Artificial intelligence Archives | Page 22 of 676

EuroDIG 2026 debate strengthens Council of Europe digital governance push

The Council of Europe participated in EuroDIG 2026 in Brussels, contributing to discussions on digital governance, democracy, trustworthy AI, platform accountability, and the digital public sphere.

The European Dialogue on Internet Governance took place on 26 and 27 May, bringing together governments, businesses, civil society, academia, the technical community, and other stakeholders to exchange views on internet governance.

The Council of Europe participated under its New Democratic Pact for Europe, a year-long consultation focused on democratic backsliding and digital governance. The consultation covers issues including AI, data protection, media and information society, cybercrime, online discrimination and gender-based violence, digitalisation of justice, legal education, internet governance, and youth participation.

At the opening session, Claudia Luciani, Director of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, said democratic safeguards are critical for the integrity and functioning of Europe’s digital public sphere. She highlighted risks linked to disinformation, information bubbles, and foreign interference and manipulation campaigns.

The Council of Europe also co-organised a debate on trustworthy AI in public services, focusing on transparency, accountability, explainability, and crisis-resilient communication when automated decision-making and AI systems are used in public administration.

Another Council of Europe co-organised session addressed platform accountability and the need to strengthen the digital public sphere. Participants discussed how engagement-driven platform design, generative AI, and synthetic media can contribute to disinformation, hate speech, and other harms, and how governance frameworks could empower users as active citizens.

The Council of Europe’s European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice and its HELP programme also organised a session on how the use of AI in justice systems is changing legal professionals’ training needs.

EuroDIG 2026 was hosted by EURid, the .eu domain name registry, and supported by the European Commission.

The event was held under the theme ‘European voices for the future of the internet – celebrating 20 years of .eu and the beginning of a new internet governance era’.

Why does it matter?

The Council of Europe’s participation in EuroDIG shows how digital governance is being folded into broader debates on democratic resilience. Its focus on trustworthy AI in public services, platform accountability, synthetic media, online discrimination, and AI in justice systems reflects a broader policy shift: digital governance is increasingly treated as part of Europe’s democracy, human rights, and rule-of-law agenda, rather than solely as a technology issue.

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

EuroDIG 2026 debates Europe’s path towards digital sovereignty

European policymakers, technical experts, and civil society representatives debated how Europe can reduce its dependence on foreign digital technologies without fragmenting the open internet during a EuroDIG 2026 session on digital sovereignty.

The discussion reflected growing concern in Europe that heavy reliance on non-European cloud providers, AI systems, platforms, semiconductors, and digital infrastructure has become a strategic vulnerability affecting not only the economy but also democratic resilience and political self-determination.

Fabrizia Benini, head of unit for the Future Internet at the European Commission’s DG CONNECT, argued that Europe’s dependencies across the digital stack are the result of years of choosing to buy technologies rather than build them domestically. According to Benini, digital sovereignty should not mean isolation or digital nationalism, but ensuring that citizens, businesses, and governments retain meaningful choice and control over digital technologies, data, and infrastructure.

She stressed that Europe remains committed to an open, global, secure, and interoperable internet while seeking to manage strategic dependencies through partnerships with trusted countries and stronger European technological capacity.

Benini also pointed to upcoming EU initiatives, including a Sovereign Tech Package covering semiconductors, cloud and AI infrastructure, and open-source technologies. She described Europe’s regulatory framework, including the GDPR, DSA, DMA, and AI Act, as an important long-term foundation, while acknowledging that regulation alone cannot deliver sovereignty.

Several participants echoed that concern, arguing that Europe has become highly effective at regulating digital systems while still depending heavily on technologies built elsewhere.

João Gomes from YouthDIG said younger Europeans increasingly want opportunities not only to regulate technology, but also to build competitive European alternatives. He warned that Europe risks becoming ‘the world’s most sophisticated regulator’ without developing sufficient industrial and technological capacity of its own.

Open source, interoperability, and trusted infrastructure emerged repeatedly as key pillars of the European approach. Frank Kruger from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernization argued that maintaining critical open-source infrastructure is essential for Europe’s resilience, security, and innovation capacity.

Peter Janssen, general manager of EURid, linked digital sovereignty to practical user control over online identities and infrastructure. Using the .eu domain as an example, he said European users should be able to retain control over their digital presence, providers, and data through open standards and interoperable systems.

At the same time, several speakers warned against allowing digital sovereignty to become a justification for internet fragmentation or excessive state control. Elonnai Hickok, Managing Director at Global Network Initiative, stressed that Europe should continue supporting open standards, interoperability, portability, and multistakeholder governance while avoiding surveillance-heavy or protectionist approaches.

The terminology itself also generated debate. Some participants preferred terms such as ‘strategic autonomy’ or ‘digital autonomy’, arguing that ‘sovereignty’ can sound nation-centric or exclusionary. Others defended the term as necessary to describe Europe’s ability to preserve democratic self-determination in a more contested geopolitical environment.

Despite differences over terminology and emphasis, the session ended with broad agreement that Europe needs a long-term strategy combining regulation, industrial policy, open standards, digital skills, infrastructure investment, and support for European alternatives.

Participants also agreed that Europe’s approach should aim for what the session’s final draft messages described as ‘resilient openness and strategic autonomy’ rather than isolation or protectionism.

EuroDIG 2026 took place on 26 and 27 May at the Charlemagne Building of the European Commission in Brussels under the theme ‘European Voices for the Future of the Internet – Celebrating 20 Years of .eu and the Beginning of a New Internet Governance Era’.

Digital Watch Observatory followed EuroDIG 2026 through a dedicated event page, featuring session information and reporting from Brussels.

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

ITU puts AI and creativity in focus at Geneva summit

The International Telecommunication Union will place AI and digital creativity in the spotlight during the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, where artists, musicians, filmmakers, and technologists will discuss how AI is reshaping creative industries.

The summit’s AI Creativity and Culture track will explore questions around ownership, authenticity, copyright, and the growing role of generative AI in artistic production. Sessions will examine how AI tools are affecting media, music, publishing, design, fashion, entertainment, journalism, and creative labour.

High-profile participants include John Legend, who will discuss AI and music with Universal Music Group’s Michael Nash, and will.i.am, who will focus on skills, education, and AI. The programme will also feature AI-driven art installations, robotic musical performances, and screenings during the AI for Good Film Festival.

The festival, now in its second year, has received more than 1,200 contest submissions, with selected films to be shown during the summit. The programme will also include the third edition of Canvas of the Future, ITU’s AI-powered art contest, focused on how AI is shaping the future of education and work.

Organised by ITU with partners across the UN system and co-convened with Switzerland, AI for Good is intended to demonstrate AI solutions for people, planet, and prosperity. The 2026 creative programme reflects growing international attention to how AI is changing cultural production, intellectual property, and the economics of creative work.

Why does it matter?

The programme shows how AI governance debates are expanding beyond safety, productivity, and infrastructure into culture, copyright, ownership, and creative labour. By bringing together artists, entertainment companies, technologists, and UN actors in a single forum, AI for Good is treating AI creativity as both an economic opportunity and a policy challenge.

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

Australia warns of serious frontier AI cyber risks

The Australian Government has issued a policy advisory urging Commonwealth entities to strengthen cybersecurity readiness for the frontier AI era.

Issued under the Protective Security Policy Framework, the advisory warns that frontier AI creates a dual-use challenge because advanced AI models can strengthen cyber defence while also being used by malicious actors to conduct cyber activities faster, cheaper, and at greater scale.

The Department of Home Affairs said frontier AI increases the risks posed by known vulnerabilities, legacy systems, and weak cyber hygiene, creating what it calls a ‘vulnerability storm’ for government entities.

The document says Australian Government entities do not need access to the most advanced frontier AI models to stay protected. Instead, effective readiness depends on applying existing cybersecurity mitigations and practices, including guidance from the Australian Signals Directorate and requirements under the Protective Security Policy Framework.

Commonwealth entities are told to prioritise compliance with the PSPF, Information Security Manual, and Essential Eight, confirm executive accountability for cybersecurity risk management, engage with ASD and Home Affairs guidance, and identify and remediate material gaps that AI-enabled threat actors could exploit.

The advisory also highlights requirements covering internet-facing systems, secure procurement and supply chains, attack surface reduction, patching, legacy technologies, zero-trust principles, gateway security, ASD’s Cyber Security Partnership Program, and the application of the Information Security Manual.

An annex from ASD says frontier AI is collapsing exploit timelines from days to hours and urges organisations to ‘lock down the fundamentals now’. It outlines actions to secure systems, reduce vulnerabilities, replace or isolate legacy IT, prepare for incidents, adopt AI for cyber defence, and modernise systems using secure-by-design and secure-by-default principles.

The advisory is aimed at accountable authorities, chief security officers, chief information security officers, procurement officers, and entity personnel.

Why does it matter?

The advisory frames frontier AI as an accelerant for existing cybersecurity weaknesses rather than a wholly new category of risk. Australia’s message to government entities is that AI-enabled threats make basic cyber hygiene more urgent: patching, reducing attack surfaces, managing legacy systems, securing supply chains, and preparing incident response plans. It also shows how governments are beginning to translate frontier AI risk into operational security requirements for public-sector organisations.

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

YouTube expands AI transparency rules with automatic content detection

YouTube is updating its approach to AI-generated content by introducing more visible disclosure labels and new automatic detection systems designed to improve transparency for viewers and creators.

The update follows growing concerns around realistic synthetic media, manipulated videos, and generative AI tools across major digital platforms.

Under the revised system, labels for photorealistic or meaningfully AI-altered or generated content will appear directly below long-form videos and as overlays on Shorts. Less realistic, animated, or slightly altered content will continue to be disclosed in expanded video descriptions.

The company is also rolling out internal AI detection signals to identify AI-generated content when creators fail to disclose it themselves. If YouTube’s systems detect significant use of photorealistic AI, the platform may automatically apply a label.

Creators will still be able to update the disclosure status in YouTube Studio if they believe their content has been incorrectly identified as AI-generated. However, disclosures will remain permanent in some cases, including content created with YouTube’s own AI tools, such as Veo or Dream Screen, and content that contains C2PA metadata indicating that AI fully generated it.

YouTube said the updated labels are intended to balance transparency with creator control. The company also said that a disclosure label alone does not change how a video is recommended or whether it is eligible to earn money.

Why does it matter?

YouTube’s update reflects a broader shift towards platform-level governance of synthetic media and generative AI content. As realistic AI-generated video becomes easier to produce, platforms face growing pressure to make synthetic content more visible to users while preserving creator workflows and avoiding over-penalisation. The move also shows how provenance tools such as C2PA and automated detection systems are becoming part of mainstream content governance.

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

Dublin International AI Summit to spotlight Europe’s AI ambitions

Ireland will host the International AI Summit in Dublin on 14 October 2026 as the official launch of European AI Innovation Month during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The summit will take place at the Royal Dublin Society under the theme ‘Harnessing AI to Revolutionise Europe’s Competitiveness’. It is intended as a high-level platform for discussion, collaboration, and strategic dialogue on AI opportunities in Europe and globally.

The event will bring together EU and global leaders, heads of government, CEOs, investors, innovators, academics, policymakers, industry representatives, and AI experts. Confirmed speakers include European Commission Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen.

The programme will include ministerial addresses, keynote speeches, panel discussions, and fireside chats on Europe’s AI future. Topics will include competitiveness, trustworthy AI, digital infrastructure, investment, skills, and talent development.

The summit will also feature European-focused sector discussions on AI opportunities across the economy and society. Sessions are expected to highlight examples of AI adoption and collaboration by businesses, public services, and research institutions.

Ireland said the event builds on its role as a European technology hub, noting that 16 of the world’s top 20 global technology companies and eight leading providers of foundational AI models have their main EU establishment in the country.

The summit is also linked to Ireland’s updated National Digital and AI Strategy, ‘Digital Ireland – Connecting our People, Securing our Future’, which places AI and digital transformation at the centre of economic and innovation policy.

A full programme, additional speakers, registration details, and an expression of interest for enterprises seeking to join the Innovation Spotlight Exhibition will be announced later.

Why does it matter?

The summit gives Ireland a platform to shape Europe’s AI competitiveness debate during its EU Council Presidency. Its focus on trustworthy AI, infrastructure, investment, skills, and sectoral adoption reflects the EU’s broader challenge: turning regulatory leadership and research capacity into stronger deployment, productivity, and industrial competitiveness.

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

Spain approves draft law adapting the EU AI Act into national legislation

Spain’s Council of Ministers has approved a draft Organic Law aimed at adapting the EU AI Act into the country’s national legal framework.

Digital Transformation and Public Service Minister Óscar López said the draft law will now be sent to the Cortes for parliamentary consideration. The proposal establishes obligations for AI providers and introduces requirements for human oversight of AI systems.

The draft law incorporates the EU AI Act’s risk-based classification framework into Spanish legislation while establishing sanctions, governance structures, and supervisory authorities.

López said the law follows Spain’s approach to AI regulation, including human oversight, algorithmic transparency, protection of minors, and data privacy. López rejected the idea that regulation undermines competitiveness, pointing to Spain’s broader AI strategy and investment initiatives.

The minister said the EU AI Act includes prohibitions covering subliminal techniques, exploitation of vulnerabilities, biometric classification, social scoring, predictive surveillance, emotion recognition, facial scraping, and real-time identification. He added that, following a request from Spain, the EU agreed on 7 May to add prohibitions on AI-generated sexual deepfakes and AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

The draft law designates Spain’s Artificial Intelligence Supervisory Agency, based in A Coruña, as the central authority. Other market surveillance authorities will also have roles, including the Bank of Spain for financial systems, the Spanish Data Protection Agency for data-related matters, and the General Council of the Judiciary for justice-related issues.

The proposal promotes responsible AI use in the state public sector, including stronger requirements for AI models and transparency in public administration, as well as the creation of an AI officer role. The law also sets rules for AI regulatory sandboxes and measures intended to help AI providers comply with the legislation.

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

France and South Korea team up on AI data protection

The French data protection authority CNIL and South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission have jointly developed a poster to raise awareness of privacy risks linked to generative AI.

The initiative builds on their ongoing cooperation under a memorandum of understanding signed in October 2022 and follows a previous joint poster on children’s and adolescents’ right to self-determination over personal data.

The new poster, titled ‘Generative AI and Privacy’, provides practical guidance on how users can protect their personal data before, during, and after using generative AI services. CNIL said the material is designed to be easy to understand as generative AI becomes more widely used across age groups.

Both authorities said that generative AI offers new opportunities but also poses challenges for personal data protection, particularly for teenagers and young users. The poster is available in Korean, French, and English, and may be translated into other languages upon request from interested data protection authorities.

CNIL and PIPC said they will promote and use the poster through various initiatives, including online and offline distribution to middle and high schools, social networking service posts, and events.

The two authorities also agreed to continue strengthening international cooperation and policy collaboration, especially to protect children’s and adolescents’ personal data as generative AI expands.

Why does it matter?

The initiative shows how data protection authorities are using public-awareness tools to respond to everyday privacy risks created by generative AI. While it is not a regulatory measure, the cooperation between CNIL and PIPC highlights growing attention to youth data protection, AI literacy, and cross-border coordination between privacy regulators.

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

US Census Bureau reports higher AI adoption among larger firms

The US Census Bureau has published new findings from its Business Trends and Outlook Survey, showing that AI use among US businesses remained between 17% and 20% from December 2025 to May 2026.

The survey also found that between 20% and 23% of businesses expected to use AI within the next six months. The data were collected between 14 December 2025 and 3 May 2026 and provide a biweekly, nationally representative view of AI implementation across US businesses.

AI adoption was higher among larger firms. Around 37% of businesses with at least 250 employees reported using AI in their operations, while 32% of firms with 100 to 249 employees reported AI use during the data collection period ending 3 May 2026.

The Census Bureau said AI use increased among firms with at least 20 employees between December 2025 and May 2026, but did not change significantly among firms with fewer than 20 employees. Less than 20% of firms with four or fewer employees reported using AI.

Sector-level findings showed that AI use remained above the national average in the Information and Finance and Insurance sectors. As of 3 May 2026, AI use reached 39.7% in Information and 33.9% in Finance and Insurance, compared with a national rate of 19.8%.

Retail Trade businesses reported lower adoption rates, with around 14% currently using AI and about 17% expecting to use it within six months.

The Census Bureau also noted that its updated AI supplement now measures AI use across 15 business functions, including finance, human resources, customer service, marketing, information technology, and research and development. The supplement also examines AI-related operational changes, including training, workflow adjustments, and technology investments.

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

New Zealand issues AI guidance to speed up regulatory work

New Zealand’s Ministry for Regulation in New Zealand has issued guidance encouraging public regulators to adopt AI for low-risk administrative tasks while maintaining human oversight and accountability. The guidance highlights low-risk uses, including case triage, prioritisation, and structured data validation. The framework is designed to help public agencies work faster while maintaining accountability and human oversight.

Officials stressed that AI should support rather than replace human judgement in regulatory decision-making. The document states that legal interpretation and final accountability must remain with human decision-makers, particularly in high-risk or complex cases.

The guidance also warns that introducing AI into poorly designed regulatory systems could amplify existing inefficiencies rather than resolve them.

The framework presents AI adoption as a strategic governance issue rather than solely a technical upgrade. Regulators are encouraged to establish clear objectives, safeguards, and accountability mechanisms, including transparency, fairness, privacy protections, and alignment with Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.

Why does it matter?

New Zealand’s approach highlights a wider global shift where governments are using AI to improve public sector efficiency, but only within tightly defined boundaries. The focus on low-risk uses and human oversight reflects a growing view that automation can improve efficiency without replacing legal accountability.

The guidance also underscores a structural reality: AI can amplify existing strengths or weaknesses in regulatory systems. Countries that fail to modernise risk scaling inefficiencies, while strong oversight can help AI improve consistency, transparency and service delivery.

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