Meta and YouTube Found Negligent, Ordered to Pay $6M in Damages – DTH

0:00Want to get this show ad free? Head to dailytechnewshow.com slash subscribe to find out how. These are the daily tech headlines for Wednesday, March 25th, 2026. I'm Jen Cutter. On Tuesday, open AI announced on X, it would discontinue the Generative Video App Sora. The statement does not provide a timeline for the closure of the app in API, and the company will share details on those and how users should preserve their work soon. Three months ago, open AI signed a three-year licensing agreement with Disney, which would have enabled app users to generate video with over 200 Disney characters. Disney terminated the partnership, including plans to stake 1 billion in open AI. A Disney rep told Variety, quote, We respect open AI's decision to exit the video generation business into shift its priorities

1:02elsewhere, and we will continue to engage with AI platforms to find new ways to meet fans where they are, while responsibly embracing new technologies that respect IP and the rights of creators. Following the iOS update 26.4 pushed on Wednesday, iPhone users in the UK will be prompted to verify their age. Fans include using a credit card stored in the digital wallet and providing a photo of a driver's license or passport. It's also possible for Apple to confirm a user is over 18 years old, using the length of time a digital account has been active. Those choosing not to verify or are unable to prove their over 18 face web browsing restrictions and communication safety checks in messages and FaceTime calls aiming to detect new images and videos. Although app stores and mobile operating systems are not currently covered by the UK's online safety act, Offcom says implementation of the age check is, quote, a real win for children

2:03and families. Apple did not respond to ours' technicals' request for comment. On Wednesday, the US Supreme Court released a unanimous opinion that a major ISP cannot be held liable for the piracy of thousands of songs. Justice Clarence Thomas noted a provider would only be liable in select circumstances, like if a service was actively encouraging infringement. In 2018, music labels sued Cox Communications for failing to cut off subscribers flagged for legal downloading, asking for Cox to be legally responsible, thereby owing over a billion dollars in damages. In 2019, a jury found Cox liable and awarded Sony the one billion in damages. The company's appeal failed as the US Court of Appeals for the forced circuit upheld the finding. A new trial vacated the damages, saying Cox did not profit from subscribers downloading and distributing copyrighted songs. On Tuesday, a new Mexico jury ordered meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties, finding

3:08the company misled users about platform safety, and enabled harms including child sexual exploitation. The lawsuit was filed in December 2023, following a two-year guardian investigation into child sex trafficking on Facebook and Instagram. The report was then cited repeatedly in the complaint. Meta was ordered to pay the maximum penalty under New Mexico's consumer protection laws, 5,000 per violation, leading to the $375 million total. Meta will appeal the ruling. Continuing with yet more court coverage, also on Tuesday, Baltimore's mayor and city council, filed suit against XAI, alleging the GROC chatbot violates consumer protection laws with the generation of non-consensual sexualized images. The suit argues GROC was deceptively marketed by XAI as a general-purpose AI assistant and failed to disclose risks, limitations, and exposure to harm on the platform. The suit claims jurisdiction as XAI advertises and operates within the city.

4:13XAI has yet to comment. Beginning summer 2026, Apple will allow ads within Apple Maps, starting in the U.S. and Canada. Ads will be available to businesses with a physical location and business listing on Apple Maps. Only one ad will be shown in Maps search results, clearly marked as an ad, and show a blue halo around the map pin. Apple says the ads will maintain user privacy by not associating added directions with the user's account and isn't shared with third parties. As previously reported by Bloomberg, ad placement will operate with an auction-based bidding system. Google Maps has included ads in the app since 2008. And Epic CEO Tim Sweeney laid off over 1,000 staff on Tuesday, citing a downturn in active players in Fortnite while also saying this move is not related to AI. In a blog post, Sweeney said the layoff, combined with cost savings in marketing, contracting, and closing some open roles, will save over $500 million.

5:15Fortnite will also remove the rocket racing, ballistic, and festival battle stage modes. Earlier in March, Epic raised the price of V-Bucks, claiming it was necessary to, quote, help pay the bills.