Technology

📍 United States

On 2 September 2026 Judge Leonie Brinkema rejected the Justice Department's request to force Google to divest its ad-tech business, while the earlier finding of illegal conduct stands. Google must make operational changes to help rivals. Separately, the US government is appealing the remedies in Google's search case.

📍 United States

The Pentagon's Defense Manpower Data Center disclosed in late September 2026 that a file-sharing system flaw exposed data on 2.76 million living and 294,000 deceased people, including Social Security numbers. Access ran from October 2025 until the flaw was found on 16 July 2026. Affected people are offered 12 months of credit monitoring.

📍 United States

On 1 September 2026 Waymo opened paid driverless rides in Denver, San Diego and Tampa, taking it to 14 markets. It reports over 500,000 rides a week and a fleet above 4,000 vehicles, and aims for one million weekly trips by end-2026. Local rules for autonomous vehicles vary by city and state.

📍 Thane .West, Maharashtra, India

Is AI taking your job

📍 United Kingdom

On 15 June 2026 the UK government announced it will bar social media platforms from serving under-16s, with enforcement expected from spring 2027. Messaging apps are outside the ban, and extra limits are planned on livestreaming and stranger contact. Ofcom is studying age-checking methods.

📍 Australia

Australia's under-16 social media ban took effect on 10 December 2025. Reports in June 2026 say many teens still have access, and the government has doubled the maximum penalty for platforms to A$99 million. The eSafety Commissioner is weighing legal action against several platforms.

📍 European Union

A provisional EU deal reached in May 2026 postpones rules for high-risk AI systems from August 2026 to December 2027 (stand-alone systems) and August 2028 (AI in regulated products). It also adds a ban on AI systems that generate child abuse or non-consensual intimate imagery from 2 December 2026.

📍 London, England, United Kingdom

On 24 June 2026 the Metropolitan Police announced plans to expand live facial recognition, AI and drones across London, including static cameras in central London. Police say the technology has aided over 2,000 arrests since 2024, while rights groups call it an alarming escalation. A High Court ruling in April found adequate safeguards.

📍 India

UPI processed a record 24.51 billion transactions worth Rs 29.82 lakh crore in August 2026, up 22% year on year. It marked ten years in 2026 and now runs in 11 countries. Debates continue over how payment providers and banks should be paid for running the system.

📍 New Delhi, India

At SEMICON India 2026 (17-19 September, New Delhi), the government said 12 projects worth over Rs 1.64 lakh crore are approved and five units are in production. A second phase, ISM 2.0, with an outlay of Rs 1,27,500 crore was launched in July 2026.