Artificial intelligence Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

EU watchdog urges limits on US data access

The European Union’s data protection watchdog has urged stronger safeguards as negotiations continue with the US over access to biometric databases. European Data Protection Supervisor Wojciech Wiewiórowski said limits must ensure Europeans’ data is used only for agreed purposes.

Talks between the EU and the US involve potential arrangements that would allow US authorities to query national biometric systems. Databases across the EU contain sensitive information, including fingerprints and facial recognition data.

Past transatlantic data-sharing agreements between the two have faced legal challenges due to insufficient safeguards. European regulators are closely monitoring the Data Privacy Framework amid ongoing concerns about oversight.

Officials also warned that emerging AI technologies could create new surveillance risks linked to US data access. European authorities said they must negotiate as a unified bloc when dealing with the US.

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U Mobile named Malaysia’s fastest 5G network in 2025

U Mobile has been ranked Malaysia’s fastest 5G network for the third and fourth quarters of 2025, according to Ookla Speedtest Awards data drawn from millions of real-world user tests.

The result is attributed to the company’s ULTRA5G network, which deploys advanced antenna technologies, including 64T64R systems and extremely large antenna arrays, to boost coverage and handle heavier data traffic.

Chief Technology Officer Woon Ooi Yuen said the recognition validates the company’s infrastructure investments, emphasising that the award reflects actual user experience rather than controlled lab conditions.

U Mobile is targeting 5G coverage across 80% of populated areas in Malaysia by the second half of 2026, with its rollout said to be ahead of schedule.

Beyond coverage expansion, U Mobile has signed a memorandum of understanding with ZTE Malaysia to explore AI-native capabilities in its 5G core network.

The collaboration centres on integrating AI tools for traffic prediction, automated network management, and security monitoring, with digital twin technology potentially allowing engineers to simulate changes before deployment.

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Passkey login comes to Windows 11 via Bitwarden vault

Bitwarden has announced support for logging into Windows 11 devices using passkeys stored in its encrypted vault, enabling phishing-resistant authentication directly at the operating system login screen.

The feature is available across all Bitwarden plans, including the free tier, and is believed to be a first for a third-party password manager.

During the login process, Windows 11 displays a QR code that users scan with their mobile device running the Bitwarden app, which then confirms access to the stored passkey and completes authentication.

Unlike device-bound passkey implementations, passkeys are synchronised across devices via Bitwarden’s end-to-end encrypted vault, meaning users can still regain access even if their phone is lost.

The feature builds on Microsoft’s introduction of native support for external passkey managers in Windows 11 in November 2025. It requires the device to be joined to Microsoft Entra ID with FIDO2 security key sign-in enabled.

Microsoft says the passkey-based login will roll out throughout March, depending on an organisation’s Entra ID configuration.

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China strengthens online safeguards for minors

Chinese authorities have introduced new rules to classify online content that could affect the health and well-being of minors. Set to take effect on 1 March, the measures aim to adapt to a rapidly evolving internet landscape.

Top government bodies, including those in cyberspace, education, publishing, film, culture, tourism, public security, and radio and television, jointly released the initiative. Together, they outlined four categories of content that could negatively impact minors and specified their key characteristics.

Recent issues, such as the misuse of minors’ images, have been integrated into the regulatory framework. Authorities also established preventive guidelines to manage risks from emerging technologies, including algorithmic recommendations and generative AI.

Internet platforms and content producers are now required to take both proactive and corrective measures against harmful content. The rules emphasise that platforms must monitor, block, or remove information that could affect minors’ well-being.

The Cyberspace Administration of China pledged to continue purifying the online environment. Authorities will urge platforms to assume their primary responsibilities and strengthen governance of content affecting young users, aiming to create a safer and healthier digital space for children.

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Sovereign AI becomes a strategic question for governments

Governments across the world are increasingly treating AI as a strategic capability that shapes economic development, public services and national security. Momentum behind the idea of ‘sovereign AI’ is growing as countries reassess who controls the chips, cloud infrastructure, data and models powering modern technology.

Complete control over the entire AI stack remains unrealistic for most economies because of the enormous financial and technological costs involved. Global infrastructure continues to rely heavily on US technology firms, which still operate a large share of data centres and AI systems worldwide.

Policy makers are therefore exploring different approaches to sovereignty across the AI ecosystem rather than pursuing total independence. Strategies range from building domestic computing capacity to adapting global AI models for national languages, regulations and public services.

Several countries already illustrate different approaches. The EU is investing billions in AI infrastructure, Canada protects sensitive computing resources while using global models, and India prioritises applications that serve its multilingual population through public digital systems.

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Nokia and Google Cloud bring AI agents to telecom network APIs

Scripts, manual rules, and layered software tools traditionally ran telecom networks. A new collaboration between Google Cloud and Nokia suggests a shift: software agents can respond to goals rather than just detailed instructions.

The companies are integrating agent-based AI into Nokia’s Network as Code platform, which exposes telecom capabilities through application programming interfaces (APIs). The system allows developers to build applications that interact directly with network features such as connectivity quality, device location checks, or network slicing.

The Google-Nokia partnership introduces an AI layer that enables software agents to determine which network functions to use to achieve a goal. Such changes make development more efficient, as the AI agent can interpret instructions, automatically select the appropriate network capabilities, and reduce the need for developers to call APIs one step at a time manually.

Such automation is increasingly being explored as telecom infrastructure grows more complex with 5G, edge computing, and billions of connected devices. New features such as network slicing provide flexibility for industrial applications, private enterprise networks, and specialised connectivity, but also add operational complexity for operators.

Industry groups, including the GSMA and the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, are developing frameworks to support network APIs and automation. While agent-based AI could help networks operate more like programmable platforms, telecom operators must still address questions around reliability, security, and interoperability before large-scale deployment becomes feasible.

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Data centres’ expansion in London sparks energy and climate debate

London authorities are drafting new data centre policies amid concerns about their environmental impact and rising energy use. City Hall aims to balance the sector’s economic advantages with pressures on electricity, water, and emissions.

The Greater London Authority (GLA) estimates that 10 large data centres generate around 2.7 million tonnes of carbon emissions due to their high electricity consumption. Of the 100 data centres the UK plans, about 60 will be in London.

Megan Life, assistant director for environment and energy at the GLA, told the London Assembly Environment Committee the new strategy aims to ‘keep hold of the kind of economic growth benefits that data centres offer’ while addressing some ‘quite challenging’ impacts linked to their energy use.

Deputy mayor for environment Mete Coban said the expansion of data centres brings both ‘big benefits’ and ‘massive challenges’ for the capital, particularly in terms of energy and water consumption. ‘It’s not just a London problem, it’s going to be a global problem,’ he said, adding: ‘It’s about making sure that our environment doesn’t suffer in the hands of a few global corporations who will take and not give back, so we want to make sure we equitably do this.’

Policymakers are assessing how data centre growth may affect climate goals and urban infrastructure. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has commissioned a study to forecast future expansion. At the same time, UK lawmakers have launched an inquiry into the environmental impact of the sector as demand for cloud computing and AI infrastructure grows.

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Global AI race intensifies as China claims leadership in strategic technologies

China asserted its position as the global leader in AI and strategic technology R&D, pledging to accelerate advancement toward technological autonomy. The assertion was prominently featured in government reports presented to the National People’s Congress.

A National Development and Reform Commission report states that China leads international research, development, and implementation in AI, biomedicine, robotics, and quantum technology. The report also references advancements in domestic chip innovation as proof of progress.

Competition between China and the United States for dominance in advanced technologies has escalated. Washington imposed export controls on advanced chips, while Beijing retaliated with restrictions on rare earth resources, escalating trade tensions over strategic technologies.

The report also highlighted the country’s global leadership in open-source AI models and its expansion into emerging technology sectors, including industrial robots and drones. Authorities pledged to nurture future industries such as quantum technology, embodied AI, and 6G networks, while promoting large-scale AI deployment across key sectors.

Officials also plan to launch new data centres, coordinate nationwide computing capacity, and establish mechanisms to prevent AI security risks. The strategy places particular emphasis on embodied AI to boost productivity and performance across sectors. Although US firms command larger investment resources, Beijing is relying on supply chains, manufacturing capacity, and rapid R&D cycles to scale emerging industries despite questions about long-term growth.

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UK to launch new lab for breakthrough AI research

Researchers in the UK will gain a new AI lab designed to drive transformational breakthroughs in healthcare, transport, science, and everyday technology, supported by government funding.

The lab will provide up to £40 million in funding over six years, alongside substantial access to large-scale computing resources, inviting UK researchers to pitch their most ambitious ideas.

The Fundamental AI Research Lab will focus on tackling core AI challenges, including hallucinations, unreliable memory, and unpredictable reasoning.

The lab will support high-risk, blue-sky research rather than simply scaling existing systems. Its goal is to unlock entirely new capabilities that could improve medical diagnoses, infrastructure resilience, scientific discovery, and public services.

UK officials highlighted the country’s strength in world-class universities, AI talent, and a thriving sector attracting over £100 billion in private investment. Experts, including Raia Hadsell of Google DeepMind, will peer-review funding applications, prioritising bold, high-reward proposals.

The initiative is part of the UKRI AI Strategy, which is backed by £1.6 billion and aims to strengthen research and ensure AI benefits society and the economy. UK AI projects like RADAR for rail faults and the IXI Brain Atlas for Alzheimer’s research demonstrate the approach’s potential impact.

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AI adoption and jobs debated at India summit

Governments, companies and international organisations gathered in India in February for the AI Impact Summit to discuss the future of AI governance and adoption. Participants in India focused on economic impacts, labour market changes and sector specific uses of AI.

Delegates in India also highlighted growing interest in international cooperation on AI governance. Ninety one countries endorsed a declaration supporting shared tools, global collaboration and people centred development of AI.

Language diversity became a central topic during discussions in India. India’s government announced eight foundation AI models designed to support generative AI across the country’s 22 recognised languages.

Debate in India also reflected the growing influence of the Global South in AI policy discussions. Policymakers and experts in India emphasised infrastructure gaps, language diversity and local economic realities shaping AI adoption.

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