Access

Council presidency launches talks on AI deepfakes and cyberattacks

EU member states are preparing to open formal discussions on the risks posed by AI-powered deepfakes and their use in cyberattacks, following an initiative by the current Council presidency.

The talks are intended to assess how synthetic media may undermine democratic processes and public trust across the bloc.

According to sources, capitals will also begin coordinated exchanges on the proposed Democracy Shield, a framework aimed at strengthening resilience against foreign interference and digitally enabled manipulation.

Deepfakes are increasingly viewed as a cross-cutting threat, combining disinformation, cyber operations and influence campaigns.

The timeline set out by the presidency foresees structured discussions among national experts before escalating the issue to the ministerial level. The approach reflects growing concern that existing cyber and media rules are insufficient to address rapidly advancing AI-generated content.

An initiative that signals a broader shift within the Council towards treating deepfakes not only as a content moderation challenge, but as a security risk with implications for elections, governance and institutional stability.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Google faces new UK rules over AI summaries and publisher rights

The UK competition watchdog has proposed new rules that would force Google to give publishers greater control over how their content is used in search and AI tools.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) plans to require opt-outs for AI-generated summaries and model training, marking the first major intervention under Britain’s new digital markets regime.

Publishers argue that generative AI threatens traffic and revenue by answering queries directly instead of sending users to the original sources.

The CMA proposal would also require clearer attribution of publisher content in AI results and stronger transparency around search rankings, including AI Overviews and conversational search features.

Additional measures under consultation include search engine choice screens on Android and Chrome, alongside stricter data portability obligations. The regulator says tailored obligations would give businesses and users more choice while supporting innovation in digital markets.

Google has warned that overly rigid controls could damage the user experience, describing the relationship between AI and search as complex.

The consultation runs until late February, with the outcome expected to shape how AI-powered search operates in the UK.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Job cuts signal Pinterest’s deeper shift toward AI-powered products

Pinterest is cutting under 15% of its workforce as part of a broader restructuring aimed at shifting more investment toward AI-driven products and roles.

In a regulatory filing, the company said the changes are designed to support transformation initiatives, including reallocating resources to AI-focused teams and reshaping its sales and go-to-market strategy.

The restructuring will also include reductions in office space, with completion targeted for the end of September and expected pre-tax charges ranging from $35 million to $45 million.

Pinterest had around 5,200 employees at the end of last year, meaning the layoffs will affect several hundred staff as the platform accelerates its AI integration.

Recent launches such as AI-powered board updates and the Pinterest Assistant shopping tool reflect a wider trend across the tech sector, where companies are trimming headcount while expanding AI investment.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Canada’s Cyber Centre flags rising ransomware risks for 2025 to 2027

The national cyber authority of Canada has warned that ransomware will remain one of the country’s most serious cyber threats through 2027, as attacks become faster, cheaper and harder to detect.

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, part of Communications Security Establishment Canada, says ransomware now operates as a highly interconnected criminal ecosystem driven by financial motives and opportunistic targeting.

According to the outlook, threat actors are increasingly using AI and cryptocurrency while expanding extortion techniques beyond simple data encryption.

Businesses, public institutions and critical infrastructure in Canada remain at risk, with attackers continuously adapting their tactics, techniques and procedures to maximise financial returns.

The Cyber Centre stresses that basic cyber hygiene still provides strong protection. Regular software updates, multi-factor authentication and vigilance against phishing attempts significantly reduce exposure, even as attack methods evolve.

A report that also highlights the importance of cooperation between government bodies, law enforcement, private organisations and the public.

Officials conclude that while ransomware threats will intensify over the next two years, early warnings, shared intelligence and preventive measures can limit damage.

Canada’s cyber authorities say continued investment in partnerships and guidance remains central to building national digital resilience.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!  

TikTok struggles to stabilise US infrastructure after data centre outage

TikTok says recovery of its US infrastructure is progressing, although technical issues continue to affect parts of the platform after a data centre power outage.

The disruption followed the launch of a new US-based entity backed by American investors, a move aimed at avoiding a nationwide ban.

Users across the country reported problems with searches, video playback, posting content, loading comments and unexpected behaviour in the For You algorithm. TikTok said the outage also affected other apps and warned that slower load times and timeouts may persist, rather than returning to normal performance.

In a statement posted by the TikTok USDS Joint Venture, the company said collaboration with its US data centre partner has restored much of the infrastructure, but posting new content may still trigger errors.

Creators may also see missing views, likes, or earnings due to server timeouts rather than actual data loss.

TikTok has not named the data centre partner involved, while severe winter storms across the US may have contributed to the outage. Despite growing scepticism around the timing of the disruption, the company insists that user data and engagement remain secure.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

OpenAI prepares ad rollout inside free ChatGPT service

Advertising is set to be introduced within the free ChatGPT service, signalling a shift in how the platform will be monetised as its user base continues to expand rapidly. The move reflects OpenAI’s plans to turn widespread adoption into a sustainable revenue stream.

The company confirmed that ad testing will begin in the coming weeks, with sponsored content shown at the bottom of relevant ChatGPT responses. OpenAI said advertisements will be clearly labelled and separated from organic answers.

ChatGPT now serves more than 800 million users globally, most of whom currently access the service at no cost. Despite the high valuation, the company has continued to operate at a loss while expanding its infrastructure and AI capabilities.

Advertising represents OpenAI’s latest effort to diversify income beyond paid subscriptions and enterprise services. Sponsored recommendations will be shown only when products or services are deemed relevant to the user’s ongoing conversation.

The shift places OpenAI closer to traditional digital platform business models, raising broader questions about how commercial incentives may shape conversational AI systems as they become central gateways to online information.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

AI Plus subscription by Google expands to 35 new countries and territories

Google has expanded its AI subscription offering to 35 additional countries and territories, bringing Google AI Plus to all regions where its AI plans are currently available, including the United States.

The paid tier bundles access to advanced tools such as Gemini 3 Pro and Nano Banana Pro in the Gemini app, alongside creative features in Flow and research assistance through NotebookLM.

Users also receive 200GB of cloud storage, with the option to share benefits across up to five family members, positioning the plan as both a productivity and household service.

Existing Google One Premium 2TB subscribers in newly supported markets will automatically gain access to Google AI Plus features in the coming days, according to the company.

In the US, pricing starts at $7.99 per month, with a limited-time offer providing a 50 percent discount for new subscribers during the first two months.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

China’s AI battle heats up with Moonshot AI’s Kimi 2.5 upgrade

Moonshot AI has released an upgraded version of its Kimi model, intensifying competition among China’s leading AI developers. The launch comes ahead of an anticipated major release from rival DeepSeek.

The new model, K2.5, can process text, images, and video within a single prompt. Moonshot said the system improves performance across benchmarks and strengthens coding capabilities.

Several AI firms in China have rolled out upgrades in recent weeks. Companies including Alibaba, Zhipu, and MiniMax have introduced new models focused on reasoning, images, and robotics.

Investment has surged alongside the technology push. Moonshot recently raised $500 million, while rivals secured more than $1 billion through listings and funding rounds.

Analysts say the rapid pace highlights mounting pressure across the Chinese AI sector. Smaller developers are struggling to keep up with rising costs and the pace of innovation.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Facial recognition and AI power Android’s new theft protection upgrades

Android is rolling out expanded theft protection features aimed at reducing financial fraud and safeguarding personal data when smartphones are stolen, with new security controls now available across recent device versions.

The latest updates introduce stronger protections against unauthorised access, including tighter lockout rules after failed authentication attempts and broader biometric safeguards covering third-party apps such as banking services and password managers.

Recovery tools are also being enhanced, with remote locking now offering optional security challenges to ensure only verified owners can secure lost or stolen devices through web access.

For new Android devices activated in Brazil, AI-powered theft detection and remote locking are enabled by default, using on-device intelligence to identify snatch-and-run incidents and immediately lock the screen.

The expanded protections reflect a broader shift towards multi-layered mobile security, as device makers respond to rising phone theft linked to identity fraud, financial crime, and data exploitation.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!