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.
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.
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.
Load More
