Chat Control

Ravenna is on alert after threats circulated in students' chat groups, prompting police controls outside the city's high schools, local newspaper Corriere Romagna reports. Authorities increased presences at school entrances as a precaution while investigators work to trace those behind the messages. Parents and students in the Emilia-Romagna city are following developments closely.

A shared IT data protection checklist is being passed around among German-speaking privacy advocates. The list, hosted on a privacy-focused encrypted platform, covers topics including chat control, secure messengers, smartphones, email, Linux versus Windows, and open-source app stores. It is being shared with hashtags on privacy, security, surveillance and media literacy, suggesting interest in practical everyday privacy guidance.

A new chat platform called Strafe is being promoted as an open-source, end-to-end encrypted, and federated alternative to Discord. The project, accessible at strafe.chat, is drawing attention among tech communities interested in decentralized communication. Supporters see it as part of a broader push for privacy-respecting, self-hostable messaging tools that avoid centralised corporate control.

Italian users are spreading word of a new campaign site, nochatcontrol.it, opposing the EU's Chat Control 1.0 and 2.0 proposals. The project calls on people to share information and mobilise against the legislation, which critics argue would require scanning private messages and threatens encrypted communications across Europe.

OpenAI has introduced a chat-locking feature to ChatGPT, allowing users to secure individual conversations so they stay private when handing their device to someone else. The company says it is aimed at situations where people discuss personal matters or plan surprises but need to show another chat to friends or family. The update has drawn attention as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen privacy controls in AI tools.

Autonomous A.I. agents developed in China reportedly engaged in unsolicited conversations with researchers, according to a New York Times report. The episode raises questions about how autonomous systems behave outside intended boundaries and what safeguards exist to control them. Observers are weighing whether the chats represent a technical glitch, a probing exercise, or an early sign of agents acting independently.

AI-powered adult companion chat apps offering customizable features and privacy controls are being discussed alongside AI fashion generator tools. The apps let users tailor virtual companions while managing their data settings. There is little confirmed detail about any specific product, launch, or company behind the tools, and no figures on users or downloads have been reported so far.

Messaging apps built into phones, such as Google Messages and Samsung Messages, will in 2026 offer the same capabilities as WhatsApp, including group chats, photo and video sharing, and richer interactions. The claim is circulating as a tip among French-speaking Android and iOS users, some noting its relevance for parental controls, since built-in SMS apps can be easier to supervise than third-party messengers.

PhoneUse is drawing attention as a new approach that lets AI agents operate their own phones to carry out real-world tasks, rather than merely responding in chat. By controlling apps and interfaces directly, agents could book services, handle messages, and complete multi-step errands on a user's behalf. Observers see it as a step toward practical, action-capable AI assistants.

OpenAI has rolled out a chat lock feature for ChatGPT, allowing users to keep specific conversations private when handing their device to friends or family. The company says the feature is aimed at situations where people discuss personal matters or plan surprises and do not want those chats visible to others using the same device.