Technology - Waltes

Study Reveals AI Chatbots Favor Criticism of Western Leaders Over Authoritarian Regimes

AI chatbots are showing a troubling bias, according to a recent study. The research indicates that these AI systems are more likely to deliver critic

AI chatbots are showing a troubling bias, according to a recent study. The research indicates that these AI systems are more likely to deliver critical assessments of Western leaders than those of authoritarian regimes. This raises significant concerns about freedom of speech and the influence of government narratives on the development of AI technology.

The study highlights a critical risk: if AI model developers fail to take human rights into consideration, they may inadvertently create systems that reinforce authoritarian control over online discourse. This means that chatbots could potentially extend the reach of oppressive government restrictions on free expression, affecting not just their own countries but also free societies around the world. The implications are enormous, as it suggests that the long arm of these restrictive governments could reach across borders, limiting speech in places where it should be unfettered.

The findings follow another important study by scholars from American universities, which pointed out that AI models built in the U.S. are particularly vulnerable to foreign influences when trained on non-English language data. This data can be heavily influenced by government narratives, leading to skewed outputs. For example, when asked in English if China is a democracy, ChatGPT responded that it is generally not considered one. However, when queried in Chinese, it offered a more ambiguous answer, saying, “It depends on how you define ‘democracy’.” This inconsistency highlights the challenges AI faces in navigating complex political landscapes.

Moreover, the research emphasizes that AI chatbots learn from information environments shaped by existing institutions and power dynamics, which can lead to biases not only in the information they process but also in the way they reproduce narratives. It’s not just about individual documents but also about who gets to produce and control information on a larger scale.

Developers face a daunting task. They could start by evaluating their training data to avoid treating multiple copies of the same state narrative as distinct voices. Additionally, implementing multilingual audits could help ensure a more balanced depiction of global perspectives. However, the road to achieving unbiased AI is fraught with challenges, as noted by Carrasco-Farré, who was not directly involved in the studies.

So, what does this mean for the future of AI and free speech? Are we heading towards a world where our digital assistants could be tools of propaganda, echoing the messages of authoritarian regimes while silencing dissent in the West? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: the conversation around AI ethics and freedom of expression is just getting started.

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber

TikTok Under Fire: Ofcom Launches Probe into Child Age Checks

An investigation has been launched into whether TikTok is doing enough to keep children off its platform. This probe by the media regulator Ofcom com

An investigation has been launched into whether TikTok is doing enough to keep children off its platform. This probe by the media regulator Ofcom comes just a month after the UK government announced that it would be looking into age verification processes for users under 16. A TikTok spokesperson responded, emphasizing the company’s commitment to enhancing online safety. This scrutiny follows a review by Ofcom in May that criticized the platform for not being “safe enough” for young users.

Kate Davies from Ofcom’s Today programme voiced serious concerns, stating, “At the heart of the regulator’s review, we have very serious questions about whether age inference can be highly effective.” This is a big deal, folks! TikTok, which has been all the rage among kids and teens, is now facing some serious doubts about its ability to keep minors safe online.

The spokesperson for TikTok claimed that the company has invested “billions” into ensuring the protection of children on their platform. However, some critics are not convinced. A prominent voice in this debate, who has worked with Ofcom, criticized TikTok for what he described as “egregious failures” in preventing minors from being exposed to a “tsunami of harmful content.” Can you believe it? They’re really ruffling some feathers over there!

Rebecca Smart, a criminal lawyer and online safety expert at the law firm Payne Hicks Beach, acknowledged that Ofcom has “made some headway” in protecting children but stressed that much more needs to be done. It’s clear that the Online Safety Act is trying to establish stricter guidelines, but will it be enough to keep kids safe?

As part of this ongoing conversation about online safety, it was noted that both TikTok and YouTube are “not safe enough” for kids, according to Ofcom. And to top it all off, there’s even a midnight social media curfew being proposed for UK teens aged 16 and 17! You’ve got to wonder, what’s next? Are we going to see a full-on crackdown on social media for the younger generation?

With all these developments, it remains to be seen how TikTok will respond to Ofcom’s findings and what measures they will implement to ensure the safety of their young users. Will they rise to the occasion or continue to face scrutiny? Only time will tell…

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber

UK Teens Face Midnight Social Media Curfew: What You Need to Know

Older teenagers in the UK are about to face some new restrictions when it comes to their social media usage. The government has announced that a curf

Older teenagers in the UK are about to face some new restrictions when it comes to their social media usage. The government has announced that a curfew will be imposed, meaning that apps like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube will automatically become unavailable for 16 and 17-year-olds from midnight until 06:00. Now, hold on—there’s a catch! These teens can simply opt out of this curfew by changing their account settings. Sounds a bit too easy, right?

The government is pushing this initiative, aiming to tackle issues like addictive focus, sleep quality, and family time. But not everyone is on board with this plan. Ellen Roome, a campaigner who tragically lost her 14-year-old son, Jools Sweeney, in a 2022 online challenge gone wrong, feels this move doesn’t go far enough. She compared the government’s approach to offering a 17-year-old a bottle of alcohol and then just moving it a little out of reach. “They can just drag it back in,” she said on BBC Radio 4. Her frustration echoes a sentiment that many parents share; they want stronger, more effective measures.

Lorna Woods, a professor of internet law at Essex University, weighed in on the matter too. According to her, this measure seems to be more about easing parental fears than creating real, impactful solutions for teen safety online. Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has previously suggested that age verification should be the responsibility of device manufacturers, not just the platforms themselves. Apple has even started to implement such measures.

Online safety minister Kanishka Narayan defended the government’s actions, stating that Britain is set to become the most robust country in the world for online safety regulations. The goal? To help young people get the sleep they need, focus better in school, and spend quality time with family—essential components for a happy adult life. But critics argue that simply allowing teens to switch off the curfew isn’t enough. “While we welcome these measures for older teens, this latest move is yet another piecemeal set of announcements,” they say, pointing out the lack of a comprehensive safety plan.

Prof. Sonia Livingstone, an expert in children’s online behavior, emphasized the importance of listening to young people. “We have to take their voices into account,” she insisted. Meanwhile, social media analyst Matt Navarra commented that what the government is calling a ‘curfew’ isn’t really one at all. He pointed out that the UK’s approach lacks any VPN restrictions, making it easy for teens to bypass these measures. After all, VPNs can mask a user’s location, and the government has decided not to take action against them for now, stating they are useful for whistle-blowers and minority groups.

In a recent report, the government shared that it had trialed various options with 300 teens, and found that an overnight curfew did show some positive sleep benefits. But caution is warranted; Pete Etchells, a professor of science communication at Bath Spa University, warned that these findings are just one piece of a much larger puzzle.

So what does all this mean for the future of social media regulations in the UK? The debate is far from over, and as parents and experts alike continue to voice their opinions, one thing is clear: the landscape of online safety is still evolving. Who knows what’s next on the horizon?

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber

UK Proposes Voluntary Social Media Curfew for Teens: A Step Towards Healthier Online Habits

The British government has rolled out plans for a voluntary overnight social media curfew aimed specifically at 16- and 17-year-olds. This initiativ

The British government has rolled out plans for a voluntary overnight social media curfew aimed specifically at 16- and 17-year-olds. This initiative comes as part of their ongoing efforts to combat online harm affecting young people. The curfew, announced on Wednesday, is designed to curb excessive screen time and promote healthier online practices among older teenagers. Alongside this, features that inadvertently keep users glued to their screens, like autoplaying videos, will be disabled by default for this age group.

Now, let’s break that down a bit. You see, the measures are among the final steps from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration, who is leading a push for better protections for children online. But here’s the catch: experts are saying that while these proposals may improve the online experience for young users, they’re not a silver bullet. Chris Sherwood, the CEO of NSPCC, emphasized that unless these initiatives are backed up with stronger regulations, they risk being mere “sticking plasters.” He pointed out that the addictive design features of many platforms are still going to be there, driving up screen time and hurting kids’ well-being.

Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, chimed in, calling the curfew a “positive step.” She recognizes that many young people genuinely want to cut down on their social media usage but often find it challenging to do so. “I want to know more about how the policies, such as a curfew, will be delivered and will be watching closely to make sure they are effective,” she stated, highlighting the need for tangible actions that accompany these policies.

So, what’s the bottom line here? The UK government is trying to tackle a growing concern among parents and educators about the impact of social media on youth. But will this curfew really make a difference? Are teens going to stick to it, or will it just be another rule that gets ignored? As we watch these developments unfold, the conversation around social media and its effects on mental health continues to heat up. Let’s keep our eyes peeled for what’s next in this ongoing saga…

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber

SpaceX Shares Plummet: Elon Musk’s Trillionaire Status at Risk!

SpaceX’s stock price took a nosedive on Wednesday, falling to $132.62 (£98.24) and dipping below its initial public offering price of $135 from Jun

SpaceX’s stock price took a nosedive on Wednesday, falling to $132.62 (£98.24) and dipping below its initial public offering price of $135 from June. This drop represents a staggering 41% decrease from its highest point on the day. Investors who bought shares during its flotation are now looking at potential losses, as the company grapples with the tech market’s recent turmoil. While the broader Nasdaq index only saw a minor dip of 0.2%, SpaceX’s performance has been particularly dismal.

The situation worsened when the company’s AI startup, xAI—now rebranded as SpaceXAI—reported challenges, casting a shadow over its core operations which include rocket manufacturing and the launch of telecommunications satellites known as Starlink. Just recently, Starlink announced price cuts in the Memphis, Tennessee area, igniting local concerns regarding a massive data center project. This move alone caused SpaceX shares to plummet by another 8%.

Steve Sosnick, chief market analyst at Interactive Brokers, commented on the unfolding circumstances, noting that SpaceX is set to release its first public earnings report in August, which adds to the uncertainty surrounding the stock. However, the company has yet to respond to requests for comment about the current situation. As the market fluctuates, many are left wondering: what’s next for SpaceX and its investors? Will the stock recover, or is this just the beginning of more turbulent times ahead?

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber

Swiss Android Users Shortchanged: Google’s Search Options Under Scrutiny!

Google’s practices are under the microscope as Swiss Android users are reportedly getting fewer search options compared to their counterparts in the

Google’s practices are under the microscope as Swiss Android users are reportedly getting fewer search options compared to their counterparts in the EU. This revelation has sparked concerns from regulators who argue that the absence of a required choice screen for Swiss users could limit the visibility of competing search engines during the setup of their devices.

Back in March 2020, the European Commission and Google reached an agreement mandating that a choice screen appear on all new Android devices shipped to the European Economic Area (EEA) and the UK. This was later reinforced by the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which compels “gatekeepers” like Google to provide users with choice screens and allow them to easily switch default settings they don’t prefer. Google was officially designated a gatekeeper in September 2023, expanding its choice screens in March 2024 to comply with these regulations.

However, no similar obligation exists for Swiss users, much to the surprise of Swiss officials who believed they wouldn’t need one. A recent assessment in 2023 directly challenges this assumption, highlighting the gap in digital market regulations between Switzerland and the EU. The Swiss government does have a platform law in the works, and the Federal Council opened a consultation in October 2025 regarding a Federal Act on Communication Platforms and Search Engines, which concluded in February. But here’s the catch – this bill is modeled after the EU’s Digital Services Act and focuses on content moderation and transparency, not default settings. Experts predict that this bill won’t even reach the Swiss parliament until late 2026 or early 2027.

As it stands, a preliminary investigation is underway to determine if there are grounds for a formal competition case against Google in Switzerland. Yahu, can you believe that? The gap in regulations might just be a goldmine for competition, but for now, Swiss users are left without the same options as their EU neighbors.

Bakalım bu durum ne olacak? Gelişmeleri takip ediyoruz…

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber

Is Tracking Your Food Purchases the Key to a Healthier Lifestyle?

In the bustling aisles of a Hyper U supermarket west of Paris, a mother named Nathalie finds herself in a tight spot. With a packet of biscuits in on

In the bustling aisles of a Hyper U supermarket west of Paris, a mother named Nathalie finds herself in a tight spot. With a packet of biscuits in one hand and her smartphone in the other, she’s grappling with the reality of her son Malo’s favorite snack, which she just discovered is loaded with E450—an additive that raises her eyebrows. “Look at that!” she exclaims, her frustration palpable. The app she’s using turns the packaging red, signaling danger. “Malo hates shopping with me now,” she admits, scanning for better alternatives.

This scenario is becoming increasingly common as more people turn to apps like Yuka, which has amassed 85 million users across 12 countries since its inception in 2015. Yuka employs a traffic light system to help users make informed choices: green means good, red indicates bad, and yellow suggests there’s room for improvement. The app is particularly popular in the U.S., where it boasts around 28 million users—far surpassing France’s six million and the UK’s five million. And guess what? Even Donald Trump has given this app a thumbs up!

Yuka’s co-founder and CEO, Julie Chapon, made a strategic move three years ago to relocate to the States, stating that the need for nutritional information is more pressing there. In France, however, Yuka is just one piece of a broader food-tracking movement. In 2012, Stéphane Gigandet launched Open Food Facts, a free database of food products, during a Food Revolution Day event organized by British chef Jamie Oliver. This non-profit initiative now provides information on over four million food items worldwide.

Let’s not forget the Nutri-Score system either. Created by food researcher Serge Hercberg at Paris’ Sorbonne University, Nutri-Score offers a voluntary labeling system for pre-packaged goods. Major brands like Danone and Nestlé have adopted it, although many brands choose to opt out if they suspect they’ll score poorly. Hercberg emphasizes the importance of these systems in sharing valuable information about food, especially regarding additives that could indicate ultra-processed items.

While Yuka and Nutri-Score are allies in this quest for better nutrition, it’s important to highlight that Yuka is a private and profitable company, distinct from the community-driven Open Food Facts. Chapon reassures users that Yuka’s revenue doesn’t come from ads or sponsored content, but rather from its vast user base—though only a small percentage pay for premium services.

In a survey conducted in 2024, a staggering 94% of Yuka users reported putting products back on the shelf when met with a red rating. This kind of influence is not to be taken lightly. A prime example of Yuka’s impact is seen in the French supermarket chain Intermarché, which has reformulated over 3,000 recipes since 2017, eliminating 160 additives along the way. “Last year alone, we reworked around 300 products,” the company stated proudly.

So, is tracking your food purchases the secret to healthier eating? With apps like Yuka and systems like Nutri-Score making waves, one thing’s for sure: consumers are becoming more empowered and conscious about what goes into their bodies. But the question lingers—how will these trends shape the future of food shopping and health?

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber

EU Takes Action Against Meta: Dismantling Addictive Features on Facebook and Instagram!

The European Commission has preliminarily found Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) due t

The European Commission has preliminarily found Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) due to the platforms’ “addictive” design features. This serious violation could lead to fines amounting to billions of euros. The Commission’s concerns center on how these platforms encourage compulsive use through features like “autoplay” and infinite scrolling, which keep users hooked for longer than they might intend.

Henna Virkkunen, a spokesperson for the Commission, emphasized that the DSA was specifically designed to hold platforms accountable for the way their services impact users. “We are fully committed to enforcing our legislation in Europe,” she stated. The Commission also pointed out that existing safeguards, like time management tools for teenagers, are often ignored, rendering them ineffective. Parental controls were found to be useful only for those parents who possess the technical know-how and time to navigate them, which the regulators argued diminishes their overall effectiveness.

The Commission has urged Meta to implement significant structural changes to both Facebook and Instagram. These changes include disabling features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling by default, introducing effective screen-time breaks, and adjusting recommendation algorithms to prioritize user well-being over engagement metrics. It’s important to note that these preliminary findings do not prejudge the final outcome, leaving the door open for Meta to respond and potentially contest the findings.

With Meta’s 2025 revenue reported at just under $201 billion, this latest move by the European Commission is part of a broader series of actions against major platforms under the DSA. Earlier this year, the Commission issued a hefty €120 million fine against Elon Musk’s age verification measures for users under 13, which highlights the increasing scrutiny these tech giants are facing.

So, what’s next for Meta? Will they comply with these demands, or will they push back against the European Commission’s findings? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: the landscape of social media and digital accountability is shifting rapidly…

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber

How AI is Revolutionizing Humanitarian Aid in Crisis Zones

Delivering food through conflict zones, minefields, and floods can put humanitarian workers at mortal risk. Now, technology that’s been developed for

Delivering food through conflict zones, minefields, and floods can put humanitarian workers at mortal risk. Now, technology that’s been developed for controlling rovers on distant planets is being adapted to take aid workers out of some of the world’s most dangerous missions. Project AHEAD, a collaboration between the World Food Programme, Germany’s aerospace research centre DLR, the Red Cross, and various tech partners, is working on remotely operated vehicles. These vehicles are capable of carrying supplies through areas deemed too perilous for conventional delivery trucks.

Footage from a DLR test site in Germany shows a SHERP all-terrain vehicle wading into open water and navigating rough terrain. With sensors scanning the landscape ahead, the operator can control the vehicle remotely, allowing it to travel without anyone behind the wheel. This innovative system draws on DLR’s expertise in developing remotely operated and autonomous planetary rovers, including the MMX rover designed to explore Phobos, one of Mars’s moons. But the use of this emerging tech in humanitarian efforts goes beyond just physical deliveries.

Check this out, Hunger Live! It’s a publicly available platform created by the World Food Programme that utilizes machine learning and near-real-time data to track food insecurity across over 95 countries. It combines information on factors like conflict, weather, climate hazards, and economic conditions to help identify emerging hunger crises. “Everybody can check it out, Hunger Live, on the internet. You can get real-time data, and right now, we’re even looking into forecasting food security 90 days into the future,” said Bernhard Kowatsch, director of the WFP’s Global Accelerator and Ventures division.

Reliable data is also crucial for humanitarian responses. Without adequate information on roads, buildings, and population centers, aid workers may find it tough to decide where to evacuate people, set up shelters, or deliver supplies. After two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela back in June, limited geographical data made it hard to assess the damage and prioritize assistance. The Humanitarian OpenStreet Team used machine learning to extract building information from satellite imagery. Volunteers then reviewed the images through its Swipe app, marking areas where structures seemed damaged.

“Within four days after the earthquake, we mobilized more than 600 volunteers who were swiping left and right on the mobile app, indicating: yes, this building area is damaged, no, this building area is not damaged,” explained Leen D’hondt, director of technology and data at the Humanitarian OpenStreet Team. “And that actually helped early responders go to the right areas for food delivery and for all the other necessities we might need right after the earthquake,” D’hondt added.

For all the speed that AI can add, D’hondt mentioned that the technology still can’t match the accuracy of detailed work done by human beings. “Manual mapping still provides the best quality. However, sometimes speed is more important,” she said. “Sometimes it’s more important to know roughly where the buildings are. They’re not perfectly mapped, but we know how many people live in that area. That’s where AI and machine-learning models come into play right now.”

Despite rapid advancements, insiders say that such systems are still far from being routinely integrated into emergency responses globally. “Currently, there aren’t really systems incorporated into these emergency protocols in most countries,” stated Monique Kuglitsch, innovation manager at the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute. “There are exceptions. In India, they have an operational AI-based early-warning system. Also in Europe, we have an AI forecasting system from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, which is operational. But in many countries, it’s still experimental.”

Bakalım bu gelişmeler nereye varacak?

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber

Pokémon Go: 10 Yılda Milyonların Kalbini Fethetti!

Pokémon Go, 2016’dan bu yana milyonlarca oyuncunun kalbini kazandı. Bugün, bu oyun dünyasında tam 10 yıl geride kalırken, oyuncuların birer

Pokémon Go, 2016’dan bu yana milyonlarca oyuncunun kalbini kazandı. Bugün, bu oyun dünyasında tam 10 yıl geride kalırken, oyuncuların birer Pokémon Trainer olma hayalini gerçekleştirmeye devam ediyor. İlk kez piyasaya sürüldüğünde, sokaklarda oyuncuların sanal yaratıkları yakalamak için birbirleriyle buluşmaları, topluluklar oluşturmaları ve eğlenceli anlar yaşamaları sağlandı. Özellikle New York’taki büyük etkinlikler, bu oyunun ne kadar popüler olduğunu gözler önüne serdi. Şimdiye kadar 400.000’den fazla katılımcıyla gerçekleşen etkinlikler, oyuncuların bir araya gelme isteğini artırdı. Pokémon Go’nun yaratıcısı Scopely ise, oyuncuların bu oyunu oynamak için harcadığı mesafenin 100 milyar kilometreyi geçtiğini belirtiyor. Bu, yaklaşık 334 kez Dünya ile Güneş arasında gidip gelmek demek!

Oyun, sadece eğlence değil, aynı zamanda mental sağlık üzerinde de olumlu etkiler yarattı. Maine’den Austin, 2017’den beri oyunu oynuyor ve ilk raid buluşmasında yaşadığı mutluluğu şöyle ifade ediyor: “Neredeyse imkansızdı, ama o gün oraya gittiğimde sanki sıcak bir battaniye gibi hissettim.” Bu tür sosyal etkileşimler, birçok oyuncunun hayatında önemli bir yer edindi.

Fakat, Pokémon Go’nun bu kadar popüler olması, zaman zaman bazı sorunlar da yarattı. Oyun severler, bazen o kadar kaptırdılar ki, kendilerini tehlikeye atabiliyorlardı. Polis ve güvenlik güçleri, oyuncuları daha dikkatli olmaları konusunda uyardı. Ancak, bu durum oyunun sunucularını da etkileyerek bazen çökmesine neden oldu. Öte yandan, Scopely’nin gelecekteki planlarıyla ilgili umut dolu açıklamaları, oyuncular arasında merak uyandırıyor.

Elli yaşındaki j0beats, Twitch’te içerik üretenlerden biri olarak, Pokémon Go’nun topluluk oluşturmadaki rolüne dikkat çekiyor: “İnsanlar buraya enerji ve insan bağlantısı için geliyor.” Oyun, hem bireysel hem de toplumsal düzeyde güçlü bir deneyim sundu. Şimdi, herkesin aklındaki soru şu: Pokémon Go, bu 10 yılın ardından daha nereye gidecek? Gelişmeleri takip ediyoruz…

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber