Daily Tech News Digest – 2026-10-29

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

BBC Technology

• Ofcom outlines age check methods ahead of social media ban for under-16s
  Ofcom says photo and digital ID, banking checks or facial age estimation can help prove someone is 16 or over.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 09:31:44 GMT
• Details of thousands of US immigration agents leaked in major hack
  A group called the Department of Peace released information on more than 41,000 DHS staff.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 01:30:43 GMT
• Microsoft profits soar days after announcing thousands of layoffs
  The week, the Windows developer said it would offer buyouts to 60,000 workers as it looks to curb costs.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 01:27:40 GMT
• Elon Musk is a 'real genius', Putin says after satellite talks with SpaceX boss
  The Russian President praised Musk and said they are in "close" contact.
  Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:15:58 GMT

TechRadar Tech

• Teardown confirms Trump phone is a rebranded HTC U24 Pro
  A teardown and durability test has revealed the Trump phone is even more a copy of an HTC handset than we'd realized.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:12:15 +0000
• The five-star and TechRadar award-winning LG C6 OLED TV drops to a record-low price ahead of Black Friday — the ideal upgrade for GTA 6
  The LG C6 is our TV of the year here at TechRadar, and this five-star OLED TV is already down to a record-low price in the early Black Friday sales.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:08:32 +0000
• Try Proton's entire privacy ecosystem for just $1 — perfect if you want to de-Google your online identity for the very first time
  Proton Drive, Docs, Mail, Calendar, and VPN access for a month, for just a dollar
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:05:07 +0000
• ‘Bad actor’ cyberattack on FEC obscures political spending by donors and SuperPACs days before US midterm elections
  US midterm elections are just days away, and an attack on the FEC has left millions of dollars in donations undeclared.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:05:00 +0000
• Are you still piloting?
  There's no shortage of enthusiasm for artificial intelligence. Organizations across every sector are investing heavily, experimenting, launching proof of concepts, and finding ways to turn the latest developments into real business value.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 11:55:56 +0000
• Windows 11's right-click menu is now faster and fully customizable
  'Crazy it took them 5 years': Windows 11's right-click menu gets a vital tune-up to be faster and fully customizable — but why did it take Microsoft this long?
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 11:55:08 +0000
• That 16TB Seagate Expansion Desktop hard drive just dropped in price again, hitting $400
  The Seagate 16TB Expansion Desktop HDD is one of our favorite high-capacity hard drives, and it's just had another price cut a week after Newegg's discount.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 11:29:01 +0000
• Why AI smart glasses need a privacy-first approach
  Thomas Dexmier of HTC breaks down why privacy must underpin AI smart glasses as adoption accelerates.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 11:25:19 +0000
• This tiny cheap iFi gadget gives your old iPod Bluetooth support, sends the in-flight movie to your wireless headphones and lets you use your over-ears in the car
  The iFi UP Travel Max has loads of uses: in flight, connecting your phone to your car, repurposing your old iPod...
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 11:00:00 +0000
• Rogue AI is a wake-up call for UK digital sovereignty
  It is time for the UK to end its over-reliance on sovereign-washed cloud providers and establish true digital independence by backing British tech.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 10:56:06 +0000
• Oracle thinks AI could fix your customer service problems before you even know they exist
  Oracle wants to unlock the power of your data to analyze trends and identify complaints before customers even complain.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 10:53:16 +0000
• Google Pixel Watch Ultra rumors begin — but a rugged Pixel Watch needs 3 fixes first
  Could a Google Pixel Watch Ultra really happen? Some reports indicate that Google's at least mulling it over.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 10:51:40 +0000
• Navigating the 'new normal': AI-powered exploits and discovery
  AI is challenging the rules of vulnerability management, making speed of discovery a critical security challenge.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 10:11:14 +0000
• Here's the secret behind the return of the illuminated Apple logo on the back of the new touchscreen MacBook Pro
  The glowing Apple logo has returned to the back of the MacBook Pro, but how does it glow? Now we know.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 09:52:22 +0000
• Almost a quarter of data center staff could retire over the next decade — so who will be taking over?
  Research finds almost a quarter of data center workforce are set to retire in the next 5 to 10 years, potentially leaving a considerable knowledge and experience gap.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000
• Sony's new PlayStation Pulse PS5 headset is up for pre-order today — here's where to buy in the US and the UK
  Our article with all the key info and the best links for the new PlayStation Pulse Wireless PS5 headset is ideal if you're considering a pre-order.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 08:45:00 +0000
• EasyOptOuts data removal service review
  A comprehensive review of data removal platform EasyOptsOuts, describing its core features, user-friendliness, customer support, and other important factors.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 07:25:00 +0000
• FADU wants to take the CPU out of AI storage by putting the file system inside the SSD, but the proof won't arrive until 2027
  FADU's new SSD runs its own file system, so GPUs and DPUs can read files without CPU intervention, but samples won't land until Q3 2027.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 04:00:00 +0000
• Starlink users heavily surveilled by alleged Israeli spy firm — company served ads to geolocate users and spy on browsers and apps
  Malicious ads were deliberately served to Starlink users to uncover their identity and launch further surveillance efforts.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 03:05:00 +0000
• Want a free Nintendo Switch 2? Upgrade your phone to the Google Pixel 11 Pro or Pro XL at JB Hi-Fi and it’s yours
  If the Nintendo console’s recent price hike has put you off buying one, but you’re also due to replace your phone, then this deal might just be what you’re looking for.
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 02:45:48 +0000

Ars Technica Technology

• SpaceX no longer needs NASA, and that's a problem for America's space agency
  "NASA desperately needs SpaceX, and SpaceX knows it, and Elon knows it."
  Thu, 29 Oct 2026 11:00:08 +0000
• ULA's Vulcan rocket is set to return to flight on Friday the 13th
  This Vulcan launch will be first to use a full complement of 6 solid rocket boosters.
  Wed, 28 Oct 2026 22:51:15 +0000
• As US ties fray, Europe plans first undersea cable link to Greenland
  Europe's Pan-Arctic Cable will bypass US to link Canada, Japan, and South Korea.
  Wed, 28 Oct 2026 22:35:50 +0000
• Peptide peddlers cheer as RFK Jr. unilaterally grants access, overruling FDA
  Six unproven peptides popular with MAHA now under "enforcement discretion policy."
  Wed, 28 Oct 2026 22:17:15 +0000
• Trump admin sues Utah to save Kalshi from the state's total ban on gambling
  US agency has sued 10 states for trying to stop gambling on prediction markets.
  Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:30:33 +0000
• The last, best hope for space tourism just rolled onto a runway in Arizona
  It has been nearly a year since any space tourism flights occurred.
  Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:20:36 +0000
• Touchscreen MacBook Pro hands-on: OLED looks great on a Mac
  It's not as different from the previous model as you might have expected.
  Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:10:29 +0000
• Google announces Gemini 4 Carbon, its latest frontier AI model that you can't use
  Gemini 4 Carbon is essentially a slightly better version of Argon.
  Wed, 28 Oct 2026 18:47:27 +0000
• Amazon turns its most capable smart speaker into a smart camera, too
  The Echo Studio with Home Camera can "see and understand what's in front of the camera."
  Wed, 28 Oct 2026 18:05:22 +0000
• Cadillac Escalade IQ review: Huge battery, huge range, huge SUV
  With more than 200 kWh, this luxury three-row can go 460 miles on a charge.
  Wed, 28 Oct 2026 17:55:45 +0000
• Google AI gets cagey when asked who won the 2020 elections
  But the AI responses get more forthright when asked outside the US.
  Wed, 28 Oct 2026 17:46:32 +0000
• Florida county won’t investigate sketchy Flock cameras removed by mystery owners
  Florida county claims it lacks resources to find owners of unpermitted Flock cameras.
  Wed, 28 Oct 2026 17:37:49 +0000
• Apple announces touchscreen MacBook Pro with OLED display
  The OLED display is the main draw, but the price is a lot to reckon with.
  Wed, 28 Oct 2026 17:25:04 +0000
• Buckle up for more body-swapping hijinks in Jumanji: Open World trailer
  "We have to be ready for whatever's coming next. If we lose in here, there won't be a home to go back to."
  Wed, 28 Oct 2026 15:48:12 +0000
• A hidden ocean change near Antarctica could have global consequences
  Antarctic waters are getting saltier as sea-ice loss reshapes ocean circulation.
  Wed, 28 Oct 2026 13:38:53 +0000

— Auto-generated digest