Discord will soon require users globally to verify their age with a face scan or ID to access adult content, while the EU has told Meta to allow rival AI chatbots on WhatsApp, and Spotify saw a boost in subscribers despite artist criticism over fees. These are among the latest developments in the technology and business sectors, as reported by the BBC.
Discord announced it would implement age verification measures worldwide starting in early March. The online chat service, which boasts over 200 million monthly users, aims to protect users by placing everyone into a teen-appropriate experience by default, according to the BBC. This move follows existing age verification practices in the UK and Australia, where the company already complies with online safety laws.
In other tech news, the European Union has ordered Meta to allow rival AI chatbots on WhatsApp. The EU claimed Meta had breached its rules by blocking other AI firms' chatbots from the messaging app and demanded "urgent" changes. The tech giant had restricted access to its own AI assistant, Meta AI, since January 15th. The European Commission stated that WhatsApp was an "important entry point" for AI chatbots like ChatGPT. A Meta spokesperson countered that the EU had "no reason" to intervene, claiming the assumption that WhatsApp Business was a key way people use chatbots was "incorrect."
Meanwhile, a study from the University of Oxford found that AI chatbots provide inaccurate and inconsistent medical advice, posing potential risks to users. Researchers found that people using AI for healthcare advice received a mix of good and bad responses, making it difficult to discern trustworthy information. Dr. Rebecca Payne, the lead medical practitioner on the study, stated that it could be "dangerous" for people to ask chatbots about their symptoms.
In the business world, Spotify reported a rise in paid subscribers, reaching 290 million in the last three months of 2025, leading to a net profit of 1.17 billion. This growth occurred despite ongoing criticism from artists regarding the platform's payment structure. The Swedish firm stated it paid almost 11 billion to artists.
Additionally, a "menacing" Disney advert featuring a severed body was banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The ASA found the advert for the Predator Badlands film, which showed an alien holding a severed human figure, was likely to frighten and distress children. Disney argued the severed body was that of a robot.
Discussion
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment