Tech
Italy Enforces Strict Age Checks on Adult Websites as Europe Tightens Online Safety Rules
Italy has become the latest European nation to enforce strict age-verification requirements on adult websites, marking a significant step in ongoing efforts to shield minors from explicit online content. Under the new rules, websites hosting pornographic material must confirm that users are at least 18 before granting access, even if the platforms do not operate offices inside Italy.
The government has identified 45 major adult content providers — including Pornhub, YouPorn and Redtube — that must comply. Sites will be required to use third-party verification services, which will ask users to upload a copy of a government-issued ID every time they attempt to view adult content. Officials say the move is aimed at preventing underage users from accessing sexually explicit material through easily bypassed age prompts.
Italy’s action aligns with a growing movement across Europe. Several countries have introduced their own legal frameworks in recent years, each designed to strengthen protections for children navigating digital spaces.
In France, legislation passed in 2024 gave media regulator Arcom broad authority to punish platforms that fail to keep minors out. Sites that ignore notices can face fines of up to €150,000, or two percent of the previous year’s global turnover. Repeat violations can trigger fines of €300,000 or four percent of turnover. Arcom also holds the power to instruct internet providers to block violating websites for up to two years, with a 48-hour compliance window.
The French law drew national attention this summer when Aylo — the parent company of Pornhub and Redtube — temporarily cut off access for French users, citing the regulatory burden. Investigations by nonprofit AI Forensics later raised concerns about the reliability of third-party verification tools used in France, noting that some systems shared personal data with outside firms or could be bypassed with simple code edits.
Spain introduced its own rules in 2022 requiring streaming and video-sharing platforms to create systems that prevent minors from accessing harmful content, including pornography and gratuitous violence. Police have since launched a digital ID app called MiDNI, which offers real-time age confirmation. A separate proposed verification tool, the Cartera Digital Beta wallet, remains on hold pending data-protection clearance.
Germany has some of the region’s toughest standards, insisting on digital verification checks instead of basic age declarations. Platforms must also include parent-controlled filters and appoint an independent youth protection officer. Violations can lead to fines of up to €500,000. German authorities blocked several Aylo-owned sites last year after courts ruled the company had ignored legally binding orders.
The European Union, meanwhile, is testing an age-verification system of its own. The pilot project aims to create a method for users to prove they are adults without revealing personal details. The system is expected to work with the digital identity wallets that all member states must implement by the end of 2026.
As European governments weigh online safety against privacy concerns, the debate over how to protect young users is set to intensify.
Tech
Google Removes Some AI Health Summaries After Accuracy Concerns
Google has reportedly removed certain AI-generated summaries for health-related searches after an investigation found that some of the information provided could be misleading.
The summaries, known as AI Overviews, appear at the top of search results and are designed to provide concise answers to user questions. A report by the Guardian newspaper found that several AI Overviews contained inaccurate health information, raising concerns about potential harm to users.
The investigation highlighted cases where the AI supplied numbers with little context in response to queries such as “what is the normal range for liver blood tests?” and “what is the normal range for liver function tests?” The results did not account for differences based on age, sex, ethnicity, or nationality. In some cases, Google’s AI extracted data from Max Healthcare, an Indian hospital chain in New Delhi, rather than providing verified global medical guidance.
Featured snippets, which also appear at the top of Google search results, differ from AI Overviews because they extract existing text from relevant websites rather than generating new content. However, the Guardian noted that even variations of liver test queries, such as “[liver function test] lft reference range,” continued to produce AI-generated summaries. Liver function tests measure proteins and enzymes in the blood to evaluate how well the liver is performing.
In one example, Google’s AI reportedly advised pancreatic cancer patients to avoid high-fat foods. Experts told the Guardian that such guidance could be dangerous, potentially increasing the risk of mortality among patients.
The Guardian’s findings come amid broader concerns about AI chatbots “hallucinating,” a term used to describe when AI systems generate false or misleading information due to incomplete or inaccurate data. Experts have warned that reliance on AI for medical information could pose serious risks if users interpret these responses as authoritative.
Euronews Next contacted Google to confirm whether AI Overviews had been removed from certain health queries but did not receive an immediate response. Google announced over the weekend that it would expand AI Overviews to Gmail, allowing users to ask questions about their emails and receive automated answers without searching through messages manually.
The development underscores ongoing tensions between AI innovation and accuracy, particularly in sensitive areas such as healthcare. As AI tools become more integrated into search engines and email platforms, experts emphasize the importance of verifying information with trusted medical sources and cautioning users against relying solely on machine-generated summaries.
Tech
ChatGPT Launches Health Feature to Help Users Manage Medical Information
OpenAI has unveiled a new health-focused feature for ChatGPT, aimed at helping users better understand their well-being and prepare for medical conversations. The tool, called ChatGPT Health, connects users’ personal health data, such as medical records and wellness apps, to deliver more personalized guidance.
The feature is designed as a standalone experience within ChatGPT, with health-related chats, files, and connected apps kept separate from users’ other conversations. OpenAI said health information is not shared with non-health chats, and users can view or delete Health memories at any time through the platform’s settings.
“ChatGPT Health is another step toward turning ChatGPT into a personal super-assistant that can support you with information and tools to achieve your goals across any part of your life,” Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s applications CEO, said in a post on Substack.
Users can connect apps such as Apple Health, MyFitnessPal, and Function to ChatGPT Health. The AI can then help interpret recent test results, offer guidance for doctor appointments, and provide insights on diet, exercise routines, or healthcare choices. OpenAI emphasized that all app connections require explicit user permission and undergo additional privacy and security reviews.
OpenAI stressed that the tool is not intended to replace medical care. ChatGPT Health is designed to assist users in understanding patterns in their health and supporting everyday wellness questions. The company said the platform was developed with input from more than 260 physicians across 60 countries, who provided feedback on model outputs over 600,000 times.
Health-related queries are already a major reason people use ChatGPT, with the company reporting that over 230 million questions about health and wellness are asked globally each week. ChatGPT Health aims to make these interactions more personalized by leveraging data from users’ medical and wellness apps.
Access to ChatGPT Health is initially limited to a small group of early users with Free, Go, Plus, or Pro accounts. Users in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom are not included in the early rollout due to stricter local health and data regulations. Some app integrations and medical record access are currently only available in the United States.
OpenAI said it plans to expand ChatGPT Health to all users on web and iOS in the coming weeks as the platform is refined.
The company highlighted that the feature is meant to complement, not replace, professional medical advice. By providing insights from personal health data and helping users track trends over time, ChatGPT Health seeks to make individuals better prepared for discussions with their healthcare providers.
Tech
CES 2026 Set to Showcase AI Everywhere, Next-Gen Laptops, and Robotics
The world’s largest technology exhibition, CES 2026, opens Tuesday in Las Vegas, following two days of media previews. The event will feature over 4,500 exhibitors, including 1,400 start-ups and major companies such as Meta, Lenovo, Samsung, and Nvidia, offering a glimpse into the latest developments in artificial intelligence, consumer electronics, and robotics.
Last year, CES attracted more than 140,000 attendees across multiple venues, amid economic uncertainty and discussions on tariffs under the Trump Administration. Paolo Pescatore, a tech analyst, said the focus has shifted from simply showcasing connected devices to exploring how people interact with them and the content they access.
Artificial intelligence will play a central role at this year’s show. Industry leaders are integrating AI into nearly every category of technology. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is expected to present the company’s latest productivity-focused AI solutions, while AMD CEO Lisa Su will outline her vision for future AI developments. Lenovo CEO Yuanqing Yang will also address AI integration in consumer devices and enterprise solutions.
A competition over next-generation chips is anticipated to dominate attention. Intel has unveiled its Core Ultra “Panther Lake” platform, while Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon Elite X2, a mobile processor for Windows on Arm devices. These advancements are expected to spark a wave of new laptop announcements. LG has teased its 2026 Gram Pro line, including what it claims is the “world’s lightest 17-inch RTX laptop.”
Tim Danton, editor of TechFinitive.com, said, “CES 2026 won’t be short of laptops. Intel’s new chips promise high performance and long battery life, and we’re likely to see innovative designs, including rollable screens and more repairable models.”
CES will also feature innovations across healthcare, wearables, vehicles, and gaming. Sony Honda Mobility is expected to present a production version of its Afeela electric vehicle. Domestic robotics will be highlighted as well, with LG unveiling its helper bot “CLOiD,” designed for indoor household tasks. Ben Bajarin, CEO of Creative Strategies, said humanoid robots will increasingly appear at the show, marking the rise of “physical AI”—artificial intelligence that manifests in real-world applications such as autonomous cars and home assistants.
Samsung will showcase new uses of OLED technology, integrating it into AI-powered devices to enhance displays, including an AI OLED Bot that functions as a teaching assistant in educational settings.
Bajarin added that concerns over an AI bubble have eased. “This is more of a build-out than a bubble. We are at the start of a major industrial investment cycle, laying the groundwork for future computing capabilities,” he said.
CES 2026 promises a wide array of AI-driven gadgets, next-generation laptops, and autonomous robotics, reflecting the growing influence of artificial intelligence across industries and everyday life.
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