Digital cooperation

New AI accountability toolkit unveiled by Amnesty International

Amnesty International has introduced a toolkit to help investigators, activists, and rights defenders hold governments and corporations accountable for harms caused by AI and automated decision-making systems. The resource draws on investigations across Europe, India, and the United States and focuses on public sector uses in welfare, policing, healthcare, and education.

The toolkit offers practical guidance for researching and challenging opaque algorithmic systems that often produce bias, exclusion, and human rights violations rather than improving public services. It emphasises collaboration with impacted communities, journalists, and civil society organisations to uncover discriminatory practices.

One key case study highlights Denmark’s AI-powered welfare system, which risks discriminating against disabled individuals, migrants, and low-income groups while enabling mass surveillance. Amnesty International underlines human rights law as a vital component of AI accountability, addressing gaps left by conventional ethical audits and responsible AI frameworks.

With growing state and corporate investments in AI, Amnesty International stresses the urgent need to democratise knowledge and empower communities to demand accountability. The toolkit equips civil society, journalists, and affected individuals with the strategies and resources to challenge abusive AI systems and protect fundamental rights.

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

Confluent set to join IBM in major data streaming acquisition

IBM has agreed to acquire data streaming company Confluent in an all-cash deal valued at about $11 billion, signalling a major push to strengthen its data and AI capabilities for enterprise customers.

The acquisition brings Confluent’s real-time data streaming platform into IBM’s portfolio, aiming to help organisations connect, process, and govern data across hybrid cloud environments as AI agents and applications proliferate.

Both companies argue that faster, trusted data flows are becoming essential as enterprises deploy generative and agentic AI at scale, with real-time access increasingly seen as a prerequisite for reliable automation and decision-making.

IBM said the deal will support its ambition to offer an AI-ready data platform that integrates applications, analytics, and infrastructure. At the same time, Confluent sees the combination as a way to accelerate global reach and commercial execution.

The move reflects broader shifts in enterprise architecture, as demand for real-time data systems grows and competition intensifies around AI infrastructure, streaming technologies, and platforms built to support continuous, distributed workloads.

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

G7 ministers meet in Montreal to boost industrial cooperation

Canada has opened the G7 Industry, Digital and Technology Ministers’ Meeting in Montreal, bringing together ministers, industry leaders, and international delegates to address shared industrial and technological challenges.

The meeting is being led by Industry Minister Melanie Joly and AI and Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon, with discussions centred on strengthening supply chains, accelerating innovation, and boosting industrial competitiveness across advanced economies.

Talks will focus on building resilient economies, expanding trusted digital infrastructure, and supporting growth while aligning industrial policy with economic security and national security priorities shared among G7 members.

The agenda builds on outcomes from the recent G7 leaders’ summit in Kananaskis, Canada, including commitments on quantum technologies, critical minerals cooperation, and a shared statement on AI and prosperity.

Canadian officials said closer coordination among trusted partners is essential amid global uncertainty and rapid technological change, positioning innovation-driven industry as a long-term foundation for economic growth, productivity, and shared prosperity.

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

UNESCO strengthens Caribbean disaster reporting

UNESCO has launched a regional programme to improve disaster reporting across the Caribbean after Hurricane Melissa and rising misinformation.

The initiative equips journalists and emergency communicators with advanced tools such as AI, drones and geographic information systems to support accurate and ethical communication.

The 30-hour online course, funded through UNESCO’s Media Development Program, brings together twenty-three participants from ten Caribbean countries and territories.

Delivered in partnership with GeoTechVision/Jamaica Flying Labs, the training combines practical exercises with disaster simulations to help participants map hazards, collect aerial evidence and verify information using AI-supported methods.

Participants explore geospatial mapping, drone use and ethics while completing a capstone project in realistic scenarios. The programme aims to address gaps revealed by recent disasters and strengthen the region’s ability to deliver trusted information.

UNESCO’s wider Media in Crisis Preparedness and Response programme supports resilient media institutions, ensuring that communities receive timely and reliable information before, during and after crises.

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

Teen chatbot use surges across the US

Nearly a third of US teenagers engage with AI chatbots each day, according to new Pew data. Researchers say nearly 70% have tried a chatbot, reflecting growing dependence on digital tools during schoolwork and leisure time. Concerns remain over exposure to mature content and possible mental health harms.

Pew surveyed almost 1,500 US teens aged 13 to 17, finding broadly similar usage patterns across gender and income. Older teens reported higher engagement, while Black and Hispanic teens showed slightly greater adoption than White peers.

Experts warn that frequent chatbot use may hinder development or encourage cheating in academic settings. Safety groups have urged parents to limit access to companion-like AI tools, citing risks posed by romantic or intimate interactions with minors.

Companies are now rolling out safeguards in response to public scrutiny and legal pressure. OpenAI and Character.AI have tightened controls, while Meta says it has adjusted policies following reports of inappropriate exchanges.

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

Teens worldwide divided over Australia’s under-16 social media ban

As Australia prepares to enforce the world’s first nationwide under-16 social-media ban on 10 December 2025, young people across the globe are voicing sharply different views about the move.

Some teens view it as an opportunity for a digital ‘detox’, a chance to step back from the constant social media pressure. Others argue the law is extreme, unfair, and likely to push youth toward less regulated corners of the internet.

In Mumbai, 19-year-old Pratigya Jena said the debate isn’t simple: ‘nothing is either black or white.’ She acknowledged that social media can help young entrepreneurs, but also warned that unrestricted access exposes children to inappropriate content.

Meanwhile, in Berlin, 13-year-old Luna Drewes expressed cautious optimism; she felt the ban might help reduce the pressure to conform to beauty standards that are often amplified online. Another teen, 15-year-old Enno Caro Brandes, said he understood the motivation but admitted he couldn’t imagine giving up social media altogether.

In Doha, older teens voiced more vigorous opposition. Sixteen-year-old Firdha Razak called the ban ‘really stupid,’ while sixteen-year-old Youssef Walid argued that it would be trivial to bypass using VPNs. Both said they feared losing vital social and communication outlets.

Some, like 15-year-old Mitchelle Okinedo from Lagos, suggested the ban ignored how deeply embedded social media is in modern life: ‘We were born with it,’ she said, hinting that simply cutting access may be unrealistic. Others noted the role of social media in self-expression, especially in areas where offline spaces are limited.

Even within Australia, opinions diverge. A 15-year-old named Layton Lewis said he doubted the ban would have significant effects. His mother, Emily, meanwhile, welcomed the change, hoping it might encourage more authentic offline friendships rather than ‘illusory’ online interactions.

The variety of reactions underscores how the law is approaching a stark test: while some see potential mental health or safety gains, many worry about the rights of teens, enforcement effectiveness, and whether simply banning access truly addresses the underlying risks.

As commentary and activism ramp up around digital-age regulation, few expect consensus, but many do expect the debate to shape future policy beyond Australia.

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

Mitigated ads personalisation coming to Meta platforms in the EU

Meta has agreed to introduce a less personalised ads option for Facebook and Instagram users in the EU, as part of efforts to comply with the bloc’s Digital Markets Act and address concerns over data use and user consent.

Under the revised model, users will be able to access Meta’s social media platforms without agreeing to extensive personal data processing for fully personalised ads. Instead, they can opt for an alternative experience based on significantly reduced data inputs, resulting in more limited ad targeting.

The option is set to roll out across the EU from January 2026. It marks the first time Meta has offered users a clear choice between highly personalised advertising and a reduced-data model across its core platforms.

The change follows months of engagement between Meta and Brussels after the European Commission ruled in April that the company had breached the DMA. Regulators stated that Meta’s previous approach had failed to provide users with a genuine and effective choice over how their data was used for advertising.

Once implemented, the Commission said it will gather evidence and feedback from Meta, advertisers, publishers, and other stakeholders. The goal is to assess the extent to which the new option is adopted and whether it significantly reshapes competition and data practices in the EU digital advertising market.

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

Trump allows Nvidia to sell chips to approved Chinese customers

US President Donald Trump has allowed Nvidia to sell H200 AI chips to approved customers in China, marking a shift in export controls. The decision also covers firms such as AMD and follows continued lobbying by Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang.

Nvidia had been barred from selling advanced chips to Beijing, but a partial reversal earlier required the firm to pay a share of its Chinese revenues to the US government. China later ordered firms to stop buying Nvidia products, pushing them towards domestic semiconductors.

Analysts suggest the new policy may buy time for negotiations over rare earth supplies, as China dominates processing of these minerals. Access to H200 chips may aid China’s tech sector, but experts warn they could also strengthen military AI capabilities.

Nvidia welcomed the announcement, saying the decision strikes a balance that benefits American industry. Shares rose slightly after the news, although the arrangement is expected to face scrutiny from national security advocates.

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

Canada-EU digital partnership expands cooperation on AI and security

The European Union and Canada have strengthened their digital partnership during the first Digital Partnership Council in Montreal. Both sides outlined a joint plan to enhance competitiveness and innovation, while supporting smaller firms through targeted regulation.

Senior representatives reconfirmed that cooperation with like-minded partners will be essential for economic resilience.

A new Memorandum of Understanding on AI placed a strong emphasis on trustworthy systems, shared standards and wider adoption across strategic sectors.

The two partners will exchange best practices to support sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, energy, culture and public services.

They also agreed to collaborate on large-scale AI infrastructures and access to computing capacity, while encouraging scientific collaboration on advanced AI models and climate-related research.

A meeting that also led to an agreement on a structured dialogue on data spaces.

A second Memorandum of Understanding covered digital credentials and trust services. The plan includes joint testing of digital identity wallets, pilot projects and new use cases aimed at interoperability.

The EU and Canada also intend to work more closely on the protection of independent media, the promotion of reliable information online and the management of risks created by generative AI.

Both sides underlined their commitment to secure connectivity, with cooperation on 5G, subsea cables and potential new Arctic routes to strengthen global network resilience. Further plans aim to deepen collaboration on quantum technologies, semiconductors and high-performance computing.

A renewed partnership that reflects a shared commitment to resilient supply chains and secure cloud infrastructure as both regions prepare for future technological demands.

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

Tether backs Italian humanoid robotics startup

Tether Investments has backed Generative Bionics in a €70m round to accelerate the development of intelligent humanoid robots. The company develops platforms that combine robotics and AI to enhance industrial performance and foster human-centred interaction.

Investment funds will support industrial validation, the creation of a production facility and the rollout of early deployment programmes across sectors such as manufacturing, logistics and healthcare.

Generative Bionics brings together dozens of engineers and researchers from IIT, drawing on two decades of robotics expertise and a portfolio of over 60 prototype systems.

Analysts expect the humanoid robotics sector to grow sharply in the coming decades, with Physical AI becoming a core component of future industrial ecosystems. Tether’s investment aligns with its strategy to boost resilient infrastructure and lessen reliance on centralised systems.

The company plans to unveil its first complete humanoid robot at CES in Las Vegas, signalling a move from research to commercial-ready platforms and strengthening Italy’s role in the global robotics landscape.

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

Diplo chatbot can make mistakes. Consider checking important information.