Content Policy

Opera brings AI assistant to Opera Mini on Android

Opera, the Norway-based browser maker, has announced the rollout of its AI assistant, Aria, to Opera Mini users on Android. The move represents a strategic effort to bring advanced AI capabilities to users with low-end devices and limited data access, rather than confining such tools to high-spec platforms.

Aria allows users to access up-to-date information, generate images, and learn about a range of topics using a blend of models from OpenAI and Google.

Since its 2005 launch, Opera Mini has been known for saving data during browsing, and Opera claims that the inclusion of Aria won’t compromise that advantage nor increase the app’s size.

It makes the AI assistant more accessible for users in regions where data efficiency is critical, instead of making them choose between smart features and performance.

Opera has long partnered with telecom providers in Africa to offer free data to Opera Mini users. However, last year, it had to end its programme in Kenya due to regulatory restrictions around ads on browser bookmark tiles.

Despite such challenges, Opera Mini has surpassed a billion downloads on Android and now serves more than 100 million users globally.

Alongside this update, Opera continues testing new AI functions, including features that let users manage tabs using natural language and tools that assist with task completion.

An effort like this reflects the company’s ambition to embed AI more deeply into everyday browsing instead of limiting innovation to its main browser.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Spotify launches Ads Exchange and Gen AI ads in India

Spotify has introduced its Ads Exchange (SAX) and Generative AI-powered advertisements in India, following a successful pilot in the US and Canada.

The SAX platform aims to give advertisers better control over performance tracking and maximise reach without overloading users with repetitive ads.

Integrated with platforms such as Google DV360, The Trade Desk, and Magnite, SAX enables advertisers to access Spotify’s high-quality inventory and enhance their programmatic strategies. In addition to multimedia formats, podcast ads will soon be included.

Through Generative AI, advertisers can create audio ads within Spotify’s Ads Manager platform at no extra cost, using scripts, voiceovers, and licensed music.

An innovation like this allows brands to produce more ads in shorter intervals with less effort, making the process quicker and more efficient for reaching a broader audience. Arjun Kolady, Head of Sales – India at Spotify, highlighted the ease of scaling campaigns with these new tools.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Meta to use EU user data for AI training amid scrutiny

Meta Platforms has announced it will begin using public posts, comments, and user interactions with its AI tools to train its AI models in the EU, instead of limiting training data to existing US-based inputs.

The move follows the recent European rollout of Meta AI, which had been delayed since June 2024 due to data privacy concerns raised by regulators. The company said EU users of Facebook and Instagram would receive notifications outlining how their data may be used, along with a link to opt out.

Meta clarified that while questions posed to its AI and public content from adult users may be used, private messages and data from under-18s would be excluded from training.

Instead of expanding quietly, the company is now making its plans public in an attempt to meet the EU’s transparency expectations.

The shift comes after Meta paused its original launch last year at the request of Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, which expressed concerns about using social media content for AI development. The move also drew criticism from advocacy group NOYB, which has urged regulators to intervene more decisively.

Meta joins a growing list of tech firms under scrutiny in Europe. Ireland’s privacy watchdog is already investigating Elon Musk’s X and Google for similar practices involving personal data use in AI model training.

Instead of treating such probes as isolated incidents, the EU appears to be setting a precedent that could reshape how global companies handle user data in AI development.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

X faces EU probe over AI data use

Elon Musk’s X platform is under formal investigation by the Irish Data Protection Commission over its alleged use of public posts from EU users to train the Grok AI chatbot.

The probe is centred on whether X Internet Unlimited Company, the platform’s newly renamed Irish entity, has adhered to key GDPR principles while sharing publicly accessible data, like posts and interactions, with its affiliate xAI, which develops the chatbot.

Concerns have grown over the lack of explicit user consent, especially as other tech giants such as Meta signal similar data usage plans.

A move like this is part of a wider regulatory push in the EU to hold AI developers accountable instead of allowing unchecked experimentation. Experts note that many AI firms have deployed tools under a ‘build first, ask later’ mindset, an approach at odds with Europe’s strict data laws.

Should regulators conclude that public data still requires user consent, it could force a dramatic shift in how AI models are developed, not just in Europe but around the world.

Enterprises are now treading carefully. The investigation into X is already affecting AI adoption across the continent, with legal and reputational risks weighing heavily on decision-makers.

In one case, a Nordic bank halted its AI rollout midstream after its legal team couldn’t confirm whether European data had been used without proper disclosure. Instead of pushing ahead, the project was rebuilt using fully documented, EU-based training data.

The consequences could stretch far beyond the EU. Ireland’s probe might become a global benchmark for how governments view user consent in the age of data scraping and machine learning.

Instead of enforcement being region-specific, this investigation could inspire similar actions from regulators in places like Singapore and Canada. As AI continues to evolve, companies may have no choice but to adopt more transparent practices or face a rising tide of legal scrutiny.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

UAE experts warn on AI privacy risks in art apps

A surge in AI applications transforming selfies into Studio Ghibli-style artwork has captivated social media, but UAE cybersecurity experts are raising concerns over privacy and data misuse.

Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, warned that engaging with unofficial apps could lead to breaches or leaks of personal data. He emphasised that while AI’s benefits are clear, users must understand how their personal data is handled by these platforms.

He called for strong cybersecurity standards across all digital platforms, urging individuals to be more cautious with their data.

Media professionals are also sounding alarms. Adel Al-Rashed, an Emirati journalist, cautioned that free apps often mimic trusted platforms but could exploit user data. He advised users to stick to verified applications, noting that paid services, like ChatGPT’s Pro edition, offer stronger privacy protections.

While acknowledging the risks, social media influencer Ibrahim Al-Thahli highlighted the excitement AI brings to creative expression. He urged users to focus on education and safe engagement with the technology, underscoring the UAE’s goal to build a resilient digital economy.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Hackers leak data from Indian software firm in major breach

A major cybersecurity breach has reportedly compromised a software company based in India, with hackers claiming responsibility for stealing nearly 1.6 million rows of sensitive data on 19 December 2024.

A hacker identified as @303 is said to have accessed and exposed customer information and internal credentials, with the dataset later appearing on a dark web forum via a user known as ‘frog’.

The leaked data includes email addresses linked to major Indian insurance providers, contact numbers, and possible administrative access credentials.

Analysts found that the sample files feature information tied to employees of companies such as HDFC Ergo, Bajaj Allianz, and ICICI Lombard, suggesting widespread exposure across the sector.

Despite the firm’s stated dedication to safeguarding data, the incident raises doubts about its cybersecurity protocols.

The breach also comes as India’s insurance regulator, IRDAI, has begun enforcing stricter cyber measures. In March 2025, it instructed insurers to appoint forensic auditors in advance and perform full IT audits instead of waiting for threats to surface.

A breach like this follows a string of high-profile incidents, including the Star Health Insurance leak affecting 31 million customers.

With cyberattacks in India up by 261% in early 2024 and the average cost of a breach now ₹19.5 crore, experts warn that insurance firms must adopt stronger protections instead of relying on outdated defences.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

AI site faces backlash for copying Southern Oregon news

A major publishing organisation has issued a formal warning to Good Daily News, an AI-powered news aggregator, demanding it cease the unauthorised scraping of content from local news outlets across Southern Oregon and beyond. The News Media Alliance, which represents 2,200 publishers, sent the letter on 25 March, urging the national operator to respect publishers’ rights and stop reproducing material without permission.

Good Daily runs over 350 online ‘local’ news websites across 47 US states, including Daily Medford and Daily Salem in Oregon. Though the platforms appear locally based, they are developed using AI and managed by one individual, Matt Henderson, who has registered mailing addresses in both Ashland, Oregon and Austin, Texas. Content is reportedly scraped from legitimate local news sites, rewritten by AI, and shared in newsletters, sometimes with source links, but often without permission.

News Media Alliance president Danielle Coffey said such practices undermine the time, resources, and revenue of local journalism. Many publishers use digital tools to block automated scrapers, though this comes at a financial cost. The organisation is working with the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association and exploring legal options. Others in the industry, including Heidi Wright of the Fund for Oregon Rural Journalism, have voiced strong support for the warning, calling for greater action to defend the integrity of local news.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Gerry Adams targets Meta over use of his books

Gerry Adams, the former president of Sinn Féin, is considering legal action against Meta for allegedly using his books to train AI. Adams claims that at least seven of his books were included in a large collection of copyrighted material Meta used to develop its AI systems.

He has handed the matter over to his solicitor. The books in question include his autobiography Before the Dawn, prison memoir Cage Eleven, and reflections on Northern Ireland’s peace process Hope and History, among others.

Adams is not the only author voicing concerns about Meta’s use of copyrighted works. A group of writers filed a US court case in January, accusing Meta of using the controversial Library Genesis (LibGen) database, which hosts over 7.5 million books, many believed to be pirated.

The discovery followed a searchable database of titles from LibGen being published by The Atlantic, which led several authors to identify their works being used to train Meta’s Llama AI model.

The Society of Authors has condemned Meta’s actions, with chair Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin calling the move ‘shocking and devastating’ for authors.

Many authors are concerned that AI models like Llama, which power tools such as chatbots, could undermine their work by reproducing creative content without permission. Meta has defended its actions, claiming that its use of information to train AI models is in line with existing laws.

Adams, a prolific author and former MP, joins other Northern Irish writers, including Booker Prize winner Anna Burns, in opposing the use of their work for AI training without consent.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Meta to block livestreaming for under 16s without parental permission

Meta will soon prevent children under 16 from livestreaming on Instagram unless their parents explicitly approve.

The new safety rule is part of broader efforts to protect young users online and will first be introduced in the UK, US, Canada and Australia, before being extended to the rest of Europe and beyond in the coming months.

The company explained that teenagers under 16 will also need parental permission to disable a feature that automatically blurs images suspected of containing nudity in direct messages.

These updates build on Meta’s teen supervision programme introduced last September, which gives parents more control over how their children use Instagram.

Instead of limiting the changes to Instagram alone, Meta is now extending similar protections to Facebook and Messenger.

Teen accounts on those platforms will be set to private by default, and will automatically block messages from strangers, reduce exposure to violent or sensitive content, and include reminders to take breaks after an hour of use. Notifications will also pause during usual bedtime hours.

Meta said these safety tools are already being used across at least 54 million teen accounts. The company claims the new measures will better support teenagers and parents alike in making social media use safer and more intentional, instead of leaving young users unprotected or unsupervised online.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

EU plans new law to tackle online consumer manipulation

The European Commission is preparing to introduce the Digital Fairness Act, a new law that aims to boost consumer protection online instead of adding more regulatory burden on businesses.

Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath described the upcoming legislation as both pro-consumer and pro-business during a speech at the European Retail Innovation Summit, seeking to calm industry concerns about further EU regulation following the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act.

Designed to tackle deceptive practices in the digital space, the law will address issues such as manipulative design tricks known as ‘dark patterns’, influencer marketing, and personalised pricing based on user profiling.

It will also target concerns around addictive service design and virtual currencies in video games—areas where current EU consumer rules fall short. The legislation will be based on last year’s Digital Fairness Fitness Check, which highlighted regulatory gaps in the online marketplace.

McGrath acknowledged the cost of complying with EU-wide consumer protection measures, which can run into millions for businesses.

However, he stressed that the new act would provide legal clarity and ease administrative pressure, particularly for smaller companies, instead of complicating compliance requirements further.

A public consultation will begin in the coming weeks, ahead of a formal legislative proposal expected by mid-2026.

Maria-Myrto Kanellopoulou, head of the Commission’s consumer law unit, promised a thoughtful approach, saying the process would be both careful and thorough to ensure the right balance is struck.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu