PFA

A Guardian feature follows a community that discovered its water and residents had been contaminated by PFAS, the persistent 'forever chemicals' linked to serious health risks. Residents describe getting blood tests and demanding answers after learning how long the pollution went undetected. The story highlights growing public concern over industrial PFAS pollution, regulatory delays and the difficulty of holding polluters to account.

Researchers writing in The Conversation say deepfake content is distorting this year's Victorian state election in Australia. Their analysis identifies which groups of voters are most susceptible to manipulated audio and video, warning that synthetic media could influence how people judge candidates and parties ahead of polling day.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation requiring the identification and tracking of pesticides containing PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals. The bill is intended to give state regulators better data on where PFAS pesticides are used and in what quantities. Environmental and health advocates have pushed for tighter oversight of the substances, which are linked to lasting contamination of soil and water.

As AI-generated images, audio and video become more convincing, researchers and journalists are racing to develop tools that can reliably detect deepfakes. The challenge has grown urgent as fabricated content spreads during elections, disasters and celebrity scandals, eroding public trust. Experts warn that even proven authentic footage now faces suspicion, since viewers can dismiss real evidence as fake, making verification a central problem of the digital age.

A home cook shared a recipe for a spaghetti and vegetable pan using pre-cooked spaghetti, carrots, zucchini, red pepper, spring onion, sunflower seeds and ground flaxseed, seasoned with soy sauce, vegetable broth and chili flakes. It is a straightforward, budget-friendly dish aimed at everyday cooking.

Police in Rhineland-Palatinate are asking the public for help locating Milena, a 13-year-old girl missing from Lörzweiler near Mainz. The appeal, circulated through regional news outlets, is drawing attention across the region as people share the description and urge anyone with information to contact the authorities.

BBC Ideas and The Open University have released an animated explainer warning that deepfakes, voice cloning and synthetic media have made online fraud far harder to detect than in the era of obvious glitches like distorted hands. The animation sets out practical verification habits viewers can adopt to recognise manipulated content and avoid being deceived by increasingly convincing forgeries.

US state legislatures are finding it hard to pass and enforce laws regulating AI-generated deepfakes in elections. Lawmakers have introduced measures targeting deceptive synthetic media in political campaigns, but the fast pace of AI development, legal questions around free speech, and uneven adoption across states are leaving gaps that manipulated campaign content could exploit ahead of future votes.

New research indicates that victims of deepfake sexual abuse who are celebrities encounter a distinctive pattern of victim-blaming, distinguishing their experience from other forms of image-based abuse. The findings shed light on how audiences hold famous targets partly responsible for fabricated sexual content, complicating efforts to support victims and curb the spread of such material.

A new explainer from BBC Ideas and The Open University warns that deepfakes, voice cloning and other synthetic media have made online fraud far harder to detect than in the era of distorted hands and obvious glitches. The short animation lays out practical verification habits people can use to spot manipulated content and avoid scams, prompting renewed discussion online about how to stay alert to AI-driven deception.

A Pro/Con debate feature argues that AI-generated deepfakes are already flooding global politics, with synthetic audio and video of politicians used to mislead voters and discredit opponents. The piece weighs arguments over how serious the threat is and what regulators, platforms and campaigns should do in response, as elections worldwide contend with fabricated media that spreads faster than fact-checks.

An opinion piece argues that AI-generated political deepfake advertisements are spreading rapidly online while state legislators remain unable to craft effective rules in response. The commentary highlights the gap between fast-moving AI technology and slower legislative processes, raising concerns about voter manipulation ahead of elections and urging lawmakers to act on disclosure requirements and oversight.

Commentary at Tech Policy Press argues Taiwan needs a deepfake law that actually works to protect its elections. The piece contends that AI-generated manipulated media poses a growing threat to voters and candidates, and calls for legislation that is practical and enforceable rather than symbolic, as Taiwan faces ongoing information pressure from abroad.

Political campaigns using AI-generated deepfakes are beginning to face legal threats, as candidates and election officials respond to fake audio and video content designed to mislead voters. The development signals that courts and lawyers may become a new front in the fight over synthetic media in elections, with legal pressure emerging alongside calls for regulation of AI in political advertising.

Eau Claire, Wisconsin, says PFAS contamination is now officially being treated at a removal facility. The city has been dealing with 'forever chemical' pollution in its water supply, and the announcement marks a milestone in local efforts to make drinking water safe. Residents have closely followed the city's response to the contamination.

Sony Music has removed more than 260,000 AI-generated deepfakes, roughly double its previous count, according to a new report. The label has been aggressively pursuing fake songs and cloned artist voices spreading across streaming and social platforms. The figure highlights how quickly unauthorized AI content impersonating musicians is growing, and how aggressively rights holders are responding to protect artists' voices and catalogues.

Claros Technologies and Daikin America have announced a commercial agreement to deploy Claros' permanent PFAS destruction technology at full scale. The partnership, reported via PR Newswire and carried by financial outlets, aims to address contamination from so-called forever chemicals, which have faced growing regulatory scrutiny in the United States and worldwide.

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency visited a Maine company that is developing technology to eliminate PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals linked to health and environmental harm. The visit highlights federal interest in emerging methods for destroying the persistent compounds, which have contaminated water supplies across the US, including in Maine where PFAS spread through sludge-based fertiliser on farmland.