Climate change takes lives, cops cozy up to tech to launch precrime, and hackers slide in your DMs. This is what happened last week in cyberpunk.

Cyberpunk Reality

Deaths Hit Siberia as Melting Permafrost Releases Anthrax

1,500 reindeer dead and 40 people hospitalized in the Yamal tundra following an unexpectedly rapid thaw of permafrost which released long-buried anthrax. This is the result of temperatures in the Russia-Siberia region climbing nearly 20 degrees higher than normal for its summers, reaching 95°F when its average is typically 77°F. Quarantines have been issued for several communities to contain the anthrax which may last until September.

2016 is on track to be the hottest year on record.

Torrentz.eu Shuts Down

Torrentz.eu shut down in the middle of the night with no apparent reason as to why. All that was left behind for users was a message stating “Torrentz will always love you. Farewell.” This comes just a couple of weeks after the shutdown of Kickass Torrents. Torrentz.eu was not a host for torrents or P2P sharing but a search engine for actual hosts. No word from Torrentz’s leadership as to why it shut down.

Hong Kong Hack Devalues Bitcoin

Bitcoin exchange Bitfinex was the target of a malicious hack this past Wednesday that has seriously hurt the crypto currency’s buying power by an approximate 20%. Hackers made away with 119,756 bitcoins, the equivalent of $72 million USD.

Secure Messenger App Telegram Hacked

Though touted as a secure, encrypted messaging app, 15 million Telegram accounts have been hacked. Amnesty International have researched the hack and have linked it to Rocket Kitten, a hacker group with known ties to the Iranian government.

DARPA Bridges Brains and Machines

The Neural Engineering System Design (NESD) is the latest DARPA program that is attempting to blur the line between man and machine. The initiative of NESD is to design a non-intrusive implant that will allow for seamless data transfer between the brain of an operator and a machine(s).

Neural Network Introduces New Phase in Robotics

Though it appears to be broken as it emits haunting ambient music and jerks its limbs about, Alter is a revolutionary robot. Those in Tokyo can get a closer look at its actuators working by visiting the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.

Law Would Make NYPD a Protected Class

Ronald Castorina, a Staten Island Republican, is introducing a “Blue Lives Matter” bill to the New York State Assembly. The bill proposes that all police in the state be given special protections. This would include police into the categories of people protected under hate crime laws.

Precrime Comes to Chicago

With new algorithms at their disposal, and empowered by Chicago Special Order S10-o6, cops in the Windy City can arrest criminals before they commit a crime. The Strategic Subject List monitors mostly repeat offenders with supposed gang ties in the city and places them under consideration for new offenses. So far, the police have used the Strategic Subject List to knock on more than 1,400 doors, and already there are claims that this is a tool that has boosted asset forfeiture by police.

Maryland Police Kill Facebook Livestream During Standoff

During an intense standoff with Korryn Gaines, a 23-year-old mother of two, Randallstown Police had Facebook terminate her live stream of the event. After an exchange of gunfire, from police and Gaines, she was killed at the scene and her five-year-old son wounded. Police had arrived to serve Gaines a summons for not appearing at court in March over a traffic stop.

Cyberpunk Videogames

Eidos Montreal Battle Controversy Over Deus Ex Art

In keeping with their theme of “mechanical apartheid,” Deus Ex: Mankind Divided has pushed some art that has drawn a bit of controversy. In response to criticism over the phrasing “Augs Lives Matters” members of Bioware, known for creating the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series, took on members of the Deus Ex dev team for their choice of phrasing in a public debate.

Cyberpunk Television

Westworld Gets Release Date

After years of waiting, HBO’s Westworld finally has a release date. Those who’ve waited patiently will finally be able to see this realty-twisting experience play out on Sunday, October 2nd.

Incorporated Gets First Trailer

Produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, Incorporated takes viewers inside the mega conglomerates of tomorrow with Incorporated. Their first trailer gives us a look of the future rich and powerful living in a world on the edge.

Cyberpunk Movies

Stille Reserven (Hidden Reserves)

Austrian filmmaker Valentin HItz releases the first trailer for his futuristic corporate thriller Stille Reserven. In it, an insurance agent reconsiders his role in the lives of people seemingly packaged by a massive corporation he serves.

Cyberpunk Events

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quyV_zfU-8k

DECFON 2016 Kicks Off This Week

The world’s biggest hacker conference will convene at Paris and Bally’s in Las Vegas from August 4 – 7. For details about events, speakers and entertainment have a look at their schedule.

Think we missed something that matters this week? Let us know in the comments below.