Technology

British Columbia Retains California-Based Stranch, Jennings & Garvey to Challenge OpenAI Over Corporate Silence

Published

4 hours ago

July 7, 2026

Attorney General Says Province Considering Legal Action Against Tech Giant in Pursuit of Justice Over Tumbler Ridge Secondary School Shooting

VANCOUVER, BC, July 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The government of British Columbia today announced it has formally retained California-based Stranch, Jennings & Garvey (SJ&G) to evaluate legal remedies against artificial intelligence giant OpenAI, marking an active pursuit of justice for the victims, families and community devastated by the Feb. 10, 2026, mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.

The tragic attack claimed the lives of eight innocent people — including a dedicated educator and five children between the ages of 11 and 13 — and left 27 others wounded across the school campus and a nearby residence. The tragedy stands as one of the most severe mass casualty events in Canadian history.

“Our thoughts remain with the families who lost loved ones, the people who were injured and the entire Tumbler Ridge community,” said Niki Sharma, B.C. Attorney General. “As the community continues to heal, our government remains focused on supporting those affected and pursuing accountability. When there are serious concerns that opportunities to prevent harm were missed, we have a responsibility to act. We owe that to the victims, their families and everyone whose life was changed by this tragedy.”

By retaining Lesley Weaver, a member of SJ&G — as well as Vancouver-based CFM Lawyers — the province is positioning itself to explore all legal avenues to hold OpenAI accountable for its documented failure to notify law enforcement regarding explicit, flagged threats made by the perpetrator on the company’s ChatGPT platform.

Internal reports indicating that OpenAI safety teams flagged the shooter’s severe and specific violent prompts months before the attack — yet corporate leadership chose not to notify the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or local authorities — have prompted this aggressive evaluation.

B.C. officials view this step as a vital test of whether foreign technology giants can operate with legal impunity across international borders.

“British Columbia has never shied away from taking on powerful corporations when their actions cause harm to people and communities,” Sharma said. “We are taking this step because there are serious concerns about OpenAI’s failure to notify law enforcement after threats were flagged on its platform. We will pursue every available avenue to hold OpenAI and its decision-makers accountable because no company or corporate leader should be beyond scrutiny when public safety is at stake.”

The retention of SJ&G allows the province to directly evaluate legal remedies and jurisdictional strategies within OpenAI’s home territory of California. Several of the victims’ families have already filed individual lawsuits in the U.S. District Court — Northern District of California.

The gravity of these legal proceedings signals a major turning point in how society holds technology giants accountable for the safety of their users.

“We welcome the powerful partnership of the British Columbia government as they seek justice,” Weaver said. “For too long, tech companies have operated under the assumption that they are insulated from the real-world carnage their platforms enable. Let us be entirely clear — when an organization possesses automated, verified knowledge of an impending mass casualty threat and chooses silence to protect its corporate valuation, it becomes complicit in criminal activities.”

Weaver also issued a stark warning to Silicon Valley financiers and Wall Street underwriters, arguing that moral accountability must be factored into tech-sector financing.

“As institutional investors look at OpenAI’s rumored $1 trillion IPO valuation, they must seriously confront the profound human harm — be it physical, emotional or financial — these companies are capable of inflicting before they commit capital,” Weaver added. “There is a sickening, unacceptable contrast between a corporation seeking a trillion-dollar market valuation and that same corporation refusing to place a single phone call to protect a small town. We intend to prove that public safety is a non-negotiable cost of doing business.”

To learn more about the Ministry of Attorney General’s efforts to seek justice, visit https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026AG0050-000799.

About Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, PLLC

With practice experience dating back decades, Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, PLLC has a longstanding history of prominence in high-stakes litigation. Our attorneys specialize in complex matters involving privacy, antitrust, securities, and mass torts, as well as class actions, ERISA trust funds, labor unions and bank fees. The firm’s deep bench of expertise further extends to data breaches, wage and hour disputes, worker adjustment and retraining notification (WARN), product liability, personal injury and trucking accidents. Known for their integrity, experience and dedication, our attorneys are active members of numerous state and national associations, committees and boards, consistently delivering results in the most challenging legal environments.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/british-columbia-retains-california-based-stranch-jennings–garvey-to-challenge-openai-over-corporate-silence-302820083.html

SOURCE Stranch, Jennings & Garvey

Technology

EACON Lists on HKEX, Accelerating Global Autonomous Mining Growth

Published

58 minutes ago

July 8, 2026

HONG KONG, July 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — EACON Group Co., Ltd. (“EACON”, Stock Code: 07687.HK) has officially been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX), marking a significant milestone in the company’s development and its next phase of global growth.

The Company raised approximately HK$2.3 billion through its initial public offering (IPO), achieving a market capitalisation of approximately HK$13.0 billion at listing. The offering attracted strong support from institutional investors, including cornerstone investors such as Zijin Mining, XCMG, Fidelity International, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Barings, CDH and other leading global investment institutions.

Over the past eight years, EACON has grown from an emerging technology innovator into one of the world’s leading autonomous haulage system (AHS) providers, supporting mining operations across China and Australia. As one of the world’s leading international financial centres, Hong Kong also provides an important platform to support EACON’s continued international expansion and long-term growth.

As the mining industry continues its transition toward intelligent operations, mining companies increasingly seek partners with proven technology, scalable deployment capability, and reliable long-term support. EACON’s HKEX listing further strengthens the company’s ability to accelerate innovation, grow its presence in key international markets, and deliver greater value to mining customers worldwide.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the IPO to support research and development, information technology development, international expansion and customer acquisition, talent development and organisational growth, strategic investments aligned with its long-term growth objectives, and general corporate purposes.

“EACON was founded on the belief that intelligent technologies can fundamentally improve the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of mining operations,” said Wason Lan, Founder and CEO of EACON. “Today’s listing reflects the trust of our customers, the dedication of our employees, and the continued support of our partners and investors. It also provides a strong foundation for the next stage of our global growth.”

About EACON

EACON Mining Technology delivers the world’s most deployed autonomous haulage system, with over 2,500 trucks automated, 120 million kilometres driven, and more than 30 mining projects across commodities including coal, iron ore, copper, gold, and zinc. Designed for interoperability, EACON’s ORCASTRA® solution integrates seamlessly with any OEM platform or powertrain, whether new or existing. By combining 360° perception, a distributed architecture, and real-time optimised dispatching, the system enhances safety, improves productivity, and supports the mining industry’s transition toward more intelligent and sustainable mining.

Media contact: evelynzhu@eacon.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/eacon-lists-on-hkex-accelerating-global-autonomous-mining-growth-302820152.html

SOURCE EACON Group Co., Ltd.

Technology

CDNetworks’ Latest WAAP Report Finds AI Is Industrializing Cyberattacks

Published

59 minutes ago

July 8, 2026

SINGAPORE, July 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CDNetworks, the APAC-leading network to deliver edge as a service, today released its annual State of Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) Report, revealing that AI is fundamentally changing the economics of cyberattacks by reducing the cost, time, and expertise needed to launch sophisticated campaigns.

Key findings of the report include:

AI is industrializing automated attacks. As LLMs, agentic AI, browser automation, and proxy networks mature, automated threats are shifting from scripted traffic to adaptive, evasive, human-like abuse across applications and APIs.API abuse is becoming a primary path for business logic attacks. In 2025, CDNetworks blocked over 15 billion malicious API requests per month on average, showing how attackers are turning high-volume API traffic into a vehicle to abuse legitimate business workflows, including login, checkout, and search.AI bot traffic is creating new governance challenges. CDNetworks observed 1.64 million AI bot requests per day in 2025, underscoring the need for more granular controls beyond simple allow-or-block decisions.Multi-layer DDoS attacks are raising the bar for defense resilience. DDoS-as-a-Service platforms, botnets, and automation tools are enabling attackers to move across Layers 3, 4, and 7, requiring more adaptive defense models.APAC enterprises face concentrated application-layer attack pressure. APAC accounted for 67.45% of L7 DDoS activity in 2025, pointing to heightened risks for digital-first sectors, such as SaaS, fintech, and gaming, where application availability directly affects revenue and service continuity.

“AI does not make every attack new, but it compresses the time defenders have to understand and contain threats,” said Antony Li, Global Head of Infrastructure at CDNetworks. “The challenge moving forward is less about identifying every vulnerability and more about understanding which exposures create real risk. Organizations that make those decisions early will be better positioned to regain control of their security posture.”

The CDNetworks State of WAAP Report 2025 also provides organizations with security strategies and best practices. To access the full findings, download the report.

About CDNetworks

As the APAC-leading network with over 3,000 global PoPs and more than 20 years of technology experience, CDNetworks delivers the fastest and most secure digital experiences to end users. Our diverse products and services include web performance, media delivery, cloud security, zero trust security, and colocation services — all designed to spur business innovation.

To learn more, visit cdnetworks.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/cdnetworks-latest-waap-report-finds-ai-is-industrializing-cyberattacks-302819096.html

SOURCE CDNetworks

Technology

INCUBASE Studio Accelerates Collectible Entertainment with GochaGocha’s 23-Location Asia Debut of a New Photo Card Experience

Published

59 minutes ago

July 8, 2026

HONG KONG, TAIPEI, and KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — INCUBASE Studio is expanding its IP entertainment ecosystem with the launch of GochaGocha, a new smart photo card machine platform developed by subsidiary INCUTix. Following a rapid rollout across 23 locations in Hong Kong, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok in early June, GochaGocha introduces a new channel connecting fans with officially licensed content through discovery, collectability and convenience.

Built on the anticipation, surprise and collectability at the heart of fandom culture, GochaGocha reimagines collectible experiences through officially licensed photo cards and a connected machine network featuring anime, entertainment and cultural IPs. Combining premium-quality collectibles with repeat engagement, the platform creates accessible and immersive fan experiences while opening new touchpoints between fans and the worlds they love.

The 23-lcoations debut portfolio featured popular titles including ONE PIECE, Digimon, Pretty Cure Splash Star, Girls Band Cry, Magical Doremi and Saint Seiya, deployed mainly across the anime culture and experience hubs INCUBASE Arena and cinema locations to bring premium collectibles into high-traffic entertainment destinations.

Early activations have already demonstrated the platform’s ability to transform fandom into destination experiences. At Hong Kong Comic Con 2026, GochaGocha partnered with Toei Animation to launch a series of official collections, each featuring an event-exclusive set of 12 specially designed cards plus one hidden edition, generating strong collector engagement. Exclusive releases have also included commemorative collections for the “Masked Rider Kuuga 25th Anniversary Exhibition” and the “Lines of EVANGELION” Exhibition which were both taken place in INCUBASE Arena in Hong Kong.

Beyond retail, GochaGocha is designed as a scalable operating model for IP owners, venue partners and regional operators. GochaGocha manages the full ecosystem — from licensing and content planning to collection design and content refresh — while partners benefit from streamlined deployment, integrated payment infrastructure, real-time transaction visibility and low-maintenance operations.

Following its Asia launch, expansion is planned across Japan, Korea, Europe, North America and the Middle East, positioning GochaGocha as a new distribution layer for entertainment brands seeking scalable, recurring and globally connected fan engagement.

www.gochagocha.co

About INCUBASE Studio
INCUBASE Studio creates and curates immersive, IP-themed exhibitions and experiences that connect fandoms worldwide. Bringing beloved characters and stories to life through captivating storytelling, interactive installations and engaging fan experiences, the Studio pushes the boundaries of physical venues across Asia and beyond with its Touring Experiences.

The Studio has established INCUBASE Arena in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Taipei — dedicated hub for anime culture and experiences, combining exhibitions, pop-up stores, exclusive merchandise, themed cafés and anime events through ongoing collaborations with popular IPs. With further expansion across Asia, Europe and America, INCUBASE Arena builds vibrant fan communities while bringing anime culture to a global stage.

www.incubasestudio.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/incubase-studio-accelerates-collectible-entertainment-with-gochagochas-23-location-asia-debut-of-a-new-photo-card-experience-302819423.html

SOURCE INCUBASE Studio