Google is testing a new feature that adds blue check marks next to verified companies in its search results to help users identify trustworthy sources, a company spokesperson confirmed on Friday. This move aims to protect users from fraudulent websites that impersonate official businesses, potentially spreading false information and damaging brands.
The spokesperson mentioned that Google frequently tests new features to help users identify credible businesses online, with this checkmark initiative being a limited trial. While Google already employs automated systems to block ‘scammy’ or fake content from its search results, this additional feature offers an extra level of verification.
According to The Verge, some users have noticed these blue checkmarks next to official site links for companies like Microsoft, Meta, and Apple. However, the feature is not yet widely available, suggesting that Google is still in the early stages of testing.
Brazil’s Supreme Court has delayed its decision on whether social media platform X can resume operations in the country due to issues regarding the payment of fines. Lawyers representing X argued that the company had made the payments correctly, but the court found that they did not pay to the proper bank, which remains the only unresolved issue for the platform’s reinstatement.
Since late August, X has faced suspension in Brazil, a significant market, following its failure to comply with court orders regarding hate speech moderation and the requirement to appoint a legal representative in the country. Earlier on Friday, X, owned by Elon Musk, submitted a new request to restore its services, claiming to have settled all outstanding fines.
In response to the request, Justice Alexandre de Moraes insisted that the payments must be transferred to the appropriate bank. He also noted that the prosecutor general of Brazil would provide input on X’s recent appeals once the fine payment situation is clarified.
After reversing its earlier stance and complying with court directives in recent weeks, including blocking specific accounts under investigation, X sought the court’s approval to resume services. However, de Moraes previously stated that the company needed to pay just over $5 million in fines before the suspension could be lifted.
Criminal networks in Southeast Asia are increasingly exploiting Telegram for large-scale illicit activities, according to a new report from the United Nations. The encrypted messaging app is used to trade hacked data, including credit card details and passwords, across sprawling, poorly-moderated channels. The report also notes that unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges on the platform provide money laundering services.
Fraud tools, such as deepfake software and data-stealing malware, are widely sold, enabling organised crime syndicates to innovate and expand their operations. One vendor in Chinese reportedly claimed to move millions in stolen cryptocurrency daily. Southeast Asia has become a hub for these activities, where criminal groups target victims worldwide, generating up to $36.5 billion annually.
The controversy surrounding Telegram escalated when its founder, Pavel Durov, was arrested in Paris for allowing criminal activity on the platform. Durov, who is now out on bail, has since announced steps to cooperate with law enforcement by sharing users’ information when requested legally and removing certain features used for illegal purposes.
As the UNODC report warns, the widespread use of Telegram for underground markets places consumers’ data at heightened risk. Criminals are not only exploiting technology like artificial intelligence but are also leveraging the platform’s ease of use to target victims globally.
Facebook, once the go-to platform for connecting with family and friends, is shifting its focus to attract younger users, according to Tom Alison, head of Facebook at Meta. With younger generations favouring apps like Instagram and TikTok, Meta aims to revitalise Facebook by helping users expand their networks and make new connections, aligning with how young adults use the platform today.
To achieve this, Facebook is testing two new tabs, Local and Explore, aimed at helping users find nearby events, community groups, and content tailored to their interests. This initiative aligns with Meta’s efforts to compete with TikTok, which has 150 million US users, by introducing its short-form video feature, Reels, in 2021. Data reveals that young adults on Facebook spend 60% of their time watching videos, with over half engaging with Reels daily.
Facebook also reported a 24% increase in conversations initiated through its dating feature among young adults in the US and Canada. At a recent event in Austin, Texas, the platform promoted its new direction with the slogan ‘Not your mom’s Facebook,’ emphasising its push to attract a younger audience.
An Australian court upheld an order on Friday requiring Elon Musk’s X to pay a fine of A$610,500 ($418,000) for not cooperating with a regulator’s request regarding anti-child-abuse practices. X had contested the fine, but the Federal Court of Australia determined that the company was obligated to respond to a notice from the eSafety Commissioner, which sought information about measures to combat child sexual exploitation material on the platform.
Musk’s company claimed it was not obligated to respond to the notice due to its integration into a new corporate entity under his control, which it argued eliminated its liability. However, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant cautioned that accepting this argument could set a troubling precedent, enabling foreign companies to evade regulatory responsibilities in Australia through corporate restructuring. Alongside the fine, eSafety has also launched civil proceedings against X for noncompliance.
This is not the first confrontation between Musk and Australia’s internet safety regulator. Earlier this year, the eSafety Commissioner ordered X to take down posts showing a bishop being stabbed during a sermon. X contested the order in court, claiming that a regulator in one country should not control global content visibility. Ultimately, X retained the posts after the Australian regulator withdrew its case. Musk labelled the order as censorship and claimed it was part of a larger agenda by the World Economic Forum to impose global eSafety regulations.
Tanzania’s communications regulator has suspended the online platforms of Mwananchi Communications Ltd for 30 days, accusing the company of publishing content that damaged the nation’s image. The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) cited violations of the country’s Online Content Regulations 2020 and claimed the media company had shared material that disrupted national unity, peace, and harmony. However, the TCRA did not reveal the specific nature of the content.
Mwananchi Communications posted an animated video on its X and Instagram platforms on 1 October, which depicted people expressing concerns about missing or murdered loved ones. The company later deleted the video and apologised, stating that the content was misinterpreted. Opposition party ACT-Wazalendo criticised the suspension, arguing that the government was silencing media outlets that expose the country’s real issues, especially following recent cases of violence against political figures.
This action has raised concerns over press freedom in Tanzania, with critics pointing out a recent shift in the government’s approach. While President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been praised for easing restrictions on political rallies and media, recent incidents such as protest bans and the arrests of journalists have sparked fears of a rollback in democratic freedoms. Mwananchi Communications has stated that it will comply with the suspension order.
An Australian court has upheld a ruling requiring Elon Musk’s X, previously known as Twitter, to pay a $418,000 fine. The fine was issued for failing to cooperate with a request from the eSafety Commissioner regarding anti-child-abuse measures on the platform.
X had contested the penalty, arguing that it was no longer bound by regulatory obligations following a corporate restructure under Musk’s ownership. However, the court ruled that the platform was still required to respond to the request made by the Australian internet safety regulator.
The eSafety Commissioner stated that accepting X’s argument could have set a worrying precedent for foreign companies merging to avoid regulatory responsibilities. Civil proceedings against X have also begun due to its noncompliance.
Musk’s platform has clashed with authorities in Australia before, notably in a case where X refused to remove content showing a stabbing incident. The company claimed that one country should not dictate global online content.
Google has announced it will stop linking to New Zealand news articles and end agreements with local news outlets if a proposed law to ensure fair revenue sharing moves forward. The New Zealand government is reviewing legislation aimed at making tech companies like Google pay for news content featured on their platforms, following a similar model introduced in Australia.
Google New Zealand’s Country Director, Caroline Rainsford, expressed concerns about the potential law, saying it would require major changes to Google’s services. She highlighted that Google could be forced to stop showing news content on platforms like Google Search and Google News in the country if the law passes.
The company also warned the legislation could negatively affect smaller publishers and create financial uncertainty. Despite these concerns, the New Zealand government remains in consultation, with Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith considering feedback before any final decision.
While the minority coalition partner ACT opposes the law, it is expected to receive enough cross-party support to pass. Australia has already implemented a similar law, which has been deemed successful by a government review.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the platform of violating children’s privacy laws. The lawsuit alleges that TikTok shared personal information of minors without parental consent, in breach of Texas’s Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (SCOPE Act).
The legal action seeks an injunction and civil penalties, with fines up to $10,000 per violation. Paxton claims TikTok failed to provide adequate privacy tools for children and allowed data to be shared from accounts set to private. Targeted advertising to children was also a concern raised in the lawsuit.
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is being held responsible for allegedly prioritising profits over child safety. Paxton stressed the importance of holding large tech companies accountable for their role in protecting minors online.
The case was filed in Galveston County court, with TikTok yet to comment on the matter. The lawsuit represents a broader concern about the protection of children’s online privacy in the digital age.
Croatian startup AEOS, formerly known as AdScanner, has secured €10 million in a Series B investment round led by Taiwania Capital, with additional backing from existing investors. This funding follows significant revenue growth and product innovations that aim to redefine how advertisers reach audiences across both traditional television and streaming platforms.
Founded in 2012, AEOS has become a key player in the European TV advertising market, using data-driven technology to enhance campaign planning and audience measurement. Operating in Croatia, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, and Serbia, the company plans to use the new investment to accelerate growth and develop its product offerings, particularly in the AI space.
The funding will support the development of AI-driven tools that help advertisers optimise their campaigns across platforms. AEOS has already gained recognition for its Cockpit solution, offering near real-time analytics and bridging the gap between traditional broadcast media and digital streaming services.
In 2024, AEOS will launch its second-generation AI-based planning tool, designed to unify TV and streaming campaigns into one seamless ecosystem. The tool allows advertisers to plan, measure, and optimise their campaigns across multiple devices with greater accuracy than ever before.
