An Australian court has upheld a ruling requiring Elon Musk’s X, previously known as Twitter, to pay a $418,000 fine. The fine was issued for failing to cooperate with a request from the eSafety Commissioner regarding anti-child-abuse measures on the platform.
X had contested the penalty, arguing that it was no longer bound by regulatory obligations following a corporate restructure under Musk’s ownership. However, the court ruled that the platform was still required to respond to the request made by the Australian internet safety regulator.
The eSafety Commissioner stated that accepting X’s argument could have set a worrying precedent for foreign companies merging to avoid regulatory responsibilities. Civil proceedings against X have also begun due to its noncompliance.
Musk’s platform has clashed with authorities in Australia before, notably in a case where X refused to remove content showing a stabbing incident. The company claimed that one country should not dictate global online content.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the platform of violating children’s privacy laws. The lawsuit alleges that TikTok shared personal information of minors without parental consent, in breach of Texas’s Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (SCOPE Act).
The legal action seeks an injunction and civil penalties, with fines up to $10,000 per violation. Paxton claims TikTok failed to provide adequate privacy tools for children and allowed data to be shared from accounts set to private. Targeted advertising to children was also a concern raised in the lawsuit.
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is being held responsible for allegedly prioritising profits over child safety. Paxton stressed the importance of holding large tech companies accountable for their role in protecting minors online.
The case was filed in Galveston County court, with TikTok yet to comment on the matter. The lawsuit represents a broader concern about the protection of children’s online privacy in the digital age.
Captions, an AI-powered video editing app, has introduced a new tool that manages content publishing schedules for websites and generates videos on relevant topics. This tool analyses a site to collect content, keywords, service offerings, and key selling points, creating a customised content plan. Currently, the emphasis is on producing videos for social media platforms such as Instagram Reels and TikTok, with plans to explore additional formats in the future.
The tool is designed to support small businesses like cafes and dental clinics by showcasing their offerings and seasonal trends. In June, Captions launched a feature that enables users to automatically create and edit videos using 12 AI characters. This new tool utilises a business’s existing content and relevant trends to generate video prompts, allowing sellers to create a digital twin and incorporate their brand identity, including custom colours, logos, and fonts.
Captions CEO Gaurav Misra highlighted that the tool assists businesses lacking resources to create high-quality content, enabling them to build an online presence without requiring advanced video production skills. He envisions a future where businesses can incorporate more of their web pages into the AI content planning process. Recently, Captions secured $60 million in Series C funding, which will be used to enhance its AI capabilities. The company offers paid plans, including Max at $25 per month and Scale at $70 per month.
Several rival web browsers, including Vivaldi, Waterfox, and Wavebox, along with a web development advocacy group, have called on the European Commission to impose stricter antitrust regulations on Microsoft’s Edge browser. In a letter dated 17 September, the group argued that Edge, pre-installed on all Windows devices, is given an unfair distribution advantage, limiting competition. This follows a recent lawsuit by Opera, a Norwegian browser company, which challenged the Commission’s decision to exempt Edge from the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
DMA aims to stop dominant online platforms from restricting consumer choices by setting guidelines for ‘gatekeeper’ services. Rival browsers argue that Microsoft’s practice of making Edge the default browser on Windows undermines the spirit of the law. They contend that Edge’s pre-installed presence gives it an unfair advantage, making it harder for independent browsers to compete, especially as many users rely on Edge to download alternatives.
Neither Microsoft nor the European Commission has commented on the issue, but critics have pointed out that Edge’s pop-up messages often misrepresent the features of rival browsers. Despite these allegations, Microsoft Edge holds only a small portion of the global browser market, with just over 5%, while Google Chrome dominates with 66%.
A recent pilot program using AI software has significantly reduced the time social workers spend on administrative tasks by more than 60%, according to Swindon Borough Council. The AI tool, Magic Notes, developed by UK-based Beam, was tested by 19 social workers and received ‘overwhelmingly positive’ feedback. By automating the recording of conversations and generating assessments, the software allowed social workers to focus more on meaningful interactions with the people they support.
The trial, held from April to June, revealed a significant reduction in assessment times, decreasing from an average of 90 minutes to just 35 minutes. Additionally, the time needed to write reports was slashed from four hours to 90 minutes. Social workers facing challenges such as visual impairments or dyslexia reported that the tool fostered a more inclusive work environment, enhancing their confidence in their roles.
Councillor Ray Ballman, the cabinet member for adult social care, described Magic Notes as a ‘game changer.’ He mentioned that the council is now looking into additional ways to integrate the technology to enhance care quality and provide better staff support.
Bitcoin’s price has fallen for four consecutive days, hitting $60,200, 8% below its peak last week. The decline coincided with a broader risk-off sentiment among investors, spurred by rising geopolitical tensions following Israel’s response to recent attacks. Stock indices such as the Dow Jones and Nasdaq also saw sell-offs, while bond yields and the US dollar index climbed.
Adding to the pressure, large Bitcoin holders like Ceffu sold substantial portions of their assets, accelerating the price drop. Social media buzz around Bitcoin has also contributed to the decline, according to Santiment, with enthusiasm often leading to short-term price reversals. The crypto fear and greed index fell to 39 from last week’s 60, reflecting a shift in market sentiment.
Despite the recent downturn, October and November are traditionally strong months for Bitcoin, offering hope of a rebound. The coin remains above key technical levels, including its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, and has formed a bullish inverse head and shoulders pattern, suggesting a possible recovery ahead.
Lamborghini has officially unveiled the Fast ForWorld platform, a collaboration with Animoca Brands that introduces interoperable digital supercars for web3 gaming. This marks Lamborghini’s inaugural foray into blockchain technology, with the platform set to launch on 7 November. According to Animoca, Fast ForWorld will allow users to engage with digital collectables, providing opportunities to experiment, play, and be rewarded for their participation.
The platform will enable the buying, selling, and use of digital car collectables across various games, including Torque Drift 2 and REVV Racing, making them accessible on multiple gaming platforms from day one. Additionally, users will have access to a 3D wallet to store and interact with their digital assets, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
Lamborghini’s exploration of blockchain technology isn’t entirely new; it began in 2022 with NFT projects showcasing its iconic cars. The latest venture further establishes Lamborghini’s commitment to engaging with new technologies and connecting with a younger audience.
Taurus, supported by Deutsche Bank, has partnered with Chainlink Labs to enhance the adoption of tokenised assets by financial institutions. The collaboration aims to resolve key challenges, including security, data accuracy, and cross-chain connectivity, which are vital for institutional investors. By integrating Chainlink’s Data Feeds and Proof of Reserve, Taurus hopes to offer improved transparency and reduce risks associated with tokenised assets.
In addition, Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol will enable tokenised assets to move smoothly across different blockchains, increasing liquidity and accessibility. Taurus has already secured regulatory approval to offer tokenised securities trading, allowing retail clients to participate in digital asset markets more easily.
Both companies believe these advancements will encourage broader institutional adoption of tokenised assets, providing greater efficiency and data integrity in the market.
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has raised $6.6 billion in new funding, pushing its valuation to an estimated $157 billion. The funding round saw participation from major investors such as Microsoft, Nvidia, Thrive Capital, and Khosla Ventures. Despite recent restructuring and the sudden exit of longtime Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati, investor confidence remains high, with many believing in the company’s strong growth potential. Thrive Capital alone has committed $1.2 billion and may invest another $1 billion next year if revenue targets are met.
OpenAI is in the midst of restructuring, moving away from its non-profit origins towards a more commercial, for-profit model. The recent funding could convert into equity if this transition succeeds. CFO Sarah Friar suggested a potential buyback of employee shares, though no concrete plans have been set. Investors have also secured protections, allowing them to renegotiate the valuation if the restructuring is not finalised within two years.
Since launching ChatGPT, OpenAI has seen rapid growth, attracting 250 million weekly active users. Despite incurring heavy losses, the company anticipates generating $3.6 billion in revenue this year, with projections reaching $11.6 billion in 2024. As it scales, OpenAI remains committed to its pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI), aiming to advance AI capabilities while moving towards profitability.
Croatian startup AEOS, formerly known as AdScanner, has secured €10 million in a Series B investment round led by Taiwania Capital, with additional backing from existing investors. This funding follows significant revenue growth and product innovations that aim to redefine how advertisers reach audiences across both traditional television and streaming platforms.
Founded in 2012, AEOS has become a key player in the European TV advertising market, using data-driven technology to enhance campaign planning and audience measurement. Operating in Croatia, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, and Serbia, the company plans to use the new investment to accelerate growth and develop its product offerings, particularly in the AI space.
The funding will support the development of AI-driven tools that help advertisers optimise their campaigns across platforms. AEOS has already gained recognition for its Cockpit solution, offering near real-time analytics and bridging the gap between traditional broadcast media and digital streaming services.
In 2024, AEOS will launch its second-generation AI-based planning tool, designed to unify TV and streaming campaigns into one seamless ecosystem. The tool allows advertisers to plan, measure, and optimise their campaigns across multiple devices with greater accuracy than ever before.
