Tags: UK

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued its first set of conduct requirements for Google’s search services after designating the company as a strategic market player. Among the new rules, publishers can now opt out of having their material used to train Google’s artificial‑intelligence models while still appearing in search results. The package also mandates fair ranking, clearer attribution, and default choice screens on Android and Chrome that let users pick rival search engines. The move marks a shift toward ongoing regulatory oversight of digital platforms in Britain. Ler mais

London announced a new £500 million (about $675 million) Sovereign AI fund aimed at accelerating homegrown artificial‑intelligence companies. Led by venture‑capital partners James Wise and Joséphine Kant, the fund will back startups across model development, agentic AI and drug discovery, while granting them access to the nation’s supercomputing resources, visa shortcuts and procurement pipelines. The first tranche includes an investment in processor‑coordination firm Callosum and compute credits for seven other firms, signaling Britain’s push to become an AI maker rather than a taker. Ler mais

The UK government abandoned its earlier plan to let AI developers train models on copyrighted works without consent, after a strong outcry from musicians and other creators. The shift follows criticism from high‑profile artists such as Sir Elton John, Dua Lipa and Sir Paul McCartney, who warned that the policy would undermine creative ownership. While the government now says it has "no longer a preferred option" on the issue, officials say they will take more time to balance the interests of creators and the tech sector before any reform is introduced. Ler mais

The UK Competition and Markets Authority has released a report on “agentic AI,” systems that act on a consumer’s behalf for activities such as shopping or insurance hunting. While the technology promises convenience and cost savings, the CMA flags a range of risks, including biased recommendations, hallucinated information, over‑reliance, algorithmic pricing collusion, data‑privacy concerns, and lock‑in to closed ecosystems. The regulator stresses that businesses remain fully responsible for outcomes, and calls for transparent practices, strong interoperability standards, secure digital identities, and clear consumer consent mechanisms before the market fully embraces autonomous digital assistants. Ler mais

Meta has launched new facial‑recognition‑based safety features on Facebook in the United Kingdom, European Union and South Korea to curb accounts that impersonate public figures. The technology compares profile pictures of suspicious accounts with verified images of public figures, removing impostor accounts when a match is found. Public figures can opt in to the program, and the rollout follows earlier uses of facial recognition for ad fraud detection and account recovery. Meta reports a notable drop in user reports of “celebrity bait” ads after the initial rollout. Ler mais

Imgur has blocked its image‑hosting service for users in the United Kingdom, displaying a regional restriction notice. The move follows a warning from the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) that it intends to levy fines after an investigation into Imgur’s handling of children’s data, age‑verification practices and overall privacy protection. Regulators emphasized that the suspension is a commercial decision by Imgur but does not shield the company from potential penalties. The ICO’s heightened enforcement mirrors recent actions against other platforms, including a multibillion‑dollar fine for TikTok and scrutiny of Snapchat’s AI chatbot. Ler mais

Meta is rolling out new facial recognition‑powered safety features on Facebook in the United Kingdom, European Union and South Korea to curb accounts that impersonate public figures. The technology, first used in the United States last year to flag fraudulent celebrity ads and aid account recovery, now lets the company compare profile pictures of suspicious accounts with verified public‑figure images. Public figures can opt in to the program, and the rollout will extend to Instagram in coming months. Meta says the move has already helped reduce user reports of "celebrity bait" ads globally. Ler mais

A petition to scrap the UK government's mandatory digital ID scheme, known as the "Brit card," has quickly gathered over one million signatures. Critics warn that the plan could usher in mass surveillance and undermine privacy, while the government asserts the system is built with top‑tier security and will help combat illegal immigration. Prominent voices from civil‑rights groups, Labour MPs, and opposition parties have denounced the proposal as authoritarian, prompting Parliament to consider the petition amid a pending public consultation. Ler mais

Microsoft disclosed a £22 billion (about $30 billion) investment in the United Kingdom to expand AI infrastructure and support ongoing operations. The plan includes $15 billion in capital spending to build the nation’s largest supercomputer, featuring more than 23,000 advanced GPUs, in partnership with Nscale. The effort will also fund data‑center expansion and support the company’s 6,000 UK employees. Microsoft’s pledge dwarfs Google’s earlier £5 billion (around $6.8 billion) commitment to UK AI. British officials praised the investment as a strong vote of confidence in the country’s tech leadership. Ler mais

A recent Worldpay survey of UK small‑ and medium‑size enterprises shows that more than half now turn to AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini for business guidance, with usage climbing to around 60% among owners aged 25‑34. Despite this shift, 93% continue to seek advice from personal contacts, valuing the emotional and ethical context humans provide. The study also highlights growing reliance on search engines and social platforms, while warning of AI’s limited industry insight, potential bias, and the danger of over‑reliance on unverified sources. Ler mais