ICYMI: here’s the week’s 7 biggest tech news stories from the major GTA 6 leaks to Meta’s $1.4 trillion lawsuit hamish.hector@futurenet.com (Hamish Hector) | usagoldmines.com

This week, the GTA 6 leak rocked the internet, and Meta entered a $1.4 trillion lawsuit that could reshape social media as we know it.

To catch up on both of these events and more, scroll down to read our recap of the week’s seven biggest tech news stories.

Before that, test your memory of last week’s biggest news with our quiz (and check out our previous recap for a refresh if you need it).

7. Amazon ruined the Kindle Oasis?

A Kindle Oasis update has ruined the ereader for many, thanks to a change that has frustrated users.

The first change applies stricter DRM (Digital Rights Management) to books on the device, meaning most DRM-removal tools won’t work anymore. While DRM can help fight piracy, it also makes it harder to share the book with non-Kindle ereaders (or ereaders without the Kindle app) if you ever want to take your library with you when you change devices. This update isn’t new, but the Oasis was one of the last few to not have it.

The other change means you can’t keep reading a Libby book beyond its due date by turning airplane mode on. The workaround let users hold onto borrowed books, but now the app requires an internet connection to read your titles.

• Read the full story: Amazon angers Kindle owners by rolling out tougher DRM

6. The UK got ready for plug-in solar

Plug-in solar kits are a hot topic in both the US and the UK, with the latter planning to legalize the low-cost home energy helpers on August 27. Ahead of that date next week, we’ve started to see the first kits get the regulatory green light.

UKSOL makes some of those kits and this week revealed that its first two offerings (a 460W one consisting of a single solar panel, and an 890W dual-panel setup) will go on sale from August 27, with pricing starting at £699. Not exactly cheap, but a lot more affordable than a full solar installation.

Expect plug-in solar to be all over the news next week in the UK — and with 30 US states also planning to legalize the tech, the DIY energy boom could soon become a global story.

• Read the full story: First plug-in solar kits get regulatory green light in the UK ahead of legal lift-off on August 27 — and they’ll start at £699

5. Tesla’s Robotaxi had a bad day

With impressive comic timing, Tesla’s Robotaxi was this week filmed plowing through some plastic traffic posts in Texas before carrying on with its journey — just weeks after Tesla had been crowing about its “impeccable safety record” with “zero notable incidents”.

Okay, the video shot by the Robotaxi’s distressed passenger doesn’t exactly show a GTA 6-style pile-up, but the timing is poor, with Tesla also reportedly planning to trial its fully autonomous Cybercab on public roads this month. We might carry on taking those human-driven cabs for a little while longer.

• Read the full story: Tesla’s Robotaxi gets caught crashing through traffic posts, just as it readies the purpose-built Cybercab for public roads

4. Grand Theft Auto 6 leaked

The most hotly anticipated game of 2026 was due to get a major reveal via a Netflix special next week, but Christmas has come early, so to speak, as several major leaks came out this week — including GTA 6’s map, new gameplay, and cutscenes.

Hacker group Cyberleek has claimed responsibility for the breach as a protest against Rockstar’s digital-only release strategy. Even physical disc cases will include only a digital download code.

However, this data dump might not completely spoil Rockstar and Netflix’s announcement plans. It seems at least some of the leaks are over a year old, according to people with information on the subject, though the polish was quite high, so it’s unclear how different the end result will actually be.

• Read the full story: More GTA 6 leaks reveal new gameplay and the entire map — and leaker keeps their promise over threats to reveal more

3. Meta’s smart glasses bans continued

While governments are weighing up how they’ll deal with the rise of smart glasses and the privacy concerns they’re raising (as pervs and creeps use them to spy on people), it seems their action might not be required.

That’s because we’re seeing more and more private businesses announce bans on the glasses across various spaces, including pubs, cafes, and restaurants — UK cinemas and regular theatres are even considering banning the camera glasses, though their concerns are also focused on piracy (where folks could record or even livestream a movie).

It seems Meta’s Ray-Bans have a tough road ahead. Perhaps things will eventually turn around at Connect in September.

• Read the full story: Meta smart glasses could soon be banned in cinemas, says UK trade body

2. Meta might owe $1.4 trillion

We’re used to company fines often pales in comparison to the profits and growth the business made by taking the punished action — they’re often just a slap on the wrist; it’s merely ‘the cost of doing business.’ That’s not so true about a lawsuit Meta finds itself in.

Attorneys General across 32 US states argue that Meta has used its technology to get teens (and younger) users hooked on its platforms — and that the company ignored the harms this action could cause. If Meta loses the suit, it could be on the hook for $1.4 trillion, roughly the value of its entire market capitalization (i.e., the combined value of all its shares).

Meta calls the AGs’ claims “unsubstantiated” and the potential penalties “vastly disproportionate.”

We don’t yet know how things will turn out, but be prepared for both sides to seriously fight their case in court.

• Read the full story: Meta might be on the hook for $1.4 trillion if it loses a landmark lawsuit

1. We reviewed the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold

We’ve finished testing Samsung’s latest foldables for our reviews, and we’ve moved on to Google. It’s the best folding Pixel yet, but still behind Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

It’s generally an excellent update, with a better, far lighter build, plus impressive power, efficiency, bright screens, IP68 protection, and (not to forget) the HiLight LED.

However, Google should have updated the camera experience with more megapixels and maybe somewhat better image processing if it wanted to give us a real boost.

• Read the full story: The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the best folding Pixel yet