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Digital equity advances as UNESCO promotes Universal Acceptance

UNESCO has reinforced the importance of Universal Acceptance as a foundation for multilingual digital inclusion during a global event hosted in Hyderabad.

An initiative that seeks to ensure that all languages and scripts function equally across the internet, strengthening digital access and participation.

The discussion linked linguistic diversity with broader principles such as digital rights, media literacy, and freedom of expression.

Universal Acceptance was presented as a core element of digital equality, enabling users to access online services regardless of language or script.

Through its partnership with ICANN, UNESCO is advancing efforts to ensure that domain names and email systems support all valid linguistic formats. These initiatives aim to remove technical barriers that limit participation in the digital economy.

An initiative that reflects a broader global effort to create a more inclusive and accessible internet. Strengthening multilingual infrastructure is expected to play a key role in shaping a more equitable and representative digital environment.

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Digital Public Goods Alliance roadmap incorporates UNESCO Open Solutions

UNESCO announced that its Open Solutions have been included in the Digital Public Goods Alliance’s roadmap as part of its membership.

Roadmap activities focus on Open Solutions supporting knowledge ecosystems and information resilience by advancing Open Educational Resources as digital public goods, mainstreaming equitable open access to knowledge ecosystems, unlocking open data for research and learning, and strengthening Free and Open Source Software, according to UNESCO.

Mariya Gabriel, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, said: ‘The inclusion of UNESCO’s Open Solutions— Open Educational Resources, Open Access, Open Data and Free and Open Source Software— in the Digital Public Goods Alliance roadmap, underscores our commitment to knowledge as a public good and to multilateral cooperation. Through these open systems, UNESCO supports Member States in expanding access to information and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.’

UNESCO said its Open Solutions support the discovery, use, and adaptation of digital public goods that help reduce structural barriers to knowledge. It added that they prioritise multilingual access, equitable participation, and the reuse of educational, scientific, and public-interest resources.

UNESCO described the Digital Public Goods Alliance as a multistakeholder initiative that supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by advancing the discovery, development, use, and investment in digital public goods. It said these include open source software, open data, open AI models, and open content that adhere to applicable laws and best practices, are designed to do no harm, and contribute to sustainable development.

Liv Marte Nordhaug, Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Public Goods Alliance Secretariat, said: ‘Through its Open Solutions, UNESCO is advancing open and inclusive knowledge ecosystems while strengthening the development and adoption of digital public goods that expand access to shared, interoperable resources and enable equitable participation in the digital age.’

UNESCO also said its engagement in the alliance contributes to implementing the UN Global Digital Compact and the United Nations Pact for the Future, reaffirming that knowledge, and the digital systems that underpin it, must remain a global public good, governed in the public interest, anchored in international human rights standards, and accessible to all without discrimination.

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EU digital identity strengthens after 20 years of .eu expansion

Two decades since the launch of the .eu domain, the EU has marked its role in establishing a unified digital identity across member states.

On 7 April 2006, the .eu top-level domain (TLD) was launched, offering businesses, citizens, and organisations a pan-EU online identity.

Over time, .eu has developed into one of the largest country-code domains globally, with millions of registrations and consistent growth.

Its technical stability and security record, including uninterrupted service since launch, have reinforced its reputation as a reliable digital infrastructure. Investments in fraud detection and data integrity have further strengthened trust in its ecosystem.

The domain has also evolved to reflect the EU’s linguistic diversity, with the introduction of internationalised domain names and additional scripts such as Cyrillic and Greek. These developments have expanded accessibility and reinforced inclusivity within the European digital space.

Looking ahead, .eu is positioned as a key instrument for advancing digital sovereignty and supporting the Single Market. Its role in global internet governance discussions is expected to grow, particularly as the EU institutions seek to shape a more open, secure, and rights-based digital environment.

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Sweden’s Riksbank urges households to keep cash and multiple payment options for crisis preparedness

Sweden’s central bank, the Riksbank, is urging households to strengthen their ability to make everyday payments in the event of disruptions, warning that the current international situation, combined with Sweden’s high level of digitalisation, may expose vulnerabilities in the national payments system.

The bank frames the advice as part of national preparedness, describing the public as a key component of ‘total defence’ of Sweden and stressing that resilience in the payments market is essential during temporary outages, wider crises and, in the worst case, war.

The Riksbank’s main message is that households should avoid relying on a single way to pay and instead ensure they can use several methods, including cash, cards and mobile payment services. As a benchmark, it recommends keeping SEK 1,000 in cash per adult at home to cover about a week of essential purchases, while noting that some households may need more or less depending on size and circumstances.

Where possible, it advises keeping cash in multiple denominations and encourages people to use cash occasionally in normal times to help keep the cash system functioning.

For card payments, the bank recommends having access to at least two cards from different card networks, such as Visa and Mastercard, so that if one network is disrupted, another may still work. It also highlights mobile payment services such as Swish, noting that they rely on a different infrastructure from card payments and may still function even when cards do not.

People who mainly use mobile wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay are advised to keep physical cards and PINs readily available in case a phone runs out of battery or fails; the bank adds that a physical card’s chip may allow offline payments during interruptions.

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EIB highlights AI as key driver of Croatia’s economic growth

The European Investment Bank and the Croatian National Bank have emphasised the strategic importance of AI in strengthening Croatia’s economic competitiveness. Discussions at a joint conference focused on accelerating AI adoption through coordinated investment, policy development and skills enhancement.

Despite strong investment activity among firms in Croatia, the uptake of advanced technologies remains limited. Only a small share of companies systematically use generative AI, with applications largely confined to internal processes, highlighting significant untapped potential for productivity gains.

Participants identified key structural barriers, including limited access to finance, shortages of skilled workers and regulatory uncertainty.

Addressing these challenges requires a combined approach that mobilises private capital, improves access to funding for smaller firms and supports the development of a more robust innovation ecosystem.

The EIB continues to play a central role in Europe’s digital transformation, with major funding initiatives aimed at scaling AI technologies and strengthening strategic infrastructure.

By aligning financial instruments with policy priorities, the initiative seeks to enhance long-term growth, resilience and integration into global value chains.

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EPO accelerates digital patent shift with paperless system by 2027

The European Patent Office (EPO) is accelerating its transition towards a fully digital patent system, with plans to implement a paperless patent-granting process by 2027.

Discussions at the latest eSACEPO meeting highlighted steady progress and broad stakeholder support for modernising patent workflows.

Electronic filing and communication are set to become the default, with paper-based processes limited to exceptional cases. The shift aims to improve efficiency and accessibility, supported by legal adjustments and the gradual introduction of structured data formats to enhance processing accuracy.

Digital tools continue to evolve, with the MyEPO platform expanding its functionality through interface upgrades, self-service features and new capabilities such as colour drawing submissions.

The rollout of DOCX filing, alongside optional PDF backups, reflects a cautious approach designed to balance innovation with reliability.

AI is increasingly integrated into patent examination processes, supporting tasks such as search and documentation.

However, the EPO maintains a human-centric model, ensuring that decision-making authority remains with patent examiners while AI enhances productivity and consistency.

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Experts warn YouTube AI slop harms children and demand action

Fairplay and more than 200 experts have urged YouTube to address the spread of ‘AI slop’ targeting children. The letter was sent to Sundar Pichai and Neal Mohan, along with a petition.

The signatories state that AI-generated videos harm children’s development by distorting reality and overwhelming learning processes. They also warn that such content captures attention and is being recommended to young users, including infants and toddlers.

The letter cites findings that 40% of videos following shows like Cocomelon contained AI-generated content. It also states that 21% of Shorts recommendations included similar material, and misleading science videos were shown to older children.

Fairplay and its partners propose measures, including labelling AI content and banning it from YouTube Kids. They also call for restrictions on recommendations to under-18s and for tools that allow parents to turn off such content.

The initiative was organised by Fairplay and supported by organisations and experts, including Jonathan Haidt. The group says platforms must ensure content is safe and appropriate for children.

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Microsoft announces $5.5 billion Singapore plan with free Copilot for students

Microsoft will invest $5.5 billion in Singapore from 2025 to 2029 to expand cloud and AI infrastructure and operations. The announcement was made by Vice Chair and President Brad Smith at the Asia Tech x Inspire event.

Every tertiary student in Singapore will receive free access to Microsoft 365 Copilot for 12 months. More than 200,000 students will use AI tools integrated into applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.

Educators will receive free AI training through Microsoft Elevate for Educators across schools and higher education institutions. Nonprofit leaders will also be supported through Microsoft Elevate for Changemakers to build practical AI skills.

Officials said the initiatives aim to strengthen workforce readiness and support responsible AI adoption. The programmes align with Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0 and broader efforts to expand AI literacy.

LinkedIn data shows demand for AI literacy skills in Singapore has increased by more than 70% year on year. Microsoft said the investment reflects long term confidence in Singapore as a global digital leader.

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UK expands efforts to boost digital inclusion

More than one million people have been helped to get online through a national digital inclusion plan led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The initiative targets groups including older people, jobseekers and rural communities.

The programme has delivered over 22,000 donated devices and funded more than 80 local projects with £11.9 million. Support includes improved connectivity, access to affordable services and training to build essential digital skills.

Efforts also focus on strengthening long-term capabilities, with the government taking control of the national digital skills framework. Updates will reflect changing needs, such as online safety and the growing role of AI in everyday life.

British officials say the plan is helping people find work, manage finances and access services more easily. Further expansion is expected as authorities work with industry and charities to reach more communities.

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EDB fund and Kazakhstan ministry sign AI cooperation memorandum

The Fund for Digital Initiatives of the Eurasian Development Bank has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of AI and Digitalization. The agreement was signed during the Digital Qazaqstan forum held on 27 March in Shymkent.

The memorandum outlines a strategic partnership to introduce AI technologies and support digital projects. Areas of cooperation include identifying and implementing joint AI projects, exchanging expertise, and strengthening both sides’ capacities as centres of AI competence.

Also, the agreement is intended to deepen the partnership and support Kazakhstan’s strategic objectives for AI development. It also links the memorandum to wider efforts to expand cooperation between the bank’s digital initiatives fund and the ministry.

During the forum, Vice Chairman of the Management Board, Tigran Sargsyan, held a working meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of AI and Digitalization, Zhaslan Madiyev. The discussion covered prospects for broader cooperation, priority projects, and tools to support AI adoption in key sectors of Kazakhstan’s economy.

Sargsyan described 2025 as a record year for the bank in Kazakhstan, with the most projects implemented in digital public administration, platform solutions, and AI deployment. Madiyev, in turn, proposed creating a registry of Kazakhstan’s open-source e-government component solutions for possible replication across EDB member states.

The announcement presents the memorandum as part of the Eurasian Development Bank’s broader support for digital transformation and AI development across its member states.

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