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05 Feb 2026

UK government partners with Microsoft on deepfake detection framework amid expert skepticism

The UK government announced a framework to evaluate deepfake detection technologies, partnering with Microsoft as AI-generated content surged from 500,000 to 8 million instances between 2023 and 2025. However, cybersecurity experts question whether the initiative will deliver systemic improvements without global legislative changes to address the rapidly evolving threat.

2 Sources

China warns OpenClaw deployments pose serious security risks from poor configuration

China's industry ministry issued a security alert warning that the open-source AI agent OpenClaw can expose systems to cyberattacks and data leaks when improperly deployed. The warning highlights risks from default or poorly configured settings in deployments of the AI agent, which integrates large language models with multi-channel communication capabilities.

2 Sources

Nvidia Must Accept Strict Licensing Terms for H200 AI Chip Sales to China, Lutnick Says

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that Nvidia must comply with non-negotiable licensing terms for selling H200 AI chips to China, including Know-Your-Customer requirements to prevent military access. The chipmaker has not yet agreed to all proposed conditions, delaying shipments despite Trump administration approval. Chinese firms are turning to black-market hardware and domestic alternatives amid the uncertainty.

9 Sources

04 Feb 2026

UNICEF Demands Global Crackdown on AI-Generated Child Abuse as 1.2 Million Kids Victimized

UNICEF issued an urgent call for governments worldwide to criminalize AI-generated child sexual abuse material after research revealed at least 1.2 million children had their images manipulated into sexually explicit deepfakes in the past year. The UN agency warned that deepfake abuse is real abuse, demanding AI developers implement safety-by-design approaches and mandatory child-rights impact assessments to protect vulnerable children.

3 Sources

Elizabeth Warren demands answers on Google Gemini's checkout feature amid privacy concerns

Sen. Elizabeth Warren is pressing Google CEO Sundar Pichai for details on Gemini's new checkout feature, warning it could allow the tech giant and retail partners to exploit sensitive user data and manipulate consumers into higher spending. Google has until February 17th to respond to her concerns about the AI shopping assistant.

3 Sources

03 Feb 2026

French Police Raid X Office as Grok Investigation Expands to Include Holocaust Denial Claims

French authorities raided X's Paris office and summoned Elon Musk for questioning as part of a yearlong investigation into illegal content. The probe recently expanded to include allegations that the Grok chatbot disseminated Holocaust denial claims and sexually explicit deepfakes, including child abuse imagery. Prosecutors are investigating multiple potential crimes, including complicity in distribution of child pornography and privacy violations.

32 Sources

UK regulators launch formal probe into xAI as Grok continues generating non-consensual images

The UK's Information Commissioner's Office has opened a formal investigation into Elon Musk's xAI after its Grok chatbot generated thousands of sexualized images without consent. Despite announced restrictions, Reuters testing reveals Grok still produces such content even when explicitly told subjects don't consent, raising serious questions about safeguards and data protection compliance.

9 Sources

Barnsley Named UK's First Tech Town as Government Pushes AI Into Public Services

The South Yorkshire town of Barnsley has been designated the UK's first Tech Town, with £500K in seed funding to integrate AI across schools, hospitals, and businesses. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall says the initiative will serve as a national blueprint, but concerns remain about job displacement and missing data governance frameworks.

3 Sources

02 Feb 2026

Teamsters Union Demands California Suspend Waymo After Robotaxi Hits Child Near School

A major California union is calling for Waymo's driverless taxi service to be shut down statewide following an incident where a robotaxi struck a 5-year-old child near a Santa Monica elementary school. The Teamsters union, representing 250,000 workers, cited significant safety concerns and broader worries about Big Tech replacing human labor with AI.

2 Sources

License Plate Readers in Michigan Ignite Privacy Concerns as Communities Push Back

More than 125 Michigan cities and counties have deployed automated license plate readers, primarily through Flock Safety contracts. While law enforcement agencies tout the technology for solving crimes and locating missing people, privacy advocates and citizens are raising alarms about surveillance overreach, data sharing with federal agencies including ICE, and the erosion of citizen privacy rights.

2 Sources

Coalition urges US government to ban Grok over nonconsensual sexual content and safety failures

A coalition of nonprofits is demanding the US government immediately suspend Grok deployment across federal agencies, including the Pentagon. The call follows reports that Elon Musk's xAI chatbot generated thousands of nonconsensual explicit images per hour, including child sexual abuse material. With government contracts worth up to $200 million at stake, advocacy groups warn the language model poses national security risks.

2 Sources

South Korea deploys AI to detect pump and dump schemes across stocks and crypto markets

South Korea's financial regulators have launched AI-powered surveillance systems to combat market manipulation in both stock and cryptocurrency markets. The Financial Supervisory Service upgraded its VISTA platform with automated detection algorithms, while Korea Exchange introduced tools that scan social media, YouTube, and spam text messages for evidence of pump and dump schemes targeting investors.

3 Sources

India bets on tax breaks and data centers to attract AI investment, but funding cuts raise concerns

India unveiled a zero-tax policy through 2047 for foreign cloud providers running global AI workloads from Indian data centers, aiming to position itself as a compute hub. But the government halved the IndiaAI Mission budget to Rs 1,000 crore, sparking debate about whether India can build meaningful AI capacity while advocating for smaller language models over expensive frontier systems.

9 Sources

Trump UAE deal grants access to 500,000 AI chips after $500M crypto investment raises concerns

A UAE-backed entity tied to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed invested $500 million for 49% of World Liberty Financial four days before Trump's inauguration. The Trump family received $187 million from the deal, which preceded a U.S. policy shift granting the UAE access to 500,000 advanced AI chips annually—technology the Biden administration had blocked over national security concerns.

3 Sources

01 Feb 2026

Indonesia lifts ban on Grok under tight supervision after X commits to compliance measures

Indonesia has conditionally restored access to Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot three weeks after becoming the first country to ban it over concerns about AI-generated explicit content. The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs warns the ban could be reinstated if violations continue, as regulators across Southeast Asia maintain pressure on xAI to prevent misuse.

8 Sources

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