Macron slams Meta over AI fake coup video as 5G and NASA shakeups unfold

Thursday: Isaacman Named New NASA Chief, Fallout from Destabilizing AI Video

Teaser: US Senate backs Musk ally + Macron takes on Facebook + 1&1 expands mobile network + iPhone regulation compared + Interview on medical practice software + #ourwebsiteshow

December 18, 2025, 5:15 AM GMT

After a year of political back-and-forth, Jared Isaacman is all but confirmed as NASA's new administrator following Senate approval of his nomination. His first challenge: the race against China to return to the Moon. While Isaacman enjoys broad support, critics point to his close ties with SpaceX and Elon Musk. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has sharply condemned Meta Platforms after a viral AI-generated video convincingly depicted a coup in France—yet Facebook refused to take it down. Even foreign leaders reportedly fell for the hoax. Macron is now pushing for stricter laws against disinformation. Closer to home, Germany's fourth mobile network is growing: 1&1 claims to have met its 2025 coverage targets, now reaching one in four German households, with Vodafone filling gaps at no extra cost. All legacy customers have also been migrated to the new 5G network. Here's a quick roundup of the top stories.

The nomination of billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman as NASA's next administrator has cleared a major hurdle with Senate confirmation, paving the way for his appointment. This ends an unusual process that began over a year ago with his initial nomination, followed by prolonged political wrangling. Isaacman's selection is itself unconventional—NASA leaders are typically drawn from the ranks of scientists, engineers, academics, or career civil servants. Now, a businessman will oversee the agency's lunar ambitions in its rivalry with China. Yet critics question his deep ties to SpaceX and Elon Musk, as well as a recent donation to Donald Trump.

French President Emmanuel Macron has also directed his criticism at Meta Platforms, accusing the company of "mocking the sovereignty of democracies […] and putting us all at risk." His outrage stems from a Facebook-hosted video, purportedly a news clip of a coup in France, which racked up 12 million views. Macron claims even fellow world leaders contacted him after seeing it. Despite its virality, Facebook declined to remove the video, prompting Macron to seek new legislation against destabilizing falsehoods. The clip, it turns out, was the work of a Burkinabé teenager testing his AI video skills—who has since taken it down.

Here in Germany, 1&1 reports that its 5G network now covers a quarter of all households, fulfilling its 2025 rollout obligations tied to spectrum licenses. In areas without 1&1's own infrastructure, customers automatically roam onto Vodafone's network at no additional charge. The company continues expanding its mobile network despite a court ruling that voided the original frequency auction. Earlier this month, Germany's Federal Network Agency initiated a new 5G licensing process. Beyond its own 5G buildout, 1&1 is also required to erect transmission towers to help competitors close coverage gaps.