Sustainable development

Czechia weighs under-15 social media ban as government debate intensifies

A ban on social media use for under-15s is being weighed in Czechia, with government officials suggesting the measure could be introduced before the end of the year.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has voiced strong support and argues that experts point to potential harm linked to early social media exposure.

France recently enacted an under-15 restriction, and a growing number of European countries are exploring similar limits rather than relying solely on parental guidance.

The discussion is part of a broader debate about children’s digital habits, with Czech officials also considering a ban on mobile phones in schools. Slovakia has already adopted comparable rules, giving Czech ministers another model to study as they work on their own proposals.

Not all political voices agree on the direction of travel. Some warn that strict limits could undermine privacy rights or diminish online anonymity, while others argue that educational initiatives would be more effective than outright prohibition.

UNICEF has cautioned that removing access entirely may harm children who rely on online platforms for learning or social connection instead of traditional offline networks.

Implementing a nationwide age restriction poses practical and political challenges. The government of Czechia heavily uses social media to reach citizens, complicating attempts to restrict access for younger users.

Age verification, fair oversight and consistent enforcement remain open questions as ministers continue consultations with experts and service providers.

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New York moves toward data centre moratorium as energy fears grow

Lawmakers in New York have proposed a three-year moratorium on permits for new data centres amid pressure to address the strain prominent AI facilities place on local communities.

The proposal mirrors similar moves in several other states and reflects rising concern that rapidly expanding infrastructure may raise electricity costs and worsen environmental conditions rather than supporting balanced development.

Politicians from both major parties have voiced unease about the growing power demand created by data-intensive services. Figures such as Bernie Sanders and Ron DeSantis have warned that unchecked development could drive household bills higher and burden communities.

More than 230 environmental organisations recently urged Congress to consider a national pause to prevent further disruption.

The New York bill, sponsored by Liz Krueger and Anna Kelles, aims to give regulators time to build strict rules before major construction continues. Krueger described the state as unprepared for the scale of facilities seeking entry, arguing that residents should not be left covering future costs.

Supporters say a temporary halt would provide time to design policies that protect consumers rather than encourage unrestrained corporate expansion.

Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced the Energize NY Development initiative, intended to modernise the grid connection process and ensure large energy users contribute fairly.

The scheme would require data centre operators to improve their financial responsibility as New York reassesses its approach to extensive AI-driven infrastructure.

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Lithuania selects Procivis for EU digital ID wallet sandbox

Procivis has been selected to build Lithuania’s European Digital Identity Wallet sandbox, advancing preparations for the EU digital identity rollout. The 12-month initiative will be delivered in partnership with the state Agency for Digital Solutions.

The project will establish a national test environment designed to simulate real-world digital identity scenarios. Built on Procivis One, the platform meets eIDAS 2.0 requirements and will validate the wallet infrastructure before EU deployment.

Testing will cover use cases for citizens, public institutions, and private-sector relying parties. Cross-border scenarios, including access to public and travel-related services, will also be explored to ensure interoperability across EU member states.

The sandbox will contribute to Lithuania’s readiness for the 2026 eIDAS 2.0 deadline while supporting broader participation in the EU Large Scale Pilot programmes focused on digital identity innovation.

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Bitcoin cryptography safe as quantum threat remains distant

Quantum computing concerns around Bitcoin have resurfaced, yet analysis from CoinShares indicates the threat remains long-term. The report argues that quantum risk is an engineering challenge that gives Bitcoin ample time to adapt.

Bitcoin’s security relies on elliptic-curve cryptography. A sufficiently advanced quantum machine could, in theory, derive private keys using Shor’s algorithm, which requires millions of stable, error-corrected qubits, and remains far beyond current capability.

Network exposure is also limited. Roughly 1.6 million BTC is held in legacy addresses with visible public keys, yet only about 10,200 BTC is realistically targetable. Modern address formats further reduce the feasibility of attacks.

Debate continues over post-quantum upgrades, with researchers warning that premature changes could introduce new vulnerabilities. Market impact, for now, is viewed as minimal.

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OpenClaw faces rising security pushback in South Korea

Major technology companies in South Korea are tightening restrictions on OpenClaw after rising concerns about security and data privacy.

Kakao, Naver and Karrot Market have moved to block the open-source agent within corporate networks, signalling a broader effort to prevent sensitive information from leaking into external systems.

Their decisions follow growing unease about how autonomous tools may interact with confidential material, rather than remaining contained within controlled platforms.

OpenClaw serves as a self-hosted agent that performs actions on behalf of a large language model, acting as the hands of a system that can browse the web, edit files and run commands.

Its ability to run directly on local machines has driven rapid adoption, but it has also raised concerns that confidential data could be exposed or manipulated.

Industry figures argue that companies are acting preemptively to reduce regulatory and operational risks by ensuring that internal materials never feed external training processes.

China has urged organisations to strengthen protections after identifying cases of OpenClaw running with inadequate safeguards.

Security analysts in South Korea warn that the agent’s open-source design and local execution model make it vulnerable to misuse, especially when compared to cloud-based chatbots that operate in more restricted environments.

Wiz researchers recently uncovered flaws in agents linked to OpenClaw that exposed personal information.

Despite the warnings, OpenClaw continues to gain traction among users who value its ability to automate complex tasks, rather than rely on manual workflows.

Some people purchase separate devices solely to run the agent, while an active South Korea community on X has drawn more than 1,800 members who exchange advice and share mitigation strategies.

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Yuan-pegged stablecoins face new restrictions under China policy

Chinese regulators have tightened controls on digital assets by banning the unauthorised issuance of yuan-pegged stablecoins overseas. The move extends existing restrictions to tokenised financial products linked to China’s currency and reinforces state control over monetary instruments.

In a joint notice, the People’s Bank of China and seven other agencies said no domestic or foreign entity may issue renminbi-linked stablecoins without approval. Authorities warned that such tokens replicate core monetary functions and could undermine currency sovereignty.

The rules also cover blockchain-based representations of real-world assets, including tokenised bonds and equities. Overseas providers are prohibited from offering these services to users in China without regulatory permission.

Beijing reaffirmed that cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ether have no legal tender status. Facilitating payments or related services using such assets remains illegal under China’s financial laws.

The measures align with China’s broader strategy of restricting private digital currencies while advancing the state-backed digital yuan. Officials have recently expanded the e-CNY’s role by allowing interest payments to encourage wider adoption.

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New Cyber Startup Programme unveiled as Infosecurity Europe boosts early innovation

Infosecurity Europe has launched a new Cyber Startup Programme to support early-stage cybersecurity innovation and strengthen ecosystem resilience. The initiative will debut at Infosecurity Europe 2026, offering founders and investors a dedicated experience focused on emerging technologies and growth.

The programme centres on a new Cyber Startups Zone, an exhibition area showcasing young companies and novel security solutions. Founders will gain industry visibility, along with tailored ticket access and curated networking.

Delivery will take place in partnership with UK Cyber Flywheel, featuring a dedicated founder- and investor-focused day on Tuesday 2 June. Sessions will cover scaling strategies, go-to-market planning, funding, and live pitching opportunities.

Infosecurity Europe will also introduce the Cyber Startup Award 2026, recognising early-stage firms with live products and growth potential. Finalists will pitch on stage, with winners receiving exhibition space, PR support, and a future-brand workshop.

Alongside the programme, the Cyber Innovation Zone, delivered with the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, will spotlight innovative UK cybersecurity businesses and emerging technologies.

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EU split widens over ban on AI nudification apps

European lawmakers remain divided over whether AI tools that generate non-consensual sexual images should face an explicit ban in the EU legislation.

The split emerged as debate intensified over the AI simplification package, which is moving through Parliament and the Council rather than remaining confined to earlier negotiations.

Concerns escalated after Grok was used to create images that digitally undressed women and children.

The EU regulators responded by launching an investigation under the Digital Services Act, and the Commission described the behaviour as illegal under existing European rules. Several lawmakers argue that the AI Act should name pornification apps directly instead of relying on broader legal provisions.

Lead MEPs did not include a ban in their initial draft of the Parliament’s position, prompting other groups to consider adding amendments. Negotiations continue as parties explore how such a restriction could be framed without creating inconsistencies within the broader AI framework.

The Commission appears open to strengthening the law and has hinted that the AI omnibus could be an appropriate moment to act. Lawmakers now have a limited time to decide whether an explicit prohibition can secure political agreement before the amendment deadline passes.

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Germany fines Amazon €59 million for abusing market power in seller pricing

The German competition authority has fined Amazon €59 million for abusing its dominant position by influencing the pricing behaviour of third-party sellers.

Regulators concluded that Amazon’s pricing algorithms and Fair Pricing Policy breached national digital dominance rules and the EU competition law, rather than aligning with fair marketplace standards.

The authority argued that Amazon competes directly with merchants on its platform while shaping their prices through restrictions such as caps that penalise sellers who exceed certain limits.

Officials described that approach as incompatible with healthy competition since a platform should not influence rivals’ commercial strategies while participating in the same market.

Amazon strongly disputed the ruling and claimed the conclusion conflicts with the EU consumer standards. The company argued that the decision forces the platform to promote prices that fail to reflect competitive market conditions and announced it will challenge the findings.

The case follows a 2025 preliminary assessment and builds on Amazon’s earlier designation in 2022 as a company of paramount significance for competition, a judgement upheld by the Federal Court of Justice in Germany in 2024.

A ruling that marks another step in Europe’s efforts to rein in digital platforms that wield extensive influence across multiple markets.

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Spain faces escalating battle with Telegram founder

The confrontation between Spain and Telegram founder Pavel Durov has intensified after he claimed that Pedro Sánchez endangered online freedoms.

Government officials responded that the tech executive spread lies rather than engage with the proposed rules in good faith. Sánchez argued that democracy would not be silenced by what he called the techno-oligarchs of the algorithm.

The dispute followed the unveiling of new measures aimed at major technology companies. The plan introduces a ban on social media use for under-16s and holds corporate leaders legally responsible when unlawful or hateful content remains online rather than being removed.

Platforms would also need to adopt age-verification tools such as ID checks or biometric systems, which Durov argued could turn Spain into a surveillance state by allowing large-scale data collection.

Tensions widened as Sánchez clashed with prominent US tech figures. Sumar urged all bodies linked to the central administration to leave X, a move that followed Elon Musk’s accusation that the Spanish leader was acting like a tyrant.

The row highlighted how Spain’s attempt to regulate digital platforms has placed its government in open conflict with influential technology executives.

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