Shein faces EU investigation over illegal products and addictive design features
LONDON (AP) — EU regulators are investigating Shein over illegal products and an allegedly addictive app design under the bloc’s Digital Services Act. On Tuesday, the European Commission opened a formal probe and said it wants stronger protections for users. The commission is focusing on safeguards against items illegal in the EU, including products linked to child sexual abuse material such as “child-like sex dolls.” French authorities flagged similar listings last year. They also found illegal weapons on the site. Regulators are also examining whether Shein has safeguards for features that reward engagement with points. And they're examining how Shein explains product recommendations. Shein says it cooperates and takes protections seriously.
Malaysia and Japan plan major cross-border carbon capture project, despite climate benefit doubts
BANGKOK (AP) — Japan wants to ship carbon emissions to Malaysia in a first-of-its-kind project in Southeast Asia for carbon capture and storage. Supporters of the widely debated process say it is key to curbing climate change. Critics label it as greenwashing and an expensive distraction from more proven climate actions, like transitioning to renewable energy. Malaysia wants to be Southeast Asia's hub for the technology, which is designed to capture, transport and store carbon emissions. Some governments and fossil fuel giants like Exxon Mobil and Shell say the strategy can buy time for countries and industries shifting to cleaner energy.
Warner Bros reopens takeover talks with Paramount after receiving a waiver from Netflix
NEW YORK (AP) — Warner Bros. Discovery is briefly reopening takeover talks with Skydance-owned Paramount to hear the company’s “best and final” offer, while the Hollywood giant continues to back the studio and streaming deal it struck with Netflix. In a Tuesday regulatory filing, Warner said that Netflix had granted it a waiver to open discussions with Paramount for seven days. Paramount now has until Feb. 23 to negotiate a possible transaction. But in the meantime, Warner’s board is still recommending shareholders support of its proposed merger with Netflix. A special meeting is now scheduled for Friday, March 20 to hold a vote on that deal.
EU privacy investigation targets Musk's Grok chatbot over sexualized deepfake images
LONDON (AP) — X faces a new EU privacy investigation after its Grok chatbot generated nonconsensual deepfake images on the platform. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission said on Tuesday that it has opened the case under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation. The regulator says Grok has created and shared sexualized images of real people, including children. Researchers say some examples appear to involve minors. X did not respond to a request for comment. X had added some limits to Grok, but European authorities weren't satisfied. X also faces other probes in Europe over illegal content and user safety. That includes Spain, which has has ordered prosecutors to investigate X, Meta and TikTok for alleged crimes related to AI-generated child sex abuse materials on their platforms.
A robotic dog made in China gets an Indian university kicked out of an AI summit
NEW DELHI (AP) — A private Indian university has been booted from a top artificial intelligence summit in New Delhi after one of its staffers displayed a a commercially available robotic dog made in China, claiming it was the university’s own innovation. Two government officials says Galgotias University was ordered on Wednesday to take down its stand at the summit a day after the university’s professor of communications told a state-run broadcaster that robotic dog Orion was developed by the university. Internet users, however, quickly identified the robot as the Unitree Go2, sold by China’s Unitree Robotics with a starting price tag of $1,600 and used widely in research and education.re not authorized to speak to the media.
Gabon suspends access to social media as critics accuse its leader of crackdown on dissent
LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AP) — Gabon has suspended access to social media and digital platforms throughout the central African nation until further notice as critics accuse the country’s leader of crackdown on dissent. The communications agency said in a statement late on Tuesday that it had observed on social media and digital platforms what it described as inappropriate, defamatory, hateful and insulting content that undermines human dignity, the country’s institutions and national security. Social media platforms — including Meta and TikTok — were severely impacted on Wednesday. The two, along with WhatsApp, the messaging service owned by Meta, are the most widely used by Gabonese citizens.
Indonesia tightens control on nickel as the US and China scramble for critical minerals
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Indonesia is tightening state control over its globally important nickel industry after years of betting that the metal would anchor a homegrown electric-vehicle industry. The move could ripple through the global EV supply chain as the United States and China's competition for critical minerals intensifies. But analysts warn that nationalization drive is speeding up just as the EV industry shifts away from over-reliance on nickel for its batteries. While the government brands its campaign as a crackdown on corruption, activists say they doubt nationalization will address any of the long-standing environmental issues related to Indonesia’s nickel industry.
Lindsey Vonn's skis didn't come off in her Olympic crash. A different binding system isn't close
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic crash has renewed pressure to rethink ski bindings, one of the oldest pieces of equipment in the sport. FIS and U.S. Ski and Snowboard leaders say a “smart binding” system is still in early development. Experts say a new algorithm could sense loss of control and trigger a faster release, like the air bag system now required in speed events. Developers warn the timing is tricky, and funding is unclear.
Hollywood groups condemn ByteDance's AI video generator, claiming copyright infringement
A new artificial intelligence video generator from Beijing-based ByteDance, the creator of TikTok, is drawing the ire of Hollywood organizations. They say Seedance 2.0 blatantly violates copyright and uses the likeness of actors and others without permission. Seedance 2.0, which is only available in China, lets users generate high-quality AI videos using simple text prompts. The tool quickly gained condemnation from the movie and TV industries. The Motion Picture Association said Seedance 2.0 has engaged in unauthorized use of U.S. copyrighted works on a massive scale. ByteDance said in a statement Sunday that it respects intellectual property rights.
People — and robots — are getting ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year in China
BEIJING (AP) — China is getting ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and the festivities will include robots. Ahead of the celebration next week, some venues in Beijing have been setting the stages — such as those for robot shows in some malls. In one mall in the western part of the Chinese capital, there will be a fair devoted to technology, and robots will be the central character. They will be dancing, stacking blocks on top of others to make a little tower, putting hawthorns on a stick, or playing soccer. China has been scaling up its efforts to develop better robots that can perform different activities, powered by artificial intelligence and with less human intervention.
