Starmer targets social media giants as Kendall faces AI legal threat April 16, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has called senior executives from Snap, Tiktok, Snap and Meta into Downing Street, as ministers double crack down on Big Tech’s effects on child safety. The meeting comes as tech secretary Liz Kendall faces mounting scrutiny over the government’s use of AI in the same consultation process. Starmer will tell the firms [...]
UK launches £500m Sovereign AI fund as Kendall backs ‘British winners’ April 16, 2026 The UK government has unveiled a £500m push to scale domestic AI firms, as ministers step up efforts to anchor the next wave of tech firms on home soil amid growing competition. Tech secretary Liz Kendall is set to launch the new Sovereign AI Unit in London on Thursday, casting it as a central pillar [...]
Quantum and AI drive UK startup funding to $7.8bn in 2026 April 14, 2026 UK startup funding jumped to $7.8bn (£6.2bn) in the first quarter of 2026, as a surge in quantum computing investment and mega-rounds powered the strongest start to a year since 2022. New data from HSBC Innovation Banking and Dealroom shows venture capital investment rose 60 per cent year on year, pointing to renewed confidence in [...]
UK trials teen social media bans ahead of potential crackdown March 25, 2026 Hundreds of teenagers across the UK are set to take part in a government-backed trial of social media restrictions, as ministers weigh whether to introduce a nationwide ban for under-16s. The six-week pilot will see 300 teenagers aged between 13 and 17 split into four groups, testing different levels of access to apps such as [...]
Government drops AI copyright opt-out plan after industry backlash March 18, 2026 The government has scrapped its preferred proposal to allow AI firms to train on copyrighted material by default, as it shifts its approach after sustained opposition from the UK’s creative sector. In a report published on Tuesday morning, ministers confirmed they are U-turning from the proposed ‘opt-out’ model, which would have allowed developers to use [...]
UK considers social media curfew as under-16 ban looms March 2, 2026 The government is considering overnight curfews on social media and tighter restrictions on children’s access to AI chatbots as it prepares to launch what it describes as a “national conversation” on online safety. From Monday, parents and young people will be invited to take part in a consultation exploring measures that could include an Australia-style [...]
Wayve raises $1.2bn as self-driving firm gears up for robotaxi launch February 25, 2026 British self-driving car company Wayve has raised $1.2bn (£950m), ticking its valuation up to $8.6bn and marking one of the largest capital raises for a UK AI startup. The funding round was led by Eclipse, Balderton and Softbank Vision Fund 2, with new backing from investors like Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Baillie Gifford, the British [...]
Reddit fined £14m over children’s data protection failures February 24, 2026 Social media platform Reddit has been fined £14.47m by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) after a probe found it unlawfully processed children’s personal information. The platform was also found to have failed to implement adequate age checks. The UK data protection regulator said the US-based company did not implement robust age assurance measures, meaning it [...]
UK under-16s social media ban could land before year end February 16, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer is considering banning under-16s from social media within months, as ministers crack down on children’s online activity following a deepfake scandal on Elon Musk’s Grok. The prime minister has insisted that “no platform gets a free pass” on child safety, with a formal consultation on tougher social media protections launching in March. [...]
Arm boss says lack of risk appetite ‘holding UK back’ February 2, 2026 The chief executive of British semiconductor company Arm has said the UK’s lack of risk appetite is holding businesses back. Speaking on the Master Investor Podcast with Wilfred Frost, Rene Hass, who leads the Nasdaq-listed firm Arm holdings, said startups in the UK struggled to grow because of scale opportunities in the UK arising from [...]