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Tech Policy

All articles tagged with #tech policy

technology1 hour ago•49 min saved

China Tightens Rules on AI Companions to Limit Emotional Dependence

China's new rules curb AI-powered companion bots from excessively catering to users or fostering emotional dependence, aiming to protect real interpersonal relationships; major providers Doubao, Qwen, and Yuanbao have suspended their custom AI agent and companion features ahead of the deadline, while users express heartbreak at the impending loss of their AI partners, highlighting the tension between affectionate AI and social well-being.

via Slashdot|

#ai-companions #ai-regulation #china

politics18 days ago•5 min saved

Meta seeks safe harbor in California child-safety penalties with default protections

Meta is urging California lawmakers to shield it from AB 2 penalties for child harm on its platforms, proposing amendments that would grant safe harbor if social networks implement a set of default safety settings (autoplay off, limited geolocation, restricted DMs, etc.) and parental controls, as lawsuits over youth safety continue.

via Politico|

#california #child-safety #lobbying

technology19 days ago•19 min saved

US to Vet OpenAI's New AI Model Access Under Expanded Oversight

The Trump administration is expanding its oversight of AI by requiring OpenAI and Anthropic to obtain government approval for each new customer of their most powerful AI models, effectively restricting access to government-approved companies and signaling increased federal control over AI technology.

via The Washington Post|

#artificial-intelligence #government-regulations #openai

technology-policy22 days ago•6 min saved

US Urges Meta to Open AI Models for Federal Safety Reviews

Federal officials are urging Meta to voluntarily submit its AI models for government safety reviews under a new oversight framework created after President Trump’s executive order; Meta has not yet agreed, while rivals including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, xAI and Microsoft have joined the Commerce Department’s Center for AI Standards and Innovation to evaluate models for cybersecurity and national-security risks, as questions about leadership and standards remain.

via The New York Times|

#ai #anthropic #meta

technology28 days ago•78 min saved

G7 debates global AI rules to curb tech dominance and boost sovereignty

At the G7, leaders and AI executives push to shape governance beyond who has the fastest models, calling for globally accepted testing standards and a forum for international cooperation. Europe and other nations fret over US dominance and dependence on non-European AI, urging tech sovereignty and tighter regulation so democracies can guide AI’s future for society, not just corporations.

via AP News|

#ai-governance #anthropic #europe

tech-policy29 days ago•18 min saved

DOJ moves to derail Musk’s xAI pollution case on national-security grounds

The Justice Department is seeking to quash a Mississippi lawsuit accusing Elon Musk’s xAI data-center plant of polluting without permits, arguing that its gas-fired turbines are vital to national security, including in the Iran conflict. The NAACP and environmental groups allege the facility violates the Clean Air Act, and the DOJ notes it previously defended Musk’s firm in a separate Colorado suit, arguing private citizens cannot sue when the executive branch objects.

via The Washington Post|

#elon-musk-entrepreneur #lawsuits #mississippi-united-states

technology29 days ago•8 min saved

Anthropic Export Controls Spark AI-Talent Policy Clash Across OpenAI and Beyond

The Commerce Department warned Anthropic it would need a license to share its latest AI models with foreign personnel, signaling a government crackdown on foreign AI talent. OpenAI and others say access to world-class talent is essential for U.S. AI leadership, and the situation remains rapidly evolving and potentially broad in impact.

via The Information|

#ai-talent #anthropic #export-controls

tech-policy29 days ago•16 min saved

DOJ Joins Musk’s xAI in NAACP Case, Framing Grok as National-Security Asset

The DOJ and Mississippi moved to intervene in the NAACP’s lawsuit against Elon Musk’s xAI, asking to join as a plaintiff and then have the suit dismissed, arguing Grok is a national-security asset and the gas-turbine-powered data center is essential to AI and Pentagon operations; the NAACP alleges unpermitted turbines near Memphis violate the Clean Air Act and seeks injunctions, while xAI has expanded turbine counts and SpaceX filings indicate continued turbine purchases.

via Gizmodo|

#clean-air-act #doj #grok

tech-policy1 month ago•16 min saved

UK Calls Palantir Exit Over Data-Risk Worries

Britain’s Parliament warns Palantir’s expanding role in public services—most notably the NHS Federated Data Platform—risks eroding digital independence and calls for an exit from the contract by early 2027, suggesting a move to in-house or UK-owned vendors amid concerns about data access and leadership rhetoric.

via Gizmodo|

#data-privacy #nhs #palantir

technology1 month ago•3 min saved

Trump’s AI executive order stalls amid internal pushback and anti-regulation mood

A planned AI and cybersecurity executive order was postponed after a top adviser and several tech leaders pushed back against regulation, with Trump noting he dislikes regulation. The delay fuels uncertainty about future AI rules and signals ongoing internal disagreements within government and industry over how to approach AI safety and oversight.

via Axios|

#ai #executive-order #regulation

technology1 month ago•13 min saved

AI manipulation exposed: chatbots spread lies as Google tightens defenses

BBC’s investigation shows simple online posts can manipulate AI chatbots (including ChatGPT and Google’s AI overviews) to spread biased or false information on topics like health and finances. Google and other firms are updating anti-spam rules and refining how sources are cited, with signs of caveats and downranking for manipulated content. Experts warn these measures are a game of whack-a-mole, and AI tools may still present a single confident answer, so users should verify AI outputs with multiple sources.

via BBC|

#artificial-intelligence #google #misinformation

law2 months ago•6 min saved

New Mexico case could force Meta to overhaul kid-safety tools

New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez won $375 million against Meta, and a three-week public nuisance trial will decide what remedies Meta must implement on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Proposed measures include age verification, prohibiting end-to-end encryption for users under 18, capping teen use at 90 hours per month, limiting engagement features like infinite scroll and autoplay, and aiming for 99% CSAM detection. The court’s ruling could influence tech regulation and settlements beyond New Mexico, though Meta argues the mandates would threaten privacy and parental rights.

via The Verge|

#child-safety #law #privacy

technology2 months ago•15 min saved

Big Tech Halts California Bill Aiming to Curb Platform Power

Apple and Google helped kill a California bill that would have forced big platforms to stop privileging their own products. Backed by startups like Y Combinator, the measure collapsed after a major lobbying push by big tech and business groups, including the Chamber of Progress and California Chamber of Commerce. Opponents argued the bill could worsen search results, slow services, and weaken device security, while supporters say it would level the playing field. A revised version could reappear in the future, as concerns over tech power persist and Europe’s rules provide a precedent.

via TipRanks|

#apple #california #google

technology5 months ago•97 min saved

Trial probes if Meta and Google engineered addiction to boost ads

A landmark U.S. trial alleges Meta and Google deliberately engineered addictive features in their platforms to maximize engagement and ad revenue, citing internal memos and tactics like rapid hooks and constant scrolling. The proceedings explore accountability, the ethics of targeted engagement, and possible regulatory responses, including concerns about effects on minors and the broader online ecosystem.

via Hacker News|

#advertising #lawsuit #regulation

tech-policy5 months ago•17 min saved

Censorship showdown: NewsGuard sues FTC over ratings control

NewsGuard, a firm that rates the reliability of online news outlets, has sued President Trump’s Federal Trade Commission, alleging the agency tried to drive it out of business by barring a major ad agency from using NewsGuard’s ratings in retaliation for disagreements with its assessments. The company frames the move as censorship and argues it violates First and Fourth Amendment rights, illustrating a clash between a government regulator and a private ratings provider over online news credibility.

via The Washington Post|

#censorship #federal-trade-commission #lawsuits