Digital Watch Observatory - Digital Governance in 50+ issues, 500+ actors, 5+ processes
In our May 2026 issue, we analyse Pope Leo XIV’s Magnifica Humanitas, a landmark encyclical setting out the Catholic Church’s position on AI. We also examine a wide range of AI developments this month, alongside an experimental format for visualising key trends across the ecosystem. Beyond AI, we analyse major headlines shaping the digital landscape. In geopolitics, we examine two high-level summits where Xi Jinping hosted US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on the tech dimensions. We conclude with a recap of a particularly active month in Geneva.
The standard says agentic AI can improve public services but introduces new control and oversight challenges.
The guidance says frontier AI can improve cyber defence but also help malicious actors scale attacks.
The Helsinki conference will explore how AI and quantum computing could create new systemic risks.
Expanded protections help reduce exposure to inappropriate content across Meta platforms.
Chips Act 2.0 targets advanced semiconductors, AI chips, mainstream chips and stronger supply chain intelligence.
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Analysis
Europe’s digital crossroads: Key takeaways from CPDP 2026
At CPDP 2026, privacy and data protection remained at the heart of Europe’s digital policy debates, but AI governance, digital sovereignty, and online child protection emerged as increasingly prominent themes.
Analysis
CBDC: The antithesis of cryptocurrency
Do CBDCs represent the opposite of cryptocurrency, and are we witnessing a deeper philosophical divide over the nature of digital money and control?
Analysis
Why digital literacy is becoming a strategic necessity in the AI era
Governments increasingly connect digital literacy with democratic resilience and cybersecurity.
DW at a glance
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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.