Digital identities

UK considers regulatory action after Grok’s deepfake images on X

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is consulting Canada and Australia on a coordinated response to concerns surrounding social media platform X, after its AI assistant Grok was used to generate sexualised deepfake images of women and children.

The discussions focus on shared regulatory approaches rather than immediate bans.

X acknowledged weaknesses in its AI safeguards and limited image generation to paying users. Lawmakers in several countries have stated that further regulatory scrutiny may be required, while Canada has clarified that no prohibition is currently under consideration, despite concerns over platform responsibility.

In the UK, media regulator Ofcom is examining potential breaches of online safety obligations. Technology secretary Liz Kendall confirmed that enforcement mechanisms remain available if legal requirements are not met.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also raised broader concerns about social responsibility in the use of generative AI.

X owner Elon Musk rejected accusations of non-compliance, describing potential restrictions as censorship and suppression of free speech.

European authorities requested the preservation of internal records for possible investigations, while Indonesia and Malaysia have already blocked access to the platform.

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Google brings AI to personalised shopping

Google is working with major retailers to use AI in guiding customers from product discovery to checkout. The company has launched the Universal Commerce Protocol, an open standard for seamless agentic commerce that keeps retailers in control of customer relationships.

The Universal Commerce Protocol works with existing systems and partners, including Shopify, Etsy, Wayfair, Target, and Walmart.

Customers can receive personalised offers, loyalty rewards, and recommendations in Google Search or Gemini, completing purchases via Google Pay without leaving the platform.

To support retailers, Google has launched Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience, which unifies search, commerce, and service touchpoints across all channels.

Early partners, such as The Home Depot and McDonald’s, are already utilising AI-powered agents to enhance service, provide proactive recommendations, and improve customer engagement.

Logistics also feature prominently, with Wing expanding delivery capabilities alongside Walmart, doubling operations in existing markets, and rolling out to Houston, Orlando, Tampa, Charlotte, and other cities.

Google aims to create an end-to-end shopping ecosystem where AI, agentic protocols, and seamless delivery elevate both customer and retailer experiences.

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Google removes AI health summaries after safety concerns

Google removed some AI health summaries after a Guardian investigation found they gave misleading and potentially dangerous information. The AI Overviews contained inaccurate liver test data, potentially leading patients to believe they were healthy falsely.

Experts have criticised AI Overviews for oversimplifying complex medical topics, ignoring essential factors such as age, sex, and ethnicity. Charities have warned that misleading AI content could deter people from seeking medical care and erode trust in online health information.

Google removed AI Overviews for some queries, but concerns remain over cancer and mental health summaries that may still be inaccurate or unsafe. Professionals emphasise that AI tools must direct users to reliable sources and advise seeking expert medical input.

The company stated it is reviewing flagged examples and making broad improvements, but experts insist that more comprehensive oversight is needed to prevent AI from dispensing harmful health misinformation.

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India mandates live identity checks for crypto users

India’s Financial Intelligence Unit has tightened crypto compliance, requiring live identity checks, location verification, and stronger Client Due Diligence. The measures aim to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing, and misuse of digital asset services.

Crypto platforms must now collect multiple identifiers from users, including IP addresses, device IDs, wallet addresses, transaction hashes, and timestamps.

Verification also requires users to provide a Permanent Account Number and a secondary ID, such as a passport, Aadhaar, or voter ID, alongside OTP confirmation for email and phone numbers.

Bank accounts must be validated via a penny-drop mechanism to confirm ownership and operational status.

Enhanced due diligence will apply to high-risk transactions and relationships, particularly those involving users from designated high-risk jurisdictions and tax havens. Platforms must monitor red flags and apply extra scrutiny to comply with the new guidelines.

Industry experts have welcomed the updated rules, describing them as a positive step for India’s crypto ecosystem. The measures are viewed as enhancing transparency, protecting users, and aligning the sector with global anti-money laundering standards.

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Indonesia and Malaysia restrict access to Grok AI over content safeguards

Malaysia and Indonesia have restricted access to Grok, the AI chatbot available through the X platform, following concerns about its image generation capabilities.

Authorities said the tool had been used to create manipulated images depicting real individuals in sexually explicit contexts.

Regulatory bodies in Malaysia and Indonesia stated that the decision was based on the absence of sufficient safeguards to prevent misuse.

Requests for additional risk mitigation measures were communicated to the platform operator, with access expected to remain limited until further protections are introduced.

The move has drawn attention from regulators in other regions, where online safety frameworks allow intervention when digital services fail to address harmful content. Discussions have focused on platform responsibility, content moderation standards, and compliance with existing legal obligations.

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Instagram responds to claims of user data exposure

Reports published by cybersecurity researchers indicated that data linked to approximately 17.5 million Instagram accounts has been offered for sale on underground forums.

The dataset reportedly includes usernames, contact details and physical address information, raising broader concerns around digital privacy and data aggregation.

A few hours later, Instagram responded by stating that no breach of internal systems occurred. According to the company, some users received password reset emails after an external party abused a feature that has since been addressed.

The platform said affected accounts remained secure, with no unauthorised access recorded.

Security analysts have noted that risks arise when online identifiers are combined with external datasets, rather than originating from a single platform.

Such aggregation can increase exposure to targeted fraud, impersonation and harassment, reinforcing the importance of cautious digital security practices across social media ecosystems.

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Wegmans faces backlash over facial recognition in US stores

Supermarket chain Wegmans Food Markets is facing scrutiny over its use of facial recognition technology. The issue emerged after New York City stores displayed signs warning that biometric data could be collected for security purposes.

New York law requires businesses to disclose biometric data collection, but the wording of the notices alarmed privacy advocates. Wegmans later said it only uses facial recognition, not voice or eye scans, and only in a small number of higher-risk stores.

According to the US company, the system identifies individuals who have been previously flagged for misconduct, such as theft or threatening behaviour. Wegmans says facial recognition is just one investigative tool and that all actions are subject to human review.

Critics argue the signage suggests broader surveillance than the company admits. Wegmans has not explained why the notices mention eyes and voice if that data is not collected, or when the wording might be revised.

Lawmakers in Connecticut have now proposed a ban on retail facial recognition. Supporters say grocery shopping is essential and that biometric monitoring weakens meaningful customer consent.

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AI helps solve alpine rescue mystery

AI-powered image analysis helped Italian rescuers locate a missing mountaineer in the Alps. Traditional searches had failed across vast, remote terrain despite days of effort.

Drones captured thousands of images which AI software scanned for unusual colours and shapes. A small red object, later confirmed as a helmet, guided teams to the site.

The climber’s body was found in a steep gully on Monviso, in Italy, after AI narrowed search zones. Manual checks and human judgement remained essential to confirm findings.

Rescue experts say AI can cut search times dramatically but cannot replace human oversight. Terrain complexity, weather, and ethical concerns still limit wider deployment.

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Robotics industry sets out key trends for 2026

The global market for industrial robot installations has reached a record value of $16.7bn in 2025. The International Federation of Robotics expects further growth through technological change and labour pressures.

AI-driven autonomy is becoming central to robotics development, enabling machines to learn tasks and operate independently. Agentic AI combines analytical and generative models to improve decision-making in complex environments.

Robots are also becoming more versatile as IT and operational systems converge across factories and logistics. Humanoid robots are moving beyond prototypes, with reliability and efficiency now critical for industrial adoption.

Safety, cybersecurity and workforce acceptance remain key challenges for the sector. Industry leaders see robots as allies addressing labour shortages while governments expand skills and retraining programmes.

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EU instructs X to keep all Grok chatbot records

The European Commission has ordered X to retain all internal documents and data on its AI chatbot Grok until the end of 2026. The order falls under the Digital Services Act after concerns Grok’s ‘spicy’ mode enabled sexualised deepfakes of minors.

The move continues EU oversight, recalling a January 2025 order to preserve X’s recommender system documents amid claims it amplified far-right content during German elections. EU regulators emphasised that platforms must manage the content generated by their AI responsibly.

Earlier this week, X submitted responses to the Commission regarding Grok’s outputs following concerns over Holocaust denial content. While the deepfake scandal has prompted calls for further action, the Commission has not launched a formal investigation into Grok.

Regulators reiterated that it remains X’s responsibility to ensure the chatbot’s outputs meet European standards, and retention of all internal records is crucial for ongoing monitoring and accountability.

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