Creating realistic deepfakes is getting easier than ever. Fighting back may take even more AI
WASHINGTON (AP) — The use of deepfakes to impersonate high-level officials in the U.S. presents a growing security challenge. Deepfakes also disrupt corporate boardrooms and family living rooms. Advances in artificial intelligence mean it’s easier and cheaper than ever before to create lifelike audio and video. These deepfakes can be used for gaining access to sensitive systems, for committing corporate espionage and for stealing national security secrets. But the size and scope of the problem are also prompting research into the best ways to counter it. Tech companies say new programs will help governments, businesses and everyday people detect deepfakes and ensure the people they see on the screen are who they say they are.
Temu accused by EU regulators of failing to prevent sale of illegal products
LONDON (AP) — Chinese online retailer is being accused by European Union regulators of breaching the bloc’s digital rules by failing to stop the sale of illegal products. The preliminary findings released Monday follow an investigation under the bloc’s Digital Services Act, which requires online platforms to keep users safe. The European Commission said a “mystery shopping exercise” found non-compliant products on Temu, including baby toys and small electronics. Temu stated it will cooperate with the Commission. The company has the chance to respond before a final decision. Violations could lead to fines up to 6% of a company’s annual global revenue.
Allianz Life confirms data breach affecting majority of 1.4M US customers
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Hackers have accessed the personal data of most of the 1.4 million customers of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America. The company confirmed the breach on Saturday. Allianz Life, based in Minneapolis, said the breach occurred on July 16. It says a “malicious threat actor” accessed a third-party, cloud-based system, but not its own systems. The company has notified the FBI and is reaching out to affected individuals. Allianz Life is a subsidiary of the Munich, Germany-based global financial services group Allianz SE. It says the incident involves only Allianz Life in the U.S., not other Allianz corporate entities.
The Tea app was intended to help women date safely. Then it got hacked
A provocative dating app designed to let women anonymously ask or warn each other about men they’d encountered rocketed to the top spot on the U.S. Apple App Store last week. Then, on Friday, the company that runs Tea confirmed it had been hacked: Thousands of images from the app, including selfies, were leaked online. San Francisco-based Tea Dating Advice Inc. said in a statement that the breach only affected users who signed up before February 2024. The app and the hack highlight the fraught nature of seeking romance in the age of social media. Some men have alleged defamation and invasion of privacy after their names were posted on date-vetting sites.
Intel cuts back spending, workforce as struggling chip maker mounts comeback
Intel Corp. is shedding thousands of workers and cutting expenses as its new CEO works to revive the struggling chipmaker’s fortunes. In a memo to employees, CEO Lip-Bu Tan said Intel plans to end the year with 75,000 “core” workers. That’s down from 99,500 employees at the end of last year, through layoffs and attrition. The company previously announced a 15% workforce reduction. Intel helped launch Silicon Valley but has fallen behind rivals like Nvidia Corp.
Russian parliament approves a bill punishing online searches for information deemed ‘extremist’
MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian parliament’s upper house has quickly approved a bill that punishes online searches for information officially deemed “extremist.” It’s the latest in a series of moves by authorities to tighten control of the internet. The legislation makes what it describes as “deliberately searching for and accessing extremist materials” online punishable by a fine of up to the equivalent of $64. The bill was endorsed by the lower house earlier this week. It is now set to be signed into law by President Vladimir Putin. The official definition of extremist activity is extremely broad and includes opposition groups and the “international LGBT movement.”
Tea, an app for women to safely talk about men they date, has been breached, user IDs exposed
Tea, an app designed to let women safely discuss men they date has been breached, with thousands of selfies and photo IDs of users exposed, the company confirmed on Friday. Tea said that about 72,000 images were leaked online, including 13,000 images of selfies or selfies featuring a photo identification that users submitted during account verification. Another 59,000 images publicly viewable in the app from posts, comments and direct messages were also accessed without authorization, according to a Tea spokesperson.
Trump’s AI plan calls for massive data centers. Here’s how it may affect energy in the US
President Donald Trump’s plan to boost artificial intelligence and build data centers across the U.S. could speed up a building boom that was already expected to strain the nation’s ability to power it. The White House released the “AI Action Plan” Wednesday supporting AI and vowing to expedite construction of energy-intensive data centers. It’s looking to make the country a leader in a business that tech companies and others are pouring billions of dollars into. This could ultimately impact energy bills.
Meta will cease political ads in European Union by fall, blaming bloc’s new rules
LONDON (AP) — Meta has announced it will stop all political advertising in the European Union by October. The decision comes in response to new EU rules aimed at increasing transparency in election campaigns. Meta says the regulations create significant operational challenges and legal uncertainties. Starting in early October, Meta will no longer allow ads for political, electoral, and social issues on its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Google made a similar move last year. The EU rules, effective Oct. 10, require platforms to label political ads and disclose their funding sources. Violations could result in hefty fines.
Trump’s order to block ‘woke’ AI in government encourages tech giants to censor their chatbots
Tech companies selling AI to the federal government now face a new challenge: proving their chatbots aren’t “woke.” President Donald Trump’s plan to counter China’s AI dominance includes an executive order to prevent “woke AI” in the federal government. Major AI providers like Google and Microsoft have not commented on the directive. Critics argue the order forces tech companies into a culture war. The order’s impact on AI development and compliance remains uncertain, with some seeing it as a soft but coercive measure.
