X accuses music publishers of ‘weaponizing’ DMCA takedowns
X accuses music publishers of 'weaponizing' DMCA takedowns X is suing music publishers and their trade group, the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA), accusing them of attempted coercion in their ongoing battle over licensing, as reported earlier by The Hollywood Reporter. The Elon Musk-owned platform accuses music publishers of colluding with the NMPA to “coerce […]
The latest on Grok’s gross AI deepfakes problem
The latest on Grok's gross AI deepfakes problem The launch of an AI image editing feature on xAI’s Grok has caused chaos on X after it was used to generate a flood of non-consensual sexualized deepfakes. As Hayden Field wrote, “screenshots show Grok complying with requests to put real women in lingerie and make them […]
The MAGA-approved video of an ICE killing
The MAGA-approved video of an ICE killing The clips are filmed from different angles. Some are zoomed in, making them indecipherably grainy, and others are slowed down. Some are 20 seconds while others are longer, sandwiched by commentary from users on social media platforms like X, Bluesky, Reddit, and TikTok. Each video – depicting the […]
New York’s new law forces advertisers to say when they’re using AI avatars
New York's new law forces advertisers to say when they're using AI avatars New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill Thursday that will require advertisers to identify if an ad includes AI-generated people. Hochul’s announcement said the bill, S.8420-A/A.8887-B, was the first of its kind in the US, describing it as a “common sense” […]
Fortnite is back in Google’s Android app store
Fortnite is back in Google's Android app store Fortnite players on Android devices in the US can once again download the game directly from the Google Play Store, not long after it returned to Apple’s App Store in May. Its return comes five years after it was removed from Google’s app store as Epic Games […]
Operation Bluebird wants to reclaim Twitter’s ‘abandoned’ trademarks for a new social network
Operation Bluebird wants to reclaim Twitter's 'abandoned' trademarks for a new social network A startup called Operation Bluebird is trying to reclaim Twitter’s branding, as reported earlier by Ars Technica and Reuters. Last week, Operation Bluebird filed a petition that asks the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to cancel X Corp.’s ownership of the […]
The Luigi Mangione trial is all about narrative control
The Luigi Mangione trial is all about narrative control On Monday, several dozen members of the public are lined up outside 100 Centre Street in Lower Manhattan, hoping to squeeze into the courtroom to hear testimony from witnesses called by the state against Luigi Mangione – the man accused of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO […]
The EU is probing Meta over WhatsApp’s AI chatbot restrictions
The EU is probing Meta over WhatsApp's AI chatbot restrictions The European Union has launched a formal investigation into Meta over antitrust concerns with AI restrictions in WhatsApp. The probe aims to “prevent any possible irreparable harm to competition in the AI space” according to the EU, and follows Meta announcing changes to WhatsApp’s terms […]
The VPN panic is only getting started
The VPN panic is only getting started After the Online Safety Act’s onerous internet age restrictions took effect this summer, it didn’t take long for Brits to get around them. Some methods went viral, like using video game Death Stranding‘s photo mode to bypass face scans. But in the end, the simplest solution won out: […]
Meta had a 17-strike policy for sex trafficking, former safety leader claims
Meta had a 17-strike policy for sex trafficking, former safety leader claims Meta allegedly gave accounts engaged in the “trafficking of humans for sex” 16 chances before suspending them, according to testimony from the company’s former head of safety and wellbeing, Vaishnavi Jayakumar. The testimony — along with several other claims that Meta ignored problems […]