A popular AI coding platform, Orchids, was found to have a significant cybersecurity flaw, allowing a BBC reporter's laptop to be hacked, while a porn site was fined £800,000 for failing to implement proper age verification measures, and Indian author Arundhati Roy withdrew from the Berlin International Film Festival over jury remarks about the war in Gaza. These events, along with the arrest of an Iranian doctor and the redesign of Haiti's Winter Olympics kit, highlight a range of issues from technological vulnerabilities to political controversies.
The BBC reported that the "vibe-coding" platform Orchids, designed for users without technical skills to build apps and games, was easily hacked. A BBC cyber correspondent demonstrated the vulnerability, which could allow malicious actors deep access to computers. The platform's popularity has surged recently, with experts warning about the risks of allowing AI bots deep access to computers.
Meanwhile, the UK's media regulator, Ofcom, fined Kick Online Entertainment SA £800,000 for failing to implement "highly effective" age verification measures on its pornographic website. According to Ofcom, the company did not comply with the law between July and December 2025. Message board 4chan faces a £520,000 fine for non-compliance 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 age verification was "non-negotiable" for adult sites.
In the realm of international arts and politics, Indian author Arundhati Roy withdrew from the Berlin International Film Festival. Roy cited "unconscionable statements" by jury members regarding Israel's actions in Gaza as the reason for her departure. She found remarks that art should not be political to be "jaw-dropping," according to her writing in India's The Wire newspaper.
The upcoming Winter Olympics also faced a last-minute adjustment. The designer of 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 attire. The original design included an image of the formerly enslaved revolutionary Toussaint Louverture riding a horse.
Finally, Sky News reported on the arrest of Iranian doctor Yaser Rahmani-Rad, who was detained after accusing the country's security forces of arresting injured protesters inside hospitals. Dr. Rahmani-Rad, an internal medicine specialist, had given Sky News an interview at the Rasul Akram public hospital in Tehran.
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