networks – the more we can prevent these frauds from happening. So, if anything doesn't feel right, my message is simple: Stop. Think. Fraud. This really could make all the difference. Because it only takes one text. But by approaching this from every angle – we can all stay protected from scams. Advertisement Hide Ad
Malay Mail
24-04-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
UK to outlaw SIM farm devices amid surge in fraud cases
LONDON, April 24 — SIM farm devices capable of holding multiple SIM cards enabling scammers to send thousands of scam text messages at once are to be banned under UK government plans to crack down on fraud. The ban, the first of its kind in Europe, will make the possession or supply of the devices without good reason illegal, with unlimited fines in England and Wales and a £5,000 (RM29,000) fine in Scotland and Northern Ireland, reported PA Media/dpa news. The government said the devices are used by criminals to hold multiple SIM cards, which as well as allowing scammers to send out thousands of messages to people at the same time, can also be used to create verified accounts on social media and other platforms in large volumes. The UK Home Office said recent data showed fraud had increased last year by 19 per cent and now accounts for more than 40 per cent of all reported crime in England and Wales. UK Fraud Minister David Hanson said: 'Fraud devastates lives, and I am determined to take the decisive action necessary to protect the public from these shameful criminals. 'Two-thirds of British adults say they've received a suspicious message on their phone – equivalent to more than 35 million people – which is why cracking down on SIM farms is so vital to protecting the public. 'This marks a leap forward in our fight against fraud and will provide law enforcement and industry partners with the clarity they need to protect the public from this shameful crime. 'This Government will continue to take robust action to protect the public from fraud and deliver security and resilience through the Plan for Change.' Nick Sharp, deputy director for fraud at the National Crime Agency (NCA), said: 'Fraud is the crime we are all most likely to experience, and one that causes victims significant emotional and financial harm. 'We know that fraud at scale is being facilitated by SIM farms, which give criminals a means and an opportunity to contact victims at scale with relative ease. 'The ban announced today is very welcome. It will give us a vital tool to step up our fight against fraudsters, target the services they rely on, and better protect the public.' The government said the new ban will come into effect six months after the Crime and Policing Bill receives royal assent. Scam text messages have become an increasingly common problem in recent years, with mobile operators regularly introducing new technology to help spot and block them before they reach the public. Rachel Andrews, head of corporate security at Vodafone UK, said the ban on SIM farms was an 'important step' in preventing fraud. 'Vodafone UK is committed to protecting all our customers from fraud, including activity enabled by SIM farms,' she said. 'So far this year we have blocked over 38.5 million suspected scam messages, and in 2024 that figure reached over 73.5 million for the year. 'As an industry, UK telecoms operators have blocked more than one billion suspected scam messages since 2023. 'However, we cannot fully tackle fraud in isolation; collaboration between industry and government is crucial. 'This is a really important step taken by the Home Office and we fully support the inclusion of SIM farms in the upcoming legislation. 'We look forward to working together on this issue.' Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: 'We welcome this move but let's not pretend Labour led the charge. This builds directly on the work the Conservatives did last year to crack down on SIM farms through the Criminal Justice Bill. 'These devices are the weapon of choice for fraudsters. We acted to close that loophole, and it's right that Labour are finally scrambling to catch up. 'Enforcement is now key, as criminals will always look for new ways to abuse the system. Ministers must ensure this legislation is watertight, or it risks being a ban in name only.' — Bernama
