Meta Breaches EU Law on Child Access; Hegseth Defends Pentagon Budget
The European Commission found Meta in preliminary breach of EU law for lacking effective measures to prevent under-13s from accessing Facebook and Instagram, following a nearly two-year investigation. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to appear before Congress to defend a $1.5 trillion defense budget and address Iran policy in his first public congressional hearing. Across other news, Florida's proposed redistricting map, Argentina bond market concerns, and Thailand's early parole of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra are among the major international developments reported.
Progressive outlets highlight Meta's failure to protect children online as evidence that major tech platforms prioritize growth over user safety and require stronger regulatory intervention. Florida's redistricting plan is framed as a politically motivated move that could silence pro-Israel Democratic voices and reshape minority representation.
Across these reports, regulatory, legislative, and judicial actions in the EU, U.S., and Thailand reflect ongoing institutional responses to technology governance, electoral mapping, defense spending, and criminal justice.
Conservative outlets frame the proposed White House ballroom funding as a legitimate security response following a threat at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, with some Democratic openness signaling bipartisan potential. Florida's redistricting is presented as a lawful exercise of gubernatorial authority in redrawing congressional boundaries.
Across these reports, regulatory, legislative, and judicial actions in the EU, U.S., and Thailand reflect ongoing institutional responses to technology governance, electoral mapping, defense spending, and criminal justice.
The European Commission issued preliminary findings that Meta lacks effective age-verification measures for minors on Facebook and Instagram, while multiple other international political and cultural developments were reported across sources.