AI Chatbot Receives $50,000 Bitcoin Donation from Tech Investor, Sparks Crypto Phenomenon
Truth Terminal, an AI chatbot running on Meta's Llama model, gained prominence after receiving a substantial Bitcoin donation from Marc Andreessen. The experimental AI has inspired the creation of memecoins worth over $1 billion, raising questions about AI's influence on digital finance and online communities.
Gaming VPN Scam Turns Children's Computers into Proxy Servers
Young players of VR game Gorilla Tag are unknowingly exposing their home networks to strangers by using Big Mama VPN to gain competitive advantages. Security experts warn this residential proxy service puts users at risk of legal liability and network breaches.
The Illusion of AI Opt-Out: Why Escaping Artificial Intelligence Is Nearly Impossible
As AI becomes deeply embedded in digital services, users face increasing difficulty in avoiding its presence, despite growing public skepticism. From Google Search to social media platforms, companies are rapidly implementing AI features with limited opt-out options, leaving consumers with complex privacy challenges.
Russia Leads Global Disinformation Operations, Meta Report Reveals
Meta's latest Adversarial Threat Report identifies Russia as the primary source of covert influence campaigns since 2017, with 39 operations, followed by Iran and China. The report details the dismantling of approximately 20 new deceptive networks this year, highlighting the ongoing challenge of combating state-sponsored disinformation.
Meta Mandates Financial Advertiser Verification in Australia to Combat Celebrity Scams
Meta introduces strict verification requirements for financial advertisers targeting Australian users, aiming to prevent celebrity investment scams that have cost victims millions. Starting February, advertisers must verify identities, provide licenses, and include disclaimers in a six-week implementation process.
Instagram's Failed Self-Harm Content Moderation Puts Teen Safety at Risk
A Danish study reveals Instagram's inability to detect and remove self-harm content, with none of 85 test images being taken down despite Meta's claims of 99% removal rates. The platform's algorithm actively connects users engaging with harmful content, raising serious concerns about teen safety and EU compliance.
Bluesky's Open API Sparks Data Privacy Concerns Amid AI Training Debate
As major platforms like Spotify restrict API access to prevent data scraping, Bluesky maintains an open approach that enables unrestricted collection of user data for AI training. This policy highlights growing tensions between innovation and privacy as social media platforms take diverging stances on data access.
Far-Right Groups Exploit AI to Spread Disinformation Ahead of European Elections
Far-right parties across Europe are increasingly using AI-generated content to promote anti-immigration narratives and conspiracy theories without proper disclosure. Meta's oversight board is investigating this growing trend as experts warn about the challenges of managing AI-created political content on social media platforms.
Meta Cracks Down on 'Pig Butchering' Crypto Scams, Removes 2M+ Fraudulent Accounts
Meta has taken decisive action against sophisticated cryptocurrency investment scams by removing over 2 million deceptive accounts across its platforms. The company's enhanced security measures target 'pig butchering' schemes originating from Southeast Asia that build trust before defrauding victims.
Supreme Court Greenlights Meta Investor Lawsuit Over Cambridge Analytica Scandal
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to block a major class action lawsuit against Meta regarding the Cambridge Analytica data privacy breach affecting 87 million users. Investors claim Meta's inadequate disclosure of privacy risks led to significant stock price drops in 2018.