Consumer protection

Apple opens NFC chip, PayPal taps into it

PayPal has launched its tap-to-pay feature for iPhone users in Germany, allowing contactless payments at terminals that support Mastercard.

The rollout follows pressure from the European Union under the Digital Markets Act, which forced Apple to open up its NFC chip to third-party apps.

Currently, the feature is exclusive to iPhones and does not support Apple Watch. It mirrors earlier moves by other apps like Norway’s Vipps, which began using Apple’s newly accessible NFC hardware late last year.

Apple has also started expanding NFC access globally, enabling developers to integrate in-app payments and allowing businesses to accept contactless payments via iPhones using third-party apps like Venmo and PayPal Zettle.

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

Android adds new scam protection for phone calls

Google is introducing new protections on Android devices to combat phone call scams, particularly those involving screen-sharing and app installations. Users will see warning messages if they attempt to change settings during a call and Android will also block the deactivation of Play Protect features.

The system will now block users from sideloading apps or granting accessibility permissions while on a call with unknown contacts.

The new tools are available on devices running Android 16 and select protections are also rolling out to older versions, starting with Android 11

A separate pilot in the UK will alert users trying to open banking apps during a screen-sharing call, prompting them to end the call or wait before proceeding.

These features expand Android’s broader efforts to prevent fraud, which already include AI-based scam detection for phone calls and messages.

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

Instagram calls for EU-wide teen protection rules

Instagram is calling on the European Union to introduce new regulations requiring app stores to implement age verification and parental approval systems.

The platform argues that such protections, applied consistently across all apps, are essential to safeguarding teenagers from harmful content online.

‘The EU needs consistent standards for all apps, to help keep teens safe, empower parents and preserve privacy,’ Instagram said in a blog post.

The company believes the most effective way to achieve this is by introducing protections at the source—before teenagers download apps from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Instagram is proposing that app stores verify users’ ages and require parental approval for teen app downloads. The social media platform cites new research from Morning Consult showing that three in four parents support such legislation.

Most parents also view app stores, rather than individual apps, as the safer and more manageable point for controlling what their teens can access.

To reinforce its position, Instagram points to its own safety efforts, such as the introduction of Teen Accounts. These private-by-default profiles limit teen exposure to messages and content from unknown users, and apply stricter filters to reduce exposure to sensitive material.

Instagram says it is working with civil society groups, industry partners, and European policymakers to push for rules that protect young users across platforms. With teen safety a growing concern, the company insists that industry-wide, enforceable solutions are urgently needed.

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

iOS 18.5: Satellite SOS, Screen Time alerts, and bug fixes

Apple has released iOS 18.5, bringing its life-saving satellite emergency features to iPhone 13 models for the first time. Previously available only on iPhone 14 and newer, the feature allows users to connect with emergency services via satellite when cellular or Wi-Fi networks are unavailable.

The update expands access to satellite services provided by mobile carriers, including those like T-Mobile working with Starlink. iPhone 13 users can check for availability by visiting the Cellular menu in Settings.

The satellite feature has already been credited with multiple life-saving interventions, including rescuing hikers, wildfire victims, and others in remote areas. With this update, a wider group of users can now benefit from the added layer of safety.

Alongside the satellite expansion, iOS 18.5 introduces several smaller but notable features. Screen Time now alerts parents if a child successfully guesses the parental passcode to override restrictions. The Mail app has been updated with a dedicated ‘All Mail’ tab for easier navigation.

Other changes include a new Pride wallpaper, a simplified method for subscribing to Apple TV content on smart TVs, and a fix for a bug that caused Apple Vision Pro to launch with a black screen. The update also resolves issues with Siri, enterprise app performance, and other minor bugs.

iOS 18.5 launched alongside updates for iPadOS (18.5), watchOS (11.5), visionOS (2.5), and security patches for macOS Ventura and Sonoma.

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

Masked cybercrime groups rise as attacks escalate worldwide

Cybercrime is thriving like never before, with hackers launching attacks ranging from absurd ransomware demands of $1 trillion to large-scale theft of personal data. Despite efforts from Microsoft, Google and even the FBI, these threat actors continue to outpace defences.

A new report by Group-IB has analysed over 1,500 cybercrime investigations to uncover the most active and dangerous hacker groups operating today.

Rather than fading away after arrests or infighting, many cybercriminal gangs are re-emerging stronger than before.

Group-IB’s May 2025 report highlights a troubling increase in key attack types across 2024 — phishing rose by 22%, ransomware leak sites by 10%, and APT (advanced persistent threat) attacks by 58%. The United States was the most affected country by ransomware activity.

At the top of the cybercriminal hierarchy now sits RansomHub, a ransomware-as-a-service group that emerged from the collapsed ALPHV group and has already overtaken long-established players in attack numbers.

Behind it is GoldFactory, which developed the first iOS banking trojan and exploited facial recognition data. Lazarus, a well-known North Korean state-linked group, also remains highly active under multiple aliases.

Meanwhile, politically driven hacktivist group NoName057(16) has been targeting European institutions using denial-of-service attacks.

With jurisdictional gaps allowing cybercriminals to flourish, these masked hackers remain a growing concern for global cybersecurity, especially as new threat actors emerge from the shadows instead of disappearing for good.

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

Jamie Lee Curtis calls out Zuckerberg over AI scam using her likeness

Jamie Lee Curtis has directly appealed to Mark Zuckerberg after discovering her likeness had been used without consent in an AI-generated advert.

Posting on Facebook, Curtis expressed her frustration with Meta’s lack of proper channels to report such abuse, stating she had exhausted all official avenues before resorting to a public plea.

The fake video reportedly manipulated footage from an emotional interview following the January wildfires in Los Angeles, inserting false statements under the guise of a product endorsement.

Instead of remaining silent, Curtis urged Zuckerberg to take action, saying the unauthorised content damaged her integrity and voice. Within hours of her public callout, Meta confirmed the video had been removed for breaching its policies, a rare example of a swift response.

‘It worked! Yay Internet! Shame has its value!’ she wrote in a follow-up, though she also highlighted the broader risks posed by deepfakes.

The actress joins a growing list of celebrities, including Taylor Swift and Scarlett Johansson, who’ve been targeted by AI misuse.

Swift was forced to publicly clarify her political stance after an AI video falsely endorsed Donald Trump, while Johansson criticised OpenAI for allegedly using a voice nearly identical to hers despite her refusal to participate in a project.

The issue has reignited concerns around consent, misinformation and the exploitation of public figures.

Instead of waiting for further harm, lawmakers in California have already begun pushing back. New legislation signed by Governor Gavin Newsom aims to protect performers from unauthorised digital replicas and deepfakes.

Meanwhile, in Washington, proposals like the No Fakes Act seek to hold tech platforms accountable, possibly fining them thousands per violation. As Curtis and others warn, without stronger protections, the misuse of AI could spiral further, threatening not just celebrities but the public as a whole.

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

Cyber attack disrupts Edinburgh school networks

Thousands of Edinburgh pupils were forced to attend school on Saturday after a phishing attack disrupted access to vital online learning resources.

The cyber incident, discovered on Friday, prompted officials to lock users out of the system as a precaution, just days before exams.

Approximately 2,500 students visited secondary schools to reset passwords and restore their access. Although the revision period was interrupted, the council confirmed that no personal data had been compromised.

Scottish Council staff acted swiftly to contain the threat, supported by national cyber security teams. Ongoing monitoring is in place, with authorities confident that exam schedules will continue unaffected.

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

Punycode scams steal crypto through lookalike URLs

Crypto holders are facing a growing threat from a sophisticated form of phishing that swaps letters in website addresses for nearly identical lookalikes, tricking users into handing over their digital assets.

Known as Punycode phishing, the tactic has led to significant losses—even for vigilant users—by mimicking legitimate cryptocurrency exchange sites with deceptive domain names.

Cybercriminals exploit the similarity between characters from different alphabets, such as replacing Latin letters with visually identical Cyrillic ones.

These fake websites are almost indistinguishable from real ones, making it extremely difficult to spot the fraud. Recent reports reveal that even browser recommendation systems, such as Google Chrome’s, have directed users to these deceptive domains.

In one widely cited case, a user was guided to a fraudulent site impersonating the crypto exchange ChangeNOW and subsequently lost over $20,000. The incident has raised questions about browser accountability and the urgency of protective measures against increasingly advanced phishing strategies.

US regulators, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), and California’s Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), have issued ongoing warnings about crypto scams.

While none have specifically addressed Punycode-based attacks, their advice—careful URL scrutiny, skepticism of unsolicited links, and immediate fraud reporting—remains critical.

As phishing methods evolve, users are urged to double-check domain names, avoid clicking unverified links, and consult tools like the DFPI Crypto Scam Tracker. Until browsers and platforms address the threat directly, user awareness remains the most effective defence.

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

Google pays around $1.4 billion over privacy case

Google has agreed to pay $1.375 billion to settle a lawsuit brought by the state of Texas over allegations that it violated users’ privacy through features such as Incognito mode, Location History, and biometric data collection.

Despite the sizable sum, Google denies any wrongdoing, stating that the claims were based on outdated practices which have since been updated.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the settlement, emphasising that large tech firms are not above the law.

He accused Google of covertly tracking individuals’ locations and personal searches, while also collecting biometric data such as voiceprints and facial geometry — all without users’ consent. Paxton claimed the state’s legal challenge had forced Google to answer for its actions.

Although the settlement resolves two lawsuits filed in 2022, the specific terms and how the funds will be used remain undisclosed. A Google spokesperson maintained that the resolution brings closure to claims about past practices, instead of requiring any changes to its current products.

The case comes after a similar $1.4 billion agreement involving Meta, which faced accusations of unlawfully gathering facial recognition data. The repeated scrutiny from Texas authorities signals a broader pushback against the data practices of major tech companies.

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

Starkville Utilities hit by cyberattack

Starkville Utilities, a Mississippi-based electricity and water provider that also services Mississippi State University, has revealed a data breach that may have exposed sensitive information belonging to over 11,000 individuals.

The breach, which was first detected in late October last year, led the company to disconnect its network in an attempt to contain the intrusion.

Despite these efforts, an investigation later found that attackers may have accessed personal data, including full names and Social Security numbers. Details were submitted to the Maine Attorney General’s Office, confirming the scale of the breach and the nature of the data involved.

While no reports of identity theft have emerged since the incident, Starkville Utilities has chosen to offer twelve months of free identity protection services to those potentially affected. The company maintains that it is taking additional steps to improve its cybersecurity defences.

Stolen data such as Social Security numbers often ends up on underground marketplaces instead of staying idle, where it can be used for identity fraud and other malicious activities.

The incident serves as yet another reminder of the ongoing threat posed by cybercriminals targeting critical infrastructure and user data.

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