The Brief – Monday 15 December – Reddit challenges Australia’s social ban, Trump signs AI order, Disney accuses Google and more

🤖 US President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at blocking states from enforcing their own AI regulations. While the Trump administration cannot unilaterally override state AI laws, the order directs federal agencies to reduce or eliminate state influence and discourages states from passing laws by threatening to revoke federal funding for other programmes. (The Verge)

💼 Reddit has filed a legal challenge against Australia’s under-16s social media ban in the country’s high court. The company is arguing the law “has the unfortunate effect of forcing intrusive and potentially insecure verification processes on adults as well as minors, isolating teens from the ability to engage in age-appropriate community experiences”. (The Guardian)

🙈 Disney has accused Google of copyright infringement on a “massive scale” by using AI models and services to “commercially exploit and distribute” infringing images and videos. Attorneys for Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter to Google. It comes as Disney struck a separate AI licensing agreement with OpenAI. (Variety)

📺 Pinterest has acquired tvScientific, a CTV performance advertising platform. The tie-up will allow Pinterest to combine its audience signals with a CTV engine so marketers can measure how TV lifts the results of their performance campaigns with the platform. (Pinterest)

🚺 A new study developed by Sounds Profitable, titled “The Creators,” found in the US there are almost twice as many men creating podcasts than women. Partner in Sounds Profitable, Tom Webster identified this as an “entry problem” and not a “commitment problem.” (PodNews)