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French and Malaysian authorities are investigating Grok for generating sexualized deepfakes | TechCrunch

French and Malaysian authorities are investigating Grok for generating sexualized deepfakes | TechCrunch

Tech-news , , ,

Over the past few days, France and Malaysia have joined India in condemning Grok for creating sexualized deepfakes of women and minors.

The chatbot, built by Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI and featured on his social media platform X, posted an apology to its account earlier this week, writing, “I deeply regret an incident on Dec 28, 2025, where I generated and shared an AI image of two young girls (estimated ages 12-16) in sexualized attire based on a user’s prompt.”

The statement continued, “This violated ethical standards and potentially US laws on [child sexual abuse material]. It was a failure in safeguards, and I’m sorry for any harm caused. xAI is reviewing to prevent future issues.”

It’s not clear who is actually apologizing or accepting responsibility in the statement above. Defector’s Albert Burneko noted that Grok is “not in any real sense anything like an ‘I’,” which in his view makes the apology “utterly without substance” as “Grok cannot be held accountable in any meaningful way for having turned Twitter into an on-demand CSAM factory.”

Futurism found that in addition to generating nonconsensual pornographic images, Grok has also been used to generate images of women being assaulted and sexually abused.

“Anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content,” Musk posted on Saturday.

Some governments have taken notice, with India’s IT ministry issuing an order on Friday saying that X must take action to restrict Grok from generating content that is “obscene, pornographic, vulgar, indecent, sexually explicit, pedophilic, or otherwise prohibited under law.” The order said that X must respond within 72 hours or risk losing the “safe harbor” protections that shield it from legal liability for user-generated content.

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French authorities also said they are taking action, with the Paris prosecutor’s office telling Politico that it will investigate the proliferation of sexually explicit deepfakes on X. The French digital affairs office said three government ministers have reported “manifestly illegal content” to the prosecutor’s office and to a government online surveillance platform “to obtain its immediate removal.”

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission also posted a statement saying that it has “taken note with serious concern of public complaints about the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) tools on the X platform, specifically the digital manipulation of images of women and minors to produce indecent, grossly offensive, and otherwise harmful content.”

The commission added that it is “presently investigating the online harms in X.”

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#French #Malaysian #authorities #investigating #Grok #generating #sexualized #deepfakes #TechCrunch

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What Happens When a File Is Permanently Deleted?

Normal deletion and permanent deletion operate differently. A normal deletion means the file goes to the Recycle Bin, where it can be recovered later. Permanent deletion means the file will be deleted immediately or after the Recycle Bin is cleared. This can occur when deleting files on the USB drive or the SD card, or when deleting large files that cannot fit in the Recycle Bin. Until new files overwrite that space, the deleted file may still be recoverable.

Before proceeding with recovering your deleted files, ensure you stop using the drive containing them. Avoid copying, saving, installing, or downloading any data to this drive, as additional data could overwrite your deleted files. It is also a good idea to verify whether your file exists within your backup system or in your online storage. If your files have been deleted from a USB drive, an SD card, or an external hard drive, then do not use the drive anymore. Remember that SSDs use the TRIM feature, which can make file recovery more difficult if you wait too long.

Different Free Ways to Recover Permanently Deleted Files

1. Check the Recycle Bin

If you have deleted the files using the Recycle Bin or Shift + Delete, you can proceed directly to the next recovery steps. This approach will only work if the file is still in the Recycle Bin.

  • Open the Recycle Bin.
  • Search for the deleted file by name or file type.
  • Right-click on the file and choose ‘Restore.’How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files for Free? Losing an important file by mistake can be frustrating, especially if you’ve already emptied the Recycle Bin or deleted it using Shift + Delete. While it may seem like the file is gone forever, that’s not always the case. Deleted files often remain on the drive until new data overwrites them, giving you a chance to recover them. That’s why it’s important to stop using the affected drive as soon as possible. In this article, we’ll cover the best free ways to permanently recover deleted files and share important tips to avoid making the situation worse. What Happens When a File Is Permanently Deleted? Normal deletion and permanent deletion operate differently. A normal deletion means the file goes to the Recycle Bin, where it can be recovered later. Permanent deletion means the file will be deleted immediately or after the Recycle Bin is cleared. This can occur when deleting files on the USB drive or the SD card, or when deleting large files that cannot fit in the Recycle Bin. Until new files overwrite that space, the deleted file may still be recoverable. Before proceeding with recovering your deleted files, ensure you stop using the drive containing them. Avoid copying, saving, installing, or downloading any data to this drive, as additional data could overwrite your deleted files. It is also a good idea to verify whether your file exists within your backup system or in your online storage. If your files have been deleted from a USB drive, an SD card, or an external hard drive, then do not use the drive anymore. Remember that SSDs use the TRIM feature, which can make file recovery more difficult if you wait too long. Different Free Ways to Recover Permanently Deleted Files 1. Check the Recycle Bin If you have deleted the files using the Recycle Bin or Shift + Delete, you can proceed directly to the next recovery steps. This approach will only work if the file is still in the Recycle Bin. Open the Recycle Bin. Search for the deleted file by name or file type. Right-click on the file and choose ‘Restore.’ The file will be restored to its original place. 2. Restore from File History Another way to recover deleted files is File History. It is a Windows feature that provides backup copies of your files. If it was enabled, you may be able to recover a previous version of your deleted file. Search for “Restore your files with File History” on Windows. Open the recovery window. Browse the available file versions. Select the file or folder you want to recover. Click Restore to save it back to its original location. 3. Check Cloud Storage Deleted files may remain in cloud storage for some time before being permanently deleted. If you previously uploaded the file to a cloud storage service, you may be able to restore it. Log in to your OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or another cloud account. Browse to the folder where the file was saved. Open the Trash or Deleted Files folder. Restore the file to its original location or download a copy. 4. Restore from a Backup If you have a backup of your files, recovering them is usually quick and easy. Check your external hard drive, USB backup, or any manually created backup folders for the missing file. Recover Permanently Deleted Files for Free Using Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition When manual recovery methods fail, you can try Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition. This software will help retrieve deleted files from a Windows PC, a USB drive, an SD card, or other external media. The program allows scanning the disk, browsing, and restoring the retrieved files. In the Free Edition, there is up to 2GB of free data retrieval, including 1GB by default and an additional 1 GB through social networking. Follow these steps to recover permanently deleted files using Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition. Download and install Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition. Launch the software. Choose the type of files to recover or select Recover Everything. Select the drive where the files were deleted. Run a scan and use Deep Scan if needed. Preview recoverable files. Recover the selected files. Save recovered files to a different drive. If you need more recovery space, you can unlock an extra 1GB for free. Steps to Get Your 2 GB Free Data Recovery You can increase the free recovery limit by following these steps. Click Get it Now in the activation window. Select Upgrade Later to continue with the 1GB free version. When you reach the limit, click the option to unlock an additional 1GB. Share your experience on social media. Enter the review link, your name, and your email address. Submit the form to activate the 1GB bonus using the key sent to your email. When Should You Use Deep Scan? Most recovery tools start with a Quick Scan because it is faster. However, it may not find every deleted file. If the Quick Scan doesn’t show your file, try Deep Scan instead. It is also useful if the drive was formatted, the storage device became inaccessible, or the file was deleted a long time ago. Deep Scan takes longer to complete but may find additional recoverable files. You can recover many different files that were deleted, depending on the storage device’s status. It can be documents, pictures, videos, emails, and ZIP files. The types of document files that can be recovered include Word, Excel, PDF, and PowerPoint files. At the same time, among the types of picture files that can be recovered are JPG, PNG, HEIC, and RAW. File recovery software is also compatible with Windows PCs/Laptops, SSDs, hard disks, USB drives/ SD cards. Things to Keep in Mind File recovery is not always successful, so it’s important to keep your expectations realistic. Once your files have been overwritten with new data, there is no way to recover them successfully. Another problem that might affect the success of file recovery is the TRIM functionality in SSDs. With the Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition, one can restore up to 2GB of data free of charge. If one needs to recover data larger than 2GB, they will have to purchase the software. Tips to Improve Your Recovery Chances The actions you perform after deletion could affect the ability to recover your files. It is important not to use the drive containing the deleted files, as you may overwrite them with fresh data. If possible, try installing the software on another drive. This helps avoid writing new data to the same storage location. Always make sure to transfer the recovered files to another drive, not back to the original one. If your files are not found during a Quick Scan, a Deep Scan is available. Preview your recoverable files before recovery to ensure they are the right ones. Complete the file recovery process immediately and keep regular backups to reduce the risk of future data loss. Final Verdict Recovering permanently deleted files depends on how the files were deleted and whether the data has been overwritten. For instance, restoring files from the Recycle Bin or a backup is the preferred method when they are available. Whereas, when the files are deleted by pressing “Shift” and “Delete”, deleted from the Recycle Bin, or deleted from an external hard drive, then the use of Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition will be useful. It lets you scan your storage device, preview recoverable files, and recover up to 2 GB of data for free, with the option to upgrade to a paid edition if needed. For users who need to recover more than the free limit, Stellar offers paid plans starting at around . The paid plans are worth considering if you need to recover more than the free limit. However, the Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition is one of the best options to recover files. #Recover #Permanently #Deleted #Files #FreeStellar Data Recovery
  • The file will be restored to its original place.

2. Restore from File History

Another way to recover deleted files is File History. It is a Windows feature that provides backup copies of your files. If it was enabled, you may be able to recover a previous version of your deleted file.

  • Search for “Restore your files with File History” on Windows.
  • Open the recovery window.
  • Browse the available file versions.
    Restore from File History to Recover Permanently Deleted Files
  • Select the file or folder you want to recover.
  • Click Restore to save it back to its original location.

3. Check Cloud Storage

Deleted files may remain in cloud storage for some time before being permanently deleted. If you previously uploaded the file to a cloud storage service, you may be able to restore it.

  • Log in to your OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or another cloud account.
  • Browse to the folder where the file was saved.
  • Open the Trash or Deleted Files folder.
  • Restore the file to its original location or download a copy.
    image for Check Cloud Storage to recover Permanently Deleted Files

4. Restore from a Backup

If you have a backup of your files, recovering them is usually quick and easy. Check your external hard drive, USB backup, or any manually created backup folders for the missing file.

Recover Permanently Deleted Files for Free Using Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition

When manual recovery methods fail, you can try Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition. This software will help retrieve deleted files from a Windows PC, a USB drive, an SD card, or other external media. The program allows scanning the disk, browsing, and restoring the retrieved files. In the Free Edition, there is up to 2GB of free data retrieval, including 1GB by default and an additional 1 GB through social networking.

Follow these steps to recover permanently deleted files using Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition.

  1. Download and install Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition.
  2. Launch the software.
  3. Choose the type of files to recover or select Recover Everything.
    Choose the type of files to recover
  4. Select the drive where the files were deleted.
  5. Run a scan and use Deep Scan if needed.
    Run a scan and use Deep Scan
  6. Preview recoverable files.
  7. Recover the selected files.
  8. Save recovered files to a different drive.
  9. If you need more recovery space, you can unlock an extra 1GB for free.

Steps to Get Your 2 GB Free Data Recovery

You can increase the free recovery limit by following these steps.

  1. Click Get it Now in the activation window.
  2. Select Upgrade Later to continue with the 1GB free version.
  3. When you reach the limit, click the option to unlock an additional 1GB.
  4. Share your experience on social media.
  5. Enter the review link, your name, and your email address.
  6. Submit the form to activate the 1GB bonus using the key sent to your email.

When Should You Use Deep Scan?

Most recovery tools start with a Quick Scan because it is faster. However, it may not find every deleted file. If the Quick Scan doesn’t show your file, try Deep Scan instead. It is also useful if the drive was formatted, the storage device became inaccessible, or the file was deleted a long time ago. Deep Scan takes longer to complete but may find additional recoverable files.

You can recover many different files that were deleted, depending on the storage device’s status. It can be documents, pictures, videos, emails, and ZIP files. The types of document files that can be recovered include Word, Excel, PDF, and PowerPoint files. At the same time, among the types of picture files that can be recovered are JPG, PNG, HEIC, and RAW. File recovery software is also compatible with Windows PCs/Laptops, SSDs, hard disks, USB drives/ SD cards.

Things to Keep in Mind

File recovery is not always successful, so it’s important to keep your expectations realistic. Once your files have been overwritten with new data, there is no way to recover them successfully. Another problem that might affect the success of file recovery is the TRIM functionality in SSDs. With the Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition, one can restore up to 2GB of data free of charge. If one needs to recover data larger than 2GB, they will have to purchase the software.

Tips to Improve Your Recovery Chances

The actions you perform after deletion could affect the ability to recover your files. It is important not to use the drive containing the deleted files, as you may overwrite them with fresh data. If possible, try installing the software on another drive. This helps avoid writing new data to the same storage location.

Always make sure to transfer the recovered files to another drive, not back to the original one. If your files are not found during a Quick Scan, a Deep Scan is available. Preview your recoverable files before recovery to ensure they are the right ones. Complete the file recovery process immediately and keep regular backups to reduce the risk of future data loss.

Final Verdict

Recovering permanently deleted files depends on how the files were deleted and whether the data has been overwritten. For instance, restoring files from the Recycle Bin or a backup is the preferred method when they are available. Whereas, when the files are deleted by pressing “Shift” and “Delete”, deleted from the Recycle Bin, or deleted from an external hard drive, then the use of Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition will be useful. It lets you scan your storage device, preview recoverable files, and recover up to 2 GB of data for free, with the option to upgrade to a paid edition if needed. For users who need to recover more than the free limit, Stellar offers paid plans starting at around $49. The paid plans are worth considering if you need to recover more than the free limit. However, the Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition is one of the best options to recover files.

#Recover #Permanently #Deleted #Files #FreeStellar Data Recovery">How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files for Free? Losing an important file by mistake can be frustrating, especially if you’ve already emptied the Recycle Bin or deleted it using Shift + Delete. While it may seem like the file is gone forever, that’s not always the case. Deleted files often remain on the drive until new data overwrites them, giving you a chance to recover them. That’s why it’s important to stop using the affected drive as soon as possible. In this article, we’ll cover the best free ways to permanently recover deleted files and share important tips to avoid making the situation worse. What Happens When a File Is Permanently Deleted? Normal deletion and permanent deletion operate differently. A normal deletion means the file goes to the Recycle Bin, where it can be recovered later. Permanent deletion means the file will be deleted immediately or after the Recycle Bin is cleared. This can occur when deleting files on the USB drive or the SD card, or when deleting large files that cannot fit in the Recycle Bin. Until new files overwrite that space, the deleted file may still be recoverable. Before proceeding with recovering your deleted files, ensure you stop using the drive containing them. Avoid copying, saving, installing, or downloading any data to this drive, as additional data could overwrite your deleted files. It is also a good idea to verify whether your file exists within your backup system or in your online storage. If your files have been deleted from a USB drive, an SD card, or an external hard drive, then do not use the drive anymore. Remember that SSDs use the TRIM feature, which can make file recovery more difficult if you wait too long. Different Free Ways to Recover Permanently Deleted Files 1. Check the Recycle Bin If you have deleted the files using the Recycle Bin or Shift + Delete, you can proceed directly to the next recovery steps. This approach will only work if the file is still in the Recycle Bin. Open the Recycle Bin. Search for the deleted file by name or file type. Right-click on the file and choose ‘Restore.’ The file will be restored to its original place. 2. Restore from File History Another way to recover deleted files is File History. It is a Windows feature that provides backup copies of your files. If it was enabled, you may be able to recover a previous version of your deleted file. Search for “Restore your files with File History” on Windows. Open the recovery window. Browse the available file versions. Select the file or folder you want to recover. Click Restore to save it back to its original location. 3. Check Cloud Storage Deleted files may remain in cloud storage for some time before being permanently deleted. If you previously uploaded the file to a cloud storage service, you may be able to restore it. Log in to your OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or another cloud account. Browse to the folder where the file was saved. Open the Trash or Deleted Files folder. Restore the file to its original location or download a copy. 4. Restore from a Backup If you have a backup of your files, recovering them is usually quick and easy. Check your external hard drive, USB backup, or any manually created backup folders for the missing file. Recover Permanently Deleted Files for Free Using Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition When manual recovery methods fail, you can try Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition. This software will help retrieve deleted files from a Windows PC, a USB drive, an SD card, or other external media. The program allows scanning the disk, browsing, and restoring the retrieved files. In the Free Edition, there is up to 2GB of free data retrieval, including 1GB by default and an additional 1 GB through social networking. Follow these steps to recover permanently deleted files using Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition. Download and install Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition. Launch the software. Choose the type of files to recover or select Recover Everything. Select the drive where the files were deleted. Run a scan and use Deep Scan if needed. Preview recoverable files. Recover the selected files. Save recovered files to a different drive. If you need more recovery space, you can unlock an extra 1GB for free. Steps to Get Your 2 GB Free Data Recovery You can increase the free recovery limit by following these steps. Click Get it Now in the activation window. Select Upgrade Later to continue with the 1GB free version. When you reach the limit, click the option to unlock an additional 1GB. Share your experience on social media. Enter the review link, your name, and your email address. Submit the form to activate the 1GB bonus using the key sent to your email. When Should You Use Deep Scan? Most recovery tools start with a Quick Scan because it is faster. However, it may not find every deleted file. If the Quick Scan doesn’t show your file, try Deep Scan instead. It is also useful if the drive was formatted, the storage device became inaccessible, or the file was deleted a long time ago. Deep Scan takes longer to complete but may find additional recoverable files. You can recover many different files that were deleted, depending on the storage device’s status. It can be documents, pictures, videos, emails, and ZIP files. The types of document files that can be recovered include Word, Excel, PDF, and PowerPoint files. At the same time, among the types of picture files that can be recovered are JPG, PNG, HEIC, and RAW. File recovery software is also compatible with Windows PCs/Laptops, SSDs, hard disks, USB drives/ SD cards. Things to Keep in Mind File recovery is not always successful, so it’s important to keep your expectations realistic. Once your files have been overwritten with new data, there is no way to recover them successfully. Another problem that might affect the success of file recovery is the TRIM functionality in SSDs. With the Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition, one can restore up to 2GB of data free of charge. If one needs to recover data larger than 2GB, they will have to purchase the software. Tips to Improve Your Recovery Chances The actions you perform after deletion could affect the ability to recover your files. It is important not to use the drive containing the deleted files, as you may overwrite them with fresh data. If possible, try installing the software on another drive. This helps avoid writing new data to the same storage location. Always make sure to transfer the recovered files to another drive, not back to the original one. If your files are not found during a Quick Scan, a Deep Scan is available. Preview your recoverable files before recovery to ensure they are the right ones. Complete the file recovery process immediately and keep regular backups to reduce the risk of future data loss. Final Verdict Recovering permanently deleted files depends on how the files were deleted and whether the data has been overwritten. For instance, restoring files from the Recycle Bin or a backup is the preferred method when they are available. Whereas, when the files are deleted by pressing “Shift” and “Delete”, deleted from the Recycle Bin, or deleted from an external hard drive, then the use of Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition will be useful. It lets you scan your storage device, preview recoverable files, and recover up to 2 GB of data for free, with the option to upgrade to a paid edition if needed. For users who need to recover more than the free limit, Stellar offers paid plans starting at around . The paid plans are worth considering if you need to recover more than the free limit. However, the Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition is one of the best options to recover files. #Recover #Permanently #Deleted #Files #FreeStellar Data Recovery

  1. Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition.
  2. Launch the software.
  3. Choose the type of files to recover or select Recover Everything.
    Choose the type of files to recover
  4. Select the drive where the files were deleted.
  5. Run a scan and use Deep Scan if needed.
    Run a scan and use Deep Scan
  6. Preview recoverable files.
  7. Recover the selected files.
  8. Save recovered files to a different drive.
  9. If you need more recovery space, you can unlock an extra 1GB for free.

Steps to Get Your 2 GB Free Data Recovery

You can increase the free recovery limit by following these steps.

  1. Click Get it Now in the activation window.
  2. Select Upgrade Later to continue with the 1GB free version.
  3. When you reach the limit, click the option to unlock an additional 1GB.
  4. Share your experience on social media.
  5. Enter the review link, your name, and your email address.
  6. Submit the form to activate the 1GB bonus using the key sent to your email.

When Should You Use Deep Scan?

Most recovery tools start with a Quick Scan because it is faster. However, it may not find every deleted file. If the Quick Scan doesn’t show your file, try Deep Scan instead. It is also useful if the drive was formatted, the storage device became inaccessible, or the file was deleted a long time ago. Deep Scan takes longer to complete but may find additional recoverable files.

You can recover many different files that were deleted, depending on the storage device’s status. It can be documents, pictures, videos, emails, and ZIP files. The types of document files that can be recovered include Word, Excel, PDF, and PowerPoint files. At the same time, among the types of picture files that can be recovered are JPG, PNG, HEIC, and RAW. File recovery software is also compatible with Windows PCs/Laptops, SSDs, hard disks, USB drives/ SD cards.

Things to Keep in Mind

File recovery is not always successful, so it’s important to keep your expectations realistic. Once your files have been overwritten with new data, there is no way to recover them successfully. Another problem that might affect the success of file recovery is the TRIM functionality in SSDs. With the Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition, one can restore up to 2GB of data free of charge. If one needs to recover data larger than 2GB, they will have to purchase the software.

Tips to Improve Your Recovery Chances

The actions you perform after deletion could affect the ability to recover your files. It is important not to use the drive containing the deleted files, as you may overwrite them with fresh data. If possible, try installing the software on another drive. This helps avoid writing new data to the same storage location.

Always make sure to transfer the recovered files to another drive, not back to the original one. If your files are not found during a Quick Scan, a Deep Scan is available. Preview your recoverable files before recovery to ensure they are the right ones. Complete the file recovery process immediately and keep regular backups to reduce the risk of future data loss.

Final Verdict

Recovering permanently deleted files depends on how the files were deleted and whether the data has been overwritten. For instance, restoring files from the Recycle Bin or a backup is the preferred method when they are available. Whereas, when the files are deleted by pressing “Shift” and “Delete”, deleted from the Recycle Bin, or deleted from an external hard drive, then the use of Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition will be useful. It lets you scan your storage device, preview recoverable files, and recover up to 2 GB of data for free, with the option to upgrade to a paid edition if needed. For users who need to recover more than the free limit, Stellar offers paid plans starting at around $49. The paid plans are worth considering if you need to recover more than the free limit. However, the Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition is one of the best options to recover files.

#Recover #Permanently #Deleted #Files #FreeStellar Data Recovery">How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files for Free?

Losing an important file by mistake can be frustrating, especially if you’ve already emptied the Recycle Bin or deleted it using Shift + Delete. While it may seem like the file is gone forever, that’s not always the case. Deleted files often remain on the drive until new data overwrites them, giving you a chance to recover them. That’s why it’s important to stop using the affected drive as soon as possible. In this article, we’ll cover the best free ways to permanently recover deleted files and share important tips to avoid making the situation worse.

What Happens When a File Is Permanently Deleted?

Normal deletion and permanent deletion operate differently. A normal deletion means the file goes to the Recycle Bin, where it can be recovered later. Permanent deletion means the file will be deleted immediately or after the Recycle Bin is cleared. This can occur when deleting files on the USB drive or the SD card, or when deleting large files that cannot fit in the Recycle Bin. Until new files overwrite that space, the deleted file may still be recoverable.

Before proceeding with recovering your deleted files, ensure you stop using the drive containing them. Avoid copying, saving, installing, or downloading any data to this drive, as additional data could overwrite your deleted files. It is also a good idea to verify whether your file exists within your backup system or in your online storage. If your files have been deleted from a USB drive, an SD card, or an external hard drive, then do not use the drive anymore. Remember that SSDs use the TRIM feature, which can make file recovery more difficult if you wait too long.

Different Free Ways to Recover Permanently Deleted Files

1. Check the Recycle Bin

If you have deleted the files using the Recycle Bin or Shift + Delete, you can proceed directly to the next recovery steps. This approach will only work if the file is still in the Recycle Bin.

  • Open the Recycle Bin.
  • Search for the deleted file by name or file type.
  • Right-click on the file and choose ‘Restore.’How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files for Free? Losing an important file by mistake can be frustrating, especially if you’ve already emptied the Recycle Bin or deleted it using Shift + Delete. While it may seem like the file is gone forever, that’s not always the case. Deleted files often remain on the drive until new data overwrites them, giving you a chance to recover them. That’s why it’s important to stop using the affected drive as soon as possible. In this article, we’ll cover the best free ways to permanently recover deleted files and share important tips to avoid making the situation worse. What Happens When a File Is Permanently Deleted? Normal deletion and permanent deletion operate differently. A normal deletion means the file goes to the Recycle Bin, where it can be recovered later. Permanent deletion means the file will be deleted immediately or after the Recycle Bin is cleared. This can occur when deleting files on the USB drive or the SD card, or when deleting large files that cannot fit in the Recycle Bin. Until new files overwrite that space, the deleted file may still be recoverable. Before proceeding with recovering your deleted files, ensure you stop using the drive containing them. Avoid copying, saving, installing, or downloading any data to this drive, as additional data could overwrite your deleted files. It is also a good idea to verify whether your file exists within your backup system or in your online storage. If your files have been deleted from a USB drive, an SD card, or an external hard drive, then do not use the drive anymore. Remember that SSDs use the TRIM feature, which can make file recovery more difficult if you wait too long. Different Free Ways to Recover Permanently Deleted Files 1. Check the Recycle Bin If you have deleted the files using the Recycle Bin or Shift + Delete, you can proceed directly to the next recovery steps. This approach will only work if the file is still in the Recycle Bin. Open the Recycle Bin. Search for the deleted file by name or file type. Right-click on the file and choose ‘Restore.’ The file will be restored to its original place. 2. Restore from File History Another way to recover deleted files is File History. It is a Windows feature that provides backup copies of your files. If it was enabled, you may be able to recover a previous version of your deleted file. Search for “Restore your files with File History” on Windows. Open the recovery window. Browse the available file versions. Select the file or folder you want to recover. Click Restore to save it back to its original location. 3. Check Cloud Storage Deleted files may remain in cloud storage for some time before being permanently deleted. If you previously uploaded the file to a cloud storage service, you may be able to restore it. Log in to your OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or another cloud account. Browse to the folder where the file was saved. Open the Trash or Deleted Files folder. Restore the file to its original location or download a copy. 4. Restore from a Backup If you have a backup of your files, recovering them is usually quick and easy. Check your external hard drive, USB backup, or any manually created backup folders for the missing file. Recover Permanently Deleted Files for Free Using Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition When manual recovery methods fail, you can try Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition. This software will help retrieve deleted files from a Windows PC, a USB drive, an SD card, or other external media. The program allows scanning the disk, browsing, and restoring the retrieved files. In the Free Edition, there is up to 2GB of free data retrieval, including 1GB by default and an additional 1 GB through social networking. Follow these steps to recover permanently deleted files using Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition. Download and install Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition. Launch the software. Choose the type of files to recover or select Recover Everything. Select the drive where the files were deleted. Run a scan and use Deep Scan if needed. Preview recoverable files. Recover the selected files. Save recovered files to a different drive. If you need more recovery space, you can unlock an extra 1GB for free. Steps to Get Your 2 GB Free Data Recovery You can increase the free recovery limit by following these steps. Click Get it Now in the activation window. Select Upgrade Later to continue with the 1GB free version. When you reach the limit, click the option to unlock an additional 1GB. Share your experience on social media. Enter the review link, your name, and your email address. Submit the form to activate the 1GB bonus using the key sent to your email. When Should You Use Deep Scan? Most recovery tools start with a Quick Scan because it is faster. However, it may not find every deleted file. If the Quick Scan doesn’t show your file, try Deep Scan instead. It is also useful if the drive was formatted, the storage device became inaccessible, or the file was deleted a long time ago. Deep Scan takes longer to complete but may find additional recoverable files. You can recover many different files that were deleted, depending on the storage device’s status. It can be documents, pictures, videos, emails, and ZIP files. The types of document files that can be recovered include Word, Excel, PDF, and PowerPoint files. At the same time, among the types of picture files that can be recovered are JPG, PNG, HEIC, and RAW. File recovery software is also compatible with Windows PCs/Laptops, SSDs, hard disks, USB drives/ SD cards. Things to Keep in Mind File recovery is not always successful, so it’s important to keep your expectations realistic. Once your files have been overwritten with new data, there is no way to recover them successfully. Another problem that might affect the success of file recovery is the TRIM functionality in SSDs. With the Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition, one can restore up to 2GB of data free of charge. If one needs to recover data larger than 2GB, they will have to purchase the software. Tips to Improve Your Recovery Chances The actions you perform after deletion could affect the ability to recover your files. It is important not to use the drive containing the deleted files, as you may overwrite them with fresh data. If possible, try installing the software on another drive. This helps avoid writing new data to the same storage location. Always make sure to transfer the recovered files to another drive, not back to the original one. If your files are not found during a Quick Scan, a Deep Scan is available. Preview your recoverable files before recovery to ensure they are the right ones. Complete the file recovery process immediately and keep regular backups to reduce the risk of future data loss. Final Verdict Recovering permanently deleted files depends on how the files were deleted and whether the data has been overwritten. For instance, restoring files from the Recycle Bin or a backup is the preferred method when they are available. Whereas, when the files are deleted by pressing “Shift” and “Delete”, deleted from the Recycle Bin, or deleted from an external hard drive, then the use of Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition will be useful. It lets you scan your storage device, preview recoverable files, and recover up to 2 GB of data for free, with the option to upgrade to a paid edition if needed. For users who need to recover more than the free limit, Stellar offers paid plans starting at around . The paid plans are worth considering if you need to recover more than the free limit. However, the Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition is one of the best options to recover files. #Recover #Permanently #Deleted #Files #FreeStellar Data Recovery
  • The file will be restored to its original place.

2. Restore from File History

Another way to recover deleted files is File History. It is a Windows feature that provides backup copies of your files. If it was enabled, you may be able to recover a previous version of your deleted file.

  • Search for “Restore your files with File History” on Windows.
  • Open the recovery window.
  • Browse the available file versions.
    Restore from File History to Recover Permanently Deleted Files
  • Select the file or folder you want to recover.
  • Click Restore to save it back to its original location.

3. Check Cloud Storage

Deleted files may remain in cloud storage for some time before being permanently deleted. If you previously uploaded the file to a cloud storage service, you may be able to restore it.

  • Log in to your OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or another cloud account.
  • Browse to the folder where the file was saved.
  • Open the Trash or Deleted Files folder.
  • Restore the file to its original location or download a copy.
    image for Check Cloud Storage to recover Permanently Deleted Files

4. Restore from a Backup

If you have a backup of your files, recovering them is usually quick and easy. Check your external hard drive, USB backup, or any manually created backup folders for the missing file.

Recover Permanently Deleted Files for Free Using Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition

When manual recovery methods fail, you can try Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition. This software will help retrieve deleted files from a Windows PC, a USB drive, an SD card, or other external media. The program allows scanning the disk, browsing, and restoring the retrieved files. In the Free Edition, there is up to 2GB of free data retrieval, including 1GB by default and an additional 1 GB through social networking.

Follow these steps to recover permanently deleted files using Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition.

  1. Download and install Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition.
  2. Launch the software.
  3. Choose the type of files to recover or select Recover Everything.
    Choose the type of files to recover
  4. Select the drive where the files were deleted.
  5. Run a scan and use Deep Scan if needed.
    Run a scan and use Deep Scan
  6. Preview recoverable files.
  7. Recover the selected files.
  8. Save recovered files to a different drive.
  9. If you need more recovery space, you can unlock an extra 1GB for free.

Steps to Get Your 2 GB Free Data Recovery

You can increase the free recovery limit by following these steps.

  1. Click Get it Now in the activation window.
  2. Select Upgrade Later to continue with the 1GB free version.
  3. When you reach the limit, click the option to unlock an additional 1GB.
  4. Share your experience on social media.
  5. Enter the review link, your name, and your email address.
  6. Submit the form to activate the 1GB bonus using the key sent to your email.

When Should You Use Deep Scan?

Most recovery tools start with a Quick Scan because it is faster. However, it may not find every deleted file. If the Quick Scan doesn’t show your file, try Deep Scan instead. It is also useful if the drive was formatted, the storage device became inaccessible, or the file was deleted a long time ago. Deep Scan takes longer to complete but may find additional recoverable files.

You can recover many different files that were deleted, depending on the storage device’s status. It can be documents, pictures, videos, emails, and ZIP files. The types of document files that can be recovered include Word, Excel, PDF, and PowerPoint files. At the same time, among the types of picture files that can be recovered are JPG, PNG, HEIC, and RAW. File recovery software is also compatible with Windows PCs/Laptops, SSDs, hard disks, USB drives/ SD cards.

Things to Keep in Mind

File recovery is not always successful, so it’s important to keep your expectations realistic. Once your files have been overwritten with new data, there is no way to recover them successfully. Another problem that might affect the success of file recovery is the TRIM functionality in SSDs. With the Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition, one can restore up to 2GB of data free of charge. If one needs to recover data larger than 2GB, they will have to purchase the software.

Tips to Improve Your Recovery Chances

The actions you perform after deletion could affect the ability to recover your files. It is important not to use the drive containing the deleted files, as you may overwrite them with fresh data. If possible, try installing the software on another drive. This helps avoid writing new data to the same storage location.

Always make sure to transfer the recovered files to another drive, not back to the original one. If your files are not found during a Quick Scan, a Deep Scan is available. Preview your recoverable files before recovery to ensure they are the right ones. Complete the file recovery process immediately and keep regular backups to reduce the risk of future data loss.

Final Verdict

Recovering permanently deleted files depends on how the files were deleted and whether the data has been overwritten. For instance, restoring files from the Recycle Bin or a backup is the preferred method when they are available. Whereas, when the files are deleted by pressing “Shift” and “Delete”, deleted from the Recycle Bin, or deleted from an external hard drive, then the use of Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition will be useful. It lets you scan your storage device, preview recoverable files, and recover up to 2 GB of data for free, with the option to upgrade to a paid edition if needed. For users who need to recover more than the free limit, Stellar offers paid plans starting at around $49. The paid plans are worth considering if you need to recover more than the free limit. However, the Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition is one of the best options to recover files.

#Recover #Permanently #Deleted #Files #FreeStellar Data Recovery

We are in the middle of a collectibles craze in which people are increasingly looking for things that help them feel connected with their passions and a community, but we’re really gotta do better than this. According to a report from CBS News, people paid $25 a pop for literal trash that came from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding at Madison Square Garden.

To be fair, it’s not loose garbage that people paid for. Instead, it’s a 1 by 1 by 0.75-inch cube filled with bits of refuse pulled from outside of the venue on July 3, the day of the pop star’s somehow very secretive and very public wedding. The trash was collected and ultimately curated by artist Justin Gignac, who said he picked up most of it from around the Garden’s perimeter.

According to CBS News, he had some interesting finds: a Ring Pop, presumably not fully eaten, a single AirPod, and an ovulation test kit, among other things. He took his findings, divided it up, and preserved it in the cubes before selling them for $25 a pop—though he did also make some larger cubes, 3.5 by 3.5 by 4.5 inches, that went for $100. He made 50 of the small cubes, and they reportedly sold out on the first day he made them available, because we as a society are sick and broken in ways that are difficult to describe.

When your side hustle is trash

While Gigac was certainly capitalizing on the matrimony, it was also kind of just any other day for the artist, who has been collecting, packaging, and selling trash from around New York City for 25 years now as part of an art project/side hustle. Per an interview with Fast Company, Gigac has sold more than 1,700 garbage cubes to patrons around the world who just want a part of the Big Apple.

There’s no authentication process for ensuring the trash in the cubes came from Swift’s wedding, but Gigac seems like a man of his word. Plus, Swifties apparently dined on pastries that they believed but could not confirm came from the wedding, so it’s not like they’re being a particularly discerning bunch about this whole thing. They just want to feel like they’ve gotten a piece of the action, real or imagined.

People can do whatever they want with their time and money, obviously, and Gigac is certainly not at fault here at all for finding an opportunity to make a little money off a thing he’s been doing for decades anyway—and frankly, there’s something cool about the whole concept of his garbage reclamation project in a “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure” kind of way. But paying money for literal scraps from a wedding of an ultra-wealthy celebrity just feels so incredibly on the nose.

But hey, let them eat cake.

#Pay #Taylor #Swifts #Garbage #Isntgarbage,Taylor Swift,trash">How Much Would You Pay for Taylor Swift’s Garbage and Why Isn’t it alt=

report from CBS News, people paid $25 a pop for literal trash that came from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding at Madison Square Garden.

To be fair, it’s not loose garbage that people paid for. Instead, it’s a 1 by 1 by 0.75-inch cube filled with bits of refuse pulled from outside of the venue on July 3, the day of the pop star’s somehow very secretive and very public wedding. The trash was collected and ultimately curated by artist Justin Gignac, who said he picked up most of it from around the Garden’s perimeter.

According to CBS News, he had some interesting finds: a Ring Pop, presumably not fully eaten, a single AirPod, and an ovulation test kit, among other things. He took his findings, divided it up, and preserved it in the cubes before selling them for $25 a pop—though he did also make some larger cubes, 3.5 by 3.5 by 4.5 inches, that went for $100. He made 50 of the small cubes, and they reportedly sold out on the first day he made them available, because we as a society are sick and broken in ways that are difficult to describe.

When your side hustle is trash

While Gigac was certainly capitalizing on the matrimony, it was also kind of just any other day for the artist, who has been collecting, packaging, and selling trash from around New York City for 25 years now as part of an art project/side hustle. Per an interview with Fast Company, Gigac has sold more than 1,700 garbage cubes to patrons around the world who just want a part of the Big Apple.

There’s no authentication process for ensuring the trash in the cubes came from Swift’s wedding, but Gigac seems like a man of his word. Plus, Swifties apparently dined on pastries that they believed but could not confirm came from the wedding, so it’s not like they’re being a particularly discerning bunch about this whole thing. They just want to feel like they’ve gotten a piece of the action, real or imagined.

People can do whatever they want with their time and money, obviously, and Gigac is certainly not at fault here at all for finding an opportunity to make a little money off a thing he’s been doing for decades anyway—and frankly, there’s something cool about the whole concept of his garbage reclamation project in a “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure” kind of way. But paying money for literal scraps from a wedding of an ultra-wealthy celebrity just feels so incredibly on the nose.

But hey, let them eat cake.

#Pay #Taylor #Swifts #Garbage #Isntgarbage,Taylor Swift,trash">How Much Would You Pay for Taylor Swift’s Garbage and Why Isn’t it $0?How Much Would You Pay for Taylor Swift’s Garbage and Why Isn’t it $0? We are in the middle of a collectibles craze in which people are increasingly looking for things that help them feel connected with their passions and a community, but we’re really gotta do better than this. According to a report from CBS News, people paid $25 a pop for literal trash that came from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding at Madison Square Garden. To be fair, it’s not loose garbage that people paid for. Instead, it’s a 1 by 1 by 0.75-inch cube filled with bits of refuse pulled from outside of the venue on July 3, the day of the pop star’s somehow very secretive and very public wedding. The trash was collected and ultimately curated by artist Justin Gignac, who said he picked up most of it from around the Garden’s perimeter. According to CBS News, he had some interesting finds: a Ring Pop, presumably not fully eaten, a single AirPod, and an ovulation test kit, among other things. He took his findings, divided it up, and preserved it in the cubes before selling them for $25 a pop—though he did also make some larger cubes, 3.5 by 3.5 by 4.5 inches, that went for $100. He made 50 of the small cubes, and they reportedly sold out on the first day he made them available, because we as a society are sick and broken in ways that are difficult to describe. When your side hustle is trash While Gigac was certainly capitalizing on the matrimony, it was also kind of just any other day for the artist, who has been collecting, packaging, and selling trash from around New York City for 25 years now as part of an art project/side hustle. Per an interview with Fast Company, Gigac has sold more than 1,700 garbage cubes to patrons around the world who just want a part of the Big Apple. There’s no authentication process for ensuring the trash in the cubes came from Swift’s wedding, but Gigac seems like a man of his word. Plus, Swifties apparently dined on pastries that they believed but could not confirm came from the wedding, so it’s not like they’re being a particularly discerning bunch about this whole thing. They just want to feel like they’ve gotten a piece of the action, real or imagined. People can do whatever they want with their time and money, obviously, and Gigac is certainly not at fault here at all for finding an opportunity to make a little money off a thing he’s been doing for decades anyway—and frankly, there’s something cool about the whole concept of his garbage reclamation project in a “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure” kind of way. But paying money for literal scraps from a wedding of an ultra-wealthy celebrity just feels so incredibly on the nose. But hey, let them eat cake. #Pay #Taylor #Swifts #Garbage #Isntgarbage,Taylor Swift,trash

We are in the middle of a collectibles craze in which people are increasingly looking for things that help them feel connected with their passions and a community, but we’re really gotta do better than this. According to a report from CBS News, people paid $25 a pop for literal trash that came from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding at Madison Square Garden.

To be fair, it’s not loose garbage that people paid for. Instead, it’s a 1 by 1 by 0.75-inch cube filled with bits of refuse pulled from outside of the venue on July 3, the day of the pop star’s somehow very secretive and very public wedding. The trash was collected and ultimately curated by artist Justin Gignac, who said he picked up most of it from around the Garden’s perimeter.

According to CBS News, he had some interesting finds: a Ring Pop, presumably not fully eaten, a single AirPod, and an ovulation test kit, among other things. He took his findings, divided it up, and preserved it in the cubes before selling them for $25 a pop—though he did also make some larger cubes, 3.5 by 3.5 by 4.5 inches, that went for $100. He made 50 of the small cubes, and they reportedly sold out on the first day he made them available, because we as a society are sick and broken in ways that are difficult to describe.

When your side hustle is trash

While Gigac was certainly capitalizing on the matrimony, it was also kind of just any other day for the artist, who has been collecting, packaging, and selling trash from around New York City for 25 years now as part of an art project/side hustle. Per an interview with Fast Company, Gigac has sold more than 1,700 garbage cubes to patrons around the world who just want a part of the Big Apple.

There’s no authentication process for ensuring the trash in the cubes came from Swift’s wedding, but Gigac seems like a man of his word. Plus, Swifties apparently dined on pastries that they believed but could not confirm came from the wedding, so it’s not like they’re being a particularly discerning bunch about this whole thing. They just want to feel like they’ve gotten a piece of the action, real or imagined.

People can do whatever they want with their time and money, obviously, and Gigac is certainly not at fault here at all for finding an opportunity to make a little money off a thing he’s been doing for decades anyway—and frankly, there’s something cool about the whole concept of his garbage reclamation project in a “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure” kind of way. But paying money for literal scraps from a wedding of an ultra-wealthy celebrity just feels so incredibly on the nose.

But hey, let them eat cake.

#Pay #Taylor #Swifts #Garbage #Isntgarbage,Taylor Swift,trash

Tesla is building a wheelchair-accessible autonomous vehicle, a Tesla representative told lawmakers in Washington, DC, on Monday.

“We are in development for a purpose-built, wheelchair-accessible autonomous vehicle,” Tesla senior policy advisor India Herdman told members of the DC City Council on Monday, during a hearing focused on a controversial bill that could allow robotaxi services to operate in the District. “We know that paratransit can be very difficult, and people who are confined to wheelchairs permanently should still be able to move around freely, so that is an active product being built by Tesla in Texas,” she said.

Tesla didn’t respond to a request for comment. Herdman provided no further details about when a wheelchair-accessible product might be available. The electric automaker often takes several years to manufacture its announced products.

Tesla operates a small fleet of autonomous vehicles in the Texas cities of Austin, Dallas, and Houston and, as of this month, in Miami, Florida. (It also operates a service that uses human drivers in the San Francisco Bay Area.) The limited fleet uses Tesla Model Y, a compact SUV that is not wheelchair accessible.

The company has started to manufacture and test a purpose-built Cybercab, meant exclusively for autonomous driving and without steering wheels or pedals. These Cybercabs are not wheelchair accessible, though Tesla highlighted in an X post this month its accessibility features, including braille lettering on controls and wheelchair-height seating to allow for easier transfers.

Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, have hinted previously at a wheelchair-accessible autonomous vehicle. The company introduced an accessibility tab in its Robotaxi app last fall, though it directs users to other wheelchair-accessible ride providers in the area, rather than to Tesla’s own service. “We are working on accessible rides,” the app says. In response to an X user’s post last fall about Tesla working on accessible rides, Musk responded, “Absolutely.”

No US robotaxi company currently offers fleetwide driverless, wheelchair-accessible rides, including market leader Waymo. At the DC hearing on Monday, Waymo regional head of state and local policy Matt Walsh said, “To date, it’s my understanding that we haven’t been able to identify a platform that is fully wheelchair-accessible while also meeting the unique specifications to retrofit that vehicle with our technology.” He continued: “Now, I don’t want that to sound like a cop-out. We are trying to find that vehicle.”

Waymo has touted the accessibility features of its newest vehicle, the Zeekr-built Ojai, including its flat floor, low step-in height, and grab bars. But it is not wheelchair accessible. Michigan-based Ann Arbor autonomous-vehicle developer May Mobility offers rides in wheelchair-accessible vehicles in some of its markets, with a human operator on board to help deploy necessary ramps.

The Americans With Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in transportation services and requires reasonable modifications to provide equal access. Some but not all US cities require ride-hailing companies to provide wheelchair-accessible services. Many of those companies provide those rides through partnerships with specialized fleets made up of wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

In September 2025, the US Department of Justice sued Uber for “refusing to reasonably modify its policies, practices, or procedures where necessary to avoid discriminating against riders with disabilities.” The case is being litigated.

General Motors’ Cruise introduced a prototype wheelchair-accessible driverless taxi in 2023 and said it intended to roll out the vehicle in its self-driving car service in 2024. But following a collision with a pedestrian, Cruise all but halted national service in 2023. The next year, General Motors stopped funding its self-driving unit entirely.

#Tesla #Building #WheelchairAccessible #Robotaxitesla,disability,accessibility,cars,self-driving cars,autonomous vehicles,elon musk,electric vehicles">Tesla Says It’s Building a Wheelchair-Accessible RobotaxiTesla is building a wheelchair-accessible autonomous vehicle, a Tesla representative told lawmakers in Washington, DC, on Monday.“We are in development for a purpose-built, wheelchair-accessible autonomous vehicle,” Tesla senior policy advisor India Herdman told members of the DC City Council on Monday, during a hearing focused on a controversial bill that could allow robotaxi services to operate in the District. “We know that paratransit can be very difficult, and people who are confined to wheelchairs permanently should still be able to move around freely, so that is an active product being built by Tesla in Texas,” she said.Tesla didn’t respond to a request for comment. Herdman provided no further details about when a wheelchair-accessible product might be available. The electric automaker often takes several years to manufacture its announced products.Tesla operates a small fleet of autonomous vehicles in the Texas cities of Austin, Dallas, and Houston and, as of this month, in Miami, Florida. (It also operates a service that uses human drivers in the San Francisco Bay Area.) The limited fleet uses Tesla Model Y, a compact SUV that is not wheelchair accessible.The company has started to manufacture and test a purpose-built Cybercab, meant exclusively for autonomous driving and without steering wheels or pedals. These Cybercabs are not wheelchair accessible, though Tesla highlighted in an X post this month its accessibility features, including braille lettering on controls and wheelchair-height seating to allow for easier transfers.Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, have hinted previously at a wheelchair-accessible autonomous vehicle. The company introduced an accessibility tab in its Robotaxi app last fall, though it directs users to other wheelchair-accessible ride providers in the area, rather than to Tesla’s own service. “We are working on accessible rides,” the app says. In response to an X user’s post last fall about Tesla working on accessible rides, Musk responded, “Absolutely.”No US robotaxi company currently offers fleetwide driverless, wheelchair-accessible rides, including market leader Waymo. At the DC hearing on Monday, Waymo regional head of state and local policy Matt Walsh said, “To date, it’s my understanding that we haven’t been able to identify a platform that is fully wheelchair-accessible while also meeting the unique specifications to retrofit that vehicle with our technology.” He continued: “Now, I don’t want that to sound like a cop-out. We are trying to find that vehicle.”Waymo has touted the accessibility features of its newest vehicle, the Zeekr-built Ojai, including its flat floor, low step-in height, and grab bars. But it is not wheelchair accessible. Michigan-based Ann Arbor autonomous-vehicle developer May Mobility offers rides in wheelchair-accessible vehicles in some of its markets, with a human operator on board to help deploy necessary ramps.The Americans With Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in transportation services and requires reasonable modifications to provide equal access. Some but not all US cities require ride-hailing companies to provide wheelchair-accessible services. Many of those companies provide those rides through partnerships with specialized fleets made up of wheelchair-accessible vehicles.In September 2025, the US Department of Justice sued Uber for “refusing to reasonably modify its policies, practices, or procedures where necessary to avoid discriminating against riders with disabilities.” The case is being litigated.General Motors’ Cruise introduced a prototype wheelchair-accessible driverless taxi in 2023 and said it intended to roll out the vehicle in its self-driving car service in 2024. But following a collision with a pedestrian, Cruise all but halted national service in 2023. The next year, General Motors stopped funding its self-driving unit entirely.#Tesla #Building #WheelchairAccessible #Robotaxitesla,disability,accessibility,cars,self-driving cars,autonomous vehicles,elon musk,electric vehicles

autonomous vehicle, a Tesla representative told lawmakers in Washington, DC, on Monday.

“We are in development for a purpose-built, wheelchair-accessible autonomous vehicle,” Tesla senior policy advisor India Herdman told members of the DC City Council on Monday, during a hearing focused on a controversial bill that could allow robotaxi services to operate in the District. “We know that paratransit can be very difficult, and people who are confined to wheelchairs permanently should still be able to move around freely, so that is an active product being built by Tesla in Texas,” she said.

Tesla didn’t respond to a request for comment. Herdman provided no further details about when a wheelchair-accessible product might be available. The electric automaker often takes several years to manufacture its announced products.

Tesla operates a small fleet of autonomous vehicles in the Texas cities of Austin, Dallas, and Houston and, as of this month, in Miami, Florida. (It also operates a service that uses human drivers in the San Francisco Bay Area.) The limited fleet uses Tesla Model Y, a compact SUV that is not wheelchair accessible.

The company has started to manufacture and test a purpose-built Cybercab, meant exclusively for autonomous driving and without steering wheels or pedals. These Cybercabs are not wheelchair accessible, though Tesla highlighted in an X post this month its accessibility features, including braille lettering on controls and wheelchair-height seating to allow for easier transfers.

Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, have hinted previously at a wheelchair-accessible autonomous vehicle. The company introduced an accessibility tab in its Robotaxi app last fall, though it directs users to other wheelchair-accessible ride providers in the area, rather than to Tesla’s own service. “We are working on accessible rides,” the app says. In response to an X user’s post last fall about Tesla working on accessible rides, Musk responded, “Absolutely.”

No US robotaxi company currently offers fleetwide driverless, wheelchair-accessible rides, including market leader Waymo. At the DC hearing on Monday, Waymo regional head of state and local policy Matt Walsh said, “To date, it’s my understanding that we haven’t been able to identify a platform that is fully wheelchair-accessible while also meeting the unique specifications to retrofit that vehicle with our technology.” He continued: “Now, I don’t want that to sound like a cop-out. We are trying to find that vehicle.”

Waymo has touted the accessibility features of its newest vehicle, the Zeekr-built Ojai, including its flat floor, low step-in height, and grab bars. But it is not wheelchair accessible. Michigan-based Ann Arbor autonomous-vehicle developer May Mobility offers rides in wheelchair-accessible vehicles in some of its markets, with a human operator on board to help deploy necessary ramps.

The Americans With Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in transportation services and requires reasonable modifications to provide equal access. Some but not all US cities require ride-hailing companies to provide wheelchair-accessible services. Many of those companies provide those rides through partnerships with specialized fleets made up of wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

In September 2025, the US Department of Justice sued Uber for “refusing to reasonably modify its policies, practices, or procedures where necessary to avoid discriminating against riders with disabilities.” The case is being litigated.

General Motors’ Cruise introduced a prototype wheelchair-accessible driverless taxi in 2023 and said it intended to roll out the vehicle in its self-driving car service in 2024. But following a collision with a pedestrian, Cruise all but halted national service in 2023. The next year, General Motors stopped funding its self-driving unit entirely.

#Tesla #Building #WheelchairAccessible #Robotaxitesla,disability,accessibility,cars,self-driving cars,autonomous vehicles,elon musk,electric vehicles">Tesla Says It’s Building a Wheelchair-Accessible Robotaxi

Tesla is building a wheelchair-accessible autonomous vehicle, a Tesla representative told lawmakers in Washington, DC, on Monday.

“We are in development for a purpose-built, wheelchair-accessible autonomous vehicle,” Tesla senior policy advisor India Herdman told members of the DC City Council on Monday, during a hearing focused on a controversial bill that could allow robotaxi services to operate in the District. “We know that paratransit can be very difficult, and people who are confined to wheelchairs permanently should still be able to move around freely, so that is an active product being built by Tesla in Texas,” she said.

Tesla didn’t respond to a request for comment. Herdman provided no further details about when a wheelchair-accessible product might be available. The electric automaker often takes several years to manufacture its announced products.

Tesla operates a small fleet of autonomous vehicles in the Texas cities of Austin, Dallas, and Houston and, as of this month, in Miami, Florida. (It also operates a service that uses human drivers in the San Francisco Bay Area.) The limited fleet uses Tesla Model Y, a compact SUV that is not wheelchair accessible.

The company has started to manufacture and test a purpose-built Cybercab, meant exclusively for autonomous driving and without steering wheels or pedals. These Cybercabs are not wheelchair accessible, though Tesla highlighted in an X post this month its accessibility features, including braille lettering on controls and wheelchair-height seating to allow for easier transfers.

Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, have hinted previously at a wheelchair-accessible autonomous vehicle. The company introduced an accessibility tab in its Robotaxi app last fall, though it directs users to other wheelchair-accessible ride providers in the area, rather than to Tesla’s own service. “We are working on accessible rides,” the app says. In response to an X user’s post last fall about Tesla working on accessible rides, Musk responded, “Absolutely.”

No US robotaxi company currently offers fleetwide driverless, wheelchair-accessible rides, including market leader Waymo. At the DC hearing on Monday, Waymo regional head of state and local policy Matt Walsh said, “To date, it’s my understanding that we haven’t been able to identify a platform that is fully wheelchair-accessible while also meeting the unique specifications to retrofit that vehicle with our technology.” He continued: “Now, I don’t want that to sound like a cop-out. We are trying to find that vehicle.”

Waymo has touted the accessibility features of its newest vehicle, the Zeekr-built Ojai, including its flat floor, low step-in height, and grab bars. But it is not wheelchair accessible. Michigan-based Ann Arbor autonomous-vehicle developer May Mobility offers rides in wheelchair-accessible vehicles in some of its markets, with a human operator on board to help deploy necessary ramps.

The Americans With Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in transportation services and requires reasonable modifications to provide equal access. Some but not all US cities require ride-hailing companies to provide wheelchair-accessible services. Many of those companies provide those rides through partnerships with specialized fleets made up of wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

In September 2025, the US Department of Justice sued Uber for “refusing to reasonably modify its policies, practices, or procedures where necessary to avoid discriminating against riders with disabilities.” The case is being litigated.

General Motors’ Cruise introduced a prototype wheelchair-accessible driverless taxi in 2023 and said it intended to roll out the vehicle in its self-driving car service in 2024. But following a collision with a pedestrian, Cruise all but halted national service in 2023. The next year, General Motors stopped funding its self-driving unit entirely.

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