META ALGORITHMS
Tech billionaires in Democrats’ crosshairs: Who could face congressional probes? Here’s the hit list
Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and other tech leaders could face congressional investigations as Democrats prepare to take control of Congress in 2027. Their scrutiny could focus on ties to Donald Trump, political influence, AI development, data center expansion and the industry's impact on American jobs and communities.
EU charges TikTok over harmful algorithmic 'rabbit hole' effects
EU tech regulators charged social media platform TikTok on Friday with breaching the bloc's online content rules due to the so-called "rabbit hole" effect of its recommender system, which attracts users' attention to a constant stream of
When my AI bargains with your AI: The next great bazaar may be where our agents haggle for milliseconds
AI agents are evolving from simple task execution to negotiating on behalf of users in commerce. These agents can analyze data efficiently, enabling faster negotiations and potentially better deals. Businesses are already preparing for AI-to-AI negotiations, which may reshape the landscape of commerce. While this could benefit consumers, it may also create disparities based on the sophistication of agents.
France moves to make rioters pay through family welfare benefit
France's Senate has approved a law to hold families accountable for damages caused by riots and unrest. This legislation allows authorities to recover compensation from family benefits like housing aid and allowances. Critics argue that the bill may disproportionately affect vulnerable families and discourage peaceful protests. Similar accountability measures are being considered in other European countries amid concerns over riots.
Who is André Janones? The 'General' behind ‘Lula’s Army’, 10.8 million-follower WhatsApp channel that helped Brazil’s left mobilise voters after the president’s first-round setback
A WhatsApp channel called ‘Lula’s Army’ gained 10.8 million followers during Brazil’s presidential election campaign, with Congressman André Janones directing supporters to share videos, promote hashtags and recruit voters. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva later called Janones “our General” after defeating Flávio Bolsonaro in a closely contested runoff.
Meta sued in Australia class action over alleged social media harm to children
A class action lawsuit has been filed in an Australia court against Meta Platforms' Facebook and Instagram, alleging the social media platforms exposed children to harmful content and kept them addictive through algorithms.
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School assembly news headlines for October 20: Top national, international, sports and business updates
October 20 (Google Trends): School assembly news headlines for October 20, 2026, cover major national, international, sports and business developments. Key updates include the Delhi voter-list revision audit, arrests in the Tiger Shroff firing case, political unrest in France, India’s Asian Para Games achievements, changes in anti-cancer medicine prices, and developments in the banking and stock markets.
Meta tells Brazil's electoral court it treats Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro equally ahead of Sunday vote
Meta has taken steps to comply with a court order for equal treatment of presidential candidates in Brazil. The electoral court directed the company to ensure balanced platform coverage before the upcoming runoff election. This follows allegations from President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's campaign regarding biased algorithms favoring his opponent, Flavio Bolsonaro. Meta has implemented measures to uphold electoral advertisement regulations amidst growing tensions.
Govt asks Meta to ensure its recommendation systems do not expose users to a limited set of narratives
The advisory by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), dated October 10, asked Meta to undertake appropriate measures to provide adequate context in relation to photographs, videos, graphics, or other content depicting ongoing public events, particularly where the authenticity, date, location or circumstances of such content may not be readily apparent to users.
Meta employees confirm in internal communications of alleged bias against Lula in Brazilian elections, reports newspaper
Meta's employees confirmed in an internal communication that the company had restricited Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s accounts during the Brazilian elections. The development followed Brazil's top electoral court ruling that the tech company must ensure equal treatment of the presidential candidates ahead of the October 25 runoff elections. The ruling had come after Lula filed a complaint accusing Meta of restrictions in favour of opposition candidate Flavio Bolsonaro.
Google’s new Gemini 4 Argon targets complex coding, finance and legal work
Google has introduced Gemini 4 Argon, a new AI model aimed at improving complex reasoning and enterprise functionalities. This model is capable of processing up to 1 million tokens for greater computational tasks. Google is initially testing Argon with trusted cybersecurity defenders, working on significant projects for code migration.
‘Daily time limits, filter controls, and account privacy’: TikTok agrees to ‘platform-level changes’ for teens, settles lawsuit with Alabama for $100 million days before trial
TikTok has agreed to pay Alabama $100 million following claims about its harmful impact on youth mental health. The settlement involves implementing safety features for teens to reduce negative effects from the platform. These features will include limiting daily usage and banning cosmetic filters for young users. Additionally, Alabama may receive further funds if other states reach similar arrangements.
First US trial against TikTok to test claims platform fueled teen mental health crisis
An Alabama jury will hear the state's claims that TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance made the platform addictive to young users and misled consumers about its safety, in the first case against the company to reach trial in the sweeping litigation
German court rules Meta liable for fake ads on Instagram, Facebook
A German court has ruled that Meta is liable for fake advertisements posted by third parties on its Instagram and Facebook platforms, and ordered the U.S. tech giant to remove such
King Charles to call on tech giants for 'reassurances' over AI
King Charles III will urge tech giants to ensure that artificial intelligence is geared to serve humanity and that mankind does "not lose control", during a conference in Scotland on Thursday. "Those in our world who value our humanity and its vital moral component are anxiously seeking your reassurance that we will not lose control of our destiny," Charles will say at the opening of the conference, according to a statement from the palace.
Meet Sophie Zeng, the 17-year-old California student who built an app to identify invasive plants after learning they can become overlooked wildfire fuel
Project ARISE expanded its work by organizing invasive-plant removal drives, habitat restoration efforts and environmental workshops in collaboration with park rangers and conservation groups. The organization also introduced projects to support native pollinators, including the distribution of mason bee houses.
Meta not a simple intermediary but service provider when algorithms decide visibility: Govt source
"Service providers have many responsibilities. Meta must take on more onus after agreeing to be responsible for content on its platform," the agency cited sources as saying.
California governor signs law to limit children's social media risks
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed more than a dozen new laws on Thursday that address various aspects of children's safety online, including one that prohibits social media companies from serving addictive features to users under 16 years old. Instead, it defines "addictive" features as ones that are "psychologically exploitative" and prohibits social media companies from providing children with features such as infinite scroll, algorithmic recommendations and autoplay.
California bans addictive social media features for under-16s, AI chatbot toys
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed technology laws protecting children online. These measures restrict social media features designed for compulsive use. A four-year ban on AI companion chatbots in toys was also enacted. The legislation strengthens online privacy and parental controls for minors. These laws aim to ensure technology supports children's well-being.
EU's von der Leyen to proposal on children protection from social media September 16
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, is set to unveil an initiative focused on safeguarding children from the harms of social media algorithms. Emphasizing the unacceptability of childhoods dictated by such algorithms, she asserts Europe's potential to enact vital protective measures. This upcoming proposal aligns with previous demands for enhanced online safety for minors.
NCPCR summons Meta India chief over alleged child sexual abuse material ads
In response to alarming discoveries from a BBC investigation, the National Commission for Child Rights has called upon the leader of Meta India. This summons is part of a broader inquiry into potential child sexual abuse material being advertised on the platform. The government had already issued a warning to Meta, and scrutiny escalated as issues with their algorithms were exposed.
Australia threatens hefty fines if big tech fails 'duty of care'
Social media giants face US$78 million fines if they fail to protect young users from harmful content, Australia's prime minister said Tuesday as he unveiled draft laws reining in big tech. Communications Minister Anika Wells said big tech was facing a "reckoning".
Government to ask Meta if US child safety defaults will extend to India as well
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has been having regular meetings with Meta on technical measures since last month when Meta’s global executives were summoned to India over a host of issues, including the spread of child abuse content online.
NHRC seeks reports from MeitY, MIB, Delhi Police over Instagram CSAM ads
The commission took cognizance of the issue under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, after considering media reports published by the BBC. According to the NHRC notice, a copy of which ET has seen, the advertisements allegedly used phrases such as “rape video” and “child video” and redirected users to Telegram channels where such material was allegedly offered for sale.
ETtech Explainer | Meta’s $17.1 billion toll shifts focus from content to product design
Meta is now dealing with a substantial settlement in the United States in response to mounting child safety issues. This agreement is the result of claims regarding addictive design elements and the mental health implications for younger users. Countries around the world are tightening regulations on social media for minors, with India also contemplating age restrictions and scrutinising platform design.
29 states in US want Meta to change how Facebook and Instagram operate and give $1.4 trillion penalty; the case now threatens Mark Zuckerberg's AI plan
A groundbreaking federal trial has begun against Meta Platforms, with 29 US states alleging that the company intentionally designed its social media applications to foster compulsive usage among youth. The outcome of this case may influence Meta's approach to artificial intelligence and data utilization. The trial examines accusations that Meta crafted features specifically aimed at extending the engagement of young users.
MeitY asks Meta to revamp algorithms, curb deepfakes and illegal content on platforms: Government sources
India's MeitY has urged Meta to revise its algorithms and provide a compliance roadmap. The government seeks stronger detection and removal of harmful and manipulated content. Meta's technical team met with MeitY officials to discuss existing content moderation systems. The company acknowledged system gaps and outlined potential technical measures for synthetic content. Discussions continue as India tightens regulations on synthetically generated information.
Are social media algorithms really polarising society? research offers new insights
Algorithms used by social media companies may not be as polarising to society as previously thought, according to a study published in Nature. Researchers found exposure to content from "like-minded" sources did not change users' political beliefs or attitudes during the 2020 US presidential election.
Social media not polarising society in ways public tends to think: report
Algorithms controlling a social media user's feed, while largely opaque, may not be polarising the society in the same ways as the public tends to think, social scientists say.
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