UK officials receive $1 million from Meta to develop AI systems for defense, security, and transport. The deal has raised concerns about the close ties between UK politicians and tech giants.
Meta, owned by US billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, has donated $1m (£728,000) to fund four British AI experts who will work on developing cutting-edge artificial intelligence solutions to support national security and defence teams. The project is being coordinated by the government-funded Alan Turing Institute.
Critics argue that the deal gives Meta undue influence over UK policy-making. A recent investigation found that Meta executives had met with ministers 50 times in the past two years, more than any other technology company.
The government is currently consulting on a ban on social media use for under-16s, which would affect Meta's Instagram platform. However, Meta said it had donated before the consultation was proposed.
Tech justice campaigners have expressed concerns that the deal amounts to "big tech" lobbying by US companies with ties to former President Donald Trump. Foxglove, a group advocating for digital rights, described it as an example of Silicon Valley plutocrats trying to influence UK policy-making.
The government has announced a new partnership with Anthropic, a San Francisco-based AI company that will build and pilot a dedicated assistant tool for public services on gov.uk. The project is part of the government's plan to use artificial intelligence agents for national government services.
Meta, owned by US billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, has donated $1m (£728,000) to fund four British AI experts who will work on developing cutting-edge artificial intelligence solutions to support national security and defence teams. The project is being coordinated by the government-funded Alan Turing Institute.
Critics argue that the deal gives Meta undue influence over UK policy-making. A recent investigation found that Meta executives had met with ministers 50 times in the past two years, more than any other technology company.
The government is currently consulting on a ban on social media use for under-16s, which would affect Meta's Instagram platform. However, Meta said it had donated before the consultation was proposed.
Tech justice campaigners have expressed concerns that the deal amounts to "big tech" lobbying by US companies with ties to former President Donald Trump. Foxglove, a group advocating for digital rights, described it as an example of Silicon Valley plutocrats trying to influence UK policy-making.
The government has announced a new partnership with Anthropic, a San Francisco-based AI company that will build and pilot a dedicated assistant tool for public services on gov.uk. The project is part of the government's plan to use artificial intelligence agents for national government services.
. It feels like Meta's influence is creeping into every aspect of our lives, from education (social media for under-16s?) to defense systems 
. I mean, shouldn't we be focusing on creating AI that benefits society as a whole, not just enriching the pockets of tech giants? The fact that they've donated $1 million before the consultation even started just feels like big tech playing politics 
. We need to keep an eye on this and ensure our politicians aren't being swayed by Silicon Valley's big bucks 
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. I mean, one minute they're funding UK experts to develop AI systems for defense and security, and the next they're trying to shape policy with their own interests in mind? It's kinda sketchy that they've had 50 meetings with ministers already 
. And now there's this new partnership with Anthropic... it just feels like another way for Meta to get a foothold in the UK's AI development scene 
. Can we have some transparency on how this deal is going to play out? 
The fact that they've met with ministers 50 times in two years is already concerning enough - do we really want to be paying for their 'expertise' while also compromising our privacy? 
. Can't we have policy decisions made by people who actually care about the public good, not just tech moguls trying to advance their own interests? 
. It seems like Meta is getting too cozy with the UK government, and it's raising some serious red flags about conflict of interest 
. And what's up with all these meetings between Meta execs and ministers? It's getting a bit too familiar for comfort 
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i just wish they'd be more transparent about their motives
. This whole thing reeks of big tech trying to buy their way into shaping UK laws. And what's with the lack of transparency? Who else was vying for this deal, anyway? 
And don't even get me started on this whole "tech justice" thing... it just feels like a bunch of noise to me 
. Can we have some transparency about who's meeting with ministers and what kind of influence they're trying to wield? 
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So the UK's got some serious AI mojo, huh? I mean, who wouldn't want $1 million from Meta to make their AI dreams come true? It's like winning the lottery, but instead of cash, you get a team of genius Brits and a bunch of fancy algorithms. But seriously, do we really need big tech trying to influence our politicians' decisions? 
Maybe they should just give him a Nobel Prize in AI instead of cash. That way, he can use it to fund his own research and not try to shape the UK's policies with it. 
The Alan Turing Institute is a legit org, and having some tech giant on board doesn't necessarily mean they're gonna dictate policy. And let's be real, AI is already being used in various fields, so it's not like this is some crazy new thing... yet. 
. I get it, Meta's donating money to good causes and all, but shouldn't we be focusing on the bigger picture here? Like, who gets to decide what kind of AI is developed and how it'll be used?