Freedom of expression

Telegram faces regional ban in Russia amid security fears

Authorities in the Russian regions of Dagestan and Chechnya have moved to block Telegram, citing security concerns.

The decision was made after the messaging app was reportedly used by enemies to organise unrest, including the October 2023 anti-Israel riots at Makhachkala airport.

During these riots, protesters, spurred by Telegram channels, attempted to attack passengers arriving from Israel. Telegram condemned the attack and stated that it had blocked the related channels.

Dagestan’s digital development minister, Yuri Gamzatov, stated that the decision to block Telegram came from the federal government. He acknowledged that Telegram might be unblocked in the future but encouraged users to switch to other messaging platforms in the meantime.

Telegram, which has nearly 1 billion users, has faced tensions with the Russian government before. Despite previous attempts by Moscow to block the platform, it remains widely used in Russia and other former Soviet republics.

Telegram did not respond immediately to requests for comment on the regional bans.

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X faces major outage in the US and UK

Social media platform X is experiencing widespread outages in the US and the UK, with thousands of users reporting issues, according to outage tracking website Downdetector.

Reports indicate over 21,000 incidents in the US and more than 10,800 in the UK, suggesting significant disruptions.

Downdetector, which gathers status reports from various sources, noted that the actual number of affected users may be higher.

Many have turned to other platforms to discuss the outage, but X has not yet responded to requests for comment.

The cause of the disruption remains unclear, and there is no official timeline for when full service will be restored. Users continue to face difficulties accessing the platform, impacting communication and social media activity globally.

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UK artists raise alarm over AI law proposals

A new proposal by the UK government to alter copyright laws has sparked significant concern among artists, particularly in Devon. The changes would allow AI companies to use the content found on the internet, including artwork, to help train their models unless the creators opt-out. Artists like Sarah McIntyre, an illustrator from Bovey Tracey, argue that such a shift could undermine their rights, making it harder for them to control the use of their work and potentially depriving them of income.

The Devon Artist Network has expressed strong opposition to these plans, warning that they could have a devastating impact on creative industries. They believe that creators should retain control over their work, without needing to actively opt out of its use by AI. While some, like Mike Phillips from the University of Plymouth in the UK, suggest that AI could help artists track copyright violations, the majority of artists remain wary of the proposed changes.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has acknowledged the concerns and confirmed that no decisions have yet been made. However, it has stated that the current copyright framework is limiting the potential of both the creative and AI sectors. As consultations close, the future of the proposal remains uncertain.

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Silent album released to challenge UK AI copyright reforms

More than 1,000 musicians have joined forces to release a silent album as part of a protest against the UK government’s proposed changes to copyright laws. The changes would allow AI companies to use artists’ work to train models without needing permission, a move critics argue would undermine creators’ rights. The silent album, titled ‘Is This What We Want?’, features empty studios and performance spaces, symbolising the potential loss of control over their work.

The changes have sparked outrage from high-profile artists such as Kate Bush, who warned that this could lead to the exploitation of musicians by tech companies. The protest album, which includes contributions from other major artists like Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa, aims to highlight the negative impact of such reforms on the livelihoods of creators.

The UK government argues that these changes will help boost the AI and creative industries, allowing them to reach their full potential. However, the controversy over copyright law is growing, with many in the music industry urging a rethink before any new regulations are finalised.

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Digital time travel on social media

Recent weeks have seen a surge in AI-generated videos that transport viewers to historical eras, from the medieval streets during the Black Death to the dramatic eruption of Vesuvius. Creators Dan from the UK and Hogne from Norway, behind the accounts POV Lab and Time Traveller POV, have produced these first-person narratives to bring history to life in a unique and engaging manner.

While the videos have attracted millions of views and sparked widespread fascination, several historians have raised concerns over their historical accuracy. Experts such as Dr Amy Boyington and Dr Hannah Platts point out numerous inaccuracies, including anachronistic details like modern bread rolls and train tracks in medieval scenes, that risk misrepresenting historical facts. They caution that such artistic interpretations, though visually striking, could mislead young viewers and distort their understanding of history.

The creators defend their work as a means to spark curiosity and encourage further research, openly acknowledging that their videos are not intended to be strict documentaries. They label their content as AI-created and urge audiences to verify historical details independently. Despite the debate, these innovative videos are opening up new ways for the public to engage with the past, even as calls for greater accuracy and transparency grow louder.

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Musk’s X wins court motion to remove judge in German election data case

Elon Musk-owned social media platform X has succeeded in removing a judge from a German court case concerning demands for real-time election data.

The case, brought by activist groups Democracy Reporting International and the Society for Civil Rights, aimed to secure immediate access to data from the February 23 German election to monitor misinformation.

Although a Berlin court initially supported the activists’ request, X filed a motion arguing the judge had shown bias by interacting with the plaintiffs’ social media posts. The court approved the motion, though similar claims against two other judges were dismissed.

The ruling means that the activists will not receive the requested data within their critical timeframe. A hearing on the matter is set for February 27, but any ruling will come too late to influence their election monitoring efforts in Germany.

However, the decision could establish an important precedent for future transparency cases involving social media platforms. The activists had argued that while some election data is technically accessible, it is not realistically obtainable without direct access from X.

X has also announced plans to sue the German government over what it calls excessive user data requests, claiming these demands violate privacy and freedom of expression.

The German digital affairs ministry acknowledged X’s public statements but confirmed that no formal lawsuits had been filed yet. The escalating legal dispute highlights growing tensions between Musk and German authorities, particularly as the country prepares for key elections amid concerns over misinformation.

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UK users face reduced cloud security as Apple responds to government pressure

Apple has withdrawn its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature for cloud backups in Britain, citing government requirements.

Users attempting to enable the encryption service now receive an error message, while existing users will eventually have to deactivate it. The move weakens iCloud security in the country, allowing authorities access to data that would otherwise be encrypted.

Experts warn that the change compromises user privacy and exposes data to potential cyber threats. Apple has insisted it will not create a backdoor for encrypted services, as doing so would increase security risks.

The UK government has not confirmed whether it issued a Technical Capability Notice, which could mandate such access.

Apple’s decision highlights ongoing tensions between tech companies and governments over encryption policies. Similar legal frameworks exist in countries like Australia, raising concerns that other nations could follow suit.

Security advocates argue that strong encryption is essential for protecting user privacy and safeguarding sensitive information from cybercriminals.

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Public invited to comment on FTC’s Big Tech probe

The US Federal Trade Commission has launched an inquiry into tech companies’ content moderation policies and decisions to ban users. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson stated that such actions could amount to censorship and potentially breach the law.

Concerns have been raised about whether platforms misled users or unfairly suppressed conservative voices. Ferguson previously suggested that advertisers may have coordinated to withdraw spending from sites like Elon Musk’s X due to content concerns.

Unclear moderation policies could violate laws against deceptive business practices or stem from anticompetitive behaviour. The FTC is now seeking public input, with online comments open until 21 May.

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Australian kids overlook social media age checks

A recent report by Australia’s eSafety regulator reveals that children in the country are finding it easy to bypass age restrictions on social media platforms. The findings come ahead of a government ban, set to take effect at the end of 2025, that will prevent children under the age of 16 from using these platforms. The report highlights data from a national survey on social media use among 8 to 15-year-olds and feedback from eight major services, including YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok.

The report shows that 80% of Australian children aged 8 to 12 were using social media in 2024, with YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat being the most popular platforms. While most platforms, except Reddit, require users to enter their date of birth during sign-up, the report indicates that these systems rely on self-declaration, which can be easily manipulated. Despite these weaknesses, 95% of teens under 16 were found to be active on at least one of the platforms surveyed.

While some platforms, such as TikTok, Twitch, and YouTube, have introduced tools to proactively detect underage users, others have not fully implemented age verification technologies. YouTube remains exempt from the upcoming ban, allowing children under 13 to use the platform with parental supervision. However, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stressed that there is still significant work needed to enforce the government’s minimum age legislation effectively.

The report also noted that most of the services surveyed had conducted research to improve their age verification processes. However, as the law approaches, there are increasing calls for app stores to take greater responsibility for enforcing age restrictions.

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Russia fines Google over YouTube content on surrendering soldiers

A Russian court has fined Google 3.8 million roubles (£32,600) for hosting YouTube videos that allegedly instructed Russian soldiers on how to surrender. The ruling is part of Moscow’s ongoing crackdown on content it deems illegal, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine. Google has not yet responded to the decision.

Authorities in Russia have frequently ordered foreign tech companies to remove content they claim spreads misinformation. Critics argue that the government is deliberately slowing YouTube‘s download speeds to limit access to material critical of President Vladimir Putin. Moscow denies the accusation, blaming Google for failing to upgrade its infrastructure.

President Putin has previously accused Google of being used by Washington to serve political interests. The latest fine is one of many imposed on the company as part of Russia’s broader control over digital platforms.

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