Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has released an update on rules requiring platforms to prevent users under 16 from holding accounts. Early results show significant action by companies, but also ongoing challenges in fully enforcing the restrictions.
By mid-December 2025, around 4.7 million accounts were removed or restricted, with more than 300,000 additional accounts blocked by March 2026. Despite these reductions, many children continue to retain accounts, create new ones, or pass age assurance checks.
Regulators identified several compliance concerns, including platforms that allow repeated attempts at age verification and encourage some users to update their ages. Reporting systems for underage accounts were often difficult to access, particularly for parents.
Investigations into five major platforms are ongoing to determine whether they have taken reasonable steps to meet their legal obligations. Authorities are assessing systems and processes rather than individual accounts, with enforcement decisions expected by mid-2026.
A new legislative rule introduced in March 2026 targets platform features linked to potential harm, such as recommender systems and continuous content feeds. Regulators will continue working with industry while gathering evidence and maintaining transparency during the enforcement process.
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Researchers analysed 177,436 AI agent tools created between November 2024 and February 2026 using Model Context Protocol repositories. The study examines how AI agents use external tools to access and modify digital environments.
The tools are grouped into perception, reasoning and action categories based on their function. Perception tools access data, reasoning tools analyse information, and action tools modify systems such as files, emails or external platforms.
Software development accounts for 67% of all tools and 90% of downloads. The findings show that AI agents are primarily used to support coding tasks and related workflows.
The share of action tools increased from 27% to 65% over the 16 months analysed. Most action tools focus on medium-stakes tasks, though some are used for financial transactions and other higher-stakes activities.
The study also outlines a method to monitor AI agent usage through tool-level analysis. This approach can support oversight of risks linked to AI deployment in practical applications.
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The World Data Organisation was formally established in Beijing on 30 March 2026, as the first professional international body focused on global data development and governance. The organisation aims to operate as a non-governmental, non-profit platform for dialogue, rule-making, and international collaboration.
The WDO has three stated goals: bridging the data divide, unlocking data’s value, and powering the digital economy. These priorities are intended to reduce disparities in digital capacity between developed and developing countries.
Global data use has become central to addressing challenges such as poverty reduction, public health, climate change, and AI development. Disparities persist, with digitally deliverable services accounting for over 60% of service exports in advanced economies but only 15% in least developed countries.
China’s digital infrastructure has advanced rapidly, with 4.8 million 5G base stations built by the end of 2025, and computing power ranked second globally. Officials said platforms like the WDO and UN will help shape international data governance, promote cooperation, and support secure cross-border data flows.
The WDO seeks to safeguard countries’ rights to develop data while respecting privacy, security, and enterprise interests. By 2030, it is expected to become a globally influential platform and a trusted hub in international data governance.
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Malta is advancing the SMART Food project to strengthen the agri-food sector. The initiative is a Malta-Italy partnership funded under the Interreg programme.
Minister Anton Refalo said the project aims to create a reliable and technologically advanced food system. A digital platform using AI and blockchain will provide real-time information on products from production to consumption.
The project seeks to meet consumer demand for clarity on food origin, safety, and sustainability. It will also support farmers and industry operators in adopting more efficient practices.
Minister Refalo added that the initiative strengthens trust across the food chain and empowers consumers. Malta’s scale allows it to adopt innovative solutions and take a leading role in modernising the sector.
The Malta Food Agency manages the project, including development, management, and training. Chief Executive Brian Vella said it safeguards product quality, improves traceability, and reinforces confidence in local produce.
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Nottingham City Council has partnered with VivaCity to install over 200 AI-enabled transport sensors across the city. The sensors include ANPR, traffic monitoring, and Smart Signal Control capabilities.
Sensors will collect real-time, anonymous data on vehicle types, pedestrians, and cyclists to inform traffic management decisions. The first Smart Junction at the Ring Road-Aspley Lane will adjust traffic lights according to current conditions.
Funding comes from the Future Transport Zones Fund, for which the Department awarded £16.7 million for Transport. Installation began in February 2023 and will finish by November 2023, with coverage across main routes.
Data from the sensors will feed into a public Data Hub alongside car park and EV charging datasets. Air quality monitors will be added near sensors to help assess correlations between road use and pollution levels.
Sensors will not function as speed cameras and will not record personal information. The technology will be upgraded over time to identify additional vehicle types such as taxis, minibuses, and mobility scooters.
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Barnsley is advancing its Tech Town programme with new AI pilots aimed to improving healthcare services and supporting local businesses. The initiative aims to demonstrate how AI can deliver practical benefits for communities and public services.
A Healthcare Living Lab will test AI tools within hospital settings to reduce waiting times, missed appointments and administrative workload. The pilot will generate evidence on improving patient care and supporting NHS staff efficiency.
Alongside this, a £800,000 AI Upskilling Challenge Fund will provide targeted training for SMEs and residents. The programme focuses on industries such as manufacturing and aims to equip individuals with the skills needed to adopt AI in their work.
The pilots also prioritise inclusion by supporting groups with limited access to technology or digital confidence. If successful, the approach could offer a scalable model for wider AI adoption across the UK.
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An expanded meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union Intergovernmental Council was held in Shymkent under Kazakhstan’s chairmanship, bringing together leaders to discuss economic integration, digital transformation and technological development.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said Kazakhstan will prioritise the introduction of AI across the Union’s activities, alongside efforts to strengthen digital ecosystems and regulatory cooperation among member states.
Participants discussed the use of AI in areas including customs administration, logistics, industry and agriculture, as well as a proposal to develop an integrated AI-based platform to coordinate cargo flows and improve transport efficiency.
The meeting also addressed digital governance measures, including transitioning veterinary and phytosanitary certification fully to electronic formats to improve transparency in trade and reduce administrative barriers.
Leaders emphasised the role of digital solutions and AI in supporting industrial cooperation, innovation and market integration, with decisions from the meeting aimed at strengthening economic resilience and advancing digital transformation across the region.
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India has launched three initiatives to expand AI adoption, digital content creation and access to broadcasting services. The programme focuses on building an AI-skilled workforce and strengthening the country’s digital ecosystem.
A national AI skilling initiative aims to train 15,000 creators and media professionals through partnerships with Google and YouTube. The programme covers generative AI, prompting and advanced tools, supporting future-ready skills in media and creative industries.
The government also introduced MyWAVES, a platform within WAVES OTT that enables users to create, upload and share content. Designed for user-generated content, it supports multiple formats and multilingual participation across India.
Access to broadcasting has been simplified through in-built satellite tuners and an advanced programme guide in television sets. The update removes the need for set-top boxes, improving affordability and expanding reach, particularly in remote areas.
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A joint study by the International Labour Organization and the World Bank finds that AI will reshape labour markets unevenly across countries. Research covering 135 economies highlights growing risks for workers as automation expands.
Advanced economies show higher exposure to AI, particularly in clerical and professional roles. Lower-income regions face fewer direct impacts but lack the infrastructure and skills needed to capture productivity gains.
The digital divide plays a central role, with many vulnerable jobs already online and therefore exposed to automation. Workers in roles with potential benefits often lack reliable internet access, limiting opportunities.
The ILO’s findings suggest outcomes depend on infrastructure, skills and job design rather than technology alone. Policymakers are urged to improve connectivity, training and social protections to spread benefits more evenly.
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The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has outlined plans to integrate AI and data-driven tools into its regulatory processes as part of its 2026/27 work programme to become a more efficient and effective regulator.
The programme includes developing an internal authorisation tool to speed up approvals and using generative AI to review documents and support supervision, while maintaining human decision-making at the core of regulatory actions.
The FCA said it will also test automated data-sharing in a sandbox environment, expand its Supercharged Sandbox for firms developing AI-based financial products, and invest in analytics to better identify risks and prioritise cases.
Measures to reduce burdens on firms include removing certain data reporting requirements, simplifying digital processes and improving authorisation timelines, alongside efforts to enhance firms’ experience through new tools and feedback mechanisms.
The regulator also plans to support economic growth and consumer protection by advancing measures such as regulating buy now pay later products, speeding up IPO processes, expanding international presence, and addressing emerging risks, including the use of general-purpose AI in financial decision-making.
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