AI in the Courtroom, Alexa Under Fire & France Targets Musk’s X
This week’s legal developments underscore a growing global reckoning with the unchecked power of tech giants and the ethical challenges of integrating AI into our legal systems. As regulators step up scrutiny and lawsuits mount, one thing is clear: the lines between innovation, privacy, and accountability are being redrawn.
Musk’s X Under French Investigation for Data and Algorithm Abuse
French authorities have escalated a months-long investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter), enlisting police to examine potential criminal activity. The case centers on suspected misuse of algorithms and unlawful data extraction, raising concerns about foreign interference and user privacy.
Prosecutors may authorize searches, surveillance, and even international arrest warrants if Musk or X executives fail to cooperate. The probe deepens tensions between tech giants and European governments, particularly as Musk continues to vocalize support for far-right causes and claims of censorship in the region.
Hopefully, we will get more news about this next week as we are curious how this will turn out.
AI in Dispute Resolution: Promise Meets Caution
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how legal disputes are managed, with growing adoption in tasks like document review, legal research, and outcome prediction. According to the 2025 International Arbitration Survey, over 90% of legal professionals expect to rely on AI tools within the next five years to boost efficiency and reduce costs.
Yet, significant concerns persist. Legal experts warn about AI bias, lack of transparency, and data security issues. Especially when handling sensitive case materials. The use of AI in judgment writing remains controversial, with many lawyers preferring a human touch for decisions that involve nuance, emotion, and ethical judgment. While AI is transforming legal work, the consensus is clear: for now, humans still need to steer the wheel.
More details about this case you can find on Reuters.
Alexa Faces Massive Class-Action Over Alleged Privacy Violations
In a major win for digital privacy advocates, a U.S. federal judge has approved a class-action lawsuit against Amazon, opening the door for tens of millions of Alexa users to seek damages. The lawsuit alleges that Amazon secretly recorded users’ private conversations through its voice assistant without clear consent—an alleged violation of Washington’s consumer protection laws and other state wiretapping statutes.
Amazon maintains that Alexa only activates when prompted and includes safeguards to prevent accidental recordings. Still, the company’s record raises questions: in 2023, Amazon paid over $30 million in penalties, including for unlawfully retaining children’s voice data and Ring camera security breaches. The new class-action could further strain the tech giant's efforts to reassure users about privacy.
Sadly, Cybernews did not add a lot more details about this but it caught our attention nonetheless.
