Digital cooperation

WSIS+20 review highlights gaps in digital access and skills

Experts gathered at the Internet Governance Forum 2025 in Norway to assess progress since the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was launched two decades ago. The session, co-hosted by the Government of Finland and ICANN, offered a timely stocktake ahead of the WSIS+20 negotiations in December 2025.

Panellists emphasised that WSIS has successfully anchored multistakeholder participation in internet governance. Yet, pressing challenges persist, particularly the digital divide, gender gaps, and lack of basic digital skills—issues that remain just as urgent now as in 2005.

Yu Ping Chan of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) stressed that WSIS principles are ‘just as relevant today,’ calling for precise language in negotiations and continued commitment to digital capacity development. She highlighted the disconnect between New York diplomatic processes and those who’ve worked on technical implementation for decades.

Jarno Syrjälä, Undersecretary of State at Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs, said WSIS and the Global Digital Compact must be implemented in sync. ‘A strong focus on trusted, open and secure connectivity is vital for ensuring the internet remains a driver for rights, trade, and sustainability,’ he noted.

Fiona Alexander from American University reminded attendees that WSIS’s hallmark was opening internet governance to all stakeholders. She urged continued pressure to maintain that openness: ‘Don’t accept the status quo—show up, speak up, and stay at the table.’

ICANN CEO Kurtis Lindqvist spotlighted tangible successes such as DNSSEC, root server deployments, and internationalised domain names. ‘We risk forgetting that global internet standards have worked phenomenally well. That’s why we must protect the multistakeholder model that delivered them,’ he said.

Smart Africa’s Director General Lacina Koné outlined four digital development gaps for Africa: meaningful connectivity, regulatory harmonisation, skills development—including AI literacy—and digital sovereignty. He explained, ‘WSIS gives us the vision; Smart Africa is building the bridge.’

The group reflected on emerging issues like AI and the need for interoperable legal and technical frameworks. A live poll during the session revealed that capacity development remains the top global priority. Speakers called on governments, civil society, and the technical community to stay engaged in shaping WSIS+20 outcomes. As Koné put it, ‘Multipolarity is a fact, but multilateralism is a choice.’

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AI data risks prompt new global cybersecurity guidance

A coalition of cybersecurity agencies, including the NSA, FBI, and CISA, has issued joint guidance to help organisations protect AI systems from emerging data security threats. The guidance explains how AI systems can be compromised by data supply chain flaws, poisoning, and drift.

Organisations are urged to adopt security measures throughout all four phases of the AI life cycle: planning, data collection, model building, and operational monitoring.

The recommendations include verifying third-party datasets, using secure ingestion protocols, and regularly auditing AI system behaviour. Particular emphasis is placed on preventing model poisoning and tracking data lineage to ensure integrity.

The guidance encourages firms to update their incident response plans to address AI-specific risks, conduct audits of ongoing projects, and establish cross-functional teams involving legal, cybersecurity, and data science experts.

With AI models increasingly central to critical infrastructure, treating data security as a core governance issue is essential.

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SoftBank plans Arizona tech site; TSMC may join

According to a Bloomberg report, SoftBank Group Corp. founder and CEO Masayoshi Son is reportedly exploring plans to develop a $1 trillion industrial complex in Arizona focused on AI and robotics.

The Tokyo-based technology investment firm’s proposed initiative — Project Crystal Land — aims to re-establish high-tech manufacturing capabilities in the United States.

The complex may include production facilities dedicated to AI-powered industrial robots, Bloomberg cited a source familiar with the matter as saying.

SoftBank reportedly seeks to collaborate with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) on the venture.

However, details regarding the nature of TSMC’s potential involvement or whether the company is considering a formal partnership remain unclear.

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NCSC issues new guidance for EU cybersecurity rules

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published new guidance to assist organisations in meeting the upcoming EU Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2) requirements.

Ireland missed the October 2024 deadline but is expected to adopt the directive soon.

NIS2 broadens the scope of covered sectors and introduces stricter cybersecurity obligations, including heavier fines and legal consequences for non-compliance. The directive aims to improve security across supply chains in both the public and private sectors.

To help businesses comply, the NCSC unveiled Risk Management Measures. It also launched Cyber Fundamentals, a practical framework designed for organisations of varying sizes and risk levels.

Joseph Stephens, NCSC’s Director of Resilience, noted the challenge of broad application and praised cooperation with Belgium and Romania on a solution for the EU.

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OpenAI and io face lawsuit over branding conflict

OpenAI and hardware startup io, founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive, are now embroiled in a trademark infringement lawsuit filed by iyO, a Google-backed company specialising in custom headphones.

The legal case prompted OpenAI to withdraw promotional material linked to its $6.005 billion acquisition of io, raising questions about the branding of its future AI device.

Court documents reveal that OpenAI and io had previously met with iyO representatives and tested their custom earbud product, although the tests were unsuccessful.

Despite initial contact and discussions about potential collaboration, OpenAI rejected iyO’s proposals to invest, license, or acquire the company for $200 million. The lawsuit, however, does not centre on an earbud or wearable device, according to io’s co-founders.

Io executives clarified in court that their prototype does not resemble iyO’s product and remains unfinished. It is neither wearable nor intended for sale within the following year.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described the joint project as an attempt to reimagine hardware interfaces. At the same time, Jony Ive expressed enthusiasm for the device’s early design, which he claims captured his imagination.

Court testimony and emails suggest io explored various technologies, including desktop, mobile, and portable designs. Internal communications also reference possible ergonomic research using 3D ear scan data.

Although the lawsuit has exposed some development details, the main product of the collaboration between OpenAI and io remains undisclosed.

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M&S and Co‑op hit by Scattered Spider attack

High street giants M&S and Co‑op remain under siege after the Scattered Spider gang’s sophisticated cyber‑attack this April. The breaches disrupted online services and automated systems, leading to suspended orders, empty shelves and significant reputational damage.

Authorities have classified the incident as category‑2, with initial estimates suggesting losses between £270 million and £440 million. M&S expects a £300 million hit to its annual profit, with daily online sales down by up to £4 million during the outage.

In a rare display of unity, Tesco’s Booker arm stepped in to supply M&S and some independent Co‑op stores, helping to ease stock shortages. Meanwhile, cyber insurers have signalled increasing premiums, with the cost of cover for retail firms rising by up to 10 percent.

The National Cyber Security Centre and government ministers have issued urgent calls for the sector to strengthen defences, citing such high‑impact incidents as a vital wake‑up call for business readiness.

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Banks and tech firms create open-source AI standards

A group of leading banks and technology firms has joined forces to create standardised open-source controls for AI within the financial sector.

The initiative, led by the Fintech Open Source Foundation (FINOS), includes financial institutions such as Citi, BMO, RBC, and Morgan Stanley, working alongside major cloud providers like Microsoft, Google Cloud, and Amazon Web Services.

Known as the Common Controls for AI Services project, the effort seeks to build neutral, industry-wide standards for AI use in financial services.

The framework will be tailored to regulatory environments, offering peer-reviewed governance models and live validation tools to support real-time compliance. It extends FINOS’s earlier Common Cloud Controls framework, which originated with contributions from Citi.

Gabriele Columbro, Executive Director of FINOS, described the moment as critical for AI in finance. He emphasised the role of open source in encouraging early collaboration between financial firms and third-party providers on shared security and compliance goals.

Instead of isolated standards, the project promotes unified approaches that reduce fragmentation across regulated markets.

The project remains open for further contributions from financial organisations, AI vendors, regulators, and technology companies.

As part of the Linux Foundation, FINOS provides a neutral space for competitors to co-develop tools that enhance AI adoption’s safety, transparency, and efficiency in finance.

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South Korea’s SK Group and AWS team up on AI infrastructure

South Korean conglomerate SK Group has joined forces with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to invest 7 trillion won (approximately $5.1 billion) in building a large-scale AI data centre in Ulsan, South Korea. The project aims to bolster the country’s AI infrastructure over the next 15 years.

According to South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT, the facility will begin construction in September 2025 and is expected to become fully operational by early 2029. Once complete, the Ulsan Centre will have a power capacity exceeding 100 megawatts. AWS will contribute $4 billion to the project.

SK Group stated on Sunday that the data centre will support Korea’s AI ambitions by integrating high-speed networks, advanced semiconductors, and efficient energy systems. In a LinkedIn post, SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won said the company is ‘uniquely positioned’ to drive AI innovation.

They highlighted the role of several SK affiliates in the project, including SK Hynix for high-bandwidth memory, SK Telecom and SK Broadband for network operations, and SK Gas and SK Multi Utility for infrastructure and energy.

The initiative is part of SK Group’s broader commitment to AI investment. In 2023, the company pledged to invest 82 trillion won by 2026 in HBM chip development, data centres, and AI-powered services.

The group has also backed AI startups such as Perplexity, Twelve Labs, and Korean LLM developer Upstage. Its chip unit, Sapeon, merged with rival Rebellions last year, creating a company valued at 1.3 trillion won.

Other major Korean players are also ramping up AI efforts. Tech giant Kakao recently announced plans to invest 600 billion won in an AI data centre and partnered with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT technology into its services.

The tech industry in South Korea continues to race towards AI dominance, with domestic firms making substantial investments to secure future leadership in AI infrastructure and applications.

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Apple considers buying Perplexity AI

Apple is reportedly considering the acquisition of Perplexity AI as it attempts to catch up in the fast-moving race for dominance in generative technology.

According to Bloomberg, the discussions involve senior executives, including Eddy Cue and merger head Adrian Perica, who remain at an early stage.

Such a move would significantly shift Apple, which typically avoids large-scale takeovers. However, with investor pressure mounting after an underwhelming developer conference, the tech giant may rethink its traditionally cautious acquisition strategy.

Perplexity has gained prominence for its fast, clear AI chatbot and recently secured funding at a $14 billion valuation.

Should Apple proceed, the acquisition would be the company’s largest ever financially and strategically, potentially transforming its position in AI and reducing its long-standing dependence on Google’s search infrastructure.

Apple’s slow development of Siri and reliance on a $20 billion revenue-sharing deal with Google have left it trailing rivals. With that partnership now under regulatory scrutiny in the US, Apple may view Perplexity as a vital step towards building a more autonomous search and AI ecosystem.

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Africa reflects on 20 years of WSIS at IGF 2025

At the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2025, a high-level session brought together African government officials, private sector leaders, civil society advocates, and international experts to reflect on two decades of the continent’s engagement in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process. Moderated by Mactar Seck of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the WSIS+20 Africa review highlighted both remarkable progress and ongoing challenges in digital transformation.

Seck opened the discussion with a snapshot of Africa’s connectivity leap from 2.6% in 2005 to 38% today. Yet, he warned, ‘Cybersecurity costs Africa 10% of its GDP,’ underscoring the urgency of coordinated investment and inclusion. Emphasising multi-stakeholder collaboration, he called for ‘inclusive policy-making across government, private sector, academia and civil society,’ aligned with frameworks such as the AU Digital Strategy and the Global Digital Compact.

Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary detailed the country’s 10-year National Digital Strategic Framework, boasting 92% 3G and 91% 4G coverage and regional infrastructure links. Meanwhile, Benin’s Hon. Adjara presented the Cotonou Declaration and proposed an African Digital Performance Index to monitor broadband, skills, cybersecurity, and inclusion. From the private sector, Jimson Odufuye called for ‘annual WSIS reviews at national level’ and closer alignment with Sustainable Development Goals, stating, “If we cannot measure progress, we cannot reach the SDGs.”

Gender advocate Baratang Pil called for a revision of WSIS action lines to include mandatory gender audits and demanded that ‘30% of national AI and DPI funding go to women-led tech firms.’ Youth representative Louvo Gray stressed the need for $100 billion to close the continent’s digital divide, reminding participants that by 2050, 42% of the world’s youth will be African. Philippe Roux of the UN Emerging Technology Office urged policymakers to focus on implementation over renegotiation: ‘People are not connected because it costs too much — we must address the demand side.’

The panel concluded with a call for enhanced continental cooperation and practical action. As Seck summarised, ‘Africa has the youth, knowledge, and opportunity to lead in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We must make sure digital inclusion is not a slogan — it must be a shared commitment.’

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