Breaking AI & Tech News Analyzed

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to take on social media companies in a bid to protect children from addiction, as new guidelines recommend limiting screen time for children under five to no more than an hour a day. The guidelines, developed by a panel led by the children's commissioner, Rachel de Souza, and children's health expert Prof Russell Viner, advise that children under two should avoid screen time except for shared activities. Ministers are also exploring Australia-style measures to limit or ban social media for under-16s, as part of a broader effort to regulate social media companies and protect children. Starmer emphasized that regulating social media companies will require a 'fight' to ensure they do not prioritize profits over children's well-being. 'Some of this will require a fight,' he said. 'If we're going to do more to protect children, we're going to have to fight some of the platforms that are putting the material up there because they're putting this addictive stuff up there for a reason.' The guidelines advise families to avoid fast-paced social media-style videos and toys or tools that use artificial intelligence for children aged two to five. They also recommend screen-free bedtimes and mealtimes, and encourage shared screen activities like video calling or looking through photos together. According to the government, about 98% of children watch screens daily by the age of two. Infants with high screen time are less likely to be read to or go on outdoor trips, which can impact language development. Experts have welcomed the guidelines, with Dr. Mike McKean, vice-president for policy at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, saying they will help parents protect 'short, but developmentally crucial early years.'

Fears of economic strain are mounting across Europe as the United States-Israel conflict with Iran approaches its one-month anniversary. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has described the situation as an economic 'catastrophe' for global economies, with impacts already becoming evident.Speaking during a meeting with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, Pistorius emphasized Germany's willingness to contribute to peace efforts. He stated that Germany is 'ready to secure any peace' and would discuss operations to secure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz if a ceasefire were implemented.The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has further exacerbated concerns by revising global growth projections. The international body cut its 2026 forecast for British economic growth by half a percentage point to just 0.7 percent, while downgrading the eurozone by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, the US received a 0.3 percentage point upgrade to its growth forecast.Addressing reporters in Canberra, Pistorius criticized the lack of consultation with Germany before the commencement of hostilities. 'Nobody asked us before. It's not our war, and therefore we don't want to get sucked into that war,' he stated, adding that there is no clear strategy, objective, or exit plan from the conflict.The economic repercussions are particularly severe in energy markets. Natural gas prices in the European Union have surged by more than 30 percent since the conflict began, with prices spiking following Israel's attack on Iran's critical South Pars gasfield and subsequent Iranian retaliation against Qatar's Ras Laffan facility.European leaders are increasingly vocal about the economic dangers. European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen has called for negotiations with Iran and an end to hostilities, while urging member states to accelerate preparations for meeting winter gas storage targets. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has described the situation as 'far worse' than the 2003 Iraq invasion, warning of broader and deeper potential impacts.The economic consequences extend beyond Europe, with the OECD noting that the global economy, previously on a path toward growth, has now veered from that trajectory. Planned fiscal tightening and higher energy prices are expected to keep growth subdued in the United Kingdom, though somewhat mitigated by lower policy rates anticipated for the following year.

The European Commission has initiated an investigation into Snapchat over concerns that the social messaging app is putting children at risk of grooming, sexual exploitation, and other criminal activities. This probe is part of the EU's efforts to enforce its Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to protect European society from a wide range of internet harms, including child safety provisions to combat cyberbullying, exposure to adult content, and illegal products.In a separate decision, the commission also accused four pornographic websites - Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos - of failing to prevent minors from accessing adult content, which could lead to mental health issues, negative gender attitudes, and increased tolerance of violent sexual behaviors.The investigations follow a landmark ruling in a Los Angeles court that found two social media companies, Meta and YouTube, had deliberately created addictive products that harmed a young user. The EU is now considering whether to follow Australia and ban social media for under-16s.Snapchat reports 94.7 million monthly users in the EU and is hugely popular among teenagers and young people. However, EU regulators believe the company is failing to ensure its age limit of 13 is respected, and users are not given adequate guidance on privacy and safety features.The commission's tech spokesperson, Thomas Regnier, described the situation as 'quite terrible' in EU member states, citing statistics on the prevalence of minors accessing pornographic websites. The companies may now examine the findings and mount a defense, before any final decision is taken. If the complaint is upheld, the four websites could be fined up to 6% of global annual turnover.

The creator of the AI actor Tilly Norwood, Eline van der Velden, has revealed that she received death threats following a global backlash against her project. Van der Velden developed Tilly Norwood to spark conversation about the role of AI in the entertainment industry.Van der Velden's AI creation, Tilly Norwood, gained significant attention last year when she announced that talent agents were interested in signing the AI actor. This led to widespread condemnation from prominent actors and acting unions, including Melissa Barrera, Mara Wilson, and Ralph Ineson, as well as Sag-Aftra and Equity.In an interview with the Guardian, Van der Velden expressed her surprise at the intensity of the backlash, stating, “The death threats and the hate … my goodness, loads,” she said. Despite the negative reaction, Van der Velden remains committed to her vision of integrating AI into the entertainment industry.Van der Velden founded Particle6 and its AI arm, Xicoia, and debuted Norwood in a short comedy sketch called AI Commissioner last autumn. Norwood has gained a significant following, with 141,000 followers on Instagram.Van der Velden believes that AI actors like Norwood could be beneficial for some performers, allowing them to maintain anonymity while still engaging in acting. She noted, “I think it’s great for some actors, it might actually be a blessing that they can have a digital twin,” emphasizing that fame can be burdensome.Van der Velden continues to advocate for the use of AI in entertainment, highlighting its potential to offer actors more creative freedom. She has now featured Norwood in a new music video, with lyrics written by an AI chatbot, and controls Norwood’s avatar using motion capture techniques.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to address addictive features in social media platforms, signaling a potential regulatory shift following a significant US court ruling that held Meta and YouTube accountable for harms caused by their technology designs.The prime minister emphasized that the recent California court verdict reflects rising public expectations for more aggressive regulation of social media platforms. "I'm absolutely clear that we need to go further," Starmer stated, adding that "the status quo isn't good enough" in terms of protecting children online.Starmer specifically mentioned that the government is consulting about banning social media for under-16s and expressed strong commitment to addressing addictive features within social media platforms. These remarks come amid growing international pressure on tech companies to address the potential harms of their products on young users.In the landmark US case, a California jury found Meta and YouTube negligent for failing to provide adequate warnings about the potential dangers of their platforms. The plaintiff, a 20-year-old woman who claimed she became addicted to social media during her childhood, was awarded $6 million (£4.5 million) in damages, with Meta responsible for 70% of the payment and YouTube covering the remainder.The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed the verdict as "a reckoning" for tech companies, stating in a joint statement: "For too long, families have paid the price for platforms built with total disregard for the children they reach." They emphasized that "today, the truth has been heard and precedent has been set" regarding children's safety versus corporate profits.Both Google, which owns YouTube, and Meta have indicated they will challenge the decision. Google claimed the case "misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site," while Meta stated it "respectfully disagrees with the verdict and is evaluating our legal options." The verdict came after nine days of deliberation in the first lawsuit concerning social media's alleged harm to young people to reach trial.The ruling has resonated beyond the courtroom, with European Commission digital chief Henna Virkkunen noting that such cases send "a very clear message" to online platforms about the risks they pose. Campaigners for safer social media have celebrated the decision as a potential watershed moment in regulating platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X.The Molly Rose Foundation, established after the death of 14-year-old Molly Russell who was exposed to harmful content on Instagram, called for legislation that would make "safety and wellbeing the price for tech firms to pay for doing business in the UK." Thomas Lancaster, a computing expert at Imperial College London, emphasized that policies must be effectively enforced to protect those they're designed to safeguard.Sacha Haworth, executive director of the Tech Oversight Project, declared that "the era of big tech invincibility is over," suggesting that the verdict validates concerns about tech platforms' impact on young people that have been raised for years.

The UK government has introduced a temporary ban on cryptocurrency donations to political parties, following a review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics. The ban, recommended by Philip Rycroft, a former senior civil servant, aims to allow regulators to catch up with the risks associated with crypto assets.Rycroft's review highlighted that crypto assets are used as a vehicle to channel in foreign money, posing a risk to the integrity of the political finance system. While a full ban is not deemed necessary, the moratorium will remain in place until parliament and the Electoral Commission are satisfied that new rules are effective.The Electoral Commission has warned parties that the same verification procedures for cash donations also apply to crypto donations, including checking the source of donations over £500 and reporting donations from a single source over £11,180. The commission has noted that cryptoassets present particular challenges and risks in meeting electoral law requirements.Concerns over crypto donations have been raised due to the potential for using 'mixers' to obscure the true source of a donation or AI tools to split donations, which could evade reporting thresholds. The joint committee on the national security strategy has called for a ban on crypto donations, citing the risk to the integrity of the political finance system.Only three parties have said they will accept crypto donations: Reform UK, the far-right Homeland Party, and the Other Party. Reform UK has received crypto donations, but they have not exceeded the £11,180 threshold. The party accepts crypto donations through a Polish payment platform called Radom, which claims to follow UK rules around verifying the identity of donors.

Tansy Davies's intriguing score for 'The Passion of Mary Magdalene' premiered with the Dunedin Consort, conducted by John Butt. This brand new Passion, co-commissioned with the Edinburgh international festival, explores the enigmatic figure of Mary Magdalene through a tautly written 90-minute work divided into seven episodes.The composition features eight singers, including four women and four men, with Mary Magdalene herself portrayed by Anna Dennis. The narrative weaves together texts from various sources, including the non-canonical Gospel of Mary and poetry by Ruth Fainlight. The music is characterized by intricate instrumental layers and a blend of traditional and modern elements, such as the use of an electric guitar.Davies's work is described as a meditation rather than a traditional Passion-setting, with a focus on the mystical and sensual aspects of the story. The performance is set to be featured at the Edinburgh international festival on August 8.

Football's world governing body FIFA is facing a lawsuit from supporter groups over allegedly 'excessive' ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup final. The Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and Euroconsumers have filed a formal complaint with the European Commission, accusing FIFA of abusing its monopoly position to impose high ticket prices and unfair purchasing conditions on European fans.The FSE claims that the cheapest openly available final tickets start at $4,185, more than seven times the cost of the cheapest 2022 World Cup final ticket. In contrast, the cheapest UEFA Euro 2024 final tickets were priced at 95 euros ($100). FIFA's own bid documents had projected an average ticket price of $1,408, which has not been met.The 2026 World Cup, hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, will feature 104 matches and 48 teams. While almost seven million tickets have been made available, prices have soared for in-demand games, with most tickets costing at least $200 for matches involving leading nations. Some tickets on FIFA's official resale site are being offered at astronomical prices, such as $143,750 for a category three seat at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.The FSE argues that FIFA's actions are unfair and unacceptable in a competitive market, highlighting the initial promise of tickets being available from as little as $21, but instead starting at $60 for some matches.

Australia and the European Union have sealed a landmark trade agreement, eliminating tariffs on almost all Australian critical mineral exports. This move is part of a broader strategy to mitigate concerns over China's dominant position in the global rare earths market. The deal, which took eight years to finalize, signifies a significant step towards strengthening economic ties between the EU and Australia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that the agreement would help reduce dependency on any single supplier for crucial minerals, highlighting the strategic importance of this partnership. The agreement will not only facilitate the export of critical minerals from Australia to the EU but also remove over 99 percent of tariffs on EU goods exports to Australia. This is expected to result in a substantial reduction of approximately 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) in annual duties for EU companies. Consequently, EU exports to Australia are projected to grow by up to 33 percent over the next decade. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted that the deal is worth approximately 10 billion Australian dollars ($7 billion) annually to the Australian economy. The agreement underscores the importance of diversifying supply chains and reducing reliance on China, which currently controls about 90 percent of the global processing for rare earths. These minerals are vital for producing technological equipment such as electric cars, lithium-ion batteries, and LED televisions. The trade relationship between the EU and Australia is substantial, with EU firms exporting 37 billion euros ($43 billion) worth of goods to Australia in 2025 and 28 billion euros ($33 billion) in services in 2023. The EU was Australia's third-largest two-way trading partner and second-largest source of foreign investment in 2024.