In today’s Digest, we cover Meta tolerating China-linked ad fraud to protect revenue, the US suspending a tech deal with the UK amid trade frustrations, and AI becoming Santa’s helper for 2025 Christmas shopping.

Meta tolerates ad fraud to protect revenue

Meta has identified China as the source of roughly a quarter of all scam-related and prohibited ads worldwide, ranging from bogus health products targeting consumers in Taiwan to fraudulent investment schemes that cost North American users millions. Meta says it responded by creating a dedicated anti-fraud unit, expanding its remit beyond earlier monitoring efforts focused narrowly on China-linked activity.

US suspends tech deal with UK amid trade frustrations

The US has put the brakes on a flagship technology agreement with Britain. The “technology prosperity deal,” announced with fanfare during Donald Trump’s state visit in September, was intended to cement cooperation in strategic sectors such as AI, quantum computing, and nuclear energy. Yet UK officials confirmed this week that Washington halted implementation, a move widely interpreted as leverage to extract concessions in non-technology areas of ongoing trade talks.

Negotiations have dragged on since May, when both sides struck a partial accord to soften the impact of Trump-era tariffs on British exports. But US officials have grown increasingly frustrated by Britain’s reluctance to dismantle non-tariff barriers, particularly regulatory standards covering food and industrial goods.

AI becomes Santa's helper for 2025 Christmas shopping

New research shows UK parents are increasingly turning to generative AI tools to ease the annual stress of finding the perfect Christmas gifts. A study by Generation Media and Giraffe Insights found that 22% of UK parents now use platforms such as ChatGPT to source present ideas for their children, making AI the fourth most common source of inspiration after television, YouTube, and social media. The findings highlight a striking geographic divide: UK parents are 80% more likely than their US counterparts to integrate AI into their holiday planning.

The report also points to broader shifts in shopping behaviour. Social commerce is gaining ground, with 21% of parents planning to buy through TikTok Shop this year, attracted by algorithmic recommendations and youth-focused retail experiences. Spending patterns reveal generational contrasts: 63% of parents expect to increase their budgets, while 17% of grandparents plan to spend more, even though collectively, grandparents may still outspend parents on a per-child basis.