Meta

Meta reports minimal AI impact on global misinformation

Meta Platforms has reported that generative AI had limited influence on misinformation campaigns across its platforms in 2023. According to Nick Clegg, Meta‘s president of global affairs, coordinated networks spreading propaganda struggled to gain traction on Facebook and Instagram, and AI-generated misinformation was promptly flagged or removed.

Clegg noted, however, that some of these operations have migrated to other platforms or standalone websites with fewer moderation systems. Meta dismantled around 20 covert influence campaigns this year. The company aims to refine content moderation while maintaining free expression.

Meta also reflected on its overly strict moderation during the COVID-19 pandemic, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressing regret over certain decisions influenced by external pressure. Looking forward, Zuckerberg intends to engage actively in policy debates on AI under President-elect Donald Trump‘s administration, underscoring AI’s critical role in US technological leadership.

Louisiana to host Meta’s largest AI data centre

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, plans to invest $10 billion to construct a state-of-the-art AI data centre in Richland Parish, Louisiana. Once completed, it will be the largest data centre in Meta’s global portfolio, designed to manage the vast data needs of AI and digital infrastructure. The facility is set to begin construction in December and is expected to take until 2030 to complete.

The company is working with Entergy, a utility provider operating in Louisiana, to ensure the centre’s energy consumption is fully matched by renewable sources. Entergy already supports similar projects, including Amazon’s upcoming cloud services facility in Mississippi, and operates two nuclear power plants in Louisiana.

As AI computing drives a surge in energy demand among tech giants like Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft, companies are increasingly exploring nuclear power to supplement renewable energy. However, challenges such as an ageing reactor fleet, regulatory hurdles, and supply chain limitations for uranium fuel may slow the adoption of nuclear energy.

Meta recently sought proposals from nuclear power developers to support its AI and environmental goals, aiming for 1 to 4 gigawatts of new US nuclear capacity by the early 2030s. The Louisiana data centre is part of Meta’s broader strategy to integrate sustainability with cutting-edge AI technology.

Turkey ends Meta investigation over Threads and Instagram data sharing

Turkey‘s competition board has concluded its investigation into Meta Platforms regarding data-sharing practices between Threads and Instagram. The inquiry, launched last year over potential competition law violations, ended after Meta addressed concerns through commitments deemed satisfactory by the authority.

Meta pledged that Threads users in Turkey will be able to access the platform without needing an Instagram account, once Threads becomes available again. Additionally, the company assured that data from Threads accounts will not be merged with Instagram unless users explicitly choose to link their profiles.

In April, Meta temporarily suspended Threads in Turkey to comply with an interim order from regulators. The resolution paves the way for the app’s reinstatement while easing concerns over anti-competitive practices.

Meta eyes nuclear energy to power AI and data centres

Meta has announced plans to harness nuclear energy to meet rising power demands and environmental goals. The company is soliciting proposals for up to 4 gigawatts of US nuclear generation capacity, with projects set to commence in the early 2030s. By doing so, it aims to support the energy-intensive requirements of AI and data centre operations.

Nuclear energy, according to Meta, offers a cleaner, more reliable solution for diversifying the energy grid. Power usage by US data centres is projected to triple by 2030, necessitating about 47 gigawatts of new capacity. However, challenges such as regulatory hurdles, uranium supply issues, and community resistance may slow progress.

The tech giant is open to both small modular reactors and traditional large-scale designs. Proposals are being accepted until February 2025, with a focus on developers skilled in community engagement and navigating complex permitting processes. An official statement highlighted nuclear’s capital-intensive nature, which demands a thorough request-for-proposals process.

Interest in nuclear power among tech firms is growing. Earlier agreements by Microsoft and Amazon have set precedents for nuclear-powered data centres. Meta’s latest initiative underscores a broader shift towards innovative energy solutions within the industry.

Meta tightens financial ad rules in Australia

Meta Platforms announced stricter regulations for advertisers promoting financial products and services in Australia, aiming to curb online scams. Following an October initiative where Meta removed 8,000 deceptive ‘celeb bait’ ads, the company now requires advertisers to verify beneficiary and payer details, including their Australian Financial Services License number, before running financial ads.

This move is part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to protect Australians from scams involving fake investment schemes using celebrity images. Verified advertisers must also display a “Paid for By” disclaimer, ensuring transparency in financial advertisements.

The updated policy follows a broader regulatory push in Australia, where the government recently abandoned plans to fine internet platforms for spreading misinformation. The crackdown on online platforms is part of a growing effort to assert Australian sovereignty over foreign tech companies, with a federal election looming.

Meta to face $582 million trial in Spain

Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is set to face trial in Spain in October 2025 over a €551 million ($582 million) lawsuit filed by 87 media companies. The complaint, led by the AMI media association, accuses Meta of unfair competition in advertising through its alleged misuse of user data from 2018 to 2023.

The media companies argue that Meta’s extensive data collection provides it with an unfair advantage in crafting personalised ads, violating EU data protection regulations. Prominent Spanish publishers, including El Pais owner Prisa and ABC publisher Vocento, are among the plaintiffs. A separate €160 million lawsuit against Meta was also filed by Spanish broadcasters last month on similar grounds.

The lawsuits are part of a broader effort by traditional media to push back against tech giants, which they claim undermine their revenue and fail to pay fair fees for content use. In response to similar challenges in other countries, Meta has restricted news sharing on its platforms and reduced its focus on news and political content in user feeds.

Meta has not yet commented on the Spanish lawsuits, which highlight ongoing tensions between digital platforms and legacy media seeking to safeguard their economic interests.

OLMo 2 models rival Meta’s best in performance

Ai2, a nonprofit AI research group, has introduced OLMo 2, a groundbreaking series of open-source language models designed for transparency and reproducibility. The models, developed using open-access data and tools, align with the Open Source Initiative’s standards for AI, setting them apart from many competitors.

The OLMo 2 series includes two versions: one with 7 billion parameters and another with 13 billion, making them powerful tools for tasks like summarising documents, answering questions, and generating code. Trained on a dataset of 5 trillion tokens sourced from websites, academic papers, and other vetted materials, the models perform competitively against Meta’s Llama 3.1.

While some critics voice concerns about potential misuse of open models, Ai2 argues their benefits outweigh the risks. By making the models freely available under an Apache 2.0 license, the organisation hopes to democratise AI development and promote ethical innovation.

OpenAI, Meta join Orange in African translation project

Orange, the French telecoms giant, has announced a partnership with OpenAI and Meta to enhance AI language models for translating regional African languages. The initiative will integrate West African languages into OpenAI’s ‘Whisper’ and Meta’s ‘Llama‘ systems, aiming to address the linguistic diversity in the region.

Set to launch in the first half of 2025, the project will foster better communication and inclusivity in communities with limited digital representation. Orange sees this as a significant step in leveraging AI to promote cultural and linguistic preservation.

The collaboration underscores the increasing focus on adapting technology for underserved regions. Both OpenAI and Meta bring advanced AI capabilities to help bridge communication gaps, with Orange spearheading the drive for multilingual accessibility.

Tech giants push back against Australia’s social media ban for children

Google and Meta are urging the Australian government to delay a proposed law that would prohibit social media use for children under 16, citing insufficient time to evaluate its potential effects. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government aims to pass the bill, which includes some of the strictest child social media controls globally, before the parliamentary year ends on Thursday. However, critics argue the rushed timeline undermines thorough debate and expert input.

The bill mandates social media platforms, not parents or children, to implement age-verification systems, potentially involving biometrics or government IDs. Platforms failing to comply could face fines of up to AUD 49.5 million ($32 million). While the Liberal opposition is likely to support the legislation, some independents and tech companies like TikTok and Elon Musk’s X have raised concerns about its clarity and impact on human rights, including freedom of expression and access to information.

Tech companies argue the government should wait for the results of an age-verification trial before proceeding. TikTok called the bill rushed and poorly consulted, while Meta described it as “inconsistent and ineffective.” Meanwhile, Elon Musk criticised the bill as a potential tool for broader internet control, amplifying debates over balancing child safety with digital freedoms.

As a Senate committee prepares a report on the legislation, the controversy underscores the global challenge of regulating children’s online activity without infringing on broader rights.

Meta proposes EU standards for teen safety online

Meta has proposed a unified system for age verification and safety standards across the EU to better protect teenagers online. The plan includes requiring parental approval for app downloads by users under 16, with app stores notifying parents for consent. Meta also advocates for consistent age-appropriate content guidelines and supervision tools for teens that parents can manage.

The proposal follows calls from incoming EU technology commissioner Henna Virkkunen, who emphasised protecting minors as a priority. Meta’s global head of safety, Antigone Davis, highlighted the fragmented nature of current European regulations, urging the adoption of uniform rules to ensure better protections for teens.

Although some EU frameworks like the Digital Services Act and Audiovisual Media Services Directive touch on youth safety, the lack of EU-wide standards leaves much to member states. Meta’s proposal aligns with ongoing discussions around the Child Sexual Abuse Material regulation, which aims to enhance online protections for minors.