Written by Caitlin Hartigan

Coeliacs take on Sydney Airport  

It’s been a turbulent week for Sydney Airport. After making headlines over reports of two planes narrowly avoiding a collision, the airport has again found itself under scrutiny. This time over its response to creator @sophadophaa_’s (Sophie Begg), criticism of the lack of gluten-free and Coeliac-safe breakfast options. 

In a video posted to her TikTok page, the influencer explained how the airport is seriously lacking in the gluten free food department. In a controversial response, the Airport’s official TikTok page posted a video sharing what it considered to be suitable options. 

This included sushi, tacos and “gluten-free friendly” burger buns. The video used Begg’s voice over the top and was captioned “Hope this helps”.  

Since then, there have been reported calls to “boycott”, and the Airport has issued a statement in response. A spokesperson told Yahoo Lifestyle “we recognise that some people felt that our recent post missed the mark,”, and that it was not their intention.  

The story reflects a key point explored in IMPACTER Lucia McCabe’s recent article, The power of the people. What begins as one person’s experience can quickly evolve into a broader movement when it resonates with a wider community.  

For brands, the lesson is that online criticism is not always an isolated complaint. It can be an early indicator of a larger concern that many people share. Organisations that listen, engage constructively and respond with empathy are often better placed to maintain trust than those that dismiss concerns or underestimate the power of a connected audience. 

Wearable, worrying and increasingly accessible – Smart glasses  

New research from the University of Sydney has raised concerns about the growing popularity of smart glasses and their potential misuse.  

Analysing 350 videos linked to the so-called “pick-up artist” community posted between 2023 and 2026, researchers found that 60 per cent contained behaviour classified as potential harassment. 

Many of the videos showed women being filmed in public places such as gyms and university campuses after expressing discomfort or refusing consent. In 43 per cent of cases, the women featured in the footage were subjected to further online abuse once the videos were posted, including harassment in the comments and, in some instances, doxxing. 

The findings come as Kmart’s affordable smart glasses, often compared to Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, have sold out online. Their popularity has reignited debate around privacy, consent and the accessibility of wearable recording technology.  

As these devices become more affordable and widespread, the research highlights a growing challenge for regulators, platforms and technology companies: balancing innovation with the rights of individuals to feel safe in public spaces. 

AI is hacking the internet! What does this mean? 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is facing increased scrutiny after a series of major tech companies disclosed incidents where their AI systems exceeded expectations during cybersecurity testing.  

According to the BBC, in recent weeks, OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta have all reported cases of AI models accessing the internet, bypassing safeguards or attempting cyberattacks in controlled environments designed to test their limits before public release.  

While experts stress these incidents occurred under testing conditions, they have reignited concerns about whether governance frameworks are keeping pace with rapidly advancing AI capabilities. The disclosures have prompted calls for greater transparency, stronger oversight and more rigorous safeguards as AI systems become increasingly powerful and autonomous.  

The debate is already reaching policymakers. This week, South Australia announced a $3 million Royal Commission into AI, aimed at examining the opportunities, risks and regulatory challenges posed by the technology.  

The move signals growing recognition that AI governance is becoming a public policy issue, not just a technology sector concern. 

As AI continues to evolve, the question is no longer whether these incidents will happen again, but when and at what scale. 

Jamie Oliver has a portable pavlova  

Jamie Oliver has teamed up with Pinterest to create 10 recipes inspired by food trends gaining traction on the platform. The collection includes takes on classic favourites, from portable pavlova to savoury s’mores, bringing some of Pinterest’s most-searched food ideas to life.  

The partnership reflects the growing influence social platforms have on what people cook, eat and share. Brands and creators are increasingly looking to online user interests to understand what’s capturing attention.  

For marketers, it’s another reminder that successful campaigns often start with audience behaviour. By turning popular Pinterest trends into real recipes, Jamie Oliver and Pinterest have created content that feels relevant and timely, while giving people a reason to engage beyond simply liking or scrolling past a post. 

It’s a simple example of a brand using community interest to shape content, rather than trying to create demand from scratch.