Content Policy Archives | Page 31 of 227 | Digital Watch Observatory

X given deadline by Brazil to curb Grok sexualised outputs

Brazil has ordered X to immediately stop its chatbot Grok from generating sexually explicit images, escalating international pressure on the platform over the misuse of generative AI tools.

The order, issued on 11 February by Brazil’s National Data Protection Agency and National Consumer Rights Bureau, requires X to prevent the creation of sexualised content involving children, adolescents, or non-consenting adults. Authorities gave the company five days to comply or face legal action and fines.

Officials in Brazil said X claimed to have removed thousands of posts and suspended hundreds of accounts after a January warning. However, follow-up checks found Grok users were still able to generate sexualised deepfakes. Regulators criticised the platform for a lack of transparency in its response.

The move follows growing scrutiny after Indonesia blocked Grok in January, while the UK and France signalled continued pressure. Concerns increased after Grok’s ‘spicy mode’ enabled users to generate explicit images using simple prompts.

According to the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, Grok generated millions of sexualised images within days. X and its parent company, xAI, announced measures in mid-January to restrict such outputs in certain jurisdictions, but regulators said it remains unclear where those safeguards apply.

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Threads users can now personalise algorithms with Dear Algo feature

Meta has launched an AI feature called Dear Algo that allows Threads users to personalise their content-recommendation algorithms by communicating their preferences directly to the platform.

Users craft public posts beginning with ‘Dear Algo’ to explain desired content, similar to interactions with chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Once shared, the request adjusts the user’s feed for three days, allowing them to stay connected to current conversations.

Users can also repost others’ Dear Algo requests to apply those content preferences to their own feeds.

The feature represents Meta’s continued integration of AI across its platforms. The company on Tuesday also released AI features for Facebook that let users animate profile photos and alter images with the Meta AI digital assistant.

Meta told investors last month it plans to spend between $115 billion and $135 billion in 2026 on AI-related capital expenditures, nearly double last year’s spending.

Meta is testing Dear Algo with users in the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand before expanding to additional countries. Threads, Meta’s micro-blogging platform launched in July 2023, has 400 million monthly active users and began rolling out advertisements globally last month.

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AWS chief sees AI shifting from content creation to autonomous task completion

AI is shifting from answering questions to autonomously accomplishing tasks, a transformation AWS CEO Matt Garman believes will unlock far greater enterprise value.

Speaking at AWS re:Invent 2025, Garman explained that AI inference- the computing capability that allows models to generate content, make predictions, and take actions against real-world data-represents a fundamental new building block in computing.

He described it as developers gaining access to a ‘new Lego’ that enables applications to make decisions and complete work independently. The distinction between content generation and task accomplishment carries significant implications for enterprise value.

First-wave generative AI focused on writing emails and summarising documents. Task-accomplishing agents can review insurance claims, cross-reference medical records, and process approved claims without human intervention.

Garman predicts widespread enterprise value creation from agents in 2026. AWS announced Amazon Bedrock AgentCore and three frontier agents at re:Invent 2025, providing organisations with infrastructure to deploy autonomous AI agents at scale.

For business leaders, investments in agents that automate end-to-end workflows will deliver exponentially more return on investment than tools that help employees work faster.

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AI playlist creator comes to Youtube for Premium subscribers

YouTube has introduced a new AI Playlist feature for YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium subscribers on Android and iOS, enabling users to generate customised music playlists by describing a mood, genre, activity or vibe in natural language.

From the Library tab, users can tap ‘New,’ select ‘AI playlist’, and enter text or voice prompts, such as ‘sad post-rock’ or ’90s classic hits,’ to instantly build a curated list of tracks.

The rollout builds on YouTube’s earlier AI experiments in music discovery and positions the company alongside other streaming services like Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer, which have launched similar generative playlist tools.

The feature reflects a broader trend of streaming platforms embedding generative AI to personalise discovery and enhance user engagement for paying subscribers.

Details such as the degree of user control over generated playlists and support for iterative refinement remain limited, and YouTube has not clarified how often playlists can be refreshed or edited after creation.

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Global coalition demands ban on AI-nudification tools over child-safety fears

More than 100 organisations have urged governments to outlaw AI-nudification tools after a surge in non-consensual digital images.

Groups such as Amnesty International, the European Commission, and Interpol argue that the technology now fuels harmful practices that undermine human dignity and child safety. Their concerns intensified after the Grok nudification scandal, where users created sexualised images from ordinary photographs.

Campaigners warn that the tools often target women and children instead of staying within any claimed adult-only environment. Millions of manipulated images have circulated across social platforms, with many linked to blackmail, coercion and child sexual abuse material.

Experts say the trauma caused by these AI images is no less serious because the abuse occurs online.

Organisations within the coalition maintain that tech companies already possess the ability to detect and block such material but have failed to apply essential safeguards.

They want developers and platforms to be held accountable and believe that strict prohibitions are now necessary to prevent further exploitation. Advocates argue that meaningful action is overdue and that protection of users must take precedence over commercial interests.

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EU launches cyberbullying action plan to protect children online

The European Commission has launched an Action Plan Against Cyberbullying aimed at protecting the mental health and well-being of children and teenagers online across the EU. The initiative focuses on reporting access, national coordination, and prevention.

A central element is the development of an EU-wide reporting app that would allow victims to report cyberbullying, receive support, and safely store evidence. The Commission will provide a blueprint for Member States to adapt and link to national helplines.

To ensure consistent protection, Member States are encouraged to adopt a shared understanding of cyberbullying and develop national action plans. This would support comparable data collection and a more coordinated EU response.

The Action Plan builds on existing legislation, including the Digital Services Act, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, and the AI Act. Updated guidelines will strengthen platform obligations and address AI-enabled forms of abuse.

Prevention and education are also prioritised through expanded resources for schools and families via Safer Internet Centres and the Better Internet for Kids platform. The Commission will implement the plan with Member States, industry, civil society, and children.

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EU reopens debate on social media age restrictions for children

The European Union is revisiting the idea of an EU-wide social media age restriction as several member states move ahead with national measures to protect children online. Spain, France, and Denmark are among the countries considering the enforcement of age limits for access to social platforms.

The issue was raised in the European Commission’s new action plan against cyberbullying, published on Tuesday. The plan confirms that a panel of child protection experts will advise the Commission by the summer on possible EU-wide age restrictions for social media use.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the creation of an expert panel last September, although its launch was delayed until early 2026. The panel will assess options for a coordinated European approach, including potential legislation and awareness-raising measures for parents.

The document notes that diverging national rules could lead to uneven protection for children across the bloc. A harmonised EU framework, the Commission argues, would help ensure consistent safeguards and reduce fragmentation in how platforms apply age restrictions.

So far, the Commission has relied on non-binding guidance under the Digital Services Act to encourage platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snap to protect minors. Increasing pressure from member states pursuing national bans may now prompt a shift towards more formal EU-level regulation.

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eSafety escalates scrutiny of Roblox safety measures

Australia’s online safety regulator has notified Roblox of plans to directly test how the platform has implemented a set of child safety commitments agreed last year, amid growing concerns over online grooming and sexual exploitation.

In September last year, Roblox made nine commitments following months of engagement with eSafety, aimed at supporting compliance with obligations under the Online Safety Act and strengthening protections for children in Australia.

Measures included making under-16s’ accounts private by default, restricting contact between adults and minors without parental consent, disabling chat features until age estimation is complete, and extending parental controls and voice chat restrictions for younger users.

Roblox told eSafety at the end of 2025 that it had delivered all agreed commitments, after which the regulator continued monitoring implementation. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said serious concerns remain over reports of child exploitation and harmful material on the platform.

Direct testing will now examine how the measures work in practice, with support from the Australian Government. Enforcement action may follow, including penalties of up to $49.5 million, alongside checks against new age-restricted content rules from 9 March.

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Russia tightens controls as Telegram faces fresh restrictions

Authorities in Russia have tightened their grip on Telegram after the state regulator Roskomnadzor introduced new measures accusing the platform of failing to curb fraud and safeguard personal data.

Users across the country have increasingly reported slow downloads and disrupted media content since January, with complaints rising sharply early in the week. Although officials initially rejected claims of throttling, industry sources insist that download speeds have been deliberately reduced.

Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, argues that Roskomnadzor is trying to steer people toward Max rather than allowing open competition. Max is a government-backed messenger widely viewed by critics as a tool for surveillance and political control.

While text messages continue to load normally for most, media content such as videos, images and voice notes has become unreliable, particularly on mobile devices. Some users report that only the desktop version performs without difficulty.

The slowdown is already affecting daily routines, as many Russians rely on Telegram for work communication and document sharing, much as workplaces elsewhere rely on Slack rather than email.

Officials also use Telegram to issue emergency alerts, and regional leaders warn that delays could undermine public safety during periods of heightened military activity.

Pressure on foreign platforms has grown steadily. Restrictions on voice and video calls were introduced last summer, accompanied by claims that criminals and hostile actors were using Telegram and WhatsApp.

Meanwhile, Max continues to gain users, reaching 70 million monthly accounts by December. Despite its rise, it remains behind Telegram and WhatsApp, which still dominate Russia’s messaging landscape.

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Facebook boosts user creativity with new Meta AI animations

Meta has introduced a new group of Facebook features that rely on Meta AI to expand personal expression across profiles, photos and Stories.

Users gain the option to animate their profile pictures, turning a still image into a short motion clip that reflects their mood instead of remaining static. Effects such as waves, confetti, hearts and party hats offer simple tools for creating a more playful online presence.

The update also includes Restyle, a tool that reimagines Stories and Memories through preset looks or AI-generated prompts. Users may shift an ordinary photograph into an illustrated, anime or glowy aesthetic, or adjust lighting and colour to match a chosen theme instead of limiting themselves to basic filters.

Facebook will highlight Memories that work well with the Restyle function to encourage wider use.

Feed posts receive a change of their own through animated backgrounds that appear gradually across accounts. People can pair text updates with visual backdrops such as ocean waves or falling leaves, creating messages that stand out instead of blending into the timeline.

Seasonal styles will arrive throughout the year to support festive posts and major events.

Meta aims to encourage more engaging interactions by giving users easy tools for playful creativity. The new features are designed to support expressive posts that feel more personal and more visually distinctive, helping users craft share-worthy moments across the platform.

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