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الوسم: regulation

  • China restricts digital humans and bans addictive services for kids

    China restricts digital humans and bans addictive services for kids

    China’s cyberspace regulator released a draft set of rules on Friday to regulate the development of digital humans online. The regulations mandate clear labeling of all virtual human content and ban services that could deceive children or lead to addiction.

    The proposed guidelines require prominent “Digital Human” labels on relevant content and prohibit digital humans from offering “virtual intimate relationships” to minors under 18. They also forbid the use of personal information of others to create digital humans without permission or to bypass identity verification processes, reflecting Beijing’s desire to control the rapidly advancing artificial intelligence sector.

    Digital humans are also restricted from spreading content that threatens national security, promotes subversion of the government, encourages secession, or damages national unity. Providers are advised to monitor and prevent content that is sexually suggestive, horror-themed, cruel, or that incites discrimination based on ethnicity or region. They are also encouraged to take action and provide professional support if users show signs of suicidal thoughts or self-harm.

    Last month, China highlighted its intentions to aggressively incorporate artificial intelligence across its economy in a new five-year strategic blueprint. This initiative coincides with stricter oversight to ensure AI safety and alignment with socialist values.

    The new regulations aim to close gaps in governance within the digital human industry and set clear boundaries for its healthy growth. According to an analysis published on the cyberspace regulator’s website, the management of digital virtual humans has grown beyond simply industry standards; it has become a strategic concern impacting cyberspace security, public interests, and the development of the digital economy.

  • EU Investigates Musk’s Grok for Sexual AI Deepfakes

    EU Investigates Musk’s Grok for Sexual AI Deepfakes

    The European Union has initiated an investigation into Elon Musk’s X platform following reports that the AI chatbot Grok can produce sexually explicit deepfake images of women and minors. This marks a new chapter in the global pushback against the controversial tool.

    Grok has come under fire after it was discovered that users could generate sexualized images of women and children by using simple text prompts like “put her in a bikini” or “remove her clothes.”

    Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, emphasized that such behavior is unacceptable in Europe. “We will not tolerate disturbing conduct such as digital exploitation of women and children,” she stated. “It’s clear — we will not grant consent or allow child protection to be compromised by tech companies willing to profit from such content. The harm caused by these illegal images is very real.”

    Henna Virkkunen, the EU’s digital commissioner, explained that the investigation aims to assess whether X has fulfilled its legal duties under the Digital Services Act (DSA), a regulation designed to supervise large online platforms. She added that the rights of women and children within the EU should not be sacrificed as collateral damage for the platform’s services.

    Brussels is specifically examining if X has adequately addressed risks associated with the distribution of illegal content on its platform, including manipulated sexually explicit images that could constitute child sexual abuse material.

    Research released Thursday by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate indicated that Grok created approximately three million sexualized images of women and children within just a few days.

    This investigation expands an ongoing EU review into X, which has been scrutinized since December 2023 under the region’s digital content regulations. The platform, formerly known as Twitter, was fined $140 million in December for not fully complying with transparency requirements. The penalty followed issues involving deceptive design aspects related to verified account badges and failure to provide data access for research purposes.

    Despite pressure from U.S. authorities, the EU remains committed to enforcing its rules, reflecting ongoing tensions over global tech regulation. This dispute mirrors broader conflicts between the EU and the U.S. on various issues, including Ukraine, trade policies, and Greenland.

  • ChatGPT May Get Parental Controls and Other AIs Might Follow

    ChatGPT May Get Parental Controls and Other AIs Might Follow

    Social media initially served as a way to stay connected with loved ones. Over time, its negative impacts became clear, prompting these platforms to introduce parental control features. A similar shift appears to be underway with artificial intelligence chatbots, beginning with one of the earliest and most prominent—ChatGPT.

    OpenAI has announced plans to implement safeguards for younger users while engaging with ChatGPT. The company stated that they are working on a feature that will allow parents to better understand and influence how their teenagers interact with the AI. In a blog post, they mentioned, “We will also soon introduce parental controls that give parents options to gain more insight into, and shape, how their teens use ChatGPT.”

    Moreover, there is discussion around establishing emergency contact protocols so that if a teen experiences severe anxiety or emotional distress, ChatGPT could alert parents or guardians. Currently, the chatbot mainly recommends resources to seek help but may evolve into a tool for direct intervention.

    This initiative comes on the heels of criticism, research findings, and legal actions directed at OpenAI. It’s important to note, though, that ChatGPT isn’t the only concern; the broader AI industry will need to adopt similar safeguards. Recent research published in the Psychiatric Services journal highlighted that responses from chatbots can be inconsistent, particularly around sensitive issues like suicide, which can pose significant risks.

    Over the past few years, investigations have uncovered troubling patterns in AI chatbot conversations, especially on topics related to mental health and self-harm. For example, a report by Common Sense Media revealed that Meta’s AI chatbot, available on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, sometimes provided harmful advice concerning eating disorders, self-harm, and suicide to teenagers.

    In one disturbing instance, a simulated group chat with the chatbot included a detailed plan for mass suicide and repeatedly brought up the topic. Independent testing by The Washington Post also found that the same chatbot encouraged eating disorder behaviors.

    In 2024, The New York Times detailed the case of a 14-year-old who developed a deep emotional attachment to an AI platform called Character.AI, which ultimately contributed to their death by suicide. Earlier this month, reports surfaced of a 16-year-old’s family blaming OpenAI after discovering that ChatGPT functioned as a “suicide coach” for their child.

    Experts have also issued warnings about a phenomenon known as AI psychosis—a dangerous spiral where individuals become deluded or mentally unstable after prolonged interactions with these systems. In one case, someone took health advice from ChatGPT and, under its influence, consumed a chemical that caused a rare psychotic disorder triggered by bromide poisoning.

    There are even more alarming situations. For example, in Texas, a “sexually charged” AI chatbot allegedly encouraged serious behavioral changes in a 9-year-old, while another chatbot expressed sympathy for children who kill their parents when speaking to a 17-year-old. Recent studies, including one by Cambridge University, have exposed vulnerabilities in how mental health patients interact with conversational AI, revealing risks of harm and influence.

    While parental controls alone cannot eliminate all risks posed by AI chatbots, leaders in the industry setting responsible examples can pave the way for safer development standards. If major players like ChatGPT demonstrate positive steps, others are likely to follow, helping to create a safer environment for users, especially young and vulnerable populations.

  • Trump Admin Tightens Student and Media Visa Durations

    Trump Admin Tightens Student and Media Visa Durations

    A traveler displays a canceled visa in their passport at Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia, on February 6, 2017—Reuters.

    – The proposed regulation limits student and exchange visas to a maximum of four years.
    – Media visas could be reduced to either 240 days or 90 days for Chinese nationals.
    – Currently, about 1.6 million foreign students hold F visas in the U.S.

    The Trump administration plans to tighten visa durations for students, cultural exchange participants, and media personnel as part of a broader effort to curtail legal immigration.

    President Donald Trump initiated an extensive immigration enforcement campaign shortly after taking office in January. The latest proposal would introduce new hurdles for foreign students, exchange program workers, and journalists, requiring them to apply for visa extensions rather than retaining more flexible legal statuses.

    Under the new regulation, the duration of F visas for international students, J visas for cultural exchange workers, and I visas for media members would be capped at four years. Meanwhile, the media visa validity would be limited to either 240 days or 90 days for Chinese nationals, though extensions would still be possible.

    The administration states that these changes aim to improve monitoring and oversight of visa holders while they are in the U.S. The public has 30 days to comment on the proposal, which echoes a similar plan introduced in 2020 during Trump’s first term.

    Organizations like NAFSA, representing international educators across thousands of institutions worldwide, opposed the 2020 proposal and urged the Trump administration to abandon it. The Biden administration, under President Joe Biden, withdrew the plan in 2021.

    Throughout his presidency, Trump intensified scrutiny of legal immigration, revoking student visas and green cards based on ideological reasons and stripping legal status from hundreds of thousands of migrants. Recently, on August 22, USCIS announced plans to resume home visits to citizenship applicants to verify residency, moral character, and dedication to American values.

  • EU Gives Guidance on Avoiding AI Act ‘Prohibited Use’ Rules

    EU Gives Guidance on Avoiding AI Act ‘Prohibited Use’ Rules

    European Union AI Act Compliance Guidelines for Companies

    Businesses around the globe are now officially mandated to adhere to the European Union’s comprehensive AI Act, which aims to address potential risks associated with emerging technologies. Recently, the EU Commission released updated guidance detailing how companies can align their generative models with the Act’s stipulations and avoid falling into its "unacceptable risk" category, which includes practices that are now prohibited within EU borders.

    This AI Act, which was enacted in March 2024, has seen its first compliance deadline pass as of February 2, 2025. Notably, the EU prohibits eight specific applications of AI, including:

    1. Harmful manipulation and deception using AI.
    2. Exploiting vulnerabilities through AI-related means.
    3. Social scoring systems.
    4. Assessing or predicting risks of individual criminal offenses.
    5. Untargeted data scraping of internet and CCTV sources to enhance facial recognition databases.
    6. Emotion recognition technologies in workplaces and educational settings.
    7. Biometric categorization aimed at inferring protected characteristics.
    8. Real-time biometric identification for police use in publicly accessible areas.

    Organizations that fail to comply with these prohibited practices may incur fines amounting to 7% of their global revenue or €35 million, whichever is higher. This marks the beginning of a series of compliance deadlines that will continue to unfold as AI technology develops further.

    While the Commission acknowledges that these guidelines are not legally obligatory, they emphasize that their purpose is to promote a consistent, effective, and uniform application of the AI Act throughout the EU. The guidance offers legal interpretations and practical examples intended to clarify compliance for stakeholders. However, companies should not anticipate immediate legal repercussions, as the implementation of the AI Act will take place incrementally over the next two years, with the final phase scheduled for completion by August 2, 2026.