The Fifth Circuit Court Of Appeals has ruled that geofence warrants are unconstitutional. TechCrunch.com reports that the decision will limit the use of these controversial search warrants in the states that fall under the conservative court’s jurisdiction, which include Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The judges found that  geofence warrants are “categorically prohibited by the Fourth Amendment,” which protects against unwarranted searches and seizures. Geofence warrants, also known as “reverse” search warrants, allow police to draw a shape on a map, such as over a crime scene, and demand that Google (or any other company that collects user locations) search its entire banks of location data for any phone or device that was in that area at a specific point in time. Critics have complained that such warrants are unconstitutional because they are overbroad, and include information on entirely innocent people. Note that the Fourth Circuit…which includes Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina, has held the opposite. This almost certainly means the issue will find its way to the Supreme Court. Considering the conservative bent of the 5th Circuit, I would predict that the Supremes will also find geofence warrants unconstitutional. 

We have been hearing for almost a year about the new button iPhone 16 models are getting. Now, it looks like we know a good deal more about it. Of course, a month from now, we will know all about it…along with the requisite hype…or as it was dubbed in the Jobs era…Apple’s ‘reality distortion field!’ According to macrumors.com, Apple has been calling the button the Capture Button internally…and it looks like it will primarily be related to the cameras. Here are the functions, if the rumors are accurate: first, a light press on it will autofocus while shooting an image or video. Secondly, you can press harder to take a photo…much like on many DSLR and SLR cameras. Another function-you can swipe left or right to zoom in or out. Additionally, there may be a gesture to allow switching from photo to video mode. The button will live on the right side of the iPhone. Note that it may..and I would say is likely…be a feature exclusive to the Pro models. Although this all seems like a bit much when the functions already live on the screen, it will make shooting pictures and video easier and better when you use the phone in landscape orientation…and that’s how it is used for a lot of serious video and a must for those that will be viewed on Apple’s Vision Pro headset.

Since Google has been found to have a monopoly on online search, the next step from the Department of Justice is to offer proposals to the court on how to remedy this situation. 9to5google.com says new reports indicate that the remedies may include a breakup of Google…specifically, a spin-off of Android and/or Chrome. Another spin off possibility being considered is Google Ads…especially AdWords text advertising. Alternatively, the government might ask for an  “interoperability requirements that would make it work seamlessly on other search engines.” As  Google paid Apple a bit over $20 billion to be the default search on Apple’s iOS for iPhones just a couple years ago…and probably a bit more than that now, it’s no wonder Apple has been working quietly on their own search engine. Count on any remedy the court decides on being appealed by Google…which has billions at stake in this matter. 

SAG-AFTRA has cut a deal with AI voice startup Narrativ that will allow union performers to give consent or not to cloning their voices and to get paid…basically all members have asked for. Variety.com reports that under the deal, members will get the opportunity to add themselves to a database that connects voice talent to advertisers. The individual members will have the ability to negotiate fees for the use of their voice on a project by project basis, so long as the fee isn’t lower than SAG-AFTRA’s minimum per its most recent commercials contract with advertisers. In addition to being able to give a thumbs up or down to ads, union performers will be able to negotiate fees…but always will get the minimum scale, and in addition will get pension and health contributions made based on the ads they are paid for. 

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.