Content Policy Archives | Page 139 of 222 | Digital Watch Observatory

Republicans seek to block state AI laws for a decade

Republican lawmakers in the US have introduced a proposal that would block states from regulating artificial intelligence for the next ten years. Critics argue the move is a handout to Big Tech and could stall protections already passed in states like California, Utah, and Colorado.

The measure, embedded in a budget reconciliation bill, would prevent states from enforcing rules on a wide range of automated systems, from AI chatbots to algorithms used in health and justice sectors.

Over 500 AI-related bills have been proposed this year at the state level, and many of them would be nullified if the federal ban succeeds. Supporters of the bill claim AI oversight should happen at the national level to avoid a confusing patchwork of state laws.

Opponents, including US Democrats and tech accountability groups, warn the ban could allow unchecked algorithmic discrimination, weaken privacy, and leave the public vulnerable to AI-driven harms.

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TikTok unveils AI video feature

TikTok has launched ‘AI Alive,’ its first image-to-video feature that allows users to transform static photos into animated short videos within TikTok Stories.

Accessible only through the Story Camera, the tool applies AI-driven movement and effects—like shifting skies, drifting clouds, or expressive animations—to bring photos to life.

Unlike text-to-image tools found on Instagram and Snapchat, TikTok’s latest feature takes visual storytelling further by enabling full video generation from single images. Although Snapchat plans to introduce a similar function, TikTok has moved ahead with this innovation.

All AI Alive videos will carry an AI-generated label and include C2PA metadata to ensure transparency, even when shared beyond the platform.

TikTok emphasises safety, noting that every AI Alive video undergoes several moderation checks before it appears to creators.

Uploaded photos, prompts, and generated videos are reviewed to prevent rule-breaking content. Users can report violations, and final safety reviews are conducted before public sharing.

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Harvey adds Google and Anthropic AI

Harvey, the fast-growing legal AI startup backed early by the OpenAI Startup Fund, is now embracing foundation models from Google and Anthropic instead of relying solely on OpenAI’s.

In a recent blog post, the company said it would expand its AI model options after internal benchmarks showed that different tools excel at different legal tasks.

The shift marks a notable win for OpenAI’s competitors, even though Harvey insists it’s not abandoning OpenAI. Its in-house benchmark, BigLaw, revealed that several non-OpenAI models now outperform Harvey’s original system on specific legal functions.

For instance, Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro performs well at legal drafting, while OpenAI’s o3 and Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet are better suited for complex pre-trial work.

Instead of building its own models, Harvey now aims to fine-tune top-tier offerings from multiple vendors, including through Amazon’s cloud. The company also plans to launch a public legal benchmark leaderboard, combining expert legal reviews with technical metrics.

While OpenAI remains a close partner and investor, Harvey’s broader strategy signals growing competition in the race to serve the legal industry with AI.

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Masked cybercrime groups rise as attacks escalate worldwide

Cybercrime is thriving like never before, with hackers launching attacks ranging from absurd ransomware demands of $1 trillion to large-scale theft of personal data. Despite efforts from Microsoft, Google and even the FBI, these threat actors continue to outpace defences.

A new report by Group-IB has analysed over 1,500 cybercrime investigations to uncover the most active and dangerous hacker groups operating today.

Rather than fading away after arrests or infighting, many cybercriminal gangs are re-emerging stronger than before.

Group-IB’s May 2025 report highlights a troubling increase in key attack types across 2024 — phishing rose by 22%, ransomware leak sites by 10%, and APT (advanced persistent threat) attacks by 58%. The United States was the most affected country by ransomware activity.

At the top of the cybercriminal hierarchy now sits RansomHub, a ransomware-as-a-service group that emerged from the collapsed ALPHV group and has already overtaken long-established players in attack numbers.

Behind it is GoldFactory, which developed the first iOS banking trojan and exploited facial recognition data. Lazarus, a well-known North Korean state-linked group, also remains highly active under multiple aliases.

Meanwhile, politically driven hacktivist group NoName057(16) has been targeting European institutions using denial-of-service attacks.

With jurisdictional gaps allowing cybercriminals to flourish, these masked hackers remain a growing concern for global cybersecurity, especially as new threat actors emerge from the shadows instead of disappearing for good.

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US Copyright Office avoids clear decision on AI and fair use

The US Copyright Office has stopped short of deciding whether AI companies can legally use copyrighted material to train their systems under fair use.

Its newly released report acknowledges that some uses—such as non-commercial research—may qualify, while others, like replicating expressive works from pirated content to produce market-ready AI output, likely won’t.

Rather than offering a definitive answer, the Office said such cases must be assessed by the courts, not through a universal standard.

The latest report is the third in a series aimed at guiding how copyright law applies to AI-generated content. It reiterates that works entirely created by AI cannot be copyrighted, but human-edited outputs might still qualify.

The 108-page document focuses heavily on whether AI training methods transform content enough to justify legal protection, and whether they harm creators’ livelihoods through lost sales or diluted markets.

Instead of setting new policy, the Office highlights existing legal principles, especially the four factors of fair use: the purpose, the nature of the work, the amount used, and the impact on the original market.

It notes that AI-generated content can sometimes alter original works meaningfully, but when styles or outputs closely resemble protected material, legal risks remain. Tools like content filters are seen as helpful in preventing infringement, even though they’re not always reliable.

The timing of the report has been overshadowed by political turmoil. President Donald Trump reportedly dismissed both the Librarian of Congress and the head of the Copyright Office days before the report’s release.

Meanwhile, creators continue urging the government not to permit fair use in AI training, arguing it threatens the value of original work. The debate is now expected to unfold further in courtrooms instead of regulatory offices.

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Jamie Lee Curtis calls out Zuckerberg over AI scam using her likeness

Jamie Lee Curtis has directly appealed to Mark Zuckerberg after discovering her likeness had been used without consent in an AI-generated advert.

Posting on Facebook, Curtis expressed her frustration with Meta’s lack of proper channels to report such abuse, stating she had exhausted all official avenues before resorting to a public plea.

The fake video reportedly manipulated footage from an emotional interview following the January wildfires in Los Angeles, inserting false statements under the guise of a product endorsement.

Instead of remaining silent, Curtis urged Zuckerberg to take action, saying the unauthorised content damaged her integrity and voice. Within hours of her public callout, Meta confirmed the video had been removed for breaching its policies, a rare example of a swift response.

‘It worked! Yay Internet! Shame has its value!’ she wrote in a follow-up, though she also highlighted the broader risks posed by deepfakes.

The actress joins a growing list of celebrities, including Taylor Swift and Scarlett Johansson, who’ve been targeted by AI misuse.

Swift was forced to publicly clarify her political stance after an AI video falsely endorsed Donald Trump, while Johansson criticised OpenAI for allegedly using a voice nearly identical to hers despite her refusal to participate in a project.

The issue has reignited concerns around consent, misinformation and the exploitation of public figures.

Instead of waiting for further harm, lawmakers in California have already begun pushing back. New legislation signed by Governor Gavin Newsom aims to protect performers from unauthorised digital replicas and deepfakes.

Meanwhile, in Washington, proposals like the No Fakes Act seek to hold tech platforms accountable, possibly fining them thousands per violation. As Curtis and others warn, without stronger protections, the misuse of AI could spiral further, threatening not just celebrities but the public as a whole.

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Cybercriminals trick users with fake AI apps

Cybercriminals are tricking users into downloading a dangerous new malware called Noodlophile by disguising it as AI software. Rather than using typical phishing tactics, attackers create convincing fake platforms that appear to offer AI-powered tools for editing videos or images.

These are promoted through realistic-looking Facebook groups and viral social media posts, some of which have received over 62,000 views.

Users are lured with promises of AI-generated content and are directed to bogus sites, one of which pretends to be CapCut AI, offering video editing features. Once users upload prompts and attempt to download the content, they unknowingly receive a malicious ZIP file.

Inside, it is a disguised program that kicks off a chain of infections, eventually installing the Noodlophile malware. However, this software can steal browser credentials, crypto wallet details, and other sensitive data.

The malware is linked to a Vietnamese developer who identifies themselves as a ‘passionate Malware Developer’ on GitHub. Vietnam has a known history of cybercrime activity targeting social media platforms like Facebook.

In some cases, the Noodlophile Stealer has been bundled with remote access tools like XWorm, which allow attackers to maintain long-term control over victims’ systems.

This isn’t the first time attackers have used public interest in AI for malicious purposes. Meta removed over 1,000 dangerous links in 2023 that exploited ChatGPT’s popularity to spread malware.

Meanwhile, cybersecurity experts at CYFIRMA have reported another threat: a new, simple yet effective malware called PupkinStealer, which secretly sends stolen information to hackers using Telegram bots.

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Google pays around $1.4 billion over privacy case

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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Reddit cracks down after AI bot experiment exposed

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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Meta and Ray-Ban launch smart glasses in the UAE

Meta Platforms, Inc. and EssilorLuxottica have officially launched the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in the United Arab Emirates, unveiling the new tech-forward eyewear during an exclusive event on May 7 at Gitano Beach Club.

The collection will be available across all Ray-Ban stores and partner opticians in the UAE starting May 12.

Ray-Ban Meta glasses combine stylish design with cutting-edge technology, offering users hands-free photo and video capture, discreet audio playback through open-ear speakers, and access to built-in Meta AI.

The glasses allow for real-time translations—including sign language—voice-activated search, and contextual AR experiences such as landmark information, menu translations, or recipe suggestions based on visible items.

A standout feature is the livestreaming function, enabling users to broadcast directly to Instagram Live or Facebook Live for up to 30 minutes from their own point of view.

Users can toggle between the glasses and their phone camera, creating immersive, real-time content. The MetaAI companion app (iOS and Android) also supports easy content import, editing, and special effects.

The glasses include five microphones and upgraded audio hardware for clearer sound and ambient awareness.

Live language translation support—covering Spanish, French, Italian, and English—even while offline—is expected to launch in the UAE later this year. Software updates will continue enhancing the glasses’ AI capabilities over time.

Offered in styles such as Wayfarer, Wayfarer Large, and the universally fitting Skyler, Ray-Ban Meta glasses are available with prescription, sun, clear, polarised, or Transitions® lenses.

Prices start at AED 1,330 and include a sleek charging case. The glasses support pairing with multiple devices and offer a blend of fashion, function, and future-ready innovation.

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