The parents of a Massachusetts high school senior are suing Hingham High School and its district after their son received a “D” grade and detention for using AI in a social studies project. Jennifer and Dale Harris, the plaintiffs, argue that their son was unfairly punished, as there was no rule in the school’s handbook prohibiting AI use at the time. They claim the grade has impacted his eligibility for the National Honor Society and his applications to top-tier universities like Stanford and MIT.
The lawsuit, filed in Plymouth County District Court, alleges the school’s actions could cause “irreparable harm” to the student’s academic future. Jennifer Harris stated that their son’s use of AI should not be considered cheating, arguing that AI-generated content belongs to the creator. The school, however, classified it as plagiarism. The family’s lawyer, Peter Farrell, contends that there’s widespread information supporting their view that using AI isn’t plagiarism.
The Harrises are seeking to have their son’s grade changed and his academic record cleared. They emphasised that while they can’t reverse past punishments like detention, the school can still adjust his grade and confirm that he did not cheat. Hingham Public Schools has not commented on the ongoing litigation.
A London-based company, Synthesia, known for its lifelike AI video technology, is under scrutiny after its avatars were used in deepfake videos promoting authoritarian regimes. These AI-generated videos, featuring people like Mark Torres and Connor Yeates, falsely showed their likenesses endorsing the military leader of Burkina Faso, causing distress to the models involved. Despite the company’s claims of strengthened content moderation, many affected models were unaware of their image’s misuse until journalists informed them.
In 2022, actors like Torres and Yeates were hired to participate in Synthesia’s AI model shoots for corporate projects. They later discovered their avatars had been used in political propaganda, which they had not consented to. This caused emotional distress, as they feared personal and professional damage from the fake videos. Despite Synthesia’s efforts to ban accounts using its technology for such purposes, the harmful content spread online, including on platforms like Facebook.
UK-based Synthesia has expressed regret, stating it will continue to improve its processes. However, the long-term impact on the actors remains, with some questioning the lack of safeguards in the AI industry and warning of the dangers involved when likenesses are handed over to companies without adequate protections.
Hiya, a US-based company specialising in fraud and spam detection, has introduced a new Chrome browser extension to identify AI-generated deepfake voices. The tool offers free access to anyone concerned about the growing risk of voice manipulation.
The Deepfake Voice Detector analyses video and audio streams, sampling audio in just one second to determine whether a voice is genuine or artificially generated. Hiya’s technology relies on AI algorithms it integrated following the acquisition of Loccus.ai in July.
With deepfakes becoming increasingly difficult to spot, the company aims to help users stay ahead of potential misuse. Hiya president Kush Parikh emphasised the importance of launching the tool ahead of the US elections in November to address the rising threat.
A survey of 2,000 individuals conducted by Hiya revealed that one in four people encountered audio deepfakes between April and July this year. Personal voice calls emerged as the primary risk factor (61%), followed by exposure on platforms like Facebook (22%) and YouTube (17%).
Two independent candidates participated in an online debate on Thursday, engaging with an AI-generated version of incumbent congressman Don Beyer. The digital avatar, dubbed ‘DonBot’, was created using Beyer’s website and public materials to simulate his responses in the event, streamed on YouTube and Rumble.
Beyer, a Democrat seeking re-election, opted not to join the debate in person. His AI representation featured a robotic voice reading answers without imitating his tone. Independent challengers Bentley Hensel and David Kennedy appeared on camera, while the Republican candidate Jerry Torres did not participate. Viewership remained low, peaking at fewer than 20 viewers, and parts of DonBot’s responses were inaudible.
Hensel explained that the AI was programmed to provide unbiased answers using available public information. The debate tackled policy areas such as healthcare, gun control, and aid to Israel. When asked why voters should re-elect Beyer, the AI stated, ‘I believe that I can make a real difference in the lives of the people of Virginia’s 8th district.’
Although the event saw minimal impact, observers suggest the use of AI in politics could become more prevalent. The reliance on such technology raises concerns about transparency, especially if no regulations are introduced to guide its use in future elections.
US federal prosecutors are ramping up efforts to tackle the use of AI tools in creating child sexual abuse images, as they fear the technology could lead to a rise in illegal content. The Justice Department has already pursued two cases this year against individuals accused of using generative AI to produce explicit images of minors. James Silver, chief of the Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, anticipates more cases, cautioning against the normalisation of AI-generated abuse material.
Child safety advocates and prosecutors worry that AI systems can alter ordinary photos of children to produce abusive content, making it more challenging to identify and protect actual victims. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports approximately 450 cases each month involving AI-generated abuse. While this number is small compared to the millions of online child exploitation reports received, it represents a concerning trend in the misuse of technology.
The legal framework is still evolving regarding cases involving AI-generated abuse, particularly when identifiable children are not depicted. Prosecutors are resorting to obscenity charges when traditional child pornography laws do not apply. This is evident in the case of Steven Anderegg, accused of using Stable Diffusion to create explicit images. Similarly, US Army soldier Seth Herrera faces child pornography charges for allegedly using AI chatbots to alter innocent photos into abusive content. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Nonprofit groups like Thorn and All Tech Is Human are working with major tech companies, including Google, Amazon, Meta, OpenAI, and Stability AI, to prevent AI models from generating abusive content and to monitor their platforms. Thorn’s vice president, Rebecca Portnoff, emphasised that the issue is not just a future risk but a current problem, urging action during this critical period to prevent its escalation.
These artificial avatars would operate on social media and online platforms, featuring realistic expressions and high-quality images akin to government IDs. JSOC also seeks technologies to produce convincing facial and background videos, including ‘selfie videos’, to avoid detection by social media algorithms.
US state agencies have previously announced frameworks to combat foreign information manipulation, citing national security threats from these technologies. Despite recognising the global dangers posed by deepfakes, SOCOM’s initiative underscores a willingness to engage with the technology for potential military advantage.
Experts expressed concern over the ethical implications and potential for increased misinformation, warning of the entirely deceptive nature of deepfakes, with no legitimate applications beyond deceit, possibly encouraging further global misuse. Furthermore, such practices pose the risk of diminished public trust in government communications, exacerbated by perceived hypocrisy in deploying such technology.
Why does it matter?
This plan reflects an ongoing interest in leveraging digital manipulation for military purposes, despite previous incidents where platforms like Meta dismantled similar US-linked networks. It further shows a contradiction in the US’s stance on deepfake use, as it simultaneously condemns similar actions by countries like Russia and China.
X (formerly Twitter), has updated its terms of service, requiring users to file any lawsuits against the company in Texas’ Northern District in the US, a court known for conservative rulings. This change, effective November 15, appears to align with Musk’s increasing support for conservative causes, including backing Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Critics argue the move is an attempt to ‘judge-shop,’ as the Northern District has become a popular destination for right-leaning litigants seeking to block parts of President Biden’s agenda.
X’s headquarters are in Bastrop, Texas, located in the Western District, but the company has chosen the Northern District for legal disputes. This district already hosts two lawsuits filed by X, including one against Media Matters after the watchdog group published a report linking ads on the platform to posts promoting Nazism. The move to steer legal cases to this specific court highlights the company’s efforts to benefit from a legal environment more favorable to conservative causes.
The investigation particularly focuses on two contentious posts. The first is a meme from a page linked to Poland’s far-right Confederation party, featuring former prime minister Donald Tusk in a racially charged image that alludes to the EU’s immigration pact. The image utilises language perceived as a racial slur in Poland, raising ethical concerns about its impact. The second case involves an AI-generated image posted on a German Facebook page opposing leftist and green parties. It portrays a woman with Aryan features in a stop gesture with accompanying text condemning immigrants as ‘gang-rape specialists,’ a narrative linked to perceived outcomes of the Green Party’s immigration policies. This portrayal not only uses inflammatory rhetoric but also touches on deeply sensitive cultural issues within Germany.
Thorning-Schmidt highlighted the importance of examining Meta’s current approach to managing ‘coded speech’—subtle language or imagery that carries derogatory implications while avoiding direct violations of community standards.
The board’s investigation will assess whether Meta’s policies on hate speech are robust enough to protect individuals and communities at risk of discrimination, while still allowing for critical discourse on immigration matters. Meta’s policy is designed to protect refugees, migrants, immigrants, and asylum seekers from severe attacks while allowing critique of immigration laws.
Why does it matter?
The outcome of this investigation could prompt significant changes in how Meta moderates content on sensitive topics like immigration, striking a balance between curbing hate speech and preserving freedom of expression. Moreover, Meta’s oversight board tackling politically sensitive posts shows the broader challenges social media platforms face in moderating content that balances the fine line between free expression and inciting division. It highlights the ongoing debate on the role of these platforms in managing nuanced or politically sensitive content, potentially setting a precedent.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has released a significant Statement of Interest, urging scrutiny of surveys and information exchanges managed by trade associations. The DOJ expressed concerns that such exchanges may create unique risks to competition, particularly when competitors share sensitive information exclusively among themselves.
According to the DOJ, antitrust laws will evaluate the context of any information exchange to determine its potential impact on competition. Sharing competitively sensitive information could disproportionately benefit participating companies at the expense of consumers, workers, and other stakeholders. The department noted that advancements in AI technology have intensified these concerns, allowing large amounts of detailed information to be exchanged quickly, potentially heightening the risk of anticompetitive behaviour.
This guidance follows the DOJ’s withdrawal of long-standing rules that established “safety zones” for information exchanges, which previously indicated that certain types of sharing were presumed lawful. By retracting this guidance, the DOJ signals a shift toward a more cautious, case-by-case approach, urging businesses to prioritise proactive risk management.
The DOJ’s statement, made in relation to an antitrust case in the pork industry, has wider implications for various sectors, including real estate. It highlights the need for organisations, such as Multiple Listing Services (MLS) and trade associations, to evaluate their practices and avoid environments that could lead to price-fixing or other anticompetitive behaviours. The DOJ encourages trade association executives to review their information-sharing protocols, educate members on legal risks, and monitor practices to ensure compliance with antitrust laws.
Japan’s largest annual electronics event opened alongside a mobility show, marking the first joint trade fair of its kind. The collaboration reflects the increasing convergence of technology and automotive industries, especially as vehicles become more autonomous and connected.
The trade show, hosted by the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) and Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), aims to promote cross-industry innovation. AI emerged as a core theme, with around half of the 800 tech exhibitors presenting AI-driven products and solutions.
Toyota Motor showcased a portable hydrogen tank capable of powering electric generators during disasters, promoting hydrogen as a sustainable energy source. Panasonic highlighted its perovskite solar cells, which can be installed on car windows to enhance power efficiency for electric vehicles, while Sony demonstrated a safety system that uses image sensors to detect driver fatigue.
NEC presented an AI-powered service capable of summarising movies or creating accident reports from dashcam footage, offering applications in various fields. TDK introduced a brain-inspired semiconductor chip that reduces AI electricity consumption to one-hundredth of current levels. The fair runs until Friday at Chiba’s Makuhari Messe, with free entrance for online registrants.
