Digital identities

EU opens probe into Snapchat child safety compliance

The European Commission has launched formal proceedings to assess whether Snapchat is complying with child protection obligations under the Digital Services Act. The investigation focuses on whether the platform ensures adequate safety, privacy, and security for minors.

Authorities suspect Snapchat may have failed to prevent exposure of children to grooming attempts, recruitment for criminal activity, and content linked to illegal goods such as drugs, vapes, and alcohol.

Concerns also include whether minors can be effectively prevented from accessing the platform or interacting with adults posing as peers.

The inquiry will examine age assurance methods, default account settings, reporting tools, and the spread of illegal content. Regulators argue that self-declared age may be insufficient, while default settings and recommendations may expose minors to risks.

The Commission will now gather further evidence through information requests, inspections, and interviews, and may take enforcement actions, including interim measures or penalties.

National regulators will support the investigation as part of coordinated oversight under the Digital Services Act.

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Meta unveils TRIBE v2 brain modelling AI

TRIBE v2 is a next-generation AI model introduced by Meta, designed to simulate how the human brain responds to complex stimuli such as images, sounds and language. The system functions as a digital twin of neural activity, enabling high-speed and high-resolution predictions of brain responses.

Built on data from over 700 volunteers, TRIBE v2 analyses fMRI recordings to predict brain responses to media such as videos, podcasts, and text. The model improves significantly on previous approaches, offering higher accuracy and the ability to generalise across new subjects, tasks, and languages.

Meta says the system could enable brain studies without human participants in every experiment, potentially accelerating research into neurological conditions. The approach may also support future AI development by incorporating principles derived from neuroscience.

Alongside the launch, Meta has released a research paper, model code, and interactive demo under a non-commercial licence to encourage wider exploration and collaboration in neuroscience and AI research.

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Search Live in Google expands to over 200 countries

Google has expanded its Search Live feature globally, making it available in more than 200 countries and territories where AI Mode is supported. The tool enables users to interact with Search through real-time voice and camera-based conversations.

The upgrade is powered by Gemini 3.1 Flash Live, a new audio and voice model designed to deliver more natural and intuitive interactions. The model supports multiple languages, enabling users to communicate with Search in their preferred language across regions.

Search Live is designed for situations where typing is inconvenient, allowing users to ask questions aloud and receive audio responses within the Google app. Follow-up queries can be made instantly, with results supplemented by relevant web links.

Camera integration through Google Lens adds visual context, enabling Search to interpret real-world objects and provide step-by-step guidance or suggestions. The rollout is part of Google’s broader effort to make search more interactive, accessible, and useful in everyday tasks.

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Gemini introduces tools to import AI chat history

Google has introduced new tools that allow users to transfer their memories, preferences, and chat history from other AI platforms directly into Gemini. The update aims to ease switching and deliver a more personalised experience from the start.

A new memory import feature lets users copy key details from another AI app and upload them to Gemini. Once transferred, the system recognises personal context, enabling more accurate responses without having to start from scratch.

In addition, users can now upload full chat histories via ZIP files, enabling access to past conversations within Gemini. The platform can integrate exchanges with services like Gmail, Photos and Search, with permission, to deliver more relevant responses.

Google confirmed that the rollout has begun and will appear in user settings, alongside a rebranding of ‘past chats’ to ‘memory’. The update reflects a broader push towards more adaptive and context-aware AI assistants.

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Open letter targets Meta ad practices

A coalition of civil society and industry groups has urged the European Commission to enforce the Digital Markets Act more rigorously, warning that major tech firms continue to exploit compliance gaps. The appeal centres on concerns over data use and online advertising practices.

Organisations including noyb, Check My Ads, and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties argue that current models fail to offer users genuine choice. Critics say consent mechanisms tied to payment or tracking undermine the intent of the EU digital rules.

The letter against Meta calls for clearer standards, including equal options for personalised and non-personalised advertising, as well as stricter limits on design practices that influence user decisions. Campaigners also want stronger coordination between regulators to ensure consistent enforcement.

The push reflects wider frustration among European organisations, with several recent letters demanding faster action against dominant platforms. Observers warn that delayed enforcement risks weakening the credibility of the EU digital regulation.

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UK tightens sanctions on crypto-linked scam networks

The UK has stepped up its crackdown by sanctioning a crypto marketplace tied to major scam centres in Southeast Asia. Measures aim to disrupt the sale of stolen personal data and limit the financial infrastructure enabling online fraud targeting British victims.

Authorities also targeted operators behind ‘#8 Park’, Cambodia’s largest scam compound, believed to house up to 20,000 trafficked workers. Many individuals forced to run scams were lured with false job offers before being coerced into fraudulent activity under severe threats.

Sanctions extend to key entities and individuals connected to the wider network, including those facilitating crypto laundering and cross-border financial flows. Earlier UK action froze over £1 billion in assets and helped shut down platforms used for laundering illicit funds.

Officials said the measures will isolate these operations from the crypto ecosystem and freeze UK-based assets. The measures come ahead of an international summit in June aimed at strengthening global coordination against illicit finance and digital fraud.

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UNESCO and Tecnológico de Monterrey partner on AI in education initiative

UNESCO and Tecnológico de Monterrey have signed an agreement to collaborate on advancing the use of AI in education, as digital transformation reshapes learning systems and workforce skills across Latin America and the Caribbean.

The agreement establishes a framework for joint work on generating evidence, developing standards and formulating public policy recommendations on AI in education, and supports the launch of a Regional Observatory on Artificial Intelligence in Education.

A financial contribution of $90,000 will support the Observatory’s implementation, following months of technical coordination and institutional validation between the two organisations.

After the signing, technical teams reviewed the operational plan for the first year, including methodological frameworks on teachers’ digital competencies and AI ethics, as well as pilot projects in Chile, El Salvador and Mexico.

According to Esther Kuisch Laroche, the initiative aims to ensure AI contributes to more inclusive, ethical and relevant education systems, while moving from principles to practical solutions.

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EU court challenges French police data practices

The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that aspects of France’s biometric data collection system breach the EU law. Judges found that taking fingerprints and photographs of suspects under broad conditions fails to meet strict proportionality standards.

The case examined rules allowing police to collect and store data in the French Traitement des antécédents judiciaires and the Fichier automatisé des empreintes digitales. The court said collection cannot be routine and must meet a threshold of absolute necessity.

Judges also criticised the lack of clear justification for data collection, stating that individuals should receive explanations to exercise their legal rights. Existing rules were found to lack safeguards to ensure the limited and proportionate use of sensitive biometric information in France.

The ruling requires national courts to reassess the framework and could lead to changes in policing practices. It also raises broader questions about large-scale data retention and the balance between security and privacy.

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New Mexico wins major case against Meta

A jury has found Meta Platforms liable for misleading consumers and endangering children in a landmark case brought by the New Mexico Department of Justice. The verdict marks the first successful trial by a US state against a major tech firm over child safety concerns.

Jurors awarded civil penalties totalling 375 million dollars after finding violations of consumer protection law. The case focused on claims that platform design choices exposed young users to harmful and exploitative content.

Evidence presented in court included internal company documents and testimony suggesting awareness of risks to children. Allegations centred on failures to prevent exploitation, as well as features linked to addictive behaviour and exposure to harmful material.

Further proceedings in the US are scheduled, with authorities seeking additional penalties and mandated changes to platform safety measures. Proposed actions include stronger age verification and improved protections for minors online.

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