Digital Watch Observatory - Digital Governance in 50+ issues, 500+ actors, 5+ processes
Plus, global attention intensifies on protecting children online; the debut of AI browsers reshapes search and content; F5 breach, US-China cyber clash over China’s time service, and NSO blocked from WhatsApp; Updates from Geneva and a look at the week ahead.
Parents will soon be able to block or monitor AI chats for teens.
Officials cite unfair competition and consumer rights violations in Apple’s device setup.
Character.ai, Nomi, Chai, and Chub.ai must comply with Australia’s Online Safety Act or risk penalties of up to $825,000 per day.
NanoChat offers a simple and affordable way for learners to build and train their own AI models without major computing resources.
Millions of redstone blocks come together in Minecraft to simulate a language model.
The FAA confirmed Horizon Air operations were also affected by the technical failure.
Lawmakers warn Huawei’s grip on solar inverters risks Europe’s energy security, urging the Commission to restrict ‘high-risk’ vendors as member states step up safeguards.
Industry leaders and startups joined NVIDIA AI Day Sydney to showcase how AI and high-performance computing are transforming Australia’s digital future.
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Analysis
Is the world ready for AI to rule justice?
AI is reshaping the justice system with unprecedented efficiency, but true progress depends on whether humanity is ready to balance innovation with responsibility and ethical judgement.
Analysis
The AI gold rush where the miners are broke
Billions chase AI's promise while profits hide in the server room, drowned by power bills, depreciation, and unrealistic goals.
Analysis
The global struggle to regulate children’s social media use
From Australia to Greece and China, policymakers are exploring how to balance safety, freedom and accountability in children’s use of social media.
Analysis
The quantum internet is closer than it seems
Quantum internet is emerging not only as a scientific milestone but as a transformative force that could redefine how governments, healthcare systems, and citizens interact in the digital age.
DW monthly
Digital Watch newsletter – Issue 103 – September 2025
Issue 103: In our September 2025 issue, we unpack how AI and digital issues took centre stage at UNGA80, and explore the strategic importance of open-source AI, the rise of AI-generated 'slop' on social media, and TikTok’s American makeover. We examined how the global chip race is reshaping notions of sovereignty, and how Nepal’s “Discord democracy” turned a banned platform into a ballot box. We also looked at growing calls to limit children’s online access and recapped key Geneva events shaping the future of international digital governance.
DW WEEKLY
Weekly #235 Beyond the blip: What the AWS outage reveals about cloud resilience
Plus, global attention intensifies on protecting children online; the debut of AI browsers reshapes search and content; F5 breach, US-China cyber clash over China’s time service, and NSO blocked from WhatsApp; Updates from Geneva and a look at the week ahead.
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WSIS+20 Process
The year 2025 marks 20 years since the finalisation of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), and a review process looking at 20 years of WSIS outcomes implementation will conclude with a high-level meeting at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), in December. This page keeps track of the process leading to the UNGA meeting in December 2025. It also provides background information about WSIS and related activities and processes since 1998.
Explore the Observatory
Digital Technologies
From internet applications to quantum computing, we focus on advanced and emerging digital technologies which are increasingly reshaping our economies and societies.
Clusters of Policy topics
We unpack digital policy by exploring over 50 topics – from access and sustainable development to network security and the future of work – classified in 7 clusters.
Processes
Follow some of the most important digital policy processes, from the EU's work on the Digital Services Act/Digital Markets Act to the UN Cybercrime Ad Hoc Committee.