Today on AirTalk, we discuss whether or not social media data should be encrypted in the wake of a New York Times investigation into a growing number of child abuse and exploitation images on Facebook Messenger. We also examine the new curbside pickup restrictions at LAX; and more.
LAX to Prohibit Curbside Pickups for Rideshares
Los Angeles International Airport plans on implementing new policies for rideshare drivers and taxis to help better control and limit roadway traffic in and out of the airport's terminals.
The new policy, which is scheduled to take effect on October 29, would prohibit rideshares drivers and taxis from picking up passengers outside its terminals and require them to operate from nearby parking lots. Shuttle buses will be available to transport travelers to these lots where they will be matched with a car.
LAX revealed that roadway congestion has gotten consistently worse and can no longer handle the extra traffic rideshares have contributed in recent years. Airline passenger traffic rose from 59 million in 2010 to 87.5 million last year. Rideshare cars account for about 27 percent of all commercial traffic at the airport. LAX expects traffic to get worse as the airport is undergoing a $14 billion modernization project to prepare for the 2028 Summer Olympics. The modernization project includes the building of a driverless train that will eventually replace the shuttle busses to and from the rideshare lots. These policies are not anything new as other airports have implemented similar rules to help ease airport traffic, and LAX hopes their plans will do the same.
How do you feel about LAX’s new policies? Do you use rideshares to get to and from the airport? Are there more convenient ways to get to the airport? Call in and share what you think at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Keith Wilschetz, deputy executive director of the Operations and Emergency Management division at Los Angeles World Airports
Risks And Benefits Of Encrypted Social Media, Considering Growth Of Child Abuse Images Online
Images of child abuse and exploitation on the internet have grown to an unprecedented number, according to an investigation by the New York Times.
Facebook as a whole reported 90 percent of the content, mostly on the Messenger app. Currently, Messenger isn’t encrypted, which helps the FBI identify predators. But Facebook plans to move towards encryption in the next three years, which is causing alarm for law enforcement who say they'll lose ground on solving an already overwhelming surge in abuse cases. Privacy groups argue that encryption is necessary to protect the majority of social media users who don’t use the internet for criminal activity.
Do you think your social media data should be encrypted? Share your thoughts with Larry Mantle.
Guests:
Luke Hunt, associate professor of criminal justice at Radford University in Virginia; he is a former FBI Special Agent and Supervisory Special Agent in Charlottesville, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Alan Butler, Senior Counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a civil liberties and privacy research center based in Washington, DC
Nationals Versus Dodgers: Game 1 Recap, Weekend Previews
The Dodgers overpowered the Nationals on the mound and at the plate, extending the dominance that led to a franchise-record 106 victories in the regular season right on into the playoffs.
Walker Buehler allowed one hit over six innings, Max Muncy drove in three runs and the Dodgers capitalized on the Nationals mistakes, beating them 6-0 in Game 1 of their NL Division Series on Thursday night. Buehler struck out eight, walked three and retired his final seven batters after earning the start over veterans Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu, whose 2.32 ERA was lowest in the majors this season. Dodgers rookie Gavin Lux and Joc Pederson slugged pinch-hit solo homers in the eighth inning. The Dodgers won their eighth game in a row dating to the regular season, while the Nationals broke their nine-game winning streak, which included their wild-card victory against the Brewers earlier this week.
Game 2 of the NLDS starts tonight at 6:30 PM with Clayton Kershaw as the starting pitcher for the Dodgers and Stephen Strasburg for the Nationals.
What did you think of last night’s game? Do you think the Dodgers will make it all the way to the World Series for a third year in a row? Give us a call at 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press.
Guests:
A Martinez, host of KPCC’s Take Two; he tweets @AMartinezLA
Bill Plunkett, Dodgers and Angels reporter for The Orange County Register
FilmWeek: ‘Joker,’ ‘Dolemite Is My Name,’ ‘Pain And Glory’ And More
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Christy Lemire and Wade Major review this weekend’s new movie releases.
"Joker" in wide release
"Dolemite Is My Name" at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
"Lucy in the Sky" in wide release
"Pain and Glory" at The Landmark & ArcLight Hollywood
“The Frame’s” John Horn spoke with the star of the film Antonio Banderas earlier this week. You can hear the interview here.
"Memory: The Origins of Alien" in select theatres
“The Frame’s” John Horn spoke with Alexandre O. Philippe, the director of "Memory," earlier this week. You can hear the interview here.
"Midnight Traveler" at the Nuart Theatre
"Wrinkles the Crown" at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
"Harpoon" at The Frida Cinema
"Collisions" at Laemmle's Music Hall
CRITICS' HITS
Christy: "Dolemite Is My Name," "Midnight Traveler" & "Harpoon"
Wade: "Joker" & "Memory: The Origins of Alien"
MIXED FEELINGS
Christy: "Wrinkles the Clown"
Wade: "Pain and Glory"
MISSES
Christy: "Collisions"
Wade: "Lucy in the Sky"
Guests:
Christy Lemire, film critic for KPCC, RogerEbert.com and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ podcast; she tweets
Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and CineGods.com
Glorification, Vilification Or Harmless depiction? How The ‘Joker’ Became So Controversial
Even before audiences had seen “Joker,” which stars Joaquin Phoenix as the titular rage-filled villain, the film became a lightning rod for violence on screen.
Early reports that “Joker” glorifies a violent, dejected man—whose story arc is not dissimilar to a mass shooter’s, some critics have argued—resulted in families of the victims of the Aurora, CO movie theater shooting sending a letter to Warner Brothers requesting that the studio speak out publicly against gun violence. The weeks leading up to the film’s release have also been marked by safety warnings; the FBI and the U.S. military have investigated threats of possible gun violence at “Joker” screenings. In response, the Landmark Theatre chain announced that its ban on face masks and toys in theaters (a standing practice) would be extended to include all costumes while “Joker” is in theaters.
Yet in a statement defending the film, Warner Brothers argued that critiques of “Joker”—particularly, fears that its violence will stoke a response in particular viewers— are largely overblown. Todd Phillips, who directed “Joker,” stood by the film’s brutality, saying that by portraying violence realistically, viewers could feel the “weight and implications” of it. Some critics have argued that “Joker” uses violence toward an ultimately positive end, while others claim it is inappropriate to connect social phenomena to a work of pop culture in the first place.
Do you think the controversy surrounding “Joker” is justified? How important is it to consider social context when you watch a film? Call us 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Christy Lemire, film critic for KPCC, RogerEbert.com and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ podcast; she tweets
Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and CineGods.com