Media Roundup: Aussie DeepSeek warning, Flight Centre’s AI move, Lattouf’s legal battle, SEN fallout and a TV icon’s farewell

As Ben Packham reports in The Australian, Labor has barred DeepSeek from government devices, citing an "unacceptable risk" flagged by intelligence agencies. A day later, key critical infrastructure providers were given a strong push to follow suit during a government briefing.

Despite concerns, the government has held back from using its Security of Critical Infrastructure Act powers to enforce a ban across energy, telecom, finance, and transport sectors.

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Flight Centre's corporate arm doubles down on AI to boost market share

Flight Centre’s corporate travel division, FCM Travel, is ramping up its use of AI and automation to expand globally and help businesses navigate soaring airfares in premium cabins.

As Matt Bell reports in The Australian, the world’s fourth-largest corporate travel provider, FCM sees AI as a game-changer for optimising travel spend and managing rising demand, particularly as companies look to stretch budgets amid economic uncertainty.

Flight Centre COO Melissa Elf says AI-driven improvements will enhance customer service, with most businesses planning to increase travel budgets in 2025, despite inflationary pressures.

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Advertising

IAB Australia unveils search campaign tool to boost advertiser performance

IAB Australia has launched an interactive decision-making tool designed to help marketers enhance paid search campaign performance by maximising existing success or addressing underperformance.

Developed by industry experts from IAB Australia’s Future of Search Working Group, the tool is a key feature of the newly released ‘How Search Engine Advertising Auctions Work’ Guide.

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Radio

SEN’s decision to drop Peter Lalor over his pro-Palestine social media posts has triggered a boycott from journalists and seen a major sponsor walk away.

The veteran cricket commentator and journalist was axed mid-tour during Australia’s Test series in Sri Lanka, following months of posts on X about the situation in Gaza and the occupied territories.

As Daanyal Saeed reports in Crikey, several sports journalists have now vowed to boycott the network, refusing to work with SEN in the future - while a former major sponsor has declared it has “no plans to revisit the partnership.”

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Television

Liz Hayes steps down from Nine after 44 years