Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms, testified in a California court on Wednesday, defending his company against claims that its social media platforms, including Instagram, are addictive for children. This landmark legal case is one of several significant developments in the tech world, including new UK legislation targeting abusive online content, warnings about the importance of embracing AI, alleged use of Israeli technology to crack a Kenyan activist's phone, and the impact of US sanctions on International Criminal Court judges.
Zuckerberg's appearance marked his first time before a jury amid years of criticism against Meta, which also owns Facebook and WhatsApp. Meta's lawyers argued that the plaintiff in the case, identified by her initials K.G.M., was harmed by factors other than her Instagram use. The trial also involves Google's YouTube.
In the UK, the government proposed a new law requiring tech platforms to remove intimate images shared without consent within 48 hours. According to Richard Morris, a technology reporter, failure to comply could result in fines of up to 10% of a company's global sales or a ban on services in the UK. Janaya Walker, interim director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, called the move "welcome and powerful," stating it "rightly places the responsibility on tech companies to act."
Meanwhile, George Osborne, former UK chancellor and now head of OpenAI's for countries program, warned that nations failing to embrace AI could face economic decline. Speaking at a gathering of leaders, Osborne stated that without AI, a country would be "weaker and poorer." He added that workforces might be more inclined to seek AI-enabled opportunities elsewhere.
In Kenya, a report alleged that authorities used Israeli technology to crack the phone of pro-democracy activist Boniface Mwangi. The Citizen Lab report suggested that Cellebrite software was used to access Mwangi's phone while he was under arrest. Mwangi, who plans to run for president in 2027, noticed that one of his phones was no longer password protected after it was returned to him.
Finally, judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) are dealing with the repercussions of US sanctions imposed during the Trump administration. Judge Kimberly Prost, who learned of the sanctions, stated that these were "coercive measures designed to attack our ability to do our jobs objectively and independently."
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