Texas Sues Roblox For Allegedly Failing To Protect Children On Its Platform
Texas is suing Roblox, alleging the company misled parents about safety, ignored online-protection laws, and allowed an environment where predators could target children. Texas AG Ken Paxton said the online game platform is "putting pixel pedophiles and profits over the safety of Texas children," alleging that it is "flagrantly ignoring state and federal online safety laws while deceiving parents about the dangers of its platform." The Verge reports: The lawsuit's examples focus on instances of children who have been abused by predators they met via Roblox, and the activities of groups like 764 which have used online platforms to identify and blackmail victims into sexually explicit acts or self harm. According to the suit, Roblox's parental controls push only began after a number of lawsuits, and a report released last fall by the short seller Hindenburg that said its "in-game research revealed an X-rated pedophile hellscape, exposing children to grooming, pornography, violent content and extremely abusive speech." Eric Porterfield, Senior Director of Policy Communications at Roblox, said in a statement: "We are disappointed that, rather than working collaboratively with Roblox on this industry-wide challenge and seeking real solutions, the AG has chosen to file a lawsuit based on misrepresentations and sensationalized claims." He added, "We have introduced over 145 safety measures on the platform this year alone."
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Scientists edge closer to beating world's deadliest disease with first vaccine in over 100 years
Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) may be on the cusp of making a new vaccine to combat a rise in the world's deadliest disease, which takes 1million lives worldwide.
Chronic kidney disease has more than DOUBLED since 1990 to 800 million, experts discover: 'It's a growing global health crisis'
The condition, which causes the kidneys to gradually stop working, is already thought to contribute to 45,000 deaths in the UK alone.
Bizarre 'cultural appropriation' row breaks out over new Tom Daley knitting show's 'misrepresentation' of tiny island with just 44 inhabitants
Channel 4 bosses are embroiled in a bizarre row over 'cultural appropriation' with a Scottish island with fewer than 50 inhabitants.
Traitors winner Alan Carr looks all partied out as he steps out without his trademark specs after celebrating show finale
The finale, watched by an incredible 11.1 million viewers, with a peak of 12 million according to the BBC, is the biggest overnight audience since the Gavin And Stacey final last Christmas.
Robert De Niro's meeting with 'anti-Trump' Pope Leo sparks outrage over leader 'fawning over Hollywood stars'
Robert De Niro's quick stop in Italy has landed him in the middle of a firestorm the Oscar winner likely didn't see coming.
Gemini Starts Rolling Out On Android Auto
Gemini is (finally) rolling out on Android Auto, replacing Google Assistant while keeping "Hey Google," adding Gemini Live ("let's talk live"), message auto-translation, and new privacy toggles. "One feature lost between Assistant and Gemini, though, is the ability to use nicknames for contacts," notes 9to5Google. From the report: Over the past 24 hours, Google has quietly started the rollout of Gemini for Android Auto, seemingly starting with beta users. The change is server-side, with multiple users reporting that Gemini has gone live in the car. One user mentions that they noticed this on Android Auto 15.6, and we're seeing the same on our Pixel 10 Pro XL connected to different car displays, and also on a Galaxy Z Fold 7 running Android Auto 15.7.
It's unclear if this particular version is what delivers support, but that seems unlikely seeing as this very started rolling out last week. Android Auto 15.6 and 15.7 are currently only available in beta, so it's also unclear at this time if the rollout is tied to the Android Auto beta or simply showing up on that version as a coincidence.
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Why Sydney Sweeney can't stop dating MUCH older men... sexologist reveals surprising psychology behind it
Sydney Sweeney's love life has long fascinated fans, and not just because of who she dates, but how much older they tend to be.
Denise Richards' ex Aaron Phypers responds after actress wins five-year restraining order against him
Denise Richards ' ex Aaron Phypers has responded after the actress was granted a five-year restraining order against him.
Iran's plot to assassinate Israeli ambassador revealed for the first time
A US official confirming to Daily Mail the existence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - Quds Force plot to assassinate the Israeli Ambassador to Mexico.
Diddy 'caught drinking moonshine in prison' after telling judge he is sober
Diddy was allegedly caught drinking booze made from fermented fruit and Fanta during his stint at Fort Dix in New Jersey.
Denmark's Government Aims To Ban Access To Social Media For Children Under 15
An anonymous reader quotes a report from the Associated Press: Denmark's government on Friday announced an agreement to ban access to social media for anyone under 15, ratcheting up pressure on Big Tech platforms as concerns grow that kids are getting too swept up in a digitized world of harmful content and commercial interests. The move would give some parents -- after a specific assessment -- the right to let their children access social media from age 13.
It wasn't immediately clear how such a ban would be enforced: Many tech platforms already restrict pre-teens from signing up. Officials and experts say such restrictions don't always work. Such a measure would be among the most sweeping steps yet by a European Union government to limit use of social media among teens and younger children, which has drawn concerns in many parts of an increasingly online world. "We've given the tech giants so many chances to stand up and to do something about what is happening on their platforms. They haven't done it," said Caroline Stage, Denmark's minister for digital affairs. "So now we will take over the steering wheel and make sure that our children's futures are safe."
"I can assure you that Denmark will hurry, but we won't do it too quickly because we need to make sure that the regulation is right and that there is no loopholes for the tech giants to go through," Stage said.
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I ignored stomach pain while running a half-marathon... then found out it was Stage 4 colon cancer
Karina Ureña was fit, health-conscious and preparing to run her first marathon. But after the 30-year-old went to doctors, her whole life changed as she received a devastating diagnosis.
Macabre find is made during excavation at Irish house of horrors mother and baby burial site where 800 corpses are feared to be buried
Excavators working on the site of a former Irish mother-and-baby institution have made an intriguing discovery as they complete a two-year mass excavation
Gemma Collins is laughing all the way to the bank as she rakes in seven-figure sum ahead of her I'm A Celeb All Stars comeback and Dubai move
Gemma Collins has reportedly raked in a seven-figure sum ahead of her I'm A Celebrity All Stars comeback and Dubai move.
Previously unknown Landfall spyware used in 0-day attacks on Samsung phones
'Precision espionage campaign' began months before the flaw was fixed
A previously unknown Android spyware family called LANDFALL exploited a zero-day in Samsung Galaxy devices for nearly a year, installing surveillance code capable of recording calls, tracking locations, and harvesting photos and logs before Samsung finally patched it in April.…
Premier League star 'swindled out of more than £800k' - as police launch manhunt for Tottenham footballer's accused fraudster
Maurice Gomes, 31, is said to have taken money out of the Coutts account of Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma, 29, during a 21-month campaign of scamming.
AI benchmarks are a bad joke – and LLM makers are the ones laughing
Study finds many tests don't measure the right things
AI companies regularly tout their models' performance on benchmark tests as a sign of technological and intellectual superiority. But those results, widely used in marketing, may not be meaningful.…
States Seek Extension of Ecommerce Tariff Moratorium at WTO
An anonymous reader shares a report: A group of states is seeking to extend a World Trade Organization agreement to refrain from placing customs duties on digital transmissions, a World Trade Organization document showed on Thursday. The proposal submitted by Barbados on behalf of a group of African, Caribbean and Pacific states proposed to extend the current moratorium -- a key pillar of internet development for decades -- beyond March 2026, when it was set to expire.
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Eurovision's Sam Ryder to make his West End debut as Jesus in Andrew Lloyd Webber musical - after Cynthia Erivo's casting in the role divided fans
The Eurovision star, 36, who finished second in the 2022 contest, will follow in the footsteps of Wicked's Cynthia Erivo who played the role in LA earlier this year.