Cybersecurity risks, financial penalties, and international political tensions dominated the news cycle on February 13, 2026. A popular AI coding platform was found to have significant security flaws, a porn site and a message board faced hefty fines for regulatory violations, the US Department of Homeland Security was facing a potential shutdown, and a schism emerged between Donald Trump and Israel.
A BBC reporter discovered a major security vulnerability in Orchids, a "vibe-coding" platform that allows users to build apps and games with text prompts. The reporter was able to hijack their own laptop, demonstrating the ease with which the platform could be exploited, according to BBC Technology. Experts warned that this highlighted the risks of granting AI bots deep access to computer systems.
Meanwhile, the UK's media regulator, Ofcom, issued significant fines. Kick Online Entertainment SA, a pornographic website, was fined £800,000 for failing to implement adequate age verification measures. Ofcom stated that the company did not have "highly effective" methods to ensure UK visitors were over 18. The company had since introduced age checks, but was not in compliance with the law between July and December 2025, according to BBC Technology. Additionally, the message board 4chan was slated to be fined £520,000 for failing to comply with the UK's Online Safety Law, though its lawyer indicated the company would not pay. Suzanne Cater, director of enforcement at Ofcom, emphasized that effective age verification was "non-negotiable" for adult websites.
In other news, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was expected to face a partial government shutdown after legislators failed to pass budget legislation. The Senate adjourned without reaching a deal, while the House of Representatives had already begun its recess, Al Jazeera reported. The DHS oversees immigration enforcement and disaster response, among other critical functions.
Adding to the international complexities, a rift appeared between Donald Trump and Israel. Trump criticized Israeli President Isaac Herzog, stating he should be "ashamed of himself," according to Sky News. This occurred as Israel worried the US might soften its stance on Iran.
Also, the designer behind the Haitian team's uniform for the 2026 Winter Olympics had to redesign the ski suits for the opening ceremony after being told they did not comply with the guidelines on athletic attire, The Guardian reported. The original design depicted the formerly enslaved revolutionary Toussaint Louverture riding a horse, but the image of the revolutionary had to be painted over.
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