UAE establishes AI and Data Authority

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has approved the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Authority, according to the Government of Dubai Media Office. The new body will consolidate public data, AI and digital government functions under a single national framework.

The authority will report directly to the Cabinet and assume responsibilities previously held by several entities, including the Office of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, the Digital Government Regulatory Authority and the UAE Data Office.

Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, has been appointed chairman of the authority. Its responsibilities include developing the national AI strategy, managing government data, overseeing digital services, and setting standards for data and AI governance.

According to the Government of Dubai Media Office, the authority will also support research, technical advisory services, cybersecurity and international cooperation on AI and digital government. The initiative forms part of the UAE’s efforts to strengthen its position in the digital economy.

Why does it matter?

The creation of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Authority reflects a growing trend among governments to centralise oversight of AI, data and digital transformation policies. Bringing these functions together under a single institution can improve coordination, support more consistent governance frameworks and accelerate the deployment of digital services.

The move also reinforces the UAE’s ambition to position itself as a regional and global leader in AI and the digital economy. By consolidating responsibilities for AI strategy, data governance, digital services and international cooperation, the new authority is expected to play a central role in shaping the country’s future digital development.

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

UK evaluates frontier AI for operational cybersecurity applications

The UK Government Cyber Coordination Centre (GC3), in partnership with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the AI Security Institute, has completed a pilot programme exploring how frontier AI models could strengthen cyber defence across government systems.

The initiative forms part of the UK’s Government Cyber Action Plan, which seeks to improve public-sector cyber resilience through the use of emerging technologies.

Teams participated in a series of hackathons that used advanced AI systems to analyse public government code repositories for potential security weaknesses.

Different approaches were tested, including multi-agent workflows, AI-assisted vulnerability investigation and specialised AI skills designed to automate parts of the security auditing process. Rather than relying on a single methodology, participants tested different architectures and workflows to determine which approaches produced the most effective results.

The exercise identified 407 security findings, including vulnerabilities that could have enabled authentication bypass, data exposure and remote code execution. AI models demonstrated an ability to identify relationships between technical weaknesses across multiple services and uncover attack paths that conventional scanners often struggle to detect.

Government departments validated the findings through existing security processes and remediated all critical vulnerabilities.

UK officials concluded that successful deployment depends less on the choice of AI model and more on how AI is integrated into structured security workflows. Human experts remained responsible for validating findings, prioritising risks and managing remediation efforts.

Following the results, GC3 plans to launch a second phase involving additional government departments, more AI systems and assessments of closed-source environments.

Why does it matter?

The pilot provides a practical example of how frontier AI systems can be used in operational cybersecurity rather than solely for research or experimentation. As governments and organisations face increasingly complex cyber threats, AI tools could help security teams identify vulnerabilities more quickly and uncover attack paths that traditional automated tools may miss.

The findings also reinforce the importance of human oversight in AI-enabled security operations. While AI can assist with vulnerability discovery and analysis at scale, expert validation and risk management remain essential. The project highlights a growing trend towards combining AI capabilities with human expertise to improve cyber resilience across critical systems and public-sector infrastructure.

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

EU and Brazil strengthen cooperation on protecting children online

The European Commission and Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) have signed a new administrative arrangement aimed at strengthening cooperation on the protection of children online.

Announced under the newly established EU-Brazil Digital Partnership, the agreement focuses on sharing expertise, regulatory practices and technical knowledge related to online safety.

According to the European Commission, cooperation will cover several areas related to digital platform regulation, including transparency obligations, risk assessment and mitigation measures, algorithmic systems and AI.

The arrangement also establishes mechanisms for information sharing, expert dialogue, joint studies and collaborative research.

The agreement forms part of the European Commission’s broader international cooperation strategy under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

Similar arrangements have already been established with the UK’s Ofcom, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner and Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The Commission stated that it intends to continue expanding collaboration with international regulators on digital safety issues.

The initiative reflects growing international efforts to address online risks facing children while strengthening cooperation between regulators responsible for platform governance, data protection and digital services oversight.

Why does it matter?

Protecting children online has become a major policy priority as governments grapple with the impact of social media platforms, recommender systems, AI technologies and other digital services on young users. Increasingly, regulators are recognising that many of these challenges are cross-border in nature and require international cooperation.

The agreement strengthens ties between the EU and Brazil on issues ranging from platform transparency and risk mitigation to AI and algorithmic governance. It also reflects a broader trend towards greater coordination among regulators seeking to improve online safety, enhance platform accountability and develop common approaches to digital governance.

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

Anthropic forced to disable Fable 5 after US directive

Anthropic has disabled access to Claude Fable 5 and Claude Mythos 5 after receiving a US government export control directive citing national security authorities.

The company said the directive requires it to suspend access to the models by any foreign national, whether inside or outside the United States, including foreign national Anthropic employees. Anthropic said the practical effect is that it must remove access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 for all customers to ensure compliance. Access to its other models is not affected.

According to Anthropic, it received the directive on 12 June at 5:21 p.m. ET. The company said the order did not provide specific details of the national security concern, but that it understands the government believes it has become aware of a method for bypassing, or jailbreaking, Fable 5.

Anthropic said it reviewed a demonstration of the technique being used to identify a small number of previously known minor vulnerabilities. The company argued that those vulnerabilities appeared relatively simple and could also be identified by other publicly available models without requiring a bypass.

Anthropic said Fable 5 had been red-teamed before launch by its internal teams, the US government, the UK AI Safety Institute and third-party organisations. The company said no tester had found a universal jailbreak capable of broadly bypassing the model’s safeguards.

The company said it is complying with the directive but disagrees that a narrow potential jailbreak should justify recalling a commercial model. It also argued that applying such a standard across the industry could effectively halt new frontier model deployments.

Anthropic said governments should be able to block unsafe AI deployments through a transparent and technically grounded statutory process, but said the current action does not meet those principles. The company said it is working to restore access as soon as possible.

Why does it matter?

The case shows how national security and export-control powers can directly affect access to frontier AI systems after deployment. It raises a major governance question: when should governments be able to suspend access to advanced models, and what evidence, transparency and due-process safeguards should apply? The dispute also highlights the growing tension between frontier AI safety, commercial deployment, cross-border access and government intervention in dual-use technologies.

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

EU AI Board reviews AI Act implementation and tech sovereignty agenda

The EU AI Board held its eighth meeting to review progress on AI Act implementation and discuss wider priorities in the EU’s AI strategy.

The meeting took place under the chairmanship of the Cypriot Presidency of the EU Council. The presidency also announced that Moldova had been granted observer status on the AI Board.

The European Commission presented its Tech Sovereignty Package, with a focus on the proposed Cloud and AI Development Act and its role in strengthening AI innovation, competitiveness and technological sovereignty in Europe.

The Board also reviewed the final version of the voluntary Code of Practice on labelling and marking AI-generated content. The code sets out practical steps to help providers and deployers of generative AI systems meet transparency obligations under the AI Act, which will apply from 2 August 2026.

Further discussions focused on the AI Act’s implementation architecture. The Commission presented the recently appointed Scientific Panel and AI Act Advisory Forum, which will support the Commission and the AI Board. Members also discussed progress in establishing national market surveillance authorities and endorsed additional documents prepared by an AI Board subgroup, which are expected to be published shortly.

Why does it matter?

The meeting shows the EU moving from AI Act adoption towards practical implementation. The discussion links several important pieces of the EU AI governance architecture: voluntary transparency tools, expert advisory bodies, national market surveillance authorities and broader industrial policy through the Tech Sovereignty Package. Together, these elements will shape how AI rules are coordinated, interpreted and enforced across the EU.

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

EU and Brazil strengthen cooperation through new Digital Partnership

The European Union and Brazil have signed a new Digital Partnership to strengthen cooperation on shared digital policy priorities, including AI, data governance, digital infrastructure, connectivity, online platforms and digital public goods and services.

The partnership was signed in Brasília and is intended to raise EU-Brazil digital cooperation to a more strategic level. According to the European Commission, Digital Partnerships are a core instrument of the EU’s external digital policy and are used to structure cooperation with like-minded partners.

The agreement builds on more than two decades of EU-Brazil cooperation, including the EU-Brazil Strategic Partnership and the existing EU-Brazil Digital Dialogue. The two sides said the partnership will support joint work on resilient global supply chains, rules-based digital governance and wider sharing of the benefits of technological progress.

The signing follows the adoption of mutual EU-Brazil data adequacy decisions in January 2026, which allow personal data to flow freely and securely between the two jurisdictions without additional requirements. The Commission described those decisions as creating the world’s largest area of free and safe data flows, covering around 670 million consumers.

Future cooperation under the Digital Partnership will be developed through technical workstreams and high-level exchanges. The first Digital Partnership Council is expected to meet within the next year to set out a joint roadmap for cooperation.

Why does it matter?

The partnership strengthens digital cooperation between the EU and one of Latin America’s largest economies at a time when AI governance, data protection, online platforms and digital public infrastructure are becoming central to international relations. It also shows how the EU is using digital partnerships and data adequacy decisions to expand trusted digital cooperation beyond Europe, while promoting regulatory alignment, secure data flows and shared approaches to global digital governance.

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

IMF chief calls for stronger cooperation on AI-related cybersecurity risks

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has called for greater international cooperation to address cybersecurity risks associated with advanced AI systems, warning that rapidly evolving AI capabilities could pose challenges for the global financial system if misused.

Speaking to journalists in Brussels, Georgieva said new AI models are increasing the ability to identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities at a scale previously unavailable. She noted that these capabilities can support efforts to strengthen cyber defences by helping organisations detect and address weaknesses more quickly.

At the same time, Georgieva said the same capabilities could be misused by malicious actors. Referring to recent developments in advanced AI systems, she said that frontier models can be used positively to identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities but that, ‘in the wrong hands,’ those capabilities could be directed against financial infrastructure.

Her comments come amid growing discussion among policymakers, regulators, and financial institutions about the implications of increasingly capable AI systems for cybersecurity and financial stability. Earlier this year, Georgieva warned that the international monetary system was not adequately prepared to address rapidly evolving AI-related cyber risks and called for greater attention to safeguards needed to protect financial stability.

According to Georgieva, stronger cooperation will be necessary across countries and sectors to address these risks. She highlighted the importance of collaboration between advanced and developing economies, as well as between public institutions and private-sector actors responsible for critical digital infrastructure.

She also pointed to the interconnected nature of the global financial system, arguing that vulnerabilities in one jurisdiction can have wider implications. Because financial systems are closely linked across borders, weaknesses in cybersecurity protections may create risks beyond the countries where they originate.

In addition to cooperation, Georgieva stressed the importance of investing in cyber resilience. She said governments should consider cybersecurity requirements when planning public spending and ensure that sufficient resources are available to strengthen defences against evolving threats.

Her remarks align with broader concerns raised by financial authorities regarding the growing role of AI in cybersecurity. While advanced models may help identify vulnerabilities and improve defensive capabilities, they may also lower barriers for conducting sophisticated cyber operations. Financial institutions and regulators have increasingly examined how to strengthen preparedness and resilience in response to these developments.

Georgieva also referred to broader risks associated with rapid AI adoption, including the potential for market volatility driven to changing expectations for AI technologies. She described such risks as low-probability but potentially high-impact events.

The IMF has previously highlighted the economic implications of AI, including its potential effects on labour markets and productivity. Georgieva has argued that governments should prepare for significant technological change while ensuring that the benefits of AI are broadly shared.

Why does it matter?

The comments in Brussels place cybersecurity and financial resilience at the centre of ongoing discussions about AI governance. As governments, regulators, and financial institutions continue to assess the implications of increasingly capable AI systems, questions around international cooperation, preparedness, and cyber resilience are expected to remain a key focus of policy discussions.

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

MIT researchers develop cooling system to cut data centre energy and water use

A startup founded by researchers from MIT has developed a nuclear-inspired cooling system designed to improve data centre energy efficiency while reducing water consumption. The technology targets one of the fastest-growing sources of electricity demand, as the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure drives increased computing requirements.

Ferveret’s system uses a specialised liquid to immerse servers, replacing traditional air-based cooling methods that account for a significant share of data centre energy consumption. Its Adaptive Phase Cooling approach improves heat transfer through controlled bubble formation, increasing efficiency while reducing reliance on water-intensive cooling systems.

The company reports computational efficiency gains of up to 15% compared with existing liquid cooling technologies, alongside improved overall performance when combined with power optimisation software. Ferveret is already testing its system with several data centre operators and AI hardware companies as it moves towards wider commercial deployment.

The startup says its modular design enables easier integration into existing facilities while allowing data centres to operate more effectively in regions with limited water resources. By reducing energy waste and improving heat management, the technology aims to support the growing demand for AI computing without further increasing environmental strain.

Why does it matter? 

The rapid growth of AI is driving unprecedented demand for computing power, placing increasing pressure on electricity grids, water supplies and data centre infrastructure. Cooling systems are a major contributor to both energy consumption and operating costs, making efficiency improvements a growing priority for the technology sector.

Innovations such as liquid immersion cooling could help reduce the environmental footprint of AI infrastructure while supporting continued growth in computing capacity. As governments and companies seek to balance AI expansion with sustainability goals, advances in cooling, power management and resource efficiency are becoming an increasingly important part of the broader AI ecosystem.

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

Spanish minister says AI regulation boosts competitiveness and trust

Spain’s Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Function, Óscar López, said that AI regulation strengthens competitiveness rather than discouraging investment. Speaking at the Foro Talento España event organised by TRIVU, he argued that trust is becoming a key factor in the development and adoption of AI.

López pointed to OpenAI’s decision to open its first office in Spain as evidence that AI regulation can coexist with innovation and investment. He said Spain’s approach helps create a more predictable and trustworthy environment for businesses and technology development.

The minister also highlighted government investments in digital skills and talent development. He cited initiatives including the National Digital Skills Plan, university programmes focused on AI and cybersecurity, and plans to recruit 1,600 ICT specialists for the public sector.

These efforts have contributed to growth in higher education, technology training and STEM employment. Speaking in Madrid, López said continued investment in talent, digital skills and emerging technologies will be essential as AI and other advanced digital sectors continue to evolve in Spain.

Why does it matter?

The relationship between AI regulation and innovation remains a central policy debate worldwide. While some argue that regulation could slow investment and technological development, others contend that clear rules can increase trust, reduce uncertainty and encourage long-term adoption.

Spain’s position reflects a growing European approach that views regulation and innovation as complementary rather than competing objectives. By combining AI governance measures with investments in skills, education and digital talent, policymakers are seeking to build an environment that supports both technological development and public trust.

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

Latin American AI proposals draw on EU risk-based regulation

Latin American countries are increasingly looking to the EU’s risk-based approach as they develop AI governance frameworks, according to an International Bar Association analysis.

The IBA noted that Chile, Peru, Brazil and El Salvador have introduced or advanced AI-related legislation in recent years, with several initiatives focusing on risk classification, fundamental rights and accountability. Peru implemented an AI law in 2023 and updated it in 2025, while Brazil has considered similar draft legislation, and El Salvador enacted an AI law in 2025.

Chile has become one of the region’s most active AI policy actors. It helped launch Latam-GPT, an open-source language model trained on Latin American data, and is considering an AI bill that would classify systems according to risk. The proposal includes stricter obligations for high-risk uses, as well as regulatory sandboxes and measures intended to support innovation and smaller businesses.

Legal experts cited by the IBA said the EU model fits parts of Latin America’s existing regulatory culture, particularly in data protection and cybersecurity. However, they also warned that EU-style requirements on risk governance, technical documentation, testing and incident reporting could strain regulators and smaller companies with limited resources.

The analysis also points to regional challenges, including legal differences between countries, gaps in data governance and different economic priorities. While Europe’s AI focus often centres on highly regulated sectors, experts said Latin America may see greater value from AI applications in financial inclusion, payments, healthcare, agriculture, commerce and logistics.

Why does it matter?

Latin America’s approach to AI regulation could shape governance conditions for a region of more than 650 million people. If countries align closely with the EU model, transparency, accountability and fundamental rights may become central pillars of regional AI governance. However, the IBA analysis also shows the risk of importing complex compliance models without sufficient regulatory capacity, which could burden smaller firms and slow adoption in markets where AI could support financial inclusion, healthcare, agriculture and public services.

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