1. Twisted ladder: Hackers steal 1M people’s DNA
A cyberattack hit DNA testing firm 23andMe. Hackers tapped high-level account data detailing where a million clients’ genes have come from – whether they’re 50% Italian or 13% Swedish. On its face, this isn’t information criminals make money from. But experts are 100% concerned, saying the breach speaks to the looming dangers of commercial DNA testing. These companies don’t just provide ancestry information. They also share medical predictions such as your likelihood of going bald or developing Alzheimer’s. DNA hacking could conceivably sabotage careers. Would a company want to hire a 58-year-old pre-disposed to dementia?
2. Gig is up: Goldman Sachs DJ D-Sol to DJ no more
Goldman Sachs’ CEO – David Solomon – DJ D-Sol on the party circuit, has hung up his headphones. Reps say Solomon’s remixing his priorities after the bank’s consumer-lending product flopped. D-Sol headlined several high-profile events for Amazon, Sports Illustrated and others and even remixed Whitney Houston’s hit I Wanna Dance With Somebody. The song rights owner is a Goldman client, natch. But scores of prominent partners have left with Solomon in Goldman’s booth, critical of his “uncollaborative” leadership style. And 2022 saw the largest round of job cuts in Goldman history. Bassline? D-Sol believes his spinning is a media D-Straction. Time to drop a different tune.
3. Stock, lock, and toner: Background checks for 3D printers?
New Yorkers wanting 3-D printers may have to submit criminal background checks before heading to Best Buy. That’s if proposed legislation passes. Proponents say convicted felons are increasingly using the equipment to “print” the components of firearms to create untraceable “ghost guns.” Printers running less than $200 can easily be used to print weapons. The law would also ban sales to anyone whose criminal history doesn’t allow them to own firearms. New York police say they’ve seen a 60% increase in seized ghost guns for the last two years and recently raided a printing operation. A handful of states have passed similar measures.
4. $1.4M speeding ticket give GA driver whiplash
Yes, a Georgia man was lead footing the gas pedal near Savannah– 90 MPH in 55 MPH zone – but the speeding ticket he got left him feeling more like the bugs squished on his windshield. The ticket listed his fine as $1.4M. He called the court thinking typo or Georgia breach of city computers. Whoever answered told him, bless your heart, pay up or appear in court. Turns out – anyone caught driving that fast must appear in court and a judge sets the fine. Speed Racer received an automatically generated “placeholder” fine. Officials say despite the impression he got from whomever answered the phone, placeholders aren’t meant as a threat.
5. Law & Hip Hop – lawyer to hip hop stars accused of using AI
The attorney who made a name representing hip-hop giants from Snoop Dogg to Suge Knight is getting bad reviews from his latest client, Fugees rapper Pras Michel. A jury convicted Michel on 10 counts connected to running interference for a Malaysian businessman accused of massive fraud. Michel’s bucking for a new trial claiming David Kenner was killing him softly – unprepared and unfamiliar with crucial elements of the law. He also says Kenner used an experimental artificial intelligence program to draft his closing argument – which was lousy. Everyone’s a critic. Michel insists Kenner had financial interest in the software company – though the company denies that.
