BOSTON (AP) — Over two decades, the United States and its allies spent hundreds of millions of dollars building databases for the Afghan people. The nobly stated goal: Promote law and order and government accountability and modernize a war-ravaged land.

But in the Taliban’s lightning seizure of power, most of that digital apparatus — including biometrics for verifying identities — apparently fell into Taliban hands. Built with few data-protection safeguards, it risks becoming the high-tech jackboots of a surveillance state. As the Taliban get their governing feet, there are worries it will be used for social control and to punish perceived foes.

An employee scans the eyes of a woman for biometric data needed to apply for a passport, at the passport office in Kabul, Afghanistan, June 30, 2021. Over two decades, the United States and its allies spent hundreds of millions of dollars building databases for the Afghan people. Photo: Rahmat Gul/AP/TT

Built with few data-protection safeguards, it risks becoming the high-tech jackboots of a surveillance state. 

US-built databases a potential tool of Taliban repression

BERLIN (AP) — The German government said Monday it supports plans for a North Sea spaceport that would be used to launch small satellites into space from Europe.

Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said the government would act as an “anchor customer” for the floating launch site off the German coast.

Ariane 5 ECA lifting off in Kourou, French Guiana, carrying a payload of precious satellites, Saturday Feb.12, 2005. The upper stage was manufactured in Northern Germany. Photo: /ESA/CNES/ARIANESPACE/TT

It would be used to launch small satellites into space from Europe.

German government, industry back North Sea spaceport plan

Ask for a roast beef sandwich at an Arby’s drive-thru east of Los Angeles and you may be talking to Tori — an artificially intelligent voice assistant that will take your order and send it to the line cooks.

“It doesn’t call sick,” says Amir Siddiqi, whose family installed the AI voice at its Arby’s franchise this year in Ontario, California. “It doesn’t get corona. And the reliability of it is great.”

Baylee Bowers pays for her lunch using her cell phone at Bartaco in Arlington, Va., on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. The restaurant is using an automated app for ordering and payments. Instead of servers they use ”food runners” to get orders to tables. ”I like it,” says Bowers of the automation, ”it was easy. I’m a flight attendant so as long as automation doesn’t come for my job I’m ok with it.” Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/AP/TT

“It doesn’t call sick,” says Amir Siddiqi, whose family installed the AI voice at its Arby’s franchise this year in Ontario, California. 

Do we need humans for that job? Automation booms after COVID

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese singer and actor Lu Han, a former member of popular K-pop boy band EXO, said Sunday he would cut ties with Swiss luxury watch brand Audemars Piguet after its CEO referred to Taiwan as a country in an interview.

China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, objects to any reference to the self-governing island as a country. Under the one-country policy, other countries have diplomatic relations with either China or Taiwan, but not both.

Visitors to a mall walk past the Audemars Piguet store in Beijing Monday, Sept. 6, 2021. Chinese singer and actor Lu Han, a former member of popular K-pop boy band EXO, said Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021 that he would cut ties with Swiss luxury watch brand Audemars Piguet after its CEO referred to Taiwan as a country in an interview. Photo: Ng Han Guan/AP/TT

In a video circulating online, the watch brand’s CEO referred to Taiwan as an “ultra-modern, high-tech country” in an interview.