Content Policy

Australia warns public over Chinese AI model DeepSeek

The treasurer of Australia, Jim Chalmers, has urged caution regarding the use of the Chinese AI model DeepSeek, citing potential risks associated with the technology. Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Chalmers emphasised that the government is closely monitoring the situation and continuously receiving advice on its implications.

DeepSeek, a cost-efficient AI model released by China, has raised global concerns, particularly over its ability to challenge the dominance of US AI developers. Its debut caused significant market turbulence, with shares of AI chip leader Nvidia plunging by 17% on Monday before making a partial recovery.

The United States has also voiced concerns, announcing an investigation into the national security implications of DeepSeek. The scrutiny highlights growing geopolitical tensions around the advancement and control of AI technologies.

Google appeals EU’s record antitrust fine

Google has appealed to the EU’s top court to overturn a record 4.3-billion-euro antitrust fine imposed seven years ago, arguing that the penalty punished the company for its innovation. The fine was originally levied by the European Commission, which accused Google of using its Android operating system to suppress competition by forcing manufacturers to pre-install Google Search, Chrome, and the Google Play store on devices. While the fine was later reduced to 4.1 billion euros by a lower court, Google maintains that its actions fostered competition, not hindered it.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Google lawyer Alfonso Lamadrid stated that the Commission failed to meet its legal obligations and relied on errors in law. Lamadrid defended Google’s agreements with phone manufacturers, insisting they were not anti-competitive, but rather beneficial to the market. The case centres on whether the European Commission acted appropriately in its investigation and decision to reshape markets through such penalties.

The judges of the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union will make a final ruling in the coming months, with no further opportunity for appeal. In addition to this case, Google remains under scrutiny by EU regulators for its advertising business, with another major decision expected later this year.

OpenAI faces legal action from Indian news companies

Several prominent Indian media outlets, including those owned by billionaires Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, are taking legal action against OpenAI. These outlets, such as NDTV and Network18, along with organisations like the Indian Express and Hindustan Times, have filed to join an ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI in a New Delhi court. They allege that OpenAI has been improperly scraping their copyrighted content to train its AI model, ChatGPT, without permission or payment.

The legal claim, which is being led by the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA), argues that OpenAI’s practices pose a significant threat to the copyrights of its members. The publishers claim that OpenAI’s actions amount to ‘wilful scraping’ and the use of their work for commercial gain, especially as the company generates revenue through ads linked to AI-generated content. This lawsuit highlights broader concerns in the media industry about the influence of large tech companies on content distribution and monetisation.

The legal proceedings are part of a larger global trend, with authors, musicians, and news organisations worldwide suing AI firms for using their works without compensation. In the US, the New York Times has filed a similar lawsuit against OpenAI and its major backer, Microsoft. This new case in India adds significant pressure to OpenAI, which has denied the allegations, arguing that its AI systems rely on publicly available data and that deleting such data could violate US law.

The Indian plaintiffs argue that OpenAI’s failure to strike content-sharing deals with local publishers, while it has done so with international media outlets, undermines the business of Indian news companies. The publishers warn that OpenAI’s practices could weaken the media landscape and negatively impact democracy, calling for greater protection of intellectual property in the age of AI.

UMG and Spotify strike new multi-year deal

Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify have announced a new multi-year agreement covering recorded music and music publishing. The deal establishes a direct license between Spotify and UMG across the US and several other countries, aimed at enhancing the streaming experience for artists, songwriters, and consumers.

The partnership promises to introduce new offerings, including upgraded paid subscription tiers and a more expansive catalogue of music and visual content. Both companies emphasise that this collaboration will drive continuous innovation, making music subscriptions more appealing to a global audience.

As Spotify works to improve its profitability, the company has recently implemented cost-cutting measures, including layoffs and a reduced focus on podcasts. It has also raised prices for its US plans to cater to the growing demand for premium services.

EU completes probe into X, decision on major fine imminent

The European Commission has concluded its preliminary investigation into social media platform X and is poised to decide on a fine amounting to millions of euros, according to reports from Germany’s Handelsblatt newspaper. The probe’s findings and implications are expected to be revealed soon.

The investigation, conducted under the European Union‘s strict digital regulations, signals the bloc’s commitment to ensuring compliance from major tech companies operating within Europe. Details about the specific breaches or concerns raised during the probe have not yet been disclosed.

The European Commission has not commented on the report. The decision to impose a substantial fine would mark a significant move in enforcing its Digital Services Act, aimed at holding tech platforms accountable.

EU to test social media safeguards ahead of German elections

The European Commission has invited major social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, and X, to participate in a “stress test” on 31 January to assess their efforts in combating disinformation ahead of Germany‘s election next month. The test is part of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires companies to implement measures mitigating risks on their platforms. Similar tests were successfully conducted for the European Parliament elections last year.

EU spokesperson Thomas Regnier explained that the exercise would involve various scenarios to evaluate how platforms respond to potential challenges under the DSA. Senior compliance officers and specialists from companies such as Microsoft, LinkedIn, Google, Snap, and Meta have been invited to collaborate with German authorities in the closed-door session.

TikTok has confirmed its participation, while other platforms have yet to comment. The initiative underscores the European Union‘s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability from tech giants in safeguarding democratic processes during elections.

Ads to launch on Threads platform

Meta has begun testing advertisements on its Threads platform in the US and Japan, targeting a small group of users with image ads in their home feeds. The trial comes as the platform surpasses 300 million monthly active users. Businesses will have the opportunity to extend their existing Meta campaigns to Threads, with the company closely monitoring the tests before a wider rollout.

Advertisers will also benefit from a new inventory filter powered by AI, enabling control over the type of content their ads appear alongside. Analysts suggest that while Threads is still a minor player in Meta’s overall revenue strategy, growing uncertainty around TikTok has led brands to explore alternative platforms.

Launched in July 2023 as a competitor to X, formerly known as Twitter, Threads continues to attract users following X’s controversial changes under Elon Musk. Meta’s plans to expand its AI infrastructure with a $65 billion investment this year further highlight its ambitions to remain competitive with tech giants such as OpenAI and Google.

While Threads is not expected to contribute significantly to Meta’s revenue by 2025, its integration into Meta’s broader ad ecosystem demonstrates the company’s efforts to capitalise on the platform’s growing popularity.

Zuckerberg drives Meta’s bold AI ambitions with $65 billion plans for 2025

Meta Platforms plans to invest up to $65 billion in 2025 to strengthen its artificial intelligence infrastructure, positioning itself against competitors OpenAI and Google. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg announced the plans, including ramped-up hiring for AI roles and the development of a massive 2-gigawatt data centre, enough to cover much of Manhattan.

The company, a significant buyer of Nvidia’s AI chips, aims to have over 1.3 million graphics processors in place by the end of the year. Meta intends to introduce about 1 gigawatt of computing power in 2025, marking a pivotal step in its strategy. Zuckerberg highlighted the transformative potential of AI, predicting its influence on Meta’s products and business over the coming years.

Competition in the AI sector has intensified, with companies like Microsoft and Amazon also committing tens of billions to AI infrastructure. Meta’s announcement follows news of Stargate, a $500 billion AI venture involving OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle. Analysts suggest Meta’s timing underscores its determination to remain a key player in the AI race.

Meta has distinguished itself with its open-source Llama AI models, which are freely accessible to consumers and businesses. Zuckerberg expects Meta’s AI assistant, already serving 600 million users, to reach over 1 billion by 2025. The planned investment significantly exceeds previous spending levels, signalling Meta’s commitment to leading in the rapidly evolving AI landscape

TikTok users report censorship concerns after US ban lifted

Some US TikTok users are voicing concerns over what they perceive as heightened content moderation following the app’s return. The platform, owned by China’s ByteDance, faced a temporary ban over national security concerns before being revived through an executive order. Although TikTok insists its policies remain unchanged, many users report noticeable differences in their experience.

Content creators claim that livestreams are less frequent and posts are being flagged or removed for guideline violations at higher rates. Some allege the platform has been restricting searches, issuing misinformation warnings, and deleting previously acceptable content, such as comments mentioning ‘Free Palestine’ or referencing political figures. TikTok asserts it does not permit violent or hateful content and blames temporary instability during the restoration of its US operations.

Prominent creators have shared their struggles. Comedian Pat Loller reported his satirical video on Elon Musk faced sharing restrictions, while political commentator Danisha Carter’s account was permanently banned for alleged policy violations. Other users describe strikes against seemingly harmless content, fuelling suspicions that moderation may target specific identities or viewpoints.

The controversy has revived debates about censorship and freedom of speech on social media platforms. As TikTok navigates its future, including potential acquisition by a US buyer, creators and users alike question the impact of these changes on online expression.

Hashtag issues add to Meta’s chaotic transition week during US presidency handover

Meta has come under scrutiny after its AI chatbot failed to identify the current US president correctly. Despite Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, the chatbot continued to name Joe Biden as president through Thursday. The error led Meta to activate its high-priority troubleshooting protocol, a ‘site event’, to address the issue urgently.

The incident marked at least the third emergency Meta faced this week during the US presidential transition. Other problems included forcing users to re-follow Trump administration profiles on social media and hashtag search errors on Instagram. Meta attributed the re-following issue to delays in transferring White House accounts, which affected ‘unfollow’ requests.

Complaints also arose after searches for Democratic hashtags were blocked while Republican hashtags displayed results normally. Meta acknowledged the issue, claiming it affected searches for various hashtags across the platform. These errors come amid broader platform changes, including scrapping fact-checking programs and reshaping its leadership.

Critics have linked the missteps to perceived shifts in Meta’s political alignment. CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s attendance at Trump’s inauguration and recent strategic moves, such as appointing Trump allies to key positions, have fuelled debate over the platform’s neutrality.