Governance
UN urges global rules to ensure AI benefits humanity
(DigWatch – 25 September 2025) The UN Security Council debated AI, noting its potential to boost development but warning of risks, particularly in military use. Secretary-General António Guterres called AI a ‘double-edged sword,’ supporting development but posing threats if left unregulated. He urged legally binding restrictions on lethal autonomous weapons and insisted nuclear decisions remain under human control. – https://dig.watch/updates/un-urges-global-rules-to-ensure-ai-benefits-humanity – https://press.un.org/en/2025/sc16180.doc.htm
UN General Assembly highlights threats of unregulated technology
(DigWatch – 24 September 2025) World leaders opened the 80th UN General Debate with a strong call to keep technology in the service of humanity, warning that without safeguards, rapid advances could widen divides and fuel insecurity. Speakers highlighted the promise of AI, digital innovation, and new technologies, but stressed that global cooperation is essential to ensure they promote development, dignity, and peace. A recurring theme was the urgent need for universal guardrails on AI, with concerns over regulation lagging behind its fast-paced growth. Delegates from across regions supported multilateral governance, ethical standards, and closing global capacity gaps so that all countries can design, use, and benefit from AI. – https://dig.watch/updates/un-general-assembly-highlights-threats-of-unregulated-technology – https://dig.watch/newsletters/events/digital-on-day-1-of-unga80
UN warns AI poses risks without proper climate oversight
(DigWatch – 24 September 2025) AI can help tackle the climate crisis, but governments must regulate it to ensure positive outcomes, says UN climate chief Simon Stiell. AI is already helping make energy systems more efficient, reduce industrial carbon emissions, and assist in climate diplomacy. Stiell warned that the growing energy demands of large AI data centres pose risks that require careful management. He emphasised that AI should enhance human capacity rather than replace it, supporting tasks such as managing microgrids, mapping climate risk, and guiding resilient planning. – https://dig.watch/updates/un-warns-ai-poses-risks-without-proper-climate-oversight– https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/sep/22/ai-carries-risks-but-will-help-tackle-global-heating-says-uns-climate-chief
More social media platforms could face under-16 ban in Australia
(DigWatch – 25 September 2025) Australia is set to expand its under-16 social media ban, with platforms such as WhatsApp, Reddit, Twitch, Roblox, Pinterest, Steam, Kick, and Lego Play potentially joining the list. The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has written to 16 companies asking them to self-assess whether they fall under the ban. The current ban already includes Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat, making it a world-first policy. The focus will be on platforms with large youth user bases, where risks of harm are highest. – https://dig.watch/updates/more-social-media-platforms-could-face-under-16-ban-in-australia – https://japantoday.com/category/tech/whatsapp-twitch-among-sites-that-could-face-australia-under-16s-social-media-ban
LinkedIn default AI data sharing faces Dutch privacy watchdog scrutiny
(DigWatch – 25 September 2025) The Dutch privacy watchdog, Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (AP), is warning LinkedIn users in the Netherlands to review their settings to prevent their data from being used for AI training. LinkedIn plans to use names, job titles, education history, locations, skills, photos, and public posts from European users to train its systems. Private messages will not be included; however, the sharing option is enabled by default. – https://dig.watch/updates/linkedin-default-ai-data-sharing-faces-dutch-privacy-watchdog-scrutiny – https://www.dutchnews.nl/2025/09/dutch-privacy-watchdog-urges-linkedin-users-to-block-ai-data-use/
The UK’s invisible AI workforce is reshaping industries
(DigWatch – 25 September 2025) According to a new analysis from Multiverse, the UK’s AI workforce is expanding far beyond traditional tech roles. Nurses, lecturers, librarians, surveyors, and other non-tech professionals increasingly apply AI, forming what experts call an ‘invisible AI workforce.’. Over two-thirds of AI apprentices are in roles without tech-related job titles, highlighting the widespread adoption of AI across industries. – https://dig.watch/updates/the-uks-invisible-ai-workforce-is-reshaping-industries – https://www.multiverse.io/en-GB/blog/invisible-AI-workforce
Canadian probe finds TikTok failing to protect children’s privacy
(DigWatch – 25 September 2025) A Canadian privacy investigation has found that TikTok has not taken sufficient measures to prevent children under 13 from accessing its platform or to protect their personal data. Despite stating that the app is not intended for young users, the report states that hundreds of thousands of Canadian children use it yearly. – https://dig.watch/updates/canadian-probe-finds-tiktok-failing-to-protect-childrens-privacy – https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gj5lqq52lo
AI transforms software development according to DORA 2025 report
(DigWatch – 24 September 2025) Google Cloud’s 2025 DORA Report reveals widespread AI adoption among software developers. The report surveyed nearly 5,000 professionals and found that AI adoption in software development has reached 90%, with many using it around two hours daily. The findings reveal clear benefits: over 80% of respondents report increased productivity, and 59% say AI improves code quality. Yet the research also identifies a ‘trust paradox’: while AI is widely used, only 24% of developers firmly trust it. – https://dig.watch/updates/ai-transforms-software-development-according-to-dora-2025-report – https://blog.google/technology/developers/dora-report-2025/
Legislation
Apple escalates fight against EU digital law
(DigWatch – 25 September 2025) US tech giant Apple has called for the repeal of the EU’s Digital Markets Act, claiming the rules undermine user privacy, disrupt services, and erode product quality. The company urged the Commission to replace the legislation with a ‘fit for purpose’ framework, or hand enforcement to an independent agency insulated from political influence. – https://dig.watch/updates/apple-escalates-fight-against-eu-digital-law – https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/09/the-digital-markets-acts-impacts-on-eu-users/
Geostrategies
To Win the AI Race, Bolster Export Control Enforcement With Intelligence
(Christian Chung – Lawfare – 24 September 2025) On July 10, the Trump administration released its plan to lead in artificial intelligence (AI). However, the U.S. risks losing this race—not for lack of chips, talent, or capital—but because it is too slowly and reactively enforcing existing export controls on the critical hardware. Current enforcement focuses on investigating and punishing violations after the fact, instead of proactively uncovering and mitigating known ways that adversaries acquire these controlled technologies, such as via smuggling, transshipment, and shell companies. The U.S. cannot afford to stay in such a reactive posture. – https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/to-win-the-ai-race–bolster-export-control-enforcement-with-intelligence
EU and Indonesia free trade deal strengthens tech and digital supply chains
(DigWatch – 24 September 2025) The European Union and Indonesia have concluded negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and an Investment Protection Agreement (IPA), strongly emphasising technology, digitalisation and sustainable industries. The agreements are designed to expand trade, secure critical raw materials, and drive the green and digital transitions. – https://dig.watch/updates/eu-and-indonesia-free-trade-deal-strengthens-tech-and-digital-supply-chains – https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_2168
OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank expand Stargate with new US data centres
(DigWatch – 24 September 2025) A collaboration between OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank has announced five new data centres under the Stargate initiative, a $500 billion plan to expand US AI computing infrastructure. The latest sites bring total planned capacity to nearly 7 gigawatts, with over $400 billion already committed, putting the project ahead of schedule to meet its 2025 target of 10 gigawatts. – https://dig.watch/updates/openai-oracle-and-softbank-expand-stargate-with-new-us-data-centres – https://openai.com/index/five-new-stargate-sites/
Meta offers Llama AI to US allies amid global tech race
(DigWatch – 24 September 2025) Meta will provide its Llama AI model to key European institutions, NATO, and several allied countries as part of efforts to strengthen national security capabilities. The company confirmed that France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and the EU will gain access to the open-source model. US defence and security agencies and partners in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK already use Llama. – https://dig.watch/updates/meta-offers-llama-ai-to-us-allies-amid-global-tech-race – https://about.fb.com/news/2025/09/strengthening-us-national-security-by-making-llama-available-to-key-allies/
Spanish joins Google’s global AI Mode expansion
(DigWatch – 24 September 2025) Google is rapidly expanding AI Mode, its generative AI-powered search assistant. The company has announced that the feature is now rolling out globally in Spanish. Spanish speakers can now interact with AI Mode to ask complex questions that traditional Search handles poorly. AI Mode has seen swift adoption since its launch earlier this year. First introduced in March, the feature was rolled out to users across the US in May, followed by its first language expansion earlier this month. – https://dig.watch/updates/spanish-joins-googles-global-ai-mode-expansion
Security
New EU biometric checks set to reshape UK travel from 2026
(DigWatch – 25 September 2025) UK travellers to the EU face new biometric checks from 12 October, but full enforcement is not expected until April 2026. Officials say the phased introduction will help avoid severe disruption at ports and stations. An entry-exit system that requires non-EU citizens to be fingerprinted and photographed, with the data stored in a central European database for three years. A further 90-day grace period will allow French border officials to ease checks if technical issues arise. – https://dig.watch/updates/new-eu-biometric-checks-set-to-reshape-uk-travel-from-2026 – https://www.gov.uk/travel-to-eu-schengen-area
CISA highlights failures after US agency cyber breach
(DigWatch – 25 September 2025) The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has published lessons from its response to a federal agency breach. Hackers exploited an unpatched vulnerability in GeoServer software, gaining access to multiple systems. CISA noted that the flaw had been disclosed weeks earlier and added to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue, but the agency had not patched it in time. – https://dig.watch/updates/cisa-highlights-failures-after-us-agency-cyber-breach – https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa25-266a
Secrets sprawl flagged as top software supply chain risk in Australia
(DigWatch – 25 September 2025) Avocado Consulting urges Australian organisations to boost software supply chain security after a high-alert warning from the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC). The alert flagged threats, including social engineering, stolen tokens, and manipulated software packages. Dennis Baltazar of Avocado Consulting said attackers combine social engineering with living-off-the-land techniques, making attacks appear routine. He warned that secrets left across systems can turn small slips into major breaches. – https://dig.watch/updates/secrets-sprawl-flagged-as-top-software-supply-chain-risk-in-australia – https://avocado.com.au/resources/news/avocado-consulting-urges-action-after-asd-high-alert-on-code-repository-targeting/
UK government AI tool recovers £500m lost to fraud
(DigWatch – 25 September 2025) A new AI system developed by the UK Cabinet Office has helped reclaim nearly £500m in fraudulent payments, marking the government’s most significant recovery of public funds in a single year. The Fraud Risk Assessment Accelerator analyses data across government departments to identify weaknesses and prevent scams before they occur. – https://dig.watch/updates/uk-government-ai-tool-recovers-500m-lost-to-fraud– https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpd92gpld0go
Security by Design in Perspective
(Lawfare – 22 September 2025) In this paper for Lawfare’s Security by Design Paper (SbD) Series, Omid Ghaffari-Tabrizi, Justin Sherman, and Paul Rosenzweig reflect on the lessons learned from two years of research into software security by design. Building on more than two dozen articles, papers, and podcasts, they analyze how SbD can be more clearly defined, measured, standardized, and incentivized, while highlighting the challenges of developing metrics, the domestically focused nature of standards-setting, and the competing models for liability and compliance. The authors draw parallels to other regulatory frameworks, such as privacy by design, and emphasize that securing software requires a mix of law, policy, technology, and private-sector innovation. They conclude by identifying key open questions for future research, including international standards-setting, optimizing incentives, and understanding shifting public risk tolerance for insecure software. – https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/security-by-design-in-perspective