Daily Tech News Digest – 2026-08-13

Top tech headlines from BBC Technology, TechRadar and Ars Technica in the last 24 hours.

BBC Technology

• Twitch users outraged as Amazon uses their content to train AI in opt-out feature
  Users of the popular streaming platform criticised allowing Amazon to use their data by dafault.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:39:02 GMT
• Amazon is using Twitch to train generative AI
  The streaming platform's users criticised the move to allow the use of channel content for AI training.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:04:31 GMT
• Why Japanese firms are being so slow to use AI
  Japanese risk aversion and conservatism blamed for slow AI take-up by the country's business sector.
  Wed, 12 Aug 2026 23:00:47 GMT
• Discord ordered to suspend livestreams in Brazil
  Discord told the BBC it was "thoughtfully reviewing" the order by Brazil's data protection agency and it was "committed to user safety"
  Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:10:31 GMT

TechRadar Tech

• ‘If it was opt in, nobody would opt in’: Amazon’s AI is being trained on your Twitch streams unless you turn it off — here’s how to stop it
  Twitch users’ streams are being used to train Amazon’s AI, and you have to opt out to stop it.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:05:03 +0000
• Trump signs memo calling for cyber privateers to conduct cyberattacks abroad against criminal groups targeting Americans — but they have to escrow $1 million to join
  Private companies will be legally allowed to conduct cyberattacks against foreign groups on behalf of the US government.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:05:00 +0000
• After taking on Whoop, Garmin could come for Oura with its own smart ring — and as a Garmin fan, these are the 3 features I want to see
  The Cirqa fitness tracker could soon be followed by a Cirqa smart ring, according to a new leak.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:52:41 +0000
• Proton VPN rolls out Rust-powered 'Proton Protocols' in beta across all major apps
  Proton VPN has rolled out a major beta update powered by a brand-new Rust-based framework called Proton Protocols. Offering an Advanced Kill Switch, better censorship resistance, and Stealth on Linux, here's everything you need to know.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:52:00 +0000
• Not thrilled by the new Google Pixel Watch 5? Here are 3 Android smartwatches we recommend instead, based on our own testing data
  We've picked out three rugged, stylish and cheaper Wear OS alternatives if you don't want the Pixel Watch 5.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:34:02 +0000
• I've spent my summer testing portable fans, and these are the two that kept me coolest — including one that costs just £20
  I've spent a sweaty summer testing handheld fans, and these two kept me coolest — including a powerful premium option and a great value budget model.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:31:28 +0000
• Apple TV just added a fresh batch of classic movies to its library for free, including my favorite Spielberg tear-jerker — here’s how to find them
  Apple TV has added a handful of classic movies to its library of original titles, and they're all free to stream.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:29:39 +0000
• Leaked IdeaPad looks like a proper MacBook Neo rival — but I don't think Lenovo can beat Apple on price
  'Pretty sure it won't share the same build quality': Lenovo's new laptop with MacBook Neo vibes is leaked, but skeptics are worried it won't match Apple's quality.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:26:59 +0000
• Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 has been delayed to 'deliver the quality of experience we've always envisioned,' developer says
  King Art Games has announced that Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 has been delayed three months and will now launch on December 3.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:22:35 +0000
• Apple's back-to-school offer is live — students and teachers get exclusive savings on iPads and MacBooks, plus free gift cards
  The Apple Store has just launched its education offers for students and teachers, featuring savings of up to £100 on iPads and MacBooks, and free gift cards up to £120.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:09:04 +0000
• Tokenomics: AI Has an income statement - it’s time to read it
  Boards should treat AI like any major investment, balancing costs with measurable business returns.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:49:51 +0000
• Is Big Tech's grip on global influence already unbreakable?
  What the latest influence data reveals about Big Tech's lead and its closest competitors.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:18:20 +0000
• How to watch Dictator: The Hitler Interviews online for FREE – stream chilling documentary series from anywhere
  Documentary series compiles first hand testimonies of the people who knew Adolf Hitler personally. Here's how to watch Dictator: The Hitler Interviews online from anywhere.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:11:53 +0000
• Claude Cowork is coming to your Chrome browser, and I might finally use it now
  Anthropic upgrades the Claude in Chrome side panel to Claude Cowork.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:05:00 +0000
• Why employees, not threat actors, are 2026’s biggest risk
  Shadow AI is exposing businesses to hidden employee-led risks, demanding stronger identity security and visibility.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:48:16 +0000
• 'We’re further strengthening the value of PlayStation Plus' — Helldivers 2 has just dropped on PS Plus in time for a huge Warhammer 40,000 crossover
  Helldivers 2, Arrowhead Game Studios' critically acclaimed multiplayer shooter, has officially landed on PlayStation Plus, along with some huge updates.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:44:54 +0000
• Surfshark takes aim at the smishing epidemic with new real-time scam text protection
  Surfshark is expanding its anti-fraud arsenal with a real-time scam text protection tool designed to detect and block malicious "smishing" messages on mobile devices before they can do any harm.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:44:36 +0000
• Windows users face six times more malware than Mac owners, Surfshark reveals — but 'Macs are safer' is only half true
  New Surfshark data shows Windows users hit nearly six times more malware than Mac users, but Mac owners face a bigger phishing risk thanks to a false sense of security.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:14:22 +0000
• Pearl Abyss confirms Crimson Desert DLC is scheduled to 'release this year' — and I'm not ready for it, even after 240 hours
  Pearl Abyss confirms Crimson Desert DLC is on its way later this year, but with a huge release schedule, I'm not ready yet, even after 240 hours of playtime.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:11:26 +0000
• Data sovereignty is more than a pin on a map
  Storing data locally won't guarantee sovereignty without governance, resilience and operational control.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:00:20 +0000

Ars Technica Technology

• Claude's new Scarlet Letter watermark is invisible—for now
  The mark flags anything Claude processed, even human writing it only edited.
  Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:10:18 +0000
• Toddler's tragic death from brain-destroying amoeba offers lessons for doctors
  Boy's unusual symptoms could help identify the next case sooner.
  Wed, 12 Aug 2026 22:31:19 +0000
• The web’s newest weapon against AI scrapers is a font
  “ShieldFont” aims to poison AI training data without making pages unreadable for people.
  Wed, 12 Aug 2026 22:02:25 +0000
• Terabytes of credentials leaked in massive supply-chain attack
  The data was scraped and exfiltrated from 2,500 users of a compromised AI package.
  Wed, 12 Aug 2026 21:43:21 +0000
• Have physicists finally discovered glueballs? New evidence points to yes.
  “It’s the strongest evidence yet that particles dominated by a glueball component can exist in nature.”
  Wed, 12 Aug 2026 21:13:39 +0000
• Twitch content has trained Amazon AI for years, but users can opt out now
  Streaming platform says user-generated content "may be used for future Gen AI model improvements."
  Wed, 12 Aug 2026 21:00:30 +0000
• Trump sued over "brazen" scheme to sell Truth Social API access for $100K a month
  With Truth API, Trump is "selling priority access to news he himself generates."
  Wed, 12 Aug 2026 20:20:52 +0000
• US boosts drone surveillance as flesh-eating screwworms spread in Texas
  Hundreds of Homeland Security drones retasked to survey wildlife and livestock.
  Wed, 12 Aug 2026 19:40:46 +0000
• Two hydrogen-burning engines powered this car to a new land speed record
  JCB has invested heavily in hydrogen to power its diggers and other machinery.
  Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:01:11 +0000
• US tries to override New York gambling laws, orders Kalshi to keep operating
  Trump admin claims New York suing Kalshi created "market emergency."
  Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:33:43 +0000
• Booksellers suspect AI firms are buying and then destroying rare books
  AI firms quietly bulk buying rare books face resistance from booksellers.
  Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:19:17 +0000
• Google reveals 2026 hardware lineup: Pixel 11, Pixel Watch 5, and Pixel Tag
  Google focuses more on AI and curated experiences than spec upgrades in 2026.
  Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:00:51 +0000
• Researchers found a way to hijack devices through Zoom screen sharing
  A public AI tool found the dangerous Zoom flaw in under 20 prompts.
  Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:37:12 +0000
• Formula E finds a new home on Disney+, ESPN+
  The deal starts with the arrival of the GEN4 car and 2026-27 season this December.
  Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:35:30 +0000
• Did poop enable the evolution of complex animals?
  In a recent study, evolution gets even messier than usual.
  Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:34:38 +0000

— Auto-generated digest