Digital identities Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

Minnesota weighs AI free speech limits

The National Constitution Center reports that Minnesota lawmakers are considering a constitutional amendment to exclude AI systems from free speech protections. The proposal would clarify that such rights apply to people, not machines.

According to the National Constitution Center, the amendment would add language stating that AI does not have the right to speak, write or publish sentiments freely. Human free speech protections would remain unchanged under the proposal.

The article highlights ongoing debate around the measure, with supporters arguing it distinguishes human rights from technological tools, while critics warn it could affect how AI-generated content is treated under the law.

The National Constitution Center notes that the proposal reflects broader tensions over how legal systems should address AI and free expression as the issue develops in Minnesota.

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EPO introduces AI captions to improve accessibility in digital patent proceedings

The European Patent Office (EPO) has introduced automated real-time captions for oral proceedings conducted via video conference (VICOs), aiming to improve accessibility for participants with hearing impairments.

The measure forms part of broader efforts to enhance inclusivity within digital public services.

A system that enables speech recognition-based captions during virtual hearings, with optional translation into official languages.

While activation requires prior request, the feature reflects a shift towards more accessible and adaptable procedural frameworks in digital legal environments.

The introduction of captions aligns with wider European accessibility and digitalisation objectives, supporting equitable participation in administrative and legal processes.

At the same time, the EPO notes that machine-generated captions may contain inaccuracies and are intended solely as a support tool during proceedings.

Such a development illustrates how AI-enabled tools are being integrated into institutional workflows to address accessibility barriers, while maintaining procedural safeguards and operational integrity.

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Digital equity advances as UNESCO promotes Universal Acceptance

UNESCO has reinforced the importance of Universal Acceptance as a foundation for multilingual digital inclusion during a global event hosted in Hyderabad.

An initiative that seeks to ensure that all languages and scripts function equally across the internet, strengthening digital access and participation.

The discussion linked linguistic diversity with broader principles such as digital rights, media literacy, and freedom of expression.

Universal Acceptance was presented as a core element of digital equality, enabling users to access online services regardless of language or script.

Through its partnership with ICANN, UNESCO is advancing efforts to ensure that domain names and email systems support all valid linguistic formats. These initiatives aim to remove technical barriers that limit participation in the digital economy.

An initiative that reflects a broader global effort to create a more inclusive and accessible internet. Strengthening multilingual infrastructure is expected to play a key role in shaping a more equitable and representative digital environment.

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EU digital identity strengthens after 20 years of .eu expansion

Two decades since the launch of the .eu domain, the EU has marked its role in establishing a unified digital identity across member states.

On 7 April 2006, the .eu top-level domain (TLD) was launched, offering businesses, citizens, and organisations a pan-EU online identity.

Over time, .eu has developed into one of the largest country-code domains globally, with millions of registrations and consistent growth.

Its technical stability and security record, including uninterrupted service since launch, have reinforced its reputation as a reliable digital infrastructure. Investments in fraud detection and data integrity have further strengthened trust in its ecosystem.

The domain has also evolved to reflect the EU’s linguistic diversity, with the introduction of internationalised domain names and additional scripts such as Cyrillic and Greek. These developments have expanded accessibility and reinforced inclusivity within the European digital space.

Looking ahead, .eu is positioned as a key instrument for advancing digital sovereignty and supporting the Single Market. Its role in global internet governance discussions is expected to grow, particularly as the EU institutions seek to shape a more open, secure, and rights-based digital environment.

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ENISA opens public review of draft EUDI Wallet cybersecurity scheme

The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity has published a draft candidate scheme for the European Digital Identity Wallet and the electronic identity schemes under which it is provided. ENISA describes it as a draft version of the European Cybersecurity Certification Scheme for European Digital Identity Wallets.

ENISA states the draft addresses the certification of the cybersecurity of cloud services and is being developed under Article 48(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/881, the Cybersecurity Act.

As per ENISA, an ad hoc working group has been set up to prepare the candidate scheme. The agency says the public review is intended to validate the principles and general organisation of the proposed scheme and to gather feedback on the draft and its annexes.

ENISA also says the draft candidate scheme is accompanied by an early draft of a separate document, Wallet-Related Service Provider Security Requirements, version 0.5.614, which is provided as a reference and for early opinion on the approach used to define those requirements.

The public review will remain open until the end of April 2026. ENISA has also said it will organise a webinar on 8 April to provide information about the draft candidate scheme and answer questions.

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AI safety may hinge on missing human body awareness

A study from UCLA Health suggests that modern AI systems lack a fundamental aspect of human cognition linked to bodily experience, a gap that may have implications for safety and alignment with human behaviour.

Researchers describe this missing element as the absence of ‘internal embodiment’, where humans continuously regulate behaviour through bodily signals. While current AI systems can process and describe the physical world, they do not experience internal states such as fatigue, uncertainty, or physical need.

According to the study published in Neuron, this absence limits how AI systems interpret and respond to situations compared with humans, whose cognition is shaped by continuous interaction between brain and body.

The research distinguishes between external interaction and internal self-monitoring, arguing that most AI development focuses only on the former. Without internal regulatory signals, systems may lack natural constraints that guide consistency, caution, and awareness of uncertainty in decision-making.

Researchers propose a ‘dual-embodiment’ framework introducing internal state tracking in AI systems, alongside new benchmarks to assess stability and uncertainty.

AI safety may require more than improved external performance, highlighting the importance of internal regulatory mechanisms that could help systems behave more consistently, predictably, and in line with human expectations in real-world use.

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ENISA launches consultation on EU digital wallet certification

The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) has launched a public consultation on a draft candidate certification scheme for the EU Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallets.

The draft was developed with a dedicated ad hoc working group, and the consultation aims to gather feedback on its structure, core elements, and annexes. Responses are open until 30 April 2026.

The initiative follows the adoption of a regulation establishing the European Digital Identity Framework. The European Commission has mandated ENISA to support the certification of EUDI Wallets, including the development of a European cybersecurity certification scheme under the Cybersecurity Act.

The objective is to define cybersecurity requirements for digital identity solutions and support their consistent implementation across the EU.

In February 2026, ENISA signed a €1.6 million contribution agreement with the European Commission for two years to support the development and rollout of national certification schemes.

Funded under the Digital Europe Work Programme 2025–2027, the agreement supports capacity development, skills development, and alignment with a future European certification framework. Member states are expected to provide at least one certified EUDI Wallet by the end of 2026.

Digital identity wallets are intended to enable secure identification and the protection of personal data in both digital and physical environments.

The proposed certification scheme aims to verify compliance with cybersecurity requirements, addressing the limited use of formal certification in current wallet implementations.

The initiative carries significant regulatory weight as it translates the European Digital Identity Framework into enforceable cybersecurity standards. It ensures harmonised compliance across member states while strengthening trust, interoperability, and legal certainty within the EU’s digital identity ecosystem.

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Call to scrap cookie banners gains traction

A new study argues that cookie consent banners should be scrapped, claiming they fail to protect user privacy and instead create frustration. The research highlights how repeated pop-ups have become a defining feature of the modern internet.

The paper suggests that cookie banners, originally introduced under data protection laws, have led to ‘performative compliance’ rather than meaningful consent. Users often click through notices without understanding them, weakening the purpose of privacy regulation.

Researchers say the system may even normalise data tracking by encouraging habitual acceptance. Instead of improving transparency, the approach risks obscuring how personal data is collected and used across digital platforms.

The study calls for regulators to move beyond banner-based consent towards more effective privacy protections. It argues that current rules may hinder the development of better solutions by giving the impression that the problem has already been addressed.

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Swiss survey highlights concern over big tech and digital sovereignty

Public concern over big tech companies is growing in Switzerland, according to a new survey by gfs.bern conducted on behalf of the Mercator Foundation Switzerland. A large majority of respondents view major technology firms as primarily profit-driven, while also expressing unease about their broader influence on society and politics.

Survey findings show that 90% of respondents believe big tech companies are mainly motivated by profit, while 94% support stronger protections for children and young people on social media platforms. Concerns extend beyond commercial behaviour, with 84% worried about political influence from the countries where these companies are based and 82% fearing increasing dependence on firms from the United States and China.

Overall perceptions in Switzerland remain mixed: 21% of respondents express a positive view of big tech companies, 40% hold a neutral stance, and 38% report negative impressions. Similar attitudes have been observed across Europe, where surveys in countries such as France and Germany indicate that many citizens consider existing regulatory frameworks insufficient.

Despite concerns about corporate influence, attitudes towards digitalisation itself remain broadly positive. Around 58% of respondents see digitalisation as beneficial overall, and 53% believe it offers personal advantages. However, only 48% think it benefits society as a whole, while 46% perceive its impact on democratic processes as negative.

A strong majority expects public institutions to take on greater responsibility for managing digital transformation. Around 88% support government efforts to ensure transparency in AI decision-making, while 86% want human oversight in critical situations. High levels of trust in Swiss authorities suggest public backing for a more active state role in shaping digital policy and safeguarding democratic values.

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Australia and Anthropic deepen AI safety cooperation

Anthropic has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian government to strengthen AI safety research and align with Australia’s National AI Plan. The agreement was formalised during a meeting in Canberra between Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The partnership establishes collaboration with Australia’s AI Safety Institute, including the sharing of model capability insights, joint safety evaluations and coordinated research with academic institutions.

The agreement also covers the exchange of Anthropic’s Economic Index data to help track AI adoption and its impact across key sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and financial services.

As part of its wider commitment, Anthropic is investing AUD$3 million in API credits for Australian research institutions, supporting projects in genomics, disease diagnosis and medical innovation.

Universities and institutes will apply Claude to areas such as rare disease analysis, precision medicine and scientific training for future developers.

Further initiatives include startup support programmes and exploration of infrastructure investments in Australia, including data centres and energy systems. The collaboration marks an expansion of Anthropic’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region, with a Sydney office planned in the near future.

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