Meta defends its child safety efforts but critics say the social media giant falls short

CHICAGO (AP) — Meta is defending itself in a California federal court against allegations that its social media business poses harms to children and teenagers. Four states accuse Meta of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by deliberately designing features that get children addicted to scrolling. The company says it has implemented safety measures for young users and will add more. Instagram and Facebook have added features over the years to report inappropriate content and enhance privacy, but critics argue these safety measures are insufficient and ineffective.

Former Meta engineer says Instagram took a 'don't ask, don't tell' approach on kids under 13

OAKLAND, California (AP) — A former engineering director at Meta who has testified before Congress about child safety on Instagram told jurors at a landmark trial that the company took a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach on kids under 13 on its platforms. During his second day of testimony Wednesday, Arturo Béjar said Meta consistently prioritized profits over safety in designing its products. The trial that began Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, California, pits Meta against the states of California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey and is expected to last about six weeks. The company has rejected the claims and said evidence at the trial will show its commitment to safety.

A warehouse burns near Moscow. In Ukraine, drone crews prepare to strike again

Ukrainian drones have targeted a major logistics center outside Moscow, setting it ablaze. The fire was still burning the following day. The attack is part of Ukraine's strategy to strike deep inside Russia, hitting military and industrial sites. On Sunday, the Ukrainian 413th “Raid” Unmanned Systems Regiment launched drones from a sunflower field in southern Ukraine. The Associated Press observed the operation, which aims to pressure Russia into peace talks. Kyiv has increased drone and missile attacks this year, impacting Russian air defenses and morale. The regiment's commander, Yevhen Karas, believes these strikes highlight the war's cost to ordinary Russians.

Shares in Chinese humanoid robot maker Unitree soar in its Shanghai trading debut

HONG KONG (AP) — Shares of Unitree, one of China's largest humanoid robot makers, have soared as much as 629% in its public stock trading debut in Shanghai. At market close, they had gained 460%. The company raised about $900 million in its listing on the Nasdaq-style STAR market. Advanced robotics is a key sector in the technology rivalry between China and the U.S. Last year, Unitree shipped over 5,000 humanoid robots, leading U.S. counterparts, according to industry data. While overseas sales account for more than 40% of Unitree's overall revenue, a U.S. ban on new foreign-made robots could hinder its future sales in the United States.

From robot dogs to helpers, China puts robotics ambitions on display at world conference

BEIJING (AP) — China has kicked off the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, showcasing its expanding robotics industry. Organizers say around 3,000 products will be featured during the five-day event. On Wednesday, Unitree's booth was a highlight, with robots boxing, dancing and even playing ping pong. The conference coincides with Unitree’s stock market debut in Shanghai. This comes weeks after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots, citing national security risks, in a move targeting China. Despite impressive displays, experts say many humanoid robots remain more performers than practical workers.

In Meta's trial, families of social media victims see a pivotal moment for online safety

Advocates and parents of social media victims see the trial underway against Meta Platforms as a significant moment in their fight for online child safety. The trial involves attorneys general from four states seeking billions in damages for social media harms to children. This lawsuit is not focused on any individual person, case or specific harm tied to social media, but rather broader claims that Meta made decisions in designing Instagram and Facebook that put young users at risk. Meta has rejected the allegations and said the trial will show the work it has done to make its platforms safer.

FTC proposal would require retailers to be transparent about personalized pricing

Companies that secretly vary prices based on how much they think individual customers will pay could face federal charges under a proposed Federal Trade Commission policy. In a preliminary report last year, the FTC said that grocers, clothing companies and others used third-party companies to set online prices based on shoppers' locations, browsing histories and other factors. The FTC says it doesn't have the authority to ban personalized pricing in all circumstances. Instead, the proposed policy released on Wednesday would require businesses to tell consumers when they're using personalized pricing and what data they are collecting. The FTC is seeking comment on the proposal for the next 30 days.

Trial for Meta begins with states arguing its platforms preyed on vulnerability of young brains

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Opening statements started Tuesday in a pivotal trial for Meta Platforms in a California federal court, where states are seeking billions of dollars in damages for social media harms to children. Attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are seeking extensive financial damages plus changes to how the company operates Facebook and Instagram. Twenty-nine states sued the tech giant in 2023 over child safety and privacy. The other 25 will go to trial later. The company also faces lawsuits in state courts. Meta said in a statement that it believes it has a strong case.

Governors' races are being increasingly buffeted by the toxic politics of data centers

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — More governors are shifting their stances or taking more steps to squeeze data centers, as the midterm elections near and public opinion sours on the energy-hungry behemoths. The backlash to the server warehouses is enveloping races for governor in some of the nation’s biggest states and presidential battlegrounds. On Tuesday, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said his administration would no longer put data center projects at the head of the line when it comes to issuing construction permits or granting tax exemptions if they don’t meet certain standards. Meanwhile in Texas, Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa released a TV ad in rural markets accusing Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of selling out residents to data center executives and companies.

OpenAI introduces ChatGPT for Teens, promising a more age-appropriate chatbot

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — OpenAI is launching a version of ChatGPT designed for teenagers. As the first generation to grow up with artificial intelligence, teens are already using it for schoolwork, questions about daily life and even companionship. The San Francisco-based company says ChatGPT for Teens is tailored for children ages 13 to 17, with stronger protections including content restrictions around things like suicide, self-harm and romantic or sexual chats. It also provides homework and study support designed to help students learn rather than spit out answers and school essays. The idea is to guide teens toward healthy AI use in an age-appropriate environment, the company said.