The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refused to review Moderna's application for a new mRNA flu vaccine, a decision that could delay the introduction of a shot designed to offer stronger protection for older adults, according to Fox News. The news comes as other tech-related stories dominate headlines, including a UK regulator's intervention in Apple and Google's app stores, a trial examining the mental health effects of social media, and a study highlighting the risks of AI chatbots providing medical advice. Additionally, a "menacing" Disney advertisement featuring a severed body was banned by the advertising regulator.
Moderna announced that it received a "refusal-to-file" (RTF) letter from the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), citing the lack of an "adequate and well-," according to Fox News. The specific reasons for the FDA's decision were not immediately clear.
In other tech news, Apple and Google agreed to make changes to their app stores in the UK following an intervention from the UK markets regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), as reported by BBC Technology. The tech giants committed to not giving preferential treatment to their own apps and will be transparent about how others are approved for sale. The CMA's head, Sarah Cardell, said the proposed commitments "will boost the UK's app economy."
Meanwhile, a landmark trial began in California examining the mental health effects of Instagram and YouTube, with the world's largest social media companies accused of creating "addiction machines," according to BBC Technology. Mark Lanier, the plaintiff's lawyer, argued that his client suffered from mental health issues as a result of her social media addiction. Lawyers for Meta and YouTube told the jury that the addiction stemmed from other issues.
A study from the University of Oxford found that AI chatbots give inaccurate and inconsistent medical advice that could present risks to users, BBC Technology reported. Researchers gave 1,300 people a scenario, such as having symptoms, and found that the advice was a mix of good and bad responses. Dr. Rebecca Payne, lead medical practitioner on the study, said it could be "dangerous" for people to ask chatbots about their symptoms.
Finally, a "menacing" Disney advert featuring a severed body was banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), according to BBC Business. The advert, for the Predator Badlands film, was deemed likely to frighten and cause distress to children. Disney said the severed body was actually that of a robot.
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