Google has agreed to pay $1.375 billion to settle a lawsuit brought by the state of Texas over allegations that it violated users’ privacy through features such as Incognito mode, Location History, and biometric data collection.
Despite the sizable sum, Google denies any wrongdoing, stating that the claims were based on outdated practices which have since been updated.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the settlement, emphasising that large tech firms are not above the law.
He accused Google of covertly tracking individuals’ locations and personal searches, while also collecting biometric data such as voiceprints and facial geometry — all without users’ consent. Paxton claimed the state’s legal challenge had forced Google to answer for its actions.
Although the settlement resolves two lawsuits filed in 2022, the specific terms and how the funds will be used remain undisclosed. A Google spokesperson maintained that the resolution brings closure to claims about past practices, instead of requiring any changes to its current products.
The case comes after a similar $1.4 billion agreement involving Meta, which faced accusations of unlawfully gathering facial recognition data. The repeated scrutiny from Texas authorities signals a broader pushback against the data practices of major tech companies.
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Starkville Utilities, a Mississippi-based electricity and water provider that also services Mississippi State University, has revealed a data breach that may have exposed sensitive information belonging to over 11,000 individuals.
The breach, which was first detected in late October last year, led the company to disconnect its network in an attempt to contain the intrusion.
Despite these efforts, an investigation later found that attackers may have accessed personal data, including full names and Social Security numbers. Details were submitted to the Maine Attorney General’s Office, confirming the scale of the breach and the nature of the data involved.
While no reports of identity theft have emerged since the incident, Starkville Utilities has chosen to offer twelve months of free identity protection services to those potentially affected. The company maintains that it is taking additional steps to improve its cybersecurity defences.
Stolen data such as Social Security numbers often ends up on underground marketplaces instead of staying idle, where it can be used for identity fraud and other malicious activities.
The incident serves as yet another reminder of the ongoing threat posed by cybercriminals targeting critical infrastructure and user data.
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Google has announced the beta launch of AI Max for Search Campaigns, a new tool aimed at helping local businesses, including those across Africa, reach more customers through smarter advertising.
The feature, which builds on Google’s Gemini AI models, enhances how businesses appear in search results, even when users type unexpected or highly specific queries.
As African economies continue to embrace digital transformation, AI Max offers vital support to small and medium-sized enterprises. The tool intelligently matches search terms, customises ad text in real time, and expands URL targeting to guide users to the most relevant content.
Designed to reduce the burden on entrepreneurs managing multiple responsibilities, the tool is seen as a cost-effective way to attract higher-intent customers with minimal effort.
This initiative complements Google’s ongoing support for African businesses, including training schemes like Hustle Academy. With AI Max, entrepreneurs now have access to technology that not only adapts to their needs but also improves their visibility in an increasingly competitive digital market.
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Internal data from the notorious LockBit ransomware group has been leaked following a hack of one of its administration panels. Over 200 conversations between affiliates and victims were also uncovered, revealing aggressive ransom tactics ranging from demands of a few thousand to over $100,000.
The breach, discovered on 7 May, exposed sensitive information including private chats with victims, affiliate account details, Bitcoin wallet addresses, and insights into LockBit’s infrastructure.
A defaced message on the group’s domain read: ‘Don’t do crime, crime is bad xoxo from Prague,’ linking to a downloadable archive of the stolen data. Although LockBit confirmed the breach, it downplayed its impact and denied that any victim decryptors were compromised.
Security researchers believe the leak could provide crucial intelligence for law enforcement. Searchlight Cyber identified 76 user credentials, 22 of which include TOX messaging IDs, commonly used by hackers and connected some users to aliases on criminal forums.
Speculation suggests the hack may be the result of infighting within the cybercriminal community, echoing a recent attack on the Everest ransomware group’s site. Authorities continue to pursue LockBit, but the group remains active despite previous takedowns.
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Reddit is accelerating plans to verify the humanity of its users following revelations that AI bots infiltrated a popular debate forum to influence opinions. These bots crafted persuasive, personalised comments based on users’ post histories, without disclosing their non-human identity.
Researchers from the University of Zurich conducted an unauthorised four-month experiment on the r/changemyview subreddit, deploying AI agents posing as trauma survivors, political figures, and other sensitive personas.
The incident sparked outrage across the platform. Reddit’s Chief Legal Officer condemned the experiment as a violation of both legal and ethical standards, while CEO Steve Huffman stressed that the platform’s strength lies in genuine human exchange.
All accounts linked to the study have been banned, and Reddit has filed formal complaints with the university. To restore trust, Reddit will introduce third-party verification tools that confirm users are human, without collecting personal data.
While protecting anonymity remains a priority, the platform acknowledges it must evolve to meet new threats posed by increasingly sophisticated AI impersonators.
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Google has introduced a new iOS feature named Simplify, designed to make technical language more accessible. Powered by the Gemini large language models, the tool rewrites complex text, such as that found in legal documents or medical reports, into clear and understandable language.
To test its effectiveness, Google conducted a study involving over 4,500 people and 31 text samples. Results showed a 4 per cent improvement in overall comprehension and a 15 per cent increase for medical texts among users reading Simplify-processed content.
These users also reported feeling more confident and found the material easier to understand. However, the study has limitations, including its reliance on online participants and multiple-choice tests that may not reflect deep understanding.
At present, Simplify is only available on iOS, with no official timeline for an Android release. Still, given the app’s presence on Android devices by default, a wider rollout may be on the horizon.
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Apple is reportedly exploring a move towards integrating AI-powered search within its Safari browser, as questions mount over the future of its partnership with Google. Cue made the comments during his testimony in the US Department of Justice’s antitrust trial against Google’s parent company, Alphabet.
Senior Vice President Eddy Cue revealed the company is considering collaborations with AI search leaders such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity, amid a broader shift in user behaviour towards AI tools.
Safari recently experienced its first decline in search usage, a trend attributed to users adopting AI-driven search solutions. While Apple currently integrates ChatGPT into Siri and plans to add Google’s Gemini, the company remains cautious about replacing Google as the default search engine.
Cue acknowledged the financial benefits of the $20 billion annual deal with Google and expressed concerns over jeopardising the partnership. Discussions continue as Apple balances innovation with maintaining its lucrative search agreement with Google.
Despite this, Cue predicts AI search engines could eventually surpass traditional models. Apple has also evaluated other AI technologies, including DeepSeek and xAI’s Grok, highlighting its growing interest in generative AI.
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Federal regulators have accused Amazon of deliberately concealing incriminating evidence in an ongoing antitrust case by abusing privilege claims. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said Amazon wrongly withheld nearly 70,000 documents, withdrawing 92% of its claims after a judge forced a re-review.
The FTC claims Amazon marked non-legal documents as privileged to keep them from scrutiny. Internal emails suggest staff were told to mislabel communications by including legal teams unnecessarily.
One email reportedly called former CEO Jeff Bezos the ‘chief dark arts officer,’ referring to questionable Prime subscription tactics.
The documents revealed issues such as widespread involuntary Prime sign-ups and efforts to manipulate search results in favour of Amazon’s products. Regulators said these practices show Amazon intended to hide evidence rather than make honest errors.
The FTC is now seeking a 90-day extension for discovery and wants Amazon to cover the additional legal costs. It claims the delay and concealment gave Amazon an unfair strategic advantage instead of allowing a level playing field.
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Apple is developing custom chips to power future smart glasses, AI servers, and new Mac models, according to a report by Bloomberg News.
The chip for the glasses is being designed with a focus on energy efficiency and advanced camera handling, and production could begin as early as late 2026 or 2027.
Built on technology similar to that of the Apple Watch instead of the iPhone, the chip is expected to consume significantly less power.
It will be manufactured by Taiwan’s TSMC and tailored to manage multiple cameras efficiently, potentially positioning Apple as a rival to Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses.
At the same time, Apple is working on new Mac processors—possibly branded as the M6 and M7—as well as AI server chips designed to support the Apple Intelligence platform. This system enables features like notification summaries, email rewriting, and access to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
These projects come as Apple expands its silicon strategy. Earlier in 2025, the company unveiled its first custom modem for iPhones, and it plans to source over 19 billion chips from the US this year instead of depending on China, while also boosting production in India.
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Microsoft has confirmed it does not allow employees to use the DeepSeek app, citing data security and propaganda concerns.
Speaking at a Senate hearing, company president Brad Smith explained the decision stems from fears that data shared with DeepSeek could end up on Chinese servers and be exposed to state surveillance laws.
Although DeepSeek is open source and widely available, Microsoft has chosen not to list the app in its own store.
Smith warned that DeepSeek’s answers may be influenced by Chinese government censorship and propaganda, and its privacy policy confirms data is stored in China, making it subject to local intelligence regulations.
Interestingly, Microsoft still offers DeepSeek’s R1 model via its Azure cloud service. The company argued this is a different matter, as customers can host the model on their servers instead of relying on DeepSeek’s infrastructure.
Even so, Smith admitted Microsoft had to alter the model to remove ‘harmful side effects,’ although no technical details were provided.
While Microsoft blocks DeepSeek’s app for internal use, it hasn’t imposed a blanket ban on all chatbot competitors. Apps like Perplexity are available in the Windows store, unlike those from Google.
The stance against DeepSeek marks a rare public move by Microsoft as the tech industry navigates rising tensions over AI tools with foreign links.
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