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Rep. Kevin Mullin Questions Meta's Content Moderation Ahead of 2026 Election

Rep. Kevin Mullin Questions Meta's Content Moderation Ahead of 2026 Election

Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-San Mateo, has sent a letter to Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, expressing significant concerns regarding Meta’s content moderation policies. The letter, co-signed by eighteen other lawmakers including Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, and Rep. Lateefah Simon, D-Oakland, highlights issues such as fact-checking rollbacks, increased automation of risk review, and the proliferation of AI-generated misinformation across Meta's platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp). Mullin emphasized that a majority of Americans receive news from social media and stressed the importance of Meta's role in ensuring the information voters see about candidates and elections is authentic. The letter cited instances where generative AI has already impacted political campaigns, including a fake conservative influencer named 'Emily Hart' who amassed millions of views before Instagram removed the account. Mullin has requested detailed responses from Meta by September 18 on how the company plans to c...

Lula calls oil near the Amazon River a passport to Brazil's future after Petrobras strikes new find

Lula calls oil near the Amazon River a passport to Brazil's future after Petrobras strikes new find

Brazil’s President Lula da Silva says oil drilling in northern coastal regions could be a "passport to the country’s future."

Chinese Police Address AI-Generated Misinformation and Fabricated Claims Targeting Businesses

Chinese Police Address AI-Generated Misinformation and Fabricated Claims Targeting Businesses

Chinese police have highlighted the issue of AI-related misinformation and fabricated claims, particularly concerning vehicle accidents, as part of a broader crackdown on online rumors aimed at protecting businesses. The cybersecurity arm of the Ministry of Public Security released 14 cases where AI tools were either used to create false content or were the subject of misleading claims. For instance, a man in Shangqiu, Henan Province, used AI to produce a fake video of a car crash, which he then posted on Douyin. Similarly, another individual in Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, utilized AI to generate fake videos depicting a car crash involving a branded vehicle and a company head, intending to attract followers. In Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, police reported a case where a man falsely claimed that an official company video showing a drifting maneuver was AI-generated and that an autonomous vehicle had struck a sanitation worker. These actions, according to the police, have damaged the reputations ...

Brazilian Police Dismantle Criminal Group Using Deepfake Celebrities to Sell Fake Erectile Dysfunction Medication

Brazilian Police Dismantle Criminal Group Using Deepfake Celebrities to Sell Fake Erectile Dysfunction Medication

The Civil Police of the Distrito Federal (PCDF) in Brazil has dismantled a criminal organization that utilized deepfake technology to defraud victims across the country. The group created fraudulent videos featuring deepfaked celebrities, using their altered faces and voices to simulate personal testimonials about suffering from erectile dysfunction. These deepfake videos were then disseminated on social media platforms, where the fabricated celebrities recommended a supposed natural treatment product. Victims, convinced by the apparent credibility of these endorsements, were induced to purchase the products online. Investigations, initiated through Operation Digital Illusion by the Cybercrime Repression Delegation (DRCC/Decor), confirmed sales and deliveries of these items to victims in the Distrito Federal. The components of these products and their potential health risks remain unknown. Authorities identified a suspect in Guarulhos, São Paulo, through cybernetic and financial analysis, leading to a sear...

Congressman Kevin Mullin Leads Lawmakers in Demanding Meta Transparency on AI Disinformation and Election Safeguards

Congressman Kevin Mullin Leads Lawmakers in Demanding Meta Transparency on AI Disinformation and Election Safeguards

Congressman Kevin Mullin (CA-15) is spearheading a coalition of 18 lawmakers who are urging Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to provide greater transparency regarding the company's strategies to combat AI-generated disinformation and election interference. This call comes after Meta discontinued its third-party fact-checking program and other crucial tools designed to prevent the spread of false information. The lawmakers express concern that the rollback of these safeguards could leave voters vulnerable to misinformation ahead of the 2026 elections, especially with the increasing ease of creating convincing deepfakes and deceptive content through generative AI. Rep. Mullin highlighted that Meta, headquartered in his district, operates some of the world's largest social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp, making its decisions highly impactful on public information. The letter from the lawmakers specifically questions Meta's staffing and budget for election integrity in 2026 compa...

General Mills Sells Brazilian Operations, Discontinuing Häagen-Dazs in Brazil

General Mills Sells Brazilian Operations, Discontinuing Häagen-Dazs in Brazil

General Mills Sells Brazilian Operations, Discontinuing Häagen-Dazs in Brazil

AI Becomes Prominent Campaign Issue in Nearly 40% of 2026 U.S. Races, Washington Post Analysis Finds

AI Becomes Prominent Campaign Issue in Nearly 40% of 2026 U.S. Races, Washington Post Analysis Finds

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a significant campaign issue in nearly 40% of the 2026 U.S. House, Senate, and gubernatorial races, according to a Washington Post analysis. Candidates are primarily focusing on the more immediate and tangible aspects of AI, specifically the infrastructure required for AI data centers, including electricity, water consumption, and land use. The analysis, which reviewed 1,200 campaign websites from candidates still competing as of August 14, found that AI or data-center policy was mentioned more frequently than topics like Israel, manufacturing, or racism. While the presence of AI in campaign materials doesn't necessarily indicate it's a top voter concern or a deciding factor in races, it shows that candidates are actively choosing to address the technology in their public messaging. Data-center opposition is appearing in competitive contests and even in races considered relatively safe, such as the New Jersey House race involving Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.

OpenAI Funds 14 Global AI Policy Projects, Including Yonsei University in Korea

OpenAI Funds 14 Global AI Policy Projects, Including Yonsei University in Korea

OpenAI has announced its support for 14 global policy research and pilot projects aimed at expanding economic opportunities and strengthening social resilience in the face of advancing artificial intelligence (AI). These projects will receive a total of $1 million in research funding and up to $1 million in OpenAI API credits. The initiatives span various regions, including the United States, the European Union (EU), Brazil, Singapore, and Korea. In Korea, Yonsei University has been selected as a key research institution to lead efforts in this area. This move by OpenAI underscores a commitment to fostering responsible AI development and integration worldwide, recognizing the need for tailored policies that address local conditions and societal impacts.

Discord Suspends Livestream Features in Brazil Following Government Order

Discord Suspends Livestream Features in Brazil Following Government Order

Discord has suspended its 'Go Live' function and other video transmission and sharing features in Brazil. This action comes in response to an order from the National Data Protection Agency (ANPD) of Brazil. The ANPD mandated the suspension, citing concerns over insufficient safeguards for children on the platform, particularly after a teenager's suicide was reportedly linked to the platform. Discord has stated that it is complying with the order, albeit 'under protest,' and is working to restore the features while simultaneously enhancing its safety measures. The company has also formally requested a reconsideration of the ANPD's decision, questioning the agency's jurisdiction to impose such a suspension and arguing that the three-day deadline for compliance was materially unfeasible. Discord highlighted that the order requires not only the suspension of features but also mechanisms to prevent users from circumventing these restrictions, which demands significant engineering and testing.

JBS seeks full control of Pilgrim's Pride

JBS seeks full control of Pilgrim's Pride

Aug 18 (Reuters) - Brazil's JBS, the world's largest meatpacker, on Tuesday proposed acquiring the remaining shares of Pilgrim's Pride , seeking full control of the U.S. poultry producer.

Satellite Data Indicates Rise in Amazon Deforestation in Brazil

Satellite Data Indicates Rise in Amazon Deforestation in Brazil

Recent satellite data suggests an increase in deforestation within the Brazilian Amazon. This development is part of a broader trend of rising Amazon deforestation, which has been linked to various factors including agricultural expansion and illegal logging. The situation is particularly concerning given the ecological importance of the Amazon rainforest. Reports also highlight the vulnerability of Brazil’s Roraima state to wildfires, exacerbated by a reduction in federal funding. Furthermore, infrastructure projects in the Amazon are reportedly putting 68% of indigenous lands and protected areas at risk. These issues collectively point to growing pressures on the Amazon ecosystem and its inhabitants.

Brazil's Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro return to their strongholds to kick off presidential campaigns

Brazil's Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro return to their strongholds to kick off presidential campaigns

Brazil's presidential candidates have kicked off their campaigns ahead of what is expected to be tight election in October