Strict new rules have been introduced in India for social media platforms in an effort to curb the spread of AI-generated and deepfake material.
Platforms must label synthetic content clearly and remove flagged posts within three hours instead of allowing manipulated material to circulate unchecked. Government notifications and court orders will trigger mandatory action, creating a fast-response mechanism for potentially harmful posts.
Synthetic media has already raised concerns about public safety, misinformation and reputational harm, prompting the government to strengthen oversight of online platforms and their handling of AI-generated imagery.
The measure forms part of a broader push by India to regulate digital environments and anticipate the risks linked to advanced AI tools.
Authorities maintain that early intervention and transparency around manipulated content are vital for public trust, particularly during periods of political sensitivity or high social tension.
Platforms are now expected to align swiftly with the guidelines and cooperate with legal instructions. The government views strict labelling and rapid takedowns as necessary steps to protect users and uphold the integrity of online communication across India.
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Generative AI tools saw significant uptake among young Europeans in 2025, with usage rates far outpacing the broader population. Data shows that 63.8% of individuals aged 16–24 across the EU engaged with generative AI, nearly double the 32.7% recorded among citizens aged 16–74.
Adoption patterns indicate that younger users are embedding AI into everyday routines at a faster pace. Private use led the trend, with 44.2% of young people applying generative AI in personal contexts, compared with 25.1% of the general population.
Educational deployment also stood out, reaching 39.3% among youth, while only 9.4% of the wider population reported similar academic use.
The professional application presented the narrowest gap between age groups. Around 15.8% of young users reported workplace use of generative AI tools, closely aligned with 15.1% among the overall population- a reflection of many young people still transitioning into the labour market.
Country-level data highlights notable regional differences. Greece (83.5%), Estonia (82.8%), and Czechia (78.5%) recorded the highest youth adoption rates, while Romania (44.1%), Italy (47.2%), and Poland (49.3%) ranked lowest.
The findings coincide with Safer Internet Day, observed on 10 February, underscoring the growing importance of digital literacy and online safety as AI usage accelerates.
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Ambitions for AI were outlined during a presentation at the Jožef Stefan Institute, where Slovenia’s Prime Minister Robert Golob highlighted the country’s growing role in scientific research and technological innovation.
He argued that AI has moved far beyond a supportive research tool and is now shaping the way societies function.
He called for deeper cooperation between engineering and the natural sciences instead of isolated efforts, while stressing that social sciences and the humanities must also be involved to secure balanced development.
Golob welcomed the joint bid for a new national supercomputer, noting that institutions once competing for excellence are now collaborating. He said Europe must build a stronger collective capacity if it wants to keep pace with the US and China.
Europe may excel in knowledge, he added, yet it continues to lag behind in turning that knowledge into useful tools for society.
Government officials set out the investment increases that support Slovenia’s long-term scientific agenda. Funding for research, innovation and development has risen sharply, while work has begun on two major projects: the national supercomputer and the Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence.
Leaders from the Jožef Stefan Institute praised the government for recognising Slovenia’s AI potential and strengthening financial support.
Slovenia will present its progress at next week’s AI Action Summit in Paris, where global leaders, researchers, civil society and industry representatives will discuss sustainable AI standards.
Officials said that sustained investment in knowledge remains the most reliable route to social progress and international competitiveness.
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Research from the UK Safer Internet Centre reveals nearly all young people aged eight to 17 now use artificial intelligence tools, highlighting how deeply the technology has entered daily life. Growing adoption has also increased reliance, with many teenagers using AI regularly for schoolwork, social interactions and online searches.
Education remains one of the main uses, with students turning to AI for homework support and study assistance. However, concerns about fairness and creativity have emerged, as some pupils worry about false accusations of misuse and reduced independent thinking.
Safety fears remain significant, especially around harmful content and privacy risks linked to AI-generated images. Many teenagers and parents worry the technology could be used to create inappropriate or misleading visuals, raising questions about online protection.
Emotional and social impacts are also becoming clear, with some young people using AI for personal advice or practising communication. Limited parental guidance and growing dependence suggest governments and schools may soon consider stronger oversight and clearer rules.
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The Court of Justice of the EU has ruled that WhatsApp can challenge an EDPB decision directly in European courts. Judges confirmed that firms may seek annulment when a decision affects them directly instead of relying solely on national procedures.
A ruling that reshapes how companies defend their interests under the GDPR framework.
The judgment centres on a 2021 instruction from the EDPB to Ireland’s Data Protection Commission regarding the enforcement of data protection rules against WhatsApp.
European regulators argued that only national authorities were formal recipients of these decisions. The court found that companies should be granted standing when their commercial rights are at stake.
By confirming this route, the court has created an important precedent for businesses facing cross-border investigations. Companies will be able to contest EDPB decisions at EU level rather than moving first through national courts, a shift that may influence future GDPR enforcement cases across the Union.
Legal observers expect more direct challenges as organisations adjust their compliance strategies. The outcome strengthens judicial oversight of the EDPB and could reshape the balance between national regulators and EU-level bodies in data protection governance.
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The article reflects on the growing integration of AI into daily life, from classrooms to work, and asks whether this shift is making people intellectually sharper or more dependent on machines.
Tools such as ChatGPT, Grok and Perplexity have moved from optional assistants to everyday aids that generate instant answers, summaries and explanations, reducing the time and effort traditionally required for research and deep thinking.
While quantifiable productivity gains are clear, the piece highlights trade-offs: readily available answers can diminish the cognitive struggle that builds critical thinking, problem-solving and independent reasoning.
In education, easy AI responses may weaken students’ engagement in learning unless teachers guide their use responsibly. Some respondents point to creativity and conceptual understanding eroding when AI is used as a shortcut. In contrast, others see it as a democratising tutor that supports learners who otherwise lack resources.
The article also incorporates perspectives from AI systems themselves, which generally frame AI as neither inherently making people smarter nor dumber, but dependent on how it’s used.
It concludes that the impact of AI on human cognition is not predetermined by the technology, but shaped by user choice: whether AI is a partner that augments thinking or a crutch that replaces it.
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A landmark trial has begun in Los Angeles, accusing Meta and Google’s YouTube of deliberately addicting children to their platforms.
The case is part of a wider series of lawsuits across the US seeking to hold social media companies accountable for harms to young users. TikTok and Snap settled before trial, leaving Meta and YouTube to face the allegations in court.
The first bellwether case involves a 19-year-old identified as ‘KGM’, whose claims could shape thousands of similar lawsuits. Plaintiffs allege that design features were intentionally created to maximise engagement among children, borrowing techniques from slot machines and the tobacco industry.
A trial that may see testimony from executives, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and could last six to eight weeks.
Social media companies deny the allegations, emphasising existing safeguards and arguing that teen mental health is influenced by numerous factors, such as academic pressure, socioeconomic challenges and substance use, instead of social media alone.
Meta and YouTube maintain that they prioritise user safety and privacy while providing tools for parental oversight.
Similar trials are unfolding across the country. New Mexico is investigating allegations of sexual exploitation facilitated by Meta platforms, while Oakland will hear cases representing school districts.
More than 40 state attorneys general have filed lawsuits against Meta, with TikTok facing claims in over a dozen states. Outcomes could profoundly impact platform design, regulation and legal accountability for youth-focused digital services.
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A global health organisation is urging the EU to make fuller use of its digital rules to curb health disinformation as concerns grow over the impact of deepfakes on public confidence.
Warnings point to a rising risk that manipulated content could reduce vaccine uptake instead of supporting informed public debate.
Experts argue that the Digital Services Act already provides the framework needed to limit harmful misinformation, yet enforcement remains uneven. Stronger oversight could improve platforms’ ability to detect manipulated content and remove inaccurate claims that jeopardise public health.
Campaigners emphasise that deepfake technology is now accessible enough to spread false narratives rapidly. The trend threatens vaccination campaigns at a time when several member states are attempting to address declining trust in health authorities.
The EU officials continue to examine how digital regulation can reinforce public health strategies. The call for stricter enforcement highlights the pressure on Brussels to ensure that digital platforms act responsibly rather than allowing misleading material to circulate unchecked.
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In his article, Richard Gunderman argues that writing is not merely a way to present ideas but a core human activity through which people think, reflect and form meaning.
He contends that when AI systems generate text on behalf of users, they risk replacing this cognitive process with automated output, weakening the connection between thought and expression.
According to the piece, writing serves as a tool for reasoning, emotional processing and moral judgment. Offloading it to AI can diminish originality, flatten individual voice and encourage passive consumption of machine-produced ideas.
Gunderman warns that this shift could lead to intellectual dependency, where people rely on AI to structure arguments and articulate positions rather than developing those skills themselves.
The article also raises ethical concerns about authenticity and responsibility. If AI produces large portions of written work, it becomes unclear who is accountable for the ideas expressed. Gunderman suggests that overreliance on AI writing tools may undermine trust in communication and blur the line between human and machine authorship.
Overall, the piece calls for a balanced approach: AI may assist with editing or idea generation, but the act of writing itself should remain fundamentally human, as it is central to critical thinking, identity and social responsibility.
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The Learnovate Centre, a global innovation hub focused on the future of work and learning at Trinity College Dublin, is spearheading a community of practice on responsible AI in learning, bringing together educators, policymakers, institutional leaders and sector specialists to discuss safe, effective and compliant uses of AI in educational settings.
This initiative aims to help practitioners interpret emerging policy frameworks, including EU AI Act requirements, share practical insights and align AI implementation with ethical and pedagogical principles.
One of the community’s early activities includes virtual meetings designed to build consensus around AI norms in teaching, compliance strategies and knowledge exchange on real-world implementation.
Participants come from diverse education domains, including schools, higher and vocational education and training, as well as representatives from government and unions, reflecting a broader push to coordinate AI adoption across the sector.
Learnovate plays a wider role in AI and education innovation, supporting research, summits and collaborative programmes that explore AI-powered tools for personalised learning, upskilling and ethical use cases.
It also partners with start-ups and projects (such as AI platforms for teachers and learners) to advance practical solutions that balance innovation with safeguards.
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