Governance/Regulation/Legislation

Council of Europe highlights role of democracy and AI governance in security

(DigWatch) The Council of Europe has called for a legal and democratic framework for European security in its 2026 annual report, warning that the continent cannot separate security from democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Secretary General Alain Berset presented his 2026 annual report, titled ‘The New Democratic Pact for Europe in times of rupture’, to foreign ministers from the Council of Europe’s 46 member states during the Committee of Ministers session in Chişinău on 15 May. The report states that Europe is increasing defence spending and argues that military measures alone cannot provide lasting security. Berset said democratic security depends on legal safeguards, resilient institutions, and public trust. The report links Europe’s security challenges to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, foreign information manipulation, and declining trust in democratic systems. It also stresses that safeguards for human rights and democratic principles must keep pace with rapid technological change, including digital technology and AI. – https://dig.watch/updates/council-europe-security-democracy

UNESCO report warns AI-driven abuse threatens women journalists globally

(DigWatch) UNESCO, in partnership with Information Integrity Initiative (III) for UN Women and the International Center for Journalists, has published a new global report warning that online violence against women journalists is intensifying in the AI era, contributing to psychological harm, professional withdrawal, and growing levels of self-censorship. The report, titled ‘Tipping Point: Online Violence Impacts, Manifestations and Redress in the AI Age’, was released ahead of World Press Freedom Day 2026, and the report examines how digital harassment affects participation in journalism and online public debate. – https://dig.watch/updates/unesco-report-warns-ai-driven-abuse-threatens-women-journalists-globally

Vatican establishes commission on AI under Pope Leo XIV

(DigWatch) The Vatican has established an Inter-Dicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence, approved by Pope Leo XIV, to coordinate work on the implications of rapidly advancing AI technologies. The decision was formalised in a rescript dated 12 May and published by the Holy See Press Office on 16 May. The document refers to the acceleration of AI development and its widespread use, as well as its potential effects on human beings and humanity as a whole. The rescript links the initiative to the Church’s concern for the dignity of every human being, especially in relation to integral human development. It says the commission was established by the Cardinal Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, with the approval of Pope Leo XIV. – https://dig.watch/updates/vatican-ai-ethics-commission-under-pope-leo-xiv

UK’s Ofcom accepts X commitments on illegal hate and terror content moderation

(DigWatch) Ofcom has accepted a series of public commitments from X aimed at strengthening protections for UK users against illegal hate speech and terrorist content under the Online Safety Act framework. Under the commitments, X will review suspected illegal terrorist and hate content reported through its dedicated UK illegal content reporting tool within an average of 24 hours. As a backstop, the platform will review at least 85% of such reports within 48 hours. Ofcom said the targets, if met, would give UK users some of the strongest protections on X globally. – https://dig.watch/updates/uks-ofcom-accepts-x-commitments-on-illegal-hate-and-terror-content-moderation

AI, Copyright, and the Future of Creativity

(Debajyoti Chakravarty – Observer Research Foundation) The rapid growth of generative AI has sparked global debate on whether using copyrighted works for AI LLM training constitutes permissible use or infringement. This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of copyright laws, policy frameworks, and judicial approaches across the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, China, Japan, Singapore, and India. It finds an emerging convergence around lawful access, transparency, technical safeguards, and licensing solutions, albeit using different legal approaches. Examining key cases, it finds that courts are increasingly emphasising on market harm, lawful data sourcing, and evidentiary standards over categorical AI model training bans. Situating India within this global landscape, this paper argues that India’s reliance on fair dealing provisions in this context creates legal uncertainty for both creators and innovators. It proposes a balanced framework that combines statutory clarity, licensing mechanisms, and adaptive regulatory oversight to boost innovation while protecting creators. – https://www.orfonline.org/research/ai-copyright-and-the-future-of-creativity

South Korea expands international outreach on AI copyright guidance

(DigWatch) South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has released an English version of its guide on fair use for training generative AI models. The document outlines how copyrighted materials may be used under existing legal frameworks for AI training purposes. The guide outlines four legal factors used to assess fair use, including purpose, type of work, amount used, and market impact. According to the guide, AI training may qualify as fair use in some cases where it creates new value and does not negatively affect existing markets. – https://dig.watch/updates/south-korea-expands-international-outreach-on-ai-copyright-guidance

WEF highlights AI shift in life sciences R&D

(DigWatch) A World Economic Forum (WEF) report highlights a major structural shift in the life sciences industry, as AI drives a move away from traditional linear drug development towards continuous, system-based research and development. Instead of progressing through fixed pipelines, R&D is increasingly operating as an adaptive cycle of design, testing, and iteration. AI is accelerating discovery and widening access to innovation, but the key bottlenecks are shifting further downstream. Validation, regulatory approval, and large-scale deployment are becoming the main constraints, underscoring the complexity of translating ideas into safe and effective therapies. – https://dig.watch/updates/ai-shift-in-life-sciences-rd

OECD paper examines competition effects of AI adoption in downstream markets

(DigWatch) The OECD has published a competition policy paper examining how AI adoption, including generative and agentic systems, may affect competition in downstream markets. The paper focuses on how firms use AI as an input into production, service delivery, logistics, and customer engagement, rather than on competition in AI infrastructure or foundation model development. The paper states that AI may support competition by lowering barriers to entry, reducing minimum efficient scale, and supporting product differentiation and innovation. – https://dig.watch/updates/competition-ai-adoption-oecd

Geostrategies

Current AI Model Inadequacies: Implications for the Global South

(Prateek Tripathi – Observer Research Foundation) The current Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution was largely driven by the development of the transformer model architecture in 2017 and the subsequent creation of Large Language Models (LLMs). The majority of ensuing progress in AI has largely hinged on LLMs, including generative AI (GenAI), diffusion models, and Agentic AI. The seemingly remarkable progress made by these models has led to a multitude of claims by AI developers and experts, ranging from mass potential layoffs to the supposedly near-term prospect of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). On closer inspection, however, most of these arguments seem to fall apart, with AI adoption and automation witnessing widespread failure across multiple domains and use cases. Moreover, the current hyperscaling model of AI development is gradually becoming unsustainable due to ever-increasing energy and resource requirements, further compounded by the massive debts being incurred by AI companies and hyperscalers pursuing it. This should serve as a wake-up call for the Global South, which is in the process of honing and deploying its own sovereign AI capabilities. In the aftermath of the IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026, these issues further necessitate a reassessment of the Global South’s current development model and underscore the need to retain its human-centric roots rather than relying on its increasingly AI-centric propensities. – https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/current-ai-model-inadequacies-implications-for-the-global-south

Ghana launches WHO-UNDP programme on AI-driven health system resilience

(DigWatch) Ghana has launched an AI-driven health programme aimed at strengthening its healthcare system, improving resilience and protecting vulnerable communities. The initiative is a joint programme by the World Health Organization and the UN Development Programme, funded by the Government of Japan through the UN Trust Fund for Human Security. It is being implemented in collaboration with Ghana’s Ministry of Health. – https://dig.watch/updates/ghana-ai-powered-health-system-upgrade

Security and Surveillance

Digitally watched without consent: spyware as a tool of coercive control

(Fitriani) Spyware, once primarily used by intelligence agencies and nation-states, has become a tool of intimate partner abuse, quietly deployed against people – mostly women – who have no idea they are being watched. In an age when our phones know our location and hold our most private conversations, a disturbing form of abuse has found a foothold worldwide. In April, news emerged that thousands of men had flocked to groups on the messaging app Telegram to buy commercial spyware designed to covertly monitor their partners. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has flagged technology-facilitated abuse as a concern, including use of spyware in coercive control and cyberstalking, warning the public of the tactic and providing support for frontline workers and survivors. But more can be done to address this systemic threat hiding inside Australia’s domestic violence crisis. Spyware is malicious software that covertly monitors a device’s activity, collecting information without the user’s knowledge and sending the data to an unauthorised entity. Highly invasive spyware allows unlimited access with little or no trace, making it almost impossible for the user to know what data was taken. – https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/digitally-watched-without-consent-spyware-as-a-tool-of-coercive-control/

Bank of England, FCA and Treasury Raise Alarm Over Frontier AI

(Phil Muncaster – Infosecurity Magazine) The UK’s financial services firms must take active steps to manage the cybersecurity risks stemming from frontier AI, the UK government, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Bank of England have said. A missive from the trio on May 15 was intended to clarify and reinforce their message “as the operating environment becomes more complex”. It warned that the sector must put in place “effective protective, detective, threat containment and cyber-response capabilities” in order to mitigate cyber risks posed by the rapidly advancing technology. – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/bank-england-fca-treasury-alarm/

ShinyHunters hack 7-Eleven: franchisee data and Salesforce records exposed

(Pierluigi Paganini – Security Affairs) 7-Eleven has confirmed a data breach after the ShinyHunters hacking group claimed it stole more than 600,000 Salesforce records containing personal and corporate information. “Over 600k Salesforce records containing PII and other internal corporate data have been compromised.” The cybercrime group claimed on its Tor data leak site. “The company failed to reach an agreement with us despite our incredible patience, all the chances and offers we made. They don’t care.” – https://securityaffairs.com/192336/data-breach/shinyhunters-hack-7-eleven-franchisee-data-and-salesforce-records-exposed.html

Frontiers and Markets

Indian science ministry outlines AI and quantum technology priorities

(DigWatch) India’s Ministry of Science and Technology has outlined a strategy placing AI and quantum sovereignty at the centre of future growth, according to statements by Jitendra Singh. The announcement was made during a programme hosted by the Technology Development Board. Minister Jitendra Singh said long-term progress in deep technology depends on a coordinated national approach. The minister linked the strategy to the Research, Development and Innovation Fund scheme, which aims to expand private-sector participation in research and innovation. – https://dig.watch/updates/indian-science-ministry-outlines-ai-and-quantum-technology-priorities