The EU member states have endorsed a position for new rules to counter child sexual abuse online. The plan introduces duties for digital services to prevent the spread of abusive material. It also creates an EU Centre to coordinate enforcement and support national authorities.
Service providers must assess how their platforms could be misused and apply mitigation measures. These may include reporting tools, stronger privacy defaults for minors, and controls over shared content. National authorities will review these steps and can order additional action where needed.
A three-tier risk system will categorise services as high, medium, or low risk. High-risk platforms may be required to help develop protective technologies. Providers that fail to comply with obligations could face financial penalties under the regulation.
Victims will be able to request the removal or disabling of abusive material depicting them. The EU Centre will verify provider responses and maintain a database to manage reports. It will also share relevant information with Europol and law enforcement bodies.
The Council supports extending voluntary scanning for abusive content beyond its current expiry. Negotiations with the European Parliament will now begin on the final text. The Parliament adopted its position in 2023 and will help decide the Centre’s location.
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Lawmakers in Virginia are preparing fresh efforts to regulate AI as concerns grow over its influence on minors and vulnerable users.
Legislators will return in January with a set of proposals focused on limiting the capabilities of chatbots, curbing deepfakes and restricting automated ticket-buying systems. The push follows a series of failed attempts last year to define high-risk AI systems and expand protections for consumers.
Delegate Michelle Maldonado aims to introduce measures that restrict what conversational agents can say in therapeutic interactions instead of allowing them to mimic emotional support.
Her plans follow the well-publicised case of a sixteen-year-old who discussed suicidal thoughts with a chatbot before taking his own life. She argues that young people rely heavily on these tools and need stronger safeguards that recognise dangerous language and redirect users towards human help.
Maldonado will also revive a previous bill on high-risk AI, refining it to address particular sectors rather than broad categories.
Delegate Cliff Hayes is preparing legislation to require labels for synthetic media and to block AI systems from buying event tickets in bulk instead of letting automated tools distort prices.
Hayes already secured a law preventing predictions from AI tools from being the sole basis for criminal justice decisions. He warns that the technology has advanced too quickly for policy to remain passive and urges a balance between innovation and protection.
Proposals that come as the state continues to evaluate its regulatory environment under an executive order issued by Governor Glenn Youngkin.
The order directs AI systems to scan the state code for unnecessary or conflicting rules, encouraging streamlined governance instead of strict statutory frameworks. Observers argue that human oversight remains essential as legislators search for common ground on how far to extend regulatory control.
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World leaders gathered in Johannesburg have endorsed a landmark declaration under the 2025 G20 presidency of Cyril Ramaphosa, the first time the summit was held on African soil. The agreement, adopted at the very start of the meeting rather than at its usual conclusion, reflects a sharp pivot toward issues facing the developing world, which include climate resilience, debt relief, global inequality, inclusive development, and sustainable energy.
The 122-point statement, built around the summit’s motto ‘Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,’ calls for increased international cooperation to ensure that ‘no one is left behind.’ It places strong emphasis on supporting low-income and middle-income countries battered by climate disasters, championing debt restructuring, reforming global financial systems, and scaling up investment in clean energy and critical mineral value chains, a priority especially for resource-rich regions in Africa and the Global South.
Support was also voiced for a more inclusive global governance architecture. The declaration calls for reforms to international financial institutions, enhanced representation for emerging economies, and more equitable global supply chains. It underlines that sustainable growth and prosperity cannot come without greater economic equality, technology transfer, and fairer development partnerships.
Addressing geopolitically sensitive issues, the summit called for just, lasting peace in several conflict zones, including Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Palestinian territory, highlighting a collective interest in global stability.
The decision to adopt the declaration immediately was a bold diplomatic move. The president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, speaking in his opening address, said the G20 ‘has a responsibility not to allow the integrity and credibility of the G20 to be undermined,’ stressing that ‘multilateralism can and does deliver concrete results.’
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya announced the agreement had been reached by consensus among attending nations, framing the document as a ‘revolutionary’ step for Africa and the Global South.
The adoption of the declaration occurred despite a boycott by the United States, which declined to participate in the summit due to diplomatic tensions with the host country.
Observers note that the show of unity among nearly all other G20 members signals rising frustration with unilateralism and a willingness to reassert multilateral cooperation, especially on issues where developing countries have long been sidelined.
Whether the commitments enshrined in the Johannesburg Declaration will translate into concrete action remains uncertain. Still, by elevating the concerns of poorer and climate-vulnerable nations onto the global agenda, this summit may mark a turning point for the G20’s role in shaping a fairer, more sustainable world order.
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Yesterday, Australia entered a new phase of its online safety framework after the introduction of the Social Media Minimum Age policy.
eSafety has established a new Parent Advisory Group to support families as the country transitions to enhanced safeguards for young people. The group held its first meeting, with the Commissioner underlining the need for practical and accessible guidance for carers.
The initiative brings together twelve organisations representing a broad cross-section of communities in Australia, including First Nations families, culturally diverse groups, parents of children with disability and households in regional areas.
Their role is to help eSafety refine its approach, so parents can navigate social platforms with greater confidence, rather than feeling unsupported during rapid regulatory change.
A group that will advise on parent engagement, offer evidence-informed insights and test updated resources such as the redeveloped Online Safety Parent Guide.
Their advice will aim to ensure materials remain relevant, inclusive and able to reach priority communities that often miss out on official communications.
Members will serve voluntarily until June 2026 and will work with eSafety to improve distribution networks and strengthen the national conversation on digital literacy. Their collective expertise is expected to shape guidance that reflects real family experiences instead of abstract policy expectations.
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Sharjah is advancing its digital transformation efforts following the issuance of a new decree that established the Higher Committee for Digital Integration. The Crown Prince formed the body to strengthen oversight and guide government entities as the emirate seeks more coordinated progress.
The committee will report directly to the Executive Council and will be led by Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi from the Sharjah Digital Department.
Senior officials from several departments in the UAE will join him to enhance cooperation across the government, rather than leaving agencies to pursue separate digital plans.
Their combined expertise is expected to support stronger governance and reduce risks linked to large-scale transformation.
Its mandate covers strategic oversight, approval of key policies, alignment with national objectives and careful monitoring of digital projects.
The members will intervene when challenges arise, oversee investments and help resolve disputes so the emirate can maintain momentum instead of facing delays caused by fragmented decision-making.
Membership runs for two years, with the option of extension. The committee will continue its work until a successor group is formed and will provide regular reports on progress, challenges and proposed solutions to the Executive Council.
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Samsung Electronics and SK Telecom have taken a significant step toward shaping next-generation connectivity after signing an agreement to develop essential 6G technologies.
Their partnership centres on AI-based radio access networks, with both companies aiming to secure an early lead as global competition intensifies.
Research teams from Samsung and SK Telecom will build and test key components, including AI-based channel estimation, distributed MIMO and AI-driven schedulers.
AI models will refine signals in real-time to improve accuracy, rather than relying on conventional estimation methods. Meanwhile, distributed MIMO will enable multiple antennas to cooperate for reliable, high-speed communication across diverse environments.
The companies believe that AI-enabled schedulers and core networks will manage data flows more efficiently as the number of devices continues to rise.
Their collaboration also extends into the AI-RAN Alliance, where a jointly proposed channel estimation technology has already been accepted as a formal work item, strengthening their shared role in shaping industry standards.
Samsung continues to promote 6G research through its Advanced Communications Research Centre, and recent demonstrations at major industry events highlight the growing momentum behind AI-RAN technology.
Both organisations expect their work to accelerate the transition toward a hyperconnected 6G future, rather than allowing competing ecosystems to dominate early development.
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Germany has launched the INQUBATOR initiative to help companies, particularly SMEs, prepare for the industrial impact of quantum computing. The four-year programme offers structured support to firms facing high entry barriers and limited access to advanced technologies.
A central feature is affordable access to quantum systems from multiple vendors, paired with workshops and hands-on training. Companies can test algorithms, assess business relevance and adapt processes without investing in costly hardware or specialist infrastructure.
The project is coordinated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid-State Physics and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research and Technology. It brings together several Fraunhofer institutes to guide firms from early exploration to applied solutions.
Initial pilot projects span medicine, cybersecurity, insurance and automotive sectors. These examples are intended to demonstrate measurable advantages and will be followed by an open call for further use cases across a broader range of industries.
INQUBATOR aims to reduce financial and technical obstacles while expanding quantum expertise and industrial readiness in Germany. By enabling practical experimentation, it seeks to build a competitive ecosystem of quantum-literate companies over the next four years.
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Quantum computing has long been framed as a future promise, but D-Wave argues real-world use has now arrived. The company says its Advantage2 system is already running complex optimisation tasks for businesses through both cloud and on-premise deployment.
D-Wave highlights a recent physics experiment as evidence of this shift, claiming the system solved a materials-modelling problem that would take a top supercomputer nearly a million years. The result, completed in minutes, serves as a proof point of practical quantum performance.
The company says accessibility is central to its approach, emphasising that Advantage2 can be programmed in Python without specialist quantum expertise. It frames this ease of use as essential to broader adoption beyond research labs.
Industry deployments are cited across logistics, telecoms, and manufacturing. D-Wave points to scheduling gains at Pattison Food Group, network optimisation at NTT Docomo, and faster production planning at Ford Otosan as examples of measurable operational benefits.
Energy efficiency is another focus, with D-Wave stating that each of its six hardware generations draws roughly 12.5 kilowatts. The company argues that this stable power use, paired with rising performance, positions quantum systems as a lower-energy option for hard computational problems.
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A legal case is underway involving OpenAI and the family of a teenager who had extensive interactions with ChatGPT before his death.
OpenAI has filed a response in court that refers to its terms of use and provides additional material for review. The filing also states that more complete records were submitted under seal so the court can assess the situation in full.
The family’s complaint includes concerns about the model’s behaviour and the company’s choices, while OpenAI’s filing outlines its view of the events and the safeguards it has in place. Both sides present different interpretations of the same interactions, which the court will evaluate.
OpenAI has also released a public statement describing its general approach to sensitive cases and the ongoing development of safety features intended to guide users towards appropriate support.
The case has drawn interest because it relates to broader questions about safety measures within conversational AI systems.
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Private 5G is often dismissed as too complex or narrow, yet analysts argue it carries strong potential for mission-critical industries instead of consumer-centric markets.
Sectors that depend on high reliability, including manufacturing, logistics, energy and public safety, find public networks and Wi-Fi insufficient for the operational demands they face. The technology aligns with the rise of AI-enabled automation and may provide growth in a sluggish telecom landscape.
Success depends on the maturity of surrounding ecosystems. Devices, edge computing and integration models differ across industrial verticals, slowing adoption instead of enabling rapid deployment.
The increasing presence of physical AI systems, from autonomous drones to industrial vehicles, makes reliable connectivity even more important.
Debate intensified when Nokia considered divesting its private 5G division, raising doubts about commercial viability, yet industry observers maintain that every market involves unique complexity.
Private 5G extends beyond traditional telecom roles by supporting real-economy sectors such as factories, ports and warehouses. The challenge lies in tailoring networks to distinct operational needs instead of expecting a single solution for all industries.
Analysts also note that inflated expectations in 2019 created a perception of underperformance, although private cellular remains a vital piece in a broader ecosystem involving edge computing, device readiness and software integration.
Long-term outlooks remain optimistic. Analysts project an equipment market worth around $30 billion each year by 2040, supported by strong service revenue. Adoption will vary across industries, but its influence on public RAN markets is expected to grow.
Despite complexity, interest inside the telecom sector stays high, especially as enterprise venues search for reliable connectivity solutions that can support their digital transformation.
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