Cyberconflict and warfare

US War Department unveils AI-powered GenAI.mil for all personnel

The War Department has formally launched GenAI.mil, a bespoke generative AI platform powered initially by Gemini for Government, making frontier AI capabilities available to its approximately three million military, civilian, and contractor staff.

According to the department’s announcement, GenAI.mil supports so-called ‘intelligent agentic workflows’: users can summarise documents, generate risk assessments, draft policy or compliance material, analyse imagery or video, and automate routine tasks, all on a secure, IL5-certified platform designed for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

The rollout, described as part of a broader push to cultivate an ‘AI-first’ workforce, follows a July directive from the administration calling for the United States to achieve ‘unprecedented levels of AI technological superiority.’

Department leaders said the platform marks a significant shift in how the US military operates, embedding AI into daily workflows and positioning AI as a force multiplier.

Access is limited to users with a valid DoW common-access card, and the service is currently restricted to non-classified work. The department also says the first rollout is just the beginning; additional AI models from other providers will be added later.

From a tech-governance and defence-policy perspective, this represents one of the most sweeping deployments of generative AI in a national security organisation to date.

It raises critical questions about security, oversight and the balance between efficiency and risk, especially if future iterations expand into classified or operational planning contexts.

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Growing app restrictions hit ByteDance’s AI smartphone rollout

ByteDance is facing mounting pushback after major Chinese apps restricted how its agentic AI smartphone can operate across their platforms. Developers moved to block or limit Doubao, the device’s voice-driven assistant, following concerns about automation, security and transactional risks.

Growing reports from early adopters describe locked accounts, interrupted payments and app instability when Doubao performs actions autonomously. ByteDance has responded by disabling the assistant’s access to financial services, rewards features and competitive games while collaborating with app providers to establish clearer guidelines.

The Nubia M153, marketed as an experimental device, continues to attract interest for its hands-free interface, even as privacy worries persist over its device-wide memory system. Its long-term success hinges on whether China’s platforms and regulators can align with ByteDance’s ambitions for seamless, AI-powered smartphone interaction.

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AI fuels a new wave of cyber threats in Greece

Greece is confronting a rapid rise in cybercrime as AI strengthens the tools available to criminals, according to the head of the National Cyber Security Authority.

Michael Bletsas warned that Europe is already experiencing hybrid conflict, with Northeastern states facing severe incidents that reveal a digital frontline. Greece has not endured physical sabotage or damage to its infrastructure, yet cyberattacks remain a pressing concern.

Bletsas noted that most activity involves cybercrime instead of destructive action. He pointed to the expansion of cyberactivism and vandalism through denial-of-service attacks, which usually cause no lasting harm.

The broader problem stems from a surge in AI-driven intrusions and espionage, which offer new capabilities to malicious groups and create a more volatile environment.

Moreover, Bletsas said that the physical and digital worlds should be viewed as a single, interconnected sphere, with security designed around shared principles rather than being treated as separate domains.

Digital warfare is already unfolding, and Greece is part of it. The country must now define its alliances and strengthen its readiness as cyber threats intensify and the global divide grows deeper.

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Taiwan blocks Chinese app RedNote after surge in online scams

Authorities in Taiwan will block the Chinese social media and shopping app RedNote for a year following a surge in online scams linked to the platform. Officials report that more than 1,700 fraud cases have been linked to the app since last year, resulting in losses exceeding NT$247 million.

Regulators report that the company failed to meet required data-security standards and did not respond to requests for a plan to strengthen cybersecurity.

Internet providers have been instructed to restrict access, affecting several million users who now see a security warning message when opening the app.

Concerns over Beijing’s online influence and the spread of disinformation have added pressure on Taiwanese authorities to tighten oversight of Chinese platforms.

RedNote’s operators are also facing scrutiny in mainland China, where regulators have criticised the company over what they labelled ‘negative’ content.

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Europe builds a laser ground station in Greenland to protect satellite links

Europe is building a laser-based ground station in Greenland to secure satellite links as Russian jamming intensifies. ESA and Denmark chose Kangerlussuaq for its clear skies and direct access to polar-orbit traffic.

The optical system uses Astrolight’s technology to transmit data markedly faster than radio signals. Narrow laser beams resist interference, allowing vast imaging sets to reach analysts with far fewer disruptions.

Developers expect terabytes to be downloaded in under a minute, reducing reliance on vulnerable Arctic radio sites. European officials say the upgrade strengthens autonomy as undersea cables and navigation systems face repeated targeting from countries such as Russia.

The Danish station will support defence monitoring, climate science and search-and-rescue operations across high latitudes. Work is underway, with completion planned for 2026 and ambitions for a wider global laser network.

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Porn site fined £1m for ignoring UK child safety age checks

A UK pornographic website has been fined £1m by Ofcom for failing to comply with mandatory age verification under the Online Safety Act. The company, AVS Group Ltd, did not respond to repeated contact from the regulator, prompting an additional £50,000 penalty.

The Act requires websites hosting adult content to implement ‘highly effective age assurance’ to prevent children from accessing explicit material. Ofcom has ordered the company to comply within 72 hours or face further daily fines.

Other tech platforms are also under scrutiny, with one unnamed major social media company undergoing compliance checks. Regulators warn that non-compliance will result in formal action, highlighting the growing enforcement of child safety online.

Critics argue the law must be tougher to ensure real protection, particularly for minors and women online. While age checks have reduced UK traffic to some sites, loopholes like VPNs remain a concern, and regulators are pushing for stricter adherence.

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Privacy concerns lead India to withdraw cyber safety app mandate

India has scrapped its order mandating smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the state-run Sanchar Saathi cyber safety app. The directive, which faced widespread criticism, had raised concerns over privacy and potential government surveillance.

Smartphone makers, including Apple and Samsung, reportedly resisted the order, highlighting that it was issued without prior consultation and challenged user privacy norms. The government argued the app was necessary to verify handset authenticity.

So far, the Sanchar Saathi app has attracted 14 million users, reporting around 2,000 frauds daily, with a sharp spike of 600,000 new registrations in a single day. Despite these figures, the mandatory pre-installation rule provoked intense backlash from cybersecurity experts and digital rights advocates.

India’s Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia, dismissed concerns about surveillance, insisting that the app does not enable snooping. Digital advocacy groups welcomed the withdrawal but called for complete legal clarity on the revised Cyber Security Rules, 2024.

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Apple support scam targets users with real tickets

Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting Apple’s support system to trick users into surrendering their accounts. Fraudsters open real support tickets in a victim’s name, which triggers official Apple emails and creates a false sense of legitimacy. These messages appear professional, making it difficult for users to detect the scam.

Victims often receive a flood of alerts, including two-factor authentication notifications, followed by phone calls from callers posing as Apple agents. The scammers guide users through steps that appear to secure their accounts, often directing them to convincing fake websites that request sensitive information.

Entering verification codes or following instructions on these fraudulent pages gives attackers access to the account. Even experienced users can fall prey because the emails come from official Apple domains, and the phone calls are carefully scripted to build trust.

Experts recommend checking support tickets directly within your Apple ID account, never sharing verification codes, and reviewing all devices linked to your account. Using antivirus software, activating two-factor authentication, and limiting personal information online further strengthen protection against such sophisticated phishing attacks.

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Safran and UAE institute join forces on AI geospatial intelligence

Safran.AI, the AI division of Safran Electronics & Defence, and the UAE’s Technology Innovation Institute have formed a strategic partnership to develop a next-generation agentic AI geospatial intelligence platform.

The collaboration aims to transform high-resolution satellite imagery into actionable intelligence for defence operations.

The platform will combine human oversight with advanced geospatial reasoning, enabling operators to interpret and respond to emerging situations faster and with greater precision.

Key initiatives include agentic reasoning systems powered by large language models, a mission-specific AI detector factory, and an autonomous multimodal fusion engine for persistent, all-weather monitoring.

Under the agreement, a joint team operating across France and the UAE will accelerate innovation within a unified operational structure.

Leaders from both organisations emphasise that the alliance strengthens sovereign geospatial intelligence capabilities and lays the foundations for decision intelligence in national security.

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Europe boosts defence with Leonardo’s Michelangelo Dome

Italian defence company Leonardo has revealed plans for the ‘Michelangelo Dome’, an AI-powered shield designed to protect cities and critical infrastructure from missile attacks and drone swarms. The system will integrate multiple defence platforms and is expected to be fully operational by the end of the decade.

The project follows a surge in European defence spending amid geopolitical tensions and uncertainty over US support.

Leonardo’s CEO, Roberto Cingolani, highlighted the system’s open architecture, allowing compatibility with other nations’ defence networks and emphasising the need for innovation and international cooperation.

European defence companies are increasingly investing in integrated command systems rather than standalone hardware.

Private investors are also backing startups developing autonomous and AI-driven defence technologies, creating competition for traditional primes such as Leonardo, BAE Systems, Rheinmetall, and Thales.

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