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DCA’s Responsible Markets Initiative to Scrutinize Growing Impact of Online Markets on Economy and Internet Safety

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From Tickets to Accommodations to Drugs to Domains Names to Goods and Services, Consumers Need Online Markets to be Trustworthy and Safe

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Digital Citizens Alliance today launched the Responsible Markets Initiative (RMI) to raise awareness about the need to keep online secondary markets, which 75 percent of Internet users rely upon, trustworthy and safe.

“When Internet users search for tickets to an event, rental accommodations, or goods and services such as retail products or domain names, they are as likely to consider using an online secondary market as they are the original seller,” said Tom Galvin, executive director of the Digital Citizens Alliance. “But all too often, these online markets are not subject to the same rules. This initiative intends to spotlight online secondary markets to help consumers make smart decisions and provide information to policymakers grappling with how to ensure online trust and safety.”

Americans, by a 6-1 ratio, believe these markets are becoming an increasingly larger portion of the overall economy. That comes from personal experience. Here’s how many Americans reported using online secondary markets in the last year, according to a Digital Citizens research survey conducted in June 2024:

Retail Goods                       

51 %

Event Tickets                       

35 %

Travel Accommodations         

33 %

Pharmaceutical Drugs           

16 %

Automobile                       

14 %

Domain Name                   

11 %

Yet, the Digital Citizens research survey shows an emerging trust gap for online markets. Seventy-two percent of Americans believe primary sellers are more trustworthy than secondary sellers. When asked whether online secondary markets have led to an increase, decrease, or no change in retail or travel scams, credit card fraud, identity theft, or copycat website schemes, 57 percent of Americans say “yes.”  Only five percent say “no.”

The initial markets the Responsible Markets Initiative will explore include:

Event tickets. Online sellers such as StubHub, which boasts that it has sold tickets to over 10 million events worldwide, play an increasingly vital role in the distribution of tickets. Fifty percent of Americans say that after purchasing tickets on the secondary market, either the seats were of lower quality than advertised, the price was not fair, or they had trouble entering the venue.

Travel accommodations. Online marketplaces such as Airbnb and VRBO have booked billions of stays worldwide. However, guests have long raised concerns about their safety, and a recent CNN investigation found that Airbnb is failing to protect its guests from hidden cameras.

Goods and Services. Whether counterfeit luxury goods, pharmaceuticals, other drugs, or toys made of dangerous materials, online markets have been especially risky for consumers. The online sale of counterfeit products has exploded, and many Americans don’t realize that third parties are peddling many products sold on platforms such as Amazon.

Domain Names: The secondary domain market poses an issue for consumers and businesses alike. Consumers may often be tricked into purchasing event tickets at a premium because an online site appears to be the venue box office when it’s actually a reseller. The emergence of domain secondary markets has led to a spike in domain name prices, making it difficult for small business owners to establish an online presence.

Americans are looking for greater scrutiny on online markets. By an 8-1 margin (64 percent to 8 percent), survey respondents said online secondary markets should face more regulations. And 67 percent of Americans said they would be more likely to rely on and use online secondary markets if they were better regulated.

“Given that online secondary markets are likely to become an even bigger part of consumers’ lives and more important to the economy, we have to ensure that they operate in a trustworthy fashion. We hope that Digital Citizens’ Responsible Markets Initiative will help advance the cause of trust in these markets,” said Galvin.

About Digital Citizens Alliance
The Digital Citizens Alliance is a nonprofit, 501(c)(6) organization that is a consumer-oriented coalition focused on educating the public and policymakers on the threats that consumers face on the Internet. Digital Citizens wants to create a dialogue on the importance for Internet stakeholders— individuals, government, and industry—to make the Web a safer place. Based in Washington, DC, the Digital Citizens Alliance counts among its supporters: private citizens, the health, pharmaceutical, and creative industries, online safety experts, and other communities focused on Internet safety. Visit us at www.digitalcitizensalliance.org.

Media Contact: Adam Benson, adam@vrge.us

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dcas-responsible-markets-initiative-to-scrutinize-growing-impact-of-online-markets-on-economy-and-internet-safety-302211878.html

SOURCE Digital Citizens Alliance

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As 2025 IRS Mileage Rate Hits 70 Cents, Expert Warns: Ditch Risky Apps for Secure Paper Tracking

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Gig economy expert Ed Ryder warns against the risks of mileage tracking apps, and advocates using paper-based tracking methods instead. He introduces The Big Mileage Form, a secure alternative developed over two years to meet the specific needs of food delivery gig workers. Ryder highlights recent tech failures, like the July 2024 global IT outage, to underscore the vulnerabilities of digital solutions. The press release also mentions Ryder’s significant mileage deduction using his form and directs readers to GigCoach.net for additional resources, including a consumer tutorial to drive better food delivery outcomes and a gig coach training program.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — As the IRS announces a standard mileage rate of 70 cents per mile for 2025, gig economy expert Ed Ryder, who has completed over 10,000 deliveries with his own car using major food delivery platforms, urges fellow gig workers to reconsider their mileage tracking methods. While acknowledging the convenience of digital solutions, Ryder advocates for a return to secure, paper-based tracking to protect valuable mileage deductions.

With the mileage rate at 70 cents, accurate tracking is crucial for gig workers and small business owners. Mileage apps seem convenient, but they risk data loss from outages, glitches, and cyber attacks. Many overlook these significant dangers.

“With the mileage rate increasing to 70 cents, accurate tracking is more crucial than ever for gig workers and small business owners,” says Ryder, creator of The Big Mileage Form. “While mileage tracking apps seem convenient, they come with significant risks that many overlook. Network outages, app glitches, and cyber attacks can jeopardize months of data.”

Ryder points to the July 2024 global IT outage as a prime example of technology’s vulnerabilities. “A faulty software update caused mass airline disruptions and impacted other industries, catching major corporations off guard. This incident highlights that even in our digital age, software isn’t infallible. For me, I simply won’t trust mileage tracking apps with my most important tax deduction.”

To address these concerns, Ryder developed a comprehensive, paper-based solution. “I spent two years perfecting The Big Mileage Form, tailoring it to the specific needs of food delivery gig workers,” he explains. “At 11×17 inches, it provides ample space for detailed record-keeping and, crucially, it’s immune to software glitches, data breaches, and ransomware attacks.”

Ryder’s meticulous paper-based record-keeping resulted in a mileage deduction exceeding $19,000 on his 2023 federal taxes. “All my business-related miles are thoroughly documented on paper. I’m fully prepared to defend this deduction in case of an audit. This level of confidence is what I aim to provide other gig workers.”

“In today’s digital age, sometimes the most secure solution is the simplest one,” Ryder concludes. “My form not only ensures data security but also prepares users for potential IRS audits. It’s time to reconsider the old-fashioned, but reliable pen-and-paper method.”

For those interested in learning more about effective mileage tracking and other aspects of gig work, Ryder offers valuable resources on GigCoach.net. These include a tutorial for consumers titled ‘Fair Deal Delivery,’ which provides insights on how to improve food delivery outcomes. Additionally, experienced food delivery couriers can explore Ryder’s gig coach training program. Visit GigCoach.net to access these resources and learn more about The Big Mileage Form.

Media Contact

Ed Ryder, Match Experiment LLC, 1 484-493-8740, hello@ideamaned.com, gigcoach.net

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/as-2025-irs-mileage-rate-hits-70-cents-expert-warns-ditch-risky-apps-for-secure-paper-tracking-302337779.html

SOURCE Gig economy expert Ed Ryder

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DATA BREACH ALERT: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Is Investigating Claims On Behalf Of Ascension Health Customers Whose Data May Have Been Compromised

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NEWTOWN, Pa., Dec. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The law firm of Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating claims regarding data privacy violations by Ascension Health (“Ascension”). Ascension learned of suspicious activity on or about May 8, 2024. To join this case, go HERE.

About Ascension Health

Ascension is a prominent non-profit health system in the nation and operates under Catholic principles.

What happened?

On or about May 8, 2024, Ascension detected unauthorized activity in its computer systems. Ascension initiated an investigation, which included retaining consulting cybersecurity experts and notifying the FBI. The investigation determined that between May 7 and 8, 2024, a cybercriminal accessed files containing personal information about Ascension’s patients and employees. This information included names, medical records, payment details, insurance information, government identification numbers, and other personal data such as dates of birth and addresses. Approximately 6 million individuals have been affected by this data breach.

How can I protect my personal data?

If you receive a data breach notification, you must guard against possible misuse of your personal information, including identity theft and fraud, by regularly reviewing your account statements and monitoring your credit reports for suspicious or unauthorized activity. Additionally, you should consider legal options for mitigating such risks.

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a class action lawsuit to seek legal remedies for customers whose sensitive personal and patient data may have been compromised by the Ascension data breach.

For more information, please contact:

Marc H. Edelson, Esq.
EDELSON LECHTZIN LLP
411 S. State Street, Suite N-300
Newtown, PA 18940
Phone: 844-696-7492
Email: medelson@edelson-law.com
Web:  www.edelson-law.com 

About Edelson Lechtzin LLP
Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to cases involving data breaches, our lawyers focus on class and collective litigation in cases alleging securities and investment fraud, violations of the federal antitrust laws, employee benefit plans under ERISA, wage theft and unpaid overtime, consumer fraud, and catastrophic injuries.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions. No class has been certified in this case, so counsel does not represent you unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing now. Your ability to share in any potential future recovery does not depend on serving as lead plaintiff.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/data-breach-alert-edelson-lechtzin-llp-is-investigating-claims-on-behalf-of-ascension-health-customers-whose-data-may-have-been-compromised-302337976.html

SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP

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Earth’s pulse monitored: a review highlights remote sensing time series progress

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As urbanization accelerates and environmental dynamics shift, the need for accurate and timely terrestrial monitoring has never been more urgent. A review has introduced a novel approach to remote sensing time series analysis, integrating multi-source data to enable near real-time monitoring. This innovative methodology promises to transform environmental conservation and urban planning by providing unprecedented insights into terrestrial changes and offering a more precise understanding of environmental dynamics.

GUANGZHOU, China, Dec. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — An international team of researchers from South China Normal University, the University of Connecticut, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences has made a significant breakthrough in remote sensing. Their review, published (DOI: 10.34133/remotesensing.0285) in the Journal of Remote Sensing on December 11, 2024, addresses key challenges in remote sensing, such as incomplete data and noise interference. The team’s new time series analysis technique leverages advanced data reconstruction and fusion methods, significantly enhancing the precision and efficiency of remote sensing for monitoring environmental changes.

The research team has developed an advanced time series analysis technique that combines deep learning algorithms with traditional remote sensing methods to integrate data from various remote sensing sources. This innovative approach allows for the extraction of subtle patterns from large, complex datasets, which is crucial for monitoring critical environmental parameters such as land use and vegetation health. Unlike conventional techniques that struggle with incomplete or noisy data, this new methodology offers enhanced accuracy and more reliable insights into terrestrial dynamics, paving the way for more effective environmental monitoring.

Central to the study’s success is the integration of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks and Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to address the challenges posed by missing or noisy data. The LSTM networks capture temporal trends over time, while the GANs generate synthetic data that mimics real-world observations to fill gaps and correct for atmospheric distortions. This dual approach has resulted in a cleaner, more accurate time series dataset, which was validated against independent ground truth measurements. The researchers demonstrated significant improvements in key vegetation indices, such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), setting a new benchmark in the field of remote sensing.

Experts in the field have lauded the study’s potential to revolutionize remote sensing applications. They see the method as a transformative tool for enhancing high-resolution monitoring and extending its coverage, particularly in agricultural surveillance, urban planning, and environmental management. “This method represents a crucial advancement in our ability to monitor environmental changes,” says Professor Fu. “As it evolves, it could play a key role in addressing climate change and other global challenges.”

The methodology’s future applications are vast, especially in global environmental monitoring and supporting sustainable development goals. By integrating multi-temporal data from Landsat and Sentinel-2 satellites, the team has created a framework for accurate and continuous terrestrial analysis. As computational power advances and algorithms improve, this technology is expected to become a vital tool for natural resource management, disaster response, and climate change mitigation. In the years to come, it could provide critical data to help policymakers address pressing environmental issues on a global scale.

References

DOI

10.34133/remotesensing.0285

Oiginal Source URL

https://doi.org/10.34133/remotesensing.0285

Funding information

This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 42425001 and 42071399).

About Journal of Remote Sensing

The Journal of Remote Sensing, an online-only Open Access journal published in association with AIR-CAS, promotes the theory, science, and technology of remote sensing, as well as interdisciplinary research within earth and information science.

Media Contact

George Hua, Chuanlink Innovations, 1 8656606278, TranSpread1@gmail.com, http://chuanlink-innovations.com/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/earths-pulse-monitored-a-review-highlights-remote-sensing-time-series-progress-302337250.html

SOURCE Journal of Remote Sensing

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