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  • Datacentre developers face calls to disclose effect on UK’s net emissions

    Campaign groups write to technology secretary amid concerns that sites could double overall electricity demand Datacentre developers are facing pressure to reveal whether their projects will increase the UK’s net greenhouse gas emissions, amid concerns the sites could double national electricity demand. Campaign groups have written to the UK technology secretary, Liz Kendall, warning that…

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  • Mumsnet calls for under-16s social media ban with cigarette-style health warnings

    Resembling cigarette packet warnings, the ads highlight dangers and urge people to email MPs Mumsnet has launched a campaign to introduce a ban on social media for under-16s featuring health warnings in the style of those on cigarette packets. The deliberately provocative national advertising campaign calls for all social media to be banned for children…

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  • Treasury calls in Blair thinktank to advise on using AI across public services

    Unimpressed tech equity campaigners compare move to ‘inviting in foxes to consult on the future of the henhouse’ Ministers have called in Tony Blair’s thinktank and private tech companies to guide them on deploying AI across the UK government in a move campaigners compared to “inviting in foxes to consult on the future of the…

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  • Reddit fined £14.5m in UK over use of under-13s’ data

    Information Commissioner’s Office imposes largest fine yet for a breach of children’s privacy The UK information regulator has fined the social news service Reddit £14.5m for using the data of children under the age of 13 unlawfully and potentially exposing them to inappropriate and harmful content. The hefty punishment from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)…

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  • Police AI chief admits crime-fighting tech will have bias but vows to tackle it

    Exclusive: NCA’s Alex Murray says he hopes new £115m police AI centre can limit unfairness found in tools ‘It’s not Robocop’: UK police embrace AI ‘efficiency’ in complex investigations A police chief has admitted artificial intelligence used to boost crime fighting will contain bias but pledged to combat the risks. Labour wants a dramatic expansion…

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  • Mind launches inquiry into AI and mental health after Guardian investigation

    Exclusive: England and Wales charity to examine safeguards after Guardian exposed ‘very dangerous’ advice on Google AI Overviews ‘Very dangerous’: a Mind mental health expert on Google’s AI summaries Mind is launching a significant inquiry into artificial intelligence and mental health after a Guardian investigation exposed how Google’s AI Overviews gave people “very dangerous” medical…

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  • Tech firms must remove ‘revenge porn’ in 48 hours or risk being blocked, says Starmer

    PM says measure, also applied to deepfake nudes, is needed owing to a ‘national emergency’ of online misogyny Deepfake nudes and “revenge porn” must be removed from the internet within 48 hours or technology firms risk being blocked in the UK, Keir Starmer has said, calling it a “national emergency” that the government must confront.…

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  • TV set is most popular way to watch YouTube in UK, study finds

    Television outranks laptops, tablets and smartphones across all age groups, according to audience review The television has replaced laptops, tablets and smartphones as the most common device for UK viewers to watch YouTube at home, according to data confirming the platform’s place as a living room mainstay. More than half of all YouTube viewing through…

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  • Starmer vows to fast-track social media law but says under-16s ban not definite

    Prime minister says action will be taken on young people’s social media access in ‘months, not years’ What social media restrictions has Keir Starmer announced? Keir Starmer has pledged action on young people’s access to social media in “months, not years”, while saying this did not necessarily mean a complete ban on access for under-16s.…

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  • New rules on social media could target ‘doomscrolling’ and ban for under-16s, Starmer says – UK politics live

    Prime minister says outcomes of consultation on social media ban should be implemented quickly as technology minister says Australia-style ban is not inevitable In his Q&A with journalists, Keir Starmer was also asked to respond to a report by the BBC’s James Landale saying he is looking at plans to raise defence spending to 3%…

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