Tech
Not magic: Opaque AI tool may flag parents with disabilities
For the two weeks that the Hackneys’ baby girl lay in a Pittsburgh hospital bed weak from dehydration, her parents rarely left her side, sometimes sleeping on the fold-out sofa in the room.
They stayed with their daughter around the clock when she was moved to a rehab center to regain her strength. Finally, the 8-month-old stopped batting away her bottles and started putting on weight again.
“She was doing well and we started to ask when can she go home,” Lauren Hackney said. “And then from that moment on, at the time, they completely stonewalled us and never said anything.”
The couple was stunned when child welfare officials showed up, told them they were negligent and took their daughter away.
“They had custody papers and they took her right there and then,” Lauren Hackney recalled. “And we started crying.”
More than a year later, their daughter, now 2, remains in foster care. The Hackneys, who have developmental disabilities, are struggling to understand how taking their daughter to the hospital when she refused to eat could be seen as so neglectful that she’d need to be taken from her home.
They wonder if an artificial intelligence tool that the Allegheny County Department of Human Services uses to predict which children could be at risk of harm singled them out because of their disabilities.
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The U.S. Justice Department is asking the same question. The agency is investigating the county’s child welfare system to determine whether its use of the influential algorithm discriminates against people with disabilities or other protected groups, The Associated Press has learned. Later this month, federal civil rights attorneys will interview the Hackneys and Andrew Hackney’s mother, Cynde Hackney-Fierro, the grandmother said.
Lauren Hackney has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder that affects her memory, and her husband, Andrew, has a comprehension disorder and nerve damage from a stroke suffered in his 20s. Their baby girl was just 7 months old when she began refusing to drink her bottles. Facing a nationwide shortage of formula, they traveled from Pennsylvania to West Virginia looking for some and were forced to change brands. The baby didn’t seem to like it.
Her pediatrician first reassured them that babies sometimes can be fickle with feeding and offered ideas to help her get back her appetite, they said.
When she grew lethargic days later, they said, the same doctor told them to take her to the emergency room. The Hackneys believe medical staff alerted child protective services after they showed up with a baby who was dehydrated and malnourished.
That’s when they believe their information was fed into the Allegheny Family Screening Tool, which county officials say is standard procedure for neglect allegations. Soon, a social worker appeared to question them, and their daughter was sent to foster care.
Over the past six years, Allegheny County has served as a real-world laboratory for testing AI-driven child welfare tools that crunch reams of data about local families to try to predict which children are likely to face danger in their homes. Today, child welfare agencies in at least 26 states and Washington, D.C., have considered using algorithmic tools, and jurisdictions in at least 11 have deployed them, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
The Hackneys’ story — based on interviews, internal emails and legal documents — illustrates the opacity surrounding these algorithms. Even as they fight to regain custody of their daughter, they can’t question the “risk score” Allegheny County’s tool may have assigned to her case because officials won’t disclose it to them. And neither the county nor the people who built the tool have ever explained which variables may have been used to measure the Hackneys’ abilities as parents.
“It’s like you have an issue with someone who has a disability,” Andrew Hackney said in an interview from their apartment in suburban Pittsburgh. “In that case … you probably end up going after everyone who has kids and has a disability.”
As part of a yearlong investigation, the AP obtained the data points underpinning several algorithms deployed by child welfare agencies, including some marked “CONFIDENTIAL,” offering rare insight into the mechanics driving these emerging technologies. Among the factors they have used to calculate a family’s risk, whether outright or by proxy: race, poverty rates, disability status and family size. They include whether a mother smoked before she was pregnant and whether a family had previous child abuse or neglect complaints.
What they measure matters. A recent analysis by ACLU researchers found that when Allegheny's algorithm flagged people who accessed county services for mental health and other behavioral health programs, that could add up to three points to a child’s risk score, a significant increase on a scale of 20.
Allegheny County spokesman Mark Bertolet declined to address the Hackney case and did not answer detailed questions about the status of the federal probe or critiques of the data powering the tool, including by the ACLU.
“As a matter of policy, we do not comment on lawsuits or legal matters,” Bertolet said in an email.
Justice Department spokeswoman Aryele Bradford declined to comment.
NOT MAGIC
Child welfare algorithms plug vast amounts of public data about local families into complex statistical models to calculate what they call a risk score. The number that’s generated is then used to advise social workers as they decide which families should be investigated, or which families need additional attention — a weighty decision that can sometimes mean life or death.
A number of local leaders have tapped into AI technology while under pressure to make systemic changes, such as in Oregon during a foster care crisis and in Los Angeles County after a series of high-profile child deaths in one of the nation’s largest county child welfare systems.
LA County’s Department of Children and Family Services Director Brandon Nichols says algorithms can help identify high-risk families and improve outcomes in a deeply strained system. Yet he could not explain how the screening tool his agency uses works.
“We’re sort of the social work side of the house, not the IT side of the house,” Nichols said in an interview. “How the algorithm functions, in some ways is, I don’t want to say is magic to us, but it’s beyond our expertise and experience.”
Nichols and officials at two other child welfare agencies referred detailed questions about their AI tools to the outside developers who created them.
In Larimer County, Colorado, one official acknowledged she didn’t know what variables were used to assess local families.
“The variables and weights used by the Larimer Decision Aide Tool are part of the code developed by Auckland and thus we do not have this level of detail,” Jill Maasch, a Larimer County Human Services spokeswoman said in an email, referring to the developers.
In Pennsylvania, California and Colorado, county officials have opened up their data systems to the two academic developers who select data points to build their algorithms. Rhema Vaithianathan, a professor of health economics at New Zealand’s Auckland University of Technology, and Emily Putnam-Hornstein, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Social Work, said in an email that their work is transparent and that they make their computer models public.
“In each jurisdiction in which a model has been fully implemented we have released a description of fields that were used to build the tool, along with information as to the methods used,” they said by email.
A 241-page report on the Allegheny County website includes pages of coded variables and statistical calculations.
Vaithianathan and Putnam-Hornstein’s work has been hailed in reports published by UNICEF and the Biden administration alike for devising computer models that promise to lighten caseworkers’ loads by drawing from a set of simple factors. They have described using such tools as a moral imperative, insisting that child welfare officials should draw from all data at their disposal to make sure children aren’t maltreated.
Through tracking their work across the country, however, the AP found their tools can set families up for separation by rating their risk based on personal characteristics they cannot change or control, such as race or disability, rather than just their actions as parents.
In Allegheny County, a sprawling county of 1.2 million near the Ohio border, the algorithm has accessed an array of external data, including jail, juvenile probation, Medicaid, welfare, health and birth records, all held in a vast countywide “data warehouse.” The tool uses that information to predict the risk that a child will be placed in foster care two years after a family is first investigated.
County officials have told the AP they’re proud of their cutting-edge approach, and even expanded their work to build another algorithm focused on newborns. They have said they monitor their risk scoring tool closely and update it over time, including removing variables such as welfare benefits and birth records.
Vaithianathan and Putnam-Hornstein declined the AP’s repeated interview requests to discuss how they choose the specific data that powers their models. But in a 2017 report, they detailed the methods used to build the first version of Allegheny’s tool, including a footnote that described a statistical cutoff as “rather arbitrary but based on trial and error.”
“This footnote refers to our exploration of more than 800 features from Allegheny’s data warehouse more than five years ago,” the developers said by email.
That approach is borne out in their design choices, which differ from county to county.
In the same 2017 report, the developers acknowledged that using race data didn’t substantively improve the model’s accuracy, but they continued to study it in Douglas County, Colorado, though they ultimately opted against including it in that model. To address community concerns that a tool could harden racial bias in Los Angeles County, the developers excluded people’s criminal history, ZIP code and geographic indicators, but have continued to use those data points in the Pittsburgh area.
When asked about the inconsistencies, the developers pointed to their published methodology documents.
“We detail various metrics used to assess accuracy — while also detailing ‘external validations,’” the developers said via email.
When Oregon’s Department of Human Services built an algorithm inspired by Allegheny’s, it factored in a child’s race as it predicted a family’s risk, and also applied a “fairness correction” to mitigate racial bias. Last June, the tool was dropped entirely due to equity concerns after an AP investigation in April revealed potential racial bias in such tools.
Justice Department attorneys cited the same AP story last fall when federal civil rights attorneys started inquiring about additional discrimination concerns in Allegheny’s tool, three sources told the AP. They spoke on the condition of anonymity, saying the Justice Department asked them not to discuss the confidential conversations. Two said they also feared professional retaliation.
IQ TESTS, PARENTING CLASS
With no answers on when they could get their daughter home, the Hackneys’ lawyer in October filed a federal civil rights complaint on their behalf that questioned how the screening tool was used in their case.
Over time, Allegheny’s tool has tracked if members of the family have diagnoses for schizophrenia or mood disorders. It’s also measured if parents or other children in the household have disabilities, by noting whether any family members received Supplemental Security Income, a federal benefit for people with disabilities. The county said that it factors in SSI payments in part because children with disabilities are more likely to be abused or neglected.
The county also said disabilities-aligned data can be “predictive of the outcomes” and it “should come as no surprise that parents with disabilities … may also have a need for additional supports and services.” In an emailed statement, the county added that elsewhere in the country, social workers also draw on data about mental health and other conditions that may affect a parent’s ability to safely care for a child.
The Hackneys have been ordered to take parenting classes and say they have been taxed by all of the child welfare system’s demands, including IQ tests and downtown court hearings.
People with disabilities are overrepresented in the child welfare system, yet there’s no evidence that they harm their children at higher rates, said Traci LaLiberte, a University of Minnesota expert on child welfare and disabilities.
Including data points related to disabilities in an algorithm is problematic because it perpetuates historic biases in the system and it focuses on people’s physiological traits rather than behavior that social workers are brought in to address, LaLiberte said.
The Los Angeles tool weighs if any children in the family have ever gotten special education services, have had prior developmental or mental health referrals or used drugs to treat mental health.
“This is not unique to caseworkers who use this tool; it is common for caseworkers to consider these factors when determining possible supports and services,” the developers said by email.
Before algorithms were in use, the child welfare system had long distrusted parents with disabilities. Into the 1970s, they were regularly sterilized and institutionalized, LaLiberte said. A landmark federal report in 2012 noted parents with psychiatric or intellectual disabilities lost custody of their children as much as 80 percent of the time.
Across the U.S., it’s extremely rare for any child welfare agencies to require disabilities training for social workers, LaLiberte’s research has found. The result: Parents with disabilities are often judged by a system that doesn’t understand how to assess their capacity as caregivers, she said.
The Hackneys experienced this firsthand. When a social worker asked Andrew Hackney how often he fed the baby, he answered literally: two times a day. The worker seemed appalled, he said, and scolded him, saying babies must eat more frequently. He struggled to explain that the girl’s mother, grandmother and aunt also took turns feeding her each day.
FOREVER FLAGGED
Officials in Allegheny County have said that building AI into their processes helps them “make decisions based on as much information as possible,” and noted that the algorithm merely harnesses data social workers can already access.
That can include decades-old records. The Pittsburgh-area tool has tracked whether parents were ever on public benefits or had a history with the criminal justice system — even if they were minors at the time, or if it never resulted in charges or convictions.
The AP found those design choices can stack the deck against people who grew up in poverty, hardening historical inequities that persist in the data, or against people with records in the juvenile or criminal justice systems, long after society has granted redemption. And critics say that algorithms can create a self-fulfilling prophecy by influencing which families are targeted in the first place.
“These predictors have the effect of casting permanent suspicion and offer no means of recourse for families marked by these indicators,” according to the analysis from researchers at the ACLU and the nonprofit Human Rights Data Analysis Group. “They are forever seen as riskier to their children.”
As child welfare algorithms become more common, parents who have experienced social workers’ scrutiny fear the models won’t let them escape their pasts, no matter how old or irrelevant their previous scrapes with the system may have been.
Charity Chandler-Cole, who serves on the Los Angeles County Commission for Children and Families, is one of them. She landed in foster care as a teen after being arrested for shoplifting underwear for her younger sister. Then as an adult, she said, social workers once showed up at her apartment after someone spuriously reported that a grand piano was thrown at her nephew who was living at her home — even though they didn’t own such an instrument.
The local algorithm could tag her for her prior experiences in foster care and juvenile probation, as well as the unfounded child abuse allegation, Chandler-Cole says. She wonders if AI could also properly assess that she was quickly cleared of any maltreatment concerns, or that her nonviolent offense as a teen was legally expunged.
“A lot of these reports lack common sense,” said Chandler-Cole, now the mother of four and CEO of an organization that works with the court system to help children in foster care. “You are automatically putting us in these spaces to be judged with these labels. It just perpetuates additional harm.”
Chandler-Cole’s fellow commissioner Wendy Garen, by contrast, argues “more is better” and that by drawing on all available data, risk scoring tools can help make the agency’s work more thorough and effective.
GLOBAL INFLUENCE
Even as their models have come under scrutiny for their accuracy and fairness, the developers have started new projects with child welfare agencies in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, and Arapahoe County, Colorado. The states of California and Pennsylvania, as well as New Zealand and Chile, have also asked them to do preliminary work.
And as word of their methods has spread in recent years, Vaithianathan has given lectures highlighting screening tools in Colombia and Australia. She also recently advised researchers in Denmark and officials in the United Arab Emirates on how to use technology to target child services.
“Rhema is one of the world leaders and her research can help to shape the debate in Denmark,” a Danish researcher said on LinkedIn last year, regarding Vaithianathan’s advisory role related to a local child welfare tool that was being piloted.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services funded a national study, co-authored by Vaithianathan and Putnam-Hornstein, that concluded that their overall approach in Allegheny could be a model for other places.
HHS’ Administration for Children and Families spokeswoman Debra Johnson declined to say whether the Justice Department’s probe would influence her agency’s future support for an AI-driven approach to child welfare.
Especially as budgets tighten, cash-strapped agencies are desperate to find more efficient ways for social workers to focus on children who truly need protection. At a 2021 panel, Putnam-Hornstein acknowledged that “the overall screen-in rate remained totally flat” in Allegheny since their tool had been implemented.
Meanwhile, foster care and the separation of families can have lifelong developmental consequences for the child.
A 2012 HHS study found 95% of babies who are reported to child welfare agencies go through more than one caregiver and household change during their time in foster care, instability that researchers noted can itself be a form of trauma.
The Hackneys’ daughter already has been placed in two foster homes and has now spent more than half of her short life away from her parents as they try to convince social workers they are worthy.
Meanwhile, they say they're running out of money in the fight for their daughter. With barely enough left for food from Andrew Hackney’s wages at a local grocery store, he had to shut off his monthly cell phone service. They’re struggling to pay for the legal fees and gas money needed to attend appointments required of them.
In February, their daughter was diagnosed with a disorder that can disrupt her sense of taste, according to Andrew Hackney’s lawyer, Robin Frank, who added that the girl has continued to struggle to eat, even in foster care.
All they have for now are twice-weekly visits that last a few hours before she’s taken away again. Lauren Hackney’s voice breaks as she worries her daughter may be adopted and soon forget her own family. They say they yearn to do what many parents take for granted — put their child to sleep at night in her own bed.
“I really want to get my kid back. I miss her, and especially holding her. And of course, I miss that little giggly laugh,” Andrew Hackney said, as his daughter sprang toward him with excitement during a recent visit. “It hurts a lot. You have no idea how bad.”
Huawei introduces new digital power inverters in Bangladesh
Leading global ICT solution and equipment provider, Huawei, has recently introduced four new inverters at a conference for industry stakeholders, Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) partners.
The conference ‘Huawei Partner Ecological Conference 2023’ has highlighted the efficacy of Digital Power and the attendees have discussed the prospects of renewable energy solutions in Bangladesh, reads a press release.
Liang Weixing (Jack), Managing Director, Digital Power, Huawei South Asia, presented the different inverters for the Bangladesh market at the event.
He has introduced SUN2000-100-KTL-M2, SUN2000-115-KTL-M2 and SUN2000-50-KTL-M3 model inverter for the Commercial and Industrial (C&I) market. And for the utility sector he put SUN2000-330KTL-H1 inverter in place, it said.
Liang Weixing (Jack) said at the event, “Digital power is comparatively a new concept for Bangladesh’s industries. It has huge potential and can be very effective in tackling the energy crisis. Industries will not only be able to reduce costs and ensure operational excellence but also become independent.
“With that intention, we have brought outstanding products to Bangladesh today. I believe Bangladesh will greatly benefit from these solutions. Besides, enabling Bangladesh to embrace renewable energy could not be possible without our partners. We are hopeful that we will grow together with the country.”
“All the inverters for C&I are equipped with a feature, namely Smart String-Level Disconnector (SSLD) to detect reverse current flow, and short circuits. These inverters have PID (Potential Induced Degradation) recovery feature that can improve a solar PV system output by 5% as well. Besides, only Huawei inverters have TUV certified Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) safety function that resists fire hazards by detecting arc sparks within 200 meters in 0.5 seconds,” added the press release.
“Bangladesh pledges to reduce 22% of its carbon emissions by 2030. Huawei has provided solar power solutions in Bangladesh for the last three years. In between, it has provided solutions to a number of government and industry projects. The country’s second-largest solar plant at Mymensingh is using Huawei’s digital power solution,” it added.
Meta slashes another 10,000 jobs
Facebook parent Meta is slashing another 10,000 jobs and will not fill 5,000 open positions as the social media pioneer cuts costs.
The company announced 11,000 job cuts in November, about 13% of its workforce at the time.
Meta and other tech companies have been hiring aggressively for at least two years and in recent months have begun to let some of those workers go.
Early last month, Meta posted falling profits and its third consecutive quarter of declining revenue.
The company said Tuesday it will reduce the size of its recruiting team and make further cuts in its tech groups in late April, and then its business groups in late May.
“This will be tough and there’s no way around that,” said CEO Mark Zuckerberg. “It will mean saying goodbye to talented and passionate colleagues who have been part of our success.”
The Menlo Park, California, company has invested billions of dollars to realign its focus on the metaverse. In February it said a downturn in online advertising and competition from rivals such as TikTok weighed on results.
“As I’ve talked about efficiency this year, I’ve said that part of our work will involve removing jobs -- and that will be in service of both building a leaner, more technical company and improving our business performance to enable our long term vision,” said Zuckerberg.
The biggest tech companies in the U.S. are cutting costs elsewhere, too.
This month, Amazon paused construction on its second headquarters in Virginia following the biggest round of layoffs in the company’s history and its shifting plans around remote work.
In early trading, Meta shares rose 6%.
Xiaomi Redmi K60 Pro Review: The Flagship Killer Midranger of 2023
Xiaomi's latest innovation Redmi K60 Pro was released on 1st January in China. Smartphones released under Redmi's 'K' series fall under Xiaomi's premium category devices. That’s why the hype around the new flagship Redmi K60 Pro is beyond ordinary. Let's take a closer look at the Redmi K60 Pro's features, benefits, drawbacks, and price.
Key Features of Redmi K60 Pro
Design
The Redmi K60 Pro boasts a stunning design layout on its back panel, which is sure to impress even the most discerning smartphone users. The camera module has been revamped to give it a fresh look, making it stand out from its competitors.
The phone is available in a range of colors to suit different tastes and preferences. The standard Black and White options look professional and sleek, but those looking for something different can opt for the unique Mint or Champion Black shades.
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In terms of build quality, the Redmi K60 Pro is similar to its predecessor, the Xiaomi Redmi K60. However, the phone has an additional glossy finish that gives it a more premium feel. The curved plastic body, weighing between 201-205 grams depending on the model, feels comfortable in the hand.
The power button and volume rockers are within easy reach, allowing for single-hand usage. Overall, the Redmi K60 Pro is an impressive smartphone that combines style and functionality in one sleek package.
Display
When it comes to the front display, the Redmi K60 Pro offers an OLED 6.67-inch panel, which is identical to the one found on the standard K60. However, what sets the K60 Pro apart is its fantastic FHD+ resolution support, which enhances the overall user experience by providing immersive 68B colors and a robust configuration of a 120Hz refresh rate.
It's worth noting, however, that little information is available on the device's Corning glass protection. Nevertheless, the K60 Pro's impressive 1400 nits of brightness is a welcome feature for users who value screen clarity and vividness.
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With this configuration, users can expect a smooth and responsive experience when scrolling through apps, browsing the internet, or playing games. The high refresh rate allows for seamless transitions and minimal lag, while the FHD+ resolution provides sharp and clear visuals.
Overall, the Redmi K60 Pro's display is a highlight of the device and is sure to impress even the most demanding smartphone users.
Cameras
The Xiaomi Redmi K60 Pro boasts an impressive triple camera setup that is anchored by a 54MP primary lens. The device's upgraded aperture allows for the capture of more colors and contrast, resulting in highly detailed photos and videos.
Additionally, the primary lens comes equipped with optical image stabilization, which reduces distortion and ensures accurate details in each shot. The K60 Pro's camera system excels in daylight conditions, producing great images with ease.
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At night, the device's night mode enhances overall colors and renders crisp details with proper noise reduction support. AI software also works in the background to deliver a variety of features that further enhance the camera results. The phone comes equipped with an in-built camera app that provides various features for tweaking photography and videography, allowing users to easily capture their life moments.
The K60 Pro's camera setup also includes an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro lens as secondary options that produce decent photos. For video recording, users can expect up to 8K resolution video with a diverse range of features for recording.
The device's 16MP selfie lens is also impressive, producing superb photos and 1080p video recording. However, a 4K video recording capacity could make K60 Pro a better deal.
Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi K60 Pro's camera setup is a standout feature that is sure to please photography enthusiasts and casual users alike.
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Performance and Software
The Xiaomi Redmi K60 Pro runs on the latest Android 13-based MIUI 14 configuration straight out of the box, providing users with plenty of amazing tweaks to customize the interface and give it a personalized touch.
The interface can be modified according to the user's wishes, with the ability to add gestures, widgets, and functions for daily usage. Furthermore, the new Android update brings with it some exciting features to explore. However, users may also notice some bloatware present.
The device's performance is nothing short of impressive, thanks to the 4nm Qualcomm SM8550 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. This setup assures users that they can comfortably engage in gaming, multitasking, and casual social media usage without any lag or slow-downs.
Additionally, the Adreno 740 GPU ensures an impeccable gaming session with superb visuals and graphics support during gameplay, providing a flagship-level performance experience.
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The device starts with an 8GB/128GB space based on UFS 3.1 memory. The other storage variants, including the 256GB and 512GB options, come with UFS 4.0 memory and are accompanied by 8GB, 12GB, and 16GB RAM, respectively. The high-speed memory and RAM combination ensure that users have ample storage space and can run even the most demanding apps without any issues.
Battery and Charger
The Xiaomi Redmi K60 Pro smartphone is equipped with a powerful Li-Po 5000 mAh battery that provides users with long-lasting screen time. In typical conditions, the battery can offer up to 6 hours or more of screen time and more than 4 hours of gameplay. Even after extensive usage, around 20% of the battery life will still be available.
The device also supports 120W wired charging, which is incredibly fast and can fully recharge the battery from 0 to 100% in just 19 minutes. This means that users can spend more time using their devices and less time waiting for charging.
Price of Xiaomi Redmi K60 Pro
The Xiaomi Redmi K60 Pro hasn’t been available in Bangladesh yet. The phone is available in China. According to Xiaomi’s official website, the price of the phone starts from CNY 3,299 or 50,298 BDT. With better specifications, the price gets higher. However, the official price of the Xiaomi Redmi K60 Pro may vary in Bangladesh due to tax and other issues.
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Advantages
-5G network support-6.67-inch Full HD OLED display, Dolby Vision-120Hz refresh rate-Android 13 OS, MIUI 14 UI-NFC, Infrared ports-Stereo speakers are present-8 to 16GB RAM, 128 to 512GB storage options-120W wired, 30W wireless charging-8K video recording with gyro-EIS support-USB Type-C 2.0.
Disadvantages
-No 4K video recording option in the Selfie camera-No micro card slot-No reverse charging support-An optical zoom camera is not present-No corning gorilla glass protection-No audio jack-No dust and water resistance support.
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Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi K60 Pro smartphone is an exceptional device that offers a fantastic user experience. With its impressive camera setup, robust processor, and long-lasting battery life, the device is sure to please even the most demanding users.
Its OLED display provides good visuals and vivid colors, while the MIUI 14 configuration offers a customizable interface with various tweaks and features to explore. Additionally, the device supports 120W wired charging, making it incredibly fast and convenient to recharge. Impressive chipset performance for gaming and multitasking.
The flagship killer mid-ranger Redmi K60 has some limitations too. It does not come with water and dust resistance. It has no 3.5mm jack. Its display does not bear the Corning Gorilla Glass’s screen protection. K60 Pro provides average camera performance in low light.
Read More: March 2023 New Release: Top 10 Smartphones Coming in Bangladesh.
Overall, the Xiaomin Redmi K60 Pro is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-quality smartphone with exceptional performance and features.
Imo brings new features to safeguard online privacy
Instant audio/video call and messaging app, imo, recently launched a new campaign on International Women's Day to offer enhanced privacy protection and ensure cyber security for the users.
According to numerous data, cybercrimes such as hacking, blackmailing, and cyberbullying have been occurring regularly in Bangladesh. To be particular, online harassment against women, especially on different social networking sites, is on the rise as a recent study has found that 64 out of every 100 women in the country faced some kind of online harassment and violence owing to a lack of safe online space.
As far as social platforms are concerned, a user may face privacy issues at different stages of communication and there are by far no proper solutions to address these problems. Against such a backdrop, imo introduced its new campaign: "Your privacy, Your Control."
Read more: imo boosts security layer with new anti-fraud system
Through this initiative, imo has brought three advanced security features – "Time Machine," "Block Screenshot for Calls," and "Friend Request." These features will help the users solve many of the security or privacy issues faced at any stage of their communication.
The Time Machine feature will allow users to delete the selected chat history timelessly. Also, the Block Screenshot for Calls feature will provide them with the opportunity to stop the person on the receiving end to take screenshots on calls.
The Friend Request feature will further protect users' safety by prohibiting unknown/unfriendly people from reaching out when they are not a connection.
Belgium bans TikTok from government phones after US, EU
Belgium is banning TikTok from government phones over worries about cybersecurity, privacy and misinformation, the country's prime minister said Friday, mirroring recent action by other authorities in Europe and the U.S.
The Chinese-owned video sharing app will be temporarily prohibited from devices owned or paid for by the Belgium's federal government for at least six months, according to a post on Alexander de Croo's website.
TikTok said it is “disappointed at this suspension, which is based on basic misinformation about our company.” The company said it's "readily available to meet with officials to address any concerns and set the record straight on misconceptions.”
TikTok is owned by China’s ByteDance, which moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020. The company sought to distance itself from its Chinese roots, saying its parent company is incorporated outside of China and it's majority owned by global institutional investors.
But the European Union's three main institutions and Denmark's defense ministry have already ordered employees to remove the app from devices used for official business. Similar bans have been imposed in Canada and the U.S.
The tussle over TikTok is part of a wider global rivalry between China and the U.S. and its Western allies over technological and economic supremacy.
De Croo said Belgium's ban was based on warnings from the state security service and its cybersecurity center, which said the app could harvest user data and tweak algorithms to manipulate its news feed and content.
They also warned that TikTok could be compelled to carry out spying for Beijing, he said, without being more specific.
“We are in a new geopolitical context where influence and surveillance between states have shifted to the digital world," de Croo said in an online statement. “We must not be naive: TikTok is a Chinese company which today is obliged to cooperate with the intelligence services. This is the reality. Prohibiting its use on federal service devices is common sense.”
TikTok said user data is stored in the U.S. and Singapore and pointed to new measures to ease European concerns by storing user data in European data centers.
“The Chinese government cannot compel another sovereign nation to provide data stored in that nation’s territory,” the company said in a statement.
Esports 2023: All Major Events, Where to Watch Them
2023 is set to be a significant year for the eSports community. As the world have been recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions have been eased. Major tournaments and conventions are announcing the return of physical events, while some have adapted to hybrid setups. The eSports industry is expected to grow, with a projected 577.8 million eSports enthusiasts by 2024. Let’s explore the most anticipated eSports events in 2023 and where to watch them.
All Major Upcoming e-Sport Events of 2023
CDL Major 3
The Call of Duty League (CDL) is hosting its third major tournament from March 9-12 in Dallas, Texas. This season's CDL has been marked by parity, with no dominant team emerging yet. Atlanta FaZe, the winner of Major 2, is favored to win this tournament due to their sustained excellence over the past few years.
However, Toronto Ultra, Boston Beach, Seattle Surge, Los Angeles Thieves, and OpTic Texas are all considered strong contenders. OpTic's popularity adds to the excitement, and the crowd is expected to be particularly lively if they go on a run. The tournament promises to be thrilling, with many teams competing for the championship title.
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Smash Ultimate Summit 6
Beyond The Summit's Smash Ultimate Summit 6 will take place in Los Angeles, California, from March 23-26. The event has a reputation for showcasing the personalities of esports stars in intimate and casual settings, making it a beloved tournament for fans.
Unfortunately, this will be the last tournament organized by Beyond The Summit due to the company shutting down. Sixteen of the world's best Smash Ultimate players, including Sparg0 and Tweek, have qualified to compete, and the legendary player Hungrybox will also make an appearance. Collision 2023 will determine the final participant. This is a must-watch tournament for fans of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Evo: Japan 2023
Evo: Japan 2023, a smaller version of the biggest fighting game event of the year, will be held in Tokyo, Japan from March 31 to April 2. Seven popular fighting games, including Street Fighter V, Tekken 7, and Guilty Gear Strive, will be played by top contenders such as Derek "iDom" Ruffin, Nathan "Mister Crimson" Massol, and Hajime "Tokido" Taniguchi.
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Although Capcom Cup champion MenaRD is not registered to compete, the runner-up, Zhen "Rou" Kuang, will be vying for the title. William "Leffen" Hjelte, Vineeth "ApologyMan" Meka, and Julian "Hotashi" Harris are among the notable entrants in Guilty Gear Strive.
RLCS Winter Major
The RLCS Winter Major is the second global event of the 2022-23 Rocket League season, and it will be held in San Diego, USA. The tournament will feature 16 teams, and the defending champions, Gen.G from North America, will be among the contenders if they qualify.
Other North American teams expected to compete include G2, FaZe, Version1, and Spacestation Gaming. Strong European candidates for the tournament include Karmine Corp, Team Liquid, Team BDS, and Oxygen Esports, who made a big move by signing Finlay "rise" Ferguson.
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Blast Copenhagen Major
The upcoming Blast Copenhagen Major will kick off the 2023-24 Rainbow Six Siege season. The event will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, and with European teams having dominated the 2022-23 season, teams like G2, KOI, Wolves and BDS could be among the favorites to win this Major.
However, with roster shuffles and meta changes expected in the offseason, new contenders could emerge from other strong regions like North America and Brazil. Astralis, who finished fourth at the Six Invitational, will also be looking for a new organization this season.
League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational
The League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational is set to take place in London, England from May 2-21. The tournament, which features 13 qualifying teams from all nine LoL eSports regions, including the spring champs, will have a double-elimination play-in and bracket stage.
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China's Royal Never Give Up is the defending champion, but Korea's T1 is expected to be a top contender, especially with their legendary player Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok running it back with the same roster. After winning the LEC winter championship, Europe's G2 Esports has already qualified for the event.
CS: GO Major
The first CS:GO Major of 2023 will be held in Paris, France, from May 8-21. This tournament will have a prize pool of $1.25 million, making it the largest CS:GO event announced for the year so far. Team Vitality, the second ESL Pro League winners in 2022, are expected to be a top contender, with the home crowd cheering them on.
Other likely contenders include FaZe Clan, Natus Vincere, Heroic, Outsiders, G2 Esports, and Team Liquid, and we will have a better idea of the field after the IEM Katowice. The 24-team field will be determined through qualifiers in April.
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VCT Masters: Tokyo
The VALORANT Champions Tour's Masters tournament is set to take place in Tokyo from June 11-25, marking Japan's first time hosting an international VCT event. The tournament will feature the top three teams from each league in the VCT America, EMEA, and Pacific regions, as well as an additional EMEA team due to Fnatic winning the LOCK//IN tournament. Early favorites to qualify and compete for the championship include Fnatic, LOUD, NAVI, NRG, and DRX.
The Evolution Championship Series (Evo)
The Evolution Championship Series (Evo), the largest fighting games tournament of the year, will take place in Las Vegas in August. Alongside the main competition, there will be a weekend-long celebration of the FGC, featuring show matches and other friendly competitions.
This year’s Evo Street Fighter tournament will feature Street Fighter 6, which is set to release in June. Last year’s winners of the most popular games were UMISHO in Guilty Gear Strive, Kawano in Street Fighter V, and Jae-Min "Knee" Bae in Tekken 7.
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ESportsTravel Summit 2023
The ESportsTravel Summit 2023 is a major gathering for eSports event organizers, with a focus on travel and tourism. Attendees include organizers, sports commission representatives, event suppliers, and hotel chains who come together to learn more about the eSports industry, its impact on tourism, and how to profit from eSports events. The event will take place in Toronto, Canada and will provide an opportunity for networking and expanding knowledge.
Conclusion
The year 2023 is packed with major events across a range of popular esports titles, including League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Apex Legends, and VALORANT. These events will take place in various locations around the world, giving fans the opportunity to experience top-tier esports action live.
Whether you're a fan of fighting games or team-based shooters, there's something for everyone in the upcoming esports calendar. So, mark your calendars, get your snacks ready, and tune in to watch the world's best gamers compete for glory and huge prizes.
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Huawei holds campus recruitment program at KUET
Huawei recently organised a campus recruitment program at the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) to give the students a chance to work with it.
Around 200 students from three departments – CSE, EEE, and ECE – took part in the written and verbal examination under the campus recruitment process. Qualified students will get the opportunity to join Huawei soon.
Professor Mostafizur Rahman of the ECE department, Professor Saifur Rahman of the EEE department and other faculty members were present.
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Huang Baoxiong, human resource director of Huawei South Asia, said: "Operation in more than 170 countries and regions allows Huawei to ensure a diversified working environment and an atmosphere to learn and grow."
"We maintain a ratio where 80 percent of employees are recruited locally in Bangladesh and every year we recruit a good chunk of fresh graduates from different universities. It ensures a very good mix of fresh minds and experts in Huawei."
Mostafizur said: "Huawei creates enough opportunities for the local students and talents. It has come forward to recruit our students directly from campus. Our students have the merit and ambition to always do better in their careers."
7 PS5 Games Releasing in March, April 2023
The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console released on April 2019. Developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the PS5 game console has gained a reputation among gamers for its boasting improvements such as faster load times, SSD, and improved controllers. The console has a good selection of games available, with more on the horizon, some set to release this month while others are still years away. Let’s take a look at the major PS5 releases for March and April 2023 and speculate on future games.
Most Anticipated PS5 Games in March and April
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is an upcoming role-playing adventure game from developer Team NINJA and publisher Koei Tecmo Games was released on March 03, 2023. It will be available on PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Team NINJA, renowned for their success with the Nioh series, appears to be drawing influence from the Souls formula, while also adding a heavy dose of the fantastic to the game's overall design. With its intriguing blend of RPG elements and action-packed gameplay, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty has garnered a great deal of anticipation from gamers and fans alike.
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WWE 2K23
WWE fans can rejoice as the next installment of the franchise, WWE 2K23, is set to release on March 17, 2023. The game will be available on PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Vivo launches Y22 model smartphone in Bangladesh
Vivo launched its Y22 smartphone in Bangladesh on March 2.
The mobile phone started selling in the market from March 7 and can be purchased from any authorized showroom and also from E-store. It is priced at Tk 19,999, said a press release.
The smartphone features a 50 mega-pixel rear back camera. The front camera consists of 8 Mega-pixel with F/2.0 lens. Other than that, it has also a super night camera.
Vivo Y22 has side-mounted fingerprint scanner in the power button. Which means, this button can be used as a both power button and a fingerprint scanner and can scan a fingerprint for 15 lakh, said the release.
The phone comes with an 18 watt type-C charger for its 5000 mAh battery, it added.