Digital cooperation Archives | Page 25 of 210

EU telecom simplification at risk as Digital Networks Act adds extra admin

The ambitions of the EU to streamline telecom rules are facing fresh uncertainty after a Commission document indicated that the Digital Networks Act may create more administrative demands for national regulators instead of easing their workload.

The plan to simplify long-standing procedures risks becoming more complex as officials examine the impact on oversight bodies.

Concerns are growing among telecom authorities and BEREC, which may need to adjust to new reporting duties and heightened scrutiny. The additional requirements could limit regulators’ ability to respond quickly to national needs.

Policymakers hoped the new framework would reduce bureaucracy and modernise the sector. The emerging assessment now suggests that greater coordination at the EU level may introduce extra layers of compliance at a time when regulators seek clarity and flexibility.

The debate has intensified as governments push for faster network deployment and more predictable governance. The prospect of heavier administrative tasks could slow progress rather than deliver the streamlined system originally promised.

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Pakistan pledges major investment in AI by 2030

Pakistan plans to invest $1 billion in AI by 2030, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said at the opening of Indus AI Week in Islamabad. The pledge aims to build a national AI ecosystem in Pakistan.

The government in Pakistan said AI education would expand to schools and universities, including remote regions. Islamabad also plans 1,000 fully funded PhD scholarships in AI to strengthen research capacity in Pakistan.

Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan would train one million non IT professionals in AI skills by 2030. Islamabad identified agriculture, mining and industry as priority sectors for AI driven productivity gains in Pakistan.

Pakistan approved a National AI Policy in 2025, although implementation has moved slowly. Officials in Islamabad said Indus AI Week marks an early step towards broader adoption of AI across Pakistan.

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Singtel opens largest AI ready data centre in Singapore

Singtel’s data centre arm Nxera has opened its largest data centre in Singapore at Tuas. The facility strengthens Singapore’s role as a regional hub for AI infrastructure.

The Tuas site in Singapore offers 58MW of AI-ready capacity and is described as the country’s highest- power-density data centre. More than 90 per cent of Singapore’s capacity was committed before the official launch.

Nxera said the Singapore facility is hyperconnected through direct access to international and domestic networks. Singapore gains lower latency and improved reliability from integration with a cable landing station.

Singtel said the Tuas development supports rising demand in Singapore for AI, cloud and high performance computing. Nxera plans further expansion in Asia while reinforcing Singapore’s position in digital infrastructure.

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Educators turn to AI despite platform fatigue

Educators in the US are increasingly using AI to address resource shortages, despite growing frustration with fragmented digital platforms. A new survey highlights rising dependence on AI tools across schools and universities in the US.

The study found many educators in the US juggle numerous digital systems that fail to integrate smoothly. Respondents said constant switching between platforms adds to workload pressures and burnout in the US education sector.

AI use in the US is focused on boosting productivity, with educators applying tools to research, writing and administrative tasks. Many also use AI to support student learning as budgets tighten in the US.

Concerns remain in the US around data security, ethics and system overload. Educators said better integration between AI and learning tools could ease strain and improve outcomes in the US classroom.

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New York weighs pause on data centre expansion

Lawmakers in New York have introduced a bill proposing a three year pause on permits for new data centres. Supporters say rapid expansion linked to AI infrastructure risks straining energy systems in New York.

Concerns in New York focus on rising electricity demand and higher household bills as tech companies scale AI operations. Critics across the US argue local communities bear the cost of supporting large scale computing facilities.

The New York proposal has drawn backing from environmental groups and politicians in the US who want time to set stricter rules. US senator Bernie Sanders has also called for a nationwide halt on new data centres.

Officials in New York say the pause would allow stronger policies on grid access and fair cost sharing. The debate reflects wider US tension between economic growth driven by AI and environmental limits.

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Shadow AI becomes a new governance challenge for European organisations

Employees are adopting generative tools at work faster than organisations can approve or secure them, giving rise to what is increasingly described as ‘shadow AI‘. Unlike earlier forms of shadow IT, these tools can transform data, infer sensitive insights, and trigger automated actions beyond established controls.

For European organisations, the issue is no longer whether AI should be used, but how to regain visibility and control without undermining productivity, as shadow AI increasingly appears inside approved platforms, browser extensions, and developer tools, expanding risks beyond data leakage.

Security experts warn that blanket bans often push AI use further underground, reducing transparency and trust. Instead, guidance from EU cybersecurity bodies increasingly promotes responsible enablement through clear policies, staff awareness, and targeted technical controls.

Key mitigation measures include mapping AI use across approved and informal tools, defining safe prompt data, and offering sanctioned alternatives, with logging, least-privilege access, and approval steps becoming essential as AI acts across workflows.

With the EU AI Act introducing clearer accountability across the AI value chain, unmanaged shadow AI is also emerging as a compliance risk. As AI becomes embedded across enterprise software, organisations face growing pressure to make safe use the default rather than the exception.

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Study shows AI-enabled digital stethoscope boosts cardiac screening accuracy

Researchers have found that an AI-enabled digital stethoscope significantly improves the detection of moderate-to-severe valvular heart disease in primary care compared with traditional auscultation. The prospective study was published in the European Heart Journal Digital Health.

In the trial, the AI-assisted device achieved a sensitivity of 92.3 percent for audible valvular disease, more than double the 46.2 percent recorded using standard stethoscopes. The system identified twice as many previously undiagnosed moderate-to-severe cases.

The study involved 357 patients aged 50 and over with cardiovascular risk factors and no known valvular disease. Participants underwent routine clinician examination, along with AI-supported phonocardiogram analysis, with echocardiography used for confirmation.

While specificity was lower for the AI tool, researchers said the technology is intended to support screening rather than replace clinical judgement. Earlier identification could enable faster referral for echocardiography and treatment.

Authors cautioned that increased false positives may raise referral volumes and healthcare costs, highlighting the need for further evaluation. Despite limitations, the findings suggest AI augmentation could strengthen early cardiac screening in primary care settings.

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EU strengthens cyber defence after attack on Commission mobile systems

A cyber-attack targeting the European Commission’s central mobile infrastructure was identified on 30 January, raising concerns that staff names and mobile numbers may have been accessed.

The Commission isolated the affected system within nine hours instead of allowing the breach to escalate, and no mobile device compromise was detected.

Also, the Commission plans a full review of the incident to reinforce the resilience of internal systems.

Officials argue that Europe faces daily cyber and hybrid threats targeting essential services and democratic institutions, underscoring the need for stronger defensive capabilities across all levels of the EU administration.

CERT-EU continues to provide constant threat monitoring, automated alerts and rapid responses to vulnerabilities, guided by the Interinstitutional Cybersecurity Board.

These efforts support the broader legislative push to strengthen cybersecurity, including the Cybersecurity Act 2.0, which introduces a Trusted ICT Supply Chain to reduce reliance on high-risk providers.

Recent measures are complemented by the NIS2 Directive, which sets a unified legal framework for cybersecurity across 18 critical sectors, and the Cyber Solidarity Act, which enhances operational cooperation through the European Cyber Shield and the Cyber Emergency Mechanism.

Together, they aim to ensure collective readiness against large-scale cyber threats.

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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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Smart policing project halted by Greek data protection authority

Greece’s data protection authority has warned against activating an innovative policing system planned by the Hellenic Police. The ruling said biometric identity checks carried out on the street would breach data protection law in Greece.

The system would allow police patrols in Greece to use portable devices to scan fingerprints and facial images during spot checks. Regulators said Greek law lacks a clear legal basis for such biometric processing.

The authority said existing rules cited by the Hellenic Police only apply to suspects or detainees and do not cover modern biometric technologies. Greece, therefore, faces unlawful processing risks if the system enters full operation.

The innovative policing project in Greece received the EU funding of around four million euros and received backlash in the past. Regulators said deployment must wait until new legislation explicitly authorises police to use biometrics.

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