AI chatbots modelled on Jesus are becoming increasingly popular over Christmas, offering companionship or faith guidance to people who may feel emotionally vulnerable during the holidays.
Experts warn that such tools could gradually reshape religious belief and practice. Training data is controlled by a handful of technology firms, which means AI systems may produce homogenised and biased interpretations instead of reflecting the diversity of real-world faith communities.
Users who are young or unfamiliar with AI may also struggle to judge the accuracy or intent behind the answers they receive.
Researchers say AI chatbots are currently used as a supplement rather than a replacement for religious teaching.
However, concern remains that people may begin to rely on AI for spiritual reassurance during sensitive moments. Scholars recommend limiting use over the holidays and prioritising conversations with family, friends or trusted religious leaders instead of seeking emotional comfort from a chatbot.
Experts also urge users to reflect carefully on who designs these systems and why. Fact-checking answers and grounding faith in recognised sources may help reduce the risk of distortion as AI plays a growing role in people’s daily lives.
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A significant debate has erupted in South Korea after the National Assembly passed new legislation aimed at tackling so-called fake news.
The revised Information and Communications Network Act bans the circulation of false or fabricated information online. It allows courts to impose punitive damages up to five times the losses suffered when media outlets or YouTubers intentionally spread disinformation for unjust profit.
Journalists, unions and academics warn that the law could undermine freedom of expression and weaken journalism’s watchdog function instead of strengthening public trust.
Critics argue that ambiguity over who decides what constitutes fake news could shift judgement away from the courts and toward regulators or platforms, encouraging self-censorship and increasing the risk of abusive lawsuits by influential figures.
Experts also highlight the lack of strong safeguards in South Korea against malicious litigation compared with the US, where plaintiffs must prove fault by journalists.
The controversy reflects more profound public scepticism about South Korean media and long-standing reporting practices that sometimes rely on relaying statements without sufficient verification, suggesting that structural reform may be needed instead of rapid, punitive legislation.
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Mandatory facial verification will be introduced in South Korea for anyone opening a new mobile phone account, as authorities try to limit identity fraud.
Officials said criminals have been using stolen personal details to set up phone numbers that later support scams such as voice phishing instead of legitimate services.
Major mobile carriers, including LG Uplus, Korea Telecom and SK Telecom, will validate users by matching their faces against biometric data stored in the PASS digital identity app.
Such a requirement expands the country’s identity checks rather than replacing them outright, and is intended to make it harder for fraud rings to exploit stolen data at scale.
The measure follows a difficult year for data security in South Korea, marked by cyber incidents affecting more than half the population.
SK Telecom reported a breach involving all 23 million of its customers and now faces more than $1.5 billion in penalties and compensation.
Regulators also revealed that mobile virtual network operators were linked to 92% of counterfeit phones uncovered in 2024, strengthening the government’s case for tougher identity controls.
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Splat is a new mobile app from the team behind Retro that uses generative AI to transform personal photos into colouring pages designed for children. The app targets parents seeking creative activities, free from advertising clutter and pay-per-page websites.
Users can upload images from their camera roll or select from curated educational categories, then apply styles such as cartoon, anime or comic.
Parents guide the initial setup through simple preferences instead of a lengthy account creation process, while children can colour either on-screen or on printed pages.
Splat operates on a subscription basis, offering weekly or annual plans that limit the number of generated pages. Access to payments and settings is restricted behind parental verification, helping prevent accidental purchases by younger users.
The app reflects a broader trend in applying generative AI to child-friendly creativity tools. By focusing on ease of use and offline activities, Splat positions itself as an alternative to screen-heavy entertainment while encouraging imaginative play.
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The European Commission has proposed extending the Interim Regulation that allows online service providers to voluntarily detect and report child sexual abuse instead of facing a legal gap once the current rules expire.
These measures would preserve existing safeguards while negotiations on permanent legislation continue.
The Interim Regulation enables providers of certain communication services to identify and remove child sexual abuse material under a temporary exemption from e-Privacy rules.
Without an extension beyond April 2026, voluntary detection would have to stop, making it easier for offenders to share illegal material and groom children online.
According to the Commission, proactive reporting by platforms has played a critical role for more than fifteen years in identifying abuse and supporting criminal investigations. Extending the interim framework until April 2028 is intended to maintain these protections until long-term EU rules are agreed.
The proposal now moves to the European Parliament and the Council, with the Commission urging swift agreement to ensure continued protection for children across the Union.
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Google’s new study, The Future Report, surveyed over 7,000 teenagers across Europe about their use of digital technologies. Most respondents describe themselves as curious, critical, and optimistic about AI in their daily lives.
Many teens use AI daily or several times a week for learning, creativity, and exploring new topics. They report benefits such as instant feedback and more engaging learning while remaining cautious about over-reliance.
Young people value personalised content recommendations and algorithmic suggestions, but emphasise verifying information and avoiding bias. They adopt strategies to verify sources and ensure the trustworthiness of online content.
The report emphasises the importance of digital literacy, safety, balanced technology use, and youth engagement in shaping the digital future. Participants request guidance from educators and transparent AI design to promote the responsible and ethical use of AI.
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Roblox has signalled willingness to comply with Russian law, opening the possibility of the platform being unblocked in Russia following earlier access restrictions.
Roskomnadzor stated that cooperation could resume if Roblox demonstrates concrete steps instead of declarations towards meeting domestic legal requirements.
The regulator said Roblox acknowledged shortcomings in moderating game content and ensuring the safety of user chats, particularly involving minors.
Russian authorities stressed that compliance would require systematic measures to remove harmful material and prevent criminal communication rather than partial adjustments.
Access to Roblox was restricted in early December after officials cited the spread of content linked to extremist and terrorist activity.
Roskomnadzor indicated that continued engagement and demonstrable compliance could allow the platform to restore operations under the regulatory oversight of Russia.
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Digital identity has long focused on proving that the same person returns each time they log in. The function still matters, yet online representation increasingly happens through faces, voices and mannerisms embedded in media rather than credentials alone.
As synthetic media becomes easier to generate and remix, identity shifts from an access problem to a problem of media authenticity.
The ‘Own Your Face’ proposal by Denmark reflects the shift by treating personal likeness as something that should be controllable in the same way accounts are controlled.
Digital systems already verify who is requesting access, yet lack a trusted middle layer to manage what is being shown when media claims to represent a real person. The proxy model illustrates how an intermediary layer can bring structure, consistency and trust to otherwise unmanageable flows.
Efforts around content provenance point toward a practical path forward. By attaching machine-verifiable history to media at creation and preserving it as content moves, identity extends beyond login to representation.
Broad adoption would not eliminate deception, yet it would raise the baseline of trust by replacing visual guesswork with evidence, helping digital identity evolve for an era shaped by synthetic media.
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Platform X has paid an administrative fine of nearly Rp80 million after failing to meet Indonesia’s content moderation requirements related to pornographic material, according to the country’s digital regulator.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs said the payment was made on 12 December 2025, after a third warning letter and further exchanges with the company. Officials confirmed that Platform X appointed a representative to complete the process, who is based in Singapore.
The regulator welcomed the company’s compliance, framing the payment as a demonstration of responsibility by an electronic system operator under Indonesian law. Authorities said the move supports efforts to keep the national digital space safe, healthy, and productive.
All funds were processed through official channels and transferred directly to the state treasury managed by the Ministry of Finance, in line with existing regulations, the ministry said.
Officials said enforcement actions against domestic and global platforms, including those operating from regional hubs such as Singapore, remain a priority. The measures aim to protect children and vulnerable groups and encourage stronger content moderation and communication.
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A majority of leading US research universities are encouraging the use of generative AI in teaching, according to a new study analysing institutional policies and guidance documents across higher education.
The research reviewed publicly available policies from 116 R1 universities and found that 63 percent explicitly support the use of generative AI, while 41 percent provide detailed classroom guidance. More than half of the institutions also address ethical considerations linked to AI adoption.
Most guidance focuses on writing-related activities, with far fewer references to coding or STEM applications. The study notes that while many universities promote experimentation, expectations placed on faculty can be demanding, often implying significant changes to teaching practices.
US researchers also found wide variation in how universities approach oversight. Some provide sample syllabus language and assignment design advice, while others discourage the use of AI-detection tools, citing concerns around reliability and academic trust.
The authors caution that policy statements may not reflect real classroom behaviour and say further research is needed to understand how generative AI is actually being used by educators and students in practice.
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