Anthropic Shuts Down Access to Newest Models After U.S. Objection

The artificial intelligence lab Anthropic said it had shut down access to its newest and most powerful models after the U.S. government banned use of the technology by foreign nationals, citing national security concerns. The San Francisco-based company said it received a letter from the government that did not specify officials’ concerns, but that it was informed that the government believed there was a method of bypassing safeguards designed to neuter the ability of its Fable model to aid computer hackers.

U.K. to Ban Children Under 16 from Using Social Media

The U.K. will ban social media from offering services to under-16s, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced, as governments around the world face mounting pressure to ensure child safety online. The U.K. plans to model its approach on landmark Australian legislation passed late last year, but the country will go further by introducing additional restrictions on features deemed particularly harmful to children.

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States Investigating OpenAI for Privacy Practices, Minor Safety

A coalition of states has opened a wide-ranging investigation into the artificial intelligence start-up OpenAI, the company said, adding to a growing backlash over AI. State attorneys general subpoenaed OpenAI asking for internal documents on its practices, including its handling of user data, safety of minors and advertising activities, according to the company.

Court Reporters Maintain Job Security Despite Threats from AI

The profession of court reporters has become an example of AI’s limitations in replacing human skill in the real world. In an actual courtroom, court reporters record nonverbal cues like gestures and transcribe through distracting courtroom noises like coughs or door slams. Other times, they must gently ask witnesses to repeat themselves while recounting traumatic testimony.

Google Sues Chinese Group for Using Its AI Tools to Create Fake Sites

Google sued a Chinese cybercrime network, accusing it of using the company’s artificial intelligence to blast online financial scams to hundreds of thousands of Americans. The Chinese group used Gemini, Google’s AI system, to create hundreds of fake websites mimicking companies like Google and YouTube and government operations like the Postal Service and New York’s E-ZPass service for highway tolls, the lawsuit said.

U.S. Seizes Domain Names Allegedly Linked to Chinese Agent Scams

Federal authorities announced the seizure of 13 ‌Internet domains tied to what the U.S. Justice Department called fake consulting firms designed to recruit current or former U.S. government and military employees to provide information to suspected Chinese agents. These ​fake firms target people via job listings for consulting or analyst roles, and ​then pressure applicants for exclusive or insider information, the department said ⁠in a statement.

Australian Ban on Children Using Social Media Has Limited Impact

Six months in, most indications are that Australia’s law banning children younger than 16 from having social media accounts has largely failed at keeping young teens off the platforms, in a disappointing start to an initiative carefully watched by parents and governments around the world. But some Australian parents say the real effect of the law may be for the coming cohort of younger kids who were not yet on social media, and who may stay off because of the ban.

Canadian Bill Would Limit Social Media Use by Children

The Canadian government introduced a new digital safety bill that would ‌ban social media for children under 16 with exemptions for platforms that meet certain safety standards, months after Australia enacted the world's first social media ban for young people. The bill also aims to make AI chatbots safer by setting up a digital regulator to establish safety standards, a government official said.

EU Regulators Blame Apple for Failure to Launch Siri AI in Europe

EU regulators ‌slammed Apple for blaming EU tech rules for its decision not to roll out its upgraded assistant Siri AI in the European Union for now, saying they had rejected the company's request for an 18-month exemption from its obligations. The iPhone maker on Tuesday said Siri AI ​would not be available initially in the EU on iPhones or iPads and faulted the European Commission for ​refusing to engage constructively with them to ensure privacy and security on their devices.

EU Orders Meta to Allow Rival Chatbots on WhatsApp

Meta Platforms has been ordered by EU antitrust regulators to give rival AI chatbots such as OpenAI free access to WhatsApp while they continue to investigate whether the company abused its market power by blocking competitors from the messaging app. The European ​Commission's decision to issue an interim measure against Meta followed complaints from The Interaction Company of ​California, developer of the Poke.com AI assistant, French AI startup Agentik and a Spanish ⁠rival.

Hackers Exploit Instagram Bug to Change Passwords for 34,000 Accounts

In March, a group of hackers discovered a bug in a Meta customer service tool that allowed anyone to use an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot to reset the passwords for Instagram accounts. Roughly 34,000 Instagram accounts were affected, including the former White House social media account for President Barack Obama and the accounts of the home security monitoring company SimpliSafe and a senior official in President Trump’s Space Force department, according to internal Meta documents viewed by The New York Times.

Meta Seeks Contempt Order Against NSO for Phishing Campaigns

Meta said it is filing a federal court contempt order against Israeli spyware ​firm NSO Group for violating a permanent injunction that barred ‌it from ever targeting WhatsApp and its users. The company said its WhatsApp messaging service disrupted new spear phishing attempts linked to NSO, an entity ​blacklisted by the U.S. government for engaging in activities that ​are contrary to the national security or foreign policy ⁠interests.

Senate Bill Would Restrict How Pentagon Uses AI for Weapons, Spying

A top Senate Democrat is introducing a bill to restrict how the Pentagon uses artificial intelligence, adding to a flood of AI proposals that offer a preview of the oversight tech companies can expect if Democrats win back control of Congress. Sen. Adam Schiff (D., Calif.) is proposing a bill that would ensure a human is involved when the Pentagon uses AI in weapons and protects against the technology’s use for domestic surveillance.

FCC Reviewing Internet Subsidy Program for Schools, Libraries

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is reviewing a $3 billion annual program that subsidizes Internet access for schools and libraries, citing concerns over excessive screen time among children and its impact on their health. FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced that the commission will conduct a complete review of the E-Rate program and release a proposal.

British Prime Minister Pushes Ban on Content 'Harmful' to Children

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to announce a ban on "harmful" online platforms for children under 16 while maintaining access ​to some safer forms of social media, the Times newspaper reported. Starmer, who is due to make a speech later on Monday, is said to have decided to proceed with restrictions after speaking to bereaved parents and ​considering evidence from Australia, which brought in a ban for under-16s ​last December.

U.K. to Allow Publishers to Opt Out of Feeding Content to Google's AI

U.K. antitrust regulators said they would allow publishers to opt out of feeding their content to power artificial-intelligence features in Google’s online searches. The Competition and Markets Authority said that the move aims to give publishers control over how their content is used by AI and put them in a stronger position to negotiate with Google.

New Meta Feature to Limit Harmful Content Shown to Teens

Meta is rolling out a new feature to limit harmful content shown to teenagers as part of a broader push to better protect kids online in the wake of two landmark verdicts against the company. The setting, called Limited Content, will limit specific types of content, such as posts about weightlifting, nutrition and anxiety coping strategies, the Instagram and Facebook parent company announced.

Trump Signs Executive Order Giving Government Preview of AI Models

President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would provide the government with an early look at powerful new artificial intelligence models, giving officials a chance to brace the economy for security risks. The order the president signed is largely the same as an earlier draft obtained by The Washington Post, but it narrows the government’s preview to up to 30 days rather than 90 days.

Malaysia Bans Children Under 16 from Creating Social Media Accounts

Malaysia has begun barring those aged under 16 from registering accounts on social ​media platforms, its communications regulator said, ‌as it boosts efforts to protect minors from exposure to harmful content online. The Southeast Asian nation joins a growing number of ​countries introducing measures to regulate access to ​online platforms, amid mounting concerns over the impact ⁠of social media on children's health and safety.

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The GigaLaw Firm helps companies of all sizes protect their brands online, using domain name dispute policies – such as the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) – and other legal tools available to copyright and trademark owners on the Internet.