Governance
New blueprint ensures fair AI in democratic processes
(DigWatch) A rights-centred AI blueprint highlights the growing use of AI in analysing citizen submissions during public participation, promising efficiency but raising questions about fairness, transparency and human rights. Experts caution that poorly designed AI could silence minority voices, deepen inequalities and weaken trust in democratic decision-making. The European Centre for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) provides detailed guidance for governments, civil society organisations and technology developers on how to implement AI responsibly. – https://dig.watch/updates/new-blueprint-ensures-fair-ai-in-democratic-processes
Digital records gain official status in Uzbekistan
(DigWatch) Uzbekistan has granted full legal validity to online personal data stored on the my.gov.uz Unified Interactive Public Services Portal, placing it on equal footing with traditional documents. The measure, in force from 1 November, supports the country’s digital transformation by simplifying how citizens interact with state bodies. – https://dig.watch/updates/digital-records-gain-official-status-in-uzbekistan
Legislation
US lawmakers suggest banning VPNs to protect children
(Cybernews) Legislators in Wisconsin and Michigan are considering implementing laws that prohibit the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to visit websites that host content that’s harmful to minors. More and more lawmakers in the United States believe it’s their responsibility to protect young children from sexual material, hate speech, and other harmful content on the internet. One way to accomplish this is by implementing age verification systems. However, these systems can be fooled and bypassed with a VPN. Therefore, in addition to age verification methods, some states wish to entirely ban the use of VPNs. – https://cybernews.com/security/us-lawmakers-banning-vpns-protect-children/
Geostrategies
Google commits 40 billion dollars to expand Texas AI infrastructure
(DigWatch) Google will pour 40 billion dollars into Texas by 2027, expanding digital infrastructure. Funding focuses on new cloud and AI facilities alongside existing campuses in Midlothian and Dallas. Three new US data centres are planned, one in Armstrong County and two in Haskell County. One Haskell site will sit beside a solar plant and battery storage facility. Investment is accompanied by agreements for more than 6,200 megawatts of additional power generation. – https://dig.watch/updates/google-commits-40-billion-dollars-to-expand-texas-ai-infrastructure
Security and Surveillance
Europol and partner countries combat online radicalisation on gaming platforms
(Europol) Europol supported eight countries in identifying and removing racist and xenophobic propaganda shared on gaming and gaming-related platforms. The Referral Action Day, involving Denmark, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, led to the referral of thousands of URLs leading to dangerous and illicit online material. Conducted on 13 November 2025, this operational action by the European Union Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU) involved the referral of thousands of URLs leading to dangerous and illicit online material. This includes around 5 408 links to jihadist content, 1 070 links to violent right-wing extremist and terrorist content, and 105 links to racist and xenophobic content. – https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/europol-and-partner-countries-combat-online-radicalisation-gaming-platforms
US: Five Plead Guilty in North Korean IT Worker Fraud Scheme
(Kevin Poireault – Infosecurity Magazine) Five individuals have pleaded guilty to helping North Korean hackers in remote IT work and virtual currency heist schemes. The US Department of Justice (DoJ) described the five individuals as “facilitators” who assisted North Korean hackers with obtaining remote IT employment with US companies. They allegedly provided personal, false or stolen identities and hosted laptops provided by the victim company at residences across the US to create the false appearance that the IT workers were employed domestically. – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/us-five-plead-guilty-dprk-it/
North Korean threat actors use JSON sites to deliver malware via trojanized code
(Pierluigi Paganini – Security Affair) North Korea-linked actors behind the Contagious Interview campaign have updated their tactics, using JSON storage services (e.g. JSON Keeper, JSONsilo, and npoint.io) to host and deliver malware through trojanized code projects, according to a new NVISO report. “NVISO reports a new development in the Contagious Interview campaign. The threat actors have recently resorted to utilizing legitimate JSON storage services like JSON Keeper, JSONsilo, and npoint.io to host and deliver malware from trojanized code projects, with the lure being a use case or demo project as part of an interview process.” reads the report published NVISO. – https://securityaffairs.com/184726/cyber-warfare-2/north-korean-threat-actors-use-json-sites-to-deliver-malware-via-trojanized-code.html
Pennsylvania AG confirms data breach after INC Ransom attack
(Sergiu Gatlan – Bleeping Computer) The office of Pennsylvania’s attorney general has confirmed that the ransomware gang behind an August 2025 cyberattack stole files containing personal and medical information. This comes after Attorney General Dave Sunday confirmed in early September that the incident was a ransomware attack and his office refused to pay the ransom requested by the cybercriminals after they encrypted compromised systems. “The OAG later learned that certain files may have been accessed without authorization. The OAG reviewed which data may have been involved and learned that certain personal information was contained in some files,” said the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in a Friday press release. – https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/pennsylvania-ag-confirms-data-breach-after-inc-ransom-attack/
Cyber Readiness Stalls Despite Confidence in Incident Response
(Phil Muncaster – 17 November 2025) Cyber readiness is stalling as over-confident teams ignore the reality that incident response times have not improved despite more spending and oversight, according to Immersive. The cyber-training vendor’s Cyber Workforce Benchmark Report 2025 is based on anonymized data collected from the Immersive One platform, simulated exercises across technical and business functions, and a readiness perception survey. A resilience score quantifies organizational readiness across skills, practices, decision-making performance, framework coverage and adaptability to new threats. – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/cyber-readiness-stalls-incident/
Defence, Military, and Warfare
ICEYE sees role as Europe’s defense space-intelligence linchpin
(Rudy Ruitenberg – Defense News) Finland’s ICEYE has a “very big role to play” in giving Europe sovereign access to satellite intelligence, without having to rely on the United States, the company’s Vice President for Missions Joost Elstak said. European interest in ICEYE rose after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. But it was the U.S. halting intelligence sharing with Ukraine in March 2025 that really underscored the need for sovereign access to space-based intel, Elstak told Defense News. – https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2025/11/17/iceye-sees-role-as-europes-defense-space-intelligence-linchpin/
In a first, F-22 pilot controls wingman drone from cockpit, General Atomics says
(Michael Marrow – Breaking Defense) In what General Atomics Aeronautical Systems says is the first known demonstration of its kind for the F-22 Raptor, a pilot flying the stealth fighter successfully controlled an MQ-20 Avenger drone from the jet’s cockpit — a capability the US Air Force expects will be key to its future forces. The demonstration occurred Oct. 21 at the Nevada Test and Training Range, with F-22 manufacturer Lockheed Martin and defense firm L3Harris teaming up as part of a company-funded demo, MQ-20-maker GA revealed today in a press release. The test flight is one of several planned for internal research and development. “The MQ-20 Avenger, tricked out with mature mission autonomy software, is a perfect CCA surrogate and allows us to move fast and move first,” GA spokesman C. Mark Brinkley told Breaking Defense. “We already know the F-22 will play a critical role in crewed-uncrewed teaming operations, and General Atomics is in a unique position to get this started now.” – https://breakingdefense.com/2025/11/in-a-first-f-22-pilot-controls-wingman-drone-from-cockpit-general-atomics-says/
Frontiers and Markets
How neurotech is turning science fiction into lived reality
(DigWatch) Some experts now say neurotechnology could be as revolutionary as AI, as devices advance rapidly from sci-fi tropes into practical reality. Researchers can already translate thoughts into words through brain implants, and spinal implants are helping people with paralysis regain movement. King’s College London neuroscientist Anne Vanhoestenberghe told AFP, ‘People do not realise how much we’re already living in science fiction.’ – https://dig.watch/updates/how-neurotech-is-turning-science-fiction-into-lived-reality
Digital twin technology drives new era in predictive medicine
(DigWatch) A new AI model capable of generating digital twins of patients is being hailed as a significant step forward for clinical research. Developed at the University of Melbourne, the system reviews health records to predict how a patient’s condition may change during treatment. DT-GPT, the model in question, was trained on thousands of records covering Alzheimer’s disease, non-small cell lung cancer, and intensive care admissions. Researchers stated that the model accurately predicted shifts in key clinical indicators, utilising medical literature and patient histories. – https://dig.watch/updates/digital-twin-technology-drives-new-era-in-predictive-medicine
Study: AI Agents Are Quietly Delivering the Productivity Gains the Hype Cycle Forgot
(AI Insider) A new working paper finds that AI coding agents are associated with a 39% increase in software output after becoming the default workflow. Experienced workers accept agent-generated code at higher rates and are more likely to use planning-oriented prompts that improve alignment with user intent. Non-engineering roles such as design and product management show high adoption levels, indicating that AI agents are enabling specialist tasks outside traditional technical teams. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/11/17/study-ai-agents-are-quietly-delivering-the-productivity-gains-the-hype-cycle-forgot/
NYT: Jeff Bezos co-CEO of new AI venture Project Prometheus
(Suhasini Srinivasaragavan – Silicon Republic) Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder and one of the world’s wealthiest men with a net worth of $256bn, is set to become the co-CEO of a new AI venture called Project Prometheus, reports the New York Times. According to the publication, Project Prometheus will apply AI to physical tasks, including in robotics, drug development and scientific discoveries. The company will focus on AI that assists engineering and manufacturing in a number of sectors, including in computers, aerospace and automobiles. – https://www.siliconrepublic.com/business/project-prometheus-jeff-bezos-ai-physical-space-automobiles-new-york-times
Revolut expanding capabilities with Booking.com partnership
(Laura Varley – Silicon Republic) Online payment platform Revolut has announced a key partnership with travel services website Booking.com. According to Revolut, roughly 9m people have made purchases on the travel website using Revolut and the natural next step is to integrate the technology into Booking.com’s system. – https://www.siliconrepublic.com/business/revolut-expanding-capabilities-booking-com-partnership-fintech
iOrganBio Emerges from Stealth with $2M and Launches CellForge™, the First AI-Powered Cell Manufacturing Platform
(AI Insider) iOrganBio emerged from stealth with $2 million in funding to advance its CellForge platform, which uses AI and high-throughput control to engineer predictable, scalable human cells and organoids for drug discovery, manufacturing, and cell therapies. The platform integrates real-time optimization of 3D culture environments with a comprehensive Human Cell Atlas, enabling precise, reproducible development of diverse cell types for disease modeling and therapeutic applications. Founded by experts in stem cell biology and automated manufacturing, the company aims to overcome key bottlenecks in cell-based therapies and expand access to reliable human-relevant models for biopharma and regenerative medicine. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/11/17/iorganbio-emerges-from-stealth-with-2m-and-launches-cellforge-the-first-ai-powered-cell-manufacturing-platform/
PoobahAI Raises $2M Seed Round to Make AI-Built Blockchains Mainstream
(AI Insider) PoobahAI raised $2 million in seed funding from FourTwoAlpha to scale its AI-powered no-code platform, which enables creators and companies to build decentralized Web3 apps, tokenized ecosystems, and AI agents without coding. The funding accelerates growth for its new MCP Server, the first infrastructure layer connecting AI agents directly to blockchains, supporting fast, cost-efficient development across multi-chain systems. With a 4,000-person waitlist, PoobahAI plans to expand product development, partnerships, and global community programs as it positions itself at the intersection of AI and decentralized computing. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/11/17/poobahai-raises-2m-seed-round-to-make-ai-built-blockchains-mainstream/
CustoMED Announces $6M Funding to Scale AI-Powered 3D Printed Solutions for Orthopedic Surgery
(AI Insider) CustoMED has raised a total of $6 million to scale its AI-driven, surgeon-first orthopedic platform, which uses automation and 3D printing to create patient-specific surgical tools and implants within minutes. The technology, already used in hundreds of surgeries worldwide, enables more precise and efficient orthopedic procedures while integrating seamlessly into existing workflows and preserving full clinical control for surgeons. Funding will support expansion into new orthopedic applications, U.S. and EU regulatory milestones expected in 2026, and global deployment of its on-demand manufacturing model. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/11/17/customed-announces-6m-funding-to-scale-ai-powered-3d-printed-solutions-for-orthopedic-surgery/
Polygraf AI Closes $9.5M Funding to Scale Its Secure AI Solutions for Enterprise Defense and Intelligence
(AI Insider) Polygraf AI raised $9.5M to expand its on-prem, explainable Small Language Model security platform for enterprise, defense, and intelligence sectors. Its SLM technology combats risks like data leakage, shadow AI, and deepfakes by providing local, auditable AI that meets strict compliance and data-sovereignty requirements. With rapid growth across regulated industries, the company will use the funding to scale product development, partnerships, and adoption as demand for small, task-specific AI models increases. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/11/17/polygraf-ai-closes-9-5m-funding-to-scale-its-secure-ai-solutions-for-enterprise-defense-and-intelligence/
IBM advances quantum computing understanding with new project
(DigWatch) IBM has introduced two new quantum processors, named ‘Nighthawk’ and ‘Loon’, aimed at major leaps in quantum computing. The Nighthawk chip features 120 qubits and 218 tunable couplers, enabling circuits with approximately 30% greater complexity than previous models. – https://dig.watch/updates/ibm-advances-quantum-computing-understanding-with-new-project