Austrian advocacy group Noyb has filed privacy complaints against six Chinese companies, including TikTok, Shein, and Xiaomi, alleging illegal transfers of European user data to China. The group, known for targeting US tech giants like Apple and Meta, said this is its first case against Chinese firms. Complaints have been filed in four EU countries, seeking fines of up to 4% of each company’s global revenue.
Noyb claims that companies such as Alibaba’s AliExpress and Tencent’s WeChat transfer EU citizens’ data either directly to China or undisclosed ‘third countries,’ which are likely China. Under EU data protection laws, such transfers are prohibited if the destination country fails to meet the bloc’s strict privacy standards. A Noyb lawyer emphasised that China’s status as a ‘surveillance state’ makes such transfers clearly unlawful.
The allegations add to mounting regulatory challenges for Chinese tech firms. TikTok, already under scrutiny in Europe for election interference concerns, faces a potential US ban starting Sunday over national security fears. Regulators in multiple regions continue to ramp up pressure on Chinese companies amid growing global concerns over data privacy and security.
Nvidia has made its first investment in a Taiwanese startup by backing MetAI, a company specialising in AI-powered digital twins. MetAI raised $4 million in a seed funding round that also attracted several strategic investors, including Kenmec Mechanical Engineering and SparkLabs Taiwan.
The startup focuses on creating ‘SimReady’ digital twins, converting CAD files into realistic 3D environments within minutes. These virtual replicas are essential for training robots and building autonomous systems before their real-world deployment. Nvidia views this as a critical step in advancing its industrial AI platform, Omniverse.
MetAI claims its technology significantly reduces the time needed to build virtual simulations, making AI-driven automation more efficient. With plans to expand into the US, the company is eyeing markets with high operational costs and a growing need for digital solutions. MetAI’s collaboration with Nvidia is expected to set new standards for industries such as manufacturing and robotics.
Google’s NotebookLM, an AI-driven podcast platform, recently faced a surprising issue: its virtual hosts sounded irritated when users interrupted them. The problem emerged after the launch of an interactive feature allowing users to “call in” and ask questions during AI-generated discussions. Users reported that the hosts would sometimes make snippy comments like ‘I was getting to that,’ creating an oddly confrontational experience.
To address the issue, Google’s team implemented a ‘friendliness tuning’ process. They revised the prompts used to guide the AI hosts, studying how human speakers handle interruptions more politely. The adjustment was announced with a light-hearted post on the platform’s social media.
The change seems to be working. In tests, the AI hosts now react to interruptions with polite curiosity rather than frustration. NotebookLM’s refined approach highlights the importance of human-like interaction in AI products, ensuring users feel more engaged and welcomed in conversations.
ChatGPT is rolling out a new task-scheduling feature that allows paying users to set reminders and recurring requests directly with the AI assistant. Available to ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro users, the feature can handle practical tasks like sending reminders about passport expirations or offering personalised weekend plans based on the weather.
The task system represents OpenAI’s early venture into AI agents that can perform autonomous actions. Users can set tasks through ChatGPT’s web app by selecting the scheduling option from a dropdown menu. Once enabled, the assistant can deliver reminders or perform regular check-ins, such as providing daily news briefings or checking for concert tickets monthly.
While the feature currently offers limited independence, OpenAI sees it as a foundational step towards more capable AI systems. CEO Sam Altman hinted that 2025 will be a significant year for AI agents that may begin to handle more complex tasks, like booking travel or writing code. For now, ChatGPT’s task feature remains in beta, with plans to refine it based on user feedback.
Microsoft has created a new internal division, CoreAI Platform and Tools, to accelerate its development of AI technologies. The restructuring brings together its developer teams and AI platform under one unit, aimed at making AI a central pillar of the company’s software strategy.
Jay Parikh, a former engineering leader at Meta and CEO of cloud security startup Lacework, will head the new organisation. Reporting directly to CEO Satya Nadella, Parikh will oversee various teams focused on AI infrastructure and tools. His appointment signals Microsoft’s continued push to lead in the fast-evolving AI space.
CoreAI’s formation reflects Microsoft’s increasing emphasis on “model-forward” applications, which Nadella described as reshaping software development across all categories. The company’s recent efforts include embedding AI tools across its productivity suite and cloud services, solidifying its place in the growing AI market.
This latest move builds on Microsoft’s broader strategy to remain a leader in AI innovation, following its high-profile partnership with OpenAI and ongoing investments in cloud-based AI solutions.
The European Central Bank (ECB) has expanded its social media presence by joining Bluesky, a rival to Elon Musk’s X. A spokesperson stated that the move is part of a broader strategy to diversify communication channels following the adoption of other platforms last year. The ECB launched its Bluesky account by sharing an interview with chief economist Philip Lane, while confirming it will continue using X.
Musk, who has used X to promote political figures, recently endorsed Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party and has also backed Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. His influence has raised concerns among EU regulators, particularly over misinformation and political bias. Critics have also highlighted his opposition to diversity and climate policies, which contrasts with the ECB’s commitment to gender equality and environmental sustainability under President Christine Lagarde.
Bluesky, founded as an alternative to X, has seen a surge in users following recent political events, adding 2.5 million accounts after Donald Trump’s election victory. However, with 27 million users, it remains smaller than Threads and X, which have 252 million and 317 million active users, respectively. EU regulators have also flagged Bluesky for failing to disclose key details about its user base within the bloc.
Indonesia is preparing to introduce regulations setting a minimum age for social media users, aiming to shield children from potential online risks, according to Communications Minister Meutya Hafid. The announcement follows Australia’s recent ban on social media access for children under 16, which imposes penalties on platforms like Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, as well as TikTok, for non-compliance.
While the specific age limit for Indonesia remains undecided, Minister Hafid stated that President Prabowo Subianto supports the initiative, emphasising the importance of child protection in the digital space. The move highlights concerns about young users’ exposure to inappropriate content and data privacy risks.
Indonesia, with a population of approximately 280 million, has significant internet usage. A recent survey found internet penetration at 79.5%, with nearly half of children under 12 accessing the web, often using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Among “Gen Z” users aged 12 to 27, internet penetration reached 87%. The proposed regulation reflects growing global efforts to prioritise child safety online.
The German government is debating whether to delete its presence on X due to concerns that the platform’s algorithms encourage polarisation rather than balanced discourse. A government spokesperson confirmed that discussions are ongoing but noted that remaining on X allows access to a wide audience.
Elon Musk’s increasing support for far-right and anti-establishment parties in Europe has intensified scrutiny of the platform. His recent endorsement of Germany’s far-right AfD party, which is classified as extremist by German security services, has drawn criticism. Several German institutions, including universities and trade unions, have already left X in protest.
Government officials insist that their concerns about X are not directly linked to Musk’s political involvement but rather to broader issues surrounding the platform’s influence on public discourse. Compliance with European regulations, particularly in the lead-up to elections, remains under Brussels’ jurisdiction.
Triplegangers, was forced offline after a bot from OpenAI relentlessly scraped its website, treating it like a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. The AI bot sent tens of thousands of server requests, attempting to download hundreds of thousands of detailed 3D images and descriptions from the company’s extensive database of digital human models.
The sudden spike in traffic crippled Ukrainian Triplegangers’ servers and left CEO Oleksandr Tomchuk grappling with an unexpected problem. The company, which sells digital assets to video game developers and 3D artists, discovered that OpenAI’s bot operated across hundreds of IP addresses to gather its data. Despite having terms of service that forbid such scraping, the company had not configured the necessary robot.txt file to block the bot.
After days of disruption, Tomchuk implemented protective measures by updating the robot.txt file and using Cloudflare to block specific bots. However, he remains frustrated by the lack of transparency from OpenAI and the difficulty in determining exactly what data was taken. With rising costs and increased monitoring now necessary, he warns that other businesses remain vulnerable.
Tomchuk criticised AI companies for placing the responsibility on small businesses to block unwanted scraping, comparing it to a digital shakedown. “They should be asking permission, not just scraping data,” he said, urging companies to take greater precautions against AI crawlers that can compromise their sites.
The Japanese government is considering publicly disclosing the names of developers behind malicious artificial intelligence systems as part of efforts to combat disinformation and cyberattacks. The move, aimed at ensuring accountability, follows a government panel’s recommendation that stricter legal frameworks are necessary to prevent AI misuse.
The proposed bill, expected to be submitted to parliament soon, will focus on gathering information on harmful AI activities and encouraging developers to cooperate with government investigations. However, it will stop short of imposing penalties on offenders, amid concerns that harsh measures might discourage AI innovation.
Japan’s government may also share its findings with the public if harmful AI systems cause significant damage, such as preventing access to vital public services. While the bill aims to balance innovation with public safety, questions remain about how the government will decide what constitutes a “malicious” AI system and the potential impact on freedom of expression.
