14/04/2026

TUESDAY | APR 14, 2026

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New tool to combat online extremism

BEIJING: China yesterday called reports it had supplied or intended to supply weapons to Iran “baseless smears”. US President Donald Trump threatened Beijing on Sunday with a “staggering” new tariff of 50% if it were to provide military assistance to Tehran. CNN had reported China was preparing to deliver air defence systems to Iran within the next few weeks, citing three people familiar with the assessments. The New York Times quoted US officials as saying Beijing might have already sent a shipment of shoulder-fired missiles. China denied the reports, saying it had “always adopted a cautious and responsible attitude towards the export of military items, implementing strict controls in accordance with laws and international obligations”. “We oppose baseless smears or malicious association,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun. – AFP China denies weapons sale outside the parliament building. “It’s a big celebration. I’m quite happy. I have been waiting for this for some time. And I hope that the new leadership, new prime minister will be really a prime minister for all Hungarians, as he said,” said Tisza supporter Sandor Zoletnik. “Amazing! Can’t describe it! We are so happy that Orban is gone. We did not believe that it would change,” a group of young people hugged and jumped, shouting. “So, finally, after at least 16 years, we feel like there is a hope. We feel like there is a hope that Hungary can start walking into the right direction,” one of them said. Orban’s Fidesz party had the lowest support in the young generation. Fidesz, originally launched as an opposition youth movement in the late 1980s, is backed by just 8% of voters aged between 18 and 29, based on a survey by pollster Median, or 22% in the wider 18-39 age group, according to Zavecz Research. Traffic stopped along some boulevards as crowds near pubs overflowed and people waved flags, stopping cars. Hundreds strolled along bridges spanning the Danube well after midnight. – Reuters

SYDNEY: People who show violent extremist tendencies on ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence platforms could be directed in the future to human and chatbot-based deradicalisation support through a new tool in development in New Zealand, the people behind it said. The initiative is the latest attempt to address safety concerns in the face of a growing number of lawsuits accusing AI companies of failing to stop, and even enabling, violence. OpenAI was threatened with intervention by the Canadian government in February after revealing a person who carried out a school shooting had been banned by the platform without the authorities being informed. ThroughLine, a startup hired in recent years by ChatGPT owner OpenAI as well as rivals Anthropic and Google, to redirect users to crisis support when they are flagged as being at risk of self-harm, domestic violence or an eating disorder, is also exploring ways to broaden its offer to include preventing violent extremism, its founder and former youth worker Elliot Taylor said. The company is in discussions with The Christchurch Call, an initiative to stamp out online hate formed after New

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extremism, he added. The anti-extremism tool would probably be a hybrid model combining a chatbot trained to respond to people who show signs of extremism and referrals to real-world mental health services, Taylor said. “We’re not using the training data of a base LLM,” he said, referring to the generic datasets large language model platforms use to form coherent text. “We’re working with the correct experts.” The technology is being tested. Galen Lamphere-Englund, a counterterrorism adviser representing The Christchurch Call, said he hoped to roll the product out for moderators of gaming forums and for parents and caregivers who want to weed out extremism online. – Reuters BUDAPEST: Budapest turned into a party zone on Sunday night with people dancing outside pubs and cars honking as supporters of the opposition Tisza party celebrated their sweeping victory in an election. The election, which brought a record turnout of 80% based on preliminary data, ended the 16-year rule of right-wing prime minister Viktor Orban and for Hungarians toasting and waving flags in the capital this meant voting for the country’s European orientation and a restoration of democracy, eroded by Orban and his government. Budapest’s famous Chain Bridge was illuminated in Hungary’s national colours and along the embankment by the Danube tens of thousands partied, waving the national flag and European Union flags. “I feel amazing! Really amazing! Like, I never thought this would happen. I’ve been praying for this for 16 years so I’m super happy,” said Szilvia, a Tisza supporter, as people watched the victory speech from opposition leader Peter Magyar. Chanting and singing broke out on the city’s metro, with people chanting “it’s over”. Other Tisza supporters celebrated at a rave

Taylor’s firm, which he runs from his home in rural New Zealand, has become a go-to for AI firms with its offer of a constantly checked network of 1,600 helplines in 180 countries. Once the AI detects signs of a potential mental health crisis, it routes the user to ThroughLine, which matches them with an available human-run service nearby. But ThroughLine’s scope has been limited to specific categories, the founder said. The breadth of mental health struggles that people disclose online has exploded with the popularity of AI chatbots, and

Zealand’s worst terrorist attack in 2019, which would involve the anti extremism group giving guidance while ThroughLine develops the intervention chatbot, the former youth worker said. “It’s something that we’d like to move towards and to do a better job of covering and then to be able to better support platforms,” Taylor said, adding that no timeframe had been set. OpenAI confirmed the relationship with ThroughLine but declined to comment further. Anthropic and Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Budapest turns into party zone

Actress breaks silence on sexual violence Concerned German citizens protesting against sexualised violence against women in Berlin on Sunday. – AFPPIC

BERLIN: Actress and TV personality Collien Fernandes has sparked weeks of debate in Germany over sexualised online violence after accusing her ex husband of spreading fake images. Fernandes said she was initially “hesitant” to file a criminal complaint. Her lawyer encouraged her to press on, saying that this was the “digital Pelicot case”. French rape survivor Gisele Pelicot became a symbol of the fight against sexual violence after waiving her right to anonymity. Fernandes, 44, said that for years she has been plagued by fake profiles in her name on social media and falsified images spread online, which artificial intelligence and other tools have made increasingly believable. She has accused her husband, actor and TV host Christian Ulmen, 50, of sending fake nude images of

After Fernandes told her story to the Spiegel magazine last month, German prosecutors said they had re opened a case against Ulmen. He denies having created or disseminated doctored “deepfake” pornographic videos. Fernandes and Ulmen are also waiting to see whether the case will be taken up by authorities in Spain, where they also have a residence and where laws on online harassment are stricter. Fernandes said she is “deeply moved” by the support shown by demonstrators who have taken to the streets across Germany. The case has put pressure on the government of conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz to swiftly draw up proposals to address online violence, particularly that involving deepfakes. – AFP

her to various men, as well as using a manipulated version of her voice to have explicit phone conversations. According to Fernandes, her husband confessed to her in late 2024 in a hotel room in Hamburg. Fernandes recalled having dinner with a producer where she learned that he believed he had had a conversation of a sexual nature with her online. She said that she then came across a story written by her husband in which she is raped while crying. She divorced her husband a few months after the discovery. Fernandes said it was the “strength” shown by Gisele Pelicot that gave her the courage to turn to the courts, put an end to the rumours surrounding her and fight on behalf of victims of digital violence who don’t have her platform.

Magyar celebrates his victory in Budapest. – AFPPIC