The partnership represents one of the largest AI infrastructure investments announced to date, with the first phase targeted to come online in the second half of 2026 using NVIDIA's Vera Rubin platform. The 10-gigawatt deployment will encompass millions of GPUs across AI data centers.

"NVIDIA and OpenAI have pushed each other for a decade, from the first DGX supercomputer to the breakthrough of ChatGPT," said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. "This investment and infrastructure partnership mark the next leap forward – deploying 10 gigawatts to power the next era of intelligence."

The announcement comes as competition intensifies in the artificial intelligence sector, with companies racing to secure the massive computing resources needed to train increasingly sophisticated AI models. OpenAI has grown to over 700 million weekly active users.

Sam Altman, cofounder and CEO of OpenAI, emphasized the fundamental importance of computational power in AI development. "Everything starts with compute," Altman said. "Compute infrastructure will be the basis for the economy of the future, and we will utilize what we're building with NVIDIA to both create new AI breakthroughs and empower people and businesses with them at scale."

The partnership builds on a decade-long collaboration between the two companies, dating back to OpenAI's early development phases. Greg Brockman, cofounder and president of OpenAI, highlighted this historical relationship in announcing the expanded partnership.

"We've been working closely with NVIDIA since the early days of OpenAI," Brockman said. "We've utilized their platform to create AI systems that hundreds of millions of people use every day. We're excited to deploy 10 gigawatts of compute with NVIDIA to push back the frontier of intelligence and scale the benefits of this technology to everyone."

Under the agreement, OpenAI will work with NVIDIA as a preferred strategic compute and networking partner for its AI infrastructure expansion plans. The companies will co-optimize their development roadmaps, aligning OpenAI's model and infrastructure software with NVIDIA's hardware and software platforms.

The partnership operates alongside OpenAI's existing collaborations with technology giants including Microsoft, Oracle, SoftBank and Stargate partners, all focused on building advanced AI infrastructure. This multi-partner approach reflects the enormous scale and complexity of modern AI development, which requires coordination across hardware manufacturers, cloud providers, and software developers.

NVIDIA's investment structure will be progressive, with funds deployed as each gigawatt of computing capacity comes online. This phased approach allows both companies to scale the infrastructure incrementally while managing the massive capital requirements involved in such a large-scale deployment.

The 10-gigawatt target represents a substantial increase in AI computing capacity. For context, large data centers typically operate in the range of hundreds of megawatts, making this deployment roughly equivalent to dozens of major facilities dedicated specifically to AI workloads.

Both companies indicated they expect to finalize the detailed terms of this strategic partnership in the coming weeks. The agreement supports OpenAI's stated mission to develop artificial general intelligence that benefits humanity while providing NVIDIA with a major customer for its advanced GPU systems. Immediately following the news, NVIDIA's stock shot up by about 4 percentage points.

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The move comes less than a decade after its acquisition of Israeli-based Mellanox, also in northern Israel, which transformed the entire AI industry and made the AI revolution possible.

Industry sources told Reuters that the project could cost billions of dollars and create thousands of jobs. The world's most valuable company by market capitalization has set a July 23 deadline for offers to build its campus of up to 180,000 square meters (1.94 million square feet).

Officials familiar with the matter told Reuters that Nvidia received "dozens and dozens and dozens" of offers from municipalities and other entities, not all located near Haifa. The company's current Israeli operations are based in Yokne'am, situated near the northern port city of Haifa, where numerous technology companies maintain facilities.

Nvidia acquired its Israel presence in 2020 through the purchase of Mellanox Technologies for nearly $7 billion. The company has since expanded its workforce dramatically, nearly tripling in size since the acquisition. According to Reuters, sources indicated that Mellanox contributed $13 billion in revenue to Nvidia last year, though the company has not confirmed this figure.

The Haifa municipality expressed confidence in its bid for the new campus. Officials told Reuters that they are "currently busy preparing an attractive offer for the company" and believe they represent "the city with the best potential for them."

The expansion comes as major technology companies including Microsoft, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Alphabet, and Tesla compete to build AI data centers and dominate the emerging technology sector. This competition has led to a surge in demand for Nvidia's high-end processors, driving the company's remarkable growth trajectory.

One source familiar with the matter told Reuters that Israel's expertise was "extremely important to the AI era" and that Nvidia needed to expand rapidly to meet demand. The company now employs 5,000 workers in Israel and has made several additional acquisitions in the country over recent years.

Nvidia has also constructed Israel's most powerful AI supercomputer, which served as a blueprint for Elon Musk's Colossus supercomputer. The facility demonstrates the company's commitment to maintaining cutting-edge infrastructure in the region.

Dror Bin, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority, described the planned campus as massive and capable of housing "a few thousand employees." He told Reuters that "Nvidia sees its operation in Israel as something which is going to stay here for a very long time and to expand here."

"This declaration is a sign of confidence in Israel," Bin added, according to Reuters.

The expansion announcement comes as rival Intel faces challenges in the region. Intel, which has operated in Israel since 1974 and employs 9,350 workers, has begun trimming its workforce globally. Israeli media reported that several hundred workers in Israel are being made redundant, though a local spokesperson declined to comment on specific numbers.

The spokesperson only referenced Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan's April comments that the company was "taking steps to become a leaner, faster and more efficient company," according to Reuters.

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Military historians and security analysts envision a future where robots wage war autonomously, without human presence on the battlefield. While such a scenario remains distant, the IDF has already taken substantial steps toward integrating robotic systems and remote-operated vehicles into its current combat operations.

The increasing prominence of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in warfare, with operators directing surveillance, intelligence gathering, and precision strikes from secure locations, is well documented. However, as reported by the IDF's website, the military has developed several additional ground-based autonomous systems that complement these aerial capabilities while serving distinct tactical purposes.

Within the Technology Division for the Ground Forces in the IDF, the robotics division leads efforts to transfer high-risk human operations to technological platforms, fundamentally reshaping combat doctrine. This past year has seen the enhanced integration of three primary robotic systems alongside combat units – the "Panda," the "Talon," and "RONI". These systems execute dangerous battlefield tasks without endangering personnel, utilizing advanced environmental sensors and enabling sophisticated remote operation of movement, mechanical arms, and complex tactical procedures.

"Combat situations often force units into positions of uncertainty," Captain Itai Ben-Shachar, an officer in the division, said. "Whether facing a booby-trapped structure or an underground tunnel – our robots take the first risk, preserving human life."

Describing the development process, Major Aviel Nohi, who heads the division, explained: "Field units communicate their engineering and path-clearing requirements, helping us understand what capabilities these computerized systems need. We continuously adapt our solutions based on daily operational lessons."

Panda

IDF doctrine mandates engineering clearance of all new operational zones. Traditionally, this role fell to the D9 bulldozer, carrying both an operator and commander. Since hostilities began, anti-tank missiles have struck several such vehicles and their combat engineering crews while leading advancing forces. In response, the IDF has significantly expanded deployment of the "Panda" – a remotely operated bulldozer. This system features sophisticated sensors monitoring surrounding conditions, transmitting data to operators in protected positions who clear paths for following infantry and armor units.

"The Panda proved its worth before, but in current operations, it's emerged as a decisive force multiplier," Ben-Shachar stated. "Combat experience has driven continuous improvements, including enhanced optics and more ergonomic control systems." He noted the Panda excels in large-scale operations across open terrain. "For dense urban environments or operations demanding surgical precision, we deploy alternatives like the Talon – a robust platform handling everything from mine clearance to barrier breaching."

Talon 

The Talon emerged from field requirements for precise weapons neutralization and detailed engineering tasks. "Our technical analysis identified the optimal platform, which we then acquired and adapted to IDF operational, combat, and logistical specifications," Ben-Shachar explained. "Adaptations included converting the robot's communications to military frequencies and optimizing its mobility for specific combat terrain. We've implemented numerous combat-derived improvements."

This compact system handles explosives and suspicious objects with unprecedented precision, eliminating human exposure: "It autonomously identifies and neutralizes wiring and explosive components," Major Nohi said.

The Talon's capabilities extend beyond explosive ordnance disposal. Its high-speed mobility, advanced optical systems for environmental awareness, and powerful mechanical arm enable it to clear paths and move heavy obstacles, ensuring safe passage for combat units.

RONI

Responding to increasingly specific operational requirements, the robotic division developed RONI – the Hebrew acronym for Specialized Portable Robot. "It serves two critical functions – navigating confined spaces like tunnels and alleyways beyond the Talon's reach, and executing precise, sensitive engineering operations," Major Nohi explained.

Unlike its larger counterparts, RONI sees widespread deployment across various military units. This broader adoption stems from its advanced camera systems, providing protected forces with critical visual intelligence in confined spaces.

RONI's design reflects its specialized mission profile. "Its 'slipper' system – miniature support legs – enables stair climbing and obstacle navigation," Captain Ben-Shachar detailed, adding that despite its compact frame, RONI can handle loads nearly ten times its weight.

"Every requirement undergoes comprehensive analysis with weapons departments and field units, from engineering concept through technical execution," the division's leadership emphasized. "We constantly balance immediate tactical needs against future operational requirements – that's our mission."

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Matia, a Miami-based data operations platform, announced Tuesday that it has raised $10.5 million in seed funding to help enterprises better manage their increasingly complex data operations. The funding round was led by Leaders Fund and Secret Chord Ventures, with participation from Cerca Partners and Caffeinated Capital.

The company, founded in 2023 by brothers Benjamin and Geva Segal, is launching out of stealth mode with a platform that combines data ingestion, reverse ETL, observability, and cataloging capabilities into a unified solution. The launch comes at a time when organizations are struggling with fragmented data management tools, according to research cited by the company.

A survey from Enterprise Strategy Group found that nearly half of organizations use 26 or more vendors to execute their data operations strategy, highlighting the challenge Matia aims to address. This fragmentation has become particularly acute as artificial intelligence adoption accelerates across industries.

"Our goal with Matia is not only to eliminate the friction that organizations encounter when dealing with disparate data tools, but to create a more powerful data operations experience," Benjamin Segal, CEO and co-founder of Matia, told the company in a statement. He explained that after scaling a data team and consulting industry leaders, they identified several gaps in existing data stack solutions.

The brothers' previous experiences informed the platform's development. Benjamin Segal served as chief of staff and head of data at Pangaea, a consumer goods company with over $100 million in revenue, while Geva Segal worked as a cybersecurity engineering leader at global media company Synamedia.

Early adopters of the platform include data and AI teams at Ramp, Honeybook, and Obligo. Ryan Delgado, director of engineering at Ramp, reported significant improvements after implementing Matia's solution. "We've seen significant improvements in reliability, fault tolerance, and product velocity compared to the alternative and reduced our sync time by more than 80%," Delgado said in the announcement.

"We heard from data leaders that they are tired of having to deal with so many vendors to build their data stack. They want a reliable, all-in-one platform to manage their data operations," said Gideon Hayden, co-founder and managing partner at Leaders Fund. "We see Matia as not only an essential part of every team's tech stack, but a category defining product."

The company plans to use the funding to expand its engineering and product teams, enhance platform capabilities, and support go-to-market initiatives.

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Apple is set to unveil its highly anticipated iPhone 16 lineup tonight, with four models expected: the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. All devices will feature "Apple Intelligence," the company's cutting-edge artificial intelligence package introduced in June. To meet projected high demand, Apple's Chinese manufacturing partner has reportedly hired an additional 50,000 workers for its production facility.

Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California, is set to host the company's event, featuring the intriguing tagline "It's Glowtime." The Apple logo, enveloped in a vibrant halo, hints at potential new color offerings for iPhones and other Apple devices.

The tech giant's autumn product unveiling has evolved into a cornerstone of its yearly calendar. This showcase typically introduces an array of new gadgets and sets the stage for the holiday shopping rush, which represents Apple's most lucrative and bustling period. These product launches consistently generate intense buzz and anticipation within the technology sector and among Apple enthusiasts – so what can we expect according to the latest rumors? 

Bigger screens

The iPhone 16 Pro models are poised for a significant display upgrade. Industry insiders suggest the iPhone 16 Pro will boast a 6.3-inch screen, while the Pro Max will feature an expansive 6.9-inch display. This marks a substantial increase from current models, potentially revolutionizing user experience and device functionality. The standard models, however, are expected to retain their existing dimensions. 

Introducing versatile controls

Apple plans to equip all iPhone 16 models with two innovative buttons. The first, already seen in iPhone 15 Pro models, will replace the traditional mute switch and offer customizable actions. The second, dubbed the "Capture button," will be positioned on the device's right side. This dedicated control will streamline photo and video capture, offering precise management of camera functions like autofocus and zoom.

Redefining mobile photography

The iPhone 16's camera system is slated for a major overhaul. Pro models are rumored to incorporate an advanced 48-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, significantly improving low-light photography. The 5x optical zoom capability, previously exclusive to Pro Max models, may now be available in the standard Pro version. For regular models, a vertical camera arrangement will replace the diagonal setup, potentially enabling spatial video recording compatible with Apple's Vision Pro device.

AI and performance

All iPhone 16 models are expected to feature Apple's latest A18 chip, promising enhanced performance and energy efficiency. Rumors suggest Pro models might receive an upgraded version with superior graphics capabilities. Apple is doubling down on artificial intelligence, potentially introducing AI-driven features such as a more capable Siri, smart playlist generation in Apple Music, and AI-assisted content creation tools in productivity apps.

Next-level connectivity

The iPhone 16 Pro is anticipated to support the cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 standard, delivering unprecedented internet speeds. Reports also indicate the use of Qualcomm's latest 5G modem, ensuring faster and more efficient cellular connectivity. Apple is fine-tuning the device's microphones, which could elevate call quality and Siri interactions.

Enhanced charging capabilities

Apple is poised to introduce revolutionary battery technology in the iPhone 16, featuring a layered design that could boost capacity and longevity. Rumors point to enhanced charging capabilities, with up to 40W wired charging and 20W MagSafe wireless charging. The company is also refining the device's thermal management system to maintain optimal performance during intensive tasks.

While final pricing remains unconfirmed, industry analysts speculate that Apple may implement modest price increases compared to the previous generation, primarily due to the integration of advanced components. 

In essence, the iPhone 16 lineup promises a series of refinements and upgrades over its predecessors, albeit with most changes appearing to be incremental rather than transformative. The most notable enhancements include larger displays for Pro models, the introduction of the Capture button, and potential advancements in camera technology and AI performance.

As per usual, the complete picture of the newest iPhone model's capabilities and innovations will only be revealed at the official launch event this evening.

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Nvidia Corp Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang experienced his most significant wealth decline on Tuesday, with his net worth plummeting by approximately $10 billion to $94.9 billion, according to Bloomberg. This marks the largest single-day dollar drop for Huang since the Bloomberg Billionaires Index began tracking his wealth in 2016.

The substantial decrease in Huang's fortune followed a 9.5% drop in Nvidia's stock price, coupled with reports that the US Justice Department had issued subpoenas to the tech firm as part of an intensifying antitrust investigation. A spokesperson for Nvidia declined to comment on the matter.

Nvidia's products have achieved remarkable success, establishing the company as a critical component in the supply chain for some of the world's largest corporations. This prominence, combined with competitors' struggles to develop alternative chips, has caught the attention of antitrust officials. According to a report by Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the investigation, the DOJ is now sending legally binding requests that require recipients to provide information, bringing the government closer to potentially filing a formal complaint.

Sources close to the matter indicate that antitrust officials are concerned about Nvidia potentially making it difficult for customers to switch to other suppliers and penalizing buyers who do not exclusively use its artificial intelligence chips.

Despite Tuesday's sharp decline, Huang's wealth has still grown by $51 billion year-to-date, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The Nvidia co-founder currently ranks as the world's 18th richest person.

Huang, who was raised in Taiwan and Thailand before emigrating to the US, co-founded Nvidia in 1993. The company has since grown to become the world's third-biggest firm by market value.

When questioned about the probe, Nvidia stated that its market dominance is a result of the superior quality of its products, which deliver faster performance compared to competitors.

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The outbreak of the war on Oct. 7 exposed significant technological and management deficiencies within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), prompting a radical shift in its approach to military technology. The prevailing paradigm proved woefully inadequate for the new reality that emerged, necessitating a rapid overhaul of military systems and procedures.

This pressing need for swift solutions has sparked a technological revolution within the IDF. The transformation, while not without its challenges, has been driven by the ingenuity and dedication of skilled engineering teams called up for reserve duty. These professionals have been tasked with delivering rapid results under intense pressure and difficult conditions.

Omer Perry, a faculty member in the Industrial Engineering and Management Department at Afeka College, shared his experience with Israel Hayom: "I received my call-up order, and within seven days, during which we barely slept, we established a system that didn't exist in the IDF before." At the behest of his commanders, Perry and his team developed an operational system within a week that continues to serve the Air Force's Aerial Defense Array to this day.

Video: Iron Dome interceptions of Hezbollah rockets near Kiryat Shemona in Northern Israel.

While specific details of the system remain classified for security reasons, it exemplifies the crucial contribution of civilian expertise to the war effort. "Our goal was to optimize processes that were previously performed almost entirely manually, which had been slowing down decision-making in the system," Perry explained.

He emphasized the critical nature of their work in the context of modern warfare: "During conflict, situations change rapidly, requiring swift analysis and decision-making. When you have a system that can automatically analyze events and present data, it dramatically improves the speed and quality of decisions, allowing for rapid problem-solving and ultimately leading to better results on the battlefield."

Perry stressed the importance of maintaining a strong core of technical professionals within the military, particularly given the ever-evolving nature of threats. He argued for the necessity of regular training for technical reservists, equating its importance to that of combat training.

"The IDF must maintain a strong core of professionals"

Perry described the dynamic reality of the current conflict, highlighting a significant shift in threats. "Previously, our main concern was missiles. Now, we're dealing with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)," he explained. "This change has completely transformed our analytical approach within the military, requiring both cognitive flexibility and rapid adaptation of our systems. Our engineering teams have been at the forefront of this transition."

Emphasizing the practical implications, he stated "The IDF absolutely must maintain a strong core of professionals." He stressed the critical nature of this requirement, especially given the rapidly evolving threat landscape. "In an environment where threats are constantly changing, our reserve teams need to be exceptionally focused and highly skilled," Perry asserted.

"Maintaining cutting-edge technological expertise requires ongoing training for our technical reservists," he argued. "This is just as crucial as regular drills for combat troops. We must ensure our technological arsenal remains up-to-date and relevant to today's threats."

"The IDF's problem is its DNA"

Dr. Adi Fux, head of the Master's program in Engineering and Management at Afeka College, who was also called up for reserve duty as a senior officer in the Technology and Logistics Directorate, echoed Perry's sentiments. "There was no optimization of systems in the IDF at all, and everything was conducted very slowly, wastefully, and inefficiently," Fux shared.

According to Fux, the significant change that occurred in the IDF stemmed from the immediate pressure created at the start of the war. "In this war, the IDF received a gift in the form of the engineers it recruited, who are constantly under pressure, causing them to independently find engineering solutions and develop tools that the military hadn't previously considered."

"However, the IDF's problem is its DNA," he shared. "In many cases, senior commanders came to us demanding solutions while also telling us how they wanted us to achieve them. In engineering, it doesn't work that way, and we had to set very clear boundaries with top-ranking officers. They can tell us what to do, but as a professional body, we'll say how things will happen. This is a way of thinking that the IDF wasn't used to until now," he explained.

"A bureaucratic nightmare that was impossible to work with"

Fux cited an example of the inefficiency that had previously dominated some branches of technology in the IDF, which he encountered personally. "We received a 20-page protocol, a bureaucratic nightmare that was impossible to read or work with, which we were told 'was formulated by the highest ranks,'" he shared. "I had to say, respectfully of course, that I don't really care who formulated the protocol because that's not how work gets done. I passed the protocol to one of our team members, who condensed it into a concise document of about one and a half pages. This new version integrated engineering principles into the decision-making process. It's now functioning nearly flawlessly, with tangible results in the field."

"The IDF must retain the knowledge gained from the engineers"  

"This conflict has made the IDF realize it must retain the knowledge gained from the hundreds of engineers mobilized during the war, even after they complete their service," Fux explained. "I believe it's now clear to everyone that we need to extend the service of engineering officers in the military. You can't preserve knowledge or develop deep learning processes when technical officers are rotated out of their positions every year or two."

Addressing the challenge of retaining high-caliber officers long-term, especially given the allure of prestigious positions in the tech industry, Fux offered a nuanced perspective. "Often, it's not about salary," he argued. "The real issue lies in the conditions under which these officers serve."

"The IDF must adapt to the realities of the modern world," Fux argued. He suggested emulating aspects of the US military model, which offers technical officers working conditions more comparable to civilian roles. "You can't expect people in their 40s and up, with families and kids, to work around the clock and constantly deal with stress and last-minute changes. We must change our approach, provide better conditions, and most importantly, give appropriate respect to technical officers as a professional body that has a crucial rule in decision-making processes," he concluded.

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Despite the defense challenges, Israel's high-tech cyber security sector continues to thrive on the global stage. A delegation of 35 Israeli cyber companies participated in the prestigious RSA Conference earlier this month in San Francisco, the world's leading cyber security event.

Their presence highlighted the cutting-edge innovations Israeli startups are bringing to the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape. As artificial intelligence is increasingly integrated across industries, malicious actors are exploiting these technologies for large-scale attacks.

"The vast majority of organizations worldwide are adopting AI-based technologies extremely quickly, but security is lagging behind," Elad Shulman, co-founder and CEO of Lasso Security, one of the AI security startups that were part of the conference, told Israel Hayom. "This is one of the hottest areas in software today, and Israeli startups like us are already leading the way."

Shulman said multinational corporations and investors alike are eagerly seeking out the unique expertise of Israeli cyber firms. Some 30% of companies using AI have already suffered breaches related to the emerging threat.

David Carmiel, CEO of Kela cyber threat intelligence platform, offered a proactive defense service to safeguard AI systems. "Through our solution, we can train and test AI capabilities while preventing misuse, allowing clients to get ahead of constantly evolving cyber threats," he explained.

Carmiel emphasized the importance of Israel's presence at RSA, saying, "With many companies avoiding travel to Israel, participation was crucial to strengthen our economy and highlight our cybersecurity prowess."

The delegation's success underscores the growing dominance of Israel's cybersecurity industry. According to the Israel Export Institute, the sector broke records in 2023 with an estimated $25 billion in exports, comprising one-third of Israel's total high-tech exports.

"We are proud to have facilitated over 440 meetings for these companies with potential investors, clients, and trade representatives worldwide in an exposure event in collaboration with NTT, who hosted us at their offices in San Francisco, and Plug and Play, who assisted in marketing the event as part of the RSA conference" Nili Shalev, CEO of the Export Institute, said. "Especially now, we are committed to providing our exporters the support to access global markets."

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Most of us seem to be unaware of just how much data we post on social media gets collected, stored, and analyzed by software and specialists and ultimately used on us. Sometimes, this is in the form of ads and various marketing tactics; in other cases, it is used as a means for behavioral and psychological analysis. 

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The easiness at which digital data from young users can be collected has recently come to light in two court lawsuits that were submitted, with Meta and Twitter on one side and Bright Data – an Israeli company for data collection that is active on the global market – on the other side. 

The lawsuits and countersuit deal with whether privacy concerns were not fully addressed. Bright Data – whose clients include various United Nations agencies, international NGOs, and governments – is one of the companies that knows how to use the data we share on social media. Meta was also in this business, until recently.

In January 2023, Meta asked Bright Data to stop scraping data from its platforms, noting that it was repeatedly being fined by the EU for violating privacy laws. When Bright Data refused, Meta decided to sue the company, ostensibly over trade issues but implicitly over alleged privacy violations for its users. According to the lawsuit, as early as April 2021, Bright Data was running an operation for scraping data from various Meta-owned platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, allegedly circumventing the terms of service. 

Moreover, Meta said that the Israel company put on sale databases it collected from the various sites and platforms and that it was selling its technology to third parties so that they, too, could scrape data from Meta platforms and thus circumvent the various restrictions that have been placed to protect users' privacy. 

Video: Musk speaks on changes at Twitter / Reuters

X, formerly known as Twitter, also sued Bright Data, claiming that the business intelligence  "scrapes and sells millions of records from X Corp.'s X platform, in blatant violation of X Corp.'s Terms of Service, by which Bright Data is bound" and that it "induces and facilitates other X users to violate their own agreements with X Corp. by selling automated data-scraping tools and services that specifically target a wide range of X Corp. data."

Bright Data countersued. In a conversation with Israel Hayom, the company said the following: 

"Twitter and Meta are attempting to block public information on the web, which is freely accessible and does not sit behind a log in. Scraping public data is legal, important for humanity, and is crucial to all business operations that exist on the web. Its legality has been reaffirmed by courts that it is part of the public domain, which is why the lawsuit is over breach of contract. It is important to take note that if Bright Data did not have a business profile page on those platforms, there would be no lawsuits."

It also added the following explanation of how events unfolded: 

"The beginning of the affair in January of this year, when the company Meta contacted Bright Data demanding that it stop harvesting data from its platforms, this against the background of the repeated fines of the European Union against it for violating the privacy laws of the citizens of the Union. " This makes it sound like Bright Data was fined.

"Meta decided to sue the company, allegedly due to commercial issues but also due to the violation of the privacy of its users." -The lawsuit is clear, this has nothing to do with the privacy of the users. The lawsuit is not based on the privacy of users so this is factually incorrect."

Meanwhile, class action was initiated against the company in Israel, alleging that it was scraping users' data and selling it. It claims that this includes minors. Attorney Lior Lahav, who represents some of the Israeli plaintiffs, told Israel Hayom that Bright Data's actions have been made possible in part because of lacking consumer protection regulation in Israel. 

According to Lahav, the "regulators in Israel largely shy away from action, and this is very clear. They do not manage the whole issue of data protection and do not impose fines on companies that violate the law. The truth of the matter is that we lag behind the rest of the world by a sizeable margin. Just look at the fines on Google and Facebook in Europe on a monthly basis. Regulation in Israel hasn't really been successful in protecting citizens." 

Youths, who share almost everything on social media, suffer greatly from privacy violations. This realization has led to strict demands when it comes to collecting data and to the introduction of guardrails online. Governments and businesses have begun requiring social media to set strict age restrictions for entering their platforms. 

Dr. Liraz Margalit is a social psychologist who specializes in behavioral design and decision making in the digital age. She is also a witness on behalf of the plaintiffs. She says that "because of the effects of the social media, we don't even think about who is looking at our information or what that person does with it later. We just seek gratification from sharing it, and it makes us feel special."

She added, "This is a very big danger. Parents share information on their children from when they are about three years old. They not only let companies such as Bright Data collect information on them, they also make it easier for hackers to steal their identity. This is perhaps an extreme scenario, but today we can learn things about people as soon as they are born. Moreover, we have to take into account that for most people, the brain is fully developed only at 25, and therefore until then, young people can be much more easily exposed to outside influence from marketers and advertisers, as well as news and current events. Collecting information on young users brings us to a situation in which we have the real danger of shaping the children's personalities by corporations, trading companies, and even hostile entities."

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Following recent cyber attacks on Israeli targets, Israeli companies are reportedly turning to a company called Faddom due to what it calls "hybrid and agentless application dependency mapping IT software" that can act in a proactive way to prevent the targeting of dormant servers.

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"Faddom's application dependency mapping tool maps entire IT environments – both on-premises and in the cloud – and identifies dependencies between servers and applications to get a holistic picture of an IT network's connections," the company said in a statement, noting that some of the large firms in Israel have asked for its services, including some that deal with insurance and technological innovation.

"The IT infrastructure maps appear in as little as 60 minutes, and they identify dormant servers," it said. "In addition to helping with proactive cybersecurity, the technology helps organizations by assisting with micro-segmentation planning to limit the severity of cyber attacks when they occur," stressing that mapping one's IT infrastructure optimizes the company's resources and could save a lot of money.

Aviv Hooker, co-founder and CRO of Faddom, stressed that "in a dynamic reality, the ability to keep an eye on the computing environment and know what is happening in real time is critical to managing a joint routine in organizations."

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