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Internet
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Internet. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Tencent Holdings has fired a manager whose seven-figure pay package leaked online, sparking heated discussion on social media. Photo: Shutterstock
Tencent

Tencent fires WeChat manager after 7-figure bonus leaks online, sparks uproar

Screenshots of the executive’s eye-watering compensation went viral on social media, which Tencent said caused a ‘severe negative impact’.

Wellness

How infinite scrolling hijacks the brain’s reward system like slot machines do

Cambodia

Asia-Pacific cyberscam victims lost up to US$114 billion last year: UN

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South Korea

Beggar’s banquet: South Korea’s viral app helps youth find cheap meals

South Korea’s youth unemployment rate reached 7.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 – the highest since 2021.

People walk through a food alley in Seoul, South Korea, on June 27. Photo: AFP
Crime

Influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate arrested in Miami as UK seeks extradition

The brothers, who were arrested in Romania in 2022, face rape and human trafficking charges.

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Japan

Video | Japanese company revs up Gen Z machismo with quirky antics

Business development firm Global Partners starts each workday with shouted mantras and motivational pep talks.

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Artificial intelligence

Is artificial intelligence causing a rise in natural human stupidity?

Recent studies suggest memory, decision-making and critical thinking are at risk if people rely too much on AI for cognitive tasks.

An advertisement for ChatGPT Images hangs on a building in San Francisco on Sunday. Photo: Getty Images
European Union

EU demands ‘youth mode’ to protect children from addictive social media features

The addictive features include infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and highly personalised recommender systems.

Social media

Video | Japan’s viral property agents get weird

A Tokyo estate agent in a green-screen bodysuit has gone viral – but are the gags stealing the show?

E-commerce

China fines 4 internet celebrities US$1.9m for tax evasion

In some cases, popular live-streamers with online stores and millions of fans paid taxes as low as a few hundred yuan, authorities say.

Celebrities usually open or endorse stores, which include online e-commerce shops. Photo: Shutterstock Images
Pokemon

Video | Pokemon cards are fuelling a global crime spree

A burglary at a trading-card shop in Niigata, Japan, saw 5,000 cards worth 10 million yen (US$62,000) stolen on Monday.

Theft of Pokemon trading cards is trending worldwide, with thieves hitting a collectible that has outperformed the US stock market.
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Indonesia

‘Grading own homework’: is Indonesia outsourcing online safety to tech giants?

Without a regulator, Indonesia’s child online safety rules require digital platforms to assess and remove underage accounts themselves.

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Sex and relationships

How do you get a girl to fall in love with you? Ask Emily Lin

Emily Lin’s dating advice – such as saying ‘tell me more’, shutting up and listening – on social media has gone viral with men.

Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Anti-drug video fiasco not a vote of confidence in Hong Kong’s AI goals

If the authorities can’t use the technology appropriately for one video, one wonders how they can address other concerns posed by artificial intelligence.

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The Correctional Services Department twice pulled an anti-drug video featuring an AI-generated K-pop girl group after internet users said it looked more like a drugs promotion campaign. Photo: Facebook / Correctional Services Department
Wellness

What is ‘urge surfing’? How does it help with addiction and bad habits?

The technique manages cravings and compulsive behaviours like phone addiction by encouraging people to ride out their urges like waves.

Experts describe how to use mindfulness techniques such as “urge surfing” to overcome addiction urges and cravings and take back control. Photo: Shutterstock
Scams and swindles

Fake Dubai prince scam: how AI deepfakes love-bomb victims to steal hearts and money

Fraudsters use real-time face-swapping tech and the likeness of royal ‘Fazza’ to ensnare vulnerable targets.

The Philippines

Philippine senator links fatal school shooting to 764 online extremist network

There are signs that the 764 network is targeting vulnerable Filipino children online, Senator Risa Hontiveros says at a hearing.

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India

India orders WhatsApp to halt username feature over anonymity concerns

The stand-off forces WhatsApp to weigh compliance against mounting concerns about government interference in its biggest market.

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The WhatsApp app icon is seen on a smartphone. India has asked WhatsApp to justify the implementation of ​a planned feature covering usernames and to freeze the rollout. Photo: Reuters
Australia

Video | Australia falls for rowdy Neil the Seal

The 5-year-old elephant seal is a viral sensation in towns in southern Tasmania.

South Korea

South Korea ‘fake news’ law triggers free speech, censorship fears

The scope extends beyond social media to malicious reviews and defamatory posts on online communities, delivery apps and shopping platforms.

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E-commerce

China’s cooling, e-commerce giants see sales surge as Europe heat sizzles

Alibaba notes surge in retail and business-to-business orders, Midea reports sharp revenue rise, and Gree sales get bump in major European markets.

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On AliExpress, Alibaba’s international retail site, this month’s debut of air conditioners in Germany saw local warehouse inventory for a Midea model completely wiped out by Thursday. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong

Video | Anti-drug video pulled over claims it promotes drug use

Internet users have been posting selfies, sticker packs and song parodies mocking the video’s AI-generated K-pop girl band.

Internet users have been posting selfies, sticker packs and song parodies mocking the video’s AI-generated K-pop girl band
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Japan

Meet AIko: Japan’s AI police chief taking on a US$2 billion scam epidemic

Japan has a new police chief. Her name is AIko, she lives on YouTube and she’s coming for scammers.

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Education in Hong Kong

Pupils as young as 7 hooked on online games as expert warns of alarming trend

Boy took nearly HK$8,000 in cash from his mother and used her credit card, counselling psychologist tells workshop.

Australia

Australia PM: ‘too many children on social media’, ban too easy to avoid

According to a British ‌study, 85 per cent of Australians aged 12 to 15 were still using social media three months after the ban took effect.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at Question Time in the House of Representatives at Australian Parliament House in 2024, in Canberra. Photo: TNS
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong prison service pulls AI K-pop video after anti-drug message backfires

Beautiful AI-generated virtual K-pop girl group appears to be promoting use of illegal substances, not discouraging it, social media users say.

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Internet users say the original video looks more like a drugs promotion campaign. Photo: Facebook/Correctional Services Department
Malaysia

Too young to ride, Malaysian teen pedals dream by building fake Yamaha motorbike

A viral video of the 13-year-old showing off his refurbished bicycle to police offices has won hearts on the internet.

Crime in Hong Kong

Porn star Erena So arrested in Hong Kong for promoting overseas gambling website

Police discover illegal betting website hiring local personalities as brand ambassadors to attract gamblers.

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