EU backs away from requiring tech companies to scan and remove CSAM

X has updated its AI tool Grok to prevent the editing of images of real people into revealing clothing, such as bikinis, and has geoblocked this feature in regions where it is illegal. This decision follows significant backlash over the tool's potential to create nonconsensual sexualized imagery.

Following the killing of George Floyd in 2020, tech workers have increasingly voiced their condemnation of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), while executives from major tech companies have remained largely silent on the issue. This shift highlights a growing divide between employee activism and executive inaction within the tech industry.

Google has announced that its AI model, Gemini, can now pull context from other Google applications, enhancing its functionality and user experience. This capability allows Gemini to provide more personalized and relevant responses by integrating data from services like Gmail and Calendar, contingent on user consent.

The UK government has announced the removal of the digital ID requirement for workers, a decision that reflects ongoing debates about privacy and technology in the workplace. This change is part of a broader reassessment of digital identification systems in the country.

Instagram has announced plans to allow users to personalize their Reels algorithm by selecting specific topics that will appear in their feeds, a feature expected to roll out in 2026. This initiative aims to enhance user control over content visibility and engagement on the platform.

Readers have responded to Prof Virginia Dignum's letter emphasizing that consciousness is not a prerequisite for legal status in AI, highlighting the importance of governance structures for autonomous systems that act as economic agents. The focus is on liability rather than sentience, as noted in the 2016 EU parliament resolution on electronic personhood.