BRUSSELS: The EU said on Wednesday that Meta is failing to prevent children under 13 from using Facebook and Instagram, potentially exposing them to inappropriate content -- and putting the tech giant at risk of a massive fine. The European Union has in recent months stepped up efforts to protect children online, with several member countries considering social media bans for under-16s. The EU executive is also exploring a possible bloc-wide age limit on social media after coming under intense pressure to take broader action, following Australia&#39;s groundbreaking ban on the use of such platforms by under-16s. In its latest move to enhance protections for children online, the EU said a probe found Meta had broken digital content rules and told the US firm to &quot;strengthen&quot; its measures to prevent, detect and remove under-13s on Facebook and Instagram. Under Meta&#39;s own terms and conditions, the minimum age to access the social media platforms is 13. In its preliminary view, the EU found Meta had ineffective measures to enforce its own age restrictions. &quot;Terms and conditions should not be mere written statements, but rather the basis for concrete action to protect users -- including children,&quot; said EU tech tsar Henna Virkkunen. If the regulator&#39;s views on Meta are confirmed, the EU can impose a fine of up to 6% of the company&#39;s worldwide annual turnover. Meta disagreed with the EU&#39;s findings. &quot;We&#39;re clear that Instagram and Facebook are intended for people aged 13 and older, and we have measures in place to detect and remove accounts from anyone under that age,&quot; a Meta spokesperson said, adding the company would continue to engage with the EU. Ongoing Meta probeThe EU has vowed to ensure Big Tech gets to grips with the many online dangers for children. In February, it gave the unprecedented warning to China&#39;s TikTok to change its &quot;addictive design&quot; or risk heavy fines. Wednesday&#39;s preliminary findings against Meta come after the EU opened an investigation in May 2024 under the Digital Services Act (DSA), an online content law that has been fiercely criticized by US President Donald Trump&#39;s administration. The DSA is part of reinforced legal weaponry adopted by the EU in recent years to curb what Brussels describes as Big Tech&#39;s excesses. European regulators found Meta had &quot;no effective controls&quot; to check if children were simply creating accounts by entering false birth dates. The EU also said Meta&#39;s tool to report the presence of children on Facebook or Instagram was &quot;difficult to use and not effective, requiring up to seven clicks just to access the reporting form&quot;. Meta also &quot;inadequately&quot; identified the risks of children under 13 accessing the apps, and the potential for exposure to &quot;age-inappropriate experiences&quot;. An EU official said the risks to children included &quot;bullying, harassment&quot; and &quot;violent content&quot;. Brussels added that Meta&#39;s risk assessment &quot;contradicts large bodies of evidence&quot; from across the EU, indicating that around 10-12% of under-13s access the platforms. Meta can avoid fines by offering remedies for the breaches. &#39;Addictive&#39; design concerns&nbsp;The May 2024 probe into Meta is wide-ranging. EU regulators are still looking into how Meta protects users&#39; physical and mental well-being, as well as the &quot;addictive&quot; design of Facebook and Instagram. Alongside the EU&#39;s investigations into online platforms, Brussels this month said an EU-developed age-check app was ready to go. During a press conference in Strasbourg, Virkkunen urged EU member states to accelerate the app&#39;s rollout so European citizens can use it by the end of 2026. Wednesday&#39;s moves are part of several measures taken by the EU.

Europe

Says Meta failed to stop under-13s using Facebook and Instagram, exposing children to harmful content; company faces possible fines of up to 6% of global turnover.

EU finds Meta failing to keep under-13s off Facebook, Instagram

NEW DELHI: White House technology adviser Michael Kratsios said Friday that the United States &quot;totally&quot; rejects global governance of artificial intelligence. Kratsios, head of the country&#39;s delegation to an AI summit in New Delhi, made the comments ahead of an expected leaders&#39; statement setting out a shared vision on how to handle the divisive technology. &quot;As the Trump Administration has now said many times: We totally reject global governance of AI,&quot; he said at the summit, which draws to a close on Friday. &quot;AI adoption cannot lead to a brighter future if it is subject to bureaucracies and centralised control.&quot; On Friday morning, UN chief Antonio Guterres had said that a new expert panel convened by the global body aimed to &quot;make human control a technical reality&quot;. The advisory group -- aiming to be to AI what the UN&#39;s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is to global warming -- was created in August, and its 40 members have now been confirmed, Guterres said. At last year&#39;s edition in Paris, US Vice President JD Vance warned against &quot;excessive regulation&quot; that &quot;could kill a transformative sector&quot;. In New Delhi, Kratsios said that &quot;international discussion of AI has evolved, as this summit itself attests,&quot; noting the change of the meeting&#39;s name from &quot;AI Safety&quot; to &quot;AI Impact&quot;. &quot;This is clearly a positive development,&quot; but &quot;too many international forums, such as the UN&#39;s Global Dialogue on AI Governance, maintain a general atmosphere of fear,&quot; he said. &quot;We must replace that fear with hope,&quot; Kratsios added, saying that AI has the potential to &quot;advance human flourishing and drive unprecedented prosperity&quot;. He argued that &quot;ideological, risk-focused obsessions, such as climate or equity, become excuses for bureaucratic management and centralisation&quot;. &quot;In the name of safety, they increase the danger that these tools will be used for tyrannical control.&quot; &quot;Focusing AI policy on safety and speculative risks... inhibits a competitive ecosystem, entrenches incumbents, and isolates developing countries from full participation in the AI economy,&quot; Kratsios said.

White House technology adviser Michael Kratsios (File/World Economic Forum)

Americas

White House tech adviser Michael Kratsios opposed centralized oversight, urging innovation over regulation, while UN chief Antonio Guterres promoted an expert panel to ensure human control of the technology.

US 'totally' rejects global AI governance: White House adviser

LONDON: The UK government on Wednesday said it was focused on resuming talks promptly after the United States suspended implementation of a tech cooperation deal with Britain. The deal was signed during US President Donald Trump&#39;s pomp-filled state visit to the UK in September. But on Tuesday Michael Kratsios, head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said on X that the UK must make &quot;substantial progress&quot; on trade talks for the deal to resume. The US and UK have been trying to implement the &quot;Economic Prosperity Deal,&quot; agreed in May and one of the first international agreements signed after Trump threatened the world with punishing tariffs on goods entering the United States. The US-UK Technology Prosperity Deal agreed in September 2025 was a non-binding agreement to sit alongside the broader Economic Prosperity Deal. It was designed to align the two countries on tech innovation while spurring mostly private-sector investment. Following the White House announcement, a UK government spokesperson said: &quot;We look forward to resuming work on this partnership as quickly as possible... and working together to help shape the emerging technologies of the future.&quot; Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle held trade talks with US counterparts in Washington DC last week to progress the Economic Prosperity Deal, the spokesperson said. &quot;They celebrated the success of the recent pharma deal and both sides agreed to continue further negotiations next year.&quot; According to the Financial Times, US officials have become increasingly frustrated with Britain&#39;s lack of willingness to address non-tariff barriers, including rules and regulations governing food and industrial goods.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (R) and US President Donald Trump (L) show off their signed technology prosperity deal at a Business event at Chequers, in Aylesbury, central England, on September 18, 2025 (AFP/File)

United Kingdom

UK seeks to revive tech cooperation after the United States suspended a non-binding deal, tying its return to trade progress, as talks continue amid US frustration over UK non-tariff barriers.

UK seeks to revive tech cooperation after the United States suspended a non-binding deal, tying its return to trade progress, as talks continue amid US frustration over UK non-tariff barriers.


UK looks to restart cooperation after US suspends tech deal

Web Desk

Here&rsquo;s everything shaping the world this week, from high-stakes diplomacy in Asia and shifting markets to new tech regulations, climate crises, cultural milestones, and major sporting events capturing global attention. Politics and DiplomacyThe week is dominated by geopolitical tensions as Beijing and Washington get ready for renewed talks on the sidelines of the East Asia and ASEAN summits in Kuala Lumpur. The talks will be attended by US President Donald Trump and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, paving the way for high-level diplomacy amid growing friction in the Indo-Pacific. Trump will travel to Japan as part of his ongoing Asia tour before meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC Summit in South Korea later this week. Trade security, AI governance, and South China Sea maritime concerns are among the agenda themes. In Europe, France is debating its 2026 national budget and facing a number of high-profile corruption prosecutions, while the Netherlands is holding a crucial parliamentary election on Wednesday that could change the political landscape. At the UN, the Security Council examines peacekeeping missions in Libya, Bosnia, and Western Sahara, as the General Assembly gets ready to vote once more on the US embargo on Cuba. As Pakistan and Afghanistan continue their dialogue to defuse recent border tensions, Middle Eastern authorities keep an eye on the precarious situation along the Israel-Lebanon border. Economy and BusinessAmid conflicting inflation prospects, markets are cautious ahead of major interest rate announcements from the US Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, and the Bank of Japan, which are expected to influence year-end monetary estimates.&nbsp; With Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Alphabet, Samsung, and Shell all releasing results, tech and energy earnings are driving global markets this week. Investors are keeping an eye out for indications of rising AI-driven capital spending and weakening consumer demand. While China&#39;s PMI and industrial data are closely monitored for clues about the global recovery, oil prices continue to fluctuate amid persistent tensions in the Middle East. A more comprehensive picture of the state of the European economy is provided by the GDP, inflation, and unemployment statistics released by Germany, France, and the larger eurozone. TechnologyAs the APEC Digital Ministers&#39; Meeting presents frameworks for AI ethics, data sharing, and digital taxation, a pivotal week for Big Tech regulation begins. A new enforcement phase of the EU Digital Markets Act emphasizes advertising transparency, app store fees, and platform dominance. Pressure for pre-election oversight is growing as congressional hearings on AI-generated misinformation continue in the US. At GTC 2025 in Washington, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is anticipated to reveal developments in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. In Asia, the Tokyo International Film Festival and Japan Mobility Show showcase the region&#39;s technological and design innovation, while China&#39;s Shenzhou-21 mission represents a significant milestone in its growing space program. Nintendo reveals financial results as &quot;Football Manager 26&quot; launches globally on November 4, and France holds the World Nuclear Exhibition, which focuses on investments in clean energy. Science and SpaceChina&#39;s Shenzhou-21 sends three astronauts to the Tiangong space station for a six-month mission to conduct materials testing and research on orbital life support. With the launch of its Aeolus-II satellite, the European Space Agency is improving climate and weather forecasting data worldwide. Researchers in Germany have made strides towards the viability of sustainable energy with a breakthrough in fusion power stability. In its quarterly nuclear safety report, the IAEA warns of continued Iranian enrichment activities and growing proliferation concerns in the Middle East. Climate and EnvironmentNational commitments are still far from reaching the 1.5&deg;C target, according to the UN Environment Programme&#39;s annual Emissions Gap Report. While Hurricane Melissa threatens widespread displacement as it advances across Jamaica towards Haiti and Cuba, severe flooding in Thailand and Vietnam continues. The Green Industry Plan is launched in Europe, aiming to accelerate investments in green energy and renewable manufacturing to compete with Chinese and US subsidies. Ahead of COP30 in Brazil later this year, early-season heatwaves in South America are raising concerns. CultureOver 100,000 artefacts, including the whole Tutankhamun collection, are on display at Cairo&#39;s Grand Egyptian Museum as it finally opens to the public after years of anticipation. The Tokyo International Film Festival and the AFI Fest in Los Angeles highlight international cinema, with Asian directors and European co-productions driving awards buzz. Authorities in several nations are maintaining increased security as Halloween celebrations take place around the world, following previous crowd-control incidents. SportsThe Women&#39;s ODI Cricket World Cup draws record attendance throughout South Asia as it comes to a close in Colombo. Top-ranked players visit Saudi Arabia for the WTA Finals in Riyadh, marking a highly anticipated debut for the kingdom&#39;s growing sports sector. While rugby internationals test lineups in London, Paris, and Chicago in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, more than 50,000 runners compete in the New York Marathon. FIFA&#39;s Executive Committee convenes in Zurich to finalise the logistics of the 2030 World Cup, which Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will jointly host.

Asia

Here’s everything shaping the world this week, from high-stakes diplomacy in Asia and shifting markets to new tech regulations, climate crises, cultural milestones, and major sporting events capturing global attention.

This week around the world: power, policy, and pressure points

SAN ANTONIO: On a scorching hot Saturday in San Antonio, dozens of teachers traded a day off for a glimpse of the future. The topic of the day&rsquo;s workshop: enhancing instruction with artificial intelligence. After marveling as AI graded classwork instantly and turned lesson plans into podcasts or online storybooks, one high school English teacher raised a concern that was on the minds of many: &ldquo;Are we going to be replaced with AI?&rdquo; That remains to be seen. But for the nation&rsquo;s 4 million teachers to stay relevant and help students use the technology wisely, teachers unions have forged an unlikely partnership with the world&rsquo;s largest technology companies. The two groups don&rsquo;t always see eye to eye but say they share a common goal: training the future workforce of America. Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic are providing millions of dollars for AI training to the American Federation of Teachers, the country&rsquo;s second-largest teachers union. In exchange, the tech companies have an opportunity to make inroads into schools and win over students in the race for AI dominance. AFT President Randi Weingarten said skepticism guided her negotiations, but the tech industry has something schools lack: deep pockets. &ldquo;There is no one else who is helping us with this. That&rsquo;s why we felt we needed to work with the largest corporations in the world,&rdquo; Weingarten said. &ldquo;We went to them &mdash; they didn&rsquo;t come to us.&rdquo; Weingarten first met with Microsoft CEO Brad Smith in 2023 to discuss a partnership. She later reached out to OpenAI to pursue an &ldquo;agnostic&rdquo; approach that means any company&#39;s AI tools could be used in a training session. Under the arrangement announced in July, Microsoft is contributing $12.5 million to AFT over five years. OpenAI is providing $8 million in funding and $2 million in technical resources, and Anthropic has offered $500,000. Tech money will build an AI training hub for teachersWith the money, AFT is planning to build an AI training hub in New York City that will offer virtual and in-person workshops for teachers. The goal is to open at least two more hubs and train 400,000 teachers over the next five years. The National Education Association, the country&rsquo;s largest teacher&#39;s union, announced its own partnership with Microsoft last month. The company has provided a $325,000 grant to help the NEA develop AI trainings in the form of &ldquo;micro credentials&rdquo; &mdash; online trainings open to the union&rsquo;s 3 million members, said Daaiyah Bilal, NEA&rsquo;s senior director of education policy. The goal is to train at least 10,000 members this school year. &ldquo;We tailored our partnership very surgically,&rdquo; Bilal said. &ldquo;We are very mindful of what a technology company stands to gain by spreading information about the products they develop.&rdquo; Both unions set similar terms: Educators, not the private funders, would design and lead trainings that include AI tools from multiple companies. The unions own the intellectual property for the trainings, which cover safety and privacy concerns alongside AI skills. The Trump administration has encouraged the private investment, recently creating an AI Education Task Force as part of an effort to achieve &quot;global dominance in artificial intelligence.&rdquo; The federal government urged tech companies and other organizations to foot the bill. So far, more than 100 companies have signed up. Tech companies see opportunities in education beyond training teachers. Microsoft unveiled a $4 billion initiative for AI training, research and the gifting of its AI tools to teachers and students. It includes the AFT grant and a program that will give all school districts and community colleges in Washington, Microsoft&rsquo;s home state, free access to Microsoft CoPilot tools. Google says it will commit $1 billion for AI education and job training programs, including free access to its Gemini for Education platform for U.S. high schools. Several recent studies have found that AI use in schools is rapidly increasing but training and guidance are lagging. The industry offers resources that can help scale AI literacy efforts quickly. But educators should ensure any partnership focuses on what&rsquo;s best for teachers and students, said Robin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education. &ldquo;These are private initiatives, and they are run by companies that have a stake,&rdquo; Lake said. Microsoft CEO Brad Smith agrees that teachers should have a &ldquo;healthy dose of skepticism&rdquo; about the role of tech companies. &ldquo;While it&rsquo;s easy to see the benefits right now, we should always be mindful of the potential for unintended consequences,&rdquo; Smith said in an interview, pointing to concerns such as AI&rsquo;s possible impact on critical thinking. &ldquo;We have to be careful. It&rsquo;s early days.&rdquo; Teachers see new possibilitiesAt the San Antonio AFT training, about 50 educators turned up for the three-hour workshop for teachers in the Northside Independent School District. It is the city&#39;s largest, employing about 7,000 teachers. The day started with a pep talk. &ldquo;We all know, when we talk about AI, teachers say, &lsquo;Nah, I&rsquo;m not doing that,&rsquo;&rdquo; trainer Kathleen Torregrossa told the room. &ldquo;But we are preparing kids for the future. That is our primary job. And AI, like it or not, is part of our world.&rdquo; Attendees generated lesson plans using ChatGPT, Google&rsquo;s Gemini, Microsoft CoPilot and two AI tools designed for schools, Khanmingo and Color&iacute;n Colorado. Gabriela Aguirre, a 1st grade dual language teacher, repeatedly used the word &ldquo;amazing&rdquo; to describe what she saw. &ldquo;It can save you so much time,&rdquo; she said, and add visual flair to lessons. She walked away with a plan to use AI tools to make illustrated flashcards in English and Spanish to teach vocabulary. &ldquo;With all the video games, the cellphones you have to compete against, the kids are always saying, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m bored.&rsquo; Everything is boring,&rdquo; Aguirre said. &ldquo;If you can find ways to engage them with new technology, you&rsquo;ve just got to do that.&rdquo; Middle school teacher Celeste Simone said there is no turning back to how she taught before. As a teacher for English language learners, Simone can now ask AI tools to generate pictures alongside vocabulary words and create illustrated storybooks that use students&#39; names as characters. She can take a difficult reading passage and ask a chatbot to translate it into Spanish, Pashto or other languages. And she can ask AI to rewrite difficult passages at any grade level to match her students&#39; reading levels. All in a matter of seconds. &ldquo;I can give my students access to things that never existed before,&rdquo; Simone said. &ldquo;As a teacher, once you&rsquo;ve used it and see how helpful it is, I don&rsquo;t think I could go back to the way I did things before.&rdquo;

Northside American Federation of Teachers 

Artificial Intelligence

Tech companies like Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic are funding AI training for teachers, aiming to integrate AI tools in classrooms. Unions are partnering with them to enhance education while ensuring teacher control over content and privacy.

Articles tagged with "Tech"

EU finds Meta failing to keep under-13s off Facebook, Instagram

US 'totally' rejects global AI governance: White House adviser

UK looks to restart cooperation after US suspends tech deal

This week around the world: power, policy, and pressure points

Can AI replace teachers? Tech giants invest millions in training educators