Japanese regulators are reviewing whether the social media platform X fails to comply with new content removal rules.
The law, which took effect in April, requires designated platforms to allow victims of harmful online posts to request deletion without facing unnecessary obstacles.
X currently obliges non-users to register an account before they can file such requests. Officials say that it could represent an excessive burden for victims who violate the law.
The company has also been criticised for not providing clear public guidance on submitting removal requests, prompting questions over its commitment to combating online harassment and defamation.
Other platforms, including YouTube and messaging service Line, have already introduced mechanisms that meet the requirements.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has urged all operators to treat non-users like registered users when responding to deletion demands. Still, X and the bulletin board site bakusai.com have yet to comply.
As said, it will continue to assess whether X’s practices breach the law. Experts on a government panel have called for more public information on the process, arguing that awareness could help deter online abuse.
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Hammersmith and Fulham Council has approved a £3m upgrade to its CCTV system to see facial recognition and AI integrated across the west London borough.
With over 2,000 cameras, the council intends to install live facial recognition technology at crime hotspots and link it with police databases for real-time identification.
Alongside the new cameras, 500 units will be equipped with AI tools to speed up video analysis, track vehicles, and provide retrospective searches. The plans also include the possible use of drones, pending approval from the Civil Aviation Authority.
Council leader Stephen Cowan said the technology will provide more substantial evidence in a criminal justice system he described as broken, arguing it will help secure convictions instead of leaving cases unresolved.
Civil liberties group Big Brother Watch condemned the project as mass surveillance without safeguards, warning of constant identity checks and retrospective monitoring of residents’ movements.
Some locals also voiced concern, saying the cameras address crime after it happens instead of preventing it. Others welcomed the move, believing it would deter offenders and reassure those who feel unsafe on the streets.
The Metropolitan Police currently operates one pilot site in Croydon, with findings expected later in the year, and the council says its rollout depends on continued police cooperation.
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AI is reshaping healthcare, according to experts featured in Microsoft’s new podcast seriesThe AI Revolution in Medicine, Revisited.
Peter Lee, President of Microsoft Research, spoke with clinicians and researchers about how AI is helping doctors work more effectively and patients access better care. From note-taking during visits to accelerating drug discovery, the technology is already proving its value.
A doctor of UC San Diego Health in the US said AI helps physicians draft longer, more empathetic responses to patient messages, reducing mental strain. Meanwhile, Stanford’s Dr Roxana Daneshjou described how AI detected a dosage error in a medical summary, acting as a crucial safeguard.
Bill Gates highlighted how AI could boost healthcare in low-income regions by providing medical intelligence where doctors are scarce. Other guests suggested the technology may even blur traditional boundaries between medical specialties while accelerating drug development.
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The US tech giant, Google, has introduced a new experimental app for Windows that combines web search, file discovery and Google Lens in a single interface.
The tool, known as the Google app for Windows, is part of Search Labs and is designed to allow users to find information faster instead of interrupting their workflow.
An app that can be launched instantly using the Alt+Space shortcut, opening a Spotlight-like bar similar to Apple’s macOS. Users can search local files, installed applications, Google Drive content and web results. It supports multiple modes, including AI-generated answers, images, videos, shopping and news.
A dark mode is available for those who prefer night-time use, and the search bar can be resized or repositioned on the desktop instead of staying fixed.
Google has also built its Lens technology, allowing users to select and search images directly on screen, translate text or solve mathematical problems. An AI Mode offers detailed replies, though it can be disabled or customised through the settings menu.
The experimental app is currently limited to English-speaking users in the US and requires Windows 10 or Windows 11. Google has not yet confirmed when it will expand availability to more regions.
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Hong Kong will establish a new team to advance the use of AI across government departments, Chief Executive John Lee confirmed during his 2025 Policy Address.
The AI Efficacy Enhancement Team, led by Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk, will coordinate reforms to modernise outdated processes and promote efficiency.
Lee said his administration would focus on safe ‘AI+ development’, applying the technology in public services and encouraging adoption across different sectors instead of relying on traditional methods.
He added that Hong Kong had the potential to grow into a global hub for AI and would treat the field as a core industry for the city’s economic future.
Examples of AI adoption are already visible.
The government’s 1823 enquiry hotline uses voice recognition to cut response times by 30 per cent, while the Census and Statistics Department applies AI models to trade data and company reports, reducing manual checks by 40 per cent and improving accuracy.
Authorities expect upcoming censuses in 2026 and 2031 to save about $680 million through AI and data science technologies instead of conventional manpower-heavy methods.
The announcement comes shortly after China unveiled its national AI policy blueprint, which seeks widespread integration of the technology in research, governance and industry, with a target of 90 per cent prevalence by 2030.
Hong Kong’s approach is being positioned as part of a wider push for technological leadership in the region.
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Microsoft has disrupted RaccoonO365, a fast-growing phishing service used by cybercriminals to steal Microsoft 365 login details.
Using a court order from the Southern District of New York, in the US, its Digital Crimes Unit seized 338 websites linked to the operation. The takedown cut off infrastructure that enabled criminals to mimic Microsoft branding and trick victims into sharing their credentials.
Since mid-2024, RaccoonO365 has been used in at least 94 countries and has stolen more than 5,000 credentials. The kits were marketed on Telegram to hundreds of paying subscribers, including campaigns that targeted healthcare providers in the US.
Microsoft identified the group’s alleged leader as Joshua Ogundipe, based in Nigeria, who is accused of creating and promoting the service. The company has referred the case to international law enforcement while continuing efforts to dismantle any rebuilt networks.
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Business Insider has issued a memo saying journalists may use AI to help draft stories, while making it clear that authors remain fully responsible for what is published under their names.
The guidelines define what kinds of AI use are permitted, such as assisting with research or generating draft text, but stress that final edits, fact-checking, and the author’s voice must be preserved.
Some staff welcomed the clarity after months of uncertainty, saying the new policy could help speed up routine work. Others raised concerns about preserving editorial quality and resisting over-reliance on AI for creativity or original insight.
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The World Economic Forum (WEF) has published an article on using trade policy to build a fairer digital economy. Digital services now make up over half of global exports, with AI investment projected at $252 billion in 2024. Countries from Kenya to the UAE are positioning as digital hubs, but job quality still lags.
Millions of platform workers face volatile pay, lack of contracts, and no access to social protections. In Kenya alone, 1.9 million people rely on digital work yet face algorithm-driven pay systems and sudden account deactivations. India and the Philippines show similar patterns.
AI threatens to automate lower-skilled tasks such as data annotation and moderation, deepening insecurity in sectors where many developing countries have found a competitive edge. Ethical standards exist but have little impact without enforcement or supportive regulation.
Countries are experimenting with reforms: Singapore now mandates injury compensation and retirement savings for platform workers, while the Rider Law in Spain reclassifies food couriers as employees. Yet overly strict regulation risks eroding the flexibility that attracts youth and caregivers to gig work.
Trade agreements, such as the AfCFTA and the Kenya–EU pact, could embed labour protections in digital markets. Coordinated policies and tripartite dialogue are essential to ensure the digital economy delivers growth, fairness, and dignity for workers.
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YouTube has unveiled a new suite of AI tools designed to enhance the creation of Shorts, with its headline innovation being Veo 3 Fast, a streamlined version of Google DeepMind’s video model.
A system that can generate 480p clips with sound almost instantly, marking the first time audio has been added to Veo-generated Shorts. It is already being rolled out in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with other regions to follow instead of a limited release.
The platform also introduced several advanced editing features, such as motion transfer from video to still images, text-based styling, object insertion and Speech to Song Remixing, which converts spoken dialogue into music through DeepMind’s Lyria 2 model.
Testing will begin in the US before global expansion.
Another innovation, Edit with AI, automatically assembles raw footage into a rough cut complete with transitions, music and interactive voiceovers. YouTube confirmed the tool is in trials and will launch in select markets within weeks instead of years.
All AI-generated Shorts will display labels and watermarks to maintain transparency, as YouTube pushes to expand creator adoption and boost Shorts’ growth as a rival to TikTok and Instagram Reels.
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PostFinance, Sygnum Bank and UBS, under the Swiss Bankers Association, have successfully tested a deposit token on a public blockchain. For the first time, banks completed a legally binding cross-bank payment with tokenised deposits, a breakthrough for Switzerland’s financial sector.
The proof of concept (PoC) explored how bank deposits can be represented on blockchain to enable faster, programmable and fully automated payments. Smart contracts on the system allow transactions to be triggered only when agreed conditions are met, reducing risk while increasing efficiency.
Use cases tested included payments between customers of different banks and escrow-style settlements for tokenised assets.
Results confirm that deposit tokens are technically and legally feasible across banks when combined with a public blockchain and permissioned applications. Such infrastructure could enable automated insurance settlements, instant securities trading, and machine-to-machine payments.
Industry leaders stressed that while the PoC proves feasibility, scaling will require broader cooperation with other institutions, regulators and infrastructure providers.
Project representatives described the work as a decisive step toward digital money innovation in Switzerland, reinforcing the country’s role as a pioneer in blockchain-based finance.
The Swiss Bankers Association confirmed that the project aligns with its strategic focus on digital currencies, though the results do not yet mean deposit tokens will be formally launched.
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