Digital business models Archives | Page 319 of 568

The US House passes CLARITY, GENIUS and Anti-CBDC crypto bills

The US House of Representatives has passed three major cryptocurrency bills, marking a significant shift in regulatory momentum.

Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act and the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act. The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act narrowly passed along more partisan lines.

The CLARITY Act seeks to define a market structure for digital assets, while the GENIUS Act focuses on creating a framework for stablecoin issuance.

The controversial Anti-CBDC bill seeks to ban a central bank digital currency, citing Republican fears of surveillance and government overreach. Despite some internal party disagreements, the Republican-led push gained support from dozens of Democrats.

Crypto industry leaders hailed the votes as a major win for innovation, privacy, and individual financial freedoms. Trump’s influence was evident in what Republicans dubbed ‘crypto week,’ highlighting his promise to promote digital asset adoption if re-elected.

The GENIUS Act could be signed into law imminently, while the CLARITY and anti-CBDC bills now await Senate debate and potential amendments.

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

France plans Bitcoin mining to use surplus nuclear energy

French lawmakers have proposed a pilot scheme to use excess nuclear energy for Bitcoin mining, potentially generating up to $150 million in annual revenue. The five-year plan would redirect surplus electricity towards mining operations, helping to stabilise the country’s energy grid.

Growing use of renewables such as wind and solar has caused frequent imbalances and overproduction on the grid. Mining centres located near nuclear plants would activate only when surplus power is available, providing a flexible solution without affecting consumer supply.

The scheme also aims to offset maintenance costs for France’s nuclear fleet.

Mining rigs generate significant heat that could be reused for district heating or agriculture, as seen in Finland. The French Council of State will monitor the pilot, with a full review after six months.

France joins a select group of countries exploring Bitcoin mining as a strategic way to manage electricity oversupply, including Pakistan, Belarus, and Texas in the US.

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

How cultural heritage can go green through digital preservation

A Europe-wide survey has exposed how cultural heritage institutions (CHIs) protect humanity’s legacy digitally while unintentionally harming the environment.

Instead of focusing only on efficiency, the Europeana Climate Action Community recommends a shift towards environmentally sustainable and regenerative digital preservation.

Led by the Environmental Sustainability Practice Task Force, the survey collected input from 108 organisations across 24 EU countries. While 80% of CHIs recognise environmental responsibility, just 42% follow formal environmental strategies and a mere 14% measure carbon footprints.

Many maintain redundant data backups without assessing the ecological cost, and most lack policies for retiring digital assets responsibly.

The report suggests CHIs develop community-powered archives, adopt hardware recycling and repair, and prioritise sufficiency instead of maximising digital volume. Interviews with institutions such as the National Library of Finland and the POLIN Museum revealed good practices alongside common challenges.

With digital preservation increasingly essential, the Europeana Initiative calls for immediate action. By moving from isolated efficiency efforts to collective regeneration strategies, CHIs can protect cultural memory while reducing environmental impact for future generations.

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

The CLARITY Act defines mature blockchain systems for US regulation

The CLARITY Act seeks to create a clear regulatory framework for digital assets in the US, introducing a ‘mature blockchain system‘ to distinguish commodities from securities.

According to the bill, a mature blockchain system must be free from control by any single person or group. It should also demonstrate decentralised governance, open participation, and transparent operations.

Using the Act’s criteria, an AI analysis conducted with ChatGPT assessed major blockchain networks’ governance models as of July 2025. Key factors considered included decentralisation of decision-making, validator independence, and whether any single entity retained upgrade control.

Based on this evaluation, networks like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Monero, Dogecoin, Tezos, and Cosmos qualify as mature under the proposed legislation.

Some prominent blockchains, such as Solana, Cardano, Polkadot, and BNB Chain, remain under varying levels of central control and do not meet the maturity requirements.

The AI-driven assessment relies solely on publicly available information and serves as a reasoned interpretation rather than a formal regulatory ruling. Experts stress that legal decisions require human oversight and must account for changes in blockchain governance.

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

Generative AI now powers 20% of new Steam games

Nearly 20 percent of video games released on Steam in 2025 include generative AI, according to a new report by Totally Human Media.

The report, based on data gathered from Steam, states that around 7,818 games currently disclose using generative AI. The figure represents roughly 7 percent of the platform’s entire catalogue. For games launched in 2025, nearly one in five incorporate AI tools or openly disclose doing so.

Compared to 2024, this marks a nearly 700 percent increase in generative AI adoption, reflecting a broader industry trend towards automation and machine-generated content.

Among the most prominent titles is My Summer Car, a vehicle simulation game with over 2.5 million copies sold. The developers disclosed that the game includes ‘some AI generated paintings found inside the main house’.

Valve, the company behind Steam, began requiring game developers to disclose AI use in January 2024. While the company did not comment on the findings, the policy has enabled public tracking of AI adoption across the platform.

Community reaction to the trend has been mixed. On Reddit, many users said they would automatically add AI-driven games to their ignore lists. One commenter wrote, ‘We need to tag them so they can be an ignored category.’ Others expressed disappointment in indie developers turning to generative tools over human artists.

Some users acknowledged the complexity of the issue. A typical comment noted that while AI usage in minor elements like UI assets might be acceptable, reliance on AI for core content raises questions about value and originality. One post read, ‘What am I paying for if it’s all AI? I agree with that sentiment.’

Steam’s Next Fest, which showcases upcoming releases, drew criticism from some players who said they lost interest in promising titles upon discovering their use of generative AI.

Despite user backlash, industry momentum continues to build. Many developers see AI as a means to streamline asset creation and reduce production costs, though concerns about quality, ethics, and employment remain central to the debate.

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

Trojanised Telegram APKs target Android users with Janus exploit

A large Android malware campaign has been uncovered, distributing trojanised versions of Telegram Messenger via more than 600 malicious domains. The operation uses phishing infrastructure and evasion techniques to deceive users and deliver infected APK files.

Domains exploit typosquatting, with names like ‘teleqram’ and ‘apktelegram’, and mimic Telegram’s website using cloned visuals and QR code redirects. Users are sent to zifeiji[.]asia, which hosts a fake Telegram site offering APK downloads between 60MB and 70MB.

The malware targets Android versions 5.0 to 8.0, exploiting the Janus vulnerability and bypassing security via legacy signature schemes. After installation, it establishes persistent access using socket callbacks, enabling remote control.

It communicates via unencrypted HTTP and FTP, and uses Android’s MediaPlayer component to trigger background activity unnoticed. Once installed, it requests extensive permissions, including access to all locally stored data.

Domains involved include over 300 on .com, with many registered through Gname, suggesting a coordinated and resilient campaign structure.

Researchers also found a JavaScript tracker embedded at telegramt.net, which collects browser and device data and sends it to dszb77[.]com. The goal appears to be user profiling and behavioural analysis.

Experts warn that the campaign’s scale and technical sophistication pose a significant risk to users running outdated Android systems.

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

Google expands AI tools in Search with new subscriber perks

Google has begun rolling out new AI features in Search, introducing AI-powered phone calling to help users gather business information instead of contacting places manually.

The service, free for everyone in the US, allows people to search for businesses and have Google’s AI check pricing and availability on their behalf.

Subscribers to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra receive additional exclusive capabilities. These include access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, Google’s most advanced AI model, which supports complex queries such as coding or financial analysis.

Users can enable Gemini 2.5 Pro through the AI Mode tab instead of relying on the default model. Google is also launching Deep Research tools through Deep Search for in-depth investigations related to work, studies, or major life decisions.

Rather than rolling everything out all at once, Google is phasing in the features gradually. AI-powered calling is now available to all Search users in the US, while Gemini 2.5 Pro and Deep Research are becoming available specifically to AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers.

With these updates, Google aims to position Search as more than a simple information tool by transforming it into an active digital assistant capable of handling everyday tasks and complex research instead of merely providing quick answers.

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

US banks plan stablecoins as crypto rules evolve

Several large US banks, including Bank of America, Citibank, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan Chase, are developing or considering stablecoins as crypto-friendly regulations take shape.

Bank of America’s CEO Brian Moynihan confirmed ongoing work on a stablecoin but highlighted the need to understand client demand before full rollout. Similarly, Citibank and Morgan Stanley are assessing the landscape and potential use cases for their clients.

JPMorgan Chase has also expressed interest, despite its CEO’s previous scepticism towards Bitcoin.

The US Congress is advancing legislation to establish a clear regulatory framework for stablecoins. This progress reflects growing acceptance of digital assets and may encourage further integration with traditional finance.

Banks remain cautious but see stablecoins as a significant opportunity once legal clarity is achieved.

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

Concerns rise over crypto in UK political funding

UK lawmakers are urging a ban on cryptocurrency donations in political campaigns over fears that such contributions are hard to trace and vulnerable to foreign interference. Minister Pat McFadden said UK political funding must stay transparent and trusted by public.

While crypto donations have gained traction in the US—with figures like President Donald Trump embracing digital assets—the UK’s stance reflects growing caution.

The Reform UK party recently became the first in Britain to accept Bitcoin donations, sparking concerns from anti-corruption groups about the risk of criminal or foreign funds influencing elections.

Ireland and several US states have already banned crypto donations to political campaigns, citing transparency and election integrity issues.

As crypto donations increase globally, governments continue to debate how to regulate digital assets to protect democratic processes.

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

Experts link Qantas data breach to AI voice impersonation

Cybersecurity experts believe criminals may have used AI-generated voice deepfakes to breach Qantas systems, potentially deceiving contact centre staff in Manila. The breach affected nearly six million customers, with links to a group known as Scattered Spider.

Qantas confirmed the breach after detecting suspicious activity on a third-party platform. Stolen data included names, phone numbers, and addresses—but no financial details. The airline has not confirmed whether voice impersonation was involved.

Experts point to Scattered Spiders’ history of using synthetic voices to trick help desk staff into handing over credentials. Former FBI agent Adam Marré said the technique, known as vishing, matches the group’s typical methods and links them to The Com, a cybercrime collective.

Other members of The Com have targeted companies like Salesforce through similar tactics. Qantas reportedly warned contact centre staff shortly before the breach, citing a threat advisory connected to Scattered Spider.

Google and CrowdStrike reported that the group frequently impersonates employees over the phone to bypass multi-factor authentication and reset passwords. The FBI has warned that Scattered Spider is now targeting airlines.

Qantas says its core systems remain secure and has not confirmed receiving a ransom demand. The airline is cooperating with authorities and urging affected customers to watch for scams using their leaked information.

Cybersecurity firm Trend Micro notes that voice deepfakes are now easy to produce, with convincing audio clips available for as little as $5. The deepfakes can mimic language, tone, and emotion, making them powerful tools for deception.

Experts recommend biometric verification, synthetic signal detection, and real-time security challenges to counter deepfakes. Employee training and multi-factor authentication remain essential defences.

Recent global cases illustrate the risk. In one instance, a deepfake mimicking US Senator Marco Rubio attempted to access sensitive systems. Other attacks involved cloned voices of US political figures Joe Biden and Susie Wiles.

As voice content becomes more publicly available, experts warn that anyone sharing audio online could become a target for AI-driven impersonation.

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