EU Digital Services Act censorship and the ‘Call of Duty’ to use AI to Spy on Gamers
Call of Duty video cover (Activision)
The European Union’ Digital Services Act has been in place since late last month. Here is one report about it:
Making sure digital rules protect and benefit all Europeans
September 4, 2023
Harmonised EU rules are important to businesses and consumers alike. That is why Europe needs to focus on the effective implementation and enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which started to apply to very large companies on 28 August. The EU should also make sure that new legislative proposals do not contradict the landmark DSA.
Europeans need to see the tangible results and benefits of these new digital content rules. This means that lawmakers should take enough time to see what works, and what doesn’t, within this new framework before adding new layers of legislation.
The European Commission has proposed an update of the EU product liability regime in order to better protect consumers in the digital era. https://www.project-disco.org/european-union/making-sure-digital-rules-protect-and-benefit-all-europeans/
Harmonized rules from the EU can point to totalitarianism. The Digital Services Act (DSA) is another step towards this and 666 controls. I do not see that the DSA really protects consumers as much as it forces controls against internet content that the EU does not wish to allow.
Michael Snyder posted the following related to the SDA:
Direct Government Censorship Of The Internet Is Here
Censorship of the Internet has been getting worse for years, but we just crossed a threshold which is going to take things to a whole new level. On August 25th, a new law known as the “Digital Services Act” went into effect in the European Union. Under this new law, European bureaucrats will be able to order big tech companies to censor any content that is considered to be “illegal”, “disinformation” or “hate speech”. That includes content that is posted by users outside of the European Union, because someone that lives in the European Union might see it. …
Of course mainstream news outlets such as the Washington Post are attempting to put a positive spin on this new law. We are being told that it will “safeguard” us from “illegal content” and “disinformation”…
New rules meant to safeguard people from illegal content, targeted ads, unwanted algorithmic feeds and disinformation online are finally in force, thanks to new regulation in the European Union that took effect this month.
Doesn’t that sound wonderful?
When this new law was first approved, NPR admitted that it will enable European governments to “take down a wide range of content”…
Under the EU law, governments would be able to ask companies take down a wide range of content that would be deemed illegal, including material that promotes terrorism, child sexual abuse, hate speech and commercial scams.
In addition to “illegal content” and “hate speech”, the Digital Services Act also applies to “hoaxes” and any material that is considered to be “disinformation”. The following comes from the official website of the European Commission…
At the same time, the DSA regulates very large online platforms’ and very large online search engines responsibilities when it comes to systemic issues such as disinformation, hoaxes and manipulation during pandemics, harms to vulnerable groups and other emerging societal harms.
These new content rules are so vague that they could apply to just about anything.
And that is precisely what they want.
From this point forward, if you post something that they do not like, they will have the power to have it taken down.
Even if you don’t live in the European Union, they can have your content taken down, because someone in the European Union might see it. …
Once we get to February 24th, 2024, the Digital Services Act will also apply to a vast multitude of smaller platforms.
At that point, it will be very difficult to escape the reach of this new law.
And just to make sure that they can keep a very close eye on things, the EU just established a brand new office in San Francisco on June 22nd…
European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton cut the ribbon to commemorate the official launch of the European Union’s San Francisco office on Thursday, June 22, alongside Lieutenant Governor of California Eleni Kounalakis, California State Senator Scott Wiener, and Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs Adrian Vazquez.
“I am very glad to be here today in Silicon Valley, a global centre for digital technology and innovation, to officially inaugurate the new European Union office in San Francisco,” Commissioner Breton said in his keynote address to an audience of business and technology sector leaders. “As like-minded partners who strive for reciprocity and common principles, all while respecting our respective democratic processes, our transatlantic ties are more relevant than ever in the area of technology.”
For many years, the Internet was one of the last bastions for free speech.
But now everything has changed. 08/31/23 http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/direct-government-censorship-of-the-internet-is-here/
The EU has made the penalties for non-compliance so severe that social media companies will have to censor a lot to reduce the chances of fines.
While you might think that your “private” chats on the internet will not be bothered, notice the following:
Call of Duty to snoop on players for ‘hate speech’
The bestselling shooter will use AI to police in-game chat1 September 2023
Games publisher Activision has announced that it will use artificial intelligence to listen in on the voice chat of ‘Call of Duty’ players and punish anyone using “hate speech” or “discriminatory language.”
The feature was rolled out on Wednesday for US players of Call Of Duty’s ‘Modern Warfare II’ and ‘Warzone’ titles, and will be launched globally with ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III’ on November 10.
In a statement on Wednesday, Activision said that it will use a machine learning tool to “identify in real-time and enforce against toxic speech,” including “hate speech, discriminatory language, harassment and more.”
Activision’s announcement made no distinction between private chat among teammates and public chat audible to all players in a server. Presumably, both will be subject to the same monitoring.
Call Of Duty’s code of conduct bans insults based on race, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, culture, faith, and country of origin. Players deemed to have breached this code of conduct will be punished with temporary voice chat restrictions, temporary account bans, or permanent bans for repeat offenders, Activision said.
Around 90 million gamers worldwide play Call of Duty every month. At present, Activision depends on reports from other players and text chat monitoring to weed out allegedly “toxic” conduct. …
Players will be unable to opt out of being listened to, except by disabling voice chat entirely. https://www.rt.com/pop-culture/582245-call-of-duty-hate-speech/
I have never played ‘Call of Duty,’ but the fact that the German supplier feels that it must now be able to take down chats among gamers, in my view, points to the long reach of the DSA.
As far as the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) goes, we have put out numerous videos over the years warning about its potential and expectation of totalitarian 666 abuse (watch Artificial Intelligence and Prophecy, ChatGPT and 666, AI Jesus? Artificial Intelligence God?, and Is AI in the Bible?).
Europe keeps taking steps along the lines of 666 controls. The Digital Services Act reminds me of the following:
18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. (2 Peter 2:18-20)
But, of course, it is not just the European Union. Big Tech has its own agenda and has been suppressing information, including political information, it does not like. One apparent goal of Big Tech is to remove a variety of biblically-related content because it does not like many aspects of biblical morality (such as what I reported here yesterday; see: YouTube censors and removes ‘New Transgender Study’ as the ‘Censorship Industrial Complex’ expands).
The DSA is another step towards expanding what has been called the Censorship Industrial Complex:
Welcome to the Censorship Industrial Complex. It’s rather like the old “military industrial complex,” which was shorthand for the military, private companies, and academia working together to achieve U.S. battlefield dominance, with the R&D funded by the government that buys the final product.
But the censorship industrial complex builds algorithms, not bombers. The players aren’t Raytheon and Boeing, but social media companies, tech startups, and universities and their institutes. The foes to be dominated are American citizens whose opinions diverge from government narratives on issues ranging from COVID-19 responses to electoral fraud to transgenderism. …
More telling is the group’s attitude toward what it called “mal-information” – typically information that is true, but contrary to the preferred narratives of the censor. Dr. Starbird wrote in an email, “Unfortunately current public discourse (in part a result of information operations) seems to accept malinformation as ‘speech’ and within democratic norms …” Therein lies a dilemma for the censors, as Starbird wrote: “So, do we bend into a pretzel to counter bad faith efforts to undermine CISA’s mission? Or do we put down roots and own the ground that says this tactic is part of the suite of techniques used to undermine democracy?”
It is chilling that there is no consideration of whether the information is true or of the public’s right to know it. “Democracy” in this formulation is whatever maintains the government’s narrative. …
Welcome to the Censorship Industrial Complex. https://realclearwire.com/articles/2023/08/29/docs_offer_glimpse_inside_censorship_industrial_complex_149684.html
As far as the EU goes, back in November 2018, the European Union announced it would spend a billion euros on a quantum computer and several billion more on related matters (see EU to spend one billion euros on quantum tech to compete with USA and China; France’s Macron wants European military spending to go to European firms; ‘Europe Must Rebel’).
The spending, along with the DSA, is getting the Europeans to the point that they can fulfill various prophecies, such as the following:
15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:15-18)
The totalitarian ability to control buying and selling to the degree listed above was not possible when Jesus had the Apostle John pen the Book of the Apocalypse over 1900 years ago.
But, it is now possible.
Back in December 2020, the European Union (EU) unveiled its Digital Services Act. I warned it had totalitarian implications then (see ‘EU ‘regrets’ new US tariffs’ & ‘EU Unveils New Rules to Curb Technology Companies’).
Europe has placed a lot of pressure on big tech to censor.
Yet, even more censorship is coming.
Jesus said:
4 … the night is coming when no one can work. (John 9:4, NKJV)
4… the night cometh, when no man can work (John 9:4 KJV)
In an October 23, 1980 co-worker letter, Herbert Armstrong wrote:
The Bible warns us the time is just ahead when NO MAN CAN WORK—in the Lord’s Work.
In a November 22, 1982 co-worker letter, Herbert Armstrong wrote:
… brethren and co-workers, the prophesied Great Tribulation (nuclear World War III) will start soon after the European unification. That means OUR WORK OF SPREADING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD WILL BE FINISHED! We have not now much more time. Soon shall come a FAMINE of hearing the Word of the Lord (Amos 8:11). God says, work while it is day, for the night is coming when no man can work – in the Work of God! Nothing else is important in our lives, now, but this all-important Work of God. (http://cog-ff.com/html/pcomments_07_04_08.html, viewed 10/03/13)
So, the Bible tells of a time that will come when the word of God will not be found. And that would seem to be because it will be taken off the internet. In the 21st century, the internet is accessed by people in every country, and thus some type of internet restriction/suspension/site removal is coming.
The prophet Amos was inspired to record the following:
11 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God,
“That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the Lord.
12 They shall wander from sea to sea,
And from north to east;
They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord,
But shall not find it. (Amos 8:11-12)But Matthew 24:14 will be fulfilled BEFORE the full ‘famine of the word’ happens.
After the Gospel of the Kingdom of God has sufficiently reached the world the end comes and the Beast will rise up (Matthew 24:14-22, Revelation 13) and more totalitarian controls will be put in place.
Let me add, that as we warned before, Europe has been in the process of establishing an enforcer for 666 controls. We have a related video:
The European Union is in the process of establishing the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. This is a major, first-of-its-kind move, with the EU setting up a European-wide prosecutor’s office that will have power to investigate and charge people for financial crimes committed against the EU. It looks like this type of office may end up persecuting those that do not have the mark of the Beast when they “buy or sell” as that will later be considered a financial crime in Europe. What does 666 mean? How has that name been calculated? How can we be certain that this is a prophecy for Europe and not Islam? Is the appointment of this new office of significant prophetic importance? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more by pointing to scriptures, news items, and historical accounts.
Here is a link to the sermonette video: EU Setting Up 666 Enforcer?
Europe has set up such an office with that ability.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office officially started operations on 1 June 2021 (https://www.eppo.europa.eu/en/background).
Europe later announced it wanted to set standards for digital currencies. Related to that, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) is pleased to announce the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:
EU to be ‘Sheriff’ of BitCoin & Digital Currencies
Will Bitcoin remain unregulated? The European Union does not think it should be and it released a paper titled “Proposal for EU Regulation on Markets in Crypto-Assets.” Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, earlier endorsed EU regulation of crypto and digital currencies. A Belgian declared that the EU was the “new Sheriff in town” to deal with the “wild west” of Bitcoin, blockchain, and other cryptocurrencies. The European Union now also has the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in operation, mainly to deal with financial matters? Will the Europeans end up controlling buying and selling associated with 666 in Revelation 13:16-18? Is Europe taking preliminary steps to do so now? Dr. Thiel address these issues.
Here is a link to our video: EU to be ‘Sheriff’ of BitCoin & Digital Currencies.
Europe is taking steps.
The Digital Services Act is another step towards the ‘famine of the word’ that God warned of through the prophet Amos.
Related to governmental censorship and controls, a while back we also put out the following:
In 1949, the late George Orwell wrote a disturbing book about a totalitarian government called “nineteen-eighty four.” Despite laws that are supposed to protect freedom of speech and religion, we are seeing governments taking steps consistent with those that Geroge Orwell warned against. We are also seeing this in the media, academia, and in private companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter. With the advent of technology, totalitarianism beyond what Orwell wrote is possible. Does the Bible teach the coming a totalitarian state similar to George Orwell’s? What about the Antichrist and 666? Will things get worse? What is the solution? Dr. Thiel answers these questions and more. A written article of related interest is titled “Totalitarian controls getting closer–The Guardian pushing internet censorship.”
Here is a link to our video: Orwell’s 1984 by 2024?
While the end will not come by 2024, the European Union is moving towards more ability to monitor electronic communications as well as to have more censorship.
We are getting closer to the day, with technologies unheard of when God inspired Amos and John to warn what would happen, that the totalitarian Beast of Revelation will be able to reign as well as enforce a ‘famine of the word’ of God.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word What is the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28? Who is preparing for it? Will Philadelphian Christians instruct many in the end times? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: The Short Work. Here is a link to another: Preparing to Instruct Many. And here is a link to a related Spanish language sermon: La obra corta y el Hambre de la Palabra de Dios.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word What is the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28? Who is preparing for it? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: The Short Work.
Internet Censorship and Prophecy Are concerns about internet censorship limited to nations such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. But what about the USA, Canada, and Germany? What about the European Union? What about internet media companies such as Facebook, Google, YouTube, or email services like MailChimp? Has the attempt to control information been made by various ones over the centuries? Was the New Testament affected by it? What about the church throughout the centuries? Has the Bible already been partially censored? Which Bible prophecies point to coming Internet censorship? What about the Book of Amos? What about the coming 666 Beast and final Antichrist? Is there anything that can be done about this? Should Philadelphian Christians be working on anything now? Will preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God vs. a highly media-supported alternative lead to a ‘famine of the word’? More internet censorship is coming as various statements in the Bible support.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here are links to two related videos: The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For and The Future King of the North.
The Great Monarch: Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Is the ‘Great Monarch’ of Catholic prophecies endorsed or condemned by the Bible? Two sermons of related interest are also available: Great Monarch: Messiah or False Christ? and Great Monarch in 50+ Beast Prophecies.
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There are also three video sermons you can watch: Cancel Culture and Christian Persecution, The Coming Persecution of the Church, and Christian Persecution from the Beast. Here is information in the Spanish language: Persecuciones de la Iglesia y el Estado.
Orwell’s 1984 by 2024? In 1949, the late George Orwell wrote a disturbing book about a totalitarian government called “nineteen-eighty four.” Despite laws that are supposed to protect freedom of speech and religion, we are seeing governments taking steps consistent with those that George Orwell warned against. We are also seeing this in the media, academia, and in private companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter. With the advent of technology, totalitarianism beyond what Orwell wrote is possible. Does the Bible teach the coming a totalitarian state similar to George Orwell’s? What about the Antichrist and 666? Will things get worse? What is the solution? Dr. Thiel answers these questions and more in this video.
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