BBC technology news

Could TikTok be banned again and who might buy it? https://ift.tt/ukqMT0A The president says he would like TikTok to 'remain alive' as his extended deadline for its sale-or-ban approaches.

Kink and LGBT dating apps exposed 1.5m private user images online https://ift.tt/5VUtISA The often-explicit pictures are being stored without password protection, leaving them vulnerable to a hack.

Musk's xAI buys his social media platform X https://ift.tt/evpO1xj The move could be aimed at protecting investors, who helped him buy purchase X, from losing money.

'UK crowds are the best': Does home advantage make a difference in esports? https://ift.tt/kGhFfXH The Rocket League Championship Series Birmingham Major brings together the 16 best teams in the world

Center Parcs removes X account from website after fake account set up https://ift.tt/MzpPQUk An IT consultant took charge of the Center Parcs UK's handle after the firm deactivated its account.

Assassin's Creed maker gets $1.25bn Chinese investment https://ift.tt/7EvLMod The unit will run Ubisoft's biggest franchises, including Assassin's Creed, Far Cry and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six.

H&M to use digital clones of models in ads and social media https://ift.tt/wZ58Qng Some fear the move could mean less work for models, photographers and make-up artists.

OnlyFans fined over user age-check failings https://ift.tt/QnqrIpL The site - which is known for hosting explicit material - gave inaccurate information about age verification.

NHS software provider fined £3m over data breach after ransomware attack https://ift.tt/ilEsdLP Security failings by the Advanced Computer Software Group led to a cyberattack in 2022 that impacted NHS services.

Tougher rules needed to protect young people online, report warns https://ift.tt/A4hxLmW The youth parliament says it wants more action from MPs and social media companies on violent online content.

Atomfall: How a forgotten nuclear disaster inspired a video game https://ift.tt/PFkWb9J A new video game has brought the 1957 disaster in Cumbria back into the spotlight.

23andMe users struggle to delete their highly sensitive data https://ift.tt/SZljRqW Multiple users said they had problems after the DNA-testing firm filed for bankruptcy protection.

What is the Signal messaging app and how secure is it? https://ift.tt/0cuxjp2 Experts saying using even such a privacy-focussed platform for national security matters is very unusual.

Chinese electric carmaker BYD sales beat Tesla https://ift.tt/Zne45Dp The Shenzhen-based firm says revenue for last year came in at $107bn, boosted by sales of its hybrid vehicles.

Meta considers charging for ad-free Facebook and Instagram in the UK https://ift.tt/svnTPg2 The firm is considering asking people to pay to remove ads if they do not want their data to be tracked.

DNA testing site 23andMe files for bankruptcy protection https://ift.tt/aFzyO7N The company said that it will now attempt to sell itself under the supervision of a court.

The man with a mind-reading chip in his brain - thanks to Elon Musk https://ift.tt/f8BNM2C Noland Arbaugh tells the BBC how being the first Neuralink patient has changed his life.

Honest or unrealistic? Roblox boss' online safety advice sparks debate https://ift.tt/xXUrve0 Hundreds of people contacted the BBC after Dave Baszucki spoke about safety on the hugely popular gaming platform.

Uber offers 20 hours of free childcare in bid to lure female drivers https://ift.tt/mHor0Cp A union says it should instead pay drivers more so they can take time off with their families.

Tesla vandals face up to 20 years in prison, says attorney general https://ift.tt/JjxRd7w The US attorney general said a wave of vandalism and arson attacks at Tesla dealerships is "domestic terrorism".

TikTokers call for 'chubby filter' to be banned https://ift.tt/s9Rwp6T Fans of the viral AI tool treat it as a bit of fun - but critics say it is a form of body shaming.

Why Elon Musk's Grok is kicking up a storm in India https://ift.tt/46prUCO The chatbot has become an "unfiltered and unhinged" digital sensation in India.

Man files complaint after ChatGPT said he killed his children https://ift.tt/aQPxA27 The Norwegian man says the chatbot's maker OpenAI should be fined over the completely inaccurate information.

Google agrees to pay $28m in racial bias lawsuit https://ift.tt/jP7L2SW The settlement with thousands of people who have worked at the tech giant has received preliminary approval.

Subsea fibre cables can 'listen out' for sabotage https://ift.tt/XQoCecb Ways are being developed for subsea cables to "sense" whether they are being disturbed or attacked.

Telegram founder allowed to leave France following arrest https://ift.tt/SEKkPci The billionaire has been accused of failing to properly moderate his app to reduce criminality.

Shut vile death video site, families say, as Ofcom gets new powers https://ift.tt/fD58bkx Families want a website showing deaths of their loved ones to be taken down, as the online regulator gets new powers.

It's not a competition! The collaborative video game genre loved by players https://ift.tt/s5EaMx2 Josef Fares has found big success with co-operative two player games. Why are more doing the same?

Apple encrypted data row hearing begins in secret https://ift.tt/4d97U5q The BBC - along with civil liberties groups and some US politicians - argue the case should be heard in public.

Judge orders Trump administration to give fired workers their jobs back https://ift.tt/K1po40G A federal judge has ordered the rehiring of probationary workers terminated by the Trump administration.

'Huawei lobbyists' held in Belgium raids over EU corruption https://ift.tt/miHn3zC The prosecutor's office said it raided 21 addresses in Belgium, according to local media.

Pressure grows to hold secret Apple data privacy hearing in public https://ift.tt/yWnFmHr Civil liberties campaigners have joined US politicians and the BBC in saying Friday's hearing should not be secret.

US tech firms feel pinch from China tariffs https://ift.tt/IPAmfvZ The price of China-made smartphones, TVs and laptops could rise in the US and elsewhere, experts warn.

Keep kids off Roblox if you're worried, its CEO tells parents https://ift.tt/pTyMesW The gaming platform is wildly popular, but has been rocked by allegations it exposes children to harmful content.

Saudi Investment Fund pays $3.5bn to capture Pokémon Go https://ift.tt/mZceuGb It is amongst the highest-grossing mobile games in the world, with 30 million monthly players.

Secret hearing on Friday in Apple and UK government data row https://ift.tt/sbqZnRk The BBC understands the dispute over accessing encrypted data is set to be heard at the High Court.

Global smartwatch sales fall for first time https://ift.tt/HEkqXQW Market researchers say the slumping popularity of the market-leading Apple Watch was to blame

Google Chromecast users' fury at second day of TV streaming issue https://ift.tt/FDIHyLd Google says it is aware of an issue impacting some Chromecast devices and is working to fix.

A dating app for video games tackles one of the industry's big issues https://ift.tt/A9L4mxe Ludocene is taking a cue from Tinder in an attempt to address a big problem for smaller developers.

Thousands report outages of Musk's X platform in US and UK https://ift.tt/GRKJiya Many users affected by the outage were met with a loading icon.

From chatbots to intelligent toys: How AI is booming in China https://ift.tt/GcXHOqz China plans to invest more than a trillion dollars as it races against the US to rule advanced tech.

Why people are cutting back their online profile https://ift.tt/JgLXH0v A new wave of AI has spurred some to think more carefully about their online presence.

Software bug at firm left NHS data 'vulnerable to hackers' https://ift.tt/r3IW7Fv The NHS is looking into claims that a software flaw at Medefer left patient data vulnerable.

North Korean hackers cash out hundreds of millions from $1.5bn ByBit hack https://ift.tt/SrHhCbj Hackers from the infamous Lazarus Group are in a cat-and-mouse game to launder their stolen funds from the ByBit heist.

Tech Life: The doctor will see you now https://ift.tt/btrMZ8u Find out how holoportation 3D telemedicine technology is helping patients in Ghana.

Granny gets X-rated message after Apple AI fail https://ift.tt/VKycj1D Louise Littlejohn said she was shocked and then laughed when she received the error strewn voicemail transcription.

Tech Life: The doctor will see you now https://ift.tt/LoQfbdr Find out how holoportation 3D telemedicine technology is helping patients in Ghana.

Flights halted at some Florida airports over SpaceX debris https://ift.tt/ylPFAWi It impacted flights in Orlando, Miami and Palm Beach after debris concerns from Starship's failed launch

Month of bank IT failures in the last two years, MPs say https://ift.tt/koDXePd The MPs have also discovered millions of pounds of compensation will be paid out because of the spate of outages.

'I look at hundreds of child sex abuse images every week to stop them' https://ift.tt/V2HfYMx Mabel works for a firm that trawls the internet looking to remove the worst indecent images.

UK competition watchdog drops Microsoft-OpenAI probe https://ift.tt/A9FbytO Digital rights campaigners say it shows the regulator has given into Big Tech and been "defanged."

Tech Life: The doctor will see you now https://ift.tt/UlEcekh Find out how holoportation 3D telemedicine technology is helping patients in Ghana.

Tech Life: The doctor will see you now https://ift.tt/UlEcekh Find out how holoportation 3D telemedicine technology is helping patients in Ghana.

Apple takes legal action in UK data privacy row https://ift.tt/e4Gvl5b The tech giant is appealing a government order for access to customers' private data, the BBC understands.

Hellblade 2 leads the way at Bafta Games Awards https://ift.tt/Wk5oK4A Astro Bot, Still Wakes the Deep and Thank Goodness You're Here! complete a varied field this year.

Man threatens to kill Twitch streamers during livestream from LA https://ift.tt/PfYOwIo Cinna, Valkyrae and Emiru were streaming in LA when a man chased and threatened to kill them.

Hegseth orders pause in US cyber-offensive against Russia https://ift.tt/1brndGp The reported directive from the defence secretary comes during an American push to end the war in Ukraine.

TikTok investigated over use of children's data https://ift.tt/ZYW8bi0 It will look into how the social media platform uses the data of 13 to 17-year-olds to recommend content.

Crypto prices rally after Trump backs five coins for 'crypto reserve' https://ift.tt/K0A4o8b Trump named five cryptocurrencies he wanted in a potential national reserve so the US could become "the Crypto Capital of the World".