worldnews

Meta is pushing back hard against a lawsuit accusing it of illegally downloading and distributing thousands of pornographic videos to train its artificial intelligence systems.
In a motion filed Monday with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Meta asked the judge to dismiss the case entirely, calling the allegations “baseless” and “built on speculation.”
The company insists there is no evidence whatsoever that its AI models were ever trained on copyrighted material.

“The Claims Are Built on Guesswork”
According to Meta’s filing, the plaintiffs “desperately stitched together a story out of assumptions and coincidences,” yet failed to present any concrete proof. The company described the accusations as “unconvincing, inflated, and legally irrelevant.”
The lawsuit was originally filed in July by Strike 3 Holdings, a Miami-based adult film distributor behind brands such as Vixen, Blacked, and Tushy.

Strike 3 alleged that Meta had used both corporate and “masked” IP addresses since 2018 to torrent nearly 2,400 adult films as part of a wider effort to train its multimodal AI systems.
Meta has flatly denied the accusations.

“The Alleged Scale Makes No Sense”
According to the court filing, only 157 videos were supposedly downloaded over seven years — an average of about 22 per year — across multiple IP addresses. Meta argues that this reflects disconnected activity by individuals for personal use, not a coordinated corporate operation.
Meta’s attorney Angela L. Dunning further noted that Strike 3 wrongly attributed over 2,500 additional IP addresses to Meta, even though many of them don’t belong to the company — one, she said, is registered to a nonprofit organization in Hawaii.

AI Training and the Boundaries of Copyright
Meta also stressed that it has no knowledge or evidence of any such downloads and gained no benefit from them. Monitoring every file moving through its vast global network, it said, would be “neither feasible nor legally required.”
Experts say that while Meta’s defense might appear unconventional, it could be legally effective.

According to Dermot McGrath of venture capital firm Ryze Labs, admitting that any data had been used would open Meta up to questions about “fair use” and force it to reveal details of its internal training and auditing systems.
“By denying that the data was ever used, Meta shields itself from deeper scrutiny,” McGrath told reporters.
However, he warned that if courts accept this approach, it could create a dangerous precedent, allowing corporations to obscure how they train their AI models. “It could undermine copyright protection in AI training cases and make future oversight nearly impossible,” he added.

“Red Teams” and Legitimate Use of Explicit Data
McGrath also acknowledged that processing explicit content isn’t automatically nefarious.

“Most major AI firms run red teams — specialized groups that test models with harmful or banned prompts to identify vulnerabilities,” he said.

“To create effective safety filters, you actually need to train the systems on examples of what you’re trying to block.”
Still, Meta maintains that it had no knowledge of any pirated material and never used such data for AI development. The case now awaits a ruling from the federal court in California.


#meta , #AI , #technews , #ArtificialInteligence , #worldnews

Stay one step ahead – follow our profile and stay informed about everything important in the world of cryptocurrencies!
Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

#BREAKINGTrump
🔥 In a jaw-dropping twist straight out of a political thriller, Donald J. Trump just detonated the global stage — not with a bomb, but with his words. 💬💥 Moments before entering a high-stakes summit in South Korea, Trump jumped on Truth Social and dropped the most explosive command of his presidency (yet):

> “The Pentagon is ordered to immediately resume nuclear weapons testing. Others are testing. We’re not sitting back anymore.”
😱 Yes, you read that right. After 33 years of silence since the last U.S. nuclear test in 1992, Trump just tore up decades of restraint — and tossed it straight into the reactor. ☢️🔥
This isn’t politics. This is power theater — Trump-style. 🎭
🌍 The world’s been walking on eggshells, whispering about “deterrence,” pretending everyone’s playing nice. But Trump? He just walked in, flipped the switch, and said:
👉 “You test? We test.”
🎬 It’s like he turned global diplomacy into a live reality show, and every nation’s watching the countdown clock tick.
⚠️ The Timing? Genius or chaos — you decide. While other world leaders are rehearsing polite handshakes in Seoul, Trump’s already pressing buttons (hopefully metaphorical).
💬 Critics are calling it “irresponsible, dangerous, and reckless.”
💪 Supporters say it’s “about time America showed strength again.”
📈 Analysts? They’re calling it the start of a new arms race.
But Trump doesn’t care. Outrage is his oxygen. 🔥
🏛️ One congresswoman is already vowing to block it, but Washington’s panic only fuels the fire. Trump’s message is simple — and terrifyingly effective:
> “We lead. They follow.”
💥 So the question isn’t just what happens next…
It’s whether the world is about to enter a new nuclear era — or if Trump’s just reminding everyone who still owns the loudest microphone on Earth. 🎙️🌎
#Trump #Pentagon #NuclearTest #WorldNews
$PAXG
$FLM
$SOLV

The European Union is under dual pressure — on one side, escalating trade tensions with China, and on the other, criticism over Ireland’s appointment of a former Meta lobbyist to a top regulatory post. This mix of geopolitical friction and ethical controversy is testing Brussels’ unity and credibility at a critical moment for the bloc.

Brussels Scrambles to Escape China’s Trade Trap
EU leaders are working around the clock to resolve a mounting trade conflict with China, triggered by Beijing’s decision to limit exports of rare earth minerals and semiconductors. These materials are vital for the production of electric vehicles, military technology, and modern electronics, and any shortage could cripple European industry.
Tensions escalated further when the Netherlands took control of chipmaker Nexperia from its Chinese owners. In retaliation, China halted exports of Nexperia chips produced in its factories, alarming automakers and manufacturers across Europe.
The European Commission is now in damage control mode. A delegation of Chinese technical experts will arrive in Brussels on Thursday to discuss possible compromises. “Preparatory talks have already started,” confirmed Commission spokesperson Olof Gill.

Von der Leyen and Macron Signal Tougher Response
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced over the weekend a plan to boost rare earth production within Europe and diversify sourcing away from China. She also hinted that the EU could deploy its anti-coercion instrument — a legal tool designed to counter economic pressure from third countries.
French President Emmanuel Macron echoed this sentiment last week, calling for a united European response.
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul canceled his planned trip to China and flew to Brussels to coordinate with the Commission. After meetings, he warned that protectionism and arbitrary export restrictions were threatening global free trade and Europe’s prosperity.
“It’s crucial that we quickly find sustainable solutions for the smooth supply of rare earths and chips on which our industries depend,” Wadephul said. However, he struck an optimistic tone:
“We are committed to ensuring that fair trade with China remains possible across all sectors, including rare earths and semiconductors.”
U.S. officials now believe China may delay its export restrictions, following informal trade talks in Malaysia — a move that could buy time for Brussels and Beijing to negotiate.

Dublin’s Ethical Storm: Former Meta Lobbyist Appointed to Privacy Regulator
While Brussels deals with China, a fresh crisis is emerging inside the EU itself. The Irish government has sparked outrage after appointing former Meta lobbyist Niamh Sweeney as one of its three Deputy Data Protection Commissioners — a key role in overseeing compliance with EU privacy law.
Ireland’s privacy authority is one of the most powerful regulators in Europe, given that tech giants such as Google, Meta, and TikTok base their European headquarters in Dublin.
The decision has provoked strong backlash from civil rights groups and data privacy advocates. Activist Max Schrems criticized the move sharply:
“We now literally have a U.S. Big Tech lobbyist policing U.S. Big Tech for Europe. It’s absurd.”
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has filed a formal complaint with the European Commission, alleging that Ireland violated EU law during the appointment process. The ICCL claims that the procedure was non-transparent and lacked safeguards against conflicts of interest.
The complaint also highlights that a lawyer with prior ties to Big Tech companies sat on the selection panel that chose Sweeney — raising further ethical concerns. The ICCL is calling on Brussels to intervene and ensure Ireland upholds EU standards of independence and integrity.

A Dual Challenge for Europe
The European Union is facing a double crisis — one geopolitical, one moral. It must balance its trade relations between Washington and Beijing while defending its internal credibility in upholding ethics and transparency in tech regulation.
Brussels is trying to project unity and resilience, but as pressure mounts from both China and the United States, maintaining that balance will only become harder.


#Eu , #china , #TradeWar , #Geopolitics , #worldnews

Stay one step ahead – follow our profile and stay informed about everything important in the world of cryptocurrencies!
Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

Tensions between the United States and China are mounting — but so are hopes for a breakthrough. U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi this Thursday in Gyeongju, South Korea, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

It will be the first in-person meeting between the two leaders during Trump’s second term.

Markets Bet on a Breakthrough: 93% Chance the Summit Happens
According to data from prediction platform Kalshi, there is a 93% probability that the summit will indeed take place this week, with more than $6 million wagered on the event.
Traders and policymakers are watching closely, as the outcome could determine the fate of tariffs, tech imports, and overall market stability.
The meeting comes just days after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Malaysia. Bessent told NBC’s Meet the Press that both sides had reached a “very substantial framework” that could halt Trump’s planned tariff hike and open the door for deeper negotiations.
“I believe we’ve reached a substantial framework that will prevent the tariff increase and allow us to discuss that and many other issues with China,” Bessent said.
Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One en route to Asia, echoed that sentiment:
“They’ll have to make concessions — and I guess we will too. I wouldn’t like to see the tariffs go up.”


Key Topics: Tariffs, Rare Earths, Oil, Chips, and Taiwan
The summit in Gyeongju will begin Thursday morning local time (Wednesday night in Washington) and follows private talks in Malaysia, which Chinese state media described as reaching a “basic consensus on arrangements.”
The main topics on the table include:

🔹 Tariffs and trade – Trump’s proposed 100% tariff on Chinese imports is still scheduled to take effect on November 1, potentially pushing total duties above 150% on certain goods. Bessent now expects that hike to be suspended thanks to improved dialogue.

🔹 Rare earths – Washington is increasingly concerned about China’s dominance in rare earth minerals, vital for weapons, batteries, and semiconductors.

🔹 Russian oil – The U.S. has criticized Beijing for continuing to buy Russian crude despite global sanctions.

🔹 Semiconductor restrictions – The Biden-era chip export bans remain a sticking point; Washington wants China to stop bypassing them.

🔹 Fentanyl and soybeans – Both sides are expected to discuss illicit fentanyl trafficking and China’s commitment to purchase more U.S. soybeans.
And then there’s Taiwan — the most delicate issue of all.

U.S. officials said Trump does not plan to raise the topic unless China does first. But before leaving Washington, he cautioned:
“Any attempt by China to take control of Taiwan would be very dangerous for them. I don’t want to talk about it now — I don’t want to complicate the meeting.”

A Temporary Truce, Not Lasting Peace
Political analyst Terry Haines from Pangaea Policy said the “nice noises” coming from both sides might lift markets in the short term, but the long-term outlook remains fragile.
“They may have agreed to keep the truce alive for a few more months, but there’s no sign of lasting progress,” Haines said.
He warned that the core issues — tech bans, resource dependencies, and geopolitical flashpoints — are still unresolved.
Chinese state media echoed a familiar line:
“The two countries gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation.”

Yet, on the ground, mutual trust remains fragile.
Trump’s trip to Asia, which included a stop in Malaysia and a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, is part of a broader White House strategy to strengthen regional ties while maintaining pressure on Beijing.

All Eyes on Gyeongju
Thursday’s Trump–Xi summit could determine whether the world sees a step toward trade stabilization or a return to rising tensions.

Markets are already reacting with optimism — but only time will tell whether this meeting delivers real progress or just more talk.


#TRUMP , #Tariffs , #GlobalMarkets , #worldnews , #china

Stay one step ahead – follow our profile and stay informed about everything important in the world of cryptocurrencies!
Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

Workplace fraud has entered a new era. Across the globe, employees are increasingly using artificial intelligence tools to generate fake receipts and invoices that look so realistic that even trained auditors struggle to tell real from fake.

Companies are now warning: “Don’t trust your eyes.”

From Zero to 14% in Just One Year
According to data from AppZen, a company that develops expense management software, AI-generated receipts accounted for roughly 14% of all fraudulent documents submitted in September — compared to none at all just a year earlier.
Another firm, Ramp, reported that its new fraud detection system uncovered over $1 million worth of fake invoices within just 90 days.
Research by Medius, which specializes in expense management, found similar trends. About 30% of finance professionals in the U.S. and U.K. said they had noticed more fake receipts since OpenAI released GPT-4o earlier this year.
“These receipts are so convincing that we tell our customers: Don’t trust your eyes,” said Chris Juneau, Senior Vice President at SAP Concur, one of the world’s largest expense management platforms, which processes over 80 million compliance checks per month using AI.

AI Makes Fraud Easy for Everyone
Until recently, fabricating receipts required photo-editing skills or hiring someone online to do it.

Now, with free, user-friendly AI tools, any employee can create a fake receipt in seconds simply by typing a short prompt.

Many AI-generated fakes look indistinguishable from the real thing:

Realistic Fonts And Layouts

Crumpled Paper Texture

Itemized Restaurant Menus

Even Forged Signatures
“This isn’t a future threat — it’s happening right now,” said Sébastien Marchon, CEO of expense management platform Rydoo.

“AI-generated receipts still make up a small portion today, but that number will only grow.”

Companies Are Fighting Back With AI
Because fake documents are now so lifelike, firms are turning to AI-based detection tools — since human reviewers can no longer keep up.
These systems analyze:

🔹 Metadata In Image Files To Detect AI Origins

🔹 Repetitive Patterns In Filenames And Timestamps

🔹 Broader Travel Data To Cross-Check Employee Claims
If a fraudster removes metadata by taking a screenshot, the software then examines other indicators.
“AI can detect micro-patterns the human eye misses — people get tired, algorithms don’t,” explained Calvin Lee, Senior Director of Product Management at Ramp.

70% Of CFOs Suspect Employees Are Using AI To Cheat
A SAP survey conducted in July found that nearly 70% of CFOs believe their employees have used AI to falsify travel or expense receipts, and about 10% confirmed it has already happened within their companies.
Mason Wilder, Research Director at the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, called AI-generated fake receipts a “serious and rapidly growing threat.”
“There are no entry barriers anymore,” Wilder said.

“You don’t need Photoshop skills like five years ago — just a few clicks and you’re done.”

OpenAI Responds
OpenAI said it takes action against users who violate its terms and noted that all images created through ChatGPT contain hidden digital markers indicating they were AI-generated.

However, these identifiers can be removed or obscured if someone takes a photo or screenshot of the fake document.

A New Reality For Finance Teams
AI now presents a double-edged sword for companies:

It Improves Fraud Detection Efficiency

But It Also Makes Fraud Easier And Faster To Commit
Experts warn that organizations must now invest in intelligent detection systems and employee training, or risk falling victim to the very technologies designed to help them.


#ArtificialInteligence , #AI , #OpenAI , #fraud , #worldnews

Stay one step ahead – follow our profile and stay informed about everything important in the world of cryptocurrencies!
Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

Google is facing a new wave of legal trouble. U.S. users who recently won a $425 million privacy lawsuit are now demanding that the tech giant hand over an additional $2.36 billion — allegedly profits earned from secretly tracking user data without consent.

After the Verdict, Users Push for Billions More
In a new motion filed in federal court in San Francisco, lawyers representing 98 million U.S. Google users urged Judge Richard Seeborg to compel Alphabet’s Google to surrender the profits it allegedly made by collecting app activity data even after users disabled key tracking features.
According to the filing, the $2.36 billion figure represents a “conservative estimate” of Google’s gains from its Web & App Activity feature — which plaintiffs say misled users into believing their data wouldn’t be collected once it was turned off.
The jury previously ruled that Google’s conduct was “highly offensive, harmful, and without consent.” Plaintiffs argue that the initial award was “clearly insufficient to address the ongoing and irreparable harm” caused by Google’s practices, noting that the company has not updated its privacy disclosures or collection methods despite the verdict.

Google Defends Itself: “The Data Was Anonymized”
Google denies any wrongdoing and maintains that it complied with privacy laws.

A company spokesperson confirmed that Google plans to appeal and insisted that all data collected was anonymized, claiming that users have meaningful control through privacy settings.
The company also argued that the lawsuit misrepresents how its products function, calling the verdict legally flawed.

Google Seeks to Overturn the Verdict and Decertify the Class
In a separate filing, Google asked the court to vacate the verdict and decertify the class action representing 98 million users and 174 million devices.

The company argued that privacy expectations vary widely depending on which apps users used and their individual understanding of privacy, making the case unsuitable for class-wide treatment.
Google maintains there were insufficient common issues to justify a single collective judgment.

Eight Years of Tracking and “Deceptive” Privacy Settings
Originally filed in 2020, the lawsuit alleges that Google secretly accessed mobile user data for eight years, including app usage patterns and personal identifiers, even after users opted out of tracking in their account settings.
The jury sided with the plaintiffs on two of three privacy claims, finding that Google breached user consent and privacy assurances.
The initial lawsuit sought $31 billion in damages, which would have been the largest privacy payout in U.S. history.

A Landmark Case for Data Privacy
If the court rules again in favor of the plaintiffs, the disgorgement could become one of the largest financial penalties ever imposed in a U.S. privacy case.
Beyond the money, the case highlights growing tension between tech giants and data privacy advocates, as regulators push for greater transparency and accountability in the digital age.


#Google , #usa , #Finance , #technews , #worldnews

Stay one step ahead – follow our profile and stay informed about everything important in the world of cryptocurrencies!
Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“