Where things stand
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Italy's privacy regulator, the Garante, has fined Meta 805 million euros over a Facebook Android feature that accessed photos and videos on Italian users' phones without specific consent.1 The probe began in July 2025 after a complaint from a Bolzano consumer group.1 Meta must disable the gallery suggestion function by default within 60 days, according to Rai News.1 On 4 November 2026, Google, Meta and TikTok each filed a federal lawsuit to block California's AB 1709, which bars under-16s from features such as autoplay.2 Meta's Muse AI agent can now phone US businesses for paid subscribers, according to Engadget and TechCrunch reporting on 12 November 2026.3
- yesterday
Italy fines Meta 805 million euros over Facebook gallery access without consent
Italy's data protection authority says Meta reached photos and videos on Italian Android phones without specific consent, affecting about 20 million users. Meta has 60 days to request consent for the feature and keep it switched off by default.
- yesterday
Child sexual abuse material cases in Barcelona rise almost 60% in 2025
Barcelona's provincial prosecutors opened 132 child abuse material procedures in 2025, almost 60% more than the year before, and platform complaints now drive half or more of them.
- 2d ago
Meta's Muse AI agent can now place calls to US businesses for paying users
Paid Muse subscribers in the US can now have the agent phone businesses for reservations and appointments. The cute design of Meta's AI agent and its upcoming Muse Charm device is drawing warnings from child safety experts about risks to young users.
- 4d ago
United Airlines bars AI agents from booking its flights and accessing customer accounts
United Airlines says unauthorized AI assistants may no longer book or manage its flights, citing data exposure and FAA and DOT rules. The restriction was announced on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, and extends to bookings made through travel agencies and aggregators.
- 6d ago
Meta extends AI age estimation worldwide, moving millions more Instagram teens into protections
Meta is rolling out its AI age estimation globally, saying millions more teenagers on Instagram will be placed in Teen Account protections even when they entered an adult birthday. Similar technology is due on Threads toward the end of 2026.
- Nov 5
Google, Meta and TikTok sue to block California law limiting addictive features for under-16s
The three companies filed separate federal lawsuits on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, arguing that AB 1709 violates the First Amendment and federal liability protections for online platforms.
- Nov 5
YouTube tests Tamba, a standalone social app with private accounts and group chats
Code in the Android app of YouTube points to an unannounced standalone app with followers, follow requests and group chats. Google has not confirmed the project.
- Nov 4
AMD posts record third quarter on AI chip demand, forecasts $17 billion for Q4
Revenue rose 45% to $13.38 billion in the third quarter, with data center sales nearly doubling to $8.55 billion. AMD forecasts about $17 billion for the fourth quarter, and its shares rose 7.5% in after-hours trading.
- Nov 1
French lawmakers back a per-gigabyte tax on online content, not yet law
A budget amendment passed 11 to 10 with 14 abstentions on Friday, 30 October, and would charge content providers €0.055 per gigabyte, capped at 15% of French revenue or 2% of global revenue. The measure is not law yet.
- Oct 29
Amazon shares fall as negative free cash flow widens on $220bn AI spending plan
Amazon reported negative free cash flow of $42.4 billion over the 12 months to 30 September, and its shares dropped in after-hours trading. The company expects cash capital spending of $220 billion in 2026.
- Oct 28
Microsoft revenue rises 19% to $92.3 billion as Azure grows 48% and AI spending climbs
Azure revenue reached $33.2 billion in the quarter to September, ahead of analyst forecasts, while Microsoft capital spending rose to $45.2 billion and it offered buyouts to up to 60,000 staff.
- Oct 22
Tech sell-off and oil near $112 push European and US stocks lower
Shares fell in London, Paris, Frankfurt and New York on Thursday, 22 October, as doubts over AI spending hit technology stocks and Brent crude traded near $112 a barrel.
- Oct 21
Anthropic launches Claude Duet proactive AI agent in US research preview
Anthropic unveiled Claude Duet on Wednesday, 21 October, a personal agent that works across connected apps in the background. US subscribers can join a waitlist, and the product competes with OpenAI's dots and Meta's Muse.
- Oct 20
Brent tops $111 as Hormuz ship attacks and Houthi strikes lift oil to five-month high
Brent crude rose as high as $112 a barrel on Tuesday, 20 October, while European gas on the Amsterdam exchange passed 90 euros per megawatt-hour, its highest level since late 2022.
- Oct 16
Anthropic gives six METR evaluators employee-level access to its AI systems
The METR team will receive company laptops, office space and internal tools, and the company has waived its right to block METR's published assessments. The arrangement sits at the top of a three-tier system of outside reviewers that Anthropic is building.
- Oct 15
Apple and Nvidia each gave $25 million to Trump's ballroom, donor list obtained by Washington Post
The list shows $333 million in private donations, including at least $77 million from anonymous donors, and Trump's own name does not appear on it.
- Oct 15
Meta releases Muse Spark Open, an 816-billion-parameter open-weight model that runs on Mac Studios
Meta has published the weights for Muse Spark Open, a coding and agent model it calls the most capable U.S. open-weight model to date. The company kept its stronger Muse Wonder model closed, and Muse Spark Open is less capable than it.
- Oct 14
WhatsApp lets account holders invite non-users into voice and video calls
WhatsApp users can now send a call link to anyone, including people without an account, who join once the host approves them. The free feature has no time limit, and guests can join from a computer browser without installing the app.
- Oct 14
Swiss Federal Council adds protections for minors to social media law
The Federal Council will require very large platforms to assess and reduce risks to minors and ban profiled advertising aimed at them, with a draft message due to Parliament by end of June 2027.
- Oct 12
Meta launches Muse Wonder AI models to compete with OpenAI and Anthropic
Meta released Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full on Monday, 12 October 2026, which it calls its most capable AI models so far. The company says they match the performance of Anthropic and OpenAI models, and the fuller version is limited to Muse Code subscribers.
