TechLinked – Regulators vs. Grok, UK Privacy Crackdown, Gemini-powered Siri + More!

Host: Linus Media Group
Date: January 13, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of TechLinked delivers a fast-paced roundup of recent tech and gaming news, focusing on growing regulatory action against AI platforms (notably Elon Musk's 'Grok'), crackdowns on digital privacy and content in the UK, Apple's new Siri-Gemini partnership, and more global tech industry moves. The hosts' signature blend of sarcasm and wit adds levity to otherwise serious topics such as platform accountability, privacy, and the social consequences of emerging tech.

Major Discussion Topics & Key Insights

1. Grok & Twitter/X in Regulatory Crosshairs

00:30 – 03:05

• Context: Twitter (now X, owned by Elon Musk) faces a UK investigation after its AI feature 'Grok' allowed users to easily generate thousands of non-consensual sexualized images.
• Regulatory Response:
  • Ofcom states X may have violated the UK’s Online Safety Act, which requires platforms to block illegal content.
  • New law makes it illegal to supply tools creating non-consensual intimate images—X could face up to 10% of global revenue as fines or even a total UK ban.
  • Malaysia and Indonesia have already blocked Grok. US Democrats petition Apple and Google to remove X from their app stores.
• Musk’s Response:
  • Compares the situation to scapegoating and decries censorship.
  • [Quote, 01:52] "Musk, much like that kid in elementary school who flipped the Monopoly board if he lost, responded by complaining that people are looking for any excuse for censorship and suppressing free speech."
  • Musk further escalates by reposting AI-generated images mocking the UK Prime Minister.
• Industry Voices:
  • Epic Games’ Tim Sweeney sides with Musk, framing the ban as gatekeeper censorship but notes, "The difference is not all AI models are baked directly into social platforms where they can generate CSAM right into the replies and wake up believing they're Hitler every other week." [02:49]

2. Cloudflare Fined by Italy

03:06 – 04:23

• Incident: Cloudflare is fined €14 million for refusing to block pirate sites via its DNS service according to Italy’s tough “piracy shield” law.
• CEO Matthew Prince Retorts:
  • Calls it a “scheme run by a shadowy cabal of European media elites.”
  • [Quote, 04:10] "Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Now that's a spicy CEO."
• Collateral Damage: Accidental blocking of Google Drive and hundreds of legitimate sites, while pirates evade blocks—highlighting flaws in rushed content regulation.

3. UK’s Expanding Digital Crackdown

04:24 – 05:20

• Conservatives propose social media ban for under-16s.
• Ofcom ordered to assess “client-side scanning”—a system scanning messages on users’ devices before encryption to crack down on terrorism and child exploitation.
• Commentary: “A.K.A. allowing the UK government to read every message on your phone before it's encrypted.” [05:10]
• Discord banned in Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and Russia, leading to spikes in VPN usage.

4. Apple & Google Team Up: Gemini-powered Siri

05:21 – 06:20

• Announcement: Apple partners with Google to power a revamped Siri with Gemini AI, snubbing OpenAI.
• Details:
  • Multi-year deal, with Siri/Gemini focused on “complementing” Apple’s own AI rather than replacing it; user privacy and on-device processing stressed.
  • [Quote, 05:55] “Reuters calls it a multi-year deal and in a joint statement, Apple and Google stress that Gemini will complement Apple’s own AI work rather than replace it.”
• Broader Context: Google is integrating shopping features powered by AI across Gemini and AI Search, introducing a universal commerce protocol.
• AI Safety Caution: Google disables AI health search overviews after accuracy concerns—raises doubts about big data approaches vs. true privacy.
• Host skepticism:
  • [Quote, 06:17] “But regarding their partnership to relaunch Siri, Apple emphasizes that personal data won't be used for advertising or profiling, and I have learned that whenever a big company tells me my data is safe, I should trust them.”

5. Quick Bits: Hardware, Microsoft, SpaceX & More

08:45 – 13:34

• Valve’s Steam Machine Leaks:
  • 512GB and 2TB versions spotted on Czech sites; possible $950-1,070 target price range—high but unconfirmed.
  • “I always anxiously await the word of Gaben.” [09:34]
• Windows 11 Copilot Uninstall:
  • Admins can now remove Copilot from work machines—a win for IT control.
  • “Copilot has single handedly turned me into a gruff, individualistic veteran cop from an 80s action movie.” [10:00]
• Epstein’s Windows 7 Key:
  • Joke mention of a Windows 7 activation key linked to Jeffrey Epstein successfully activating Windows—warning about risks and dark humor.
• DRAM Shortages & Used PC Market:
  • Micron shuts down Crucial brand; DRAM shortage may continue till 2028, driving up hardware prices globally.
• SpaceX Starlink Expansion:
  • FCC approval for 7,500 new satellites (potential 15,000 total).
  • China files for 200,000 satellites — regulatory and logistical space race.
• Airborne Energy Transfer Demo:
  • Overview Energy demonstrates power beaming from aircraft to ground devices—a step toward possible space-based solar power applications.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Grok/X and social consequences:

  • “Twitter, AKA Elon Musk's ex, is officially under investigation in the UK after its AI Grok went full goon mode...” [00:32]
  • “The difference is not all AI models are baked directly into social platforms, where they can generate CSAM right into the replies and wake up believing they’re Hitler every other week.” [02:49]

• Regulation Ridicule and Skepticism:

  • “Italy’s piracy shield law demands websites get nuked within 30 minutes of a copyright complaint with little to no judicial oversight. … Mamma mia.” [03:45]
  • "A.K.A. allowing the UK government to read every message on your phone before it's encrypted." [05:10]

• On Apple-Google Gemini Deal:

  • “You know, sunk cost fallacy with user choice on device processing and privacy protections highlighted.” [05:59]
  • “Whenever a big company tells me my data is safe, I should trust them.” [06:17]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:29] – Main news intro, X/Grok scandal and regulatory pushback
• [02:49] – Tim Sweeney on AI moderation and censorship
• [03:06] – Cloudflare’s Italy fine and CEO’s retort
• [04:24] – UK explores mass message scanning; Discord blocks
• [05:21] – Apple-Google Siri/Gemini partnership, user privacy
• [07:35] – Google disables AI medical search functionality
• [09:00+] – Steam Machine pricing leak, Windows Copilot uninstall
• [10:10] – Windows 7 and Epstein key joke
• [11:35] – Micron DRAM shortage; Japanese PC market adaptation
• [12:36] – Starlink and China’s satellite ambitions
• [13:10] – Airborne energy transfer technology proven

Tone & Style

The hosts maintain a playful, irreverent tone, frequently deploying sarcasm, pop culture references ("gruff, individualistic veteran cop from an 80s action movie"), and dark humor to underscore the often absurd or alarming realities of tech news.

In Summary:
This episode delivers a sharp, satirical look at how rapidly evolving AI and regulatory frameworks are clashing worldwide, the continuing arms race between tech giants over AI assistants and privacy claims, and provides quickfire updates on hardware shortages, emerging technologies, and global digital rights.