News of Note for the Internet-Minded (4/12/17) – Inscrutable Algorithms, Adaptable Botnets and Weibo Backlash

It turns out protecting driverless cars from hacking is hard; a new technology brings emotions to virtual and augmented realities; botnets get attacked (and get a new job); and more …

• A new technology transports emotions to augmented and virtual realities via electrodes. (Rachel Metz, MIT Technology Review)
• Protecting driverless automobiles from being hacked is very difficult. (Andy Greenberg, Wired)
• Just how do advanced algorithms do what they do? No one knows. (Will Knight, MIT Technology Review)
• Could an online site that uses moderators be in danger of losing its DMCA safe harbor? (David Kravets, ars technica)
• United Airlines’ misstep triggers a Weibo-fueled backlash in China. (Alfred Ng, c|net)
• In China, a poker-playing algorithm trounces all competitors. (Will Knight, MIT Technology Review)
• Industry group Greenlight Insights projects that virtual reality will be a $7 billion business in 2017. (Janko Roettgers, Variety)
• The feds tackle the cybersecurity threat that is botnets. (Jamie Condliffe, MIT Technology Review)
• Mirai, the Internet of Things botnet, takes its talents to bitcoin mining. (Alyssa Hertig, CoinDesk)
• Facebook Messenger reaches the 1.2 billion mark in monthly active users. (Ken Yeung, VentureBeat)