UK cinemas consider ban on smart glasses, Meta whistleblower testifies at trial

Cinemas are considering a ban on Meta AI glasses amid piracy concerns. Many of the UK’s chains could introduce “policies to prohibit and/or restrict the wearing of camera-enabled smart glasses”, according to the industry’s trade body. All of the major operators are considering their approach to the tech, according to the UK Cinema Association (UKCA), as they respond to the rise of what some people have dubbed “spy glasses” or “pervert glasses”. The wearable technology features cameras embedded inside the frame and facilitates discreet recording. A small light flashes during taping. Sky News 

Meta has taken a “don’t ask, don’t tell” strategy when it comes to the safety of children on its social media platforms, according to a whistleblower who testified during a landmark trial against the company on Tuesday and Wednesday. Arturo Béjar, a former Meta safety engineer, told the jury that the company was aware of the harm its products caused children, which included its recommendations pushing content from sexual predators and violent and graphic images. He said he repeatedly raised the issue to various Facebook and Instagram executives but that they did little to resolve it. The Guardian

Protesters dressed as Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings protested outside the Buenos Aires home of Peter Thiel, a Palantir co-founder. They had gathered to highlight Mr Thiel’s recent 1pc stake purchase in Argentina’s Vista, one of the largest oil companies operating in the country. The demonstrators carried banners reading “You shall not pass”, a line delivered by the Lord of the Rings character, played by Sir Ian McKellen. The Telegraph 

Over the past ten years, Google’s Pixel lineup has set the benchmark for the Android experience. The new Pixel 11 Pro XL mostly lives up to that legacy, though the iterative updates are beginning to feel a bit stale. Between an increased $1,299 price tag tied to component shortages and a surprising downgrade to 12GB of RAM, the value proposition takes a hit—even with base storage bumped up to 256GB. Look past those stumbles, however, and you’ll find remarkable display quality, sturdy construction, fast radios, and the stellar AI-driven cameras Google is known for. PC Mag

Rockstar was hit Tuesday night by yet another leak of Grand Theft Auto VI footage just a few months ahead of the game’s release in November. The leaker, known as Cyberleek, has shared images of gameplay and the map of GTA VI, prompting Take-Two to issue takedown requests, though the social-media spread is largely uncontrolled. Cyberleek has actually spelled out their motivations for leaking the content. In a statement, they said: “A digital copy cannot sell out. Yet publishers kept the preorder system and stripped away its only consumer benefit. Now gamers pay early and receive nothing in return except a countdown timer and a cosmetic skin.” Forbes

Customers have shared their outrage after an app used by many businesses to track timesheets and produce invoices hiked bills by as much as 1500%, with one person calling it “daylight robbery”. Richard Haldenby, head of UK consultancy firm Salentis, told the BBC his monthly bill had risen from $130 (£95.50) to $2,110. Others have reported similar price hikes online, with one person, external in the US saying their annual charge went from $2,800 to $23,000. The BBC has approached Harvest for comment. Harvest was acquired by the Italian tech company Bending Spoons in 2025, and changed its pricing structure the following year. BBC