Image by Albin Marciniak, from Adobe Stock
China Tests Military Drone For Cloud-Seeding In Xinjiang
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on August 7 that China has launched a cloud-seeding trial in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region using a long-endurance drone, marking the first deployment of this technology in the arid western region. The trial, which began on Sunday, employs the TB-A strike and reconnaissance drone, also known as the Twin-tailed Scorpion A .
The TB-A drone, typically used for military operations, has been adapted for this trial by loading it with silver iodide rods, a common rain-inducing agent. This 45-day trial is focused on the Dongtian mountain area, one of the most water-scarce regions in China. The goal is to test the drone’s cloud-seeding capabilities in high-altitude, drought-prone areas, according to the SCMP.
The TB-A, developed by civilian company Sichuan Tengden, is an advanced version of the TB-001 combat drone. The drone’s capabilities include carrying 24 silver iodide rods and 200 smoke grenades, as well as equipment for cloud particle detection and wind radar, as reported by The SCMP.
This trial is not the first instance of the TB-A being used for weather modification. The drone was previously employed in Sichuan during the summer of 2022 amid a severe heatwave and in Yunnan for drought relief in October of the same year. Despite its advancements, cloud-seeding remains a controversial practice due to concerns about its effectiveness and potential environmental impacts.
The use of the TB-A drone in Xinjiang reflects China’s ongoing efforts to address climate challenges through technological innovation, even as the efficacy and environmental consequences of cloud-seeding continue to spark debate.
Google and Meta’s Controversial Teen Ad Targeting Project Revealed
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
Today, the Financial Times (FT) revealed a secret collaboration between Google and Meta. The two tech giants, worked together on a marketing initiative to target Instagram ads at teenagers on YouTube. This effort bypassed Google’s own restrictions on advertising to minors.
According to the FT, the project aimed to promote Instagram to 13- to 17-year-old YouTube users by directing ads to a category labeled “unknown.” This category, while broad, was known to disproportionately include younger users, thereby sidestepping Google’s policies that prohibit targeting ads to under-18s based on demographics.
The two Silicon Valley giants, typically fierce rivals as the top two online advertising platforms, began this joint effort late last year, as reported by the FT. This initiative was part of a broader strategy to address declining ad revenues for Google, and to combat Meta’s challenges in retaining younger users, amid rising competition from TikTok.
Google stated, ” We prohibit ads being personalised to people under-18, period.” Despite this, the Financial Times points out that the company did not deny using the “unknown” loophole, stating, “We’ll also be taking additional action to reinforce with sales representatives that they must not help advertisers or agencies run campaigns attempting to work around our policies.”
Meta defended its actions, stating that selecting the “ unknown ” audience did not constitute a violation of rules. However, It did not answer inquiries regarding whether the staff knew that the “unknown” group had a younger age demographic.
The controversy unfolds as the U.S. Senate recently passed the Kids Online Safety Act, aimed at bolstering online protections for children. Concurrently, the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have filed a lawsuit against TikTok , alleging violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.
This controversy underscores a growing scrutiny on how major tech companies manage and manipulate data, particularly concerning vulnerable demographics like minors. The ongoing developments in this case could set important precedents for how online platforms handle and safeguard user data.
