The head of global ports operator DP World resigned Friday following scrutiny over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while Amazon's Ring ended a deal with a surveillance firm after facing backlash. In other news, an AI coding platform was found to have significant security flaws, a porn site was fined £800,000 for age verification failings, and the Haitian Winter Olympics kit was redesigned to comply with IOC guidelines.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem's departure from DP World, effective immediately, came after newly-released files revealed he exchanged hundreds of emails with Epstein over a decade, according to Reuters. The BBC approached Sulayem for comment, but did not receive a response. Essa Kazim was named chairman and Yuvraj Narayan as chief executive of DP World.
Amazon's Ring canceled a partnership with Flock Safety, a surveillance firm, after facing criticism over its privacy practices. The deal, announced in October, would have allowed agencies working with Flock to retrieve video captured on Ring devices, according to Kali Hays, a technology reporter. The decision followed a Ring advertisement during the Super Bowl that sparked widespread backlash.
An AI coding platform called Orchids, a "vibe-coding" tool, was found to have a significant cybersecurity risk, according to a BBC report. The platform allows users without technical skills to build apps and games by typing text prompts into a chatbot. A BBC reporter was able to hijack a laptop using the platform. Experts have expressed concern over the risks of allowing AI bots deep access to computers.
Ofcom fined porn company Kick Online Entertainment SA £800,000 for failing to implement proper age verification measures. The media regulator stated the company did not have "highly effective" methods to check UK visitors were over 18, according to Liv McMahon and Chris Vallance, technology reporters. Kick Online Entertainment has since implemented age checks, but was not complying with the law between July and December 2025. Message board 4chan will be fined £520,000 for failing to comply with the UK's Online Safety Law, according to its lawyer, who says the company will not pay. Suzanne Cater, director of enforcement at Ofcom, said it was "non-negotiable" for adult sites to have highly effective age verification.
The designer behind the Haitian team's uniform for the 2026 Winter Olympics had to redesign the ski suits after being told they did not comply with the guidelines on athletic wear, according to The Guardian. The original design depicted the formerly enslaved revolutionary Toussaint Louverture riding a horse. The animal was allowed to remain.
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