Governance, Legislation, and Geostrategies

UK introduces landmark online safety rules to protect children

(Digital Watch Observatory – 24 April 2025) The UK’s regulator, Ofcom, has unveiled new online safety rules to provide stronger protections for children, requiring platforms to adjust algorithms, implement stricter age checks, and swiftly tackle harmful content by 25 July or face hefty fines. These measures target sites hosting pornography or content promoting self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders, demanding more robust efforts to shield young users. – https://dig.watch/updates/uk-introduces-landmark-online-safety-rules-to-protect-children

A milestone in international AI transparency: The OECD publishes initial submissions from the G7 Hiroshima AI Process Reporting Framework

(Audrey Plonk, Karine Perset, Sara Fialho Esposito – OECD.AI – 24 April 2025) 24 April marks an important milestone in international AI governance as the OECD publishes the first round of reports submitted through the G7 Hiroshima AI Process Reporting Framework. A diverse group of 19 organisations from around the world has provided detailed information on their practices for developing advanced AI systems in a safe, secure, and trustworthy manner. – https://oecd.ai/en/wonk/initial-submissions-g7-hiroshima-ai-process-reporting-framework

DeepSeek faces South Korean scrutiny over unauthorised data transfers

(Digital Watch Observatory – 24 April 2025) South Korea’s data protection authority has flagged serious privacy concerns over the operations of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, accusing the company of transferring personal data and user-generated content abroad without consent. The findings come after a months-long investigation into the company’s conduct following its app launch in the South Korean market earlier this year. – https://dig.watch/updates/deepseek-faces-south-korean-scrutiny-over-unauthorised-data-transfers

Meta under scrutiny in France over digital Ad practices

(Digital Watch Observatory – 24 April 2025) Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is facing fresh legal backlash in France as 67 French media companies representing over 200 publications filed a lawsuit alleging unfair competition in the digital advertising market. The case, brought before the Paris business tribunal, accuses Meta of abusing its dominant position through massive personal data collection and targeted advertising without proper consent. – https://dig.watch/updates/meta-under-scrutiny-in-france-over-digital-ad-practices

WhatsApp introduces privacy feature to block Meta AI

(Digital Watch Observatory – 24 April 2025) Meta has come under fire for integrating its AI assistant into WhatsApp, with users spotting an unremovable blue circle representing Meta AI’s presence. While Google has favoured opt-in models for AI tools, Meta’s approach has sparked backlash, with some critics accusing it of disregarding WhatsApp’s privacy-first roots. Though users can’t remove the assistant entirely, WhatsApp now offers a workaround to disable its functions in individual chats. – https://dig.watch/updates/whatsapp-introduces-privacy-feature-to-block-meta-ai

Security

New research highlights escalating cyberthreats to global energy sector

Resecurity has published new research examining recent cyber threat activity targeting energy infrastructure across North America, Asia, and the European Union. The report, a continuation of Resecurity’s earlier analysis, focuses on incidents involving energy firms, including nuclear facilities and associated research entities. – https://dig.watch/updates/new-research-highlights-escalating-cyberthreats-to-global-energy-sector

Dutch Ministry of Defence expands recruitment of cyber reservists to support national cybersecurity efforts

(Digital Watch Observatory – 24 April 2025) The Dutch Ministry of Defence has announced plans to expand its cyber defence capabilities by recruiting additional cyber reservists, according to NOS. The initiative is part of the Ministry’s strategy to strengthen cybersecurity expertise within its armed forces, with recruitment efforts scheduled to intensify after the summer. Several reservist positions have already been advertised online. – https://dig.watch/updates/dutch-ministry-of-defence-expands-recruitment-of-cyber-reservists-to-support-national-cybersecurity-efforts

Microsoft expands rewards for reporting AI vulnerabilities

(Digital Watch Observatory – 24 April 2025) Microsoft has announced an expanded bug bounty initiative, offering up to $30,000 for researchers who uncover critical vulnerabilities in AI features within Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. The programme aims to strengthen security in enterprise software by encouraging ethical hackers to identify and report risks before cybercriminals can exploit them. – https://dig.watch/updates/microsoft-expands-rewards-for-reporting-ai-vulnerabilities

Ransomware decline masks growing threat

(Digital Watch Observatory – 24 April 2025) A recent drop in reported ransomware attacks might seem encouraging, yet experts warn this is likely misleading. Figures from the NCC Group show a 32% decline in March 2025 compared to the previous month, totalling 600 incidents. However, this dip is attributed to unusually large-scale attacks in earlier months, rather than an actual reduction in cybercrime. In fact, incidents were up 46% compared with March last year, highlighting the continued escalation in threat activity. – https://dig.watch/updates/ransomware-decline-masks-growing-threat

North Korean IT workers seen using AI tools to scam firms into hiring them

(Jonathan Greig – The Record – 24 April 2025) North Korean IT workers illicitly gaining employment at U.S. and European tech companies are increasingly using generative artificial intelligence in a variety of ways to assist them throughout the job application and interview process. In an effort to improve its own onboarding process and help customers dealing with the scheme, cybersecurity firm Okta conducted research into online services used by individuals identified by U.S. authorities and third parties as agents for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. – https://therecord.media/north-korean-it-workers-seen-using-ai-recruitment-scams

Frontiers

Certified randomness achieved with quantum tech

(Digital Watch Observatory – 24 April 2025) Quantum researchers from JPMorgan Chase, Quantinuum and others have achieved a major milestone in cybersecurity by generating certified random numbers using a quantum computer. The team’s work, recently published in Nature, showcases how quantum systems can create randomness that is mathematically proven to be unpredictable—an essential leap forward in securing systems like online banking and digital voting. – https://dig.watch/updates/certified-randomness-achieved-with-quantum-tech

AI supercomputers may cost $200B by 2030, demand power of 9 nuclear plants

(Interesting Engineering – 24 April 2025) The next generation of AI supercomputers is shaping up to be massive in size, cost, and power demand. A new study by researchers from Georgetown, Epoch AI, and Rand reveals just how immense the infrastructure required to train and run AI systems may become by the end of the decade. Between 2019 and 2025, leading AI data centers’ hardware costs and power consumption have doubled annually. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/ai-supercomputers-2030-power-cost-crisis?group=test_b

New 4D quantum sensors may help physicists trace the birth of space and time

(Interesting Engineering – 24 April 2025) Smashing subatomic particles together at near-light speeds has long been the best way to understand the universe’s fundamental building blocks. These high-energy collisions, conducted inside massive particle accelerators, help physicists study matter, energy, space, and time. As new accelerators promise even more powerful and chaotic collisions, scientists need tools far more advanced than those used before. – https://interestingengineering.com/science/quantum-sensors-particle-detection-breakthrough?group=test_b

Drone builder? Flying robots could help construct future skyscrapers, proves live test

(Interesting Engineering – 24 April 2025) UK researchers have claimed that flying robots could build skyscrapers as outstanding as the UAE’s Burj Khalifa or New York’s Empire State Building by reaching heights and locations once deemed impossible. The study, conducted by Imperial College London and the University of Bristol, explores how drones can perform mid-air material deposition autonomously – a process known as Aerial Additive Manufacturing (Aerial AM) – marking a significant step forward in aerial construction technology. The approach, which employs aerial robots for unrestricted construction tasks, offers distinct advantages, including scalability at height, access to hard-to-reach locations, and rapid on-demand repairs. According to the scientists, the technology aims to tackle urgent global housing and infrastructure challenges by using aerial robots with advanced manipulators capable of overcoming the limitations of traditional construction methods and ground-based robotics. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/flying-robots-could-construct-future-skyscrapers?group=test_b

Unitree’s G1 humanoid robot performs handshakes, hugs, and more at China factory

(Interesting Engineering – 24 April 2025) Unitree’s G1 humanoid robot wowed visitors with its newly updated movements in an event at the firm’s new factory in China. The movements include handshakes, high-fives, hugs, and waves, highlighting the robot’s advanced capabilities as the company ramps up development of human-shaped machines, reports Chinese media outlets. Unitree’s new 10,000-square-metre factory in Hangzhou in Zhejiang province will meet rising demand for humanoid robots and support its growth over the next three to five years. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/unitree-g1-robot-performs-handshakes?group=test_b