Content Policy

Age verification law in Mississipi test the limits of decentralised social media

A new Mississippi law (HB 1126), requiring age verification for all social media users, has sparked controversy over internet freedom and privacy. Bluesky, a decentralised social platform, announced it would block access in the state rather than comply, citing limited resources and concerns about the law’s broad scope.

The law imposes heavy fines, up to $10,000 per user, for non-compliance. Bluesky argued that the required technical changes are too demanding for a small team and raise significant privacy concerns. After the US Supreme Court declined to block the law while legal challenges proceed, platforms like Bluesky are now forced to make difficult decisions.

According to TechCrunch, users in the US state began seeking ways to bypass the restriction, most commonly by using VPNs, which can hide their location and make it appear as though they are accessing the internet from another state or country.

However, some questioned why such measures were necessary. The idea behind decentralised social networks like Bluesky is to reduce control by central authorities, including governments. So if a decentralised platform can still be restricted by state laws or requires workarounds like VPNs, it raises questions about how truly ‘decentralised’ or censorship-resistant these platforms are.

Some users in Mississippi are still accessing Bluesky despite the new law. Many use third-party apps like Graysky or sideload the app via platforms like AltStore. Others rely on forked apps or read-only tools like Anartia.

While decentralisation complicates enforcement, these workarounds may not last, as developers risk legal consequences. Bluesky clients that do not run their own data servers (PDS) might not be directly affected, but explaining this in court is complex.

Broader laws tend to favour large platforms that can afford compliance, while smaller services like Bluesky are often left with no option but to block access or withdraw entirely.

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Law enforcement embraces AI for efficiency amid rising privacy concerns

Law enforcement agencies increasingly leverage AI across critical functions, from predictive policing, surveillance and facial recognition to automated report writing and forensic analysis, to expand their capacity and improve case outcomes.

In predictive policing, AI models analyse historical crime patterns, demographics and environmental factors to forecast crime hotspots. However, this enables pre-emptive deployment of officers and more efficient resource allocation.

Facial recognition technology matches images from CCTV, body cameras or telescopic data against criminal databases. Meanwhile, NLP supports faster incident reporting, body-cam transcriptions and keyword scanning of digital evidence.

Despite clear benefits, risks persist. Algorithmic bias may unfairly target specific groups. Privacy concerns grow where systems flag individuals without oversight.

Automated decisions also raise questions on accountability, the integrity of evidence, and the preservation of human judgement in justice.

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Samsung and Chinese brands prepare Max rollout

Russia has been pushing for its state-backed messenger Max to be pre-installed on all smartphones sold in the country since September 2025. Chinese and South Korean manufacturers, including Samsung and Xiaomi, are reportedly preparing to comply, though official confirmation is still pending.

The Max platform, developed by VK (formerly Vkontakte), offers messaging, audio and video calls, file transfers, and payments. It is set to replace VK Messenger on the mandatory app list, signalling a shift away from foreign apps like Telegram and WhatsApp.

Integration may occur via software updates or prompts when inserting a Russian SIM card.

Concerns have arisen over potential surveillance, as Max collects sensitive personal data backed by the Russian government. Critics fear the platform may monitor users, reflecting Moscow’s push to control encrypted communications.

The rollout reflects Russia’s broader push for digital sovereignty. While companies navigate compliance, the move highlights the increasing tension between state-backed applications and widely used foreign messaging services in Russia.

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Generative AI music takes ethical turn with Beatoven.ai’s Maestro launch

Beatoven.ai has launched Maestro, a generative AI model for instrumental music that will later expand to vocals and sound effects. The company claims it is the first fully licensed AI model, ensuring royalties for artists and rights holders.

Trained on licensed datasets from partners such as Rightsify and Symphonic Music, Maestro avoids scraping issues and guarantees attribution. Beatoven.ai, with two million users and 15 million tracks generated, says Maestro can be fine-tuned for new genres.

The platform also includes tools for catalogue owners, allowing labels and publishers to analyse music, generate metadata, and enhance back-catalogue discovery. CEO Mansoor Rahimat Khan said Maestro builds an ‘AI-powered music ecosystem’ designed to push creativity forward rather than mimic it.

Industry figures praised the approach. Ed Newton-Rex of Fairly Trained said Maestro proves AI can be ethical, while Musical AI’s Sean Power called it a fair licensing model. Beatoven.ai also plans to expand its API into gaming, film, and virtual production.

The launch highlights the wider debate over licensing versus scraping. Scraping often exploits copyrighted works without payment, while licensed datasets ensure royalties, higher-quality outputs, and long-term trust. Advocates argue that licensing offers a more sustainable and fairer path for GenAI music.

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Parental controls and crisis tools added to ChatGPT amid scrutiny

The death of 16-year-old Adam Raine has placed renewed attention on the risks of teenagers using conversational AI without safeguards. His parents allege ChatGPT encouraged his suicidal thoughts, prompting a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in San Francisco.

The case has pushed OpenAI to add parental controls and safety tools. Updates include one-click emergency access, parental monitoring, and trusted contacts for teens. The company is also exploring connections with therapists.

Executives said AI should support rather than harm. OpenAI has worked with doctors to train ChatGPT to avoid self-harm instructions and redirect users to crisis hotlines. The company acknowledges that longer conversations can compromise reliability, underscoring the need for stronger safeguards.

The tragedy has fuelled wider debates about AI in mental health. Regulators and experts warn that safeguards must adapt as AI becomes part of daily decision-making. Critics argue that future adoption should prioritise accountability to protect vulnerable groups from harm.

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WhatsApp launches AI assistant for editing messages

Meta’s WhatsApp has introduced a new AI feature called Writing Help, designed to assist users in editing, rewriting, and refining the tone of their messages. The tool can adjust grammar, improve phrasing, or reframe a message in a more professional, humorous, or encouraging style before it is sent.

The feature operates through Meta’s Private Processing technology, which ensures that messages remain encrypted and private instead of being visible to WhatsApp or Meta.

According to the company, Writing Help processes requests anonymously and cannot trace them back to the user. The function is optional, disabled by default, and only applies to the chosen message.

To activate the feature, users can tap a small pencil icon that appears while composing a message.

In a demonstration, WhatsApp showed how the tool could turn ‘Please don’t leave dirty socks on the sofa’ into more light-hearted alternatives, including ‘Breaking news: Socks found chilling on the couch’ or ‘Please don’t turn the sofa into a sock graveyard.’

By introducing Writing Help, WhatsApp aims to make communication more flexible and engaging while keeping user privacy intact. The company emphasises that no information is stored, and AI-generated suggestions only appear if users decide to enable the option.

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Google alerts users after detecting malware spread through captive portals

Warnings have been issued by Google to some users after detecting a web traffic hijacking campaign that delivered malware through manipulated login portals.

According to the company’s Threat Intelligence Group, attackers compromised network edge devices to modify captive portals, the login pages often seen when joining public Wi-Fi or corporate networks.

Instead of leading to legitimate security updates, the altered portals redirected users to a fake page presenting an ‘Adobe Plugin’ update. The file, once installed, deployed malware known as CANONSTAGER, which enabled the installation of a backdoor called SOGU.SEC.

The software, named AdobePlugins.exe, was signed with a valid GlobalSign certificate linked to Chengdu Nuoxin Times Technology Co, Ltd. Google stated it is tracking multiple malware samples connected to the same certificate.

The company attributed the campaign to a group it tracks as UNC6384, also known by other names including Mustang Panda, Silk Typhoon, and TEMP.Hex.

Google said it first detected the campaign in March 2025 and sent alerts to affected Gmail and Workspace users. The operation reportedly targeted diplomats in Southeast Asia and other entities worldwide, suggesting a potential link to cyber espionage activities.

Google advised users to enable Enhanced Safe Browsing in Chrome, keep devices updated, and use two-step verification for stronger protection.

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Real-time conversations feel smoother with Google Translate’s Gemini AI update

Google Translate is receiving powerful Gemini AI upgrades that make speaking across languages feel far more natural.

The refreshed live conversation mode intelligently recognises pauses, accents, and background noise, allowing two people to talk without the rigid back-and-forth of older versions. Google says the new system should even work in noisy environments like cafes, a real-world challenge for speech technology.

The update also introduces a practice mode that pushes Translate beyond its traditional role as a utility. Users can set their skill level and goals, then receive personalised listening and speaking exercises designed to build confidence.

The tool is launching in beta for selected language pairs, such as English to Spanish or French, but it signals Google’s ambition to blend translation with education.

By bringing some advanced translation capabilities first seen on Pixel devices into the widely available Translate app, Google makes real-time multilingual communication accessible to everyone.

It’s a practical application of AI that promises to change everyday conversations and how people prepare to learn new languages.

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Tencent Cloud sites exposed credentials and source code in major security lapse

Researchers have uncovered severe misconfigurations in two Tencent Cloud sites that exposed sensitive credentials and internal source code to the public. The flaws could have given attackers access to Tencent’s backend infrastructure and critical internal services.

Cybernews discovered the data leaks in July 2025, finding hardcoded plain-text passwords, a sensitive internal .git directory, and configuration files linked to Tencent’s load balancer and JEECG development platform.

Weak passwords, built from predictable patterns like the company name and year, increased the risk of exploitation.

The exposed data may have been accessible since April, leaving months of opportunity for scraping bots or malicious actors.

With administrative console access, attackers could have tampered with APIs, planted malicious code, pivoted deeper into Tencent’s systems, or abused the trusted domain for phishing campaigns.

Tencent confirmed the incident as a ‘known issue’ and has since closed access, though questions remain over how many parties may have already retrieved the exposed information.

Security experts warn that even minor oversights in cloud operations can cascade into serious vulnerabilities, especially for platforms trusted by millions worldwide.

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