Paramount goes hostile in bid for Warner Bros., challenging a $72 billion bid by Netflix

NEW YORK (AP) — Paramount is making a hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery just days after Netflix reached a $72 billion deal with the company. Paramount said Monday that it is offering $30 per share in cash for the entirety of Warner Bros. Discovery, including its Global Networks segment.

IBM buys data streaming platform Confluent in $11 billion deal

IBM has announced it's acquiring data streaming platform Confluent in an $11 billion deal. The companies have signed a definitive agreement for IBM to buy all of Confluent's common stock at $31 per share in cash. Confluent is an open-source platform that connects, processes, and governs data and events in real time. IBM's CEO, Arvind Krishna, says the acquisition will enhance AI services by improving data communication and flow. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2026, pending approval from Confluent shareholders and regulators.

AI-powered police body cameras, once taboo, get tested on Canadian city's 'watch list' of faces

Police in Edmonton, Canada, have started a pilot project using AI-equipped body cameras to detect faces on a "high risk" watch list. The move by Axon Enterprise, Inc. has raised ethical concerns, especially since the company previously paused facial recognition due to privacy issues. The pilot aims to enhance officer and public safety by identifying individuals flagged for a history of serious offenses. However, critics worry about societal risks and the lack of public debate. Axon CEO Rick Smith describes the project as "early-stage field research" to gather insights. The pilot will run through December, with results analyzed later at the station.

As sea drones force Russia to retreat, Ukraine examines ways to launch more complex attacks

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A top Ukrainian sea-drone commander says more complex attacks on Russian forces are expected next year as Kyiv’s uncrewed fleet continues to restrict the once-dominant Black Sea navy. The officer, known as “13th,” told The Associated Press that Russia has adapted by keeping ships in port and operating at greater distances, reducing opportunities for high-profile strikes. The defense intelligence agency's Group 13 operates Magura drones that have played a key role in limiting Russian movements, while Ukraine plans to expand drone production with NATO partners. The commander said deeper use of artificial intelligence will enhance targeting and keep pressure on Russian forces.

Netflix to acquire Warner Bros. studio and streaming business for $72 billion

NEW YORK (AP) — Netflix has struck a deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, the Hollywood giant behind “Harry Potter” and HBO Max. The $72 billion deal announced Friday would bring together two of the biggest players in television and film and potentially reshape the entertainment industry. If approved by regulators, the merger would put two of the world’s biggest streaming services under the same ownership — and join Warner’s television and motion picture division, including DC Studios, with Netflix’s vast library and its production arm, which has released popular titles such as “Stranger Things” and “Squid Game.”

Notable early reaction to Netflix's deal to acquire Warner Bros.

NEW YORK (AP) — Netflix's $72 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. studio has sparked reactions from the worlds of entertainment, politics and business. Michael O’Leary, CEO of Cinema United, warns that Netflix's model could harm theaters and communities. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren calls the deal an “anti-monopoly nightmare,” fearing higher prices and fewer choices. Former WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar believes it will reduce competition. And the Producers Guild of America said Friday that a key test for Netflix to pass is whether the deal “promotes opportunities for workers and artists, empowers consumers with choices, and upholds freedom of speech.”

Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts’ highest court heard oral arguments Friday in the state’s lawsuit arguing that Meta designed features on Facebook and Instagram to make them addictive to young users. The lawsuit filed in 2024 by state Attorney General Andrea Campbell alleges that Meta did this to make a profit and that its actions affected hundreds of thousands of teenagers in Massachusetts who use the social media platforms. The lawsuit is among a growing number that have been filed in federal and state court against Meta, which argues it has taken a number of steps to keep children safe online.

Georgia Power says it needs a huge increase in power capacity to meet data center demand

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's largest utility wants to spend more than $15 billion to increase its electricity capacity by 50% over the next six years to serve data centers. It would be one of the biggest buildouts to meet the demand from developers of artificial intelligence. The five elected Republicans on Georgia's Public Service Commission will vote on the request by Georgia Power on Dec. 19. The decision comes as electricity bills have emerged as a potent political issue. In Georgia, voters ousted two incumbent Republicans in favor of Democrats last month. Those Democrats won in campaigns that centered on Georgia Power bill increases, even though the company agreed to a three-year rate freeze.

EU hits Elon Musk's X with 120 million euro fine for breaching bloc's social media law

LONDON (AP) — European Union regulators have fined Elon Musk’s social media platform X 120 million euros for failing to comply with digital regulations. The European Commission issued the decision after a two-year investigation under the Digital Services Act. This rulebook requires platforms to protect European users and clean up harmful content. Regulators said X, formerly known as Twitter, breached transparency requirements. They cited issues with X’s blue checkmarks, which they called “deceptive,” and failures in its ad database and data access for researchers. The decision could upset President Donald Trump, who has criticized Brussels’ digital regulations.

Cloudflare says service restored after outage that brought down sites including Zoom and LinkedIn

MADRID (AP) — Cloudflare reports that it has resolved an outage that disrupted several global websites, including LinkedIn and Zoom. This marks the second such incident for the company in less than three weeks. On Friday, Cloudflare said the issue stemmed from a change in how its firewall handles requests, not an attack. Edinburgh airport experienced a brief shutdown but later said it was unrelated to Cloudflare. Last month, Microsoft and Amazon also faced outages affecting their cloud services. Cyber security experts warn that such outages are growing more common as organizations rely on a few companies for security and web solutions.