TikTok reaches $400 million settlement with US Justice Department over children's privacy
TikTok has reached a $400 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, ending a 2024 lawsuit alleging the company violated federal children’s privacy laws. The DOJ said Friday that TikTok will pay $300 million immediately and another $100 million after an order vacates an earlier consent decree against its predecessor company, Musical.ly. Since the DOJ’s lawsuit in 2024, TikTok has undergone major changes, most notably in the ownership structure of its U.S. arm. In January, the social video platform company signed agreements with major investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and the Emirati investment firm MGX to form the new TikTok U.S. joint venture.
Uber fined nearly $1 billion by Dutch regulators over automated suspensions of driver accounts
Dutch data protection authorities have fined Uber nearly $1 billion, saying the ride-hailing company used automated software to suspend driver accounts, sometimes permanently with no human review to check for mistakes. The Dutch data protection authority, called Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens, or AP, said Friday it is imposing a fine of 825 million euros ($964 million) because Uber violated the EU's General Data Protection Regulation. The EU's data privacy rules prohibit fully automated decision-making. The authority also said Uber failed inform drivers about its automatic decision-making. The violations took place from 2018 to 2022, the agency said. Uber has since stopped the violations.
Tesla recalls nearly 3M vehicles in China over door handle safety risks
HONG KONG (AP) — Tesla and other Chinese carmakers are recalling more than 4 million vehicles over safety concerns including risks tied to their door handles. Tesla’s recall is the biggest of all carmakers involved. It is recalling about 2.98 million vehicles, including Models 3, Y, X and S over door handle safety risks. This follows China's announcement in February to ban hidden door handles seen commonly on Tesla and other Chinese electric vehicles starting next year. China has stepped up scrutiny on door handles of EVs following EV accidents where hidden electronic door handles failed to function and trapped passengers in the country and elsewhere. Other Chinese carmakers involved in the recall include Xiaomi, Geely, Leapmotor and XPENG.
Schools are starting to teach AI literacy. For many, that means helping kids see chatbots' flaws
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — AI chatbots have become the bane of teachers everywhere. But a growing number of U.S. public schools are now encouraging a new strategy: Bringing AI into the classroom, partly so students can see its shortcomings. Over the summer, teachers in different parts of the U.S. traded time off to learn a new subject: AI Literacy. The term has become a buzzword of this back-to-school season. But there is no single, coherent definition of what AI literacy is, or how best to teach it. Experts say true AI literacy is about much more than learning how to use generative AI. It's also about learning when not to.
Meta defends its child safety efforts but critics say the social media giant falls short
CHICAGO (AP) — Meta is defending itself in a California federal court against allegations that its social media business poses harms to children and teenagers. Four states accuse Meta of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by deliberately designing features that get children addicted to scrolling. The company says it has implemented safety measures for young users and will add more. Instagram and Facebook have added features over the years to report inappropriate content and enhance privacy, but critics argue these safety measures are insufficient and ineffective.
As workplace surveillance grows, experts say it's good to know the ways your employer is watching
NEW YORK (AP) — Employers are increasingly using technology to monitor the whereabouts, productivity and communications of workers. Digital tools can track locations, collect data on how long it takes to perform a task, and access smartphone and laptop cameras. The trend is raising concerns about how much privacy employees have given up, especially with more people working from home. Some employers use these tools transparently, but others do not. In some states, laws require employers to notify workers if they’re being monitored. Experts recommend learning the types of data your organization collects and how it uses the information. They also advise not using work devices for personal matters to protect your privacy.
Former Meta engineer says Instagram took a 'don't ask, don't tell' approach on kids under 13
OAKLAND, California (AP) — A former engineering director at Meta who has testified before Congress about child safety on Instagram told jurors at a landmark trial that the company took a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach on kids under 13 on its platforms. During his second day of testimony Wednesday, Arturo Béjar said Meta consistently prioritized profits over safety in designing its products. The trial that began Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, California, pits Meta against the states of California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey and is expected to last about six weeks. The company has rejected the claims and said evidence at the trial will show its commitment to safety.
Alibaba quarterly profit drops 75% as AI investment spending grows
HONG KONG (AP) — China's Alibaba reports a 75% drop in profit for the latest quarter from the year before to roughly $1.6 billion as it invests heavily in AI infrastructure. Despite this, revenue from its AI cloud and compute services segment has grown by 45%, and overall revenue has increased 9%. Alibaba started out in e-commerce and online retail, and in recent years increasingly shifted to focusing on AI technologies. It says during the quarter, capital expenditures including AI investments have increased 75% as it races to meet customers demand. CEO Eddie Wu adds at an earnings conference that he believes Alibaba's AI-related revenue growth will accelerate in the coming quarters. Alibaba's U.S.-traded shares are down over 3% following the earnings announcement.
Trump keeps embracing data centers even as they become toxic in midterm races
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has voiced strong support for AI and data centers, emphasizing their economic benefits and importance in the global AI race. Candidates in competitive midterm elections, however, are far less accepting. Data centers have become a contentious issue, with concerns about energy costs and environmental impact. In Ohio, Republican Jon Husted faces attacks over his support for data centers. In Nevada, Democrat Aaron Ford accused Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo of aligning with Trump on the issue. The debate reflects broader tensions over technology and local impact.
A warehouse burns near Moscow. In Ukraine, drone crews prepare to strike again
Ukrainian drones have targeted a major logistics center outside Moscow, setting it ablaze. The fire was still burning the following day. The attack is part of Ukraine's strategy to strike deep inside Russia, hitting military and industrial sites. On Sunday, the Ukrainian 413th “Raid” Unmanned Systems Regiment launched drones from a sunflower field in southern Ukraine. The Associated Press observed the operation, which aims to pressure Russia into peace talks. Kyiv has increased drone and missile attacks this year, impacting Russian air defenses and morale. The regiment's commander, Yevhen Karas, believes these strikes highlight the war's cost to ordinary Russians.
