Australia bans YouTube for under 16s - Asian Tech Roundup

Plus: China voices suspicions about backdoors in Nvidia chips

Welcome to Computing's weekly roundup of tech news in Asia. This time we look at Australia’s decision to include YouTube in its upcoming age-restriction law, China’s suspicions about backdoors in Nvidia chips, and job cuts at Tata.

Australia has added YouTube to the list of apps to be banned for under-16s.

The video platform had been excluded from the country’s incoming online safety legislation, which originally targeted Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and X, but legislators have now changed their mind.

According to communications minister Anika Wells, YouTube is one of the riskiest apps for under 16s: “The evidence cannot be ignored that four out of 10 Australian kids report that their most recent harm was on YouTube,” she said when asked about the government’s change of heart. Needless to say, the Alphabet-owned platform is not best pleased.

The age restrictions take effect in December, and platforms will be expected to take steps to exclude underage account holders or face large fines.

Two weeks ago we reported on the Trump administration’s plans to reverse a ban on Nvidia selling some AI chips to China, a move that was decried by some critics in the US security sphere. Now, in a further twist, the world’s most valuable company on the suspicion has been forced to deny that it has introduced backdoors into its H20 AI chips after accusations from China.

Australia

• The government has added YouTube to a list of apps children under the age of 16 will not be able to create accounts for, reversing its previous stance that excluded the video-sharing site from its incoming online safety law. Source
• A rocket launch by private company Gilmour Space barely got off the ground, with its maiden flight lasting just 14 seconds. However, the news was welcomed as the country’s first sovereign attempt to reach space. Source

China

• China has summoned Nvidia to a meeting after raising concerns over potential security risks, such as tracking and positioning functions in Nvidia's H20 artificial intelligence chip. This development raises doubts about Nvidia's prospects in China. Source
• Raising further doubts are twenty US national security professionals who have written a letter urging the Tump administration not to lift the ban on Nvidia selling H20 chips to China. Source
• AI companies in China have formed two new alliances bringing together LLM creators and chip manufacturers as they seek to reduce dependency on Western products. Source
• The Chinese government has published a plan for the global governance of AI proposing the creation of two new AI dialogue mechanisms under the auspices of the UN and a safety governance framework. Source
• Huawei has demonstrated an AI system featuring hundreds of its own chips that it claims is superior to Nvidia's most advanced offerings. Source
• US activity on ecommerce site Temu has dropped by 54% year-on-year following the ending of the de minimis import exemption. Source
• Scientists in China are discussing ways to neutralise the “threat” of Starlink satellites, including submarine-based lasers and custom-built attack satellites. The government is apparently concerned that Starlink could be exploited by its adversaries. Source
• Alibaba has admitted that the ability to toggle its Qwen 3 AI model between “thinking” and “non-thinking” modes hurt quality and performance. It will train these modes separately in the future. Source

India

• Nayara Energy, sanctioned by Europe for its dealings with Russia, is suing Microsoft following a withdrawal of services to the Indian company. Source
• Tata Consultancy Services plans to reduce its workforce by 2%, or 12,200 people, in its 2026 financial year. Middle and senior management will be most affected. Source
• India has safely launched a $1.5 billion synthetic aperture radar imaging satellite in a joint project between NASA and the Indian space agency ISRO. Source
• PB Fintech saw quarterly profits rise by 40% as more the popularity of digital platforms for insurance products grows. Source

Japan

• The Japanese government has suggested it could help a Taiwanese firm set up plants in the US as part of a trade negotiation with the Trump administration. Source
• Japan's leading trade negotiator said that the same deal guarantees that Japan will always receive the lowest tariff rate on chips and pharmaceuticals. Source

South Korea

• Samsung has signed a $16.5 billion deal with Tesla to manufacture AI chips. The deal comes after a period when Samsung failed to sign up any big customers for its US-made silicon. Source
• Samsung has also hailed a deal announced earlier this week between South Korea and the US based on 15% tariffs claiming it will help to alleviate business uncertainty. Source

Elsewhere in Asia

• Singapore: DayOne has begun work on its first datacentre in Singapore. It will feature green-powered high-density air-cooled GPU support, hybrid air and liquid cooling,and on-site Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) power generation. Source
• Southeast Asia: US senator Maggie Hassan has asked Elon Musk to prevent criminal groups in Southeast Asia from using Starlink to commit fraud. Source
• Taiwan: Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry in Taiwan, announced the suspension of share trading ahead of “a major announcement” this week. That turned out to be an announcement of it taking a 10% stake in TECO Electric & Machinery Co., aiming to create a one-stop-shop for customers seeking to build AI datacentres. Source
• Thailand: The armed conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has been partially linked to a Thai threat to cut off electricity and internet access, in an effort to counter cyber-scam activities operating near the border. Source