Media
French police and X face a new legal showdown
The Australian Financial Review’s Catherine Porter and Ségolène Le Stradic report that French authorities have stepped up their pressure on X, with police searching the company’s French offices and prosecutors summoning owner Elon Musk as part of a long-running investigation that is now spilling into a broader tech regulation fight.
Paris prosecutors say their cybercrime unit is probing seven allegations, including the spread of child sexual abuse material, denial of crimes against humanity and the alleged misuse of user data.
X cleans up pro-China network using Australian accounts
Crikey’s Cam Wilson reports that X has removed a network of accounts tied to a pro-China disinformation operation, including 27 profiles stolen from Australian users, after the scheme was exposed.
The Clemson University report found 130 fake locals across Australia, the US and the Philippines, all using AI-generated content to quietly push Beijing-friendly narratives, with the Australian cluster built entirely from hijacked real accounts.
Meta faces heat over crypto gambling influencer
Josh Taylor of The Guardian reports that Meta is under pressure after failing to act on repeated reports that an Australian Instagram influencer was promoting illegal offshore crypto gambling, despite clear warnings from regulators about potential multi-million-dollar fines.
The streamer, Dinah, has more than 820,000 followers and has been promoting the crypto casino Rainbet through upbeat posts and links in her bio that direct fans to the platform.
Companies
Disney taps Josh D’Amaro as the next CEO
Michelle Chapman from The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Disney has picked parks chief Josh D’Amaro to replace Bob Iger, putting one of its most senior internal operators in charge of the whole empire.
He steps up as the company rides a wave of box office hits and a more settled streaming business, but he is also inheriting softer numbers at its US theme parks.
BBC Studios promotes Eve Frederick in Los Angeles
Deadline’s Peter White writes that BBC Studios has promoted Eve Frederick to EVP of Unscripted Production in LA, building on the senior role she has held since 2021.
She now oversees a busy slate that includes Dancing with the Stars, Celebrity Weakest Link and Netflix hits like Outlast and Murder Among the Mormons.
Holly Valance drops slur on live TV
news.com.au’s Joshua Haigh writes that former Neighbours star Holly Valance is having another headline-heavy week after teaming up with Pauline Hanson on a novelty track and then stumbling into fresh controversy on British TV.
On GBNews she used a slur while talking about Australia’s Covid response and, when challenged, chose to defend it rather than apologise.
Tech
Photo booths and wedding snaps caught in a data leak
Talk about worst nightmare-type stuff.
A photo booth company called Curator Live has been exposed for leaving a huge trove of customer photos and phone numbers publicly available online, including images from weddings, parties, and even political events.
A security researcher alerted Joseph Cox at 404 Media, but says nothing has been fixed, echoing a similar breach TechCrunch reported on with another photo booth outfit late last year.