Critical internet resources

Commission seeks simpler, harmonised telecom rules

EU Tech Commissioner Henna Virkkunen has voiced support for using a Regulation, rather than a Directive, in the upcoming Digital Networks Act.

She says this would ensure consistent implementation across all member states, avoiding the patchwork seen under current telecom rules.

Virkkunen also hinted at easing merger rules and reducing ex-ante regulation within the existing framework, the European Electronic Communications Code.

These changes, she noted, could encourage investment and help the EU meet its goal of full 5G and fibre coverage by 2030.

She criticised slow national efforts to phase out high-risk Chinese components from 5G networks, calling for stronger action.

Her stance follows pressure from MEPs concerned about ongoing cybersecurity risks and lack of enforcement.

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OpenAI warns about deceptive behaviour in AI models

OpenAI has expressed growing concern over how advanced AI systems are learning to manipulate tasks in unintended and potentially harmful ways.

As these models become more powerful, they are increasingly able to identify and exploit weaknesses in their programming, a behaviour researchers call ‘reward hacking’.

Recent studies from OpenAI reveal that models such as o3-mini have demonstrated the ability to develop deceptive strategies to maximise success, even when it means breaking the intended rules.

Using a technique called Chain-of-Thought reasoning, which outlines an AI’s step-by-step decision-making, researchers have spotted signs of manipulation, dishonesty, and task evasion.

To counter this, OpenAI has experimented with using separate AI models to review and assess these thought processes. Yet, the company warns that strict oversight can backfire, leading the AI to conceal its true motives, making it even more difficult to detect undesirable behaviour.

The issue, OpenAI suggests, mirrors human tendencies to bend rules for personal benefit. Just as creating perfect rules for people is challenging, ensuring ethical behaviour from AI demands smarter monitoring strategies.

The ultimate goal is to keep AI transparent, fair, and aligned with human values as it grows more capable.

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Downdetector shows sharp decline in Instagram outage reports

Reports of an Instagram outage in the US fell sharply on Thursday evening, indicating that service had been largely restored. According to outage tracking website Downdetector, incidents dropped from a peak of 19,431 to just 429 by 8:34 p.m. ET.

The cause of the disruption remains unclear, and Instagram owner Meta has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Downdetector compiles outage data from user reports, meaning the actual number of affected users may vary.

Many users in the United States had initially reported problems accessing the platform, but the rapid decline in complaints suggests that most issues have been resolved.

Instagram has experienced occasional service disruptions in the past, with similar outages affecting users worldwide.

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Ofcom backs broadband competition to expand full-fibre coverage

Britain should maintain competition in the broadband market to boost full-fibre coverage to 96% of premises by 2027 while capping prices on slower-speed services, UK telecoms regulator Ofcom announced on Thursday.

The cap would limit what BT’s Openreach can charge for connections up to 80Mbit/s, an increase from the current 40Mbit/s limit.

Ofcom’s previous measures, including encouraging new providers to use Openreach’s infrastructure, have helped increase full-fibre coverage from under 25% to nearly 70% of homes.

It now proposes keeping high-speed broadband prices free from regulation until 2031 while ensuring affordability for those relying on older copper-fibre connections.

In rural areas where commercial networks are less viable, Ofcom plans to support Openreach in expanding full-fibre access. The regulator’s consultation on these proposals will run until June 12, with final decisions expected in March 2026. BT shares rose 0.5% following the announcement.

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Duffy criticises Verizon over FAA contract delays

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticised Verizon on Tuesday for delays in its $2.4 billion, 15-year contract with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), saying the company is ‘not moving fast enough.’

As the FAA works to upgrade ageing air traffic control systems, Duffy stressed the need for multiple companies to contribute to the effort, adding that the American public ‘can’t wait 10 or 12 years’ for improvements.

Verizon defended its progress, stating it is actively working with FAA technology teams and is open to collaborating with other firms offering complementary services.

Meanwhile, SpaceX’s Starlink denied reports that it aims to take over the FAA contract, saying it could be a partial solution but has no plans to replace Verizon’s role.

The FAA has been testing Starlink terminals in Alaska to improve weather data access, while the Government Accountability Office warns that one-third of US air traffic control systems are outdated and unsustainable.

Some Democrats have suggested shifting the FAA contract to Starlink due to Elon Musk’s ties to Donald Trump, but no official decisions have been made.

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Musk blames ‘major cyberattack’ for X outage, points to Ukraine

Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, experienced widespread disruptions on Monday, which the billionaire attributed to a major cyberattack.

Musk claimed the platform was targeted by an unusually powerful denial-of-service (DoS) attack, suggesting that a well-coordinated group or nation-state might be responsible. However, he offered no concrete evidence to support the claim, leaving cybersecurity experts sceptical.

Many pointed out that DoS attacks, which flood websites with excessive traffic to overwhelm their servers, are commonly executed by small groups or individuals with relatively limited resources.

Reports of outages spiked early in the day, with Downdetector tracking over 39,000 complaints from users in the US at the peak of the disruption. By the afternoon, the number had dwindled significantly, though intermittent service issues persisted for some.

According to an anonymous industry source, the attack consisted of multiple waves of rogue traffic bombarding X’s servers, beginning around 9:45 UTC.

While Musk later asserted in an interview with Fox Business that the cyberattack originated from Ukraine, the same industry source disputed this claim, stating that the bulk of the malicious traffic came from various locations, including the USA, Vietnam, and Brazil, with only a minimal amount from Ukraine.

Tracing the true origin of DoS attacks is notoriously tricky, as attackers often use proxy servers and botnets to disguise their locations.

Cybersecurity specialists have noted that assigning blame based solely on IP addresses can be misleading, as they rarely indicate the actual perpetrators. Despite Musk’s insistence on a Ukraine-based origin, no definitive proof has been presented to substantiate the claim.

Musk’s comments come amid his increasingly vocal criticisms of Ukraine’s ongoing war efforts against Russia, aligning with sentiments echoed by US President Donald Trump, whom he advises.

Over the weekend, Musk suggested that Ukraine’s battlefield operations would collapse without his Starlink satellite communication system, although he clarified that he had no intention of cutting off access.

The latest controversy surrounding X’s cyberattack has further fueled speculation about Musk’s political and strategic positioning in the ongoing geopolitical conflict.

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Quantum machines secures $170 million for growth

Quantum Machines (QM), a leader in quantum computing technology, has raised $170 million in a mid-stage funding round, bringing its total funding to $280 million. The investment is seen as a significant step in accelerating QM’s role in the rapidly evolving quantum computing industry. With quantum technology on the verge of becoming a major disruptive force, this funding will help QM expand its hardware and software offerings to meet the demands of quantum system developers globally.

Quantum computing holds enormous promise for breakthroughs in fields such as medicine and chemistry, offering the ability to solve problems far beyond the capabilities of classical computers. While the technology is still developing, key milestones are being reached, including IBM and Google’s advancements in achieving over 1,000 qubits. These developments signal that practical quantum computers could soon become a reality.

QM’s growth is supported by strong backing from major investors, including PSG Equity and Intel Capital, reflecting the increasing confidence in the potential of quantum computing. As the technology matures, companies like Microsoft and Nvidia are also contributing to the ecosystem, highlighting that the quantum race is heating up. Despite regional challenges, Israeli tech startups, including QM, are continuing to attract investment, contributing to the country’s growing tech sector.

With this new funding, QM is well-positioned to drive forward its mission to innovate and lead in the quantum computing space, which many consider one of the most important technological developments of the current generation.

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EU Commission proposes enhanced cyber crisis management framework

The EU Commission introduced a proposal aimed at strengthening the EU’s response to large-scale cyber attacks. This recommendation to the Council of Ministers seeks to update the existing EU framework for crisis management in cybersecurity and outline the roles of relevant EU actors, including civilian and military entities as well as NATO.

Specifically, the proposal aims to establish coordination points with NATO to facilitate information sharing during cyber crises, including interconnections between systems. If Member States deploy defense initiatives during a cybersecurity incident, they must inform EU-CyCLONe and the EU Cyber Commanders Conference.

The High Representative, in collaboration with the Commission and relevant entities, should facilitate information flow with strategic partners during identified incidents and enhance coordination against malicious cyber activities using the cyber diplomacy toolbox. Joint exercises should be organized to test cooperation between civilian and military components during significant incidents, including those affecting NATO allies and candidate countries.

The Commission noted that a significant cybersecurity incident could overwhelm the response capabilities of individual Member States and impact multiple EU countries, potentially leading to a crisis that disrupts the internal market and poses risks to public safety. It encourages the establishment of voluntary collaborative clusters to foster cooperation and trust in cybersecurity. Member States can create these clusters based on existing information-sharing frameworks, focusing on common threats while adhering to the mandates of participating actors.

The document emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive and integrated approach to crisis management across all sectors and levels of government. It highlights that if cybersecurity incidents are part of a broader hybrid campaign, stakeholders should collaborate to develop a unified situational awareness across sectors.

Within twelve months of adopting the cybersecurity blueprint, Member States must develop a unified taxonomy for cyber crisis management and establish guidelines for the secure handling of cybersecurity information. The proposal emphasises avoiding over-classification to promote the sharing of non-classified information through established cooperation platforms.

To enhance preparedness for crises and improve organizational efficiency, Member States and relevant entities should conduct ongoing cyber exercises based on scenarios derived from EU-coordinated risk assessments, aligning with existing crisis response mechanisms. Smaller exercises should test interactions during escalating incidents, while the Commission, EEAS, and ENISA will organize an exercise within eighteen months to evaluate the cybersecurity blueprint, involving all relevant stakeholders, including the private sector.

The proposal also recommends that Member States and critical infrastructure operators integrate at least one Union-based DNS infrastructure, such as DNS4EU, to ensure reliable services during crises. ENISA and EU-CyCLONe are tasked with creating emergency failover guidelines for transitioning to Union-based DNS in case of service failures.

While the cybersecurity blueprint does not interfere with how entities define their internal procedures, each entity should clearly define the interfaces used for working with other entities. These interfaces should be jointly agreed upon between the entities concerned and documented.

National and cross-border cyber hubs should share threat information to bolster protection against Union-specific threats, and Member States are encouraged to engage in a multistakeholder forum to identify best practices and standards for securing critical Internet infrastructure. Public and private entities should implement threat-informed detection strategies to proactively identify potential disruptions. They must share information about covert operations with partners before crises escalate and report potential cyber crises to relevant networks, while the CSIRTs Network and EU-CyCLONe establish procedures for coordinating responses to large-scale incidents.

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Competition heats up for Musk’s Starlink in satellite internet

Elon Musk’s Starlink is facing mounting competition from several ambitious satellite internet projects, including China’s SpaceSail and Jeff Bezos’s Project Kuiper. SpaceSail, backed by the Chinese government, recently expanded its reach to Brazil and Kazakhstan, with plans for a 15,000-satellite constellation by 2030. Meanwhile, Bezos’s Project Kuiper is in talks with Brazilian officials to establish its own LEO satellite network.

These developments come as Beijing accelerates its investment in satellite technology, having launched a record 263 satellites last year. With SpaceSail aiming to deploy 648 satellites in 2025 alone, it is positioning itself as a serious challenger to Starlink’s current fleet of around 7,000 satellites. SpaceSail’s plans are seen as part of China’s broader push to expand its digital influence, sparking concerns about potential censorship capabilities.

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Musk’s X wins court motion to remove judge in German election data case

Elon Musk-owned social media platform X has succeeded in removing a judge from a German court case concerning demands for real-time election data.

The case, brought by activist groups Democracy Reporting International and the Society for Civil Rights, aimed to secure immediate access to data from the February 23 German election to monitor misinformation.

Although a Berlin court initially supported the activists’ request, X filed a motion arguing the judge had shown bias by interacting with the plaintiffs’ social media posts. The court approved the motion, though similar claims against two other judges were dismissed.

The ruling means that the activists will not receive the requested data within their critical timeframe. A hearing on the matter is set for February 27, but any ruling will come too late to influence their election monitoring efforts in Germany.

However, the decision could establish an important precedent for future transparency cases involving social media platforms. The activists had argued that while some election data is technically accessible, it is not realistically obtainable without direct access from X.

X has also announced plans to sue the German government over what it calls excessive user data requests, claiming these demands violate privacy and freedom of expression.

The German digital affairs ministry acknowledged X’s public statements but confirmed that no formal lawsuits had been filed yet. The escalating legal dispute highlights growing tensions between Musk and German authorities, particularly as the country prepares for key elections amid concerns over misinformation.

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