UK ministers accept 1m from Meta amid social media ban consultation

The government is consulting on a social media ban for under-16s, which would have a big impact on Meta's Instagram platform. The government is consulting on a social media ban for under-16s, which would have a big impact on Meta's Instagram platform. Campaigners decry ties with'Trump-supporting' tech firms after funding is accepted to develop state AI systems Ministers have accepted $1m (£728,000) from Meta, the US tech and social media company, to build AI systems for defence, national security and transport, sparking warnings about the UK government's "alarmingly close relationship with Trump-supporting US tech giants". The money from Mark Zuckerberg's company will be used to pay experts to "develop cutting-edge AI solutions to support national security and defence teams", the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) announced on Tuesday. The money will pay for four British AI experts, coordinated by the government-funded Alan Turing Institute, to "play a pivotal role in rewiring our healthcare, police, transport systems and more", said Ian Murray, the minister for data and digital government.