After a formal filing by the Independent Publishers Alliance, Google has faced an antitrust complaint in the European Union over its AI Overviews feature.
The group alleges that Google has been using web content without proper consent to power its AI-generated summaries, causing considerable harm to online publishers.
The complaint claims that publishers have lost traffic, readers and advertising revenue due to these summaries. It also argues that opting out of AI Overviews is not a real choice unless publishers are prepared to vanish entirely from Google’s search results.
AI Overviews were launched over a year ago and now appear at the top of many search queries, summarising information using AI. Although the tool has expanded rapidly, critics argue it drives users away from original publisher websites, especially news outlets.
Google has responded by stating its AI search tools allow users to ask more complex questions and help businesses and creators get discovered. The tech giant also insisted that web traffic patterns are influenced by many factors and warned against conclusions based on limited data.
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The EU has confirmed it will enforce its originally scheduled AI Act, despite growing calls from American and European tech firms to delay the rollout.
Major companies, including Alphabet, Meta, ASML and Mistral, have urged the European Commission to push back the timeline by several years, citing concerns over compliance costs.
Rejecting the pressure, a Commission spokesperson clarified there would be no pause or grace period. The legislation’s deadlines remain, with general-purpose AI rules taking effect this August and stricter requirements for high-risk systems following August 2026.
The AI Act represents the EU’s effort to regulate AI across various sectors, aiming to balance innovation and public safety. While tech giants argue that the rules are too demanding, the EU insists legal certainty is vital and the framework must move forward as planned.
The Commission intends to simplify the process later in the year, such as easing reporting demands for smaller businesses. Yet the core structure and deadlines of the AI Act will not be altered.
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The group’s draft statement highlights growing frustration with tech giants using vast amounts of unlicensed content to train AI models.
Despite making progress on digital policy, BRICS once again stalled on a long-standing ambition to reduce reliance on the US dollar.
After a decade of talks, the bloc’s cross-border payments system remains in limbo. Member nations continue to debate infrastructure, governance and how to work around non-convertible currencies and sanctions.
China is moving independently, expanding the yuan’s international use and launching domestic currency futures.
Meanwhile, the rest of the bloc struggles with legal, financial and technical hurdles, leaving the dream of a unified alternative to the dollar on hold. Even a proposed New Investment Platform remains mired in internal disagreements.
In response to rising global debt concerns, BRICS introduced a Multilateral Guarantees Initiative within the New Development Bank. It aims to improve credit access across the Global South without needing new capital, especially for countries struggling to borrow in dollar-dominated markets.
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A surge in cyberattacks is fuelled by global instability, with businesses worldwide now facing heightened risks. A new report by GlobalData warns that rising geopolitical tensions are giving state actors, terrorists, hacktivists and cybercriminals more opportunities to strike.
Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have created a volatile digital landscape. Cyberattackers are exploiting weakened defences, targeting both national infrastructure and private enterprises.
‘Those not after money are often motivated by revenge,’ the report states. The key perpetrators are disgruntled employees, unhappy customers, and ideologically driven hackers. While some attackers aim to cause reputational harm or attract attention, others seek to turn off critical systems.
Nation states, in particular, use cyberwarfare as a strategic tool against rival governments. Businesses are warned to prepare for disruption as cyber threats become more frequent and sophisticated. The report concludes that no organisation is immune in today’s digital and geopolitical uncertainty climate.
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Turkey’s Capital Markets Board blocked access to 46 crypto platforms, including PancakeSwap. The move aims to control the rapidly growing digital asset market and enforce new regulations.
Since gaining expanded authority in March 2025, the CMB requires all crypto providers in Turkey to register locally and follow strict anti-money laundering and consumer protection rules.
Key rules include ID checks for transactions above 15,000 lira, stablecoin transfer limits, and withdrawal delays for some activities.
Turkey’s approach mirrors moves by other nations such as Kazakhstan and Russia, which have taken firm steps to regulate crypto markets. While trading and holding cryptocurrencies remain legal, payment use has been banned since 2021.
The latest crackdown signals Turkey’s intent to control and formalise crypto operations, steering away from the open nature of decentralised finance towards a more regulated environment.
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Elon Musk has announced that Bitcoin will serve as the primary financial asset of his new America Party, marking a move away from traditional currencies. His statement reflects rising distrust in fiat money, which he called ‘hopeless’ due to inflation and debt concerns.
The formation of the America Party follows a political rift between Musk and Donald Trump, triggered by disagreements over economic legislation. The break from the president has given rise to a new political force that sees decentralised finance as a pathway to reform.
Bitcoin’s adoption signals a broader push for transparency and innovation in governance. Musk has long supported digital assets and aims to build a platform encouraging financial sovereignty.
His stance may influence political agendas and regulatory discussions in the months ahead. In addition to Bitcoin, Musk remains a vocal supporter of Dogecoin, pointing to a vision of a multi-asset digital economy.
The America Party’s crypto-centric approach could accelerate mainstream adoption while placing pressure on policymakers to provide more explicit rules for digital finance.
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Authorities in the United States have confiscated close to $400 million in digital currencies tied to criminal investigations over the last ten years. The bulk of these assets is secured in a government-controlled cold wallet.
A significant portion, worth $225 million, was recovered in June through a joint operation involving the FBI and legal offices. The effort reflects growing proficiency in tracking crypto-linked criminal activity across blockchain networks.
Secret Service has delivered cryptocurrency crime training in more than 60 countries to support global cooperation. These educational efforts are part of a broader strategy to strengthen international capabilities against financial fraud and cybercrime.
The agency also collaborates with private companies to improve its crypto crime efforts. Coinbase has assisted in tracing transactions, while Tether recently granted freezing access to the Secret Service and FBI.
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A new analysis by crypto commentator Stellar Rippler suggests that Donald Trump’s latest economic legislation may be part of a calculated effort to dismantle the current financial order.
Far from merely restoring the economy, the bill is viewed as a trigger for a major reset, where blockchain technology plays a leading role.
The bill introduces sweeping permanent tax cuts and significant Medicaid and food stamp program reductions. It also increases border spending and lifts the debt ceiling significantly.
Critics, including Elon Musk and Senator Rand Paul, warn that the legislation benefits the wealthiest and adds trillions in debt. Stellar Rippler, however, believes the move is deliberate, designed to weaken the central banking model and make way for digital alternatives.
XRP, RLUSD, and Stellar’s XLM are seen as the tools to facilitate this transition. With Ripple’s dual-ledger model and Stellar’s established international network, these assets are positioned to provide faster, cheaper, and decentralised alternatives to existing systems.
The analyst argues that blockchain projects already integrated into key markets can stabilise cross-border payments and reduce reliance on failing banks.
He links the bill to broader trends such as tokenised US debt, decentralised healthcare, and the move towards ISO20022 standards. These signal a coordinated shift to a tokenised economy led by US blockchain technology.
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SK Telecom has announced a major cybersecurity initiative worth KRW 700 billion, designed to restore trust and enhance information security after a recent incident.
The company’s new programme, called the Accountability and Commitment Program, includes four elements to protect customers and reinforce transparency.
A central part of the initiative is the Information Protection Innovation Plan, which involves a five-year investment to build a world-class cybersecurity system.
The project will follow the US National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Cybersecurity Framework and aims to position SK Telecom as Korea’s leader in information security by 2028.
To further support affected customers, the company is upgrading its Customer Assurance Package and introducing a Customer Appreciation Package to thank users for their patience and loyalty.
A subscription cancellation fee waiver has also been included to reduce friction for those reconsidering their service.
SK Telecom says it will maintain its commitment to customer safety and service reliability, pledging to fully address all concerns and enhance security and service quality across the board.
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US Senator Cynthia Lummis has proposed a new crypto tax bill to modernise how digital assets are treated under US tax law. The legislation follows her earlier attempt to include it in the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which did not succeed.
Now a standalone bill proposes a $300 crypto transaction exemption, ends double taxation for miners and stakers, and ensures crypto is treated like other financial assets. It also aims to expand securities lending rules to include digital assets, ensuring lending does not trigger tax liability.
Lummis, who chairs the Senate digital assets subcommittee, said the bill is designed to align US tax law with real-world digital use. She emphasised the need to remove outdated policies that hinder innovation and invited public feedback on the proposal.
The initiative joins a series of pending digital asset bills in the US Congress, including the CLARITY and GENIUS Acts. Lummis has also backed the Bitcoin Act, which would establish a national BTC reserve following Donald Trump’s return to office.
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