Technology

Russian ban on Roblox stirs debate about limits of censorship

MOSCOW, Dec 18 (Reuters) - A Russian ban on U.S. gaming platform Roblox has fuelled debate among some children and parents about censorship and the utility of bans in a world where children can bypass limits with a few clicks.

Internet

A dashcam tracked the road rage of UK man who drove into football parade

Paul Doyle was sentenced to more than 21 years on Tuesday after he struck more than 130 people leaving a victory parade for Liverpool FC.

Technology

Micron surges on upbeat profit forecast as chip prices soar

Dec 18 (Reuters) - Micron Technology's shares rose 9% in premarket trading on Thursday after the U.S. chipmaker delivered an outsized quarterly profit forecast, underscoring its leadership in the high-bandwidth memory chips market as prices surge.

Smartphones

One Tech Tip: Tis the season to unplug and enjoy the holidays IRL

The Christmas holiday season is a time to step back from the busy pace of modern life and connect with our nearest and dearest instead of screens, apps and chatbots.

Cybersecurity

France probes 'foreign interference' after malware found on ferry

France is probing possible foreign interference after a passenger ferry was infected with malware that could allow the ship to be remotely controlled, the interior minister said Dec 17.

iOS

Apple makes changes to iOS software in face of stricter Japanese rules

Apple Inc is making changes to its iOS software in Japan to comply with a new local law aimed at fostering competition, part of broader efforts by the iPhone maker to adapt to regulations around the world.

Video games

Netflix to launch FIFA World Cup video game

The game, developed and published by Delphi Interactive, will be available to Netflix subscribers and can be played solo or online with friends using only a smartphone, the company said.

Cybersecurity

Google sues Chinese ‘Darcula’ group over alleged phishing scheme

Alphabet Inc's Google filed a lawsuit against alleged Chinese cybercriminals, accusing the group of orchestrating a vast phishing campaign designed to dupe Americans into turning over their credit card numbers. 

AI

China’s Qwen and DeepSeek edge out US AI models in Christian values benchmark

US start-up Gloo's Flourishing AI Christian benchmark tested how the output of AI models 'help people flourish', CEO Pat Gelsinger said.

Technology

Fermi denies report that Amazon was prospective tenant in stalled project

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Data center real estate investment company Fermi  on Wednesday denied a report that said Amazon was a prospective tenant and that it withdrew funding from the company's project.

Technology

OpenAI discussed raising tens of billions at about $750 billion valuation, the Information reports

Dec 17 (Reuters) - OpenAI has held preliminary talks with some investors about raising funds at a valuation of around $750 billion, the Information reported on Wednesday.

Technology

Exclusive-Amazon, Walmart shareholder pushes firms to report impact of Trump's immigration policies

NEW YORK, Dec 18 - A union-aligned investment group sent letters to Amazon, Walmart and Alphabet on Wednesday, asking how U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policies were impacting their finances and supply chains, according to the documents seen by Reuters.     

Technology

Apple opens iPhone to alternative app stores in Japan

(Corrects first paragraph to reflect that the changes apply only to iPhones, not other Apple devices)

Technology

Nvidia director Harvey Jones sells $44 million in shares held for over three decades

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Nvidia board member Harvey Jones sold more than $44 million worth of company stock, a regulatory filing showed on Wednesday.

Technology

Micron forecasts blowout earnings on booming AI market, shares rise 7%

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Micron Technology forecast second-quarter adjusted profit at nearly double what Wall Street analysts expected on Wednesday, as prices soar for memory chips amid tight supplies and booming demand from artificial intelligence data centers.

Technology

FTC probes Instacart's AI pricing tool, source says; shares drop

Dec 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is probing Instacart, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, as the retail platform faces criticism over its artificial intelligence-driven pricing tool.

Technology

Amazon shakes up AI team as veteran Prasad leaves, DeSantis promoted

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Amazon is shaking up its artificial intelligence team with one long-time veteran heading for the exit and another taking over a more expansive group that includes AI models, custom silicon and quantum computing. 

Technology

Coinbase pushes into stock trading, event contracts as retail battle heats up

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Coinbase said on Wednesday it will start letting users trade stocks and event contracts tied to real-world outcomes, as the exchange expands beyond its crypto roots to compete more directly with rivals.

Technology

Exclusive-Google works to erode Nvidia's software advantage with Meta's help

Dec 17 (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google is working on a new initiative to make its artificial intelligence chips better at running PyTorch, the world's most widely used AI software framework, in a move aimed at weakening Nvidia's longstanding dominance of the AI computing market, according to people familiar with the matter.

Technology

Brazil to get satellite internet from Chinese rival to Starlink in 2026

BRASILIA, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Chinese low Earth orbit satellite company SpaceSail will start providing internet access to remote areas in Brazil in the first half of 2026, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's chief of staff, Rui Costa, said on Wednesday.