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On 11 Feb 2026, China flew a prototype Long March-10A rocket from Wenchang and, at about 10 km altitude, commanded the uncrewed Mengzhou spacecraft to abort, then recovered both the capsule and the rocket’s first stage at sea—its first live test proving crew-escape and partial reusability for a planned 2030 lunar landing.
On 12 Feb 2026, WhatsApp announced that the Russian government attempted a nationwide shutdown of the service, jeopardizing access for around 100 million Russian users.
On 10 February 2026 Roskomnadzor quietly activated network-level throttling of Telegram across Russian ISPs and announced “successive restrictions” until the foreign-based messenger complies with domestic data and content laws.
On 10 Feb 2026, New Delhi issued binding amendments to the IT Intermediary Rules cutting the deadline for platforms to remove flagged AI-generated content from 36 hours to 3 hours and requiring every piece of synthetic media to carry permanent, non-erasable metadata labels.
Discord said every account will be locked into restricted “teen” settings next month unless the user proves adulthood with a selfie-based face scan or a government ID.
On 9 Feb 2026 Brussels formally charged Meta with abusing WhatsApp’s dominance by banning third-party AI assistants and signaled rare emergency measures to reopen access while the case proceeds.
On 10 February 2026 juries in Los Angeles County and Santa Fe heard opening statements in the first trials that put Meta’s Instagram/Facebook and Google’s YouTube directly on the hook for allegedly designing platforms that addict and harm children.
On 9-10 Feb 2026 the UK simultaneously trumpeted a £100 m Fractile chip-lab expansion as proof of its AI growth strategy while a Safer Internet Day survey showed 60 % of 8-17-year-olds fear AI-generated sexual images, exposing a widening gap between industrial ambition and societal trust.
On 6-8 Feb 2026 Brussels ruled that TikTok’s interface violates the Digital Services Act and gave the firm a chance to redesign core features or face fines up to 6 % of global turnover.
On 9 Feb 2026 Elon Musk revealed SpaceX will aim to erect an autonomous Moon settlement within a decade, shelving near-term Mars colonisation plans.
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