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According to reports, British officials are proposing incentives, including an expanded London office and a potential dual stock listing to attract the company.

The move follows a dispute between Anthropic and the U.S. Defense Department over the use of its AI chatbot, Claude, for military applications. The company was subsequently blacklisted by U.S. authorities as a national security risk, a decision temporarily blocked by a judge.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration is expected to engage Anthropic leadership further during a planned visit by CEO Dario Amodei.

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Technology minister Liz Kendall said the content was “absolutely appalling” and called on the platform to act swiftly. Creating or sharing AI-generated sexual imagery, including content involving minors, is illegal under UK law.

X’s Safety account said the platform removes illegal content and permanently suspends offending accounts. The company has not formally responded to the latest government comments.

UK media regulator Ofcom said it has made urgent contact with X and its AI arm, xAI, to assess compliance with legal obligations. Similar concerns have been raised by regulators in France, India and the European Union.

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Big Tech has always excelled at disruption, but rarely does it disrupt an entire nation’s media ecosystem with such confident audacity that the victims begin to wonder whether they are witnessing aggression or “innovation.” Yet this is exactly what is unfolding in the United Kingdom, where Google has quietly throttled news visibility, restricted publishers’ reach, and effectively placed an entire national information system under a form of algorithmic hostage negotiation.

If this seems shocking, it shouldn’t. Google has perfected this dance for years: embrace publishers, feed them traffic, slowly withdraw the oxygen, then toss periodic “innovation grants” like a benevolent emperor sprinkling coins to calm starving peasants. What once looked like algorithmic indifference now appears more like deliberate pressure—a flex disguised as experimentation.

The company announced recently that news content in the UK “may not appear as before,” that visibility could change, and that Google was conducting “experiments” that determine how the public discovers information. Experiments—Big Tech’s polite euphemism for unilateral economic and political power. Whenever Silicon Valley uses the word, it usually means: we’re changing the rules, and you’ll find out the consequences later.

Newsrooms suddenly realized they had become lab subjects in an experiment whose intent was never about improving user experience, but about demonstrating leverage—at the precise moment lawmakers were considering a Digital Markets Act that would force platforms to pay publishers.

The timing, of course, was “coincidental”—the kind of coincidence that deserves its own laugh track.

If this script sounds familiar, it should. Australia lived through a similar digital tantrum in 2021, when Google and Facebook attempted to intimidate the government over a proposed media compensation law. Facebook went as far as blocking not only news pages but hospitals, emergency services, and NGOs—in the middle of wildfire season. It was the corporate equivalent of tossing the baby, the bathwater, the bathtub, and the entire plumbing system out the window, then insisting the explosion was a “technical glitch.”

The UK should have seen this coming. But after years battling Brexit chaos and revolving-door prime ministers, the political class seems to have forgotten how digital power works. Legislators began debating platform regulation; Google responded by subtly muting the national press. A coincidence? Or a warning shot?

What makes the situation even more disturbing is Google’s insistence that these changes are being made to “improve user experience.” This from the same company that increasingly pushes AI-generated summaries over real journalism, rewrites headlines with questionable accuracy, and gradually positions itself as both gatekeeper and competitor to the news industry.

The publishers, predictably, are panicking—not because they are surprised, but because they surrendered control years ago. Entire editorial strategies were built around Google Search. Newsrooms tailored headlines to please Google Discover. Traffic became dependent on an algorithm that could change direction overnight. Now the leash is tightening, and the industry is shocked that the leash existed at all.

But the implications stretch far beyond the UK. If Britain enforces a compensation framework and withstands Google’s pressure, other nations—especially in Europe, Africa, and Asia—will be emboldened to push similar reforms. If Britain retreats, the message is clear: even sovereign governments must bow before Big Tech architecture.

The real losers here are the public. Citizens do not know that their newspapers are suddenly downranked. They simply see fewer stories, more AI sludge floating to the top, and a narrowing of viewpoints. What they do not see are the invisible algorithmic decisions shaping their access to truth.

Google insists it is not responsible for “saving journalism,” and technically it isn’t. But it is responsible for not sabotaging it. When a company controls nearly 90% of a country’s search traffic, its “tests” are not neutral. They are political interventions with national consequences. No matter how often Google claims neutrality, platforms that decide visibility are not neutral. They are editors—unelected, unregulated, and unaccountable.

What is happening in the UK is not a glitch. It is not a misunderstanding. It is a pre-regulatory power play designed to remind governments that policy bends before platform power, not the other way around.

Our media ecosystem is already fragile. A single Discover tweak, a quiet downranking, or a change in search visibility could wipe out entire newsrooms without warning. Nigerian editors know this; they simply pretend not to.

This is why regulators like NITDA must evolve beyond promoting innovation. They must defend Nigeria’s information sovereignty. Because if Google can destabilize the UK’s news economy with a quiet “experiment,” what prevents it from doing the same in Nigeria—where media organizations are more vulnerable and regulatory protections are weaker?

We cannot continue sleepwalking into digital dependency. We cannot allow our public information ecosystem to be determined in Mountain View, California. And we cannot pretend this is not a matter of national security.

Because while Google runs its “experiments,” entire nations are becoming test subjects.

And the results are becoming painfully clear.

Shuaib S. Agaka is a Tech Journalist and Digital Policy Analyst based in Kano.
Email: sshuaib328@gmail.com

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The Crown Prosecution Service said Monday that 42 Bitcoin and additional crypto assets worth £4.1 million ($5.4 million) linked to the scam will be seized and liquidated.

O’Connor, 26, pleaded guilty in the United States to multiple charges including computer intrusion and extortion, and was sentenced to five years in prison in 2023. Although not convicted in the U.K., prosecutors said they moved to ensure he did not profit from the crime.

The 2020 attack saw hackers use hijacked Twitter accounts to solicit cryptocurrency and threaten celebrities, prompting the platform—now known as X—to temporarily restrict verified accounts.

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In a LinkedIn post on Thursday, Sunak said all proceeds from the part-time advisory roles will be donated to The Richmond Project, a charity he founded with his wife, Akshata Murty.

Amazon and Google-backed Anthropic confirmed that Sunak’s appointment complied with the rules set by the UK’s Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA), which regulates post-ministerial jobs.

At Anthropic, Sunak will advise on strategy, macroeconomic, and geopolitical trends, focusing on global issues rather than UK-specific policy. He is barred from initiating contact with UK government officials on behalf of the company.

Similarly, at Microsoft, Sunak will provide strategic insights on global macroeconomic and geopolitical developments. He is expected to speak at the company’s annual Microsoft Summit.

According to ACOBA’s letter, Sunak is prohibited from lobbying for either firm for two years after leaving office and from using privileged information gained during his time as prime minister.

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Regulatory filings show that between February and December 2024, Moniepoint spent $1.26 million—recorded as a loss—on administrative and infrastructure expenses. An additional $2.51 million was committed as an equity deposit for the acquisition of Bancom, an electronic money institution regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The acquisition was approved in July 2025 and is expected to give Moniepoint a regulatory foothold in the UK and European Economic Area.

The UK, home to more than 290,000 Nigerians, is one of the most critical remittance corridors for Nigeria. In 2021, Nigeria ranked as the third-largest recipient of remittances from the UK, with inflows valued at £2.76 billion ($3.69 billion). Moniepoint’s expansion positions it to compete with established players like Grey and Lemfi for a share of this market.

Despite not generating revenue in its first year of UK operations, Moniepoint said demand for remittance services has remained stable. “While the Company did not generate revenue during the period, it has focused on strengthening operational processes, enhancing customer service, and investing in technology to improve transaction efficiency and security in preparation for future activity,” the company wrote in its filings.

Moniepoint GB, the London subsidiary, was incorporated on February 18, 2024. Its first product, MonieWorld, launched in April 2025, allowing UK residents to send money directly to Nigerian bank accounts using British bank cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or their MonieWorld account. According to company insiders, the platform has already recorded a 70% growth rate and healthy transaction volumes, supported by advertising campaigns across trains and major diaspora events.

“Moniepoint GB’s focus is on serving the UK’s African diaspora and bringing financial happiness to a new market—an ambition that naturally requires upfront investment in compliance, infrastructure, and people,” a company spokesperson said.

The company, recently backed by $120 million from investors including Google and Visa, is signaling further expansion. UK filings show that Moniepoint has incorporated a new subsidiary under Moniepoint GB, pointing to possible entry into the US remittance market as its next frontier.

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Zhimin Qian, 47, also known as Yadi Zhang, pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to acquiring and holding digital assets tied to an investment scam that defrauded more than 128,000 people in China between 2014 and 2017.

The conviction caps a seven-year international investigation into a money-laundering network that stretched across multiple countries. UK detectives said Qian evaded capture for five years by travelling with false documents before she was tracked down in Britain.

Detective Sergeant Isabella Grotto, who led the inquiry, called the case “a painstaking, multi-jurisdictional investigation” that relied on cooperation with international partners.

Prosecutors said Qian fled China with stolen funds, which she attempted to launder through luxury property purchases in the UK. Her lawyer, Roger Sahota, told the court that she hoped her guilty plea would “bring some comfort to investors who have waited since 2017 for compensation.”

A Malaysian associate, Seng Hok Ling, also pleaded guilty to laundering funds linked to the fraud. Authorities have launched confiscation proceedings to recover more than £16 million from him, with the amount to be updated in line with bitcoin’s market value before sentencing in November.

The Metropolitan Police previously linked Qian to Jian Wen, a former takeaway worker in London who was jailed in 2024 for laundering part of the stolen assets. Wen was found to have rented a multimillion-pound home in north London and acquired Dubai properties worth over £500,000, despite her modest earnings.

UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis welcomed Qian’s conviction, calling it a “clear signal” that Britain is not a safe haven for money launderers.

Qian remains in custody and will be sentenced on November 10, alongside Hok Ling.

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British regulators on Friday approved Microsoft’s $69-billion takeover of Activision Blizzard, maker of the “Call of Duty” video game, paving the way for one the biggest technology tie-ups.

The Competition and Markets Authority said in a statement that it had cleared “the new deal for Microsoft to buy Activision without cloud gaming rights” after concluding “it would preserve competitive prices and better services”.

Microsoft launched its blockbuster takeover in January last year, an acquisition that would make it the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue, but it faced stiff scrutiny from regulators, including also in the United States.

The CMA blocked the deal in April over fears it would damage competition in the fast-growing cloud gaming sector, where games are bought virtually and players can use a variety of devices rather than just consoles.

But it dropped those objections last month ahead of its formal approval.

“We’re grateful for the CMA’s thorough review and decision today,” Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith said Friday.

“We have now crossed the final regulatory hurdle to close this acquisition, which we believe will benefit players and the gaming industry worldwide.”

Microsoft, which makes the Xbox console and already has a stable of games under its belt including “Minecraft”, “Elder Scrolls” and “Fallout”, is already the dominant player in the cloud-gaming world — its Game Pass service claims 25 million subscribers.

The original deal would have seen hugely popular Activision games including “Call of Duty”, “Overwatch” and “World of Warcraft” added to its cloud roster, which was too much for the UK regulator to stomach.

Under the new deal, Microsoft has agreed it would not take control of the cloud portion of Activision’s business, which will be transferred to French studio Ubisoft for 15 years.

Aside from the concerns over cloud gaming, regulators had also worried that the initial deal would have allowed Microsoft to make Activision’s games exclusive to its Xbox.

Microsoft and Sony, which had previously tried to block the Activision deal, agreed in July to keep releasing “Call of Duty” on the PlayStation.

The European Union cleared the deal in May while the US antitrust regulator recently paused its attempt to block the buyout following a setback in court.

AFP

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TECH DIGEST – Nigeria has been ranked in 13th position in the global perception index as recurring Google searches by individuals on 5G shows there were 6,850 online searches a month by Nigerians concerning the possible negative implications of 5G technology.

The United States is the most sceptical country in the world about 5G, with an average 374,700 tentative online searches about 5G per month. United Kingdom (93,400) and Australia (32,970) are among the other countries where there are over 30,000 dubious online searches regarding 5G each month.

5G seems to be coming to every town and city at a very fast rate, but with this rapid growth comes worries and misunderstandings for some individuals. Interested in finding out which countries in the world are most sceptical about 5G, Prolifics Testing conducted thorough research into the online searches surrounding the topic within different countries.

Coming in at number one in the rankings of the countries who are most sceptical about 5G is the United States, with a staggering 374,700 searches per month. This is four times more than the United Kingdom which takes second place, where natives searched for questions like ‘Is 5G safe?’ 93,400 times per month.

Sitting at number three is Australia with residents questioning the implications of 5G 32,970 times a month, on average. Spots four, five and six go to Canada, Poland and Germany, with each country researching 5G 22,680, 20,510 and 17,550 times, respectively. The Netherlands is hot on the heels of Germany, taking seventh place, as 16,520 incidences of residents searching the effects of 5G are recorded each month, on average.

In 20th place is Denmark, with the Nordic country making just 1,410 searches on average each month regarding 5G. Residents in Austria and Mexico don’t seem too worried about 5G either, with just 1,570 and 1,970 searches asking questions about 5G.

5GWhich Countries Search for ‘5G’ the Most?

Taking our analysis of searches even further, we looked at the countries simply searching for the word ‘5G’ on Google. We suspect users searching for this term will either be finding out more about the technology, learning about the benefits, or generally researching potential risks as a result of misinformation spread online.

Topping the list once again is the United States, as citizens search for ‘5G’ 314,000 times per month, on average. In second place is Poland, as our analysis shows that 130,900 searches are made each month, on average – 183,100 less than the US.

In third place is the United Kingdom, as UK nationals Google ‘5G’ 120,000 times per month, on average. Not as high as the USA, but still conveying an interest in wireless technology.

New Zealand residents make just 8,650 searches per month on average – 305,350 less searches than the US in first place! Belgium places in second (but still quite a jump from New Zealand), as Belgians search for ‘5G’ 13,200 times on average per month.

Furthermore, our research found that Danes Google ‘5G’ just 300 more times than Belgium, making 13,500 searches in total per month, on average.

Which Countries Ask ‘What is 5G?’ Most?

Whereas the search term ‘5G’ could be interpreted in a number of ways, the question ‘what is 5G?’ shows a pretty clear intent: to find out exactly what the technology is. Unsurprisingly, the United States comes up trumps again, as the country searches ‘what is 5G?’ 127,400 times per month, on average.

Another regular visitor to the top three is the United Kingdom, which places in second. Our analysis found ‘What is 5G?’ is typed into Google 24,200 times on average each month. That’s a sizable decrease from the US – 103,200 less searches, in fact.

In third place is Canada as, unlike its neighbour the United States, only searched ‘What is 5G?’ 15,100 times on average per month, 122,300 less. This is over 88% lower than the searches made by people in the US.

The countries that are not so bothered about questioning what 5G is and how it works are the Netherlands and Denmark are tied. With equal searches, these two Nordic countries searched ‘what is 5G?’ 1,000 times per month on average.

Ireland made 130 more searches than the Netherlands and Denmark, as residents make an average of 1,140 searches a month on Google. This could either indicate that Irish citizens already know the answer, or are not as suspicious of 5G as other countries when it comes to the effects of the technology.

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