Economic Archives | Page 128 of 717 | Digital Watch Observatory

Technology is reshaping smoke alarm safety

Smoke alarms remain critical in preventing fatal house fires, according to fire safety officials. Real-life incidents show how early warnings can allow families to escape rapidly spreading blazes.

Modern fire risks are evolving, with lithium-ion batteries and e-bikes creating fast and unpredictable fires. These incidents can release toxic gases and escalate before flames are clearly visible.

Traditional smoke alarm technology continues to perform reliably despite changes in household risks. At the same time, intelligent and AI-based systems are being developed to detect danger sooner.

Reducing false alarms has become a priority, as nuisance alerts often lead people to turn off devices. Fire experts stress that a maintained, certified smoke alarm is far safer than no smoke alarm at all.

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Matthew McConaughey moves decisively to protect AI likeness rights

Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey has trademarked his image and voice to protect them from unauthorised use by AI platforms. His lawyers say the move is intended to safeguard consent and attribution in an evolving digital environment.

Several clips, including his well-known catchphrase from Dazed and Confused, have been registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Legal experts say it is the first time an actor has used trademark law to address potential AI misuse of their likeness.

McConaughey’s legal team said there is no evidence of his image being manipulated by AI so far. The trademarks are intended to act as a preventative measure against unauthorised copying or commercial use.

The actor said he wants to ensure any future use of his voice or appearance is approved. Lawyers also said the approach could help capture value created through licensed AI applications.

Concerns over deepfakes and synthetic media are growing across the entertainment industry. Other celebrities have faced unauthorised AI-generated content, prompting calls for stronger legal protections.

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AI hoax targets Kate Garraway and family

Presenter Kate Garraway has condemned a cruel AI-generated hoax that falsely showed her with a new boyfriend. The images appeared online shortly after the death of her husband, Derek Draper.

Fake images circulated mainly on Facebook through impersonation accounts using her name and likeness. Members of the public and even friends mistakenly believed the relationship was real.

The situation escalated when fabricated news sites began publishing false stories involving her teenage son Billy. Garraway described the experience as deeply hurtful during an already raw period.

Her comments followed renewed scrutiny of AI image tools and platform responsibility. Recent restrictions aim to limit harmful and misleading content generated using artificial intelligence.

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Cloudflare acquires Human Native to build a fair AI content licensing model

San Francisco-based company Cloudflare has acquired Human Native, an AI data marketplace designed to connect content creators with AI developers seeking high-quality training and inference material.

A move that reflects growing pressure to establish clearer economic rules for how online content is used by AI systems.

The acquisition is intended to help creators and publishers decide whether to block AI access entirely, optimise material for machine use, or license content for payment instead of allowing uncontrolled scraping.

Cloudflare says the tools developed through Human Native will support transparent pricing and fair compensation across the AI supply chain.

Human Native, founded in 2024 and backed by UK-based investors, focuses on structuring original content so it can be discovered, accessed and purchased by AI developers through standardised channels.

The team includes researchers and engineers with experience across AI research, design platforms and financial media.

Cloudflare argues that access to reliable and ethically sourced data will shape long-term competition in AI. By integrating Human Native into its wider platform, the company aims to support a more sustainable internet economy that balances innovation with creator rights.

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South Korea establishes legal framework for tokenised securities

South Korea has approved legislation establishing a legal framework for issuing and trading tokenised securities. Amendments recognise blockchain-based securities as legitimate, with rules taking effect in January 2027.

Eligible issuers can create tokenised debt and equity products using blockchain infrastructure, while brokerages and licensed intermediaries will facilitate trading.

Regulators aim to combine the efficiency of distributed ledgers with investor protections and expand the use of smart contracts, enabling previously restricted investments in real estate, art, or agriculture to reach a broader audience.

Implementation will be led by the Financial Services Commission, in collaboration with the Financial Supervisory Service, the Korea Securities Depository, and industry participants.

Consultation bodies will develop infrastructure such as ledger-based account management systems, while local firms, including Mirae Asset Securities and Hana Financial Group, are preparing platforms for the new rules.

Analysts project tokenised assets could reach $2 trillion globally by 2028, with South Korea’s market at $249 billion.

The legislation also complements South Korea’s efforts to regulate blockchain and curb cryptocurrency-related financial crime.

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AI users spend 40% of saved time fixing errors

A recent study from Workday reveals that 40% of the time saved by AI in the workplace is spent correcting errors, highlighting a growing productivity paradox. Frequent AI users are bearing the brunt, often double- or triple-checking outputs to ensure accuracy.

Despite widespread adoption- 87% of employees report using AI at least a few times per week, and 85% save one to seven hours weekly-much of that time is redirected to fixing low-quality results rather than achieving net gains in productivity.

The findings suggest that AI can increase workloads rather than streamline operations if not implemented carefully.

Experts argue that AI should enhance human work rather than replace it. Employees need tools that handle complex tasks reliably, allowing teams to focus on creativity, judgment, and strategic decision-making.

Upskilling staff to manage AI effectively is critical to realising sustainable productivity benefits.

The study also highlights the risk of organisations prioritising speed over quality. Many AI tools place trust and accuracy responsibilities on employees, creating hidden costs and risks for decision-making.

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UK users can now disable Shorts autoplay with new YouTube feature

YouTube has introduced a new parental control for users in the United Kingdom that lets parents and guardians disable Shorts autoplay and continuous scrolling, addressing concerns about addictive viewing patterns and excessive screen time among children.

The feature gives families greater control over how the short-form video feed behaves, allowing users to turn off the infinite-scroll experience that keeps viewers engaged longer.

The update comes amid broader efforts by tech platforms to provide tools that support healthier digital habits, especially for younger users. YouTube says the control can help parents set limits without entirely removing access to Shorts content.

The roll-out is initially targeted at UK audiences, with the company indicating feedback will guide potential expansion. YouTube’s new off-switch reflects growing industry awareness of screen-time impacts and regulatory scrutiny around digital wellbeing features.

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Ofcom probes AI companion chatbot over age checks

Ofcom has opened an investigation into Novi Ltd over age checks on its AI companion chatbot. The probe focuses on duties under the Online Safety Act.

Regulators will assess whether children can access pornographic content without effective age assurance. Sanctions could include substantial fines or business disruption measures under the UK’s Online Safety Bill.

In a separate case, Ofcom confirmed enforcement pressure led Snapchat to overhaul its illegal content risk assessment. Revised findings now require stronger protections for UK users.

Ofcom said accurate risk assessments underpin online safety regulation. Platforms must match safeguards to real world risks, particularly when AI and children are concerned.

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Regulators press on with Grok investigations in Britain and Canada

Britain and Canada are continuing regulatory probes into xAI’s Grok chatbot, signalling that official scrutiny will persist despite the company’s announcement of new safeguards. Authorities say concerns remain over the system’s ability to generate explicit and non-consensual images.

xAI said it had updated Grok to block edits that place real people in revealing clothing and restricted image generation in jurisdictions where such content is illegal. The company did not specify which regions are affected by the new limits.

Reuters testing found Grok was still capable of producing sexualised images, including in Britain. Social media platform X and xAI did not respond to questions about how effective the changes have been.

UK regulator Ofcom said its investigation remains ongoing, despite welcoming xAI’s announcement. A privacy watchdog in Canada also confirmed it is expanding an existing probe into both X and xAI.

Pressure is growing internationally, with countries including France, India, and the Philippines raising concerns. British Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the Online Safety Act gives the government tools to hold platforms accountable for harmful content.

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Council of Europe highlights legal frameworks for AI fairness

The Council of Europe recently hosted an online event to examine the challenges posed by algorithmic discrimination and explore ways to strengthen governance frameworks for AI and automated decision-making (ADM) systems.

Two new publications were presented, focusing on legal protections against algorithmic bias and policy guidelines for equality bodies and human rights institutions.

Algorithmic bias has been shown to exacerbate existing social inequalities. In employment, AI systems trained on historical data may unfairly favour male candidates or disadvantage minority groups.

Public authorities also use AI in law enforcement, migration, welfare, justice, education, and healthcare, where profiling, facial recognition, and other automated tools can carry discriminatory risks. Private-sector applications in banking, insurance, and personnel services similarly raise concerns.

Legal frameworks such as the EU AI Act (2024/1689) and the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on AI, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law aim to mitigate these risks. The publications review how regulations protect against algorithmic discrimination and highlight remaining gaps.

National equality bodies and human rights structures play a key role in monitoring AI/ADM systems, ensuring compliance, and promoting human rights-based deployment.

The webinar highlighted practical guidance and examples for applying EU and Council of Europe rules to public sector AI initiatives, fostering more equitable and accountable systems.

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