French startup Linkup is reshaping how AI applications access web content by creating a marketplace for licensed material. Unlike traditional web scraping, Linkup partners with publishers to fetch content directly through integrated systems, ensuring intellectual property rights are respected. The platform caters to developers enriching large language models (LLMs) with high-quality, fresh data.
CEO Philippe Mizrahi highlighted Linkup’s focus on licensing deals that benefit both publishers and AI developers. The service targets business applications, such as corporate insights or sales tools, utilising databases like Statista and news sources.
With €3 million in seed funding, Linkup aims to expand its team and services, standing out in the growing market of ethical content acquisition for generative AI. Competitors like ScalePost also focus on licensing, indicating a shift in how AI firms source data amid tightening regulations.
Shares of LightOn, Europe’s first generative AI startup to go public, rose by up to 9% during its debut on the Euronext Growth market in Paris. By mid-morning, the stock traded at €10.79, marking a 4.2% increase from its IPO valuation of €10.35 per share.
LightOn, which develops large language models for organisations like Safran and France‘s Space Command, was valued at €62 million in its initial public offering, surpassing the €50 million initially expected.
The listing reflects strong market confidence in generative AI ventures, highlighting their growing importance in Europe’s tech ecosystem.
Australia‘s government is conducting a world-first trial to enforce its national social media ban for children under 16, focusing on age-checking technology. The trial, set to begin in January and run through March, will involve around 1,200 randomly selected Australians. It will help guide the development of effective age verification methods, as platforms like Meta, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Snapchat must prove they are taking ‘reasonable steps’ to keep minors off their services or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million).
The trial is overseen by the Age Check Certification Scheme and will test several age-checking techniques, such as video selfies, document uploads for verification, and email cross-checking. Although platforms like YouTube are exempt, the trial is seen as a crucial step for setting a global precedent for online age restrictions, which many countries are now considering due to concerns about youth mental health and privacy.
The trial’s outcomes could influence how other nations approach enforcing age restrictions, despite concerns from some lawmakers and tech companies about privacy violations and free speech. The government has responded by ensuring that no personal data will be required without alternatives. The age-check process could significantly shape global efforts to regulate social media access for children in the coming years.
India’s Competition Commission (CCI) has launched an investigation into Google’s gaming app policies following a complaint by gaming platform WinZO. The inquiry will examine allegations of discriminatory practices against apps offering real-money games.
WinZO accused Google of favouring certain categories, such as fantasy sports and rummy, while excluding others like carrom, puzzles, and racing games. The gaming platform filed the complaint in 2022, claiming Google’s updated policies create an uneven playing field, disadvantaging smaller developers.
The investigation compounds Google’s regulatory challenges in India, where it has already faced significant fines for anti-competitive behaviour in the Android ecosystem. A CCI official has been tasked with completing the inquiry within 60 days.
Google has yet to comment on the allegations, as the announcement coincided with Thanksgiving in the US.
Luxembourg’s Gcore and the Middle East’s first Edge data centre provider, Qareeb Data Centres, have partnered to deliver AI, cloud, and Edge computing solutions across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. As Qareeb continues its rapid expansion, it is deploying Edge data centres across GCC countries and beyond, with an initial capacity exceeding 50MW.
Notably, its first data centre in Bahrain, developed in collaboration with Batelco and Beyon Group’s Data Oasis, marks a major milestone in its regional growth. At the same time, Gcore leverages its global reach, encompassing 180 points of presence, $60 million in Series A funding, and significant projects such as a GPU cluster at Telia’s Helsinki data centre.
By combining their strengths, the partnership aims to foster innovation, drive economic growth, and accelerate digital transformation in the Middle East, empowering businesses to meet the region’s evolving digital needs. Furthermore, this collaboration aligns with Gcore’s broader initiatives, including its joint venture with Ezditek to establish an AI factory in Saudi Arabia.
By integrating Qareeb’s localised expertise in Edge infrastructure with Gcore’s advanced technologies, the alliance is well-positioned to enhance regional technological capacity, support economic development, and address the increasing demand for digital infrastructure in the GCC and neighbouring markets.
China has issued a strong warning against potential new US export restrictions on semiconductor technology, signalling it could take ‘necessary actions’ to safeguard its firms. The warning follows reports suggesting the Biden administration may expand its trade blacklist, potentially adding up to 200 Chinese chip companies to the list. Such measures would limit US suppliers from trading with these firms.
Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson He Yadong condemned the US for what he described as overreach in the name of national security. He argued the proposed controls destabilise global trade and harm bilateral cooperation in the semiconductor sector. He emphasised China’s determination to defend its companies’ rights if the US persists with its actions.
Reports indicate that the Biden administration is mulling restrictions on semiconductor equipment and AI memory chip sales to China. These measures may target firms like Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., a Huawei ally, while sparing ChangXin Memory Technologies, a rising AI memory chip developer.
The tensions come as the outgoing Biden administration faces domestic and international scrutiny over trade policies. Meanwhile, there is concern that President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on Chinese goods could further inflame trade relations, with Beijing warning that such measures would fail to address US domestic issues effectively.
Coinbase has announced it will end its USDC Rewards programme in the European Economic Area (EEA) on 1 December, citing the region’s incoming MiCA regulations as the reason. Customers eligible to earn rewards on their USD Coin balances can do so until 30 November, after which the service will cease. The EEA includes 30 nations, comprising 27 EU member states alongside Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein.
MiCA’s regulations, introduced in June, impose strict standards for stablecoin issuers, including a ban on offering interest for stablecoin holdings. The move has drawn criticism, with figures like Paul Berg, co-founder of Sablier, and Ripple’s David Schwartz calling the rules counterproductive to consumer interests.
Coinbase had previously announced plans to delist non-compliant stablecoins by the end of the year, including Tether’s Euro-pegged EURT. Tether recently confirmed it will cease support for EURT and shift focus towards MiCA-compliant tokens, such as EURQ and USDQ. The new framework is set to fully take effect by 30 December.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping agriculture in the United States, offering solutions to longstanding challenges like labor shortages and rising costs. With US farms dwindling from 6.8 million in the 1930s to just 1.9 million in 2023, AI-powered technologies are stepping in to improve crop yields, resource efficiency, and food production. Experts emphasise AI’s ability to analyse massive amounts of data, guiding decisions on irrigation, fertilisation, and pest control to maximise productivity.
Despite its potential, adoption remains limited, with only 27% of US farmers currently using emerging technologies like AI. However, investment is projected to grow significantly, from $2B in 2024 to over $5B by 2028. Researchers at institutions like the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems are exploring applications from robotics to controlled indoor environments, which enable year-round farming and climate adaptability for crops like grapes.
While high upfront costs and accessibility remain hurdles, proponents believe AI can accelerate agricultural innovation and foster collaboration among farmers. By combining advanced tools and shared data, AI could help build a more sustainable food system and support the delivery of fresh, nutritious produce to underserved areas.
Australia’s new law banning children under 16 from using social media has sparked strong criticism from major tech companies. The law, passed late on Thursday, targets platforms like Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, as well as TikTok, imposing fines of up to A$49.5 million for allowing minors to log in. Tech giants, including TikTok and Meta, argue that the legislation was rushed through parliament without adequate consultation and could have harmful unintended consequences, such as driving young users to less visible, more dangerous parts of the internet.
The law was introduced after a parliamentary inquiry into the harmful effects of social media on young people, with testimony from parents of children who had been bullied online. While the Australian government had warned tech companies about the impending legislation for months, the bill was fast-tracked in a chaotic final session of parliament. Critics, including Meta, have raised concerns about the lack of clear evidence linking social media to mental health issues and question the rushed process.
Despite the backlash, the law has strong political backing, and the government is set to begin a trial of enforcement methods in January, with the full ban expected to take effect by November 2025. Australia’s long-standing tensions with major US-based tech companies, including previous legislation requiring platforms to pay for news content, are also fueling the controversy. As the law moves forward, both industry representatives and lawmakers face challenges in determining how it will be practically implemented.
Canada’s Competition Bureau has filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing the tech giant of anti-competitive practices in online advertising. The agency claims Google abused its dominant position in the Canadian ad tech market to maintain its control, stifling competition and innovation.
The Competition Bureau’s investigation, which began in 2020 and expanded earlier this year, found Google to be the largest provider across the advertising technology stack in the country. The lawsuit seeks a court order for Google to sell two of its advertising tools and pay a penalty to ensure compliance with competition laws in Canada.
Google denies the allegations, stating that the online advertising market is highly competitive and offers many choices for advertisers. The company argues its ad tech tools are designed to help businesses connect with customers effectively while supporting websites and apps.
This case mirrors similar actions taken against Google in the US and the EU. Closing arguments in a US Department of Justice lawsuit accusing Google of monopolising advertising markets were presented recently, while European publishers previously rejected a Google offer to sell part of its ad tech business to settle an EU investigation.
