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Crispin Odey, the former hedge fund manager, has dropped his £79m libel claim against the Financial Times over its reporting of sexual misconduct allegations against him, his lawyers have said.In 2023, the FT published several articles from 20 women alleging sexual assault and harassment against Odey, covering a period of five decades. He has previously denied the allegations against him.On Friday, lawyers for the former hedge fund tycoon, 67, said he had been “forced to accept” that the newspaper was “likely to succeed in establishing” its public interest defence.Odey’s decision to drop his claim follows a three-week hearing in which he challenged a decision by the Financial Conduct Authority, the City regulator, to ban him from the financial services industry.The FT’s editor, Roula Khalaf, said: “This is a vindication for investigative journalism and for the victims whose stories of abuse we reported. The FT was always confident in its reporting. This is a case that should have never been brought.”In March 2025, Odey was provisionally banned from working in financial services and fined £1.8m by the UK regulator for a “lack of integrity”. The FCA said at the time that Odey had attempted to “frustrate” a disciplinary process into sexual harassment allegations against him, and his conduct proved he was “not a fit and proper person to perform any function”.

Four months after Australia introduced its under‑16 social‑media ban, Sydney teenager Noah Jones says his online experience has been largely unchanged – he has not been removed from any platform.Jones recounts a brief hiccup on Instagram that he quickly resolved, and notes a friend who temporarily lost access to Snapchat but managed to circumvent it. "That’s pretty much my whole experience of the ban," he says.Despite his personal continuity, Jones is now a plaintiff in a High Court challenge mounted by the Digital Freedom Project, which argues the ban infringes the implied constitutional right to political communication.The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman‑Grant, recently disclosed that more than 5 million accounts have been deactivated since the policy’s rollout, yet over two‑thirds of teenagers remain active on the ten targeted platforms – Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, X, Twitch, Kick, Threads and Reddit. Young users are reportedly bypassing facial‑age estimation tools, especially when they are within two years of turning 16.Further eSafety findings reveal that 66 % of parents say platforms did not request age verification, and when ages of 14 or 15 were detected, platforms often prompted users to undergo facial‑recognition checks and simply adjust the displayed age rather than enforce deactivation.Communications Minister Anika Wells has urged the commissioner to "throw the book at" non‑compliant services, noting that fines could reach up to $49.5 million per breach in federal court. However, any penalties are likely to be considered only after the High Court decides the law’s validity.Wells also pledged new legislation imposing a digital duty of care on platforms, obliging them to take reasonable steps to prevent harm. The bill is slated for parliamentary debate later this year.The Digital Freedom Project, led by NSW Libertarian MP John Ruddick, contends that banning under‑16s from holding accounts effectively silences their participation in political discourse, as logged‑out viewing does not permit meaningful engagement.Legal scholars are divided. Prof. Sarah Joseph of Griffith University warns that an ineffective law could breach the implied freedom of political communication, while Monash University’s Prof. Luke Beck argues that the law’s purpose is to compel platforms to enforce age restrictions, not to achieve 100 % compliance.Beck points out that most legislation is not perfectly effective – citing murder laws and age‑restricted media – and that courts typically assess whether a law is a proportionate means to a legitimate aim.The government acknowledges that the age limit imposes a burden on political communication but maintains the measure is justified to mitigate risks from algorithmic recommendation systems, endless feeds, and other features that can amplify harm.Jones will turn 16 in August, at which point the ban would no longer apply to him. His mother, Renee Jones, says she faced online backlash for opposing the ban, with some critics even suggesting her children be taken away."It’s my right to choose how I raise my children in a digital world," she asserts, emphasizing strict household rules: no devices in bedrooms, phones locked at night, and shared passwords for parental oversight.Jones acknowledges the downsides of social media – bullying and explicit content – but stresses that his generation relies on these platforms for news and forming opinions, more so than traditional media.Both Jones and his mother argue the legislation was rushed and is failing to address the core concerns about harmful content, leaving many teens, like Noah, to navigate the digital landscape largely unchanged despite the ban.

The US Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, recently convened a meeting with major American bank chiefs in Washington to address growing concerns over the cyber risks associated with Anthropic's latest AI model, Claude Mythos. This model has reportedly exposed thousands of vulnerabilities in software and popular applications.The meeting, which included Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve chair, and CEOs from prominent banks such as Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo, was called to discuss the potential risks posed by this advanced AI technology. Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan was invited but could not attend.Anthropic has restricted the release of Claude Mythos to a limited number of businesses, including Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft, due to concerns that hackers could exploit the model's capabilities to compromise data security. The company has noted that the model uncovered vulnerabilities up to 27 years old that had not been previously identified.This development comes as the US government has designated Anthropic as a supply chain risk, a designation the company is contesting in court. The meeting highlights the increasing concern among regulators and financial leaders about the potential for AI to both enhance and threaten cybersecurity.

Ian Cheshire, a seasoned City veteran and former CEO of Kingfisher, has been appointed as the new chair of Ofcom, the UK's media regulator. Cheshire, who previously served as the chair of Channel 4 until last year, will lead Ofcom through a critical period marked by rapid growth in online content and rising concerns over politically partisan broadcasting.Cheshire's appointment comes at a time when Ofcom is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Online Safety Act, legislation aimed at regulating social media in the UK. He will serve a four-year term, pending approval from a parliamentary hearing. The new chair has expressed his commitment to effective regulation, stating that he has 'seen first-hand how much effective regulation matters – for consumers, for businesses and for the wider economy.'The technology secretary, Liz Kendall, praised Cheshire's 'proven track record of leading complex organisations through periods of significant change,' highlighting his suitability for the role. Cheshire's extensive experience includes leadership positions at Landsec, Barclays, and Debenhams. He is expected to succeed Michael Grade, who will step down at the end of the month.As chair of Ofcom, Cheshire will be responsible for guiding the regulator's efforts to ensure online safety and maintain fair and impartial broadcasting standards. His appointment was chosen over other candidates, including Margaret Hodge and Jeremy Wright. The role of Ofcom chair comes with an annual salary of £120,000 for a commitment of three days a week.

Ian Cheshire steps into the helm of Ofcom with a comprehensive 2026‑27 plan that spans telecoms, broadband, postal services, broadcast media and the digital sphere. While the breadth of responsibilities is vast, the regulator’s work on the Online Safety Act (OSA) is set to dominate his tenure.The OSA, the UK’s flagship legislation governing social‑media, search and video platforms, has become a flashpoint between internet‑safety advocates and free‑speech proponents. Campaigners such as Ian Russell – father of Molly Russell, whose tragic suicide highlighted online harms – and filmmaker Beeban Kidron are urging a tougher regulatory stance.Last year, Russell publicly called for a change in Ofcom’s leadership, citing the watchdog’s failure to block an online suicide forum accessible to UK users. At the same time, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall wrote to Ofcom expressing “deep concern” over delays in rolling out key OSA provisions.Although updating the act is a parliamentary responsibility, Cheshire’s close ties to government could accelerate ministerial action. The OSA, passed in 2023, only began substantive implementation under chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes, with the introduction of rigorous age‑gating measures last year marking the first tangible impact on users.Beyond online safety, Ofcom must continue its core duties established in 2003: supervising public‑service broadcasting, ensuring impartial news, maintaining universal postal delivery six days a week, and monitoring broadband and mobile‑phone coverage across the UK. The government’s expectation is clear – the regulator must move faster on digital safety without neglecting these legacy functions.A looming test of the OSA’s strength is the investigation into the partial nudification of women and girls by Elon Musk’s AI tool Grok. The outcome will signal how effectively Ofcom can enforce the act against emerging AI‑driven harms.The 2026‑27 plan lists projects such as preventing illegal content from going viral, measuring harmful material encountered by children, and assessing the effectiveness of age‑gating. Additional measures targeting major platforms like Google and Instagram remain stalled due to ongoing court proceedings.Recent incidents – from misinformation spikes following the Southport killings to AI‑generated misogyny on X – underscore the urgency. While the legislation provides Cheshire with a framework, the patience of campaigners and policymakers is wearing thin.

The Mythos Preview: A New Frontier in AI‑Powered Cyber DefenseOn Tuesday, April 7, 2026, Anthropic announced a limited rollout of Mythos, its latest frontier model, to a curated cohort of partner organizations. Branded as part of Project Glasswing, the initiative aims to harness Mythos for "defensive security work" and to harden critical software against emerging threats.Numbers Behind the Launch: Scale, Scope, and Early Findings12 partner organizations (including Amazon, Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Linux Foundation, Microsoft, and Palo Alto Networks) will directly test the model.40 organizations in total will receive preview access.Mythos has already identified thousands of zero‑day vulnerabilities, many classified as critical and dating back one to two decades.Anthropic’s recent mishap exposed ~2,000 source‑code files and over 500,000 lines of code in its Claude Code 2.1.88 release.Strategic Implications: AI Meets Defensive CybersecurityThe deployment marks a significant pivot for AI labs: moving from general‑purpose assistants toward specialized, high‑stakes security tooling. By scanning both proprietary and open‑source codebases, Mythos could accelerate vulnerability remediation cycles that traditionally take months. The collaboration model—where partners share insights back to the broader tech ecosystem—promises a collective uplift in defensive capabilities.Regulatory and Market Outlook: Risks, Rewards, and the Road AheadAnthropic is already in "ongoing discussions" with U.S. federal officials, a dialogue complicated by an existing legal battle with the Pentagon over supply‑chain risk concerns. While the company emphasizes defensive use, the leaked internal memo warned that a weaponized version of Mythos could become a powerful tool for threat actors. This dual‑use tension is likely to attract heightened scrutiny from policymakers and may shape future AI‑security standards.Future Trajectory: From Limited Preview to Industry‑Wide AdoptionIf Mythos delivers on its early promise, Anthropic could expand access beyond the initial 40 organizations, positioning the model as a de‑facto security layer for software development pipelines. Success would also reinforce Anthropic’s claim of having the "most powerful" AI model to date, potentially spurring competitors to accelerate their own security‑focused AI research.

Anthropic revealed on Monday that it has signed an expanded compute agreement with Google and Broadcom to meet soaring demand for its Claude models. The partnership will bring additional TPU power and 3.5 GW of compute online by 2027, reinforcing the company’s $50 billion pledge to U.S. AI infrastructure. Anthropic Secures Expanded TPU and Compute Capacity from Google and Broadcom The new contract builds on the October 2025 deal that already granted Anthropic more than a gigawatt of Google Cloud TPU capacity. Under the latest terms, Anthropic will: Leverage additional Google Cloud TPUs for Claude model training and inference. Integrate Broadcom‑manufactured AI chips to deliver a total of 3.5 GW of compute. Deploy the majority of the hardware within the United States, aligning with its domestic‑focused strategy. The compute will become operational in 2027, though Anthropic did not disclose exact capacity figures beyond the gigawatt estimate. Scale of the New Compute Commitment: Gigawatts, Funding, and Revenue Growth Financial disclosures highlight the magnitude of the expansion: 3.5 GW of additional compute, as shown in Broadcom’s SEC filing. A cumulative $50 billion investment in U.S. compute infrastructure. Recent $30 billion Series G funding round, valuing Anthropic at $380 billion. Run‑rate revenue now at $30 billion, up from $9 billion at the end of 2025. Over 1,000 enterprise customers each spending more than $1 million annually. Strategic Implications for the U.S. AI Landscape and Enterprise Adoption The expanded compute footprint strengthens Anthropic’s position in a market where U.S. policy and supply‑chain concerns are increasingly influential. Key takeaways include: Reduced exposure to foreign hardware risk, addressing the Defense Department’s earlier labeling of Anthropic as a supply‑chain concern. Enhanced ability to serve large‑scale enterprise workloads, reinforcing Claude’s appeal to high‑spending corporate clients. Potential competitive pressure on rivals such as OpenAI and Microsoft, who are also racing to secure domestic compute capacity. Outlook: How Anthropic’s Compute Expansion Shapes Future AI Competition Analysts expect the new compute resources to enable Anthropic to: Accelerate model iteration, narrowing the performance gap with next‑generation rivals. Offer more customized solutions to enterprise customers, driving higher average contract values. Leverage its U.S.-centric infrastructure to win government contracts and avoid regulatory headwinds. If demand continues its current trajectory, Anthropic could see its revenue run‑rate exceed $50 billion by 2029, positioning it as a dominant player in the commercial AI space.

A controversy has erupted in Toronto's affluent Rosedale neighbourhood over a proposed AI-powered surveillance system aimed at curbing the area's high property crime rates. The plan, championed by resident Craig Campbell, involves installing cameras that scan licence plates to identify suspicious vehicles.The system, developed by US-based company Flock, uses AI to learn which cars belong to residents and which are potentially suspicious. The technology has sparked concerns about privacy, bias, and surveillance. While some residents see it as a necessary measure to enhance safety, others are worried about the implications of such a system.Rosedale has experienced a significant rise in home invasions, with robbers targeting the neighbourhood at a rate more than double the city average. Crime rates in Toronto as a whole have been declining, but residents are seeking solutions to address their concerns. Campbell, who runs a security company and holds the Canadian licensing rights for Flock, proposed the plan as a way to create a 'virtual gated community.'The system would involve an initial group of 100 residents paying a C$200 monthly subscription to access the technology. The cameras collect licence plate data, which is retained for 30 days, and police can only access the data with legal authorization. While the system does not use facial recognition, concerns about AI bias and profiling have been raised.Flock claims its network of over 90,000 cameras has helped reduce crime by up to 70% in some communities. However, the company has faced scrutiny in the US for its collaboration with law enforcement and allegations of mass surveillance. In Canada, privacy laws are stricter, and regulators are likely to view the network as a data collection system subject to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (Pipeda).The Toronto police have acknowledged residents' concerns about safety but have not commented on the legality of the proposed system. The city's privacy commissioner has emphasized the need for companies to inform individuals and obtain consent before collecting and using personal information.

Mexico is facing a severe 'toxic crisis' due to the importation of hazardous waste from the US, according to a UN expert. Marcos Orellana, the UN special rapporteur on toxics and human rights, conducted an 11-day investigative mission in Mexico and found lax environmental standards and a lack of oversight, leading to the accumulation of pollution over the years. Orellana warned that over 1,000 contaminated locations are officially recorded in Mexico's National Inventory of Contaminated Sites, many of which have become 'sacrifice zones' where diseases such as cancer and medical events like miscarriages are normalized. He cited factories spewing hazardous waste into the Atoyac River in Puebla, huge industrial pig farms contaminating drinking water on the Yucatan peninsula, and a decade-old mining chemical spill affecting health in communities around the Sonora River. The expert emphasized that US overconsumption and economic activity are using Mexico as a 'garbage sink'. He proposed that Mexico could adopt restrictions on the import of hazardous waste as a measure to address part of the crisis. Some countries have chosen to ban such imports to avoid becoming destinations for international waste. Residents in Monterrey, which suffers from some of the worst air pollution in North America, welcomed the rapporteur's calls for more attention to the health of Mexico's people. Local activists and childcare center directors highlighted the dire health effects on communities, including respiratory illnesses and other health issues. Mexico's government has acknowledged that regulatory standards are out of date and has announced plans to strengthen them. Officials are rolling out a new air monitoring system to detect emissions from specific facilities, starting in an industrial corridor of Monterrey.