Meta and TikTok have confirmed they will comply with Australia’s new law banning under-16s from using social media platforms, though both warned it will be difficult to enforce. The legislation, taking effect on 10 December, will require major platforms to remove accounts belonging to users under that age.
The law is among the world’s strictest, but regulators and companies are still working out how it will be implemented. Social media firms face fines of up to A$49.5 million if found in breach, yet they are not required to verify every user’s age directly.
TikTok’s Australia policy head, Ella Woods-Joyce, warned the ban could drive children toward unregulated online spaces lacking safety measures. Meta’s director, Mia Garlick, acknowledged the ‘significant engineering and age assurance challenges’ involved in detecting and removing underage users.
Critics including YouTube and digital rights groups have labelled the ban vague and rushed, arguing it may not achieve its aim of protecting children online. The government maintains that platforms must take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent young users from accessing their services.
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A Paris court has ordered Apple to pay around €39 million to French mobile operators, ruling that the company imposed unfair terms in contracts governing iPhone sales more than a decade ago. The court also fined Apple €8 million and annulled several clauses deemed anticompetitive.
Judges found that Apple required carriers to sell a set number of iPhones at fixed prices, restricted how its products were advertised, and used operators’ patents without compensation. The French consumer watchdog DGCCRF had first raised concerns about these practices years earlier.
Under the ruling, Apple must compensate three of France’s four major mobile networks; Bouygues Telecom, Free, and SFR. The decision applies immediately despite Apple’s appeal, which will be heard at a later date.
Apple said it disagreed with the ruling and would challenge it, arguing that the contracts reflected standard commercial arrangements of the time. French regulators have increasingly scrutinised major tech firms as part of wider efforts to curb unfair market dominance.
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The California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation (DFPI) has warned that criminals are weaponising AI to scam consumers. Deepfakes, cloned voices, and slick messages mimic trusted people and exploit urgency. Learning the new warning signs cuts risk quickly.
Imposter deepfakes and romance ruses often begin with perfect profiles or familiar voices pushing you to pay or invest. Grandparent scams use cloned audio in fake emergencies; agree a family passphrase and verify on a separate channel. Influencers may flaunt fabricated credentials and followers.
Automated attacks now use AI to sidestep basic defences and steal passwords or card details. Reduce exposure with two-factor authentication, regular updates, and a reputable password manager. Pause before clicking unexpected links or attachments, even from known names.
Investment frauds increasingly tout vague ‘AI-powered’ returns while simulating growth and testimonials, then blocking withdrawals. Beware guarantees of no risk, artificial deadlines, unsolicited messages, and recruit-to-earn offers. Research independently and verify registrations before sending money.
DFPI advises careful verification before acting. Confirm identities through trusted channels, refuse to move money under pressure, and secure devices. Report suspicious activity promptly; smart habits remain the best defence.
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Ontario’s privacy watchdog has released an expanded set of deidentification guidelines to help organisations protect personal data while enabling innovation. The 100-page document from the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC) offers step-by-step advice, checklists and examples.
The update modernises the 2016 version to reflect global regulatory changes and new data protection practices. She emphasised that the guidelines aim to help organisations of all sizes responsibly anonymise data while maintaining its usefulness for research, AI development and public benefit.
Developed through broad stakeholder consultation, the guidelines were refined with input from privacy experts and the Canadian Anonymization Network. The new version responds to industry requests for more detailed, operational guidance.
Although the guidelines are not legally binding, experts said following them can reduce liability risks and strengthen compliance with privacy laws. The IPC hopes they will serve as a practical reference for executives and data officers.
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France’s National Assembly has voted to raise its digital services tax on major tech firms such as Google, Apple, Meta and Amazon from 3% to 6%, despite government warnings that the move could trigger US trade retaliation.
Economy Minister Roland Lescure said the increase would be ‘disproportionate’, cautioning that it could invite equally strong countermeasures from Washington. Lawmakers had initially proposed a 15% levy in response to former US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats, but scaled back amid opposition from industry and the government.
The amendment still requires final approval in next week’s budget vote and then in the French Senate. The proposal also raises the global revenue threshold for companies subject to the digital services tax from €750 million to €2 billion, aiming to shield smaller domestic firms.
John Murphy of the US Chamber of Commerce criticised the plan, arguing it solely targets American companies. Lawmaker Charles Sitzenstuhl, from President Emmanuel Macron’s party, stressed that ‘the objective of this tax was not to harm the United States in any way’, addressing US officials following the vote.
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OpenAI has finalised its recapitalisation, simplifying its structure while preserving its core mission. The new OpenAI Foundation controls OpenAI Group PBC and holds about $130 billion in equity, making it one of history’s best-funded philanthropies.
The Foundation will receive further ownership as OpenAI’s valuation grows, ensuring its financial resources expand alongside the company’s success. Its mission remains to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity.
The more the business prospers, the greater the Foundation’s capacity to fund global initiatives.
An initial $25 billion commitment will focus on two core areas: advancing healthcare breakthroughs and strengthening AI resilience. Funds will go toward open-source health datasets, medical research, and technical defences to make AI systems safer and more reliable.
The initiative builds on OpenAI’s existing People-First AI Fund and reflects recommendations from its Nonprofit Commission.
The recapitalisation follows nearly a year of discussions with the Attorneys General of California and Delaware, resulting in stronger governance and accountability. With this structure, OpenAI aims to advance science, promote global cooperation, and share AI benefits broadly.
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The US tech giant, NVIDIA, has released open-source AI models and data tools across language, biology and robotics to accelerate innovation and expand access to cutting-edge research.
New model families, Nemotron, Cosmos, Isaac GR00T and Clara, are designed to empower developers to build intelligent agents and applications with enhanced reasoning and multimodal capabilities.
The company is contributing these open models and datasets to Hugging Face, further solidifying its position as a leading supporter of open research.
Nemotron models improve reasoning for digital AI agents, while Cosmos and Isaac GR00T enable physical AI and robotic systems to perform complex simulations and behaviours. Clara advances biomedical AI, allowing scientists to analyse RNA, generate 3D protein structures and enhance medical imaging.
Major industry partners, including Amazon Robotics, ServiceNow, Palantir and PayPal, are already integrating NVIDIA’s technologies to develop next-generation AI agents.
An initiative that reflects NVIDIA’s aim to create an open ecosystem that supports both enterprise and scientific innovation through accessible, transparent and responsible AI.
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Luke Temple woke to messages about a new Here We Go Magic track he never made. An AI-generated song appeared on the band’s Spotify, Tidal, and YouTube pages, triggering fresh worries about impersonation as cheap tools flood platforms.
Platforms say defences are improving. Spotify confirmed the removal of the fake track and highlighted new safeguards against impersonation, plus a tool to flag mismatched releases pre-launch. Tidal said it removed the song and is upgrading AI detection. YouTube did not comment.
Industry teams describe a cat-and-mouse race. Bad actors exploit third-party distributors with light verification, slipping AI pastiches into official pages. Tools like Suno and Udio enable rapid cloning, encouraging volume spam that targets dormant and lesser-known acts.
Per-track revenue losses are tiny, reputational damage is not. Artists warn that identity theft and fan confusion erode trust, especially when fakes sit beside legitimate catalogues or mimic deceased performers. Labels caution that volume is outpacing takedowns across major services.
Proposed fixes include stricter distributor onboarding, verified artist controls, watermark detection, and clear AI labels for listeners. Rights holders want faster escalation and penalties for repeat offenders. Musicians monitor profiles and report issues, yet argue platforms must shoulder the heavier lift.
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Nokia and NVIDIA have announced a $1 billion partnership to develop an AI-powered platform that will drive the transition from 5G to 6G networks.
The collaboration will create next-generation AI-RAN systems, combining computing, sensing and connectivity to transform how the US mobile networks process data and deliver services.
However, this partnership marks a strategic step in both companies’ ambition to regain global leadership in telecommunications.
By integrating NVIDIA’s new Aerial RAN Computer and Nokia’s AI-RAN software, operators can upgrade existing networks through software updates instead of complete infrastructure replacements.
T-Mobile US will begin field tests in 2026, supported by Dell’s PowerEdge servers.
NVIDIA’s investment and collaboration with Nokia aim to strengthen the foundation for AI-native networks that can handle the rising demand from agentic, generative and physical AI applications.
These networks are expected to support future 6G use cases, including drones, autonomous vehicles and advanced augmented reality systems.
Both companies see AI-RAN as the next evolution of wireless connectivity, uniting data processing and communication at the edge for greater performance, energy efficiency and innovation.
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A new Focus Bari survey shows that AI is still unfamiliar territory for most Greeks.
Although more than eight in ten have heard of AI, 68 percent say they have never used it professionally. The study highlights that Greece integrates AI into its workplace more slowly than many other countries.
The survey covered 21 nations and found that 83 percent of Greeks know about AI, compared with 17 percent who do not. Only 35 percent feel well-informed, while about one in three admits to knowing little about the technology.
Similar trends appear worldwide, with Switzerland, Mexico, and Romania leading in AI awareness, while countries like Nigeria, Japan, and Australia show limited familiarity.
Globally, almost half of respondents use AI in their everyday lives, yet only one in three applies it in their work. In Greece, that gap remains wide, suggesting that AI is still seen as a distant concept rather than a professional tool.
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