Freedom of expression Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

Anthropic lawsuit gains Big Tech support in AI dispute

Several major US technology companies have backed Anthropic in its lawsuit challenging the US Department of Defence’s decision to label the AI company a national security ‘supply chain risk’.

Google, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft have filed legal briefs supporting Anthropic’s attempt to overturn the designation issued by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Anthropic argues the decision was retaliation after the company declined to allow its AI systems to be used for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons.

In court filings, the companies warned that the government’s action could have wider consequences for the technology sector. Microsoft said the decision could have ‘broad negative ramifications for the entire technology sector’.

Microsoft, which works closely with the US government and the Department of Defence, said it agreed with Anthropic’s position that AI systems should not be used to conduct domestic mass surveillance or enable autonomous machines to initiate warfare.

A joint amicus brief supporting Anthropic was also submitted by the Chamber of Progress, a technology policy organisation funded by companies including Google, Apple, Amazon and Nvidia. The group said it was concerned about the government penalising a company for its public statements.

The brief described the designation as ‘a potentially ruinous sanction’ for businesses and warned it could create a climate in which companies fear government retaliation for expressing views.

Anthropic’s lawsuit claims the government violated its free speech rights by retaliating against the company for comments made by its leadership. The dispute escalated after Anthropic declined to remove contractual restrictions preventing its AI models from being used for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons.

The company had previously introduced safeguards in government contracts to limit certain uses of its technology. Negotiations over revised contract language continued for several weeks before the disagreement became public.

Former military officials and technology policy advocates have also filed supporting briefs, warning that the decision could discourage companies from participating in national security projects if they fear retaliation for voicing concerns. The case is currently being heard in federal court in San Francisco.

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Spain expands digital oversight of online hate

Spain has launched a digital system designed to track hate speech and disinformation across social media platforms. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez presented the tool in Madrid as part of a wider effort to improve oversight of online platforms.

The platform known as HODIO will analyse public posts and measure the spread and reach of hateful content. Authorities in Spain say the project will publish regular reports examining how platforms respond to harmful material.

The monitoring initiative is managed by Spain’s Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia. Officials in Spain say the data will help citizens understand the scale of online hate and assess how social networks address abusive content.

The initiative forms part of a broader digital policy agenda in Spain that also includes measures to protect minors online. Policymakers in Spain have discussed proposals such as restrictions on social media use by children under 16.

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EU updates voluntary code for labelling AI-generated content

The European Commission has released a second draft of its voluntary Code of Practice on marking and labelling AI-generated content, designed to support compliance with transparency rules under the Artificial Intelligence Act.

Published on 5 March, the updated draft reflects feedback from hundreds of stakeholders, including industry groups, academic researchers, policymakers, and civil society organisations.

Revisions follow consultations held in early 2026 as part of the broader rollout of the EU’s AI regulatory framework.

The proposed code outlines technical approaches for identifying AI-generated material. A two-layered system using secure metadata and digital watermarking is recommended, with optional fingerprinting, logging, and verification to improve detection.

Guidelines also address how platforms and publishers should label deepfakes and AI-generated text related to matters of public interest. Public feedback is open until 30 March, with the final code expected in early June before transparency rules take effect on 2 August 2026.

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Lawmakers urged to rethink rules on private messaging

Policymakers are being urged to rethink the regulation of private messaging platforms as disinformation campaigns increasingly spread through closed digital networks. Researchers say messaging apps now play a major role in political communication and crisis information flows.

Evidence from elections and conflicts highlights the challenge. During Brazil’s 2024 municipal elections, manipulated political content spread widely through WhatsApp groups, while authorities in Ukraine reported Telegram being used for both emergency communication and disinformation.

Experts argue that current laws often fail to address messaging platforms, such as Telegram, because regulation typically targets public social media spaces. Analysts say modern messaging services combine private chats with broadcast channels and other features that allow content to reach large audiences.

Policy specialists propose regulating specific platform features rather than entire services. Governments and technology companies are also encouraged to protect encryption while expanding transparency tools, media literacy programmes and user safeguards.

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AI deepfakes detection expands on YouTube for politicians and journalists

YouTube is expanding its likeness-detection technology designed to identify AI-generated deepfakes, extending access to a pilot group of government officials, political candidates, and journalists.

The tool allows participants to detect unauthorised AI-generated videos that simulate their faces and request removal if the content violates YouTube policies. The system builds on technology launched last year for around four million creators in the YouTube Partner Program.

Similar to YouTube’s Content ID system, which detects copyrighted material in uploaded videos, the likeness detection feature scans for AI-generated faces created with deepfake tools. Such technologies are increasingly used to spread misinformation or manipulate public perception by making prominent figures appear to say or do things they never did.

According to YouTube, the pilot programme aims to balance free expression with safeguards against AI impersonation, particularly in sensitive civic contexts.

‘This expansion is really about the integrity of the public conversation,’ said Leslie Miller, YouTube’s vice president of Government Affairs and Public Policy. ‘We know that the risks of AI impersonation are particularly high for those in the civic space. But while we are providing this new shield, we’re also being careful about how we use it.’

Removal requests will be assessed individually under YouTube’s privacy policy rules to determine whether the content constitutes parody or political critique, which remain protected forms of expression. Participants must verify their identity by uploading a selfie and a government-issued ID before accessing the tool. Once verified, they can review detected matches and submit removal requests for content they believe violates policy.

YouTube also said it supports the proposed NO FAKES Act in the United States, which aims to regulate the unauthorised use of an individual’s voice or visual likeness in AI-generated media. AI-generated videos on the platform are already labelled, though label placement varies depending on the topic’s sensitivity.

‘There’s a lot of content that’s produced with AI, but that distinction’s actually not material to the content itself,’ said Amjad Hanif, YouTube’s vice president of Creator Products. The company said it plans to expand the technology over time to detect AI-generated voices and other intellectual property.

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UK rejects social media ban for under-16s

A proposed social media ban for under-16s has been rejected by UK MPs, with 307 voting against and 173 in favour. The measure, introduced as an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, aimed to protect children from online harms.

Instead, the UK government secured support for giving ministers flexible powers, enforceable after a consultation on online safety concludes. The technology secretary, Liz Kendall, could limit social media access and VPN use, turn off addictive features, and raise the UK’s digital consent age.

Supporters of a full ban argued parents face an ‘impossible position’ managing online risks for their children. Campaigners, bereaved parents, and organisations such as Mumsnet and the National Education Union called for immediate action.

Critics, including the NSPCC, warned that a blanket ban could push teenagers towards unregulated online spaces.

The government consultation will examine minimum age requirements and the removal of features such as autoplay. MPs emphasised that any policy must balance safety with preparing children for responsible online engagement.

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Google adds option to disable AI search in Google Photos

Users of Google Photos will now have greater control over how they search their images, after Google introduced a visible toggle that returns to the traditional search experience.

The update follows complaints about the AI-powered Ask Photos feature.

Ask Photos was designed to allow users to search for images using natural language queries rather than simple keywords. The tool aimed to make photo searches more flexible, enabling complex queries such as descriptions of people, events or locations captured in images.

However, some users reported that the AI system produced slower results and occasionally failed to locate images that the classic search had previously found more reliably.

Although an option to turn off the AI feature already existed, it was hidden within settings and often overlooked.

The new update introduces a visible switch directly on the search interface. Users can now easily alternate between the AI-powered search and the traditional search system depending on their preferences.

Google said improvements have also been made to the quality of common searches following user feedback. The company emphasised that search remains one of the most frequently used functions within Google Photos and that ongoing updates will continue to refine the experience.

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Dutch court increases pressure on Meta over non-profiling social media feeds

A court in the Netherlands has increased potential penalties against Meta after ruling that changes to social media timelines must be implemented urgently.

The decision raises the potential fine for non-compliance from €5 million to €10 million if required adjustments are not applied to Facebook and Instagram feeds.

Judges at the Amsterdam Court of Appeals said users must be able to select a timeline that does not rely on profiling-based recommendations.

The ruling follows a legal challenge from the digital rights organisation Bits of Freedom, which argued that users who switched away from algorithmic feeds were automatically returned to them after navigating the platform or reopening the application.

The court concluded that the automatic resetting mechanism represents a deceptive design practice known as a ‘dark pattern’.

Such practices are prohibited under the EU’s Digital Services Act, which requires large online platforms to provide greater transparency and user control over recommendation systems.

Judges acknowledged that Meta had already introduced several technical changes, although not all required measures were fully implemented. The company must ensure that the non-profiling timeline option remains active once selected, rather than reverting to algorithmic recommendations.

The dispute also highlights regulatory tensions within the European framework. Before turning to the courts, Bits of Freedom submitted a complaint to Coimisiún na Meán, the national authority responsible for overseeing Meta’s compliance with the EU rules.

According to the organisation, the lack of progress from regulators encouraged legal action in Dutch courts.

Meta indicated that the company intends to challenge the decision and pursue further legal proceedings. The case could become an important test of how the Digital Services Act is enforced against major online platforms across Europe.

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Hackers can use AI to de-anonymise social media accounts

AI technology behind platforms like ChatGPT is making it significantly easier for hackers to identify anonymous social media users, a new study warns. LLMs could match anonymised accounts to real identities by analysing users’ posts across platforms.

Researchers Simon Lermen and Daniel Paleka warned that AI enables cheap, highly personalised privacy attacks, urging a rethink of what counts as private online. The study highlighted risks from government surveillance to hackers exploiting public data for scams.

Experts caution that AI-driven de-anonymisation is not flawless. Errors in linking accounts could wrongly implicate individuals, while public datasets beyond social media- such as hospital or statistical records- may be exposed to unintended analysis.

Users are urged to reconsider what information they share, and platforms are encouraged to limit bulk data access and detect automated scraping.

The study underscores growing concerns about AI surveillance. While the technology cannot guarantee complete de-anonymisation, its rapid capabilities demand stronger safeguards to protect privacy online.

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EU faces challenges in curbing digital abuse against women

Researchers and policymakers are raising concerns about how new technologies may put women at risk online, despite existing EU rules designed to ensure safer digital spaces.

AI-powered tools and smart devices have been linked to incidents of harassment and the creation of non-consensual sexualised imagery, highlighting gaps in enforcement and compliance.

The European Commission’s Gender Equality 2026–2030 Strategy noted that women are disproportionately targeted by online gender-based violence, including harassment, doxing, and AI-generated deepfakes.

Investigations into tools such as Elon Musk’s Grok AI and Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses have drawn attention to how digital platforms and wearable technologies can be misused, even where legal frameworks like the Digital Services Act (DSA) are in place.

Experts emphasise that while the EU’s rules offer a foundation to regulate online content, significant challenges remain. Advocates and lawmakers say enforcement gaps let harmful AI functions like nudification persist.

Commissioners have stressed ongoing cooperation with tech companies and upcoming guidelines to prioritise flagged content from independent organisations to address gender-based cyber violence.

Authorities are also monitoring new technologies closely. In the case of wearable devices, regulators are considering how users and bystanders are informed about recording features.

Ongoing discussions aim to strengthen compliance under existing legislation and ensure that digital spaces become safer and more accountable for all users.

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