Google cofounder Sergey Brin led a $35 million donation spree in January, funding affordable housing ballot measures. The move comes ahead of a vote on a one-time 5% wealth tax on California billionaires, which would be retroactive to January 1, 2024.
A major cybersecurity study found hundreds of open-source AI models running without safety guardrails, directly enabling criminal activity. Researchers warn the industry is ignoring this massive, unregulated “surplus capacity.”
Consumer trust is fragile, and new research confirms that data breaches directly impact where people shop. With high-profile attacks continuing, transparency and proactive security are no longer optional for retailers.
Ireland is launching a major push to turn its academic tech research into commercial products. The new ARC Hub for ICT, backed by €32.2 million in government and EU funding, will target 150 projects across five strategic sectors.
TikTok’s American joint venture has updated its privacy policy to allow the collection of precise GPS location data. The feature, which powers a “Nearby Feed,” will be optional and off by default.
A group of 46 House Democrats is urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the proposed $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts. They cite concerns over industry instability, potential layoffs, and increased market power.
This week’s security roundup is a doozy. The government admits to possibly misusing Social Security data, Microsoft hands encryption keys to the FBI, and a massive database of 149 million logins was found sitting in the open. It’s a bad week to have secrets.
Police in Jammu and Kashmir are stopping people to search their phones for VPN apps, having already penalized about 800 users. The two-month ban, enacted on December 29, is being challenged by digital rights advocates who say it’s an overreach of emergency powers.
OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Health, a separate, protected space within its chatbot for health questions. It allows users to connect medical records and wellness apps for personalized insights, with strong privacy promises. The feature is rolling out gradually via a waitlist.
Roblox is now forcing all users who want to chat to undergo an AI-powered facial age estimation scan. The platform, with 151 million daily users, is betting this tech will become a “gold standard” for safety amid a storm of lawsuits and skepticism.
