Digital identities

LinkedIn expands AI training with default data use

LinkedIn will use member profile data to train its AI systems by default from 3 November 2025. The policy, already in place in the US and select markets, will now extend to more regions, mainly for 18+ users who prefer not to share their information and must opt out manually via account settings.

According to LinkedIn, the types of data that may be used include account details, email addresses, payment and subscription information, and service-related data such as IP addresses, device IDs, and location information.

Once disabled, profiles will no longer be added to AI training, although information collected earlier may remain in the system. Users can request the removal of past data through a Data Processing Objection Form.

Meta and X have already adopted similar practices in the US, allowing their platforms to use user-generated posts for AI training. LinkedIn insists its approach complies with privacy rules but leaves the choice in members’ hands.

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UK sets up expert commission to speed up NHS adoption of AI

Doctors, researchers and technology leaders will work together to accelerate the safe adoption of AI in the NHS, under a new commission launched by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The body will draft recommendations to modernise healthcare regulation, ensuring patients gain faster access to innovations while maintaining safety and public trust.

MHRA stressed that clear rules are vital as AI spreads across healthcare, already helping to diagnose conditions such as lung cancer and strokes in hospitals across the UK.

Backed by ministers, the initiative aims to position Britain as a global hub for health tech investment. Companies including Google and Microsoft will join clinicians, academics, and patient advocates to advise on the framework, expected to be published next year.

A commission that will also review the regulatory barriers slowing adoption of tools such as AI-driven note-taking systems, which early trials suggest can significantly boost efficiency in clinical care.

Officials say the framework will provide much-needed clarity for AI in radiology, pathology, and virtual care, supporting the digital transformation of NHS.

MHRA chief executive Lawrence Tallon called the commission a ‘cultural shift’ in regulation. At the same time, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said it will ensure patients benefit from life-saving technologies ‘quickly and safely’.

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New Meta feature floods users with AI slop in TikTok-style feed

Meta has launched a new short-form video feed called Vibes inside its Meta AI app and on meta.ai, offering users endless streams of AI-generated content. The format mimics TikTok and Instagram Reels but consists entirely of algorithmically generated clips.

Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the feature in an Instagram post showcasing surreal creations, from fuzzy creatures leaping across cubes to a cat kneading dough and even an AI-generated Egyptian woman taking a selfie in antiquity.

Users can generate videos from scratch or remix existing clips by adding visuals, music, or stylistic effects before posting to Vibes, sharing via direct message, or cross-posting to Instagram and Facebook Stories.

Meta partnered with Midjourney and Black Forest Labs to support the early rollout, though it plans to transition to its AI models.

The announcement, however, was derided by users, who criticised the platform for adding yet more ‘AI slop’ to already saturated feeds. One top comment under Zuckerberg’s post bluntly read: ‘gang nobody wants this’.

A launch that comes as Meta ramps up its AI investment to catch up with rivals OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind.

Earlier during the year, the company consolidated its AI teams into Meta Superintelligence Labs and reorganised them into four units focused on foundation models, research, product integration, and infrastructure.

Despite the strategic shift, many question whether Vibes adds value or deepens user fatigue with generative content.

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YouTube rolls back rules on Covid-19 and 2020 election misinformation

Google’s YouTube has announced it will reinstate accounts previously banned for repeatedly posting misinformation about Covid-19 and the 2020 US presidential election. The decision marks another rollback of moderation rules that once targeted health and political falsehoods.

The platform said the move reflects a broader commitment to free expression and follows similar changes at Meta and Elon Musk’s X.

YouTube had already scrapped policies barring repeat claims about Covid-19 and election outcomes, rules that had led to actions against figures such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Children’s Health Defense Fund and Senator Ron Johnson.

An announcement that came in a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, amid a Republican-led investigation into whether the Biden administration pressured tech firms to remove certain content.

YouTube claimed the White House created a political climate aimed at shaping its moderation, though it insisted its policies were enforced independently.

The company said that US conservative creators have a significant role in civic discourse and will be allowed to return under the revised rules. The move highlights Silicon Valley’s broader trend of loosening restrictions on speech, especially under pressure from right-leaning critics.

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LinkedIn default AI data sharing faces Dutch privacy watchdog scrutiny

The Dutch privacy watchdog, Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (AP), is warning LinkedIn users in the Netherlands to review their settings to prevent their data from being used for AI training.

LinkedIn plans to use names, job titles, education history, locations, skills, photos, and public posts from European users to train its systems. Private messages will not be included; however, the sharing option is enabled by default.

AP Deputy Chair Monique Verdier said the move poses significant risks. She warned that once personal data is used to train a model, it cannot be removed, and its future uses are unpredictable.

LinkedIn, headquartered in Dublin, falls under the jurisdiction of the Data Protection Commission in Ireland, which will determine whether the plan can proceed. The AP said it is working with Irish and EU counterparts and has already received complaints.

Users must opt out by 3 November if they do not wish to have their data used. They can disable the setting via the AP’s link or manually in LinkedIn under ‘settings & privacy’ → ‘data privacy’ → ‘data for improving generative AI’.

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Apple escalates fight against EU digital law

US tech giant Apple has called for the repeal of the EU’s Digital Markets Act, claiming the rules undermine user privacy, disrupt services, and erode product quality.

The company urged the Commission to replace the legislation with a ‘fit for purpose’ framework, or hand enforcement to an independent agency insulated from political influence.

Apple argued that the Act’s interoperability requirements had delayed the rollout of features in the EU, including Live Translation on AirPods and iPhone mirroring. Additionally, the firm accused the Commission of adopting extreme interpretations that created user vulnerabilities instead of protecting them.

Brussels has dismissed those claims. A Commission spokesperson stressed that DMA compliance is an obligation, not an option, and said the rules guarantee fair competition by forcing dominant platforms to open access to rivals.

A dispute that intensifies long-running friction between US tech firms and the EU regulators.

Apple has already appealed to the courts, with a public hearing scheduled in October, while Washington has criticised the bloc’s wider digital policy.

A clash has deepened transatlantic trade tensions, with the White House recently threatening tariffs after fresh fines against another American tech company.

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New EU biometric checks set to reshape UK travel from 2026

UK travellers to the EU face new biometric checks from 12 October, but full enforcement is not expected until April 2026. Officials say the phased introduction will help avoid severe disruption at ports and stations.

An entry-exit system that requires non-EU citizens to be fingerprinted and photographed, with the data stored in a central European database for three years. A further 90-day grace period will allow French border officials to ease checks if technical issues arise.

The Port of Dover has prepared off-site facilities to prevent traffic build-up, while border officials stressed the gradual rollout will give passengers time to adapt.

According to Border Force director general Phil Douglas, biometrics and data protection advances have made traditional paper passports increasingly redundant.

These changes come as UK holidaymakers prepare for the busiest winter travel season in years, with full compliance due in time for Easter 2026.

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Secrets sprawl flagged as top software supply chain risk in Australia

Avocado Consulting urges Australian organisations to boost software supply chain security after a high-alert warning from the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC). The alert flagged threats, including social engineering, stolen tokens, and manipulated software packages.

Dennis Baltazar of Avocado Consulting said attackers combine social engineering with living-off-the-land techniques, making attacks appear routine. He warned that secrets left across systems can turn small slips into major breaches.

Baltazar advised immediate audits to find unmanaged privileged accounts and non-human identities. He urged embedding security into workflows by using short-lived credentials, policy-as-code, and default secret detection to reduce incidents and increase development speed for users in Australia.

Avocado Consulting advises organisations to eliminate secrets from code and pipelines, rotate tokens frequently, and validate every software dependency by default using version pinning, integrity checks, and provenance verification. Monitoring CI/CD activity for anomalies can also help detect attacks early.

Failing to act could expose cryptographic keys, facilitate privilege escalation, and result in reputational and operational damage. Avocado Consulting states that secure development practices must become the default, with automated scanning and push protection integrated into the software development lifecycle.

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UK government AI tool recovers £500m lost to fraud

A new AI system developed by the UK Cabinet Office has helped reclaim nearly £500m in fraudulent payments, marking the government’s most significant recovery of public funds in a single year.

The Fraud Risk Assessment Accelerator analyses data across government departments to identify weaknesses and prevent scams before they occur.

It uncovered unlawful council tax claims, social housing subletting, and pandemic-related fraud, including £186m linked to Covid support schemes. Ministers stated the savings would be redirected to fund nurses, teachers, and police officers.

Officials confirmed the tool will be licensed internationally, with the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand among the first partners expected to adopt it.

The UK announced the initiative at an anti-fraud summit with these countries, describing it as a step toward global cooperation in securing public finances through AI.

However, civil liberties groups have raised concerns about bias and oversight. Previous government AI systems used to detect welfare fraud were found to produce disparities based on age, disability, and nationality.

Campaigners warned that the expanded use of AI in fraud detection risks embedding unfair outcomes if left unchecked.

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EU demands answers from Apple, Google, Microsoft and Booking.com on scam risks

The European Commission has asked Apple, Booking.com, Google and Microsoft how they tackle financial scams under the Digital Services Act. The inquiry covers major platforms and search engines, including Apple App Store, Google Play, Booking.com, Bing and Google Search.

Officials want to know how these companies detect fraudulent content and what safeguards they use to prevent scams. For app stores, the focus is on fake financial applications imitating legitimate banking or trading services.

For Booking.com, attention is paid to fraudulent accommodation listings, while Bing and Google Search face scrutiny over links and ads, leading to scam websites.

The Commission asked platforms how they verify business identities under ‘Know Your Business Customer’ rules to prevent harm from suspicious actors. Companies must also share details of their ad repositories, enabling regulators and researchers to spot fraudulent ads and patterns.

By taking these steps, the Commission aims to ensure that actions under the DSA complement broader consumer protection measures already in force across the European Union.

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