BBC technology news

Spotify's content filter fails to block explicit lyrics in dozens of hits https://ift.tt/QFZKAuW Fans are shown swear words and racial slurs in dozens of songs even when explicit content is blocked.

eBay to pay $59m settlement over sales of pill-making tools https://ift.tt/QFZKAuW The government accused eBay of making it too easy to buy equipment for producing counterfeit pills.

Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg apologises to families in fiery US Senate hearing https://ift.tt/QFZKAuW Bosses from five of the largest social media firms were grilled about how they are protecting children.

Tekken 8: Why UK grime scene is representing Japan's big fighting game https://ift.tt/QFZKAuW A British rapper laying down a track for a Japanese beat 'em up? It makes more sense than you think.

Zuckerberg among tech bosses to testify on child safety https://ift.tt/AR0faTW Senators say Meta, X, TikTok, Discord and Snap are not doing enough to protect children online.

Microsoft says AI is getting deployed 'at scale' https://ift.tt/AR0faTW The tech giant's AI success has caused shares to surge, after its market value passed $3tn.

Fitbit customers say devices unusable after update https://ift.tt/AR0faTW More than 100 users say new software is causing Fitbits to malfunction or stop working altogether.

Elon Musk announces first Neuralink wireless brain chip implant https://ift.tt/AR0faTW The company hopes that such chips can eventually work with the brain to help tackle complex medical conditions.

Apple says UK could 'secretly veto' global privacy tools https://ift.tt/kAzIc8P A law change to let the government block new features would be an "unprecedented overreach," it says.

ChatGPT: Italy says OpenAI's chatbot breaches data protection rules https://ift.tt/kAzIc8P Italy had previously banned the AI-powered chatbot over privacy concerns.

Has great white shark newborn been caught on film for the first time? https://ift.tt/kAzIc8P A YouTuber may have captured the first pictures of the early hours of a baby great white shark's life.

X blocks searches for Taylor Swift after explicit AI images of her go viral https://ift.tt/kAzIc8P Twitter says the move is to prioritise safety, after fake explicit images of the singer went viral.

Taylor Swift deepfakes spark calls in Congress for new legislation https://ift.tt/knhaIJm Explicit images of the popstar were spread millions of times on social media before being removed.

Meta tool to block nude images in teens' private messages https://ift.tt/knhaIJm The move is designed to help stop teenagers receiving inappropriate pictures, even in encrypted chats

Vodafone-Three merger faces competition probe https://ift.tt/knhaIJm The Competition and Markets Authority will judge whether the deal would harm the UK telecoms market.

Apple to allow rival app stores on iPhones in EU https://ift.tt/knhaIJm iPhone users in the EU will soon be able to download apps from places other than the App Store.

Microsoft video games division lays off 1,900 staff https://ift.tt/u436oHS The announcement comes three months after the firm closed its huge merger with Activision-Blizzard.

Virgin Media most-complained about broadband provider https://ift.tt/u436oHS The company says the latest data from regulator Ofcom "falls far short of our expectations".

Palworld: Pokémon Company to investigate copying claims https://ift.tt/u436oHS The people behind Pikachu and friends finally comment on the wildly successful "Pokémon with guns".

Twitch announces new deal to pay streamers more https://ift.tt/u436oHS The streaming service, primarily used by gamers, will now give more money to its most popular users.

WWE Raw comes to Netflix from 2025 in huge deal https://ift.tt/RsU1w5g The flagship wrestling show will be exclusively available on the streaming service from 2025.

Amazon fined for 'excessive' surveillance of workers https://ift.tt/RsU1w5g The online retail giant was found to be keeping detailed data on employee working patterns.

Fake Biden robocall tells voters to skip New Hampshire primary election https://ift.tt/9h1Vivj An investigation is opened into the calls, which are suspected to have been artificially generated.

MrBeast reveals he made $250,000 from X video https://ift.tt/9h1Vivj The world's most popular YouTuber had previously said he would not bother posting videos on the site.

Cryptocurrency firm Terraform Labs files for bankruptcy in US https://ift.tt/9h1Vivj The company, whose co-founder is in jail in Montenegro, was behind the crashed TerraUSD and Luna tokens.

Elon Musk visits site of Auschwitz death camp https://ift.tt/9h1Vivj The X owner's visit follows criticism of the platform for not doing enough to fight antisemitism.

Palworld: 'Pokémon with guns' sells 5m copies in three days https://ift.tt/9h1Vivj The surprising success of Palword causes server crashes and exposes "serious bugs" in the game.

Amazon takeover of iRobot to be blocked by EU https://ift.tt/mIOCwne The EU's competition watchdog has made a decision on Amazon's bid to purchase iRobot.

Google starts building £790m site in Hertfordshire https://ift.tt/mIOCwne The tech giant plans to use significant heat from the data centre to heat homes in the area.

What happens when you think AI is lying about you? https://ift.tt/vdTwBN4 BBC Tech Editor Zoe Kleinman tried to challenge the output of a chatbot - but all was not as it seemed.

Spotify attacks Apple's 'outrageous' 27% commission https://ift.tt/vdTwBN4 The music streaming firm is concerned about a new payment system introduced by Apple in the US.

How AI is helping to prevent three buses turning up at once https://ift.tt/Lr7nzCG Bus firms are now using artificial intelligence to design their timetables.

Apple overtakes Samsung as world's biggest phonemaker https://ift.tt/Lr7nzCG iPhones made up a fifth of phones shipped last year, according to shipment data from the International Data Corporation.

Gamers at risk of irreversible hearing loss and tinnitus, study suggests https://ift.tt/Lr7nzCG A new review of available evidence suggests video gamers regularly exceed safe sound limits.

ALI Technologies: Hoverbike start-up files for bankruptcy https://ift.tt/vDpNRoG Japanese firm ALI Technologies had dreamed of a "new form of movement".

BT changes mobile and broadband price rise policy https://ift.tt/vDpNRoG Firm will stop inflation-linked mid contact increases, an industry practice criticised by regulator.

Game to stop selling pre-owned titles https://ift.tt/vDpNRoG The firm's owner, Frasers Group, told the BBC trade-ins would be phased out in "the coming months".

MrBeast: World's biggest Youtuber graces X with his first full video https://ift.tt/vDpNRoG The star has a change of heart over the Elon Musk-owned platform he had previously snubbed.

First Prince of Persia game in 14 years voiced in Farsi https://ift.tt/hZwNvUY Fans say they welcome developers' attempt to represent better the culture of Persia and Iran.

AI to hit 40% of jobs and worsen inequality, IMF says https://ift.tt/hZwNvUY Policymakers should address the "troubling trend", says the organisation's managing director Kristalina Georgieva.

CES 2024: AI pillows and toothbrushes - is it all getting a bit silly? https://ift.tt/Dx2M0GU Companies are clamouring to present their products as AI-powered, but are their claims justified?

eBay pays $3m fine in blogger harassment case https://ift.tt/0qpAJfZ Executives sent live spiders and cockroaches to a US couple who criticised the firm, court papers show.

Why is the world investing so much in semiconductors? https://ift.tt/0qpAJfZ Worries over shortages have prompted government efforts worldwide to boost computer chip production.

Our fingerprints may not be unique, claims AI https://ift.tt/JuazkCL An AI tool can identify prints from different fingers belonging to the same person.

Google's billions make job cuts 'needless' - union https://ift.tt/JuazkCL The Alphabet Workers Union criticises the tech giant for axing hundreds of jobs despite vast earnings.

Pornography review to canvass public's view on issue https://ift.tt/JuazkCL Porn stars, parents and the public are invited to answer questions to help advise government.

Bitcoin: Crypto fans can now invest in exchange-traded funds - but what are they? https://ift.tt/JuazkCL Long-awaited approval from US financial authorities means cryptocurrency fans have a new way to trade.

Amazon slashes jobs at Twitch, MGM and Prime Video https://ift.tt/JuazkCL The tech giant says a new round of job losses is needed to make its business more sustainable.

Gaming voice actors blindsided by 'garbage' union AI deal https://ift.tt/JuazkCL Voice actors say they were not told about the agreement signed by the Sag-Aftra actors' union.

New material found by AI could reduce lithium use in batteries https://ift.tt/DmgtZ8s Microsoft said AI and supercomputing were used to synthesise an entirely new material.

Apple Vision Pro: $3,499 headset finally gets release date https://ift.tt/DmgtZ8s Apple's long-awaited mixed-reality headset will launch in the US on 2 February.

EA FC 24 was UK's best-selling game in 2023 https://ift.tt/DmgtZ8s The Fifa successor retained its position at the top of the gaming league table despite a rebrand.

Stratford sphere venue plans officially withdrawn by US firm https://ift.tt/DmgtZ8s Madison Square Garden Entertainment says it will not bring the Las Vegas-style venue to London.

Samsung warns of worse than expected profits fall https://ift.tt/DmgtZ8s The announcement comes as global demand for consumer electronics remains weak after the pandemic.

AI quiz: Can you tell which image is real? https://ift.tt/2mwibvo Test your skills at detecting AI-generated images with Bitesize's monthly AI quiz.

Apple pays out over claims it deliberately slowed down iPhones https://ift.tt/2mwibvo The tech giant is compensating US customers and faces similar allegations in the UK.

BT Group to turn old street cabinets into electric vehicle charging points https://ift.tt/2mwibvo Up to 60,000 could be converted to tackle a shortfall in electric car charging points, the group says.

Logan Paul offers partial refund for failed CryptoZoo game https://ift.tt/7bYxPZE Logan Paul says he will begin buying back CryptoZoo NFTs, a year after apologising for the failure.

Tesla recalls more than 1.6 million cars in China over steering software issues https://ift.tt/aqyC7FT The issues with assisted driving functions and door-locking systems will be fixed by remote updates.

Trump companies got millions from foreign governments, Democrats say https://ift.tt/aqyC7FT Saudi Arabia, China, others spent big at his properties during presidency, says House Democrat report.

Google Chrome starts blocking data tracking cookies https://ift.tt/aqyC7FT A new feature in the browser will disable third-party cookies for 30 million users.

Kim Kardashian: Hollywood mobile game to shut down https://ift.tt/3kQPlGg The app was a surprising success upon its 2014 release, but the star has announced its time is up.

SpaceX accused of unlawfully firing staff critical of Elon Musk https://ift.tt/3kQPlGg A US labour agency says the employees sent an open letter to SpaceX executives, detailing workplace concerns.

Urgent need for terrorism AI laws, warns think tank https://ift.tt/3kQPlGg The government should 'urgently consider' AI-specific legislation a think-tank says.

Police investigate virtual sex assault on girl's avatar https://ift.tt/ylsUqwi The incident in a virtual world reportedly left the under-16-year-old traumatised.

China’s BYD closer to taking Tesla's electric car top spot https://ift.tt/ylsUqwi Elon Musk's Tesla is due to release quarterly production and delivery figures on Tuesday.