Class action

Class action

Author: BBC World Service October 7, 2025 Duration: 26:29

A class action lawsuit is underway in Italy against Meta and TikTok. Lawyers say they want to protect younger children from social media harm. We look at the issues.

Also in Tech Life this week, we have another story about social media. It's about farmers in Africa, so-called agri-influencers, and how they're cultivating an online movement. Shiona McCallum tests a new maritime AI communication system. And a Japanese tech company is trying to eradicate malaria using drones.

Presenter: Shiona McCallum Producer: Tom Quinn

(Image: A child uses a smartphone. Credit: Getty Images)


From the studios of the BBC World Service comes Tech Life, a global conversation about the tools reshaping our everyday existence. This isn't just a show about new gadgets; it's a deep dive into the human stories behind the silicon. Each episode takes you to the front lines of innovation, introducing the thinkers and tinkerers whose bright ideas are redefining how we work, learn, and connect. We go beyond the press release, getting hands-on with emerging products to understand their real-world impact. But Tech Life also tackles the harder questions, scrutinizing the immense power wielded by tech giants and examining who truly benefits-and who gets left behind-in this relentless transformation. The podcast serves as an essential guide to a future that is constantly being written, offering clarity and context on the forces that are actively making and remaking our world. Tune in for thoughtful, international reporting that connects the dots between a line of code and a change in your daily life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Tech Life
Podcast Episodes
Too young to scroll? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:29
What is a good age to give a child a smartphone? A community in Ireland might have the answer. In Greystones there's a voluntary agreement to wait until secondary school age. We hear from the school principal who leads t…
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Duration: 26:28
We look at an issue known as shadow banning. What is it? How does it work? And could it be affecting health education messages for women and young girls?Also this week: we're feeling nostalgic about the discs that hold o…
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Duration: 26:29
Shiona McCallum visits a huge technology show in Paris. There, she finds some of the latest kit that could be in your home or workplace before too long. And we're talking about data centres. They are central to our moder…
ChatGPT prompt generates disturbing images [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:30
A group of cybersecurity researchers found a prompt which gets past ChatGPT’s guardrails and causes it to generate some disturbing images. We unpack what this tells us about the way AI is trained, and how it could be exp…
Tackling lithium battery fires on planes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:29
When we fly we love to take our gadgets with us. But the lithium batteries that power them can catch fire. We find out about a new campaign urging us to pack with safety in mind.Also this week: the BBC's Lily Jamali visi…
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Duration: 26:29
Microsoft unveils a new quantum chip. It's a big moment for the company, as its quantum programme has faced criticism. Is the tech giant's strategy finally paying off? And when will this chip deliver practical quantum co…
Teaching in the AI world [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:29
We speak to Google about the introduction of artificial intelligence into classroom learning, and what they think this will mean for teachers and pupils.Also this week: Shiona McCallum reports on a new artificial limb wh…
Myth or mythos: Is the AI cyber threat real? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:29
From fears that a powerful new AI could supercharge hacking, to the ransomware gangs holding our data hostage, we talk to a former FBI expert about the latest cyber threats.Also in Tech Life this week: we hear from a lis…
The AI pothole hunter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:29
Drivers and cyclists know the dangers of potholes and broken road signs. A Swedish company is fitting vehicles with cameras, and using AI to spot potential problems and defects. We speak to the CEO to find out how it wor…
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Duration: 26:31
An anti-snoring device is being trialled as a potential solution to sleep apnoea, a condition which affects millions and can have wide-ranging consequences on daily life. We speak to the team behind the trial. Also on th…