Oklahoma State Senator Dusty Deevers has introduced the Bitcoin Freedom Act, paving the way for residents and businesses to opt for Bitcoin as a means of payment. The bill, filed as SB325, allows salaries and transactions in Bitcoin on a voluntary basis, aligning with free-market principles. Senator Deevers emphasised that Bitcoin offers a solution against inflation and safeguards financial independence amidst the declining value of the US dollar.
The act also aims to provide a secure framework for Bitcoin’s use in Oklahoma, positioning the state as a leader in financial technology. Deevers, a vocal critic of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), underscored Bitcoin’s decentralised nature as a tool for promoting financial privacy and sovereignty. “Bitcoin promotes financial sovereignty,” he said, highlighting its resistance to government interference.
The move builds on Oklahoma’s proactive approach to cryptocurrency. Last year, Governor Kevin Stitt enacted legislation supporting blockchain firms and safeguarding Bitcoin mining activities. As the Bitcoin Freedom Act heads for consideration in February, Oklahoma continues to embrace the future of finance while offering its citizens new financial opportunities.
The European Commission has rejected accusations from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg that European Union laws censor social media, saying regulations only target illegal content. Officials clarified that platforms are required to remove posts deemed harmful to children or democracy, not lawful content.
Zuckerberg recently criticised EU regulations, claiming they stifle innovation and institutionalise censorship. In response, the Commission strongly denied the claims, emphasising its Digital Services Act does not impose censorship but ensures public safety through content regulation.
Meta has decided to end fact-checking in the US for Facebook, Instagram and Threads, opting for a ‘community notes’ system. The system allows users to highlight misleading posts, with notes published if diverse contributors agree they are helpful.
The EU confirmed that such a system could be acceptable in Europe if platforms submit risk assessments and demonstrate effectiveness in content moderation. Independent fact-checking for European users will remain available for US-based content.
Do Kwon, the founder of Terraform Labs, is facing a criminal trial in the US, currently anticipated for early 2026. Prosecutors are dealing with six terabytes of data, encrypted devices, and the need to translate messages from Korean to English, creating significant delays in evidence gathering. District Judge Paul Engelmayer described the extended schedule as unprecedented in his 15 years on the bench.
Kwon denies the nine charges against him, which include securities fraud and money laundering conspiracies related to the $60 billion collapse of the Terra/Luna ecosystem in 2022. The incident impacted over 1 million investors. In a separate civil fraud lawsuit, a New York jury ordered Terraform Labs to cease operations and pay $4.5 billion in fines.
Extradited from Montenegro after 22 months in custody, Kwon has financed his legal defence with $200 million. His lawyers have until next week to request an earlier trial date, with the next hearing scheduled for 6 March.
A hacker claims to have breached US location tracking company Gravy Analytics, leaking around 1.4 gigabytes of data. The allegation, shared on a Russian-language cybercriminal forum, included screenshots suggesting a data theft. Verification attempts were complicated as Gravy’s website remained offline and the company did not respond to messages.
Cybersecurity experts reviewing the leaked data found the breach credible. Marley Smith from RedSense and John Hammond from Huntress both confirmed the data appeared legitimate, though the hacker’s identity remains unclear.
The FTC expressed concerns that such data could be misused for stalking, blackmail, and espionage but declined to comment on the breach. FTC Chair Lina Khan recently warned that targeted advertising practices leave sensitive data highly vulnerable.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has introduced the ‘Supervisory Incubator for Distributed Ledger Technology’ to support banks in safely integrating distributed ledger technology (DLT). The initiative, announced during the FiNETech4 event, will provide banks with access to a dedicated HKMA team for guidance during live trials and early operations, focusing first on tokenised deposits.
The programme also aims to foster industry-wide growth by sharing best practices and conducting research to enhance understanding of DLT solutions. Arthur Yuen, HKMA deputy chief executive, emphasised the importance of creating a supportive environment for innovation, while Executive Director Carmen Chu highlighted the transformative potential of DLT, including real-time updates and autonomous reconciliation.
This move comes as Hong Kong strengthens its position in digital finance, with legislative proposals to add Bitcoin to national reserves and the approval of four additional licences for virtual asset trading platforms, bringing the total to seven.
Honeywell and NXP Semiconductors are expanding their partnership to develop AI-powered aviation technology, focusing on autonomous flying systems. The collaboration will integrate Honeywell’s Anthem avionics, a cloud-connected cockpit system, with NXP’s computing architecture to improve flight planning and management.
NXP’s autonomy architecture, originally designed for the automotive industry, will be adapted to enhance autonomous flying capabilities when combined with Anthem. No financial details were disclosed, but the agreement builds on a previous partnership centred on building management systems.
Interest in autonomous technology continues to grow, particularly in the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) sector. Vertical Aerospace, an eVTOL manufacturer, plans to test its VX4 aircraft using the Anthem system.
In a landmark decision, the EU General Court ruled on Wednesday that the European Commission must pay €400 ($412) in damages to a German citizen for violating data protection laws. The case marks the first time the Commission has been held liable for failing to comply with its data regulations.
The court found that the Commission improperly transferred the citizen’s personal data, including an IP address, to Meta Platforms in the United States without adequate safeguards. The breach occurred when the individual used the ‘Sign in with Facebook’ option on the EU login webpage to register for a conference.
The Commission acknowledged the ruling, stating it would review the judgment and its implications. The decision underscores the robust enforcement of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which has led to significant penalties against major firms like Meta, LinkedIn, and Klarna for non-compliance.
Apple has clarified that it has never sold data collected by its Siri voice assistant or used it to create marketing profiles. The statement, issued Wednesday, follows a $95 million settlement last week to resolve a class action lawsuit alleging that Siri had inadvertently recorded private conversations and shared them with third parties, including advertisers. Apple denied the claims and admitted no wrongdoing as part of the settlement, which could result in payouts of up to $20 per Siri-enabled device for millions of affected customers.
The controversy stemmed from claims that Siri sometimes activated unintentionally, recording sensitive interactions. Apple emphasised in its statement that Siri data is used minimally and only for real-time server input when necessary, with no retention of audio recordings unless users explicitly opt-in. Even in such cases, the recordings are solely used to improve Siri’s functionality. Apple reaffirmed its commitment to privacy, stating, ‘Apple has never used Siri data to build marketing profiles, never made it available for advertising, and never sold it to anyone.’
This case has drawn attention alongside a similar lawsuit targeting Google’s Voice Assistant, currently pending in federal court in San Jose, California. Both lawsuits are spearheaded by the same legal teams, highlighting growing scrutiny over how tech companies handle voice assistant data.
Malaysia plans to leverage its strategic location and rising investments to establish itself as a hub for energy and semiconductor manufacturing, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli announced Thursday. The country is benefiting from political stability, economic growth, and a strong currency, distinguishing it from regional peers facing uncertainty.
Prime Minister Anwar highlighted Malaysia’s economic rebound last year, driven by significant investments in renewable energy and AI infrastructure. He pointed to a stable ringgit, low inflation, and a leading stock market performance in Southeast Asia. ‘In 2025, we aim to capitalise on our geographical position as a conduit for electricity, talent, and supply chain diversification,’ Anwar said at an economic forum.
Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli revealed plans to produce homegrown graphics processing unit (GPU) chips in response to growing AI and data centre demands. Malaysia, which already accounts for 13% of global semiconductor testing and packaging, is targeting over $100 billion in investments for the sector. The country has attracted major firms like Intel and Infineon, as well as digital investments from Google, further boosting its economy and solidifying its role as a key player in the global semiconductor supply chain.
The Dutch government announced a deal with Nvidia on Thursday to provide hardware and expertise for a potential AI supercomputing facility. The planned facility is part of the Netherlands‘ broader strategy to bolster AI research and contribute to EU efforts to strengthen Europe’s digital economy.
Last year, the Netherlands allocated €204.5 million ($210 million) for AI investments, with additional funding expected from European subsidies. Economy Minister Dirk Beljaarts hailed the Nvidia agreement as a major step toward realising the project, emphasising the intense global competition for advanced AI technologies.
‘This deal brings building a Dutch AI facility a lot closer,’ Beljaarts said after meeting Nvidia representatives in Silicon Valley, although he refrained from disclosing specific details of the agreement.
