OpenAI banned Russian ChatGPT accounts tied to a covert influence campaign involving copied research, fake attribution and coordinated social posts.
The post OpenAI Bans Russian ChatGPT Accounts Used in Covert Influence Campaign appeared first on TechRepublic.
TikTok and ByteDance agree to pay up to $400 million to settle US allegations involving children’s data, parental consent and account deletion.
The post TikTok Agrees to $400M Settlement Over Children’s Privacy appeared first on TechRepublic.
Discover how LinkedIn successfully reduced AI slop views by 40% using a new user reporting tool. Learn about the platform's shift in generative AI policies.
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The post LinkedIn AI Slop Reduction: A Necessary Course Correction appeared first on Daily CyberSecurity.
France’s Constitutional Council blocked an under-15 social media ban, raising questions over free expression, age verification and online privacy.
The post France’s Top Court Blocks Under-15 Social Media Ban appeared first on TechRepublic.
A New Mexico court has ordered Meta to pay a total of $942 million after finding that Facebook and Instagram harmed young users and that the company misled consumers about the safety of its platforms.
Reportedly, the decision combines a $375 million civil-penalty verdict from March with a newly ordered $567 million abatement fund intended to address the damage. The court accepted the state’s argument that Meta had concealed what it knew about risks to children’s mental health and child sexual exploitation, while making misleading claims about the safety of its products.
Meta said it disagreed with the ruling and planned to appeal.
“We remain confident in our record of protecting teens online and will continue to defend ourselves against claims that misrepresent the facts.”
But the ruling is more than just a fine. It also imposes product-level obligations in New Mexico. Meta must continue improving its age-assurance tools, including:
The company must also create a channel through which schools or a child-safety organization can report suspected underage accounts and submit compliance updates twice a year.
This is a significant step. A company can remove individual accounts or posts after the fact, but the New Mexico case focuses on whether the surrounding product design, age checks, disclosure practices, and reporting systems adequately protect children in the first place.
From Meta’s side, this is hardly a one-off incident. The Wall Street Journal reports that Meta is fighting thousands of lawsuits by individuals, school districts, and more than 40 state attorneys general which are pending in state and federal courts.
In February, we published research on how safe kids are when using social media. As the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Meta plays a major role in this field. But unfortunately, it seems Meta isn’t even capable of blocking ads that contain AI generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
Some tips for parents:
The most effective and probably hardest of them all is to find a balance between relying on device and platform controls and helicopter parenting. Device and platform controls can limit screen time, sensitive content, and unknown contacts. And they work best alongside trust, shared rules, and periodic check-ins rather than covert surveillance.
Scammers don’t need to hack you. They just need you to click once.
Malwarebytes Identity Theft Protection catches suspicious activity before it becomes a problem.
The FBI has issued a Public Service Announcement (PSA) warning that criminals are breaking into social media and personal accounts to steal and distribute intimate images and videos without consent. The FBI refers to this type of content as non-consensual intimate images (NCII).
The stolen material may be posted or sold on criminal marketplaces alongside victims’ names, phone numbers, email addresses, and social media handles, creating opportunities for harassment, stalking, and sextortion.
According to the FBI, criminals use a mix of account takeover and social engineering tactics:
This is different from the familiar “I recorded you” sextortion email, which typically relies on intimidation rather than a real account compromise. Still, if such an email includes a password you still use, change it immediately wherever it remains in use.
There are several ways to reduce the risk of becoming a victim:
If you discover that intimate content has been stolen or shared, preserve any relevant links and evidence, secure the affected accounts, and report it through the FBI’s NCII reporting portal at ncii.ic3.gov.
Scammers don’t need to hack you. They just need you to click once.
Malwarebytes Identity Theft Protection catches suspicious activity before it becomes a problem.
Meta must pay $567 million and change Facebook and Instagram protections for minors under a New Mexico court order it plans to appeal.
The post Meta Ordered to Pay $567M and Overhaul Teen Safety on Facebook, Instagram appeared first on TechRepublic.
A New Mexico court has ordered Meta to pay a total of $942 million after finding that Facebook and Instagram harmed young users and that the company misled consumers about the safety of its platforms.
Reportedly, the decision combines a $375 million civil-penalty verdict from March with a newly ordered $567 million abatement fund intended to address the damage. The court accepted the state’s argument that Meta had concealed what it knew about risks to children’s mental health and child sexual exploitation, while making misleading claims about the safety of its products.
Meta said it disagreed with the ruling and planned to appeal.
“We remain confident in our record of protecting teens online and will continue to defend ourselves against claims that misrepresent the facts.”
But the ruling is more than just a fine. It also imposes product-level obligations in New Mexico. Meta must continue improving its age-assurance tools, including:
The company must also create a channel through which schools or a child-safety organization can report suspected underage accounts and submit compliance updates twice a year.
This is a significant step. A company can remove individual accounts or posts after the fact, but the New Mexico case focuses on whether the surrounding product design, age checks, disclosure practices, and reporting systems adequately protect children in the first place.
From Meta’s side, this is hardly a one-off incident. The Wall Street Journal reports that Meta is fighting thousands of lawsuits by individuals, school districts, and more than 40 state attorneys general which are pending in state and federal courts.
In February, we published research on how safe kids are when using social media. As the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Meta plays a major role in this field. But unfortunately, it seems Meta isn’t even capable of blocking ads that contain AI generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
Some tips for parents:
The most effective and probably hardest of them all is to find a balance between relying on device and platform controls and helicopter parenting. Device and platform controls can limit screen time, sensitive content, and unknown contacts. And they work best alongside trust, shared rules, and periodic check-ins rather than covert surveillance.
Scammers don’t need to hack you. They just need you to click once.
Malwarebytes Identity Theft Protection catches suspicious activity before it becomes a problem.
Several WhatsApp users say they were wrongly suspended after automated moderation errors, raising concerns about appeals, access, and false positives.
The post WhatsApp Users Say They’re Being Locked Out of Accounts by Mistake appeared first on TechRepublic.
Social media is more than a place to network or follow the latest headlines and trends. For CIOs, platforms like LinkedIn, X, and Bluesky offer direct access to technology executives, AI experts, economists, and business leaders who share ideas, challenge conventional thinking, and provide insights that can help shape tech strategy. Here, 11 IT leaders share the social media experts they follow, and explain why these voices are worth CIOs’ time.
I find Jensen Huang’s insights (X, LinkedIn) fascinating, and there’s much to be admired and learned from. He’s a bold thinker who fosters a culture of continuous learning, which is incredibly valuable in an ever-evolving tech and cyber business environment like Exos. My observations are that Huang is looking to better the lives of his employees, clients and community — and so am I. His content helps me to think differently and his leadership style has a lot of technical depth, which is especially relevant with the rise and momentum of AI. He’s been described as intensely curious, which aligns with Exos’ tagline, We are Curious. – Jose Martinez, CIO and managing director, Exos IT
Jason Crawford is an under-the-radar voice more CIOs should know. He is one of the most important thinkers on the philosophy and history of technology, and his work is about understanding why technological progress happens and how to sustain it. I follow him because his attention and capital directly drive where the industry moves next. – Yaron Hadad, CEO and CTO, Beehive Software
Kelsey Hightower (Bluesky, LinkedIn) is valuable because he explains cloud infrastructure and Kubernetes in a way that’s practical and grounded. What I appreciate about his work is he often brings the conversation back to simplicity, maintainability, and the people who have to operate these systems. For technology leaders, that matters because the hardest part of cloud adoption isn’t choosing tools but making sure teams can run them reliably over time. – Sai Joshitha Kathari, senior site reliability engineer, Visa
As an IT leader and advisor to CIOs, one of the voices I pay the closest attention to is Mustafa Suleyman (X) because he thinks beyond the technology itself. He consistently explores how AI changes institutions, labor markets, governance, and power structures. His work has influenced my own thinking about the growing concentration of AI capability and infrastructure in the hands of a relatively small number of organizations. For CIOs, that perspective is valuable because AI is no longer simply a technology investment, but a strategic, infrastructural, and organizational issue. – Matt Hasan, CEO, aiRESULTS, and founder, The AI Humanist Movement
Over the years, I’ve learned that technology leadership is about following people who help you connect innovation to business results, not the loudest voices. One person I consistently follow and recommend is Kevin Benedict (LinkedIn, X). He consistently delivers insights at the intersection of AI, digital transformation, customer experience, leadership, workforce evolution, and innovation. What distinguishes him is his ability to translate emerging technologies into practical business strategies. Rather than focusing on hype, Benedict focuses on execution, adoption, organizational impact, and measurable outcomes. His insights are practical, strategic, and immediately applicable, making him one of the most valuable voices for CIOs and technology executives navigating today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. – Paul Bailo, digital transformation executive, educator, author, and founder and CEO, Landit.ai
Ethan Mollick (LinkedIn) has the highest post frequency of the thought leadership I follow. From academic papers to showing model improvements by using his own “otter on a plane writing emails” benchmark, he covers a broad spectrum of AI topics. He frequently gets access to the latest models before they come out, and when they do, his posts give a glimpse of what’s new or different, grounded in longer experience with the products. – Andreas Welsch, founder and chief human agentic AI officer, Intelligence Briefing
I suggest Dado Van Peteghem (LinkedIn, TikTok) as a thought leader for CIOs to follow. He provides excellent perspectives on the future of work and offers a strategic guide on how CIOs should adapt to AI, digital ecosystems, and new business models. Van Peteghem helps leadership teams understand how digital transformation goes beyond technology upgrades. His focus is on aligning technology, culture, leadership, and business strategy so digital initiatives create measurable business value rather than becoming isolated IT projects. This aligns with what I advocate, hence my support for him and his idea of digital ecosystems. Van Peteghem spells out how AI changes workflows and how organizations should redesign operating models to decide what should be automated versus what should remain human-driven. – Max Vermeir, VP of AI strategy, ABBYY
David Forino (LinkedIn), led AI research at Volkswagen’s self-driving team and now often posts on LinkedIn about the data bottleneck in quant finance — how teams spend more time keeping data pipelines running than doing research. It’s the same problem most companies run into when they roll out AI, so his tips are always helpful from someone adjacent to them. – Charlie Simionescu-Marin, co-founder and CEO, Quanted
I have a unique perspective on Justina Nixon-Saintil (LinkedIn) because I’ve also benefited from her guidance and mentorship through Salynt. What stands out to me is her focus on responsible innovation, workforce transformation, and AI governance. She talks about the people and the organizational side of technology adoption, which is often overlooked. Her perspective has reinforced for me that successful AI adoption is as much about trust, culture, and change management as it is about the technology itself. – Natalia Crosdale, COO, Salynt and a former US State Department technology program leader.
Fundamentally, I get the most value from the big brains who focus on consequences rather than capabilities. They help inspire my own thinking about which assumptions about my business stop being true because transformative technology exists. One of the most important voices I follow is Niall Ferguson (LinkedIn, X). He’s a historian, not a technologist, which is precisely why he’s valuable. Technology changes quickly. Institutions, markets, and power structures change slowly. Understanding the gap between the two is where many of the biggest opportunities and risks emerge. – Bill Huber, partner, digital platforms and solutions, ISG
Good sources don’t make decisions for me, but they improve the quality of questions I ask before I make them. Erik Bernhardsson (LinkedIn) is at the intersection of AI, data infrastructure, and developer experience. Coming from Spotify and now building Modal, he brings a practical view of what modern AI infrastructure actually requires: fast iteration, flexible compute, and reducing infrastructure friction for teams. – Piotr Mynarski, technology director, eSky.com
Meta is removing Instagram videos that use Ray-Ban smart glasses to harass strangers, highlighting growing privacy concerns around AI-powered wearable cameras.
The post Meta Begins Removing Harassing Ray-Ban Smart Glasses Videos From Instagram appeared first on TechRepublic.
Meta is under renewed scrutiny after researchers found thousands of AI "nudify" ads on Facebook and Instagram, raising questions about the company's advertising enforcement.
The post Meta Faces Scrutiny After Report Finds Thousands of AI Nudify Ads on Facebook, Instagram appeared first on TechRepublic.
Meta is introducing a free Facebook badge that uses video selfies to verify human-run accounts, but questions remain about privacy and trust.
The post Meta Launches Free Facebook Verification Badge for Personal Accounts appeared first on TechRepublic.
France will ban social media for children under 15, requiring nationwide age checks and raising privacy and platform compliance concerns.
The post France Bans Social Media for Under-15s, Requires Age Checks appeared first on TechRepublic.
The European Commission is moving closer to introducing new measures on Child Safety Online after President Ursula von der Leyen received recommendations from a Special Panel examining the impact of social media on children. The report, released Monday, calls for stronger safeguards, greater platform accountability, and age-appropriate restrictions as the EU prepares to review the findings and present legislative proposals after the summer.
Speaking alongside the panel's co-chairs, von der Leyen said protecting children online has become one of the most pressing challenges facing governments. She stressed that parents, not algorithms, should shape children's development and warned that the current digital environment is exposing young users to growing risks.
Von der Leyen said the Special Panel examined both the opportunities and harms created by social media algorithms and their effects on children. According to the findings highlighted in her statement, young people across Europe now spend between four and six hours each day on screens, while nearly 60% of young children have experienced emotional or psychosocial problems online.
She said these challenges include loss of sleep, anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and unwanted online interactions, all occurring while children's brains are still developing.
"We believe that parents bring up our kids, and not predatory algorithms," von der Leyen said, adding that social media platforms should no longer have unrestricted access to children.
A key recommendation focuses on holding technology companies accountable for the safety of their services. Von der Leyen said platforms that build online systems should also be responsible for ensuring they do not harm users, particularly children.
She pointed to the Digital Services Act (DSA) as the EU's framework for requiring providers to remove harmful features, including addictive algorithms, dark patterns, harmful content, and unwanted contacts.
According to the Commission President, the EU has already taken action under the Digital Services Act against TikTok over its addictive design and recently against Meta. She said platforms have a duty of care toward users and must respond quickly when children report harmful experiences.
The report also strengthens the case for introducing social media age restrictions, with von der Leyen arguing that the debate is no longer about whether children use social media but when platforms should be allowed to reach them.
She said the European Union's age verification app is designed to help parents by providing an easy-to-use, privacy-preserving, and open-source tool to verify age before accessing online platforms.
Von der Leyen also suggested that Europe should consider establishing a "social media start date," comparing it to existing age limits for driving and purchasing alcohol.
According to the statement, children under the age of three should have no exposure to screens or digital platforms. Older children should only access social media under parental, caregiver, or teacher supervision and within limited time periods.
Von der Leyen said childhood is a critical stage of brain development and argued that children need opportunities to play, build real-world friendships, and develop their identities before algorithms begin shaping their online experiences.
She added that policymakers should first identify platforms with age-inappropriate and addictive features, describing the category as "social media plus," before considering phased access for different age groups.
The European Commission said the report comes after consultations with parents, educators, experts, young people, EU member states, and international partners, including Australia.
Von der Leyen confirmed that the Commission will now review the recommendations before presenting a formal proposal after the summer.
While no legislative measures have yet been announced, the report signals the EU's intent to strengthen Child Safety Online protections by expanding platform accountability, improving age verification, and evaluating new rules governing children's access to social media.
Meta scrapped a Muse Image feature days after launch following backlash over consent, privacy, and the use of public Instagram photos.
The post Meta Removes Muse Image Instagram Feature After Consent Backlash appeared first on TechRepublic.
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