Cybersecurity

Romania pilots EU Digital Identity Wallet for payments

In a milestone for the European digital identity ecosystem, Banca Transilvania and payments-tech firm BPC have completed the first pilot in Romania using the EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDIW) for a real-money transaction.

The initiative lets a cardholder authenticate a purchase using the wallet rather than a conventional one-time password or card reader.

The pilot forms part of a large-scale testbed led by the European Commission under the eIDAS 2 Regulation, which requires all EU banks to accept the wallet for strong customer authentication and KYC (know-your-customer) purposes by 2027.

Banca Transilvania’s Deputy CEO Retail Banking, Oana Ilaş, described the project as a historic step toward a unified European digital identities framework that enhances interoperability, inclusivity and banking access.

From a digital governance and payments policy perspective, this pilot is significant. It shows how national banking systems are beginning to integrate digital-ID wallets into card and account-based flows, potentially reducing reliance on legacy authentication mechanisms (such as SMS OTP or hardware tokens) that are vulnerable to fraud.

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New York Times lawsuit prompts OpenAI to strengthen privacy protections

OpenAI says a New York Times demand to hand over 20 million private ChatGPT conversations threatens user privacy and breaks with established security norms. The request forms part of the Times’ lawsuit over alleged misuse of its content.

The company argues the demand would expose highly personal chats from people with no link to the case. It previously resisted broader requests, including one seeking more than a billion conversations, and says the latest move raises similar concerns about proportionality.

OpenAI says it offered privacy-preserving alternatives, such as targeted searches and high-level usage data, but these were rejected. It adds that chats covered by the order are being de-identified and stored in a secure, legally restricted environment.

The dispute arises as OpenAI accelerates its security roadmap, which includes plans for client-side encryption and automated systems that detect serious safety risks without requiring broad human access. These measures aim to ensure private conversations remain inaccessible to external parties.

OpenAI maintains that strong privacy protections are essential as AI tools handle increasingly sensitive tasks. It says it will challenge any attempt to make private conversations public and will continue to update users as the legal process unfolds.

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Hidden freeze controls uncovered across major blockchains

Bybit’s Lazarus Security Lab says 16 major blockchains embed fund-freezing mechanisms. An additional 19 could adopt them with modest protocol changes, according to the study. The review covered 166 networks using an AI-assisted scan plus manual validation.

Whilst using AI, researchers describe three models: hardcoded blacklists, configuration-based freezes, and on-chain system contracts. Examples cited include BNB Chain, Aptos, Sui, VeChain and HECO in different roles. Analysts argue that emergency tools can curb exploits yet concentrate control.

Case studies show freezes after high-profile attacks and losses. Sui validators moved to restore about 162 million dollars post-Cetus hack, while BNB Chain halted movement after a 570 million bridge exploit. VeChain blocked 6.6 million in 2019.

New blockchain debates centre on transparency, governance and user rights when freezes occur. Critics warn about centralisation risks and opaque validator decisions, while exchanges urge disclosure of intervention powers.

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European Commission launches Culture Compass to strengthen the EU identity

The European Commission unveiled the Culture Compass for Europe, a framework designed to place culture at the heart of the EU policies.

An initiative that aims to foster the identity ot the EU, celebrate diversity, and support excellence across the continent’s cultural and creative sectors.

The Compass addresses the challenges facing cultural industries, including restrictions on artistic expression, precarious working conditions for artists, unequal access to culture, and the transformative impact of AI.

It provides guidance along four key directions: upholding European values and cultural rights, empowering artists and professionals, enhancing competitiveness and social cohesion, and strengthening international cultural partnerships.

Several initiatives will support the Compass, including the EU Artists Charter for fair working conditions, a European Prize for Performing Arts, a Youth Cultural Ambassadors Network, a cultural data hub, and an AI strategy for the cultural sector.

The Commission will track progress through a new report on the State of Culture in the EU and seeks a Joint Declaration with the European Parliament and Council to reinforce political commitment.

Commission officials emphasised that the Culture Compass connects culture to Europe’s future, placing artists and creativity at the centre of policy and ensuring the sector contributes to social, economic, and international engagement.

Culture is portrayed not as a side story, but as the story of the EU itself.

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UAE executes first government payment using Digital Dirham

The United Arab Emirates has completed its first government financial transaction using the Digital Dirham, marking a significant milestone in its transition towards a fully digital economy.

The Ministry of Finance and Dubai Finance carried out the transaction in collaboration with the Central Bank of the UAE, confirming the country’s leadership in advancing next-generation financial technologies.

Part of the Central Bank’s Financial Infrastructure Transformation Programme, the pilot phase of the Digital Dirham aims to accelerate digital payment adoption and strengthen the UAE’s position as a global financial hub.

Senior officials, including Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, described the initiative as a strategic step toward improving transparency, efficiency, and integration across government financial systems.

The first pilot transaction was executed through the government payments platform mBridge, which facilitates instant settlements using central bank digital currencies.

A transaction was completed in under two minutes, demonstrating the system’s technical efficiency and reliability. The mBridge platform, fully integrated with the Digital Dirham initiative, enables secure, intermediary-free settlements, reducing costs while improving accuracy and transparency.

Officials emphasised that the Digital Dirham will serve as a cornerstone for a sustainable digital economy, reinforcing national financial stability and global competitiveness.

The initiative reflects the UAE’s commitment to adopting cutting-edge technologies that promote integration and innovation across the public and private sectors.

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EU regulators, UK and eSafety lead the global push to protect children in the digital world

Children today spend a significant amount of their time online, from learning and playing to communicating.

To protect them in an increasingly digital world, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, the European Commission’s DG CNECT, and the UK’s Ofcom have joined forces to strengthen global cooperation on child online safety.

The partnership aims to ensure that online platforms take greater responsibility for protecting and empowering children, recognising their rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The three regulators will continue to enforce their online safety laws to ensure platforms properly assess and mitigate risks to children. They will promote privacy-preserving age verification technologies and collaborate with civil society and academics to ensure that regulations reflect real-world challenges.

By supporting digital literacy and critical thinking, they aim to provide children and families with safer and more confident online experiences.

To advance the work, a new trilateral technical group will be established to deepen collaboration on age assurance. It will study the interoperability and reliability of such systems, explore the latest technologies, and strengthen the evidence base for regulatory action.

Through closer cooperation, the regulators hope to create a more secure and empowering digital environment for young people worldwide.

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Αnthropic pledges $50 billion to expand the US AI infrastructure

The US AI safety and research company, Anthropic, has announced a $50 billion investment to expand AI computing infrastructure inside the country, partnering with Fluidstack to build data centres in Texas and New York, with additional sites planned.

These facilities are designed to optimise efficiency for Anthropic’s workloads, supporting frontier research and development in AI.

The project is expected to generate approximately 800 permanent jobs and 2,400 construction positions as sites come online throughout 2026.

An investment that aligns with the Trump administration’s AI Action Plan, aiming to maintain the US leadership in AI while strengthening domestic technology infrastructure and competitiveness.

Dario Amodei, CEO and co-founder of Anthropic, highlighted the importance of such an infrastructure in developing AI systems capable of accelerating scientific discovery and solving complex problems.

The company serves over 300,000 business customers, with a sevenfold growth in large accounts over the past year, demonstrating strong market demand for its Claude AI platform.

Fluidstack was selected as Anthropic’s partner for its agility in rapidly deploying high-capacity infrastructure. The collaboration aims to provide cost-effective and capital-efficient solutions to meet the growing demand, ensuring that research and development can continue to be at the forefront of AI innovation.

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Meta expands AI infrastructure with $1 billion sustainable facility

The US tech giant, Meta, has announced the construction of its 30th data centre in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, a $1 billion investment that will power the company’s growing AI infrastructure while benefiting the local community and environment.

A facility, designed to support Meta’s most demanding AI workloads, that will run entirely on clean energy and create more than 100 permanent jobs alongside 1,000 construction roles.

The company will invest nearly $200 million in energy infrastructure and donate $15 million to Alliant Energy’s Hometown Care Energy Fund to assist families with home energy costs.

Meta will also launch community grants to fund schools and local organisations, strengthening technology education and digital skills while helping small businesses use AI tools more effectively.

Environmental responsibility remains central to the project. The data centre will use dry cooling, eliminating water demands during operation, and restore 100% of consumed water to local watersheds.

In partnership with Ducks Unlimited, Meta will revitalise 570 acres of wetlands and prairie, transforming degraded habitats into thriving ecosystems. The facility is expected to achieve LEED Gold Certification, reflecting Meta’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and community-focused innovation.

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Police warn of scammers posing as AFP officers in crypto fraud

Cybercriminals are exploiting Australia’s national cybercrime reporting platform, ReportCyber, to trick people into handing over cryptocurrency. The AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3) warns scammers are posing as police and using stolen data to file fake reports.

In one recent case, a victim was contacted by someone posing as an AFP officer and informed that their details had been found in a data breach linked to cryptocurrency. The impersonator provided an official reference number, which appeared genuine when checked on the ReportCyber portal.

A second caller, pretending to be from a crypto platform, then urged the target to transfer funds to a so-called ‘Cold Storage’ account. The victim realised the deception and ended the call before losing money.

Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson said the scam’s sophistication lay in its false sense of legitimacy and urgency. Criminals verify personal data and act quickly to pressure victims, she explained. However, growing awareness within the community has helped authorities detect such scams sooner.

Authorities are reminding the public that legitimate officers will never request access to wallets, bank accounts, or seed phrases. Australians should remain cautious, verify unexpected calls, and report any suspicious activity through official channels.

The AFP reaffirmed that ReportCyber remains a safe platform for genuine reports and continues to be a vital tool in tracking and preventing cybercrime nationwide.

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UK moves to curb AI-generated child abuse imagery with pre-release testing

The UK government plans to let approved organisations test AI models before release to ensure they cannot generate child sexual abuse material. The amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill aims to build safeguards into AI tools at the design stage rather than after deployment.

The Internet Watch Foundation reported 426 AI-related abuse cases this year, up from 199 in 2024. Chief Executive Kerry Smith said the move could make AI products safer before they are launched. The proposal also extends to detecting extreme pornography and non-consensual intimate images.

The NSPCC’s Rani Govender welcomed the reform but said testing should be mandatory to make child safety part of product design. Earlier this year, the Home Office introduced new offences for creating or distributing AI tools used to produce abusive imagery, punishable by up to five years in prison.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the law would ensure that trusted groups can verify the safety of AI systems. In contrast, Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said it would help prevent predators from exploiting legitimate tools.

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