Digital Watch Observatory - Digital Governance in 50+ issues, 500+ actors, 5+ processes
With just six months to tighten security or halt data transfers to China, the clock is ticking for the social media giant.
As diagnosis delays continue to leave families in limbo, a new AI-powered app is stepping in to offer practical guidance and hope to parents seeking answers.
An independent experiment has sparked excitement across the AI world by pushing a powerful language model into the unpredictable realm of retro gaming.
Cyber criminals are stepping up their game with clever impersonation tactics, leaving even some of the UK’s biggest retailers vulnerable and scrambling to defend their networks.
Scammers create synthetic identities through deepfakes and stolen data, tricking users into fraudulent crypto transactions.
A US judge ruled Apple violated a court order, forcing it to allow external payment links and scrap fees on out-of-app crypto purchases.
Amid heated US-China tariff tensions, Trump's soft spot for the app that charmed millions of young voters adds another twist to the TikTok saga.
A new 'vibe coding' platform from Apple and Anthropic could soon automate programming tasks with AI instead of relying on manual input.
Ethereum could become 100 times faster with RISC-V by cutting unnecessary translation steps, Buterin claims.
Must read
Analysis
Rewriting the AI playbook: How Meta plans to win through openness
What happens when one of the world’s biggest tech giants bets its future not on control, but on giving its most powerful AI tools away for free?
Analysis
Beyond the imitation game: GPT-4.5, the Turing Test, and what comes next
What happens when machines not only speak like us but begin to mirror the subtleties of our personalities, emotions, and intentions — and we can no longer tell the difference?
Analysis
Microsoft at 50 – A journey through code, cloud, and AI
Founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975, Microsoft grew from a small startup into the world’s largest software company. Through strategic acquisitions, the company expanded into diverse sectors, solidifying its global dominance.
Analysis
Ghibli trend as proof of global dependence on AI: A phenomenon that overloaded social networks and systems
How Ghibli-inspired AI art went viral, exploring mainstream AI trends, creativity impact, and ethical concerns raised by Hayao Miyazaki.
Analysis
X’s Türkiye tangle, between freedom of speech, control, and digital defiance
Freedom of speech has taken centre stage this week, with Türkiye’s streets erupting in mass protests and Elon Musk’s platform X again under fire. With account suspensions, government requests, and a tech giant caught between free expression and compliance, all eyes are on how X navigates this storm.
Analysis
America’s Bitcoin gamble: A power play for financial dominance
The US is leading a Bitcoin charge—will the world follow, or is this just another high-stakes power move?
Analysis
OEWG’s tenth substantive session: Entering the eleventh hour
The OEWG’s tenth session in February 2025 saw states emphasise collective action against cyber threats, address divisions on norms implementation and binding regulations, highlight the Voluntary Fund and Capacity-Building Portal, and discuss the future permanent mechanism for ICT security.
DW monthly
Digital Watch newsletter – Issue 98
Issue 98: In our monthly newsletter March in Retrospect, the Trump administration’s cyber ceasefire with Russia, the UN and the way forward for discussions on AI governance and the future of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Google made its largest acquisition to date by purchasing Wiz, the Israeli cloud cybersecurity firm, Ghibli-style AI-generated images overwhelmed OpenAI’s servers, sparking debates on AI copyright and system resilience.
DW WEEKLY
DW Weekly #210 – Trump’s tech stability, UN funding cuts, and global AI shifts
DW Weekly #210 Trump’s first 100 days show steady tech policy | UN prepares for possible shifts in US financial contributions | Big Tech accused of undue influence over EU AI Code
DW QUARTERLY
Digital Watch Quarterly Newsletter – Issue 1
2025 Jan - Mar | Q1 newsletter: The first quarterly newsletter 2025 reveals a revolutionary shift in the AI landscape: 'bigger isn't always better.' As the race for AI dominance accelerates, smaller, specialised models outperform massive systems, disrupting long-standing assumptions. Meanwhile, AI governance shifts its gaze from distant existential threats to today's tangible issues, such as job security, education, and privacy. Amid these rapid developments, companies and governments must choose between continuing investment in large-scale projects or embracing smarter, leaner AI solutions.
DW at a glance
TRENDING
The process towards a Global Digital Compact
How will the Global Digital Compact be developed and what will it focus on?
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.