United News of Bangladesh

Turkish lawmakers on Tuesday began debating a draft law package that seeks to limit children under 15 from accessing social media platforms, making Turkey the latest country to introduce measures aimed at protecting young people from online risks. If passed, the bill would require social media companies to implement age-verification systems, provide parental control tools, and respond quickly to content deemed harmful. The duration of the parliamentary debate remains uncertain. Google now lets users change Gmail addresses President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government says the proposal is designed to safeguard children’s safety and privacy online. “Protecting our children from all kinds of risks, threats and harmful content is our top priority,” said Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas, Turkey’s minister for family and social services. The main opposition, Republican People’s Party (CHP), criticized the measure, arguing that children should be protected “not with bans but with rights-based policies.” Under the draft law, platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram would be required to block children under 15 from creating accounts and introduce parental controls. Online game companies must also appoint a local representative to ensure compliance. Penalties could include fines and internet bandwidth reductions imposed by Turkey’s communications watchdog. Turkey has previously restricted online platforms amid political dissent, including last year’s protests supporting jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Similar restrictions for children exist in countries such as Australia, Indonesia, Spain, France, and the UK, reflecting global concern over unregulated social media exposure.

A visit to the O'Smach Resort on the Thailand-Cambodia border highlights the staggering scale of Southeast Asia’s growing scam industry. Thailand’s military, which led a media tour of the complex on Tuesday, said the site covers about 197 acres roughly 150 American football fields. While scam centers in the region are not new, this one dwarfs others in size and sophistication. The pandemic fueled a boom in such operations, where workers use elaborate online schemes to target victims worldwide. The U.N. Office of Human Rights estimates around 300,000 people are involved in the industry across the region. The O'Smach Resort, seized by Thailand in December amid border tensions, was reportedly owned by Cambodian politician Ly Yong Phat, who faces U.S. sanctions for human rights abuses at the same site. The military noted ongoing construction across the sprawling compound, which contains 157 buildings, including 29 scam offices, dormitories, and luxury accommodations. Officials estimate at least 10,000 people live there. Inside one four-story office, FBI data suggests workers targeted Americans, who lost nearly $21 billion to scams in 2025. Desks were scattered with Chinese-language scripts, notes, and American SIM cards. One script detailed a character named Mila, with a backstory crafted to lure victims into gold trading scams. The complex also includes Chinese restaurants offering regional cuisines, catering to staff from different parts of China. “Every country of the world has to join together to solve this problem; we cannot do it alone with Cambodia and Thailand,” said Air Chief Marshal Prapas Sornchaidee, who led the tour. The O'Smach visit underscores that tackling scam operations is a regional and global challenge, demanding coordinated action.  

Samsung has announced that it will discontinue its native texting app, Samsung Messages, in July. The tech giant is advising affected users of Samsung smartphones and other devices to switch to Google Messages to ensure a seamless messaging experience on Android. According to a notice on Samsung’s U.S. support website, Galaxy phones, which operate on Google’s Android platform, can transition to Google Messages by downloading the app from the Play Store and setting it as the default messaging app. Some users may also receive in-app prompts to guide them through the switch. Samsung highlighted that Google Messages will provide users with access to new features, including Google’s Gemini AI capabilities such as "Remix," which allows generating images during conversations, AI-powered reply suggestions, and the ability to send higher-quality photos across Android and Apple iOS devices via RCS-enabled messaging. The company noted that users of older Android versions, including Android 11 and earlier, will not be affected by the discontinuation. To verify their device’s Android version, users can check the "software information" section in the settings app. Samsung added that the app is no longer available for download on its latest Galaxy 26 series and other newer devices. After July, all Samsung devices will lose access to Samsung Messages, and users are advised to check the app for the specific date when service will end. The company has not yet clarified whether the discontinuation plan and recommendations will be applied globally beyond the U.S.

China’s growing focus on artificial intelligence is driving both excitement and concern, as seen in the rising popularity of an AI assistant known as “OpenClaw,” nicknamed “lobster” by users. Wang, a young IT engineer, said he became so absorbed in the tool that he jokingly asked a BBC journalist if he was also an AI. He later described how deeply he has been involved with OpenClaw, which he customised for his own business needs. Developed by Austrian programmer Peter Steinberger, OpenClaw is based on open-source technology, allowing users in China to adapt it to local AI models. This is especially useful as Western platforms like ChatGPT and Claude are not available in the country. Wang uses his version of the tool to manage his online shop on TikTok, which is banned in China. He said tasks that once took hours—such as uploading products and setting prices—can now be done in minutes. While he finds the technology “exciting,” he also admits it feels “scary” because of its efficiency. The tool has drawn widespread attention in China, with tech giants like Tencent and Baidu launching related apps. People from various backgrounds, including students and retirees, have queued up to try customised versions. Experts say this enthusiasm reflects China’s broader AI strategy, where government support plays a key role. Incentives, subsidies and policy signals have encouraged companies to adopt AI across industries, from manufacturing to healthcare. However, concerns are emerging. Authorities have warned about security risks linked to improper use of such tools, and some government offices have restricted installations. Despite this, analysts believe AI development will continue, partly to address challenges like youth unemployment. Many see tools like OpenClaw as an opportunity for individuals to start small businesses using AI support. While fears of job losses persist, users like Wang remain optimistic, saying AI could open new paths rather than close them. With inputs from BBC

Google has introduced a long-awaited feature allowing users to change their Gmail addresses, offering relief to those stuck with outdated or embarrassing email IDs created years ago. The feature was quietly rolled out in India late last year and is now available to all Google Account users in the United States, the company said in a recent blog post. However, it did not specify when the update will reach other countries. Google CEO Sundar Pichai hinted at the significance of the update, noting that users no longer need to be tied to email names created decades ago when Gmail first launched. To change an address, users can go to their Google Account settings, navigate to “Personal info,” and select the email section. If eligible, they will see the option to change their Gmail address, though Google said the feature is still being gradually rolled out. Users must choose a unique email address that hasn’t been used before. Once changed, the old address will remain active as an alternate, and emails sent to either address will be delivered to the same inbox. However, users can only change their Gmail address a limited number of times and must wait 12 months before making another change. Google also warned that some third-party apps and services may not immediately recognize the new address, potentially causing temporary access issues.

Science and technology are not only drivers of economic growth but also key pillars of national security, sustainable development and human welfare, said Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam on Saturday. “The government is working to build a knowledge-based and innovation-driven Bangladesh placing emphasis on expanding STEM education, commercialising research, increasing investment in advanced technologies including AI and strengthening the startup ecosystem,” said the minister after inaugurating the two-day 6th Young Scientist Congress in the capital. The congress themed ‘Young Scientists for Artificial Intelligence’ is being held at the National Science and Technology Complex in Agargaon. Bangladesh Academy of Sciences organised the event. Young scientists from across the country are taking part in the event showcasing their research, innovations and future prospects in the field of artificial intelligence. The minister said the participation of young scientists in the congress would further accelerate the country’s scientific advancement. Addressing the young participants, he said they would lead the future and must contribute to national development through research, innovation and creativity. He also urged them to apply their knowledge and experience for the country after completing higher education abroad. Science and Technology Ministry Secretary Md Anwar Hossain said the government has taken initiatives to establish a national AI institute prioritising artificial intelligence development in the country. He said efforts are underway to formulate integrated policies to ensure data security, management and effective use of AI in agriculture, education, healthcare and industry. Emphasis is also being placed on STEM education, nanotechnology, biotechnology and semiconductor development, alongside linking innovation with markets through the “Innovation to Market” initiative, he added. University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Dr Mamun Ahmed said the world is now in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution where artificial intelligence is transforming life and workplaces and young Bangladeshi scientists are the driving force behind this change. The congress features technical sessions, research presentations, panel discussions and technology exhibitions, with participation from universities, research institutions and technology-related organisations. The inaugural session was presided over by Bangladesh Academy of Sciences Vice President Prof Dr Z N Tahmida Begum, said a PID handout. Teachers, researchers, young scientists, students and experts from across the country attended the programme.  

An orientation workshop on “NGOAB Online Solution and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for NGOs” was held in Dhaka on Thursday, to introduce new digital systems and promote the responsible use of AI to modernise NGO service delivery, improve efficiency, and strengthen governance and accountability. It called for continued collaboration among government, development partners, and civil society to scale up digital innovation while safeguarding rights and promoting trust in emerging technologies. The workshop was organised by the NGO Affairs Bureau, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with support from the Australian government under the Institutional Strengthening for Promoting Accelerated Transformation (ISPAT) project. The workshop brought together government officials, development partners, and NGO representatives to explore how digital innovation and AI can enhance service delivery and operational effectiveness across the sector. Barrister Md. Khalilur Rahman Khan, Director General (In-charge), NGOAB, noted the critical role of NGOs in Bangladesh’s development. “AI is at its best not when it replaces human thinking, but when it sharpens it. It should serve as a tool we guide, not a force that guides us,” he said while speaking as the chief guest, emphasising balanced use of technology. Chairing the session, Dr. K. M. Mamun Uzzaman, Director, NGOAB, highlighted the urgency of adapting to technological change. “Adopting new technologies is now a necessity but it must be done with accountability and ethical consideration,” he said. Asif Kashem, Senior Programme Manager, Australian High Commission, underscored the importance of impact and responsible use. “Technology alone is not sufficient. We need to ensure it benefits people,” he said, highlighting the need for safety and data privacy. Sheela Tasneem Haq, Senior Governance Specialist, UNDP, emphasised responsible and inclusive AI adoption. “We are the pilot, and AI is the co-pilot,” she noted, underscoring the importance of addressing data bias, ethics, and the digital divide. She also stressed the need for public trust and multi-stakeholder engagement in managing risks such as misinformation and online harm. A key highlight was the live demonstration of the NGOAB Online Solution, which marks a shift from paper-based processes to a fully digital system enabling online registration, application tracking, document submission, and integrated payments, UNDP said in a media release.  Participants engaged actively, raising practical questions on system usability, timelines, and future features. Another session focused on practical applications of AI for NGOs, including analytics, compliance support, content generation, and chatbot services. Technical experts demonstrated tools for reporting, data analysis, and workflow efficiency, emphasising responsible use and verification.

Microsoft has rolled out High Volume Email (HVE) for Exchange Online, enabling organizations to send large volumes of automated internal messages without encountering traditional sending limits designed for person-to-person emails. HVE is a tenant-native feature built specifically for application-to-person communications. It uses dedicated HVE accounts separate from user or shared mailboxes, ensuring automated messages do not interfere with normal employee email workflows. All mail sent through HVE remains within Microsoft infrastructure and is subject to Exchange Online’s existing security, compliance, and policy controls. Administrators can configure and manage HVE through the Mail flow section in the Exchange admin center. Key use casesHVE is intended for transactional and operational messaging to internal recipients. Microsoft identifies its primary applications as payroll and HR notifications, IT monitoring and service alerts, line-of-business application messaging, device-driven workflows such as printers and scanners, and security or compliance alerts. Jeremy Carlson, Director of Product Marketing for M365 Portfolio Growth at Microsoft, clarified that HVE “does not include campaign tooling, templates, or engagement tracking. Instead, it supports the high-trust, high-reliability use cases that organizations depend on every day.” Pricing and availabilityHVE is now generally available. Usage will be metered starting June 1, 2026, based on the number of expanded email recipients. Microsoft has set the cost at $42 per one million recipients, equivalent to $0.000042 per recipient, aligning pricing with internal email volume. Infrastructure advantagesFor organizations previously using on-premises Exchange servers, third-party SMTP relays, or repurposed user mailboxes to handle high-volume automated emails, HVE provides a streamlined solution to consolidate this traffic within Microsoft 365. The service requires no additional infrastructure or third-party dependencies, running natively within an existing Exchange Online tenant.  #From helpnetsecurity.com

Apr 1 (AP/UNB)--Advocacy groups and experts condemned YouTube for serving up low-quality artificial intelligence-generated videos to its most vulnerable audience: children. In a letter to YouTube CEO Neal Mohan and Sundar Pichai, the CEO of YouTube’s parent company Google, children’s advocacy group Fairplay expresses “serious concern” about the spread of AI-generated videos on both YouTube and YouTube Kids. The letter, which was sent on Wednesday morning, was signed by more than 200 organizations and individual experts such as child psychiatrists and educators. “This ’ AI slop ’ harms children’s development by distorting their sense of reality, overwhelming their learning processes and hijacking their attention, thereby extending time online and displacing offline activities necessary for their healthy development,” the letter reads. “These harms are particularly acute for young children.” The letter calls on YouTube to clearly label all AI-generated content and ban any AI-generated content on YouTube Kids. They also propose barring AI-generated videos from being recommended to users under 18 and implementing an option for parents to turn off AI-generated content even if their child searches for it. The letter is signed by 135 organizations including the American Federation of Teachers and the American Counseling Association, and around 100 individual experts like “The Anxious Generation” author Jonathan Haidt. The letter is part of a larger campaign from Fairplay that also includes a petition. Much of this AI-generated content is fast-paced with bright colors, lively music and clickbait titles that work to grab the attention of young viewers, the letter outlines. There has been a growing movement online against AI-generated content, particularly when it looks or feels low quality or leans into the meaninglessness of “ brainrot.” Spokesperson Boot Bullwinkle said in a statement that YouTube has “high standards for the content in YouTube Kids, including limiting AI-generated content in the app to a small set of high-quality channels.” “We also provide parents the option to block channels. Across YouTube, we prioritize transparency when it comes to AI content, labeling content from our own AI tools, and requiring creators to disclose realistic AI content,” Bullwinkle said. “We’re always evolving our approach to stay current as the ecosystem evolves.” YouTube's current policy regarding AI-generated content requires creators to disclose when content that's “realistic” is made with altered or synthetic media, including generative AI. Creators are not required to disclose when generative AI is used to create content that is clearly unrealistic, including animated videos and those with special effects. YouTube said it is actively working on developing labels for YouTube Kids. In its letter, Fairplay argues that voluntary disclosure policy and what it sees as an “extremely limited” definition of altered and synthetic content mean kids still see a flood of AI-generated videos that are not labeled as such. They also argue that many children who watch YouTube videos are not yet able to read or to comprehend something like an AI disclosure. That leaves children “to fend for themselves or their parents to play whack-a-mole,” the letter reads. Fairplay's campaign comes shortly after Google’s AI Futures Fund invested $1 million into Animaj, an AI animation studio that makes videos for kids and draws in staggeringly high viewership numbers, according to Bloomberg. The campaign follows a landmark verdict in a social media addiction trial in which a California jury found that YouTube designed its platform to hook young users without concern for their well-being. Meta was also found liable on the same counts as YouTube in the same case. “Pushing AI slop onto young children is just another testament to how YouTube and YouTube Kids are designed to maximize children’s time online — including babies. AI slop hypnotizes young children, making it hard for them to get off their screens and move onto essential activities like play, sleep and social interaction,” said Rachel Franz, the director of Fairplay’s Young Children Thrive Offline program, in a statement. “What’s more, YouTube’s algorithm makes it impossible for kids to avoid AI slop.” Earlier this year, YouTube head Mohan listed out “managing AI slop” as one of the company's priorities for 2026. In a January blog post, he wrote that the company was “actively building on our established systems that have been very successful in combatting spam and clickbait, and reducing the spread of low quality, repetitive content.”  

Australia’s online safety watchdog on Tuesday said it is considering court action against Meta, Snap Inc., TikTok and Alphabet Inc., alleging they are not doing enough to keep children under 16 off their platforms. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant released her first compliance report since the law took effect on Dec. 10, calling on 10 platforms to remove all Australian account holders younger than 16. The report said that although around 5 million Australian accounts had been deactivated, a significant number of children were still able to retain accounts, create new ones and bypass age assurance systems. Inman Grant said her office had “significant concerns” about the compliance of half of the platforms and was gathering evidence to determine whether they failed to take “reasonable steps” to prevent underage users. Courts could impose fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about $33 million) for systemic non-compliance. A decision on possible legal action is expected by midyear. Platforms not under investigation include Reddit, X, Kick, Threads and Twitch. Communications Minister Anika Wells accused some platforms of doing the bare minimum to comply with the law, saying they do not want the legislation to succeed. The watchdog identified “poor practices” such as allowing unlimited attempts to pass age verification and prompting users to retry even after declaring themselves underage. Meta said it is committed to complying with the law but acknowledged that accurately determining users’ ages remains a challenge. Snap Inc. said it had locked 450,000 accounts in line with the rules and continues to take action. TikTok declined to comment, while Alphabet did not immediately respond. Lisa Given of RMIT University said courts would ultimately decide what constitutes “reasonable steps,” noting that age-verification technologies are not fully reliable. Reddit has filed one of two constitutional challenges to the law in Australia’s High Court, along with the Digital Freedom Project, arguing it infringes on implied freedom of political communication. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 21 to set a date for further proceedings, Reddit said.