The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said Thursday (Jan. 16) that it referred a complaint against Snapchat operator Snap to the Department of Justice.
“The complaint pertains to the company’s deployment of an artificial intelligence [AI] powered chatbot, My AI, in its Snapchat application and the allegedly resulting risks and harms to young users of the application,” the FTC said in a statement.
The statement said an FTC investigation “uncovered reason to believe Snap is violating or is about to violate the law and that a proceeding is in the public interest.”
The FTC said in a Thursday press release that it issued the statement about the referral after the commission voted 3-0-2 to do so in a closed-door meeting. Two commissioners were absent.
“Although the Commission does not typically make public the fact that it has referred a complaint, we have determined that doing so here is in the public interest,” the statement said.
Reached by PYMNTS, a Snap spokesperson said in an emailed statement that it has worked to make My AI beneficial for its community while also being transparent about the product’s capabilities and limitations.
“Unfortunately, on the last day of this Administration, a divided FTC decided to vote out a proposed complaint that does not consider any of these efforts, is based on inaccuracies, and lacks concrete evidence,” the statement said. “It also fails to identify any tangible harm and is subject to serious First Amendment concerns.”
Snap added that the FTC’s complaint would stifle innovation and competition.
“We look forward to working with the new Administration on AI policy that bolsters U.S. innovation while protecting our community,” the statement said.
One of the FTC commissioners who were absent from the closed-door meeting, Andrew N. Ferguson, said in a Thursday statement that the commission’s announcement of its referral of a complaint is an “unusual step.”
“I did not participate in the farcical closed meeting at which this matter was approved, but I write to note my opposition to the complaint against Snap,” Ferguson said. “Because the complaint itself remains non-public, I cannot at this time release a detailed analysis of its many problems.”
The other commissioner who was absent, Melissa Holyoak, said in a Thursday statement that she voted against holding the closed meeting because the commission should be focused on facilitating an orderly transition to the Trump administration.
“Certain actions, such as initiating litigation or continuing proposed rulemakings, will have long-lasting consequences for the incoming administration, diverting already scarce Commission resources to defend misguided policy objectives and novel legal theories,” Holyoak said.
Snap debuted My AI in February 2023, saying the chatbot can help users but also warning that it “is prone to hallucination and can be tricked into saying just about anything.”
We get a lot of press releases here at PYMNTS. We consider all of them, and some are more newsworthy than others. But this one really got our attention. This past week, Diebold Nixdorf made headlines with its announcement of successfully installing two new automated teller machines (ATMs) at the U.S. National Science Foundation’s McMurdo Station in Antarctica. This achievement marks a significant milestone in banking accessibility, to be sure. We would like to meet the crew that installed them. We’d also like to know why they needed two. Was there a line at the first one? More to come on that.
According to Diebold, McMurdo Station is Antarctica’s largest research and logistics hub, supporting a fluctuating population that ranges from fewer than 200 residents during the winter months to up to 1,100 individuals during the summer (October through February). The presence of these ATMs is crucial, it says, as the next closest banking facilities are thousands of miles away, making them the only ATMs on the entire continent. How’s that for a value proposition?
The DN Series ATMs are designed for always-on availability. And why do they need two? One ATM is actively in use, while the second serves as a backup for spare parts, ensuring uninterrupted service in this isolated area. These machines are connected to the DN AllConnect Data Engine, which leverages Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor their performance. A dedicated team continuously aggregates and analyzes technical data to identify potential issues, enabling remote diagnostics and repairs. The ATM can be maintained by trained staff at NSF McMurdo Station, or the Diebold Nixdorf service team can remotely guide them through the repair process.
Anyway, it got us thinking. Are there other surprising ATMs in extreme locations? Well, of course, there are. Here’s a sampling of what we found.
At an altitude of about 5,364 meters (17,600 feet), the Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal is another unexpected place to find an ATM. Although it’s not a permanent fixture and is often set up seasonally, it caters to climbers and trekkers who need cash for local transactions. This temporary ATM service underscores the adaptability of banking services in extreme environments.
In some parts of the Amazon rainforest, particularly in Brazil and Peru, ATMs can be found in small villages and towns. These machines are vital for local communities, providing access to cash in areas where digital payment options might be limited. The presence of ATMs here demonstrates how banking services can reach even the most remote communities.
Located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, Nagqu is home to one of the highest ATMs in the world. This region is very remote, with limited infrastructure, making the presence of an ATM a notable example of banking accessibility in extreme environments.
In the Thousand Islands (Kepulauan Seribu) off the coast of Jakarta, Indonesia, there’s a floating ATM. This unique ATM serves the local community and tourists on the islands, demonstrating how banking services can adapt to isolated marine environments.
Longyearbyen, the administrative center of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway, boasts the most northerly ATM. This location is one of the most remote inhabited places on Earth, with limited access to mainland Norway, making the ATM a vital service for residents and visitors.
On a more serious note, the installation of ATMs in places like Antarctica and other remote locations highlights the evolving nature of banking technology. With advancements in IoT, AI and remote diagnostics, it’s becoming increasingly feasible to provide banking services in areas previously considered inaccessible. As we look to the future, it will be interesting to see where else ATMs might appear. Whether it’s on a remote island, at the top of a mountain or even in space, the ability to access cash is becoming more universal than ever. And who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll see an ATM on Mars, serving the first interplanetary travelers.
For now, the presence of ATMs in unexpected places reminds us that banking is not just about transactions; it’s about connecting people and communities across the globe, no matter how remote they might be.
