Policy
* Key Takeaways: * Leaked documents obtained by The Washington Post show Meta pursued a yearslong strategy to bring teens back to Instagram. * Two weeks after dozens of state attorneys general sued Meta over teen safety and addiction concerns, Instagram head Adam Mosseri circulated a memo urging staff to "bring more
Policy
* Key takeaways: * Google requires developers to enroll by Jan 28 to join its "external content links" and "alternative billing" programs. * Google plans per-install fees of $2.85 for apps and $3.65 for games when a user installs within 24 hours of clicking an external link.
Policy
* Instagram will cap hashtags at five per post for reels and standard posts. * The change aims to reduce spam and encourage targeted tagging for better discovery. * Instagram tested lower limits earlier and now enforces a universal five-tag maximum. * Threads and other Meta products continue to adopt even stricter tag rules.
Policy
* Key Takeaways: * Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema publicly backed a $2.5 billion AI-focused data center proposal in Chandler, Arizona, warning federal "preemption" could override local rules. * Chandler staff recommended denying the project, citing low job creation and infrastructure strains; Salt River Project is requiring a $242 million up-front
Policy
• Key takeaways: * Australia has enacted a world-first law preventing under-16s from holding accounts on major social platforms. * Platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Snapchat, TikTok, Reddit, YouTube, Kick and Twitch must enforce the rules. * Companies must take “reasonable steps” to verify age (IDs, biometrics, bank details) or face fines up
Policy
* The European Union has fined Elon Musk's social media platform X €120 million (£105 million), citing its paid blue tick system as "deceptive." * Regulators argue the system, which lacks meaningful identity verification, exposes users to scams and impersonation fraud. * The move has sparked outrage from prominent
Policy
Highlights * A coalition of nine Montana nonprofits has filed a petition with the state's Public Service Commission (PSC) against NorthWestern Energy. * The groups are concerned that plans to supply massive amounts of electricity to new data centers will cause residential power bills to increase significantly. * The proposed data
Policy
* Vice President JD Vance is facing mounting pressure from within the MAGA movement over his relationship with the data analytics firm Palantir. * Prominent Trump allies, including Roger Stone and Steve Bannon, have publicly voiced fears that Palantir's government work could lead to a mass surveillance state. * Palantir, co-founded
Policy
* The Alton City Council has unanimously approved a partnership with Ameren Illinois, securing $75,000 in funding for city-wide electrification projects. * Key plans include installing new public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and repairing the currently inoperable charger at City Hall. * The funding may also be used to begin transitioning
Policy
* Nuclear Ambitions Revealed: New photos from a Dalian shipyard show a structure strongly resembling a nuclear reactor containment, offering the clearest evidence yet that China's fourth aircraft carrier, the Type 004, will be nuclear-powered. * A Game-Changing Leap: Nuclear propulsion would grant the carrier virtually unlimited range and endurance,
Policy
* A critical lab monitoring seismic activity for over 25 years is losing its funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). * As a direct result, nine seismic stations essential for detecting tsunami-causing earthquakes are set to go offline by the end of the month. * This shutdown raises serious concerns
Policy
* The European Union is launching the "European Democracy Shield," a new initiative to counter Russia's hybrid attacks on European elections and media. * The plan involves increased financial support for independent press, especially in rural "media deserts," and a new center to coordinate defenses against