Monday, June 23, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

New law could force Signal to leave Sweden

Published 26 February 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Signal had around 70 million users last year.
1 minute read

The Swedish government wants to force encrypted apps to store all messages sent. If the proposal becomes reality, Signal plans to leave Sweden.

The bill aims to give the Swedish Security Service and the police the possibility to request message history from criminal suspects afterwards. For encrypted apps, this would mean a requirement to store all message history. The government wants Parliament to vote on the proposal already in March next year.

If the bill is adopted, the messaging app Signal will state that they will leave Sweden.

– In practice, this means that we are being asked to break the encryption that is the basis of our entire business. Asking us to store data would undermine our entire architecture and we would never do that. We would rather leave the Swedish market completely, says Signal’s CEO Meredith Whittaker to the tax-funded SVT.

– If you create a vulnerability based on Swedish preferences, it would create a path to undermine our entire network. That’s why we would never introduce these backdoors, she continues.

The Swedish Armed Forces have recently urged their personnel to use Signal to reduce the risk of interception. In a letter to the government, it warns that the bill cannot be implemented “without introducing vulnerabilities and backdoors that can be exploited by third parties”.

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Birthing pools gain popularity among Swedish women

Published today 7:19
– By Editorial Staff
2 minute read

A growing number of women are choosing to give birth in so-called birthing pools. Water births are now offered in almost all regions of Sweden, something that was unusual just a few years ago.

Water birth means that the pregnant woman is in a pool and thus surrounded by water, and that the baby is then born underwater. The woman lifts the baby out of the water herself once it is born.

Since 2019, when only four of Sweden’s regions offered this option, more water births have been introduced at Swedish maternity hospitals, according to a survey by the tax-funded SVT. Today, only four do not offer water births: Region Kronoberg, Region Örebro County, Region Gävleborg and Region Blekinge.

In the 17 other regions, there is, or is about to be, some form of possibility to give birth in a birthing pool. One of the latest to acquire a birthing pool is the birthing clinic in Karlstad.

It feels absolutely fantastic, it’s a goal that we’ve been working towards for several years and haven’t had the conditions for until now, says Charlotte Stenström, head of the obstetrics department at Karlstad Central Hospital, to SVT.

Not everyone will have the opportunity, however, as there are certain criteria. In Karlstad, for example, there will be requirements that the pregnancy is within normal limits and that the baby in the womb is of normal size.

Giving birth in a birthing pool can shorten labor and give the woman a more positive experience of the process, as well as a sense of control over her birth. It can also be beneficial against pain.

There are many benefits of water births – pain relief is one, says midwife Araceli Carranza.

Deepfakes are getting scary good

Why your next “urgent” call or ad might be an AI scam.

Published yesterday 9:35
– By Naomi Brockwell
4 minute read

This week I watched a compilation of video clips that looked absolutely real. Police officers, bank managers, disaster relief workers, product endorsements… but every single one was generated by AI. None of the people, voices, or backdrops ever existed.

It’s fascinating… and chilling. Because the potential for misuse is growing fast, and most people aren’t ready.

This same technology already works in real time. Someone can join a Zoom call, flip a switch, and suddenly look and sound like your boss, your spouse, or your favorite celebrity. That opens the door to a new generation of scams, and people everywhere are falling for them.

The old scripts, supercharged by AI

“Ma’am, I’m seeing multiple threats on your computer. I need remote access right now to secure your files”.
Tech-support scams used to rely on a shaky phone line and a thick accent. Now an AI voice clone mimics a calm AppleCare rep, shares a fake malware alert, and convinces you to install remote-control software. One click later, they’re digging through your files and draining your bank account.

“We’ve detected suspicious activity on your account. Please verify your login”.
Phishing emails are old news. But now people are getting FaceTime calls that look like their bank manager. The cloned face reads off the last four digits of your card, then asks you to confirm the rest. That’s all they need.

“Miracle hearing aids are only $14.99 today. Click to order”.
Fake doctors in lab coats (generated by AI) are popping up in ads, selling junk gadgets. The product either never arrives, or the site skims your card info.

“We just need your Medicare number to update your benefits for this year.”
Seniors are being targeted with robocalls that splice in their grandchild’s real voice. Once the scammer gets your Medicare ID, they start billing for fake procedures that mess up your records.

“Congratulations, you’ve won $1,000,000! Just pay the small claiming fee today”.
Add a fake newscaster to an old lottery scam, and suddenly it feels real. Victims rush to “claim their prize” and wire the fee… straight to a fraudster.

“We’re raising funds for a sick parishioner—can you grab some Apple gift cards?”
Community members are seeing AI-generated videos of their own pastor asking for help. Once the card numbers are sent, they’re gone.

“Can you believe these concert tickets are so cheap?”
AI-generated influencers post about crazy ticket deals. Victims buy, receive a QR code, and show up at the venue, only to find the code has already been used.

“Help our disaster-relief effort.”
Hours after a real hurricane or earthquake, fake charity appeals start circulating. The links look urgent and heartfelt, and route donations to crypto wallets that vanish.

Why we fall for it and what to watch out for

High pressure
Every scammer plays the same four notes: fear, urgency, greed, and empathy. They hit you with a problem that feels like an emergency, offer a reward too good to miss, or ask for help in a moment of vulnerability. These scams only work if you rush. That’s their weak spot. If something feels high-pressure, pause. Don’t make decisions in panic. You can always ask someone you trust for advice.

Borrowed credibility
Deepfakes hijack your instincts. When someone looks and sounds like your boss, your parent, or a celebrity, your brain wants to trust them. But just because you recognize the face doesn’t mean it’s real. Don’t assume a familiar voice or face is proof of identity. Synthetic media can be convincing enough to fool even close friends.

Trusted platforms become delivery trucks
We tend to relax when something comes through a trusted source — like a Zoom call, a blue-check account, or an ad on a mainstream site. But scammers exploit that trust. Just because something shows up on a legitimate platform doesn’t mean it’s safe. The platform’s credibility rubs off on the fake.

Deepfakes aren’t just a technology problem, they’re a human one. For most of history, our eyes and ears were reliable lie detectors. Now, that shortcut is broken. And until our instincts catch up, skepticism is your best defense.

How to stay one step ahead

  1. Slow the game down.
    Scammers rely on speed. Hang up, close the tab, take a breath. If it’s real, it’ll still be there in five minutes.
  2. Verify on a second channel.
    If your “bank” or “boss” calls, reach out using a number or app you already trust. Don’t rely on the contact info they provide.
  3. Lock down big moves.
    Use two-factor authentication, passphrases, or code words for any important accounts or transactions.
  4. Educate your circle.
    Most deepfake losses happen because someone else panicked. Talk to your family, especially seniors. Share this newsletter. Report fake ads. Keep each other sharp.

Many of these scams fall apart the moment you stop and think. The goal is always the same: get you to act fast. But you don’t have to play along.

Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay skeptical.

 

Yours in privacy,
Naomi

Naomi Brockwell is a privacy advocacy and professional speaker, MC, interviewer, producer, podcaster, specialising in blockchain, cryptocurrency and economics. She runs the NBTV channel on Youtube.

Power shortages threaten southern Sweden this winter

The energy crisis in Europe

Published 17 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Residents in southern Sweden can expect sky-high electricity prices this winter.
2 minute read

Svenska kraftnät (the Swedish national grid operator) warns of a critical electricity shortage in southern Sweden this winter equivalent to the output of seven nuclear reactors. A new report shows that electricity area SE4, southern Götaland including Skåne, is particularly vulnerable.

The forecast points to a power shortage of 7,700 MWh/h during a normal winter in SE3 and SE4. The reason is insufficient plannable production in relation to consumption.

Malin Johansson, energy and climate manager at the industry organization IKEM, is calling for quick solutions:

This confirms that we need to quickly build new capacity in the form of gas turbines and batteries that can even out the peaks and cope with the power demand in southern Sweden, especially during cold, windless winter days.

Imports do not offer a reliable solution either, as the electricity systems of neighboring countries are often just as strained:

Analyses of import opportunities from neighboring countries show that most, like Sweden, are dependent on imports in strained situations. This indicates that import opportunities from our neighboring countries at these times may be limited if shortages occur simultaneously”, writes Svenska kraftnät.

– It’s no news that if there’s no wind in Denmark, there’s no wind in Skåne either. Every country must take responsibility for its own electricity system. We can’t rely on neighboring countries, says Malin Johansson.

“Must be able to produce around the clock”

Svenska kraftnät highlights consumer flexibility and storage as solutions, but Johansson is skeptical:

– Why should we create a market where industry is forced to be flexible? It’s not as if we have a high added value from selling electricity to other countries. Industry must be able to produce around the clock to promote growth and prosperity in Sweden.

The transmission capacity between SE3 and SE4 is insufficient during peak hours, which drives up electricity prices in SE4. The ERAA 2024 report confirms that margins are shrinking in southern Sweden, where demand is increasing while transmission from the north is limited. The situation requires urgent measures to secure the electricity supply.

The report points out that Europe’s electricity system is at risk of becoming increasingly vulnerable to power shortages. Despite extensive investments in wind and solar power, there is no realistic plan to replace fossil fuel-based electricity production that is being phased out for economic reasons. As a result, new capacity may not be built in time, which threatens security of supply.

Tech company bankrupt – “advanced AI” was 700 Indians

Published 14 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
“AI washing” refers to a company exaggerating or lying about their products or services being powered by advanced artificial intelligence in order to attract investors and customers.
2 minute read

An AI company that marketed itself as a technological pioneer – and attracted investments from Microsoft, among others – has gone bankrupt. In the aftermath, it has been revealed that the technology was largely based on human labor, despite promises of advanced artificial intelligence.

Builder.ai, a British startup formerly known as Engineer.ai, claimed that their AI assistant Natasha could build apps as easily as ordering pizza. But as early as 2019, the Wall Street Journal revealed that much of the coding was actually done manually by a total of about 700 programmers in India.

Despite the allegations, Builder.ai secured over $450 million in funding from investors such as Microsoft, Qatar Investment Authority, IFC, and SoftBank’s DeepCore. At its peak, the company was valued at $1.5 billion.

In May 2025, founder and CEO Sachin Dev Duggal stepped down from his position, and when the new management took over, it emerged that the revelations made in 2019 were only the tip of the iceberg. For example, the company had reported revenues of $220 million in 2024, while the actual figures were $55 million. Furthermore, the company is suspected of inflating the figures through circular transactions and fake sales via “third-party resellers”, reports the Financial Times.

Following the new revelations, lenders froze the company’s account, forcing Builder.ai into bankruptcy. The company is now accused of so-called AI washing, which means that a company exaggerates or falsely claims that its products or services are powered by advanced artificial intelligence in order to attract investors and customers.

The company’s heavy promotion of “Natasha” as a revolutionary AI solution turned out to be a facade – behind the deceptive marketing ploy lay traditional, human-driven work and financial irregularities.

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