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Tech firms will have 48 hours to remove abusive images under new law

BBC News

Tech platforms would have to remove intimate images which have been shared without consent within 48 hours, under a proposed UK law. The government said tackling intimate image abuse should be treated with the same severity as child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and terrorist content. Failure to abide by the rules could result in companies being fined up to 10% of their global sales or have their services blocked in the UK. Janaya Walker, interim director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said the welcome and powerful move... rightly places the responsibility on tech companies to act. The proposals are being made through an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, which is making its way through the House of Lords.


The Fight on Capitol Hill to Make It Easier to Fix Your Car

WIRED

As vehicles grow more software-dependent, repairing them has become harder than ever. A bill in the US House called the Repair Act would ease those restrictions, but it comes with caveats. Every time you get behind the wheel, your car is collecting data about you. Where you go, how fast you're driving, how hard you brake, and even how much you weigh. All of that data is not typically available to the vehicle owner.


Facial recognition could be used more widely by police

BBC News

Facial recognition technology could be used more often by UK police forces, according to new plans announced by the Home Office. Policing and crime minister Sarah Jones said a widespread rollout of the equipment could mark the biggest breakthrough in catching criminals since DNA matching. People are being asked for their views on its use, as part of a 10-week consultation launched on Thursday, possibly paving the way for new laws. Jones credited the technology for helping to arrest thousands of criminals, but campaign group Big Brother Watch said increased use would make George Orwell roll in his grave. Facial recognition is used to locate wanted suspects and find vulnerable people.


Strings attached to bills Newsom signed on antisemitism, AI transparency and other major California policies

Los Angeles Times

Things to Do in L.A. Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article. California will be the first state to ban most law enforcement, including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces while conducting official business under a bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday. This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here . SACRAMENTO -- Though hailed by some for signing new laws to combat antisemitism in California schools, Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed enough reservations about the bills to urge state lawmakers to make some changes.


Newsom signs AI transparency bill prioritizing safety

Los Angeles Times

Things to Do in L.A. Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article. Gov. Gavin Newsom holds a news conference at the Google office in San Francisco in August to announce new AI partnerships. This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here . Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Monday requiring AI companies to publicly disclose security protocols and report critical safety incidents.


New Romanian law may have averted NATO clash with Russia after border strikes

FOX News

Russia hit pipelines in Ukraine, sparking bright flames and plumes of smoke seen from Romania. Russia narrowly avoided an armed skirmish with Romania, a member of the NATO alliance, after striking just a half mile from its border. Romanian defense officials believe the new law passed by parliament explicitly allowing its armed forces to shoot down Russian drones that fly over its territory prevented the Kremlin from incurring on its territory. Russia struck a gas distribution center in the Ismail Area of Ukraine with Shahed kamikaze drones on Tuesday and Wednesday, so close to Romania's border that Bucharest deployed F-16 aircraft to monitor. No unauthorized intrusions were reported.


Texas Lawmakers Want More Control of the Tesla Robotaxis on Their Roads

WIRED

As a small number of Tesla robotaxis continue to pick up and drop off a select few Tesla influencers in Austin, Texas, a state legislator who represents part of the electric automakers' limited service area says she's concerned the cars' driving is "less reliable" than the typical human driver. Videos posted online show some "moving violations" that "could be very serious," state senator Sarah Eckhardt, a Democrat who represents Texas' 14th district, told WIRED in an interview. "My constituency is particularly tech savvy and excited about this [autonomous vehicle] technology, but my constituency is also very concerned about public safety, and we can hit the right balance." Last week, as the hours before the debut of Tesla's robotaxi service ticked down, Eckhardt was one of seven Texas Democratic lawmakers who sent a letter to Tesla field quality director Eddie Gates asking the company to delay its plans to launch. Texas has for years had loose rules and oversight around autonomous vehicle operations, making it an attractive place for tech developers to test and launch.


A new law in this state bans automated insurance claim denials

FOX News

'Ask Dr. Drew' host Dr. Drew Pinsky breaks down key takeaways from the MAHA Commission's chronic disease report on'The Ingraham Angle.' As some health insurance companies have come under fire for allegedly using computer systems to shoot down claims, an Arizona law will soon make the practice illegal in the Grand Canyon State. Republican Arizona House Majority Whip Rep. Julie Willoughby sponsored the legislation, and it was recently signed into law by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. House Bill 2175 requires a physician licensed in the state to conduct an "individual review" and use "independent medical judgment" to determine whether the claim should actually be denied. It also required a similar review of "a direct denial of a prior authorization of a service" that a provider asked for and "involves medical necessity."


Japan enacts bill to promote AI development and address its risks

The Japan Times

Parliament on Wednesday enacted a bill to establish a new law that will promote the development of artificial intelligence while addressing risks associated with the technology. The bill cleared the House of Councilors, the upper chamber, by a majority vote with support from the Liberal Democratic Party-led ruling bloc and opposition parties including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Nippon Ishin no Kai. The measure had been adopted by the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, in April. To address mounting concerns over the spread of false and erroneous information generated by AI tools, the new law includes a provision to allow the government to disclose the names of malicious businesses in the event of crime using AI. If a serious incident that infringes on citizens' rights and interests occurs, the government will conduct investigations, advise and instruct related business operators, provide information to the public and take other necessary actions.


Steam now explicitly states you don't own the digital games you're buying

PCWorld

Have you ever bought an app or game from a digital storefront, only for it to suddenly disappear and become inaccessible without warning? It's both confusing and frustrating, which is why some governments are stepping in and hoping to make things clearer for consumers. Gavin Newsom, governor of California, recently signed a new law (AB 2426) that involves the purchasing of digital goods and services. Under the new law, online storefronts that sell digital copies of video games, music, movies, TV shows, and ebooks must be explicit as to whether customers actually own what they're purchasing. Some digital services are already adapting to the new regulations, which aren't set to be enforced until next year.