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Meta has reached a $16.7 billion settlement with 47 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and several territories over allegations tied to its addictive user experience design. As part of the agreement, Meta committed to making specific changes to features that regulators say were built to keep users, particularly minors, engaged for longer periods.
Amazon's Ring is introducing a new encryption system called TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption) that protects video with rotating keys stored temporarily in a secure cloud enclave, only for activating smart home features before being deleted. Users retain access through enrolled devices and can share clips with trusted contacts, but Ring itself won't retain long-term access to the keys. The feature begins rolling out in September, alongside Ring's existing option for full end-to-end encryption.
Astropad has released version 4.0 of its Rock Paper Pencil accessory, which pairs a reusable nano-texture screen protector with custom Apple Pencil tips. The update adds a new graphite tip modeled on a 2B pencil alongside the existing steel ballpoint tip, giving users two distinct writing and drawing feels in one $49.99 kit shipping worldwide now.
Meta has settled a multistate lawsuit accusing it of engineering Instagram and Facebook features—like infinite scroll and push notifications—to hook children, agreeing to pay a guaranteed $12.1 billion over ten years plus up to $5 billion more if TikTok and YouTube adopt similar payments and rules. The deal covers 47 states, DC and several territories, ending a trial in Oakland before Mark Zuckerberg was set to testify; Texas, Florida and New Mexico settled separately or already won judgments. Teen accounts will now face a default 2-hour daily combined limit on Instagram and Facebook, adjustable only by parents.
Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and implement new child-safety measures on Facebook and Instagram to resolve a major legal fight over teen social media addiction. The deal, announced by state attorneys general, settles claims brought by 47 states and averts a continuation of the trial.
Volvo has confirmed a software update bringing Spatial Audio support through Apple CarPlay to the EX90, following earlier plans to add the feature to the EX60 and ES90. The immersive sound experience relies on Dolby Atmos and requires the optional Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system with 25 speakers.
Meta reached a settlement with a coalition of state attorneys general, led by California, resolving claims that it downplayed mental health risks to children on Facebook and Instagram. Under the proposed consent judgment, Meta will pay $16.7 billion total, with California potentially receiving up to $2.1 billion, and must implement daily usage limits, nighttime blocks for teens, stronger age verification, and new parental control tools. Texas did not join the settlement, and both sides waived rights to appeal once the court approves it.
Meta has reached a settlement with 29 US states that had sued the company over allegedly designing Instagram and Facebook to be addictive and harmful to minors. Reuters reports the deal could cost Meta as much as $16.68 billion and would involve 52 state attorneys general, requiring Meta to adopt default usage limits during school and nighttime hours plus stricter age verification. The agreement still needs court approval but would let Meta avoid a trial that could have forced broader industry changes.
A commentary piece argues that companies scaling successfully with AI focus on cutting out repetitive, friction-heavy work rather than layering on more software or hiring more staff. It uses the redesign of the London Underground map—which ditched geographic accuracy for clarity of purpose—as an analogy for how businesses should simplify processes instead of overcomplicating them with new tools.
WhatsApp is rolling out stronger account-security options, letting users replace their six-digit PIN with a full password containing letters, numbers and symbols, and allowing multiple passkeys across Android and iOS devices. The Meta-owned app is also giving users more context on unknown callers, such as whether a number originates from another country.
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has proposed incorporating images, diagrams or visual aids into legislative text, arguing current bills are written in dense language accessible mainly to Capitol Hill insiders. She frames the idea as a way to make lawmaking more transparent and understandable to ordinary citizens rather than only policy staffers.
Testifying in Oakland in the multistate lawsuit against Meta, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said he does not instruct employees to conceal information from him that could create legal exposure. He was questioned about whether Meta lawyers restricted internal sharing of research on child safety and teen mental health, and acknowledged the company had narrowed access to some internal studies.