15 – 22 May 2026
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Russia–China Summit signals deepening cooperation across AI, industry, and digital economy
Two high-level summits in as many weeks saw China host first the President of the United States and then the President of the Russian Federation. While the internet has done its thing, comparing Trump’s and Putin’s visits to China right down to the choreography of the children, we’ll focus our analysis on the tech topics that were discussed between Xi and Putin, with only a brief look at how the two sets of talks compare.
AI: Pushing a joint agenda. Putin and Xi emphasised that AI should be developed and deployed in ways that serve universal development rather than narrow national interests. At the same time, they explicitly criticised the use of AI by individual states as a geopolitical instrument to preserve or strengthen global dominance.
The leaders also highlighted growing cooperation on the military dimension of AI. Russia and China intend to deepen collaboration on the development and application of AI in military contexts, both through bilateral channels and within multilateral processes, including discussions under the Group of Governmental Experts on lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS).
The two sides committed to coordinating their positions on AI-related scientific and policy questions within international organisations. This indicated an effort to align their approaches more systematically in global standard-setting and norm-shaping forums. It’s not unusual for China and Russia to take similar positions in negotiations over digital matters, but this was a quite explicit geopolitical signal.
Beyond AI: Building parallel infrastructures. China and Russia will merge their GLONASS and Beidou satellite navigation systems into a complementary global service, cooperate in the coordination and use of radio frequencies and satellite orbital slots, and expand cooperation on satellite internet and the internet of things.
Open source cooperation also emerged as a strategic priority. The two countries plan to explore a bilateral software cooperation mechanism and to promote open-source technologies in key industries. That aligns with broader efforts in both countries to localise software ecosystems and reduce reliance on US tech platforms.
Cybersecurity. The parties agreed to strengthen cooperation in combating cybercrime, welcoming the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the UN Convention against Cybercrime and committing to its rapid entry into force and implementation, including work on an additional protocol to expand its scope and enhance international cooperation.
They pledged to deepen strategic cooperation on information security and coordinated responses to ICT threats. They also intend to exchange experiences in legislative regulation of the internet.
They emphasised the central role of the UN in responding to threats in the information space, after which the countries expressed support for the work of the Global Mechanism. This is also not surprising, considering that the Global Mechanism has arisen from the OEWG, which itself was a Russian initiative. The countries also expressed support for the development of broader international legal instruments covering issues such as data security and supply chain resilience. This aligns with China’s longtime push for establishing the Global Initiative on Data Security.
Digital economy. The parties agreed to expand cooperation on the digital economy and cross-border e-commerce, alongside broader collaboration in industries such as automotive, aviation, and mineral extraction. They pledged to strengthen coordination on intellectual property protection, consumer protection in online and cross-border services,
They also agreed to deepen e-commerce cooperation through regional frameworks, including the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Belt and Road Initiative, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), APEC, and the Enhanced Tumangan Initiative. Cooperation will focus on digitalisation, logistics, barrier-free trade, connectivity, and innovation, with the broader aim of boosting regional economic integration, trade, and employment.
This part is not surprising, considering that China and Russia have repeatedly framed e-commerce, the digital economy, and ICT cooperation as strategic pillars of their partnership since at least the mid-2010s in the SCO and Belt and Road contexts.
Comparing the two summits. There was no joint communique after the Xi–Trump meeting, while the Xi–Putin summit produced a detailed and lengthy one. That alone is quite telling. Xi and Putin also signed over 20 agreements covering energy, trade, science and technology, and infrastructure, while it is still unclear how many agreements Xi and Trump signed.
In the US–China context, recent comments made by US Treasury Secretary Bessent during Trump’s visit to China, noting that ‘The reason we are able to have wholesome discussions with the Chinese on AI is because we are in the lead,’ highlight continued tech competition between the two countries. President Trump also just postponed signing the AI and cybersecurity order, saying he did not want new rules to slow US leadership in AI or weaken its competitive edge over China, which reinforces the competitive framing.
This is in direct opposition to cooperation with Russia and to future coordination on AI-related scientific and policy questions within international organisations.
After the Trump-Xi summit, there was initially no indication that rare earths had been discussed. However, the White House later stated that China will address US concerns regarding supply chain shortages related to rare earths and other critical minerals, as well as concerns over restrictions on the sale of rare earth production and processing equipment and technologies. In response to questions about this statement, China’s Ministry of Commerce said that both sides had discussed the issue and would work to resolve each other’s reasonable and lawful concerns.
China’s engagement with Russia took a more cooperative and forward-looking form. The two sides agreed to actively promote cooperation in joint mineral extraction and in developing green standards. Russia holds some of the world’s largest rare earth reserves—ranked fifth globally—but remains constrained by limited capacity in extraction, refining, and processing, an area where it stands to benefit from Chinese technological and industrial expertise.
Overall, the difference in both outcomes and issue salience indicates that the Russia–China relationship appears more comfortable addressing sensitive domains such as AI cooperation and military applications, whereas US–China engagement remains more constrained and competitive in tone and scope.
IN OTHER NEWS LAST WEEK
AI governance
Vatican. Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica humanitas, focusing on the protection of the human person in the age of AI, will be released on 25 May. The document, whose title roughly translates as ‘Magnificent humanity,’ addresses the relationship among AI, human dignity, and Catholic social teaching. The Vatican has also established an Inter-Dicasterial Commission on Artificial Intelligence, approved by Pope Leo XIV, to coordinate work on the implications of rapidly advancing AI technologies.
The EU. The European Commission has published a draft guidance related to high-risk AI systems under the EU AI Act. The draft guidance is intended to help providers and deployers determine whether AI systems fall within the Act’s high-risk category. The document includes examples illustrating how classification criteria may apply in different situations. The document has been made available through the AI Act Single Information Platform. Stakeholders, including businesses, public authorities, researchers, civil society organisations, and citizens, may submit comments until 23 June 2026.
The USA. A federal appeals court in Washington appeared divided over Anthropic’s challenge to the Pentagon’s decision to designate the company as a national security supply chain risk. During oral arguments, judges on the D.C. Circuit questioned both the factual basis and the scope of the Pentagon’s authority, with one judge describing the designation as a ‘spectacular overreach,’ while another pressed whether courts should defer to the Defence Secretary’s judgement on national security risk assessments.
Meanwhile, Anthropic has revised disclosure rules for its Project Glasswing cybersecurity programme, allowing participating partners using its Mythos model to share vulnerability findings, tools and mitigation insights more broadly with regulators, industry bodies and, where appropriate, the public under responsible-disclosure norms. The shift marks a departure from earlier confidentiality requirements that kept findings within the programme
A federal jury in California ruled in favour of OpenAI, Sam Altman and Greg Brockman in Elon Musk’s lawsuit alleging that the company abandoned its original non-profit mission after transitioning toward a for-profit structure. The court accepted OpenAI’s argument that Musk had long been aware of discussions around restructuring, concluding that the claims were filed outside the applicable legal time limits and dismissing the case following an advisory jury verdict.
Malta. Malta has launched AI for All, a free national AI literacy programme for Maltese citizens and residents with an active eID account. The initiative is led by the Malta Digital Innovation Authority, with the educational programme developed by the University of Malta. The programme is intended to help participants understand AI capabilities, limitations, and responsible use in everyday life, education, and work.
The UK. Ofcom has announced a recommendation intended to strengthen protections against illegal intimate image abuse online. The UK regulator said it is updating its Illegal Content Codes to recommend that certain online platforms use automated detection technologies to identify such images, including AI-generated explicit deepfakes and non-consensual image sharing. The recommendation is expected to enter into force in autumn 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.
Canada-Spain. Canada and Spain have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in AI development, adoption, and digital innovation. The memorandum establishes a framework for cooperation on AI technologies, computing capacity, and collaboration between governments, industry, and other stakeholders. According to both governments, the partnership aims to support innovation, investment, and economic growth linked to AI technologies.
Platforms continue to face pressure over youth safety online
In the USA, bellwether trials continue. YouTube, Snap, TikTok, and Meta have agreed to settle a landmark lawsuit brought by Kentucky’s Breathitt County School District, which accused them of designing algorithmic systems and features—such as infinite scrolling and engagement-driven recommendation loops—that foster compulsive use among young users and place additional financial and educational burdens on schools. Terms of the settlement have not been disclosed. The case was scheduled to go to trial on 12 June, which will now not proceed.
In parallel, the UK’s Ofcom has reported that almost all 8-17-year-olds in the UK are online (99%). reinforcing its push for stronger platform accountability. It wants child safety to be embedded into product design from the outset, with regulators informed in advance of new features to assess potential risks. However, the regulator remains concerned that some platforms are not doing enough to make feeds safer and is sceptical that age-13 minimum policies effectively prevent underage access.
Malaysia has also announced new rules requiring stronger safeguards for young users on online platforms, including stricter age-related controls and enhanced content governance obligations for service providers. The measures are part of a broader policy effort to reduce exposure of minors to harmful online content and to formalise platform responsibility in youth protection.
Australia introduces a national framework for digital health standards
Australia has introduced a National Framework for Digital Health Standards to improve interoperability and consistency across healthcare systems. The framework is intended to support integration of digital tools and health records across healthcare settings.
The framework addresses fragmentation caused by independently developed digital health standards. It also provides guidance intended to support coordination between government agencies, healthcare providers, and industry participants.
The framework also supports the use of internationally recognised clinical terminology standards and related training initiatives.
OECD review highlights growth and regulatory challenges in ASEAN digital trade
The OECD has published a Digital Trade Review of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, examining regional growth in digital trade and related regulatory challenges.
The OECD said ASEAN benefits from trade openness, increasing digital adoption, and evolving regional policy initiatives. The report noted that uneven participation and fragmented domestic regulations may limit further digital trade integration across the region.
The review identified barriers, including restrictions affecting cross-border data flows, telecommunications, digital services, and trade facilitation systems. The OECD highlighted the importance of regulatory alignment and progress towards paperless trade systems.
The report also discussed opportunities related to AI adoption, including reforms linked to tariffs, data flows, and digital services regulation. These findings underline the importance of coordinated reforms to strengthen ASEAN’s role in the global digital economy.
LAST WEEK IN GENEVA
79th World Health Assembly
The 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79), which took place in Geneva from 18–23 May 2026, brought together WHO Member States, international organisations, civil society, and health stakeholders to discuss global health priorities and governance. Alongside the formal Assembly proceedings, a wide range of side events focused on digital health and AI, covering topics such as trusted health data, interoperability, responsible AI governance, and digital transformation of health systems. Discussions will examine how AI and digital technologies can support universal health coverage, strengthen evidence-based policymaking, improve diagnostics and ageing care, and enhance cross-border cooperation, while also addressing issues of ethics, transparency, data governance, and equity in healthcare systems.
UN human rights experts raise concerns over the large-scale sexual exploitation of women and girls online
The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences and the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy issued a statement raising concerns over what they describe as large-scale sexual exploitation of women and girls facilitated and monetised through Pornhub and its parent company, Aylo Holdings, as well as by payment networks and search engines that enable distribution and monetisation of content.
The rapporteurs focused on Pornhub and its parent company Aylo Holdings, while also referencing broader concerns involving user-generated pornography platforms, payment networks, and search and technology companies linked to online distribution systems.
The experts said businesses involved in digital content ecosystems should not avoid responsibility where their services contribute to human rights violations. They called for stronger safeguards, including mandatory third-party age and consent verification systems for user-generated pornography platforms.
LOOKING AHEAD
EuroDIG 2026
The next EuroDIG will take place on 26-27 May 2026 at the Charlemagne Building of the European Commission in Brussels, under the theme ‘European Voices for the Future of the Internet – Celebrating 20 Years of .eu and the Beginning of a New Internet Governance Era’. It will be hosted by EURid – the registry for the .eu domain name and supported by the European Commission, a longstanding Institutional Partner of EuroDIG. The event will mark 20 years of .eu, celebrating two decades of the trusted digital identity. Diplo and GIP will provide reports from a selected number of sessions from the event—make sure to bookmark the dedicated web page.
READING CORNER
What if the world lost its UNESCO World Heritage sites? We would mourn them, certainly. But how much more would our lives change if we lost language, the scientific method, double-entry bookkeeping, or the internet? Aldo Matteucci examines.
Not everyone needs to become a programmer. But everyone involved in AI governance should understand the technology well enough to ask pertinent questions, challenge assumptions, and identify realistic policy options. The Singaporean minister’s example can help overcome the current gap between high interest in AI governance and low understanding of new technology, Jovan Kurbalija argues.
OPPORTUNITY
Opportunity: Become a Knowledge Fellow
Diplo is pleased to launch a new call for applications for Digital Watch Knowledge Fellows (2026), the team of collaborators behind the Digital Watch Observatory (DW). Knowledge Fellows (KF) are central to the observatory’s ability to provide comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date coverage of specific areas of digital governance. More details on what we are looking for and what we offer in return are available here. Interested applicants are invited to apply by 31 May 2026.
