Paris prosecutors search Elon Musk's social media platform X offices
French prosecutors have raided the offices of social media platform X as part of a preliminary investigation into allegations that include spreading child sexual abuse images and deepfakes. They have also summoned owner Elon Musk for questioning. The investigation, which began in January last year, is looking into alleged complicity in possessing and spreading pornographic images of minors, among other charges. X and Musk's AI company xAI face scrutiny from Britain's data privacy regulator over their handling of personal data. The chatbot Grok, developed by xAI, sparked outrage after generating sexualized deepfake images. The investigation continues with support from Europol.
Paris prosecutors search Elon Musk's social media platform X offices
French prosecutors have raided the offices of social media platform X as part of a preliminary investigation into allegations that include spreading child sexual abuse images and deepfakes. They have also summoned owner Elon Musk for questioning. The investigation, which began in January last year, is looking into alleged complicity in possessing and spreading pornographic images of minors, among other charges. X and Musk's AI company xAI face scrutiny from Britain's data privacy regulator over their handling of personal data. The chatbot Grok, developed by xAI, sparked outrage after generating sexualized deepfake images. The investigation continues with support from Europol.
How a digital dragnet is powering Trump’s immigration crackdown
The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis is providing insights into the surveillance technologies the government is using in its mass deportation campaign. Department of Homeland Security officials insist their immigration enforcement operations are “highly targeted.” But some American citizens have been caught up in the raids as the Trump administration has built new surveillance tools and fused together datasets on citizens and noncitizens alike. Over the last year, the agency’s expanding digital dragnet has empowered federal agents to collect and analyze vast volumes of information. The Department of Homeland Security says it will not disclose law enforcement-sensitive methods.
Minnesota activist Nekima Levy Armstrong shares arrest video after White House posts doctored image
A Minnesota activist who was charged for her role in an anti-immigration enforcement protest at a church has released her own video of her arrest, after the White House posted a manipulated image online. The video, shot by civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong's husband and released by her organization, shows her being approached by federal agents. At no point does she appear to cry, contradicting the White House's portrayal. In the video, she asks agents not to record and they say the video will not end up on Twitter, now called X.
US citizen says ICE detained him in underwear in frigid cold with no warrant
Federal immigration agents have detained a U.S. citizen in Minnesota at gunpoint without a warrant. That's according to ChongLy “Scott” Thao, who says agents forced open his door, entered with guns drawn and led him outside in his underwear in freezing conditions. The detention is part of a larger surge of federal agents in the Twin Cities, leading to backlash over warrantless arrests and aggressive tactics. The Department of Homeland Security says the operation targeted two sex offenders. Thao disputes this, saying he lives with his family, none of whom are listed as offenders. Thao plans to file a civil rights lawsuit.
US plans to 'run' Venezuela and tap its oil reserves, Trump says
President Donald Trump says the United States will run Venezuela at least temporarily after an audacious military operation plucked leader Nicolás Maduro from power and removed him from the country. Trump on Saturday also described plans to tap Venezuela's vast oil reserves to sell to other nations. The dramatic action capped an intensive Trump administration pressure campaign on the South American nation and its autocratic leader and months of secret planning. It resulted in the most assertive American action to achieve regime change since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Legal experts immediately raised questions about whether the operation was lawful.
YouTuber's livestream appears on White House website
A YouTube content creator whose livestream talking about investments mysteriously appeared to take over a White House website says he has no idea how it happened. The livestream appeared for at least eight minutes late Thursday on whitehouse.gov/live, raising questions about whether the site was hacked. The site is where the White House usually streams live video of the president speaking. It's unclear if the website was breached or the video was linked accidentally by someone in the government. The YouTube content creator says if he'd known his stream would go “super public like that” he'd have dressed nicer and had "more pointed topics!” The White House says it's "looking into what happened.”
7.0 earthquake hits in remote area near Alaska-Yukon border
A powerful, magnitude-7.0 earthquake has struck in a remote area near the border between Alaska and the Canadian territory of Yukon on Saturday. No tsunami warning has been issued, and there are no immediate reports of damage or injury. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake struck about 230 miles northwest of Juneau, Alaska, and 155 miles west of Whitehorse, Yukon. It was also about 56 miles from Yakutat, Alaska, which the USGS said has a population of 662. The quake struck at a depth of about 6 miles and was followed by multiple smaller aftershocks.
Kenyan law banning seed sharing is unconstitutional, court says
A high court in Kenya has declared unconstitutional sections of a seed law that prevented farmers from sharing and selling indigenous seeds in what food campaigners have called a landmark win for food security. The case had been filed by 15 smallholder farmers, who are members of community seed banks that have been in operation for years, preserving and sharing seeds among colleagues. The court said sections of the seed law that gave government officials powers to raid seed banks and seize seeds were also unconstitutional.
TSA sets $45 fee for USA passengers without a REAL ID
The Transportation Security Administration has announced that U.S. air travelers without a REAL ID will face a $45 fee starting in February. The REAL ID has been required since May, but passengers without it have been allowed to clear security with extra screening. The Department of Homeland Security says 94% of passengers are already compliant. The new fee aims to encourage travelers to obtain a REAL ID, which requires more documentation than regular IDs. The fee is non-refundable and doesn't guarantee verification. Other accepted IDs include passports and military IDs. TSA also accepts digital IDs through platforms like Apple Wallet at participating airports.
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