Content Policy

China expands university enrolment to boost AI talent

China’s top universities are set to expand undergraduate enrolment to develop talent in key strategic fields, particularly AI.

The move follows the rapid rise of AI startup DeepSeek, which has drawn global attention for producing advanced AI models at a fraction of the usual cost.

The company’s success, largely driven by researchers from elite institutions in China, is seen as a major step in Beijing’s efforts to boost its homegrown STEM workforce.

Peking University announced it would add 150 undergraduate spots in 2025 to focus on national strategic needs, particularly in information science, engineering, and clinical medicine.

Renmin University will expand enrolment by over 100 places, aiming to foster innovation in AI. Meanwhile, Shanghai Jiao Tong University plans to add 150 spots dedicated to emerging technologies such as integrated circuits, biomedicine, and new energy.

This expansion aligns with China’s broader strategy to strengthen its education system and technological capabilities. In January, the government introduced a national action plan to enhance education efficiency and innovation by 2035.

Additionally, authorities plan to introduce AI education in primary and secondary schools to nurture digital skills and scientific curiosity from an early age.

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Indonesia approves Apple’s local content certificates

Indonesia has granted local content certificates for 20 Apple products, including the iPhone 16 after the company met requirements for locally-made components.

Apple still needs further approvals from the communications and trade ministries before it can officially sell the devices in the country.

The certification follows Apple’s recent pledge to invest over $300 million in Indonesia, including funding component manufacturing plants and a research and development centre.

Last year, the country had banned iPhone 16 sales due to non-compliance with local content rules.

Industry ministry spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arief confirmed that Apple received certificates for 11 phone models and nine tablets.

However, negotiations had been ‘tricky’, according to Indonesia’s industry minister. Apple remains outside the top five smartphone brands in Indonesia, according to research firm Canalyst.

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Reddit launches new tools to improve user engagement

Reddit has introduced new tools to help users follow community rules and track content performance, aiming to boost engagement on the platform. The update comes after a slowdown in user growth due to Google’s algorithm changes, though traffic from the search engine has since recovered.

Among the new features is a ‘rules check’ tool, currently being tested on smartphones, which helps users comply with subreddit guidelines. Additionally, a post-recovery option allows users to repost content in alternative subreddits if their original submission is removed. Reddit will also suggest subreddits based on post content and clarify posting requirements for specific communities.

The company has enhanced its post insights feature, offering detailed engagement metrics to help users refine their content. This follows Reddit’s December launch of Reddit Answers, an AI-powered search tool designed to provide curated summaries of community discussions, which is still in beta testing.

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US House subpoenas Alphabet over content moderation

The US House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed Alphabet on Thursday, demanding information on its communications with the Biden administration regarding content moderation policies. The committee, led by Republican Jim Jordan, also requested similar communications with external companies and groups.

The subpoena specifically seeks details on discussions about restricting or banning content related to US President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, COVID-19, and other conservative topics. Republicans have accused Big Tech companies of suppressing conservative viewpoints, with the Federal Trade Commission warning that coordinating policies or misleading users could breach the law.

Last year, Meta Platforms acknowledged pressure from the Biden administration to censor content, but Alphabet has not publicly distanced itself from similar claims. A Google spokesperson stated the company will demonstrate its independent approach to policy enforcement.

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Google acknowledges AI being used for harmful content

Google has reported receiving over 250 complaints globally about its AI software being used to create deepfake terrorist content, according to Australia’s eSafety Commission.

The tech giant also acknowledged dozens of user reports alleging that its AI program, Gemini, was being exploited to generate child abuse material. Under Australian law, companies must provide regular updates on their efforts to minimise harm or risk hefty fines.

The eSafety Commission described Google’s disclosure as a ‘world-first insight’ into how AI tools may be misused to produce harmful and illegal content.

Between April 2023 and February 2024, Google received 258 reports of suspected AI-generated extremist material and 86 related to child exploitation. However, the company did not specify how many of these reports were verified.

A Google spokesperson stated that the company strictly prohibits AI-generated content related to terrorism, child abuse, and other illegal activities.

While it uses automated detection to remove AI-generated child exploitation material, the same system is not applied to extremist content.

Meanwhile, the regulator has previously fined platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram for failing to meet reporting requirements, with both companies planning to appeal.

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Google unveils experimental AI search for premium users

Google has introduced an experimental version of its search engine that removes the traditional 10 blue links in favour of AI-generated summaries.

The new ‘AI Mode’ is available to subscribers of Google One AI Premium, a $19.99 per month plan, and can be accessed through a tab alongside existing options like Images and Maps.

Users will see a detailed AI summary with hyperlinks to cited sources, replacing standard search results with a search bar for follow-up questions.

The feature is powered by a customised version of Google’s Gemini 2.0 model, designed to handle complex queries more effectively.

AI Overviews, which provide summaries atop search results, are already available in over 100 countries, with advertisements integrated into them since last May. Google says the new AI-driven approach responds to demand from “power users” seeking more AI-generated responses.

As Google pushes deeper into AI-powered search, it faces competition from Microsoft-backed OpenAI, which introduced search capabilities to ChatGPT last October.

The shift has raised concerns among content creators, with edtech company Chegg suing Google in February, alleging that AI previews are reducing demand for original content and hurting publishers’ ability to compete.

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Tech giants challenge Australia’s exemption for YouTube

Major social media companies, including Meta, Snapchat, and TikTok, have urged Australia to reconsider its decision to exempt YouTube from a new law banning under-16s from social media platforms.

The legislation, passed in November, imposes strict age restrictions and threatens heavy fines for non-compliance. YouTube, however, is set to be excluded due to its educational value and parental supervision features.

Industry leaders argue that YouTube shares key features with other platforms, such as algorithmic content recommendations and social interaction tools, making its exemption inconsistent with the law’s intent.

Meta called for equal enforcement, while TikTok warned that excluding YouTube would create an ‘illogical, anticompetitive, and short-sighted’ regulation. Snapchat echoed these concerns, insisting that all platforms should be treated fairly.

Experts have pointed out that YouTube, like other platforms, can expose children to addictive and harmful content. The company has responded by strengthening content moderation and expanding its automated detection systems.

The debate highlights broader concerns over online safety and fair competition as Australia moves to enforce some of the world’s strictest social media regulations.

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EU set to implement Entry/Exit System for border control

The European Union has reached an agreement to finally implement the long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES), which will modernise border checks for short-stay travellers.

After several delays due to technical issues and a lack of readiness, the system is now set to begin operations in autumn, though a specific launch date has yet to be determined.

Member states will have the option to introduce the system all at once or in phases over a six-month transition period, with the full implementation to be completed by the end of the transition.

The EES, which was first proposed in 2016, aims to replace traditional passport stamping by collecting biometric data from non-EU visitors, including photos and fingerprints.

This data will be recorded each time visitors enter or exit the Schengen Area. The system is designed to improve border control, help authorities identify overstayers, and prevent identity fraud.

While Cyprus and Ireland will not participate in the new system, all other EU member states and four Schengen-associated countries will be involved.

Poland, which currently holds the EU Council’s rotating presidency, will lead negotiations with the European Parliament to finalise the law.

Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland’s Minister for Internal Affairs, indicated that a final agreement should be reached smoothly, with October set as the target for full implementation.

The EES is expected to provide authorities with new tools to enhance security and better manage borders within the Schengen Area.

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UK regulator sets deadline for assessing online content risks

Britain’s media regulator, Ofcom, has set a 31 March deadline for social media and online platforms to submit a risk assessment on the likelihood of users encountering illegal content. This move follows new laws passed last year requiring companies such as Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, as well as ByteDance’s TikTok, to take action against criminal activities on their platforms. Under the Online Safety Act, these firms must assess and address the risks of offences like terrorism, hate crimes, child sexual exploitation, and financial fraud.

The risk assessment must evaluate how likely it is for users to come across illegal content, or how user-to-user services could facilitate criminal activities. Ofcom has warned that failure to meet the deadline could result in enforcement actions against the companies. The new regulations aim to make online platforms safer and hold them accountable for the content shared on their sites.

The deadline is part of the UK‘s broader push to regulate online content and enhance user safety. Social media giants are now facing stricter scrutiny to ensure they are addressing potential risks associated with their platforms and protecting users from harmful content.

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Vodafone collaborates with IBM on quantum-safe cryptography

Vodafone UK has teamed up with IBM to explore quantum-safe cryptography as part of a new Proof of Concept (PoC) test for its mobile and broadband services, particularly for users of its ‘Secure Net’ anti-malware service. While quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, they could eventually break current internet encryption methods. In anticipation of this, Vodafone and IBM are testing how to integrate new post-quantum cryptographic standards into Vodafone’s existing Secure Net service, which already protects millions of users from threats like phishing and malware.

IBM’s cryptography experts have co-developed two algorithms now recognised in the US National Institute of Standards and Technology’s first post-quantum cryptography standards. This collaboration, supported by Akamai Technologies, aims to make Vodafone’s services more resilient against future quantum computing risks. Vodafone’s Head of R&D, Luke Ibbetson, stressed the importance of future-proofing digital security to ensure customers can continue enjoying safe internet experiences.

Although the PoC is still in its feasibility phase, Vodafone hopes to implement quantum-safe cryptography across its networks and products soon, ensuring stronger protection for both business and consumer users.

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