Microsoft is introducing AI-powered text editing to Notepad, allowing users to rewrite text with ease. The new feature, called Rewrite, is now available in preview for Windows Insiders. It lets you modify text by rephrasing sentences, adjusting the tone, and changing the length of content. To use it, simply highlight the text you want to adjust, right-click, and select the ‘Rewrite’ option. You can choose from three different reworded versions to replace the original text.
The Rewrite feature requires a Microsoft account for authentication and is available in select countries including the US, UK, and Germany. This feature is part of a broader update to Microsoft’s productivity tools, including improvements to Notepad, such as spell check and autocorrect, rolled out in July.
In addition to updates in Notepad, Microsoft is also testing AI-powered tools in Paint. The Generative Fill feature lets users add new content to images based on a text prompt, while the Generative Erase tool removes parts of an image and blends in the surrounding space. These tools are available to Windows Insiders, with some features rolling out on specific devices.
The Australian government has announced plans to introduce a ban on social media access for children under 16, with legislation expected to pass by late next year. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the move as part of a world-leading initiative to combat the harms social media inflicts on children, particularly the negative impact on their mental and physical health. He highlighted concerns over the influence of harmful body image content for girls and misogynistic material directed at boys.
Australia is also testing age-verification systems, such as biometrics and government ID, to ensure that children cannot access social media platforms. The new legislation will not allow exemptions, including for children with parental consent or those with pre-existing accounts. Social media platforms will be held responsible for preventing access to minors, rather than placing the burden on parents or children.
The proposed ban includes major platforms such as Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). While some digital industry representatives, like the Digital Industry Group, have criticised the plan, arguing it could push young people toward unregulated parts of the internet, Australian officials stand by the measure, emphasising the need for strong protections against online harm.
This move positions Australia as a leader in regulating children’s access to social media, with no other country implementing such stringent age-verification methods. The new rules will be introduced into parliament this year and are set to take effect 12 months after ratification.
A Moscow court has fined Apple 3.6 million roubles ($36,889) for refusing to remove two podcasts that were reportedly aimed at destabilising Russia’s political landscape, according to the RIA news agency. The court’s decision is part of a larger pattern of the Russian government targeting foreign technology companies for not complying with content removal requests. This action is seen as part of the Kremlin’s broader strategy to exert control over the digital space and reduce the influence of Western tech giants.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the government has intensified its crackdown on foreign tech companies, accusing them of spreading content that undermines Russian authority and sovereignty. The Kremlin has already imposed similar fines on companies like Google and Meta, demanding the removal of content deemed harmful to national security or political stability. Critics argue that these moves are part of an orchestrated effort to suppress dissenting voices and maintain control over information, particularly in the face of growing international scrutiny.
Apple, like other Western companies, has faced mounting pressure to comply with Russia’s increasingly stringent regulations. While the company has largely resisted political content restrictions in other regions, the fine highlights the challenges it faces in operating within Russia’s tightly controlled media environment. Apple has not yet publicly commented on the ruling, but the decision reflects the growing risks for tech firms doing business in Russia as the country tightens its grip on digital platforms.
Italy’s data protection authority has criticised Intesa Sanpaolo for underestimating the severity of a data breach that affected thousands of customers, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The breach, which involved an Intesa employee accessing the data of around 3,500 clients, was initially reported with a higher number of affected individuals. However, the bank later clarified that the number was lower than what had been reported in the media.
The data watchdog instructed Intesa to notify all impacted customers within 20 days and noted that the bank had not adequately communicated the full scope of the breach. The authority emphasised that the breach posed a significant risk to the affected individuals’ rights and freedoms, including potential harm to their financial status and reputation. Intesa had already dismissed the employee involved and informed both the data protection authority and prosecutors.
The authority is now reviewing the bank’s security measures and has asked Intesa to provide an update within 30 days. In response, the bank assured that it had prioritised customer data security and had taken steps to enhance its systems and control procedures. Intesa also stated there was no evidence that the data had been shared outside the bank.
The European Commission has introduced an Implementing Regulation that standardises transparency reporting for providers of intermediary services under the Digital Services Act (DSA). That regulation aims to ensure consistency and comparability in the data shared with the public by requiring providers to disclose specific information about their content moderation practices.
Providers must report on the number of pieces of content removed, account suspensions, the accuracy of automated systems, and the composition of their moderation teams. Very large online platforms (VLOPs) and very large online search engines (VLOSEs) are required to submit reports twice a year, while all other providers must report annually.
In addition to content moderation, the regulation mandates transparency in average monthly user numbers, recommender system parameters, and advertising data. Providers must also submit ‘statements of reasons’ for content moderation decisions to the DSA Transparency Database, aligning with the newly specified data categories.
The regulation addresses past inconsistencies by harmonising reporting templates, content, and timelines, ensuring clearer public access to information about digital services’ practices. To facilitate the transition, the regulation includes a clear implementation timeline.
Providers must begin collecting data under the new rules by 1 July 2025, with the first harmonised transparency reports expected in early 2026. That timeline allows digital services time to adjust their systems and practices to comply with the new requirements, further promoting accountability and public trust in the digital services sector across the EU.
Aravind Srinivas, CEO of AI search company Perplexity, offered to step in and support New York Times operations amid a looming strike by the newspaper’s tech workers. The NYT Tech Guild announced the planned strike for November 4 after months of seeking better pay and working conditions. Representing workers involved in software support and data analysis on the business side, the guild has requested a 2.5% annual wage increase and to secure a two-day in-office work policy.
As tensions escalated, New York Times publisher AG Sulzberger called the timing of the strike ‘troubling’, noting that the paper’s election coverage is a public service at a crucial time. Responding publicly, Srinivas offered to help ensure uninterrupted access to the Times’s election news, sparking controversy as critics accused him of ‘scabbing’, a term for working in place of striking employees.
Srinivas clarified that his intent was to provide infrastructure support, not replace journalists, as his company has recently launched its own election information platform. However, the New York Times and Perplexity have been at odds recently, with the Times issuing a cease-and-desist letter last month over Perplexity’s alleged scraping of its content for AI use.
The European Union’s (EU) antitrust regulators are set to review Apple’s iPad operating system to ensure it aligns with the bloc’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA), designed to curb the power of major tech companies. This assessment comes after Apple submitted a compliance report for iPad OS, which the EU had designated as a crucial ‘gateway’ for businesses to reach consumers. Apple’s obligations under the DMA include enabling alternative app stores, allowing users to set their preferred web browser, and supporting third-party device features like headphones and pens.
In a statement, the European Commission confirmed that it would ‘carefully assess’ Apple’s compliance measures for iPad OS. Feedback from stakeholders, including other tech companies and consumer advocates, will be considered during the review process. Apple has not yet commented on the EU’s latest scrutiny of its iPad software.
The DMA, introduced earlier this year, represents the EU’s latest effort to prevent monopolistic practices among large tech firms. Non-compliance with these rules could result in hefty fines, up to 10% (and 20% for repeat offences) of a company’s global revenue, adding pressure on Apple to meet the standards set by EU regulators.
Meta has announced an extended ban on new political ads following the United States election, aiming to counter misinformation in the tense post-election period. In a blog post on Monday, the Facebook parent company explained that the suspension will remain in place until later in the week, preventing any new political ads from being introduced immediately after the election. Ads that were served at least once before the restriction will still be displayed, but editing options will be limited.
Meta‘s decision to extend its ad restriction is part of its ongoing policy to help prevent last-minute claims that could be difficult to verify. The social media giant implemented a similar measure in the last election cycle, underscoring the need for extra caution as elections unfold.
Last year, Meta also barred political advertisers and regulated industries from using its generative AI-based ad products, reflecting a continued focus on reducing potential misinformation through stricter ad controls and ad content regulations.
South Korea’s data protection agency has fined Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook, 21.62 billion won ($15.67 million) for improperly collecting and sharing sensitive user data with advertisers. The Personal Information Protection Commission found that Meta gathered details on nearly one million South Korean users, including their religion, political views, and sexual orientation, without obtaining the necessary consent. This information was reportedly used by around 4,000 advertisers.
The commission revealed that Meta analysed user interactions, such as pages liked and ads clicked, to create targeted ad themes based on sensitive personal data. Some users were even categorised by highly private attributes, including identifying as North Korean defectors or LGBTQ+. Additionally, Meta allegedly denied users’ requests to access their information and failed to secure data for at least ten users, leading to a data breach.
Meta has not yet issued a statement regarding the fine. This penalty underscores South Korea’s commitment to strict data privacy enforcement as concerns over digital privacy intensify worldwide.
US tech companies have raised concerns over a proposed data protection law in Vietnam, warning it could restrict their ability to grow in one of Asia’s largest digital markets. The draft law, which is under discussion in Vietnam’s parliament, aims to tighten controls on data protection, limit data transfers abroad, and give authorities easier access to information. Major industry players, represented by the Information Technology Industry Council, argue that these restrictions could hinder companies like Meta, Google, and Equinix from effectively reaching their large Vietnamese user base and building new data centres.
Vietnam, home to 100 million people, is an attractive market for tech and social media companies and has ambitions to expand its data centre industry through foreign investments. However, the new law would require companies to obtain prior authorisation before transferring “core” or “important” data abroad—terms that critics say are vaguely defined. In addition, companies may be required to share data with the government in cases broadly categorised as being in the “public interest.”
The US tech sector has voiced opposition, citing an “undue expansion of government access” that could create significant compliance challenges. The American Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi has joined the call, urging lawmakers to reconsider the legislation’s quick adoption, which is scheduled for a vote on November 30. Industry analysts are watching closely, as the law could impact foreign investment plans, including Google’s potential new data centre in southern Vietnam.
