Pop star Britney Spears, 44, has been charged in Ventura County with one misdemeanor count of driving under the combined influence of alcohol and at least one drug after an alleged high-speed, erratic traffic stop on March 4. She was arrested, released on bail, and an arraignment is scheduled—prosecutors say she won’t be required to appear.

The case lands against a long public history—from global fame and a decade-long conservatorship to recent voluntary entry into substance-abuse treatment—raising questions about accountability, safety, and what the next legal and personal steps will be.

At a packed Winnipeg gala, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew unveiled a provocative plan: ban young people’s access to social media platforms and AI chatbots, arguing these tools are deliberately designed to hook attention and harm mental health.

The proposal reaches beyond apps like TikTok to include AI tools, citing persuasive design and rising anxiety among youth. Details on age cutoffs and enforcement remain unclear, but comparisons to Australia’s strict under-16 measures — and the risk of users migrating to unregulated corners — make this a possible Canadian first that could reshape how provinces and Ottawa protect kids online.

Spotify has launched a "Verified by Spotify" green check to help listeners distinguish real artists from AI-generated accounts, requiring sustained engagement, off-platform presence, and at least 10,000 active listeners for three months.

The rollout is uneven—major names already have checks while some big and legacy acts do not—and critics warn the badge could unintentionally favor established artists and create a new barrier for independents.

For now the label covers music (not podcasts), and it’s a first step in a larger conversation about transparency, discovery and how platforms will balance authenticity with fair access as AI-driven music grows.