US electricity prices are rising as the energy demands of data centres surge, driven by the rapid growth of AI technologies. The average retail price per kilowatt-hour increased by 6.5% between May 2024 and May 2025, with some states experiencing significantly sharper increases.
Maine saw the sharpest rise in electricity prices at 36.3%, with Connecticut and Utah following closely behind. Utilities are passing on infrastructure costs, including new transmission lines, to consumers. In Northern Virginia, residents could face monthly bill increases of up to $37 by 2040.
Analysts warn that the shift to generative AI will lead to a 160% surge in energy use at data centres by 2030. Water use is also rising sharply, as Google reported its facilities consumed around 6 billion gallons in 2024 alone, amid intensifying global AI competition.
Tech giants are turning to alternative energy to keep pace. Google has announced plans to power data centres with small nuclear reactors through a partnership with Kairos Power, while Microsoft and Amazon are ramping up nuclear investments to secure long-term supply.
President Donald Trump has pledged more than $92 billion in AI and energy infrastructure investments, underlining Washington’s push to ensure the US remains competitive in the AI race despite mounting strain on the grid and water resources.
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France’s national cybersecurity agency, CERT-FR, has confirmed that Apple issued another set of threat notifications on 3 September 2025. The alerts inform certain users that devices linked to their iCloud accounts may have been targeted by spyware.
These latest alerts mark this year’s fourth campaign, following earlier waves in March, April and June. Targeted individuals include journalists, activists, politicians, lawyers and senior officials.
CERT-FR says the attacks are highly sophisticated and involve mercenary spyware tools. Many intrusions appear to exploit zero-day or zero-click vulnerabilities, meaning no victim interaction must be compromised.
Apple advises victims to preserve threat notifications, avoid altering device settings that could obscure forensic evidence, and contact authorities and cybersecurity specialists. Users are encouraged to enable features like Lockdown Mode and update devices.
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The European Union’s NIS2 directive has officially come into force, imposing stricter cybersecurity duties on thousands of organisations.
Adopted in 2022 and implemented into national law by late 2024, the rules extend beyond critical infrastructure to cover more industries. Energy, healthcare, transport, ICT, and even waste management firms now face mandatory compliance.
Measures include multifactor authentication, encryption, backup systems, and stronger supply chain security. Senior executives are held directly responsible for failures, with penalties ranging from heavy fines to operational restrictions.
Companies must also report major incidents promptly to national authorities. Unlike ISO certifications, NIS2 requires organisations to prove compliance through internal processes or independent audits, depending on national enforcement.
Analysts warn that firms still reliant on legacy systems face a difficult transition. Yet experts agree the directive signals a decisive shift: cybersecurity is now a legal duty, not simply best practice.
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The US Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Uber, accusing the ride-hailing giant of discriminating against passengers with disabilities.
The DOJ alleges that Uber drivers frequently deny service to people using wheelchairs or travelling with service animals, and sometimes impose unfair cancellation fees. Prosecutors say such practices cause economic and emotional harm and breach the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Uber denies the allegations, insisting it enforces a zero-tolerance policy for confirmed denials. The company says it deactivates drivers who breach accessibility rules and highlights reminders it issues to drivers about their legal obligations.
Uber has faced similar claims in the past. It reached a settlement with the DOJ in 2022, paying millions to more than 65,000 disabled riders. The new lawsuit, filed in the US California’s Northern District, follows a DOJ investigation launched last year.
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Real-time translation is becoming a standard feature across consumer tech, with Samsung, Google, and Apple all introducing new tools. Apple’s recently announced Live Translation on AirPods demonstrates the utility of such features, particularly for travellers.
YouTube has joined the trend, expanding its multi-language audio feature to millions of creators worldwide. The tool enables creators to add dubbed audio tracks in multiple languages, powered by Google’s Gemini AI, replicating tone and emotion.
The feature was first tested with creators like MrBeast, Mark Rober, and Jamie Oliver. YouTube reports that Jamie Oliver’s channel saw its views triple, while over 25% of the watch time came from non-primary languages.
Mark Rober’s channel now supports more than 30 languages per video, helping creators reach audiences far beyond their native markets. YouTube states that this expansion should make content more accessible to global viewers and increase overall engagement.
Subtitles will still be vital for people with hearing difficulties, but AI-powered dubbing could reduce reliance on them for language translation. For creators, it marks a significant step towards making content truly global.
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The Swiss government has proposed a new regulation that would require digital service providers with more than 5,000 users to collect government-issued identification, retain subscriber data for six months, and, in some cases, disable encryption. The proposal, which does not require parliamentary approval, has triggered alarm among privacy advocates and technology companies worldwide.
The measure would impact services such as VPNs, encrypted email, and messaging platforms. The regulation would mandate providers to collect users’ email addresses, phone numbers, IP addresses, and device port numbers, and to share them with authorities upon request, without the need for a court order.
Swiss official Jean-Louis Biberstein emphasised that the proposed regulation includes strict safeguards to prevent mass surveillance, framing the initiative as a necessary measure to address cyberattacks, organised crime, and terrorism.
While the timeline for implementation remains uncertain, the government of Switzerland is committed to a public consultation process, allowing stakeholders to provide input before any final decision is made.
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South Korea and NATO have pledged closer cooperation on cybersecurity following high-level talks in Seoul this week, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The discussions, led by Ambassador for International Cyber Affairs Lee Tae Woo and NATO Assistant Secretary General Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe, focused on countering cyber threats and assessing risks in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions.
Launched in 2023, the high-level cyber dialogue aims to deepen collaboration between South Korea and NATO in the cybersecurity domain.
The meeting followed talks between Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back and NATO Military Committee chair Giuseppe Cavo Dragone during the Seoul Defence Dialogue earlier this week.
Dragone said cooperation would expand across defence exchanges, information sharing, cyberspace, space, and AI as ties between Seoul and NATO strengthen.
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The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has released version 4.0 of its Cyber Assessment Framework to help organisations protect essential services from rising cyber threats.
An updated CAF that provides a structured approach for assessing and improving cybersecurity and resilience across critical sectors.
Version 4.0 introduces a deeper focus on attacker methods and motivations to inform risk decisions, ensures software in essential services is developed and maintained securely, and strengthens guidance on threat detection through security monitoring and threat hunting.
AI-related cyber risks are also now covered more thoroughly throughout the framework.
The CAF primarily supports energy, healthcare, transport, digital infrastructure, and government organisations, helping them meet regulatory obligations such as the NIS Regulations.
Developed in consultation with UK cyber regulators, the framework provides clear benchmarks for assessing security outcomes relative to threat levels.
Authorities encourage system owners to adopt CAF 4.0 alongside complementary tools such as Cyber Essentials, the Cyber Resilience Audit, and Cyber Adversary Simulation services. These combined measures enhance confidence and resilience across the nation’s critical infrastructure.
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The US Federal Trade Commission has launched an inquiry into AI chatbots that act as digital companions, raising concerns about their impact on children and teenagers.
Seven firms, including Alphabet, Meta, OpenAI and Snap, have been asked to provide information about how they address risks linked to ΑΙ chatbots designed to mimic human relationships.
Chairman Andrew Ferguson said protecting children online was a top priority, stressing the need to balance safety with maintaining US leadership in AI. Regulators fear minors may be particularly vulnerable to forming emotional bonds with AI chatbots that simulate friendship and empathy.
An inquiry that will investigate how companies develop AI chatbot personalities, monetise user interactions and enforce age restrictions. It will also assess how personal information from conversations is handled and whether privacy laws are being respected.
Other companies receiving orders include Character.AI and Elon Musk’s xAI.
The probe follows growing public concern over the psychological effects of generative AI on young people.
Last month, the parents of a 16-year-old who died by suicide sued OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT provided harmful instructions. The company later pledged corrective measures, admitting its chatbot does not always recommend mental health support during prolonged conversations.
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Vietnam’s National Credit Information Centre (CIC), a key financial data hub under the State Bank of Vietnam, confirmed a cybersecurity attack, according to the Vietnam Cyber Emergency Response Centre (VNCERT). Initial investigations suggest the attack was a deliberate attempt by cybercriminals to steal personal data.
VNCERT reported signs of unauthorized data access and potential leaks of sensitive information. The Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention has tasked VNCERT with leading the incident response and coordinating with major cybersecurity firms, including Viettel, VNPT, and NCS.
Authorities have deployed technical measures to contain the breach, assess its scope, and preserve the integrity of the national financial system. Evidence is being gathered for possible legal proceedings, while the full extent of compromised data remains under investigation.
VNCERT has warned individuals and organisations not to download, share, or exploit any leaked data, citing Vietnam’s data protection laws. Government agencies and financial institutions have been urged to audit their systems and comply with national cybersecurity standards.
Cybersecurity expert Ngô Minh Hiếu noted that critical banking data, such as passwords and credit card numbers, is not stored in CIC, suggesting financial transactions remain unaffected.
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