Content Policy

Artists and writers say no to generative AI

Creative communities are pushing back against generative AI in literature and art. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association now bars works created wholly or partly with large language models after criticism of earlier, more permissive rules.

San Diego Comic-Con faced controversy when it initially allowed AI-generated art in its exhibition, but not for sale. Artists argued that the rules threatened originality, prompting organisers to ban all AI-created material.

Authors warn that generative AI undermines the creative process. Some point out that large language model tools are already embedded in research and writing software, raising concerns about accidental disqualification from awards.

Fans and members welcomed SFWA’s decision, but questions remain about how broadly AI usage will be defined. Many creators insist that machines cannot replicate storytelling and artistic skill.

Industry observers expect other cultural organisations to follow similar policies this year. The debate continues over ethics, fairness, and technology’s role in arts and literature.

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Monnett highlights EU digital sovereignty in social media

Monnett is a European-built social media platform designed to give people control over their online feeds. Users can choose exactly what they see, prioritise friends’ posts, and opt out of surveillance-style recommendation systems that dominate other networks.

Unlike mainstream platforms, Monnett places privacy first, with no profiling or sale of user data, and private chats protected without being mined for advertising. The platform also avoids “AI slop” or generative AI content shaping people’s feeds, emphasising human-centred interaction.

Created and built in Luxembourg at the heart of Europe, Monnett’s design reflects a growing push for digital sovereignty in the European Union, where citizens, regulators and developers want more control over how their digital spaces are governed and how personal data is treated.

Core features include full customisation of your algorithm, no shadowbans, strong privacy safeguards, and a focus on genuine social connection. Monnett aims to win users who prefer meaningful online interaction over addictive feeds and opaque data practices.

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Meta pauses teen access to AI characters

Meta Platforms has announced a temporary pause on teenagers’ access to AI characters across its platforms, including Instagram and WhatsApp. Meta disclosed the decision to review and rebuild the feature for younger users.

In San Francisco, Meta said the restriction will apply to users identified as minors based on declared ages or internal age-prediction systems. Teenagers will still be able to use Meta’s core AI assistant, though interactive AI characters will be unavailable.

The move comes ahead of a major child safety trial in Los Angeles involving Meta, TikTok and YouTube. The Los Angeles case focuses on allegations that social media platforms cause harm to children through addictive and unsafe digital features.

Concerns about AI chatbots and minors have grown across the US, prompting similar action by other companies. In Los Angeles and San Francisco, regulators and courts are increasingly scrutinising how AI interactions affect young users.

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Australia’s social media ban raises concern for social media companies

Australia’s social media ban for under-16s is worrying social media companies. According to the country’s eSafety Commissioner, these companies fear a global trend of banning such apps. In Australia, regulators say major platforms reluctantly resisted the policy, fearing that similar rules could spread internationally.

In Australia, the ban has already led to the closure of 4.7 million child-linked accounts across platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. Authorities argue the measures are necessary to protect children from harmful algorithms and addictive design.

Social media companies operating in Australia, including Meta, say stronger safeguards are needed but oppose a blanket ban. Critics have warned about privacy risks, while regulators insist early data shows limited migration to alternative platforms.

Australia is now working with partners such as the UK to push tougher global standards on online child safety. In Australia, fines of up to A$49.5m may be imposed on companies failing to enforce the rules effectively.

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UN warns of rising AI-driven threats to child safety

UN agencies have issued a stark warning over the accelerating risks AI poses to children online, citing rising cases of grooming, deepfakes, cyberbullying and sexual extortion.

A joint statement published on 19 January urges urgent global action, highlighting how AI tools increasingly enable predators to target vulnerable children with unprecedented precision.

Recent data underscores the scale of the threat, with technology-facilitated child abuse cases in the US surging from 4,700 in 2023 to more than 67,000 in 2024.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, online exploitation intensified, particularly affecting girls and young women, with digital abuse frequently translating into real-world harm, according to officials from the International Telecommunication Union.

Governments are tightening policies, led by Australia’s social media ban for under-16s, as the UK, France and Canada consider similar measures. UN agencies urged tech firms to prioritise child safety and called for stronger AI literacy across society.

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Apple accuses the EU of blocking App Store compliance changes

Apple has accused the European Commission of preventing it from implementing App Store changes designed to comply with the Digital Markets Act, following a €500 million fine for breaching the regulation.

The company claims it submitted a formal compliance plan in October and has yet to receive a response from EU officials.

In a statement, Apple argued that the Commission requested delays while gathering market feedback, a process the company says lasted several months and lacked a clear legal basis.

The US tech giant described the enforcement approach as politically motivated and excessively burdensome, accusing the EU of unfairly targeting an American firm.

The Commission has rejected those claims, saying discussions with Apple remain ongoing and emphasising that any compliance measures must support genuinely viable alternative app stores.

Officials pointed to the emergence of multiple competing marketplaces after the DMA entered into force as evidence of market demand.

Scrutiny has increased following the decision by SetApp mobile to shut down its iOS app store in February, with the developer citing complex and evolving business terms.

Questions remain over whether Apple’s proposed shift towards commission-based fees and expanded developer communication rights will satisfy EU regulators.

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ChatGPT model draws scrutiny over Grokipedia citations

OpenAI’s latest GPT-5.2 model has sparked concern after repeatedly citing Grokipedia, an AI-generated encyclopaedia launched by Elon Musk’s xAI, raising fresh fears of misinformation amplification.

Testing by The Guardian showed the model referencing Grokipedia multiple times when answering questions on geopolitics and historical figures.

Launched in October 2025, the AI-generated platform rivals Wikipedia but relies solely on automated content without human editing. Critics warn that limited human oversight raises risks of factual errors and ideological bias, as Grokipedia faces criticism for promoting controversial narratives.

OpenAI said its systems use safety filters and diverse public sources, while xAI dismissed the concerns as media distortion. The episode deepens scrutiny of AI-generated knowledge platforms amid growing regulatory and public pressure for transparency and accountability.

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AI bot swarms emerge as a new threat to democracy

Researchers and free-speech advocates are warning that coordinated swarms of AI agents could soon be deployed to manipulate public opinion at a scale capable of undermining democratic systems.

According to a consortium of academics from leading universities, advances in generative and agentic AI now enable large numbers of human-like bots to infiltrate online communities and autonomously simulate organic political discourse.

Unlike earlier forms of automated misinformation, AI swarms are designed to adapt to social dynamics, learn community norms and exchange information in pursuit of a shared objective.

By mimicking human behaviour and spreading tailored narratives gradually, such systems could fabricate consensus, amplify doubt around electoral processes and normalise anti-democratic outcomes without triggering immediate detection.

Evidence of early influence operations has already emerged in recent elections across Asia, where AI-driven accounts have engaged users with large volumes of unverifiable information rather than overt propaganda.

Researchers warn that information overload, strategic neutrality and algorithmic amplification may prove more effective than traditional disinformation campaigns.

The authors argue that democratic resilience now depends on global coordination, combining technical safeguards such as watermarking and detection tools with stronger governance of political AI use.

Without collective action, they caution that AI-enabled manipulation risks outpacing existing regulatory and institutional defences.

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Grok faces regulatory scrutiny in South Korea over explicit AI content

South Korea has moved towards regulatory action against Grok, the generative AI chatbot developed by xAI, following allegations that the system was used to generate and distribute sexually exploitative deepfake images.

The country’s Personal Information Protection Commission has launched a preliminary fact-finding review to assess whether violations occurred and whether the matter falls within its legal remit.

The review follows international reports accusing Grok of facilitating the creation of explicit and non-consensual images of real individuals, including minors.

Under the Personal Information Protection Act of South Korea, generating or altering sexual images of identifiable people without consent may constitute unlawful handling of personal data, exposing providers to enforcement action.

Concerns have intensified after civil society groups estimated that millions of explicit images were produced through Grok over a short period, with thousands involving children.

Several governments, including those in the US, Europe and Canada, have opened inquiries, while parts of Southeast Asia have opted to block access to the service altogether.

In response, xAI has introduced technical restrictions preventing users from generating or editing images of real people. Korean regulators have also demanded stronger youth protection measures from X, warning that failure to address criminal content involving minors could result in administrative penalties.

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France accelerates rapid ban on social media for under-15s

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for an accelerated legislative process to introduce a nationwide ban on social media for children under 15 by September.

Speaking in a televised address, Macron said the proposal would move rapidly through parliament so that explicit rules are in place before the new school year begins.

Macron framed the initiative as a matter of child protection and digital sovereignty, arguing that foreign platforms or algorithmic incentives should not shape young people’s cognitive and emotional development.

He linked excessive social media use to manipulation, commercial exploitation and growing psychological harm among teenagers.

Data from France’s health watchdog show that almost half of teenagers spend between two and five hours a day on their smartphones, with the vast majority accessing social networks daily.

Regulators have associated such patterns with reduced self-esteem and increased exposure to content linked to self-harm, drug use and suicide, prompting legal action by families against major platforms.

The proposal from France follows similar debates in the UK and Australia, where age-based access restrictions have already been introduced.

The French government argues that decisive national action is necessary instead of waiting for a slower Europe-wide consensus, although Macron has reiterated support for a broader EU approach.

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