Social media companies accused of “addicting the brains of children” as trial begins

The world’s biggest social media companies face several landmark trials this year that seek to hold them responsible for harms to children who use their platforms. Opening statements in one such trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court began on Monday. Instagram’s parent company Meta and Google’s YouTube face claims that their platforms deliberately addict…

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Ukrainian drone pilot training program turned into video game so anyone can “feel the rush” of modern warfare

London — Gamers around the world can now buy and play at home a pared-down version of a first-person drone training program developed and used by the Ukrainian armed forces. The game’s evolution — from battlefield training tool to home entertainment — is a notable first, and it is tied directly to Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to…

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Tesla and Waymo executives defend the safety of self-driving cars before Senate committee

Washington — Top executives at Tesla and Waymo made the case for the safety of their vehicles before a Senate committee on Wednesday, insisting their driving systems are safer than human drivers, despite recent incidents.  Congress is considering how to move forward with legislation to create uniform safety regulations to govern self-driving vehicles, which are…

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Google to pay $68 million over allegations its voice assistant eavesdropped on users

Google has agreed to pay $68 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that alleged the technology giant’s voice assistant had illegally recorded users and then shared their private conversations with advertisers. The preliminary settlement, filed January 23 in federal court in San Jose, California, requires approval by U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman. The settlement…

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