In BriefPosted:9:12 AM PDT March 27, 2025Image Credits:Artur Widak/NurPhoto / Getty ImagesTikTok to launch TikTok Shop in France, Germany, and ItalyTikTok is set to expand its TikTok Shop e-commerce platform to users in France, Germany, and Italy on Monday, Reuters reports. TikTok Shop has been available in the United Kingdom since 2021, and now the company is ready to expand further into Europe. While TikTok Shop is also available in the United States and saw strong sales over the holiday season, TikToks fate in the country remains uncertain. Reuters states that TikTok has been looking to onboard more Europe-based sellers onto TikTok Shop, as many sellers on the platform sell products directly from China.In France, Germany, and Italy, we are already working with merchants to get their products listed on the platform, and TikTok Shop will be available to our TikTok users from next Monday, Jan Wilk, head of operations at TikTok Shop UK, told Reuters.Wilk says TikTok is seeking to broaden its product offerings and prices on TikTok Shop, which is mostly known for discounted prices. For example, she noted that there is a U.K.-based luxury goods store on TikTok Shop that sells second-hand Birkin bags. Topics

The encrypted messaging app Signal is getting some unexpected attention this week. High-ranking officials in the Trump administration, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth, communicated the plans for an attack on the Yemeni Houthis via a potentially unauthorized group chat on Signal. However, Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to the group chat, giving him access to these highly sensitive discussions, which he later published.The Signal app itself did not malfunction or operate in an unintended way. Rather, it is user error to accidentally add a journalist to a chat about U.S. military plans an error that government security protocols should be able to prevent if theyre actually followed.When the Atlantics story broke on Monday, worldwide Signal downloads on iOS and Google Play were up 28% from the daily average over the last 30 days, per app intelligence firm Appfigures. In the U.S., downloads were up 45% on Monday, and in Yemen, they were up by 42%. Before the scandal, Signal was ranked #50 among social media apps in Yemen, but it climbed to #9 on Monday.Signal did not respond to TechCrunchs request for comment.All communications on Signal are encrypted, meaning that only the people in a chat can see the texts not even people who work at Signal can know what users are talking about. But Signal is intended to be a consumer product for secure messaging, not an iron-clad depository for government military plans.Although Hegseth said that there were no war plans discussed in the Signal chat, the Atlantic published messages that show Hegseth providing details about the timing of attacks, as well as the weapons and aircrafts that would be used.As of Thursday, the government continues to investigate this monumental security failure.

Leading VFX company Rodeo FX, known for its work on HBOs Game of Thrones, Netflixs Stranger Things, Denis Villeneuves Dune Part 1 & 2, and Prime Videos The Rings of Power has acquiredMikros Animation, the animation studio behind PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, Orion and the Dark, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem that was just recently shut down as part of the collapse of Technicolor Group late last month.The acquisition includes all of Mikros Animations operations, as well as Technicolor Canadas equipment. Operations reportedly continued uninterrupted following the recent shutdown of other companies within the Technicolor group. According to Rodeo FX, This strategic expansion aligns with Rodeo FXs ongoing global growth, following the establishment of its fifth international office in Paris in 2023. It also underscores the studios economic stability and resilience as the visual effects industry navigates post-pandemic shifts and recent disruptions caused by Hollywood labor strikes.Though now part of the Rodeo FX network, Mikros Animation will retain its brand identity, maintain its projects and production pipeline, and most of its creative, technical and leadership team. The animation studio is currently working on several high-profile titles, including the upcoming third instalment of the PAW Patrol film franchise, directed by Cal Brunker. The company just confirmed to AWN that the vast majority of the recent headcount remains in both Canada and in France.This is a deeply meaningful moment for me and for all of us at Rodeo FX, says Sebastien Moreau, Founder & CEO of Rodeo FX. Welcoming Mikros Animation into our creative family isnt just about growth, its about aligning with people who share our values, our passion for storytelling, and our belief in the magic of animation. Together, were building something that goes beyond business: a creative home where artists can dream bigger, push further, and inspire the world.Mikros, which was acquired by Technicolor in 2015, has worked on 17 feature-length animated films and numerous series for studios including Paramount Animation, Netflix, and DreamWorks Animation, producing nearly 300 hours of programming broadcast in over 180 countries on networks such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, TF1, and France TV.Mikros Animation and Rodeo FX have always shared a mutual respect and admiration, says Julien Meesters, newly appointed President of Mikros Animation. This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for us. Joining the Rodeo FX family opens new doors for us to explore broader animation horizons and to continually reinvent ourselves. Over the years, we've built incredible stories alongside our partners. Now, we're embracing new challenges and evolving landscapes to ensure Mikros Animation remains a leading home for filmmakers.Rodeo FX has become one of the leading studios within the industry; its work on Dune: Part One and Part Two both earning Academy Awards for Outstanding Visual Effects. The studio also received three nominations at the Visual Effects Society Awards for its contributions to Expats, The Rings of Power Season 2, and Dune: Prophecy.Source: Rodeo FX Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.

Production has begun on Marvel Studios Avengers: Doomsday, set to hit theaters May 1, 2026. In a multi-hour global livestream, Marvel revealed several of the films all-star cast, teasing the return of some familiar heroes. The band is getting back together at last!The Avengers: Doomsday cast includes Chris Hemsworth, Vanessa Kirby, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd, Wyatt Russell, Tenoch Huerta Mejia, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Simu Liu, Florence Pugh, Kelsey Grammer, Lewis Pullman, Danny Ramirez, Joseph Quinn, David Harbour, Winston Duke, Hannah John-Kamen, Tom Hiddleston, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, Channing Tatum, and Pedro Pascal. Robert Downey Jr. will return to the franchise as Victor von Doom.Anthony and Joe Russo have returned to direct Doomsday, as well as Avengers: Secret Wars.Being able to create stories and explore characters within the Marvel Universe fulfilled a lifelong dream of ours, and we discovered a powerful connection with audiences in each film that we made, the Russos said in a statement last year. Were thrilled to collaborate once again with [Kevin Feige, Louis DEsposito], and the entire Marvel team to bring this epic adventure in storytelling to new and surprising places for both the fans and ourselves.Check out the Doomsday production announcement now:Source: The Walt Disney Company Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologistL'Wrenbrings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.

We go live in less than an hour, if anyone wants to stop by and say hello to myself and @Keith . Heres the link where the stream will show up at 11:00 am CDT: YouTube VFX Apprentice In classic art schools, apprentices honed their skills alongside master craftsmen. VFX Apprentice harnesses the power of that model, delivering professional visual effects training across the globe, on-demand and entirely at your pace!Our education... 1 post - 1 participant Read full topic

The AIA has officially announced its search for a new EVP/CEO, after Lakisha Woods stepped down from the role in February. AIA 2024 President Kimberly Dowdell will chair the search committee and Heidrick & Strugglesa New York Citybased executive search firm with an office in Washington, D.C.will support the effort. Stephen T. Ayers has served as interim AIA EVP/CEO since Woods departed in early February. Tonya Muse, a consultant at Heidrick & Struggless Washington, D.C. office, and member of the firms Social Impact and CEO & Board of Directors practices, will lead the team for Heidrick & Struggles.AIAs next leader will be instrumental in advancing the organizations mission and strategic priorities, Dowdell said in a statement. The search committee is committed to a thorough and inclusive process, ensuring we identify a CEO who will continue to drive forward AIAs goals of economic opportunity, inclusivity in the profession and the communities we serve, climate action, and a strong and innovative future for the profession.Aside from Dowdell and Heidrick & Struggles, the search committee includes past and current AIA board members, but also representatives from AIAs Strategic Council, National Associates Committee (NAC), Council of Architectural Component Executives (CACE), AIA International, and the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS). AIA said that Heidrick & Struggles will conduct outreach and gather input from AIAs diverse community, helping to shape the CEO position description to reflect the needs and aspirations of the Institute and its members. AIA likewise affirmed its commitment to its core mission of advancing the value of architects and supporting its members in designing a better world.The announcement comes in the waning months after former AIA presidents raised concerns over Woodss leadership, resulting in AIA hiring an independent consultancy to investigate claims made against her, allegations Woods was later vindicated of. The AIA Board of Directors later claimed there was a coordinated effort to discredit Woods and her leadership.A timeline for when the next AIA EVP/CEO will be announced was not given.

Yellow, White, Orange, Pink, Blue, Yellow, White (2025), diptych, oil on canvas, 200 320 centimeters. Photos by Bartosz Zalewski. All images courtesy of Krzysztof Grzybacz and Galeria Dawid Radziszewski, Vienna, shared with permissionKrzysztof Grzybaczs Floral Compositions Are Tender Portrayals of TogethernessMarch 27, 2025ArtKate MothesArranged by size and hue, the blooms in Krzysztof Grzybaczs large-scale oil paintings appear in comfortable togetherness, each individuals features amplified by its placement next to those that differ. HisFloral Compositionsseries organizes the flowers against swaths of green fabric, exploring their potent symbolism.Grzybacz taps into the age-old tradition of flowers in oil, rendering their petals and stems in vibrant hues that capture their unique outlines and textures. Rooted in still life, his compositions are underpinned by abstraction and the artists fascination with layering and perspective.Yellow (2025), oil on canvas, 200 160 centimetersThe works in Grzybaczs current solo exhibition at Galeria Dawid Radziszewski also reference the queer community. Flowers are like people: they pose, search for their own space, and mark out boundaries, says a statement from the gallery. The artist nods to the role of order and systems, while also emphasizing the importance of celebrating diversity.Grouped together in front of textile folds, oblique grids, or distorted human features, the artist invokes the power of alliances through a sense of tenderness, curiosity, and pliability.Floral Compositions continues through March 29 in Vienna. Find more on Grzybaczs website and Instagram.Blue, yellow, orange, white, pink (2025), oil on canvas, 100 80 centimetersOrange, blue, pink, yellow, white, maroon, purple (2025), oil on canvas, 200 160 centimetersWhite, Yellow, Orange, Blue, Purple (2025), oil on canvas, 200 160 centimetersBlue, White, Yellow, Orange, Pink (2025), oil on canvas, 100 80 centimetersWhite, maroon, orange, yellow, blue (2025), oil on canvas, 70 60 centimetersNext article

EvgV - stock.adobe.comNewsUK public expresses strong support for AI regulationMost of the UK public have experienced an AI-related harm and say they want laws introduced to regulate the technology, according to national survey by the Ada Lovelace and Alan Turing InstitutesBySebastian Klovig Skelton,Data & ethics editorPublished: 27 Mar 2025 16:08 Nearly three-quarters of the UK public say that introducing laws to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) would increase their comfort with the technology, amid rising public concern over the implications of its roll-out.In response to a national survey of more than 3,500 UK residents conducted by the Ada Lovelace and Alan Turing Institutes which asked people about their awareness and perceptions of different AI use cases, as well as their experiences of AI-related harms the vast majority (72%) said laws and regulations would make them more at ease with the proliferation of AI technologies.Nearly nine in 10 said they believed it is important that the government or regulators have the power to halt the use of AI products deemed to pose a risk of serious harm to the public, while over 75% said government or independent regulators rather than private companies alone should oversee AI safety.The institutes also found that peoples exposure to AI harms is widespread, with two-thirds of the public reporting encounters with various negative impacts of the technology. The most reported harms were false information (61%), financial fraud (58%) and deepfakes (58%).The survey also found support for the right to appeal against AI-based decisions and for more transparency, with 65% saying that procedures for appealing decisions and 61% saying more information about how AI has been used to make a decision would increase their comfort with the tech.However, the institutes said the rising demand for AI regulation is coming at a time when the UK does not have a set of comprehensive regulations around the technology.In a report accompanying the survey findings, the institutes added while they welcome the recognition in the UKs AI Opportunities Action Plan that government must protect UK citizens from the most significant risks presented by AI and foster public trust in the technology, particularly considering the interests of marginalised groups, there are no specific commitments on how to achieve this ambition.This new evidence shows that, for AI to be developed and deployed responsibly, it needs to take account of public expectations, concerns and experiences, said Octavia Field Reid, associate director at the Ada Lovelace Institute, adding that the governments legislative inaction on AI now stands in direct contrast to public concerns about the tech and their desire to see it regulated.This gap between policy and public expectations creates a risk of backlash, particularly from minoritised groups and those most affected by AI harms, which would hinder the adoption of AI and the realisation of its benefits. There will be no greater barrier to delivering on the potential of AI than a lack of public trust.According to the survey which purposefully oversampled social marginalised groups, including people from low-income backgrounds and minoritised ethnic groups attitudes to AI vary greatly between different demographics, with traditionally underrepresented populations reporting more concerns and perceiving AI as less beneficial. For example, 57% of black people and 52% of Asian people expressed concern about facial recognition in policing, compared to 39% in the wider population.Across all of the AI use cases asked about in the survey, people on lower incomes perceived them as less beneficial than people on higher incomes.In general, however, people across all groups were most concerned about the use of their data and representation in decision-making, with 83% of the UK public saying they are worried about public sector bodies sharing their data with private companies to train AI systems.Asked about the extent to which they felt their views and values are represented in current decisions being made about AI and how it affects their lives, half of the public said that they do not feel represented.To realise the many opportunities and benefits of AI, it will be important to build consideration of public views and experiences into decision-making about AI, said Helen Margetts, programme director for public policy at the Alan Turing Institute.These findings suggest the importance of governments promise in the AI Action Plan to fund regulators to scale up their AI capabilities and expertise, which should foster public trust. The findings also highlight the need to tackle the differential expectations and experiences of those on lower incomes, so that they gain the same benefits as high income groups from the latest generation of AI.In their accompanying report, the institutes said to ensure the introduction of AI-enabled systems in public sector services works for everyone, policymakers must engage and consult the public to capture the full range of attitudes expressed by different groups.Capturing diverse perspectives may help to identify high-risk use cases, novel concerns or harms, and/or potential governance measures that are needed to garner public trust and support adoption, it said.Although peoples inclusive participation in both the public and private management of AI systems is key to making the technology work for the benefit of all, Computer Weekly has previously reported that there are currently no avenues to meaningful public engagement.According to the government chief scientific adviser Angela McClean, for example, there are no viable channels available to the public that would allow them to have their voices heard around matters of science and technology.In September 2024, a United Nations (UN) advisory body on AI also highlighted the need for governments to collaborate on the creation of a globally inclusive and distributed architecture to govern the technologys use.The imperative of global governance, in particular, is irrefutable, it said. AIs raw materials, from critical minerals to training data, are globally sourced. General-purpose AI, deployed across borders, spawns manifold applications globally. The accelerating development of AI concentrates power and wealth on a global scale, with geopolitical and geo-economic implications.Moreover, no one currently understands all of AIs inner workings enough to fully control its outputs or predict its evolution. Nor are decision-makers held accountable for developing, deploying or using systems they do not understand. Meanwhile, negative spillovers and downstream impacts resulting from such decisions are also likely to be global.It added that although national governments and regional organisations will be crucial to controlling the use of AI, the very nature of the technology itself transboundary in structure and application necessitates a global approach.Read more about AI governance and regulationAI Action Summit review: Differing views cast doubt on AIs ability to benefit whole of society: Governments, companies and civil society groups gathered at the third global AI summit to discuss how the technology can work for the benefit of everyone in society, but experts say competing imperatives mean there is no guarantee these visions will win out.Digital Ethics Summit 2024: recognising AIs socio-technical nature: At trade association TechUKs eighth annual Digital Ethics Summit, public officials and industry figures and civil society groups met to discuss the ethical challenges associated with the proliferation of artificial intelligence tools globally and the direction of travel set for 2025.Lord Holmes warns of increasingly urgent need to regulate AI: The real-world negative impacts of artificial intelligence will only get worse if the UK does not move to regulate the technology in a way that centres on accountability, trust and public participation, says Lord Holmes.In The Current Issue:Can a future digital NHS survive another change?Digital twins drive efficiency across machines and infrastructureDownload Current IssueSLM series - Digital Workforce: Beyond hallucinations & anthropomorphisation CW Developer NetworkData Engineering Hidden dangers in the dash to AI CW Developer NetworkView All Blogs

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has launched two anti-tax avoidance consultations, as part of its ongoing clampdown on the promoters and facilitators of disguised remuneration schemes.These types of setups have contributed to thousands of IT contractors across the UK being saddled with life-changing tax bills, and the UK government is in the middle of a concerted push to reduce the prevalence of these contrived salary payment mechanisms.The consultations were announced during the Spring Statement 2025, with the first seeking views on government proposals to tackle the promoters and enablers of tax avoidance schemes, and how to better support customers who might be targeted by them.These include proposals that would give HMRC additional powers and stronger sanctions, allowing HMRC to more efficiently and effectively disrupt the business models promoters rely on, said the government, in its consultation document.HMRC is inviting members of the public, representative bodies and advisers to feedback on this consultation, which is due to run until 18 June 2025 before the results are published later this year.A persistent and determined group of promoters of tax avoidance seek to exploit every opportunity to harm the tax system by selling tax avoidance schemes they claim side-step the rules, the consultation document continued.They cause harm to public finances and to the individuals that use the schemes they promote, who often end up with large tax bills on top of the substantial fees already paid out to the promoters. The government is determined to close down this unacceptable behaviour.The government has previously committed to tackling the problem of non-compliant umbrella companies acting as fronts for tax avoidance schemes, who lure in contractors with too good to be true take-home pay rates.It plans to do this by making employment agencies assume responsibility for ensuring the correct amount of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) contributions are paid by their workers when an umbrella company is involved in the labour supply chain.This change was announced in the Autumn Budget 2024, with the government stating that it expects the move to generate 895m in additional tax during the 2026/27 financial year by making it harder for umbrella companies to engage in tax avoidance-related activities.The second consultation is geared towards soliciting opinions on another set of HMRC proposals designed to strengthen the government tax collection agencys ability to take action against tax advisors who facilitate non-compliance from their clients.Most tax advisers in the UK are dedicated professionals who adhere to rigorous standards, helping millions of taxpayers pay the right tax, said the consultation document. However, a minority of advisers fall short of these standards. Their actions can facilitate non-compliance and contribute to the tax gap. This undermines trust in both the tax system and honest tax advisers.Among the proposals HMRC will be seeking feedback on are whether stronger penalties should be introduced against rogue tax advisers, including publishing details of any sanctions they are being subjected to as a result of their non-compliant behaviour.HMRC is also mulling over whether to alert professional bodies these advisers might be members to any suspect behaviour they might be dabbling in.Read more about tax avoidance in techAfter campaigners called for HMRC to pause all of its Loan Charge enforcement activity until the governments independent review of the policy is complete, Computer Weekly has learned that the agency is accepting requests to pause settlements.The number of non-compliant umbrella companies and tax avoidance schemes on HMRCs name and shame list has doubled in the past 12 months.HMRC said it would be particularly interested in hearing from accountancy firms, tax advisers, payroll professionals and insolvency practitioners during the feedback period of this consultation, which will end on 7 May 2025.The Spring Statement also saw Chancellor Rachel Reeves outline plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) technology to close a 500m tax gap caused by wealthy people making use of non-compliant off-shore tax schemes.As reported by Computer Weekly, this work will involve recruiting experts in private sector wealth management, and deploying AI and advanced analytics to help identify and challenge those who try to hide their wealth.On the topic of the consultations, Crawford Temple, CEO of independent payment intermediary compliance assessor Professional Passport, said they are well intended but would not have been needed if HMRC had tapped into the data it already has about these schemes earlier.HMRC is sitting on a goldmine of data that could have crushed tax avoidance schemes years ago, yet theyve chosen to twiddle their thumbs, he said. By failing to cross-reference intermediary reports and real-time payroll data, HMRC has effectively created a playground for tax avoiders.Their reactive approach has cost workers millions and the Treasury billions in lost revenue. Sluggish and slow enforcement mechanisms have transformed what could have been a precise surgical intervention into a widespread compliance crisis, and the economy is suffering as a result.For years, HMRC has watched non-compliant umbrellas flourish while launching yet more consultations, said Temple. Every moment of hesitation is an invitation for tax dodgers to thrive. The time for analysis is over the time for action is now.

When is Amazon's Spring Sale 2025?Amazon's Spring Sale runs through Monday, March 31.Are laptops really cheaper during Amazon sales?Absolutely. Retailers and manufacturers have plenty of reasons to discount their laptops: new models coming out, overstock in a particular configuration, etc. Now, many of these discounted events align with Amazon's sales, allowing retailers to clear inventory as part of the sale events.How did we choose these Spring Sale deals?ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy -- laptops we actually have tested and would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops.We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we're recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing -- in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.What are the best Amazon Spring Sale 2025 deals?ZDNET's experts are searching through Amazon's Spring Sale deals to find the best discounts by category. These are the best deals so far:You can also find the best Amazon Spring Sale deals by price:And the best deals from other retailers this week:Best anti-Amazon Spring Sale dealsLooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites withZDNET Recommends.