Discord will soon require users worldwide to verify their age with a face scan or ID to access adult content, while the EU has accused Meta of blocking rival AI chatbots from WhatsApp, and a landmark trial in California has begun examining the mental health effects of Instagram and YouTube. These developments highlight ongoing concerns about online safety, competition, and the impact of technology on users.
Discord, the online chat service with over 200 million monthly users, announced it would implement age verification measures globally from early March, according to BBC Technology. This move aims to protect users by placing everyone into a teen-appropriate experience "by default." The company already requires age verification in the UK and Australia to comply with online safety laws.
Meanwhile, the European Commission has told Meta that it breached its rules by blocking rival AI firms' chatbots from WhatsApp. The commission claimed Meta was abusing its dominant position by restricting access to the messaging app, which is an "important entry point" for AI chatbots like ChatGPT to reach people, as reported by BBC Technology. Meta responded by stating the EU had "no reason" to intervene and that it had "incorrectly" assumed WhatsApp Business was a key way that people use chatbots.
In other tech news, a trial in California has begun examining the mental health effects of Instagram and YouTube. Lawyers for the plaintiff, identified as "K.G.M.," argued that the social media platforms created "addiction machines" that contributed to her mental health issues, according to BBC Business. "These companies built machines designed to addict the brains of children, and they did it on purpose," said Mark Lanier, the plaintiff's lawyer. Lawyers for Meta and YouTube countered that K.G.M.'s addiction stemmed from other issues.
These developments come amidst other concerns about the tech industry. A study from the University of Oxford found that AI chatbots give inaccurate and inconsistent medical advice, potentially posing risks to users, as reported by BBC Technology. Researchers gave 1,300 people a scenario, such as having a headache, and found that the advice given was a mix of good and bad responses. Additionally, food fraud continues to be a problem, with honey being a common target, according to BBC Technology. One 2025 estimate put the cost of food crime to the global economy at around $81 billion.
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