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Technology News
Breaking news and analysis from the world of technology
The European Union has found that Meta’s features like auto-play and infinite scroll make Facebook and Instagram addictive, harming users including minors. The EU wants Meta to disable these features or face fines up to 6% of its global revenue under new digital laws.
Key Facts
The European Commission (EC) says Meta did not properly assess addiction risks from features on Facebook and Instagram.
Auto-play, infinite scroll, and personalized content push users to keep scrolling in a way that can harm their mental and physical health.
Meta disagrees with the EU’s findings and says it has taken steps to protect teens, such as Teen Accounts with parental controls and screen time limits.
The EC says these measures are not enough because they require parents to know how to use them well.
The EU wants Meta to turn off addictive features by default, add breaks from screen time, and change content recommendations to show less engaging content.
If Meta does not comply, it could be fined up to 6% of its annual global income.
The EU’s Digital Services Act allows the Commission to enforce rules to protect the public from addictive online designs.
Meta is also facing a US lawsuit from 29 states claiming its platforms harm kids, with a trial set for August and potential fines of up to $1.4 trillion.
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NASA released a draft document explaining what it wants from U.S. companies building private space stations in low-Earth orbit. The International Space Station is expected to retire by 2030, so NASA is working to support private companies to keep humans in space without gaps.
Key Facts
NASA plans the International Space Station to end operations around 2030, possibly extending two more years.
NASA wants private U.S. companies to build and operate new space stations to continue human presence in orbit.
A draft Request for Proposals (RFP) was recently released to clarify NASA’s expectations for these private stations.
NASA has funded several companies (Axiom Space, Vast Space, Voyager, Blue Origin, and possibly SpaceX) to develop concepts and plans.
NASA considered building a “core module” for the new stations to dock to but dropped that idea due to industry opposition.
Private companies feel relief that NASA won’t impose the core module but are concerned about lost time and financial challenges.
NASA’s safety rules and requirements will heavily influence the final station designs and funding plans.
NASA is one customer among many in a commercial marketplace for space stations.
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Qualcomm says that in the future, AI agents will decide whether AI tasks run on local devices or in the cloud, based on what works best. These agents will manage different AI models and decide where the work happens without the user needing to know, changing how computing systems are designed.
Key Facts
Qualcomm executive Durga Malladi says AI agents will control where AI tasks run—on devices or in the cloud.
AI agents can handle multiple models at once and organize computing tasks automatically.
Qualcomm calls this approach "hybrid AI" because it mixes device-based AI and cloud-based AI depending on the task.
Factors affecting the decision include task type, speed needed, data sensitivity, and cost.
Robots and driver-assistance systems need quick responses, so they run some AI locally.
Qualcomm announced plans to buy AI software company Modular to help AI run smoothly across different hardware.
The company is expanding from mobile devices into data center AI computing.
CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs will work together more in AI systems managed by these smart agents.
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UK regulators propose new rules requiring major online platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube to block scam advertisements and prevent fraudsters from creating accounts. These measures aim to protect users from online fraud and will be legally enforced under the Online Safety Act, with possible fines for non-compliance.
Key Facts
Big tech platforms in the UK must ban scam ads and stop scammers from making new accounts.
The rules target major platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, Google, and ChatGPT.
Platforms must reduce the risk of account hijacking and ensure financial ads have legal approval.
If platforms fail to follow the rules, they could be fined up to 10% of their global revenue.
The UK regulator Ofcom launched a consultation on these rules, which closes in October, with final decisions expected next year.
The proposals also include protecting journalistic content and giving users options to limit harmful material.
Consumer groups and experts warn that AI is making scams more advanced, increasing the need for quick action.
Wikipedia was not classified as a full category 1 platform but labeled as an emerging platform with fewer restrictions.
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The European Parliament has approved an extension of temporary rules allowing big tech companies to voluntarily scan private messages and emails for child sexual abuse content. While the extension excludes encrypted messages on apps like WhatsApp, privacy advocates warn this move risks mass surveillance and undermines user privacy. The measure still needs approval from the Council of the EU before it becomes permanent.
Key Facts
The law lets major tech firms like Meta, Google, and Microsoft scan private communications for child sexual abuse material.
The extension was approved through a technical parliamentary process despite more Members of European Parliament (MEPs) voting against it.
End-to-end encrypted apps such as WhatsApp and Signal are exempt from scanning under the extension.
The bill will return to the Council of the EU, which has three months to approve it for the extension to last until April 2028.
Critics argue the process lacked transparency and could lead to mass surveillance of private messages.
Supporters say the scanning helps protect children from abuse material online and prevents gaps in protection laws.
Privacy groups warn the law allows companies to read and analyze users’ private communications, threatening confidentiality.
The European People's Party pushed to approve the extension quickly to avoid loss of child protection while permanent laws are made.
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China successfully recovered a reusable rocket booster during the first flight of its Long March 10B rocket, becoming the second country after the U.S. to do so. The recovery used a new method involving a large net to catch the booster, aiming to lower launch costs and increase the frequency of space missions.
Key Facts
China recovered a Long March 10B rocket booster during its maiden flight.
This is the second time an orbital-class booster was recovered, previously done only by the U.S.
The booster was caught by a big net on a floating platform instead of landing legs used by U.S. rockets.
The net system lowers the risk of damage, allowing faster reuse of the booster.
China plans to reuse the booster from this flight before the end of the year.
The Long March 10B can carry at least 17 tons into low-Earth orbit.
This technology supports China’s plans for large satellite networks and future crewed lunar missions.
The recovery test used an experimental sea-based retrieval system off Hainan Island.
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Meta launched a new AI image tool called Muse Image that lets users create pictures using faces from public Instagram accounts. People whose images are used are not notified and must opt out if they do not want their likeness included. This policy has caused privacy concerns and calls for Meta to require permission before using anyone’s image.
Key Facts
Meta’s Muse Image model allows AI-generated pictures using faces from public Instagram profiles.
Users are not told when their image is used; they must opt out to prevent use.
Privacy groups like Public Citizen say this is a serious invasion of privacy.
Meta says the tool blocks harmful content, such as violent or sexual images.
Meta has not changed its policy despite criticism but is considering feedback.
Talent agency CAA wants Meta to require clear permission before using anyone’s name, image, or work.
Actor union SAG-AFTRA advises members to turn off sharing to protect their likeness.
The opt-out process is available and explained in a video by Axios.
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The European Union has warned Meta that Facebook and Instagram’s design features, like endless scrolling and autoplay videos, encourage addictive use, especially among children and teenagers. If Meta does not make changes, it could face fines up to 6% of its global annual revenue.
Key Facts
The EU’s European Commission found that features like infinite scroll and autoplay can lead to compulsive use.
The Commission is especially concerned about the mental and physical health effects on young users.
Meta did not sufficiently assess the risks or the time children spend on its platforms, especially at night.
Features such as Reels and Stories may contribute to excessive usage.
Meta’s current time-management and parental control tools are seen as ineffective by the EU.
Meta has introduced Teen Accounts with protections like night-time blocks and daily screen time limits.
The findings are preliminary; Meta can respond before any final decision.
The EU is increasing pressure on big tech companies to protect children online.
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Surgeons at UC San Diego have successfully used humanoid robots to perform gallbladder removal surgery on pigs. This milestone is an important step toward testing robotic surgery on humans.
Key Facts
The surgeries were done on pigs, not humans.
Humanoid robots were used, which means robots designed to look and move like humans.
The surgery involved removing gallbladders.
The procedures were performed at the University of California, San Diego.
These robot-assisted surgeries are part of developing safe robotic surgery for future human use.
This achievement marks a first in using humanoid robots for surgical operations.
The work is a step towards clinical trials involving humans.
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Several new rocket launches are planned soon, including China's Long March 10B and India's Skyroot Vikram-1. Rocket Factory Augsburg in Germany is preparing for a launch in Scotland after a previous test rocket failure. The last Pegasus XL rocket successfully launched a satellite to help save NASA’s Swift satellite.
Key Facts
China’s Long March 10B rocket will launch soon and aims to reuse its first stage by landing on a ship.
India’s private company Skyroot may launch its first rocket, Vikram-1, as early as Sunday.
German company Rocket Factory Augsburg plans to launch its RFA One rocket from Scotland on or after August 10.
Rocket Factory Augsburg’s previous rocket test ended in fire nearly two years ago.
The Pegasus XL rocket successfully launched the Link satellite to assist NASA’s aging Swift satellite by boosting its orbit.
The Pegasus rocket launch happened from an aircraft over the equatorial Pacific to reach a low-inclination orbit more efficiently.
US Space Force invited Impulse Space and Relativity Space to compete for military launch contracts.
Impulse Space is developing a propulsion stage called Helios, which helps quickly move satellites from low Earth orbit to geostationary orbit.
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The article explains how car performance tuning has changed over the years with the use of electronic control units (ECUs). It describes how companies like APR improve engine power by adjusting software settings inside the ECUs, which was once done by physically changing chips but now involves complex coding and security work.
Key Facts
ECU tuning boosts car engine power by adjusting software rather than mechanical parts.
APR is a company based in Alabama that specializes in ECU tuning for Audi and other cars.
Early tuning involved removing and reprogramming physical chips in the engine computer.
APR developed the Enhanced Modular Chipping System (EMCS), with multiple engine maps for different fuel types.
EMCS could switch engine settings using signals from the car’s cruise control, acting like a “cheat code.”
Modern cars have stronger security, making ECU tuning more difficult and requiring more advanced programming.
The article’s author once used an APR ECU chip to increase boost pressure and improve engine performance on an Audi S4.
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Shops in the UK will soon use facial recognition technology that can alert police immediately when serious offenders enter. Civil rights groups warn this technology raises privacy concerns and may wrongly target people who have not committed a crime.
Key Facts
Facewatch provides facial recognition for over 100 UK shops, including Sainsbury’s, B&M, and Spar.
The new feature will notify police within about four seconds if a serious offender is identified.
Civil liberties groups say this technology advances faster than laws and may lead to unfair treatment.
Some people have been wrongly identified and removed from shops, with higher error rates for Black and Asian individuals.
Biometrics watchdogs warn national oversight is not keeping up with the fast growth of facial recognition use.
Facewatch alerted retailers nearly 300,000 times about repeat offenders in the first half of 2026.
Shoplifting incidents in England and Wales numbered over 500,000 in the year ending December 2025.
Experts say less intrusive methods should be used to prevent shoplifting and that private sector use lacks clear legal rules.
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The European Union told Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, to stop using features that make the platforms addictive, like infinite scrolling and automatic video playing. If Meta does not make these changes, it could face large fines for breaking EU content rules.
Key Facts
The EU wants Meta to disable addictive features such as infinite scroll and autoplay by default.
The EU is concerned these features harm physical and mental health, especially for children and vulnerable adults.
Meta is asked to add screen time breaks and change recommendation systems to reduce user engagement pressure.
If Meta does not comply, it could be fined up to 6% of its global annual revenue.
The EU began investigating Meta in 2024 under the Digital Services Act, a law to regulate big tech companies.
Meta disagrees with the EU’s findings but says it will keep working with EU officials.
The EU says Meta’s current time management and parental controls are not strong enough or easy to use.
Other tech companies like TikTok have also faced similar warnings from the EU.
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The European Union (EU) has accused Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, of not addressing the mental and physical health risks caused by features like video autoplay and infinite scroll. The EU says these features encourage unhealthy and compulsive use, especially among children, and may break EU law under the Digital Services Act.
Key Facts
The EU claims Meta’s design features lead to addictive use of Facebook and Instagram.
Features like video autoplay and infinite scroll make users keep scrolling without thinking.
The EU is concerned about children using Instagram and Facebook at night and the impact on their health.
Meta is accused of allowing children under 13 to use its platforms, which breaks EU rules and Meta’s own policies.
The EU wants Meta to remove autoplay and infinite scroll as default settings and add screen breaks.
Meta could be fined up to 6% of its total yearly earnings if the charges are confirmed.
The EU’s Digital Services Act aims to protect users from internet harms like scams, false information, and harmful content.
This comes just before an EU expert panel’s report on social media use by children, with some countries considering bans for young users.
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The UK regulator Ofcom has proposed new rules requiring big tech platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to take stronger actions against scam advertisements. If these rules become law, companies that fail to comply could face large fines to protect users from fraudulent ads online.
Key Facts
Ofcom wants major platforms to stop scam ads and ban users who post or impersonate scams.
More than half of UK adults have seen potentially fraudulent ads online, with over a third seeing them frequently.
Non-compliant companies could be fined £18 million or 10% of their global turnover.
Platforms must remove scam ads quickly and reduce how long they remain visible.
Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Quora, Reddit, Roblox, Snapchat, TikTok, WhatsApp, X, and YouTube are on Ofcom’s list of services facing the toughest rules.
Ofcom is consulting on these proposals until 2 October before finalizing any new rules.
The Online Safety Act (OSA) governs these new responsibilities and categorizes platforms based on their size and impact.
Consumer groups welcome the move but want faster action due to increasing AI-generated scam risks.
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China successfully captured and recovered the first stage of its Long March-10B rocket using a net system on a platform at sea. This is the first time China has reused a rocket's first stage, following a practice already used by the American company SpaceX to reduce launch costs.
Key Facts
China recovered the first stage of a Long March-10B rocket after launch.
The recovery used a net-capture system on a seaborne platform near Hainan Island.
This is China's first successful recovery of a rocket's first stage.
SpaceX, a U.S. company, has been recovering and reusing rocket boosters for several years.
Reusing rocket stages helps lower the cost of sending things into space.
The Long March-10B can carry up to 16,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket can carry up to 22,800 kilograms into low Earth orbit.
Falcon 9 rockets are used to send astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station.
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Big tech companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta are releasing new reports about how much energy and water their AI data centers use. These companies vary in how much information they share, and there is no standard rule for reporting this data yet.
Key Facts
AI data centers use a lot of electricity and water, which affects the environment.
Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta control about two thirds of the top data center power capacity.
The United Nations has asked tech companies to fully disclose their AI data centers' use of carbon, water, and land.
Companies say they support transparency but report their environmental impacts differently.
Meta ranks highest in transparency, Amazon ranks lowest in overall disclosure.
No current law requires companies to share specific environmental details of AI.
Google focuses on local water risk, while Meta discloses water used in electricity generation.
Tech firms are investing in clean energy, with Google and Microsoft seen as leaders.
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The U.S. government and AI companies have been working together to set rules for powerful AI models, but the process has been complicated and unclear. The Trump administration changed earlier safety rules from the Biden era and imposed export controls and licensing on companies like Anthropic, while some experts say better planning and more technical knowledge in government could have made regulation smoother.
Key Facts
OpenAI and Anthropic received government approval to release powerful AI models under President Trump’s regulatory approach.
The Trump administration removed some Biden-era rules that required companies to report AI safety test results to the government.
Export controls and licensing requirements were applied to Anthropic due to safety and security concerns, especially related to “jailbreaking” (tricking AI to bypass safety limits).
Experts say there was no clear framework to decide how serious AI safety issues must be before government action.
The U.S. government has struggled to hire AI experts; less than 1% of AI PhDs work for the government.
Agencies involved in AI regulation, like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Center for AI Standards and Innovation, are underfunded.
Some states have started their own AI rules and training programs, but Congress has not passed comprehensive AI safety laws.
AI industry leaders, including OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman, have found the government negotiation process productive despite challenges.
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Scientists at UCLA discovered that creatine, a supplement often used for muscle building, may help the immune system fight cancer. Their study found that creatine supports special immune cells called dendritic cells, which activate cancer-fighting T cells.
Key Facts
Creatine is commonly used by people who exercise to build muscle.
Researchers studied mice and human cells to understand creatine’s effect on the immune system.
Dendritic cells use creatine to work properly inside tumors.
These cells act like “intelligence officers” that help the body recognize and attack cancer.
When dendritic cells could not absorb creatine, they were weaker and less able to activate T cells.
T cells are immune cells that can kill cancer cells once activated.
The study suggests that creatine might improve the body’s response to cancer immunotherapy.
More research, including clinical trials, is needed to confirm these results in humans.
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US Senator Ed Markey has introduced a set of bills called the "AI accountability agenda" to address the dangers of unregulated artificial intelligence (AI). His proposed laws focus on controlling the environmental impact of AI data centers, preventing workplace discrimination by AI, protecting children from harmful chatbots, and ensuring human oversight of AI decisions.
Key Facts
Senator Ed Markey plans new federal rules requiring AI data centers to get approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) before construction.
The FCC would check that data centers do not harm air and water quality, local wildlife, noise levels, energy costs, and jobs.
Markey aims to stop companies from mainly using AI systems to hire, fire, or promote workers.
There would be stronger rules to protect kids from emotional dependence on AI chatbots.
AI developers would need to do independent checks to find bias or discrimination before releasing AI tools that affect important decisions.
Federal agencies using AI must have offices focused on fighting bias and discrimination.
Health care facilities would be required to have options for humans to override AI decisions.
Workers would be protected if they disagree with AI recommendations in their jobs.
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