Digital Watch Observatory - Digital Governance in 50+ issues, 500+ actors, 5+ processes

The United States is taking the lead in shaping international norms for military AI at the United Nations. Bonnie Jenkins, a senior State Department official, highlights the urgent need for regulations in this rapidly evolving field. The proposed resolution emphasizes responsible AI use in line with humanitarian laws.

China has accused the U.S. of infiltrating Huawei's servers since 2009 in an alleged cyber espionage campaign that culminated in thousands of cyberattacks on Chinese targets last year, escalating tensions in the ongoing technological rivalry between the two nations.

The Malabo Convention, a regional treaty on cybersecurity in Africa, has entered into force with ratifications from 15 out of 55 African Union member states. However, influential African countries such as Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, and Ethiopia have not yet ratified the Convention. The African Union Commission needs to encourage more countries to ratify the Convention and provide capacity building for its implementation. The adoption of the Malabo Convention by all African states would promote a unified digital approach with shared cybersecurity and data standards.

The agency is developing its own ChatGPT-style tool to revolutionize open-source intelligence analysis.

Advocate General Szpunar's recent opinion on personal data and copyright infringement (Case C-470/21) supports retaining civil identity data linked to IP addresses when essential for identifying online copyright violators. This opinion addresses France's graduated response system, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach.

The US government, led by the FCC and Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, is working to revive net neutrality rules. These rules prevent ISPs from restricting internet access. The proposal faces opposition from ISPs and is part of a broader discussion on internet regulation in the US.

Experts, academics, and civil society organizations are calling for a rethink on proposed AI measures in a federal privacy bill. They argue that AI provisions should be assessed separately for the protection of rights and freedoms.

The law, first presented on May 10, seeks to create a safer online environment for all walks of society, from cyberbullying to reducing reliance on American tech companies.