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AI labels to be compulsory on authentic-looking content under EU rules
Companies must ensure people know when they are interacting with artificially generated images, audio and text designed to look real From apparently conspiring to steal elections to abusing staff or performing embarrassing dance moves, the last few years have seen plenty of fake content made about politicians intended to malign its targets and mislead the…
EU accuses Meta of failing to tackle mental health risks of ‘addictive design’
Regulators say Facebook and Instagram features such as autoplay and infinite scroll contribute to ‘compulsive use’ EU regulators have accused Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, of failing to tackle the risks of its “addictive design” on the physical and mental health of users. In an official charge sheet against Meta released on Friday,…
AI altering meaning of users’ drafts on issues from abortion to climate, study finds
Researchers say small changes in drafting could spread rapidly and create long-term shifts in public opinion AI tools are twisting online messages on sensitive political topics about everything from abortion to climate change in ways that could snowball to reshape long-term public opinion, experts have said. As tech companies push AI tools as convenient ways…
Screen time can damage under-twos’ development, landmark study suggests
Exclusive: Researchers call for urgent investigation of risks to babies of tablets, smartphones and other digital devices Screen time for babies and toddlers under the age of two has been linked with long-term negative effects on health and quality of life and should be avoided, according to a landmark study. It warns that using screens…
Social media bans go global: big tech faces a reckoning after Australia’s crackdown
As a host of countries move to rein in social media use by children, could this be technology’s big tobacco moment? Continue reading…
Meta pauses employee tracker for AI training amid privacy concerns
About 1,600 workers signed petition against tool that tracked staff keystrokes, mouse clicks and computer screen content Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta has paused a program that tracked employees’ computer activity amid data privacy concerns and a staff backlash. The owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp had introduced a tool that tracked staff keystrokes, mouse clicks and…
Brands using AI-generated influencers to promote products on social media
Investigation finds AI content that purports to show genuine customers, prompting calls for greater transparency Brands promoting their products online are quietly deploying AI-generated influencers on social media, an investigation has found, prompting calls for greater transparency. The findings suggest companies are increasingly turning to AI-generated content that purports to show genuine customer experiences while…
Attorney general tells department to stop using X amid UK disinformation concerns
Exclusive: Richard Hermer’s office understood to be first in government to restrict use after recent riots The attorney general for England and Wales has told his office to no longer post on X, making it the first UK government department to stop using the Elon Musk-owned platform amid increasing worries about its use to incite…
UK ministers lobby Trump to avert backlash against social media ban
No 10 is worried about retaliation from White House over restrictions on under-16s’ internet use Ministers have embarked on a concerted lobbying operation to prevent a backlash from the Trump administration to the under-16s social media ban announced by Keir Starmer. Officials said they had spent weeks trying to reassure senior Trump officials and the…
Social media firms hit back as Starmer announces ban for under-16s in UK
Meta, YouTube and Snapchat say ban, which would stop children using their platforms, will drive them to ‘less safe services’ UK politics live – latest updates How will the ban work? UK parents: how do you feel about the ban? Britain’s plans to ban social media for under-16s will push teenagers towards more harmful platforms,…