News and Updates: Meta Layoffs Included Employees Who Monitored Risks to User Privacy — Meta cut 600 AI staff and over 100 privacy auditors, replacing manual compliance reviews with automated systems to “innovate faster,” alarming regulators and employees. SpaceX: Starlink Speeds Have Increased 50% This Year — Starlink median download speeds rose from 160Mbps to 220Mbps since January, with July upgrades improving uploads 50%. SpaceX touts 400Mbps tests and future gigabit service. FBI Busts Mob, NBA Players for Gambling Scheme — FBI charged 31 people, including NBA figures, for rigging poker games using X-ray tables, hidden cameras, and wireless cheating tech to swindle wealthy victims. Watch Those Texts! Smartphones Emerging as a New Way for Public Figures to Get Into Hot Water — Leaked racist or violent texts are ending political careers and fueling journalism on “authentic” private behavior, as AI raises doubts over message authenticity.
