Elon Musk has expanded his legal battle against OpenAI by adding Microsoft to his lawsuit, accusing both companies of engaging in illegal practices to monopolise the generative AI market. The federal antitrust claims, filed in Oakland, California, argue that the partnership between OpenAI and its largest investor, Microsoft, has sidelined competitors and restricted investment opportunities for other AI developers.
Musk’s complaint, which builds on his initial lawsuit from August, claims that OpenAI, which he helped to establish as a nonprofit, has deviated from its original mission. It has transformed into a highly profitable company, valued at $157 billion, and Musk argues that its partnership with Microsoft has created unfair market dominance. He is seeking to have the licensing agreement between the two companies voided and for them to divest assets gained through what he calls monopolistic practices.
The lawsuit also accuses Microsoft and OpenAI of circumventing regulatory oversight by entering exclusive agreements that Musk believes resemble a merger, without going through standard antitrust reviews. OpenAI has dismissed the claims as unfounded, while Musk’s legal team insists that the companies’ actions are damaging competition and transparency in the AI sector.
Musk’s tensions with OpenAI have been ongoing since he left the organisation, which he co-founded to develop safe AI. As OpenAI transitioned to a for-profit structure and secured billions from Microsoft, concerns grew about the concentration of power in the hands of a few dominant players in AI.
Google has rolled out Imagen 3, its advanced text-to-image generation model, directly within Google Docs. The tool allows users to create realistic or stylised images by simply typing prompts. Workspace customers with specific Gemini add-ons will be the first to access the feature, which is gradually being made available. The addition aims to help users enhance communication by generating customised images without tedious searches.
Imagen 3 initially faced setbacks due to historical inaccuracies in generated images, causing Google to delay its release. Following improvements, the feature launched quietly earlier this year and is now integrated into the Gemini platform. The company emphasises the tool’s ability to streamline creativity and simplify the visual content creation process.
Google has also introduced its Gemini app for iPhone users, following its February release on Android. The app boasts advanced features like Gemini Live in multiple languages and seamless integration of popular Google services such as Gmail, Calendar, and YouTube. Users can also access the powerful Imagen 3 tool within the app.
The Gemini app is designed as an AI-powered personal assistant, bringing innovation and convenience to mobile users globally. Google’s Brian Marquardt highlights the app’s capability to transform everyday tasks, offering users an intuitive and versatile digital companion.
Turkey‘s Personal Data Protection Board (KVKK) has fined Amazon’s gaming platform Twitch 2 million lira ($58,000) following a significant data breach, the Anadolu Agency reported. The breach, involving a leak of 125 GB of data, affected 35,274 individuals in Türkiye.
KVKK’s investigation revealed that Twitch failed to implement adequate security measures before the breach and conducted insufficient risk and threat assessments. The platform only addressed vulnerabilities after the incident occurred. As a result, KVKK imposed a 1.75 million lira fine for inadequate security protocols and an additional 250,000 lira for failing to report the breach promptly.
This penalty underscores the increasing scrutiny and regulatory actions against companies handling personal data in Türkiye, highlighting the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to protect user information.
A US judge has ruled that Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, must face trial in an antitrust lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The lawsuit, initiated during the Trump administration, alleges that Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 were intended to stifle emerging competition and maintain a social media monopoly. Meta has countered the FTC’s claims, arguing that the regulators ignore substantial competition from platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
This case is part of a broader crackdown on Big Tech by United States regulators. The FTC and the Department of Justice are pursuing major antitrust lawsuits against several technology giants, including Amazon and Apple. Alphabet’s Google also faces two significant legal challenges, with one case already finding that the company unlawfully restricted competition among search engines. These lawsuits reflect intensified regulatory efforts to address concerns over the market power of leading technology firms.
Meta’s legal battle could set a significant precedent for how tech conglomerates operate and acquire competitors. Critics argue that Meta’s dominance has harmed innovation and user choice, while the company insists it faces robust competition across the digital landscape. As Meta prepares for trial, the outcome could have far-reaching implications for the tech industry and future regulatory actions against monopolistic practices.
Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia has announced it will stop posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, citing growing concerns over hate speech, disinformation, and toxic content. The paper, Spain’s fourth most-read publication, criticised the platform’s moderation failures under Elon Musk, claiming it has become an “echo chamber” for conspiracy theories and bots.
The decision follows similar moves by Britain’sThe Guardian and highlights growing alarm about X’s role in amplifying harmful narratives, especially amid sensitive events such as Spain’s recent floods. La Vanguardia editor Jordi Juan suspended his personal account, calling the platform’s content increasingly manipulative and profit-driven.
Since Musk’s acquisition of X in 2022, the platform has faced criticism for tolerating misinformation and hate, allegedly to boost ad revenue. The paper noted that X has left key European Union disinformation programs, further eroding trust. While journalists will retain personal accounts, the newspaper itself will suspend activity, preserving its 1.7M-follower archive for historical purposes.
Federal Trade Commissioner Melissa Holyoak has called for closer scrutiny of how AI products handle data from younger users, raising concerns about privacy and safety. Speaking at an American Bar Association meeting in Washington, Holyoak questioned what happens to information collected from children using AI tools, comparing their interactions to asking advice from a toy like a Magic 8 Ball.
The FTC, which enforces the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, has previously sued platforms like TikTok over alleged violations. Holyoak suggested the agency should evaluate its authority to investigate AI privacy practices as the sector evolves. Her remarks come as the FTC faces a leadership change with President-elect Donald Trump set to appoint a successor to Lina Khan, known for her aggressive stance against corporate consolidation.
Holyoak, considered a potential acting chair, emphasised that the FTC should avoid a rigid approach to mergers and acquisitions, while also predicting challenges to the agency’s worker noncompete ban. She noted that a Supreme Court decision on the matter could provide valuable clarity.
Social media platform Bluesky is experiencing rapid growth as users abandon Elon Musk’s X following Donald Trump’s presidential election victory and concerns over upcoming changes to the platform’s terms of service. Bluesky reported gaining 2.5 million new users in a week, pushing its total to over 16 million. Activity on Bluesky has surged, with record engagement levels, as organisations like the Guardian and prominent figures such as former CNN anchor Don Lemon leave X.
The election of Trump brought both heightened activity and backlash for X. On November 6, the platform saw 46.5 million visits in the US, a year-high figure, but also recorded more than 115,000 account deactivations, the most since Musk’s acquisition. Bluesky and Meta’s Threads also saw increased traffic, signalling growing competition. Analysts attribute Bluesky’s growth partly to dissatisfaction with X’s handling of misinformation and controversial content during the election.
Adding to the exodus is X’s imminent policy change requiring all legal disputes to be settled in Texas courts, a move critics claim favours Musk. The Center for Countering Digital Hate argued this could shield the platform from accountability, while Musk and X remained silent on the controversy. Despite Bluesky’s growth, it trails competitors like Threads and X in total user base, with analysts suggesting X remains strong due to its association with President-elect Trump and microblogging’s inherent network advantages.
German soccer club St Pauli has announced its withdrawal from the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, citing concerns over hate speech and disinformation. The club accused X’s owner, Elon Musk, of turning the platform into a space for unchecked racism and conspiracy theories, particularly during Germany’s heated political climate ahead of snap elections in February.
St Pauli, known for its progressive values and activism, said X has become a “hate machine” where threats and insults go unpunished under the guise of free speech. The decision mirrors similar moves by media outlets such as The Guardian and Spain’s La Vanguardia, which also left X over concerns about harmful content.
While the German club’s account will remain online as an archive, St Pauli will no longer post new content. The Hamburg-based team, celebrated for its left-wing fan base and social initiatives, stated the decision aligns with its commitment to promoting inclusivity and combating hate.
Tesla founder Elon Musk has revived a legal action against OpenAI, alleging the organisation abandoned its original non-profit mission. Filed in a California federal court, the amended complaint names Microsoft, Reid Hoffman, and Dee Templeton as defendants. Additional plaintiffs, including Shivon Zilis, a Neuralink executive and ally of Musk, have also joined the case.
Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, accuses the organisation of exploiting Microsoft’s infrastructure in what his lawyers describe as a ‘de facto merger.’ He claims OpenAI has benefited from favourable treatment by Microsoft, disadvantaging competitors such as xAI, Musk’s AI venture. The lawsuit also raises concerns over alleged antitrust violations involving OpenAI board members and their connections to Microsoft.
The filing alleges Reid Hoffman and Dee Templeton facilitated agreements between OpenAI and Microsoft that violated antitrust laws. It further details how Hoffman’s dual roles at Microsoft and OpenAI may have allowed access to sensitive information. Zilis, a former OpenAI board member, expressed similar concerns internally but was reportedly ignored.
Musk’s lawyers argue that OpenAI’s transition to a profit-driven model undermines its foundational principles of transparency and safety. The complaint references incidents such as a 2018 cryptocurrency proposal that Musk vetoed, citing potential reputational harm. OpenAI has dismissed the lawsuit as baseless and characterised it as a publicity stunt.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has been fined nearly €800M by the European Union for anti-competitive practices related to its Marketplace feature. The European Commission accused the tech giant of abusing its dominant position by tying Marketplace to Facebook’s social network, forcing exposure to the service and disadvantaging competitors.
This marks the first time the EU has penalised Meta for breaching competition laws, though the company has faced previous fines for privacy violations. The investigation found that Meta unfairly used data from competitors advertising on Facebook and Instagram to benefit its own Marketplace, giving it an edge that rivals couldn’t match.
Meta rejected the claims, arguing that the decision lacks evidence of harm to competition or consumers. While the company pledged to comply with the EU’s order to cease the conduct, it plans to appeal the ruling. The case highlights ongoing EU scrutiny of Big Tech, with Meta facing additional investigations on issues like privacy, child safety, and election integrity.
