Cybersecurity concerns, regulatory actions, and personnel changes dominated the news cycle, with developments in AI, online safety, and international business. A popular AI coding platform was found vulnerable to hacking, a porn site was fined for age verification failures, and a logistics giant replaced its chief executive amid scrutiny.
A BBC reporter's laptop was successfully hacked through the "vibe-coding" platform Orchids, a tool designed for users without technical skills to build apps and games using text prompts, according to BBC Technology. The platform's security flaws allowed the reporter's device to be compromised, highlighting the risks associated with AI bots having deep access to computers.
Meanwhile, the UK media regulator Ofcom fined the pornographic website Kick Online Entertainment SA £800,000 for failing to implement adequate age verification measures. The company was found not to have "highly effective" methods to ensure UK visitors were over 18, as reported by BBC Technology. Although the site has since introduced age checks, it was not in compliance with the law between July and December 2025, according to Ofcom. Additionally, message board 4chan will be fined £520,000 for failing to comply with the UK's Online Safety Law, though its lawyer stated the company would not pay. Suzanne Cater, director of enforcement at Ofcom, emphasized that effective age verification was "non-negotiable" for adult sites.
In other news, an AI safety researcher from Anthropic resigned, issuing a stark warning about the state of the world. Mrinank Sharma shared his concerns about AI, bioweapons, and the broader global situation in his resignation letter, as reported by BBC Technology. He planned to pursue writing and poetry, and move back to the UK. This resignation followed a similar departure from OpenAI, where a researcher cited concerns about the company's decision to deploy advertisements in its chatbot.
In the business sector, DP World, a United Arab Emirates-based logistics giant, appointed a new chairman and CEO. This change followed scrutiny of former chief Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem's ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to Al Jazeera. Essa Kazim was appointed chairman, and Yuvraj Narayan became the group CEO, the Dubai Media Office announced.
Finally, the travel industry saw a surge in bookings for the February half-term holiday. According to a group of travel agents, the gloomy weather and the political environment created a "powerful psychological need for escape," leading to a 9% increase in bookings compared to the previous year, as reported by BBC Business. Manchester Airport is expecting its busiest February half-term on record, with almost 50,000 passengers flying out on Friday. However, travelers heading to Europe are warned of potential security delays due to the ongoing rollout of the European Entry Exit System.
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