Cybersecurity

Australia launches AI Safety Institute to boost trust in AI adoption

Australia’s AI Safety Institute became operational on 2 June as the government seeks to strengthen public trust in AI development, deployment and governance. The announcement was made during the AFR AI Summit in Canberra, where the government described public trust as essential to building a domestic AI industry.

According to Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy Hon Dr Andrew Charlton, Australia’s national AI plan rests on three pillars:

  • Capturing the opportunity
  • Sharing the benefits
  • Keeping Australians safe.

The AI Safety Institute is intended to support that effort by testing AI systems, assisting regulators and strengthening public confidence in the technology.

In his speech, Charlton also argued that Australia faces a choice between building a world-class AI industry or relying on foreign capability, while warning that low public trust could slow AI adoption and investment.

Charlton cited survey findings showing that only 30% of Australians believe the benefits of AI outweigh the risks, while 78% are concerned about potential negative impacts, and 36% say they trust the technology. It linked public scepticism to concerns that AI benefits may flow offshore while costs linked to jobs, privacy, power bills, and local communities are borne domestically.

Data centres were highlighted as an example of how trust considerations are shaping AI policy. The government said data-centre developers should contribute new renewable energy capacity, cover an appropriate share of transmission and distribution costs, engage with local communities and avoid creating pressure on water resources.

The AI Safety Institute will analyse and test AI models and applications, support regulators responding to emerging AI-related harms, and contribute to national and international discussions on safe AI development and governance. The speech also pointed to wider work on privacy reform, online safety, workplace impacts, competition, consumer issues, and public-sector AI adoption.

Why does it matter?

Australia is positioning trust as a key component of its AI strategy at a time when governments are balancing economic opportunities from AI with concerns about safety, privacy, employment and infrastructure impacts.

By creating a dedicated AI Safety Institute, Australia joins a growing number of countries establishing specialised institutions to evaluate AI risks, support regulators and build public confidence in the deployment of increasingly capable AI systems.

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

G7 digital and technology ministers agree on priorities on AI, resilience and online child safety

G7 digital and technology ministers have agreed on priorities covering secure AI, AI openness, digital sector resilience and online safety for minors following a meeting in Paris under France’s presidency. Ministers said digital technologies are central to innovation, productivity and competitiveness, while also creating new challenges for users, businesses and service providers.

The statement reaffirmed support for Data Free Flow with Trust, while highlighting privacy, data protection, intellectual property and security considerations. Ministers also welcomed G7 work on semiconductors, digital standards, quantum technologies, and competition in AI inputs, including computing power, data, energy, and talent.

On AI, ministers said secure, responsible and trustworthy systems are needed to maintain public trust and support adoption. They welcomed the revised Hiroshima AI Process Reporting Framework and said France’s presidency would start discussions with stakeholders, the OECD, and members of the International Network for Advanced AI Measurement, Evaluation and Science to improve comparability between AI risk assessment frameworks.

The G7 also backed a Vision on AI Openness, intended to clarify terminology and support access to open-source and open-weight AI approaches. Ministers said AI openness can help diffuse AI, support research collaboration, and contribute to innovation and economic growth, while clearer language can reduce ambiguity and support trust.

Ministers also supported a G7 SME AI Readiness Tool, developed with the OECD and in cooperation with the G7 Social-Employment working group. The tool is expected to be made available through the G7 AI Training Hub to help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises assess their digital and AI readiness, improve AI literacy and lower adoption barriers.

The statement also addresses digital and AI sector resilience, resource efficiency and growing pressure on energy grids and digital infrastructure. On child online safety, ministers supported a Common G7 Set of Principles for a safe and secure digital space for minors, covering digital literacy, AI education, risk mitigation by digital service providers, support for parents and guardians, and protection against online harms.

Why does it matter?

The G7 statement reflects growing international coordination around AI governance, digital resilience and online child safety. By addressing AI risk assessment, openness, SME adoption and digital infrastructure pressures in one framework, ministers are linking technological innovation with trust, security and economic competitiveness.

The agreement also signals that online safety for minors is becoming a core part of digital policy cooperation among major economies, particularly as AI systems and digital platforms play a larger role in children’s online experiences.

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

Greece approves major digital governance and interoperability reforms

The Greek Parliament has approved a bill from the Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence to expand digital public services, reduce bureaucracy, and strengthen cybersecurity.

The legislation implements the EU rules on the cross-border automated exchange of supporting documents through the once-only principle, allowing citizens and businesses to avoid repeatedly submitting the same documents to public authorities across the EU.

Greece’s new framework establishes technical and operational measures enabling public authorities to retrieve official documents securely and automatically, with the user’s consent. The system will operate through the European interoperability infrastructure and in line with the EU data protection requirements.

The General Secretariat for Information Systems and Digital Governance will oversee technical coordination and implementation.

Beyond cross-border services, the legislation introduces several domestic digital initiatives. These include a Defective Vehicle Recall Registry to notify vehicle owners about critical safety issues, upgrades to the MyStreet application with electric vehicle charging points and emergency gathering locations, and a customer relationship management platform on gov.gr that will allow citizens to track public service requests through a single interface.

The bill also includes measures to accelerate the launch of more than 800 new public-sector interoperability services and strengthen protections against online fraud. A National Malicious Website Blocking List will be established through Greece’s National Cybersecurity Authority to support faster blocking of phishing websites, scam portals, and malicious online services.

Why does it matter?

The legislation shows how EU interoperability rules are being translated into national digital government reforms. Greece is combining the once-only principle for cross-border public services with domestic service integration, citizen-facing digital tools, and cybersecurity measures against online fraud. The result is a broader shift towards public administration built around automated document exchange, consent-based data retrieval, and shared digital infrastructure.

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

IWF and CaseScan partner to strengthen the detection of child abuse material

The Internet Watch Foundation has announced a new partnership with CaseScan aimed at improving the detection and identification of child sexual abuse material online.

CaseScan, a specialist technology company supporting child protection investigations and digital safety work, has joined the IWF as a member. The company develops tools that help specialist teams identify, classify, and prioritise illegal material more efficiently, reducing manual workloads and supporting faster responses when criminal content is found.

Through its membership, CaseScan will be able to draw on IWF intelligence and services to strengthen how it helps approved clients detect child sexual abuse material. The IWF said the collaboration will support faster identification of criminal content.

The partnership comes amid a rapidly evolving online threat landscape. According to the IWF’s 2025 Annual Data & Insights Report, new technologies, systemic vulnerabilities, and the continued distribution of child sexual abuse material are increasing the challenges faced by investigators and online safety organisations.

CaseScan said the collaboration will strengthen its ability to support professionals working on the front line of child protection investigations. The IWF said industry partnerships are essential to disrupting the criminal distribution of abusive images and videos and preventing the repeated victimisation of children online.

Why does it matter?

The partnership shows how child safety organisations and specialist technology providers are working to improve the speed and accuracy of CSAM detection. As the volume and complexity of illegal material online grow, trusted intelligence and specialist detection tools can help investigators and approved organisations prioritise cases, reduce manual review burdens, and respond more quickly to harmful content.

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

UK proposes hash-matching rules to combat intimate image abuse in search results

The UK government has published draft amendments to the Illegal Content Codes of Practice for search services under the Online Safety Act, proposing new measures to help detect intimate image abuse content. The amendments, published on 1 June, would add a recommended measure for large general search services to use hash-matching technology to detect intimate-image abuse content.

According to the draft, Ofcom prepared the amendments under section 41 of the Online Safety Act and submitted them to the Secretary of State on 15 May. The document was presented to Parliament under section 43 of the Act and is due to lie before both Houses for 40 days.

The proposed measure, designated ICS C8, would apply to providers of large general search services. The measure recommends the use of perceptual hash matching to identify known intimate image abuse content, or cryptographic hash matching where perceptual matching is not supported by the provider’s hash database.

Under the proposal, content matching an unverified hash for the first time would be treated as potentially illegal and subjected to review under Ofcom’s search moderation procedures. Other matches may be treated as illegal content or reviewed as suspected video and image abuse, depending on the provider’s assurance in the detection outcomes.

The amendments also set expectations for human moderator review, regular updates to hash databases, removal of hashes found not to relate to intimate image abuse content, and reviews of precision and recall at least every six months. Ofcom said the proposed measure includes safeguards intended to protect freedom of expression and privacy rights while supporting the detection of illegal content.

Why does it matter?

The proposal reflects growing efforts by regulators to address the spread of non-consensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated content, through proactive detection and moderation measures.

By encouraging the use of hash-matching technologies, UK authorities aim to reduce the repeated circulation of known abusive material while maintaining safeguards for privacy and freedom of expression.

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

European Commission proposes EU-wide satellite spectrum authorisation system

The European Commission has proposed a new EU-wide authorisation system for mobile satellite services operating in the harmonised 2 GHz frequency band once current licences expire in 2027. The move is intended to strengthen connectivity, resilience, competitiveness and critical communications across the bloc.

Under the proposal, an EU-level selection process would replace the framework introduced in 2008. The European Commission said a single authorisation system across Member States would improve regulatory consistency and enable satellite operators to provide cross-border services more efficiently.

The proposal would reserve one-third of the 2 GHz band for governmental uses, including critical communications, security and defence, through an EU operator associated with the Union’s IRIS² Secure Connectivity programme.

The European Commission said the new framework is intended to support secure, resilient and innovative satellite services while strengthening critical communications capabilities and reducing strategic dependencies. The proposal was presented in Brussels and aligns with broader plans for EU-level satellite spectrum management.

Why does it matter?

Satellite communications are becoming increasingly important for connectivity, emergency response, government communications and critical infrastructure resilience. A harmonised EU authorisation system could simplify cross-border operations for satellite providers while strengthening the bloc’s ability to support secure communications services.

The proposal also reflects broader European efforts to improve resilience in strategic digital and space infrastructure and reduce dependence on external providers in critical sectors.

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

Australia’s CEDA event to examine AI-generated threats and trust

The Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) will host an event in Brisbane examining the impact of AI-generated scams, synthetic media and the challenge of maintaining trust in digital environments. The discussion will focus on the economic and reputational risks posed by deepfakes, voice cloning, phishing campaigns and fraudulent online services.

The event, titled ‘The scam economy: How to manage AI-generated threats and build trust’, will examine how businesses can maintain trust with stakeholders when visual, audio, and written material can be generated or manipulated using AI. It will bring together communications, cyber, technology, finance, and policy experts.

The discussion comes ahead of the entry into force of Australia’s Scams Prevention Framework Act 2025 on 1 July. Under the new framework, banks, telecommunications providers and digital platforms will be required to take proactive steps to prevent, detect and respond to scam activity.

CEDA says the event will explore how businesses can manage the economic risks of AI-generated fraud as synthetic media becomes more accessible and harder to identify. The programme will be held at Pullman King George Square in Brisbane.

Why does it matter?

Advances in generative AI are making it easier and cheaper to create convincing fake content, including images, videos, voices and websites. These tools are increasingly being used in fraud schemes that target consumers, businesses and public institutions.

As AI-generated deception becomes more sophisticated, organisations face growing challenges in maintaining trust, verifying authenticity and protecting users from scams. The discussion reflects broader efforts by governments and industry to adapt regulatory and security frameworks to emerging AI-related risks.

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

EU launches consultation on trusted flagger guidelines under the DSA

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on draft guidelines for trusted flaggers under the Digital Services Act, aiming to establish a clearer and more consistent framework for organisations that identify and report illegal online content.

Trusted flaggers are specialised entities whose notices about illegal content must be prioritised by online platforms under the DSA. Platforms remain responsible for assessing whether the reported content is illegal.

More than 70 trusted flaggers have already been designated across the EU, covering areas such as child sexual abuse material, intellectual property infringements, online fraud, financial scams, and online harassment.

The proposed guidelines clarify the criteria and procedures used by national Digital Services Coordinators to grant trusted flagger status. They also set out technical requirements for trusted flaggers and platforms when processing notices of illegal content.

The draft guidelines include safeguards intended to ensure that trusted flaggers remain independent, objective, and accountable while operating in full respect of freedom of expression. They also include measures to prevent misuse of the mechanism, including public annual transparency reports and procedures to suspend or revoke trusted flagger status.

The Commission is inviting feedback from platforms, trusted flaggers, applicants, researchers, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders until 26 June 2026. Following the consultation, the Commission plans to adopt the final guidelines in the second half of 2026.

Why does it matter?

Trusted flaggers are becoming an important procedural tool in the EU’s online safety framework. Clearer rules could improve the reporting and handling of illegal content while reducing fragmentation across member states. The safeguards are also important because prioritised notices must be balanced with accountability, transparency, and protection of freedom of expression.

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

Singapore and Japan launch mutual recognition of IoT cybersecurity labels

Singapore and Japan have launched mutual recognition of their cybersecurity labelling schemes for Internet of Things (IoT) under a Memorandum of Cooperation that entered into force on 1 June 2026. The arrangement covers Singapore’s Cybersecurity Labelling Scheme and Japan’s JC-STAR scheme.

The Memorandum of Cooperation was signed by Rahayu Mahzam, Singapore’s Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, and Ino Toshiro, Japan’s State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry agreed to recognise cybersecurity labels issued under either scheme.

IoT devices certified under either Japan’s JC-STAR scheme or Singapore’s Cybersecurity Labelling Scheme will be eligible for streamlined recognition in the other market. Covered products include smart home assistants, home automation and alarm systems, and IoT gateways and hubs that connect multiple devices.

Japan is the fifth country to establish such an arrangement with Singapore, following Finland, Germany, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. According to Singapore authorities, the arrangement is expected to support stronger cybersecurity practices for connected devices, reduce certification burdens for manufacturers, and increase consumer confidence in smart technologies.

The CSA launched the Cybersecurity Labelling Scheme in 2020. Since then, it has received applications for more than 1,000 products, including routers, smart lighting, and smart cameras.

Why does it matter?

Connected devices are increasingly used in homes, businesses, and critical services, making cybersecurity a growing concern for governments and consumers. Cybersecurity labelling schemes are designed to help buyers identify products that meet recognised security requirements while encouraging manufacturers to improve security practices.

By recognising each other’s certification schemes, Singapore and Japan are reducing regulatory barriers and promoting greater interoperability in cybersecurity standards. The agreement also reflects broader international efforts to strengthen trust and security in the rapidly expanding IoT ecosystem.

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

G7 agrees on the first common principles on protecting children online

G7 digital ministers have agreed a shared set of principles for protecting children and young people from online harm for the first time, marking the first coordinated approach adopted by the group on the issue. The agreement, reached during talks in Paris, sets shared principles for addressing risks linked to harmful content, exploitation and the use of AI chatbots.

The principles call for stronger digital literacy, robust online safety practices by digital service providers and safety measures built into digital services from the start. The agreement also sets expectations for effective age assurance and closer cooperation between providers, children, parents and guardians.

Ministers also called for improved access to data and research on how digital services affect children’s well-being, including greater cooperation among platforms, researchers and families. UK Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: ‘The agreements we have reached today are an important step on that journey: outlining a shared approach to protecting our children, backing our small businesses to adopt AI, and ensuring AI is developed safely and responsibly.’

The G7 also reaffirmed its commitment to promoting trustworthy AI while continuing discussions on assessing and managing AI-related risks. Under France’s presidency, members agreed to continue discussions on a mutual understanding of AI risk assessment frameworks, including in relation to cyberattacks and chemical and biological capabilities.

Ministers also backed support for small and medium-sized enterprises to adopt AI through a tool developed with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). G7 members also agreed a Vision on AI Openness and committed to further work on AI-generated content detection, secure AI systems, trusted data flows, and resource-efficient digital and AI infrastructure.

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

Diplo chatbot can make mistakes. Consider checking important information.