Child safety online

Elon Musk wants Grok AI to replace historical facts

Elon Musk has revealed plans to retrain his Grok AI model by rewriting human knowledge, claiming current training datasets contain too much ‘garbage’ and unchecked errors.

He stated that Grok 3.5 would be designed for ‘advanced reasoning’ and tasked with correcting historical inaccuracies before using the revised corpus to retrain itself.

Musk, who has criticised other AI systems like ChatGPT for being ‘politically correct’ and biassed, wants Grok to be ‘anti-woke’ instead.

His stance echoes his earlier approach to X, where he relaxed content moderation and introduced a Community Notes feature in response to the platform being flooded with misinformation and conspiracy theories after his takeover.

The proposal has drawn fierce criticism from academics and AI experts. Gary Marcus called the plan ‘straight out of 1984’, accusing Musk of rewriting history to suit personal beliefs.

Logic professor Bernardino Sassoli de’ Bianchi warned the idea posed a dangerous precedent where ideology overrides truth, calling it ‘narrative control, not innovation’.

Musk also urged users on X to submit ‘politically incorrect but factually true’ content to help train Grok.

The move quickly attracted falsehoods and debunked conspiracies, including Holocaust distortion, anti-vaccine claims and pseudoscientific racism, raising alarms about the real risks of curating AI data based on subjective ideas of truth.

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France appeals porn site ruling based on EU legal grounds

The French government is challenging a recent decision by the Administrative Court of Paris that temporarily halted the enforcement of mandatory age verification on pornographic websites based in the EU. The court found France’s current approach potentially inconsistent with the EU law—specifically the 2002 E-Commerce Directive—which upholds the ‘country-of-origin’ principle.

That rule limits an EU country’s authority to regulate online services hosted in another member state unless it follows a formal process involving both the host country and the European Commission. The dispute’s heart is whether France correctly followed the required legal steps.

While French authorities say they notified the host countries of porn companies like Hammy Media (Xhamster) and Aylo (owner of Pornhub and others) and waited the mandated three months, legal experts argue that notifying the Commission is also essential. So far, there is no confirmation that this additional step was taken, which may weaken France’s legal standing.

Digital Minister Clara Chappaz reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing age checks, calling it a ‘priority’ in a public statement. The ministry insists its rules align with the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive.

However, the court’s ruling highlights broader tensions between France’s national digital regulations and overarching the EU law. Similar legal challenges have already forced France to adjust parts of its digital, influencer, and cloud regulation frameworks in the past two years.

The appeal could have significant implications for age restrictions on adult content and how France asserts digital sovereignty within the EU. If the court upholds the suspension, other digital regulations based on national initiatives may also be vulnerable to legal scrutiny under the EU principles.

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Meta sues AI firm over fake nude images created without consent

Meta has filed a lawsuit against Joy Timeline HK Ltd in Hong Kong, accusing the firm of using its platforms to promote a generative AI app called CrushAI.

The app allows users to digitally strip clothes from images of people, often without consent. Meta said the company repeatedly attempted to bypass ad review systems to push harmful content, advertising phrases like ‘see anyone naked’ on Facebook and Instagram.

The lawsuit follows Meta’s broader investigation into ‘nudity’ apps, which are increasingly being used to create sexualised deepfakes. Despite bans on nonconsensual explicit content, the company said such apps evade detection by disguising ads or rotating domain names after bans.

According to research by Cornell Tech, over 8,000 ads linked to CrushAI appeared on Meta platforms in recent months. Meta responded by updating its detection systems with a broader range of flagged terms and emojis.

While many of the manipulated images target celebrities, concerns are growing about the use of such technology to exploit minors. In one case in Florida, two teenagers used similar AI tools to create sexualised images of classmates.

The issue has sparked legal action in the US, where the Take It Down Act, signed into law earlier this year, criminalises the publication of nonconsensual deepfake imagery and simplifies removal processes for victims.

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AI must protect dignity, say US bishops

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has urged Congress to centre AI policy on human dignity and the common good.

Their message outlines moral principles rather than technical guidance, warning against misuse of technology that may erode truth, justice, or the protection of the vulnerable.

The bishops caution against letting AI replace human moral judgement, especially in sensitive areas like family life, work, and warfare. They express concern about AI deepening inequality and harming those already marginalised without strict oversight.

Their call includes demands for greater transparency, regulation of autonomous weapons, and stronger protections for children and workers in the US.

Rooted in Catholic social teaching, the letter frames AI not as a neutral innovation but as a force that must serve people, not displace them.

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Massive leak exposes data of millions in China

Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a brief but significant leak of over 600 gigabytes of data, exposing information on millions of Chinese citizens.

The haul, containing WeChat, Alipay, banking, and residential records, is part of a centralised system, possibly aimed at large-scale surveillance instead of a random data breach.

According to research from Cybernews and cybersecurity consultant Bob Diachenko, the data was likely used to build individuals’ detailed behavioural, social and economic profiles.

They warned the information could be exploited for phishing, fraud, blackmail or even disinformation campaigns instead of remaining dormant. Although only 16 datasets were reviewed before the database vanished, they indicated a highly organised and purposeful collection effort.

The source of the leak remains unknown, but the scale and nature of the data suggest it may involve government-linked or state-backed entities rather than lone hackers.

The exposed information could allow malicious actors to track residence locations, financial activity and personal identifiers, placing millions at risk instead of keeping their lives private and secure.

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UK regulator probes 4chan over online safety rules

The UK communications regulator Ofcom has launched an investigation into the controversial message board 4chan for potentially breaching new online safety laws. Under the Online Safety Act, platforms must assess and manage risks related to illegal content affecting UK users.

Ofcom stated that it requested 4chan’s risk assessment in April but received no response, prompting a formal inquiry into whether the site failed to meet its duty to protect users. The nature of the illegal content being scrutinised has not been disclosed.

The regulator emphasised that it has the authority to fine companies up to £18 million or 10% of their global revenue, depending on which is higher. That move marks a significant test of the UK’s stricter regulatory powers to hold online services accountable.

The watchdog’s concerns stem from user anonymity on 4chan, which has historically made the platform a hotspot for controversial, offensive, and often extreme content. A recent cyberattack further complicated matters, rendering parts of the website offline for over a week.

Alongside 4chan, Ofcom is also investigating pornographic site First Time Videos for failing to prove robust age verification systems are in place to block access by under-18s. This is part of a broader crackdown as platforms with age-restricted content face a July deadline to implement effective safeguards, which may include facial age-estimation technology.

Additionally, seven lesser-known file-sharing services, including Krakenfiles and Yolobit, are being scrutinised for potentially hosting child sexual abuse material. Like 4chan, these platforms reportedly failed to respond to Ofcom’s information requests. The regulator’s growing list of investigations signals a tougher era for digital platforms operating in the UK.

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Growing push in Europe to regulate children’s social media use

Several European countries, led by Denmark, France, and Greece, are intensifying efforts to shield children from the potentially harmful effects of social media. With Denmark taking over the EU Council presidency from July, its Digital Minister, Caroline Stage Olsen, has made clear that her country will push for a ban on social media for children under 15.

Olsen criticises current platforms for failing to remove illegal content and relying on addictive features that encourage prolonged use. She also warned that platforms prioritise profit and data harvesting over the well-being of young users.

That initiative builds on growing concern across the EU about the mental and physical toll social media may take on children, including the spread of dangerous content, disinformation, cyberbullying, and unrealistic body image standards. France, for instance, has already passed legislation requiring parental consent for users under 15 and is pressing platforms to verify users’ ages more rigorously.

While the European Commission has issued draft guidelines to improve online safety for minors, such as making children’s accounts private by default, some countries are calling for tougher enforcement under the EU’s Digital Services Act. Despite these moves, there is currently no consensus across the EU for an outright ban.

Cultural differences and practical hurdles, like implementing consistent age verification, remain significant challenges. Still, proposals are underway to introduce a unified age of digital adulthood and a continent-wide age verification application, possibly even embedded into devices, to limit access by minors.

Olsen and her allies remain adamant, planning to dedicate the October summit of the EU digital ministers entirely to the issue of child online safety. They are also looking to future legislation, like the Digital Fairness Act, to enforce stricter consumer protection standards that explicitly account for minors. Meanwhile, age verification and parental controls are seen as crucial first steps toward limiting children’s exposure to addictive and damaging online environments.

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Cyber attacks and ransomware rise globally in early 2025

Cyber attacks have surged by 47% globally in the first quarter of 2025, with organisations facing an average of 1,925 attacks each week.

Check Point Software, a cybersecurity firm, warns that attackers are growing more sophisticated and persistent, targeting critical sectors like healthcare, finance, and technology with increasing intensity.

Ransomware activity alone has soared by 126% compared to last year. Attackers are no longer just encrypting files but now also threaten to leak sensitive data unless paid — a tactic known as dual extortion.

Instead of operating as large, centralised gangs, modern ransomware groups are smaller and more agile, often coordinating through dark web forums, making them harder to trace.

The report also notes that cybercriminals are using AI to automate phishing attacks and scan systems for vulnerabilities, allowing them to strike with greater accuracy. Emerging markets remain particularly vulnerable, as they often lack advanced cybersecurity infrastructure.

Check Point urges companies to act decisively by adopting proactive security measures, investing in threat detection and employee training, and implementing real-time monitoring. Waiting for an attack instead of preparing in advance could leave organisations dangerously exposed.

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TikTok bans ‘SkinnyTok’ hashtag worldwide

TikTok has globally banned the hashtag ‘SkinnyTok’ after pressure from the French government, which accused the platform of promoting harmful eating habits among young users. The decision comes as part of the platform’s broader effort to improve user safety, particularly around content linked to unhealthy weight loss practices.

The move was hailed as a win by France’s Digital Minister, Clara Chappaz, who led the charge and called it a ‘first collective victory.’ She, along with other top French digital and data protection officials, travelled to Dublin to engage directly with TikTok’s Trust and Safety team. Notably, no representatives from the European Commission were present during these discussions, raising questions about the EU’s role and influence in enforcing digital regulations.

While the European Commission had already opened a broader investigation into TikTok over child protection issues in early 2024 under the Digital Services Act (DSA), it has yet to comment on the SkinnyTok case specifically. Despite this, the Commission says it is still coordinating with French authorities on matters related to DSA enforcement.

The episode has spotlighted national governments’ power in pushing for online safety reforms and the uncertain role of the EU institutions in urgent digital policy actions.

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The EU probes porn sites over DSA violations

The European Commission has launched a formal investigation into four major pornographic websites—Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos—over concerns they may be violating the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The probe centres on whether these platforms provide adequate protection for minors, notably regarding age verification.

According to the Commission, all four currently use simple click-through age checks, which are suspected of failing to meet DSA requirements. Authorities primarily focus on assessing whether the platforms have conducted proper risk assessments and implemented safeguards to protect children’s mental and physical health.

The European Commission emphasised that the investigation is a priority and will include collaboration with the EU member states to monitor smaller adult sites that fall under the 45-million-user threshold. In its statement, the Commission reiterated plans to roll out a standardised EU-wide age verification system by the end of next year.

While Pornhub, XVideos, and Stripchat were previously designated as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), the Commission announced on Tuesday that Stripchat will no longer hold that status moving forward.

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