Big Tech Shakeup Google Fined AI Under Scrutiny

This week, the tech world is buzzing with major developments from regulatory fines to landmark lawsuits and platform evolutions. Google is facing a multi-billion euro penalty from the EU, generative AI companies are being challenged over copyright infringement, and Roblox is rolling out significant updates to its user experience and safety protocols.

Google Faces Massive €2.95bn EU Antitrust Fine

The European Commission has imposed a significant €2.95bn (£2.54bn) fine on Google, citing breaches of EU antitrust regulations. According to regulators, Google unfairly leveraged its market dominance by giving preferential treatment to its own Ad Exchange (AdX) within its publisher ad server and ad-buying tools.

Google has been given a 60-day deadline to cease these practices and resolve the inherent conflicts of interest within its ad tech operations. The commission has warned that failure to comply could result in even stricter penalties. Teresa Ribera, the commission's executive vice president, emphasized that digital markets must be built on trust and fairness, and public institutions have a duty to intervene when dominant companies abuse their power. In response, Google has stated its intention to appeal the decision, asserting that its services are competitive and that advertisers today have numerous alternatives.

AI Companies Under Legal Fire for Copyright Infringement

The artificial intelligence sector is facing intense legal scrutiny. AI firm Anthropic has agreed to a minimum settlement of USD$1.5bn (£1.11bn) in a class-action lawsuit brought by authors. The authors alleged that the company used pirated books to train its AI models. Filed for preliminary approval in a San Francisco federal court, the settlement avoids a trial where Anthropic could have faced damages up to USD$1tn (£740bn). Justin Nelson of Susman Godfrey, representing the authors, noted that the settlement sends a clear message that using copyrighted works from pirate sites is unacceptable.

In a related development, Warner Bros. has initiated a copyright infringement lawsuit against the AI image generator Midjourney. The suit claims the startup enables users to create unauthorized images and videos of iconic characters like Superman and Batman. Warner Bros. alleges that Midjourney deliberately removed previous restrictions on generating copyrighted content, making a “calculated and profit-driven decision to offer zero protection for copyright owners.”

Roblox Overhauls Platform with Video Feed and Safety Updates

Gaming giant Roblox is introducing a suite of new features aimed at enhancing user engagement and safety. The platform has announced “Roblox Moments,” a new short-form video feed reminiscent of TikTok. This feature, currently in beta for users aged 13 and over, allows players to capture, edit, and share 30-second gameplay clips complete with music, descriptions, and in-game links.

Alongside this, Roblox is launching new AI-powered creation tools designed to provide creators with more artistic control and streamlined development. These generative features will allow users to build fully interactive objects, moving beyond simple static 3D models.

On the safety front, Roblox is tightening its communication policies to protect younger users. By the end of 2025, the platform will restrict adults from initiating chats with children. To enforce this, Roblox will implement age verification for all chat features. Users who cannot verify they are over 18 will have to prove a pre-existing connection to another user before they can send a message.