分类： technology

Australian authorities are implementing stringent new digital age verification protocols that mandate major social media platforms to systematically identify and remove accounts belonging to users under 16 years old. Beginning December 10, technology giants including Meta’s Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, along with TikTok, X, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, and Twitch face potential penalties reaching AU$50 million (approximately US$33 million) for non-compliance with these youth protection measures.

The Australian eSafety Commission will initiate enforcement by issuing formal information requests to ten designated platforms on December 11, requiring detailed monthly reports on account removal statistics over a six-month monitoring period. Communications Minister Anika Wells emphasized that while platforms require reasonable timeframes for accurate age verification procedures, systemic violations would trigger substantial financial penalties through judicial proceedings.

Google’s YouTube implementation involves automatically signing out Australian users under 16 from December 10, restricting access to account-specific features. The company utilizes associated Google account data and behavioral signals for age assessment, though it criticized the legislation as fundamentally misunderstanding youth platform engagement and failing to enhance online safety.

Meta has initiated preemptive removal of suspected underage accounts from its platforms, establishing an age verification process through Yoti Age Verification that permits mistakenly removed users to validate their age via government identification or video selfies.

The Sydney-based Digital Freedom Project is pursuing High Court intervention to block the legislation, though no hearing date had been established as of Wednesday. Minister Wells affirmed the government’s commitment to defending the law, citing widespread parental support for enhanced digital protections.

This Australian regulatory approach has attracted international attention, with Malaysia announcing similar restrictions effective 2026, and several European nations including France, Denmark, and Greece reportedly considering comparable minimum age requirements for social media access.

A monumental engineering achievement has been reached in the construction of the Jintang Undersea Tunnel, currently positioned to become the world’s longest subsea high-speed railway passage. The “Dinghai” Shield Machine, a colossal tunneling apparatus, has successfully surpassed the 5,000-meter excavation mark, representing a critical advancement in this groundbreaking infrastructure project.

This engineering milestone occurred at the Zhoushan construction site of the ambitious Ningbo-Zhoushan Railway initiative. The recent breakthrough indicates that approximately 80% of the 6,270-meter shield tunnel section on the Zhoushan side has now been completed, bringing the project significantly closer to its final implementation.

The Jintang Undersea Tunnel constitutes one of the most technologically demanding components of China’s expanding railway network. This massive undertaking demonstrates remarkable progress in underwater tunneling capabilities and high-speed rail technology. The tunnel’s completion will establish a crucial transportation link beneath the ocean floor, enhancing connectivity between Ningbo and Zhoushan while setting new global benchmarks for underwater rail infrastructure.

Engineering teams have overcome substantial technical challenges associated with deep-water tunneling, including pressure management, geological uncertainties, and precision engineering requirements. The successful progression of the Dinghai Shield Machine underscores significant advancements in tunneling technology and project management capabilities within the infrastructure sector.

Upon completion, this engineering marvel will substantially reduce travel times between the connected regions while providing a robust transportation alternative that could transform regional economic dynamics and transportation logistics across Eastern China.

Samsung Electronics has officially unveiled its groundbreaking Galaxy Z TriFold smartphone, marking the company’s entry into the multi-folding device segment. The South Korean technology giant introduced the innovative device on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, as competition in the foldable smartphone market intensifies.

The Galaxy Z TriFold represents a significant technological advancement with its three-panel design that unfolds into an expansive 253.1 millimeter (10-inch) display, providing approximately 25% more screen real estate than Samsung’s current Galaxy Z Fold 7 model. Priced at 3.59 million won ($2,440.17), the device incorporates Samsung’s largest battery ever featured in flagship models and supports super-fast charging capabilities that can reach 50% capacity within just 30 minutes.

Manufactured in South Korea, the Galaxy Z TriFold will debut in domestic markets on December 12, 2025, with subsequent releases planned for China, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates before year-end. United States consumers can anticipate availability beginning in the first quarter of 2026.

Industry analysts perceive Samsung’s multi-folding debut as primarily a technological demonstration rather than a volume-driven product. Ryu Young-ho, senior analyst at NH Investment Securities, noted that as a first-generation commercialized trifold design, Samsung will likely maintain conservative production volumes while assessing market reception and addressing potential durability concerns.

The foldable smartphone market continues to face growth constraints despite increasing competition, with Huawei launching the industry’s first three-way folding device in September 2025 and Apple expected to enter the segment next year. According to Counterpoint Research, foldables are projected to constitute less than 2% of total smartphone market share in 2025, potentially reaching under 3% by 2027.

Counterpoint data revealed Samsung’s foldable market shipment share experienced dramatic fluctuation, jumping from 9% to 64% between the second and third quarters of 2025, highlighting the market’s nascent stage and sensitivity to product launch timing. The research firm anticipates 14% market growth this year, accelerating to approximately 30% annual growth in 2026 and 2027 as Apple’s entry brings renewed attention to the category.

China’s aviation industry marked a significant technological milestone on December 1, 2025, as the domestically developed C919 large passenger aircraft successfully completed its inaugural commercial landing at a high-altitude airport. The landmark event occurred at Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport, situated 1,948.7 meters above sea level, demonstrating the aircraft’s capability to operate in challenging atmospheric conditions.

Operated by China Eastern Airlines as flight MU9179, the twin-engine narrow-body jet touched down smoothly at the northwestern Chinese airport, establishing regular commercial service on the Shanghai-Lanzhou route. This achievement represents a critical advancement for China’s civil aviation sector, showcasing the C919’s performance capabilities in thin-air environments where aircraft require specialized engineering for safe operations.

The successful high-altitude landing validates years of research and development by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), which designed the C919 to compete with established aircraft models like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. Aviation experts note that high-altitude operations present unique challenges including reduced air density, which affects engine performance, lift generation, and braking efficiency.

This operational breakthrough signals China’s growing proficiency in aerospace technology and manufacturing, potentially expanding the C919’s route network to other high-elevation airports across China and internationally. The achievement comes after extensive testing and certification processes that evaluated the aircraft’s systems under various atmospheric conditions.

The C919’s expansion into high-altitude commercial routes demonstrates China’s strategic commitment to developing indigenous technological capabilities in aerospace, reducing dependency on foreign aircraft manufacturers, and capturing a share of the global commercial aviation market.

In a significant stand against digital surveillance concerns, Apple Inc. has declared its intention to reject an Indian government directive requiring smartphone manufacturers to preinstall the state-developed ‘Sanchar Saathi’ application on all devices. The controversial mandate, issued confidentially to industry giants including Samsung and Xiaomi, provides a 90-day compliance window for embedding the cyber safety tool designed to track stolen phones and prevent misuse.

The Indian telecommunications ministry has characterized the measure as an essential security protocol to combat rising cyber threats, particularly addressing the proliferation of duplicated IMEI numbers that facilitate scams and network exploitation. However, privacy advocates and political opponents of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration have condemned the move as governmental overreach that could potentially grant authorities unprecedented access to India’s 730 million smartphone users.

According to three industry sources familiar with Apple’s position, the technology giant plans to formally communicate its objections to New Delhi, emphasizing that such mandates contradict its global privacy standards and threaten the security integrity of its iOS ecosystem. Two sources confirmed that Apple will neither comply with the order nor pursue legal action, but will instead present its security concerns through diplomatic channels.

The development occurs amid Apple’s ongoing legal confrontation with Indian antitrust regulators regarding penalty provisions that could potentially expose the company to $38 billion in fines. While Samsung and other Android-based manufacturers reportedly continue evaluating the mandate, Apple maintains its distinctive position due to its tightly controlled App Store and proprietary software architecture—key components of its $100-billion annual services business.

India’s primary opposition party, the Congress Party, has demanded immediate revocation of the mandate, with senior leader KC Venugopal declaring on social media platform X that ‘Big Brother cannot watch us.’ The government maintains that the initiative addresses legitimate security concerns in a market with substantial second-hand device circulation, where stolen or blacklisted phones frequently reappear in commerce.

In a landmark move affecting one of the world’s largest telecommunications markets, the Indian government has mandated the compulsory pre-installation of its state-developed Sanchar Saathi application on all new smartphones. The directive, issued by India’s Department of Telecommunications, provides manufacturers a 90-day compliance window to integrate this non-removable cybersecurity tool into devices destined for the Indian market, which serves over 1.2 billion mobile subscribers.

The government justification centers on enhancing telecom cybersecurity by combating device fraud through International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) verification. Officials cite India’s substantial second-hand device market as particularly vulnerable, noting that stolen or blacklisted phones with duplicate IMEI numbers frequently resurface in consumer hands. The pre-loaded application enables users to authenticate handsets, report lost or stolen devices, and identify suspected fraudulent communications.

However, digital rights organizations and cybersecurity experts have raised significant concerns about the implementation. The Internet Freedom Foundation characterizes the mandate as transforming every smartphone into ‘a vessel for state mandated software that the user cannot meaningfully refuse, control, or remove.’ Technical concerns focus on the application’s broad system permissions and its design as an immutable component within device operating systems, potentially creating surveillance vulnerabilities by bypassing standard inter-app security protocols.

Industry compliance presents additional challenges, particularly for manufacturers like Apple that historically resist third-party software mandates. While Android devices dominate India’s market (approximately 95.5% share according to Counterpoint Research), Apple’s estimated 4.5% market share represents significant leverage in negotiations. Reuters reports the technology giant intends to formally communicate its reservations to Indian authorities rather than comply with the directive.

This development places India alongside nations like Russia, which implemented similar pre-installation requirements for state-backed applications earlier this year, highlighting the growing global tension between national security objectives and digital privacy rights in telecommunications policy.

BANGKOK (AP) — The United Nations Development Program has issued a stark warning that artificial intelligence risks creating a modern-day “Great Divergence” mirroring the inequalities of the industrial revolution, unless urgent measures are taken to ensure equitable access to the technology.

According to a comprehensive report released Tuesday, while AI promises unprecedented productivity gains and technological advancement, these benefits are disproportionately flowing to wealthy nations and communities. The analysis draws historical parallels to the 19th century industrialization period when Western nations rapidly modernized while others were left behind in technological progress.

The report emphasizes that the most pressing concern isn’t merely how AI might replace human jobs, but how it will impact vulnerable populations including those struggling with basic access to electricity and internet connectivity, older citizens, and people displaced by conflict or climate disasters. These groups risk becoming “invisible” in data systems that fail to account for their unique circumstances and needs.

Despite these challenges, the UN identifies significant potential for AI to address critical development issues. The technology could revolutionize farming through improved advisory services, enable rapid medical diagnostics including X-ray analysis within seconds, enhance weather forecasting accuracy, and streamline damage assessments in disaster-prone regions.

“As a general-purpose technology, AI systems that analyze poverty, health, and disaster risks enable faster, fairer, and more transparent decisions, turning data into continuous learning and public value,” the report states.

However, the implementation of AI brings substantial environmental and security concerns. Data centers required for AI operations consume enormous amounts of electricity and water, potentially undermining climate goals by increasing carbon emissions. The technology also raises serious ethical questions regarding privacy violations, cybersecurity threats—including AI-powered hacking—and the proliferation of deepfakes that can spread misinformation or facilitate criminal activity.

The regional disparities are particularly stark across Asia-Pacific. While nations like China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore are well-positioned to capitalize on AI advancements, countries including Afghanistan, the Maldives and Myanmar lack the fundamental infrastructure, reliable power, and technical skills needed to participate in the AI revolution. Approximately one-quarter of the Asia-Pacific population remains without internet access, potentially excluding millions from digital payment systems, digital IDs, and educational opportunities essential for economic participation.

The report concludes that AI is becoming “the region’s next essential infrastructure, like power, roads, and schools,” but with both faster benefits and sharper risks. It calls for governments to implement transparent regulations, invest in digital infrastructure and education, ensure fair competition, and establish social protections to prevent vulnerable populations from being “stranded on the wrong side of an AI-driven global economy.”

The ultimate goal, according to the UN, is to democratize access to AI capabilities so that every nation and community can benefit while protecting those most vulnerable to technological disruption.