New measures are being introduced in west Northamptonshire with the deployment of an AI-powered CCTV tower to combat fly-tipping in known hotspots. The mobile system will be rotated between locations until January 2027 to improve detection and deterrence.
Fly-tipping remains a significant issue across the area, with more than 21,000 incidents cleared between April 2024 and March 2025. Local authorities say illegal dumping damages neighbourhoods, harms wildlife and places a heavy financial burden on taxpayers.
The tower uses 360-degree cameras and AI to monitor activity and identify offences as they occur. Automatic number plate recognition allows enforcement officers to link incidents to suspected vehicles more quickly.
Council leaders say a similar scheme in Dartford have reduced fly-tipping and believe the technology sends a strong message to offenders. Residents are encouraged to report incidents through the council website or smartphone app to support enforcement efforts.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Monnett is a European-built social media platform designed to give people control over their online feeds. Users can choose exactly what they see, prioritise friends’ posts, and opt out of surveillance-style recommendation systems that dominate other networks.
Unlike mainstream platforms, Monnett places privacy first, with no profiling or sale of user data, and private chats protected without being mined for advertising. The platform also avoids “AI slop” or generative AI content shaping people’s feeds, emphasising human-centred interaction.
Created and built in Luxembourg at the heart of Europe, Monnett’s design reflects a growing push for digital sovereignty in the European Union, where citizens, regulators and developers want more control over how their digital spaces are governed and how personal data is treated.
Core features include full customisation of your algorithm, no shadowbans, strong privacy safeguards, and a focus on genuine social connection. Monnett aims to win users who prefer meaningful online interaction over addictive feeds and opaque data practices.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Gulf states are accelerating AI investment to drive diversification, while regulators struggle to keep pace with rapid technological change. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar are deploying AI across key sectors while pursuing regional leadership in digital innovation.
Despite political commitment and large-scale funding, policymakers struggle to balance innovation with risk management. AI’s rapid pace and global reach strain governance, while foreign tech reliance raises sovereignty and security risks.
Corporate influence, intensifying geopolitical competition, and the urgent race to attract foreign capital further complicate oversight efforts, constraining regulators’ ability to impose robust and forward-looking governance frameworks.
With AI increasingly viewed as a source of economic and strategic power, Gulf governments face a narrowing window to establish effective regulatory frameworks before the technology becomes deeply embedded across critical infrastructure.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Nike has launched an internal investigation following claims by the WorldLeaks cybercrime group that company data was stolen from its systems.
The sportswear giant said it is assessing a potential cybersecurity incident after the group listed Nike on its Tor leak site and published a large volume of files allegedly taken during the intrusion.
WorldLeaks claims to have released approximately 1.4 terabytes of data, comprising more than 188,000 files. The group is known for data theft and extortion tactics, pressuring organisations to pay by threatening public disclosure instead of encrypting systems with ransomware.
The cybercrime operation emerged in 2025 after rebranding from Hunters International, a ransomware gang active since 2023. Increased law enforcement pressure reportedly led the group to abandon encryption-based attacks and focus exclusively on stealing sensitive corporate data.
An incident that adds to growing concerns across the retail and apparel sector, following a recent breach affecting Under Armour that exposed tens of millions of customer records.
Nike has stated that consumer privacy and data protection remain priorities while the investigation continues.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
AI has dominated discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva warned that labour markets are already undergoing rapid structural disruption.
According to Georgieva, demand for skills is shifting unevenly, with productivity gains benefiting some workers while younger people and first-time job seekers face shrinking opportunities.
Entry-level roles are particularly exposed as AI systems absorb routine and clerical tasks traditionally used to gain workplace experience.
Georgieva described the effect on young workers as comparable to a labour-market tsunami, arguing that reduced access to foundational roles risks long-term scarring for an entire generation entering employment.
IMF research suggests AI could affect roughly 60 percent of jobs in advanced economies and 40 percent globally, with only about half of exposed workers likely to benefit.
For others, automation may lead to lower wages, slower hiring and intensified pressure on middle-income roles lacking AI-driven productivity gains.
At Davos 2026, Georgieva warned that the rapid, unregulated deployment of AI in advanced economies risks outpacing public policy responses.
Without clear guardrails and inclusive labour strategies, she argued that technological acceleration could deepen inequality rather than supporting broad-based economic resilience.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Apple has accused the European Commission of preventing it from implementing App Store changes designed to comply with the Digital Markets Act, following a €500 million fine for breaching the regulation.
The company claims it submitted a formal compliance plan in October and has yet to receive a response from EU officials.
In a statement, Apple argued that the Commission requested delays while gathering market feedback, a process the company says lasted several months and lacked a clear legal basis.
The US tech giant described the enforcement approach as politically motivated and excessively burdensome, accusing the EU of unfairly targeting an American firm.
The Commission has rejected those claims, saying discussions with Apple remain ongoing and emphasising that any compliance measures must support genuinely viable alternative app stores.
Officials pointed to the emergence of multiple competing marketplaces after the DMA entered into force as evidence of market demand.
Scrutiny has increased following the decision by SetApp mobile to shut down its iOS app store in February, with the developer citing complex and evolving business terms.
Questions remain over whether Apple’s proposed shift towards commission-based fees and expanded developer communication rights will satisfy EU regulators.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
OpenAI’s latest GPT-5.2 model has sparked concern after repeatedly citing Grokipedia, an AI-generated encyclopaedia launched by Elon Musk’s xAI, raising fresh fears of misinformation amplification.
Testing by The Guardian showed the model referencing Grokipedia multiple times when answering questions on geopolitics and historical figures.
Launched in October 2025, the AI-generated platform rivals Wikipedia but relies solely on automated content without human editing. Critics warn that limited human oversight raises risks of factual errors and ideological bias, as Grokipedia faces criticism for promoting controversial narratives.
OpenAI said its systems use safety filters and diverse public sources, while xAI dismissed the concerns as media distortion. The episode deepens scrutiny of AI-generated knowledge platforms amid growing regulatory and public pressure for transparency and accountability.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
South Korea has moved towards regulatory action against Grok, the generative AI chatbot developed by xAI, following allegations that the system was used to generate and distribute sexually exploitative deepfake images.
The country’s Personal Information Protection Commission has launched a preliminary fact-finding review to assess whether violations occurred and whether the matter falls within its legal remit.
The review follows international reports accusing Grok of facilitating the creation of explicit and non-consensual images of real individuals, including minors.
Under the Personal Information Protection Act of South Korea, generating or altering sexual images of identifiable people without consent may constitute unlawful handling of personal data, exposing providers to enforcement action.
Concerns have intensified after civil society groups estimated that millions of explicit images were produced through Grok over a short period, with thousands involving children.
Several governments, including those in the US, Europe and Canada, have opened inquiries, while parts of Southeast Asia have opted to block access to the service altogether.
In response, xAI has introduced technical restrictions preventing users from generating or editing images of real people. Korean regulators have also demanded stronger youth protection measures from X, warning that failure to address criminal content involving minors could result in administrative penalties.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
A consortium of 10 central European banks has established a new company, Qivalis, to develop and issue a euro-pegged stablecoin, targeting a launch in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
The initiative seeks to offer a European alternative to US dollar-dominated digital payment systems and strengthen the region’s strategic autonomy in digital finance.
The participating banks include BNP Paribas, ING, UniCredit, KBC, Danske Bank, SEB, Caixabank, DekaBank, Banca Sella, and Raiffeisen Bank International, with BNP Paribas joining after the initial announcement.
Former Coinbase Germany chief executive Jan-Oliver Sell will lead Qivalis as CEO, while former NatWest chair Howard Davies has been appointed chair. The Amsterdam-based company plans to build a workforce of up to 50 employees over the next two years.
Initial use cases will focus on crypto trading, enabling fast, low-cost payments and settlements, with broader applications planned later. The project emerges as stablecoins grow rapidly, led by dollar-backed tokens, while limited € alternatives drive regulatory interest and ECB engagement.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Oklahoma lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 2064, proposing a legal framework that allows businesses, state employees, and residents to receive payments in Bitcoin without designating it as legal tender.
The bill recognises Bitcoin as a financial instrument, aligning with constitutional limits while enabling its voluntary use across payroll, procurement, and private transactions.
Under the proposal, state employees could opt to receive wages in Bitcoin, US dollars, or a combination of both at the start of each pay period. Payments would be settled at prevailing market rates and deposited into either self-hosted wallets or approved custodial accounts.
Vendors contracting with the state could also choose Bitcoin on a per-transaction basis, while crypto-native firms would benefit from reduced regulatory friction.
The legislation instructs the State Treasurer to appoint a payment processor and develop operational rules, with contracts targeted for completion by early 2027.
If approved, the framework would take effect in November 2026, positioning Oklahoma among a small group of US states exploring direct Bitcoin integration into public finance, alongside initiatives already launched in Texas and New Hampshire.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
