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Here's the latest tech news from the last 24 hours:

🌍 Musk begs Twitter users to stay ‘as close to the truth as possible'
🛢️ Shell is using Fortnite and social media to promote fossil fuels among younger people
🚫 New York’s Airbnb ban is descending into pure chaos
💸 Social media scams are costing Americans more than ever
🕶️ Meta Quest 3 takes a step closer to mainstream AR/VR

🌍 Musk begs Twitter users to stay ‘as close to the truth as possible'LINK

Elon Musk has called on users of social platform, X (formerly Twitter), to remain truthful amidst allegations of widespread fake news about the Israel-Hamas conflict spreading on the site.

X has been criticized for helping disseminate fake news due to loosened content moderation, with critics claiming that Musk's policy changes have enabled false information to thrive.

Accusations include the disbandment of the platform's trust and safety team, endorsement of extremist content, removal of labels for accounts associated with foreign governments, and allowing paid access to verification features, all actions taken under Musk's leadership.

🛢️ Shell is using Fortnite and social media to promote fossil fuels among younger peopleLINK

Shell is reaching out to younger demographics by collaborating with Fortnite and sponsoring popular gamers to create and promote the Shell Ultimate Road Trips map.

The map encourages gamers to refuel with a specific Shell fuel, and suggests social media interaction with the hashtag #Shellroadtrips, sponsored by streamers with millions of followers.

Despite rising environmental concerns and the climate crisis, Shell continues to promote fossil fuel usage, with no signs of diverting from its profit-centric path.

🚫 New York’s Airbnb ban is descending into pure chaosLINK

Since New York City enacted a new law banning most Airbnb listings in September, less than 2% of the city’s previously registered temporary rentals have been re-registered.

The crackdown on short-term rentals in New York City has lead to an emergence of a "black market," with illegal listings increasingly appearing on lesser-known platforms and social media.

Long-term stays, lasting 30 days or over, now make up 94% of the city's Airbnb listings, as hosts must meet strict requirements for approval of short-term rentals.

💸 Social media scams are costing Americans more than everLINK

Scammers on social media have stolen $2.7 billion since 2021, with younger generations and users of drop-shipping and Amazon alternatives being particularly targeted.

Investment scams and romance scams, often involving fake websites and AI-driven conversations, cause the biggest financial losses.

To protect against scams, users should keep profiles private, be wary of messages from strangers, buy only from reputable companies, and verify requests for money with direct contact.

🕶️ Meta Quest 3 takes a step closer to mainstream AR/VRLINK

In 2023, Apple finally launched the Vision Pro, an AR/VR device, placing pressure on competitors such as Magic Leap and Meta.

Meta responded with the Meta Quest 3, priced $3,000 less than Apple's Vision Pro, aimed at providing a high-quality mixed reality experience for a mainstream audience.

Despite the fierce competition, Meta maintains a strong market share of 50.2% in Q2 2023, anticipating increased growth with the release of the Quest 3.

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Mastodon miscounted its users due to a network error, revealing they actually have 407k more active users a month than previously reported.LINK

Spanish firm PLD Space successfully launched its Miura 1 rocket, signalling an encouraging start for Europe’s emerging commercial space industry.LINK

EU and Japan increasingly align in their approach to regulating generative AI, amidst preparations for new technology regulations.LINK

China aims to boost its computing power by 50% by 2025 to support AI development, build more data centres, and maintain tech competitiveness with the U.S.LINK

Google Cloud introduces new generative AI features for healthcare, enhancing search functions across organization's data and electronic health records, expecting to boost clinical workflows and care delivery.LINK

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