Governance, Legislation, Tech & Democracy
Vague by Design? The Oversight Board, Meta’s DOI Policy, and the Kolovrat Symbol Decision
(Tanmay Durani – Just Security – 29 July 2025) The Oversight Board – an independent body established by Meta to review and advise on difficult content moderation decisions – recently issued a decision in the Kolovrat symbol case that illuminates critical tensions in content moderation: balancing hate symbolism, cultural identity, and interpretive ambiguity. Meta removed two Instagram posts and retained a third post under its Dangerous Organizations and Individuals (DOI) policy. The two posts removed for hate glorification included one featuring the Kolovrat symbol with a “Slavic Army” caption urging Slavic people to “wake up” and another using #DefendEurope and M8 rifle symbols. The third post was retained as non-violating. While the board ultimately upheld the removals – a defensible position given the specific context – several critical gaps in its reasoning and scope remain unaddressed. First, I highlight the scope of the board’s decision (which I agree with) in identifying a fundamental failure of transparency and foreseeability in Meta’s enforcement of its DOI policy. Second, while the board rightly focused on this failure, its analysis stopped short of addressing the structural incoherence and internal contradictions within Meta’s publicly available DOI policy – issues that generate user uncertainty regardless of internal guidelines. Third, despite acknowledging in its call for comments that extremists routinely evade moderation through coded tactics, the board failed to meaningfully engage with these strategies or press Meta to adopt stronger, forward-looking due diligence measures. – https://www.justsecurity.org/117886/oversight-board-meta-doi-kolovrat/
Governments Want to Ease AI Regulation for Innovation, But Do Citizens Agree?
(Natali Helberger, Sophie Morosoli, Nicolas Mattis, Laurens Naudts, Claes H. de Vreese – Tech Policy Press – 28 July 2025) Not too long ago, governments around the world competed to be leaders in creating standards for the development and implementation of fair and responsible AI. In October, 2023, the Biden administration proudly announced an Executive Order that at the time it claimed “establishes new standards for AI safety and security, protects Americans’ privacy, advances equity and civil rights, stands up for consumers and workers, promotes innovation and competition, advances American leadership around the world, and more.” The order followed a very similar announcement by the European Commission, which had just launched “the first ever legal framework on AI, which addresses the risks of AI and positions European to play a leading role globally.” Meanwhile, the Canadian government concluded, “If Canada’s advanced data economy is to thrive, it needs a corresponding framework to enable citizen trust, encourage responsible innovation, and remain interoperable with international markets.” Similar conversations on AI governance were held in other parts of the world, including Brazil, South Korea, Japan, and South Africa. – https://www.techpolicy.press/governments-want-to-ease-ai-regulation-for-innovation-but-do-citizens-agree/
Security
Cybercriminals Use Fake Apps to Steal Data and Blackmail Users Across Asia’s Mobile Networks
(The Hacker News – 29 July 2025) Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a new, large-scale mobile malware campaign that’s targeting Android and iOS platforms with fake dating, social networking, cloud storage, and car service apps to steal sensitive personal data. The cross-platform threat has been codenamed SarangTrap by Zimperium zLabs. Users in South Korea appear to be the primary focus. “This extensive campaign involved over 250 malicious Android applications and more than 80 malicious domains, all disguised as legitimate dating and social media applications,” security researcher Rajat Goyal said. – https://thehackernews.com/2025/07/cybercriminals-use-fake-apps-to-steal.html
French telecom giant Orange discloses cyberattack
(Bleeping Computer – 29 July 2025) Orange, a French telecommunications company and one of the world’s largest telecom operators, revealed that it detected a breached system on its network on Friday. The compromised system was discovered and isolated from the rest of the network by Orange Cyberdefense, the company’s cybersecurity business unit, on July 25. This has led to some operational disruptions, primarily affecting French customers, which are expected to be gradually resolved by Wednesday morning, July 30. “On Friday, July 25, the Orange Group detected a cyberattack on one of its information systems. Immediately alerted, with the support of Orange Cyberdefense, the teams mobilized fully to isolate the potentially affected services and limit the impact,” the telecom giant said. – https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/french-telecommunications-giant-orange-discloses-cyberattack/
FBI seizes $2.4M in Bitcoin from new Chaos ransomware operation
(Bleeping Computer – 29 July 2025) FBI Dallas has seized approximately 20 Bitcoins from a cryptocurrency address belonging to a Chaos ransomware member that is linked to cyberattacks and extortion payments from Texas companies. The crypto was seized on April 15, 2025, and was traced to an affiliate named “Hors,” who is suspected of launching the attacks against the companies. “The seized funds were traced to a cryptocurrency address allegedly associated with a member of the Chaos ransomware group, known as ‘Hors,’ who has been tied to ransomware attacks against victims here in the Northern District of Texas and elsewhere,” reads the FBI’s announcement. – https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/fbi-seizes-24m-in-bitcoin-from-new-chaos-ransomware-operation/
US senator urges Musk to block Starlink use by Southeast Asian criminal networks
(DigWatch – 29 July 2025) US Senator Maggie Hassan has called on SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to take immediate action against transnational criminal groups in Southeast Asia, which are allegedly using Starlink satellite internet to perpetrate massive online fraud schemes targeting American citizens. In a letter seen by Reuters, the senator highlighted the growing role of Starlink in enabling so-called ‘scam compounds’ operated by criminal syndicates across Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. According to the US Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the fraud networks have collectively cost Americans billions of dollars. – https://dig.watch/updates/us-senator-urges-musk-to-block-starlink-use-by-southeast-asian-criminal-networks
Defence, Intelligence, Warfare
Lethal Autonomous Weapons and the ‘Right for Machine Hesitation’
(Virgílio Almeida, Ricardo Fabrino Mendonça, Fernando Filgueiras – 28 July 20225) There is little doubt today that the world is going through a period of profound instability and war-related risks. While the open armed conflicts around the world clearly demonstrate the turbulence of our times, deeper structural transformations are underway—challenging the very meaning of war and reshaping its practices. Chief among them is the automation of weaponry through the integration of algorithmic systems capable of making decisions without human intervention. Lethal autonomous weapons and AI agents do not merely expand military capacity—they represent a profound shift in how war is conceived and enacted. The ability to autonomously select, identify, and target human beings, without requiring human oversight or decision-making, enables a form of robotic warfare that is not only more scalable but qualitatively transforms the nature of conflict. These systems, relying on complex algorithms, allow for both offensive and defensive actions with remarkable speed and precision. – https://www.techpolicy.press/lethal-autonomous-weapons-and-the-right-for-machine-hesitation/
Frontiers
Horizon Quantum Joins the QuEra Quantum Alliance
(Quantum Insider – 29 July 2025) Horizon Quantum Computing has joined the QuEra Quantum Alliance, strengthening efforts to streamline software integration for neutral-atom quantum computing systems. The partnership links Horizon’s tools for automated algorithm synthesis and quantum compilation with QuEra’s hardware platform, aiming to simplify quantum application development for conventional software developers. QuEra’s Alliance, now with over 25 members globally, continues to expand its reach across hardware and software layers as it positions neutral-atom systems as a scalable path toward practical quantum computing. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/07/29/horizon-quantum-joins-the-quera-quantum-alliance/
UC Irvine Scientists Say New State of Quantum Matter Could Lead to Better Computing in Deep Space
(Quantum Insider – 29 July 2025) Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have experimentally observed a previously predicted quantum phase of matter, marking the first measurement of a new exciton-based state with potential applications in energy-efficient and radiation-hardened technologies. The phase emerges in hafnium pentatelluride under extremely high magnetic fields, where electrons and holes pair with aligned spins to form a novel, glowing quantum liquid. The material’s resistance to radiation and unique spin-based properties could enable durable computing systems for deep space missions and advance spintronic and quantum device development. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/07/29/uc-irvine-scientists-say-new-state-of-quantum-matter-could-lead-to-better-computing-in-deep-space/
Study Proposes Scalable Path for Photonic Quantum Computing Using Quantum Dots
(Quantum Insider – 29 July 2025) A new study proposes a detailed and experimentally grounded blueprint for building a scalable, fault-tolerant photonic quantum computer using deterministic quantum dot emitters. The design integrates time-bin encoded photons, adaptive fusion gates, and a low-depth architecture that reduces optical complexity and enables real-time error correction. Simulations show the system meets key fault-tolerance thresholds under realistic noise conditions, though achieving necessary performance benchmarks in quantum dot hardware remains a central challenge. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/07/29/study-proposes-scalable-path-for-photonic-quantum-computing-using-quantum-dots/
What University-Based Quantum Startups Can Learn From The Corporate Startup Playbook
(Quantum Insider – 29 July 2025) A new study finds that university-based startups, including those in quantum, may underperform corporate-led startups because of a range of cultural, motivational and organizational challenges. Academic founders often struggle to transition from research-focused identities to market-driven leadership, limiting their ability to build scalable, customer-focused ventures. The study recommends actionable steps for university startups, including early market testing, embracing management routines, and forming complementary teams to bridge knowledge gaps. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/07/29/what-university-based-quantum-startups-can-learn-from-the-corporate-startup-playbook/
Nuclear-linked hydrogen plan aims to feed AI-fueled energy hungry data centers
(Interesting Engineering – 29 July 2025) Canada-based First Hydrogen Corp. says it will begin designing small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) with the University of Alberta, marking its first move into nuclear technology as it seeks a steady, low‑carbon power source for large‑scale hydrogen production. The collaboration pairs First Hydrogen engineers with University of Alberta professor Muhammad Taha Manzoor to refine reactor fuels, core materials, and overall plant layout. – https://interestingengineering.com/energy/nuclear-linked-hydrogen-plan-aims-to-feed-ai-fueled-energy-hungry-data-centers
Video: China unveils humanoid robot worker with brain that runs 275 trillion ops/sec
(Interesting Engineering – 29 July 2025) Chinese manufacturing firm Shanghai Electric has unveiled its first self-developed industrial humanoid robot, “SUYUAN,” marking a major milestone in its robotics journey. Debuting at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC 2025) on July 26 in Shanghai, SUYUAN boasts 38 degrees of freedom and 275 TOPS of on-device computing power, enabling precise operations and fluid movements. According to the firm, designed for diverse industrial use, the robot showcases Shanghai Electric’s end-to-end capabilities—from core tech to integrated solutions—and reinforces its commitment to next-gen industrial automation through a full industry chain strategy. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-unveils-new-humanoid-robot-worker
World’s largest brain-like supercomputer with 650,000 cores to aid drug discovery
(Interesting Engineering – 29 July 2025) Deep-tech company SpiNNcloud penned a deal to deliver a brain-inspired supercomputer to Leipzig University. This move marks a significant step towards computing for small molecule research for personalised medicine. The system uses around 650K cores, and it’s the largest of its kind to be deployed specifically for drug discovery. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/worlds-largest-brain-like-supercomputer