Digital standards Archives | Page 2 of 345

China strengthens online safeguards for minors

Chinese authorities have introduced new rules to classify online content that could affect the health and well-being of minors. Set to take effect on 1 March, the measures aim to adapt to a rapidly evolving internet landscape.

Top government bodies, including those in cyberspace, education, publishing, film, culture, tourism, public security, and radio and television, jointly released the initiative. Together, they outlined four categories of content that could negatively impact minors and specified their key characteristics.

Recent issues, such as the misuse of minors’ images, have been integrated into the regulatory framework. Authorities also established preventive guidelines to manage risks from emerging technologies, including algorithmic recommendations and generative AI.

Internet platforms and content producers are now required to take both proactive and corrective measures against harmful content. The rules emphasise that platforms must monitor, block, or remove information that could affect minors’ well-being.

The Cyberspace Administration of China pledged to continue purifying the online environment. Authorities will urge platforms to assume their primary responsibilities and strengthen governance of content affecting young users, aiming to create a safer and healthier digital space for children.

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Sovereign AI becomes a strategic question for governments

Governments across the world are increasingly treating AI as a strategic capability that shapes economic development, public services and national security. Momentum behind the idea of ‘sovereign AI’ is growing as countries reassess who controls the chips, cloud infrastructure, data and models powering modern technology.

Complete control over the entire AI stack remains unrealistic for most economies because of the enormous financial and technological costs involved. Global infrastructure continues to rely heavily on US technology firms, which still operate a large share of data centres and AI systems worldwide.

Policy makers are therefore exploring different approaches to sovereignty across the AI ecosystem rather than pursuing total independence. Strategies range from building domestic computing capacity to adapting global AI models for national languages, regulations and public services.

Several countries already illustrate different approaches. The EU is investing billions in AI infrastructure, Canada protects sensitive computing resources while using global models, and India prioritises applications that serve its multilingual population through public digital systems.

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Nokia and Google Cloud bring AI agents to telecom network APIs

Scripts, manual rules, and layered software tools traditionally ran telecom networks. A new collaboration between Google Cloud and Nokia suggests a shift: software agents can respond to goals rather than just detailed instructions.

The companies are integrating agent-based AI into Nokia’s Network as Code platform, which exposes telecom capabilities through application programming interfaces (APIs). The system allows developers to build applications that interact directly with network features such as connectivity quality, device location checks, or network slicing.

The Google-Nokia partnership introduces an AI layer that enables software agents to determine which network functions to use to achieve a goal. Such changes make development more efficient, as the AI agent can interpret instructions, automatically select the appropriate network capabilities, and reduce the need for developers to call APIs one step at a time manually.

Such automation is increasingly being explored as telecom infrastructure grows more complex with 5G, edge computing, and billions of connected devices. New features such as network slicing provide flexibility for industrial applications, private enterprise networks, and specialised connectivity, but also add operational complexity for operators.

Industry groups, including the GSMA and the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, are developing frameworks to support network APIs and automation. While agent-based AI could help networks operate more like programmable platforms, telecom operators must still address questions around reliability, security, and interoperability before large-scale deployment becomes feasible.

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Data centres’ expansion in London sparks energy and climate debate

London authorities are drafting new data centre policies amid concerns about their environmental impact and rising energy use. City Hall aims to balance the sector’s economic advantages with pressures on electricity, water, and emissions.

The Greater London Authority (GLA) estimates that 10 large data centres generate around 2.7 million tonnes of carbon emissions due to their high electricity consumption. Of the 100 data centres the UK plans, about 60 will be in London.

Megan Life, assistant director for environment and energy at the GLA, told the London Assembly Environment Committee the new strategy aims to ‘keep hold of the kind of economic growth benefits that data centres offer’ while addressing some ‘quite challenging’ impacts linked to their energy use.

Deputy mayor for environment Mete Coban said the expansion of data centres brings both ‘big benefits’ and ‘massive challenges’ for the capital, particularly in terms of energy and water consumption. ‘It’s not just a London problem, it’s going to be a global problem,’ he said, adding: ‘It’s about making sure that our environment doesn’t suffer in the hands of a few global corporations who will take and not give back, so we want to make sure we equitably do this.’

Policymakers are assessing how data centre growth may affect climate goals and urban infrastructure. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has commissioned a study to forecast future expansion. At the same time, UK lawmakers have launched an inquiry into the environmental impact of the sector as demand for cloud computing and AI infrastructure grows.

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TikTok rejects end-to-end encryption citing safety concerns

TikTok will not adopt end-to-end encryption for direct messages. The company explained that using this technology could hinder safety teams’ and law enforcement’s efforts to detect harmful content in private messages, which the company believes could make users less safe online.

Encrypted messaging ensures that only the sender and recipient can read a conversation and is widely used across the social media industry. Rivals including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and X have adopted the technology, saying protecting private communication is central to user privacy.

The issue has become more sensitive because the platform has long faced scrutiny over possible links between its parent company, ByteDance, and the government of the People’s Republic of China, something the company has repeatedly denied. Reflecting these concerns, earlier this year, US lawmakers ordered the separation of TikTok’s US operations from its global business.

The company told the BBC that encrypted messaging would make it impossible for police and platform safety teams to read direct messages when needed. TikTok emphasised that this decision was made to enhance user protection, with a particular focus on the safety of younger users, and that it sees monitoring capabilities as crucial for addressing harmful behaviour.

Industry analyst Matt Navarra said the platform’s decision to ‘swim against the tide’ is ‘notable’ but presents ‘challenging optics’. He noted, ‘Grooming and harassment risks are present in DMs [direct messages], so TikTok can state it is prioritising proactive safety over privacy absolutism,’ though he added that the decision ‘places TikTok out of alignment with global privacy expectations’.

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Online privacy faces new pressures in the age of social media

Online privacy is eroding as digital services collect ever-growing personal data and surveillance becomes part of daily technology use. The debate has intensified as social media platforms, advertisers, and connected devices expand their ability to track behaviour, preferences, and habits.

Analysts say younger generations have adapted to this reality rather than resisting it. ‘In 2026, online privacy is a luxury, not a right,’ says Thomas Bunting, an analyst at the UK innovation think tank Nesta. He argues many people have grown up accepting data collection as a trade-off for access to online services, noting: ‘We’ve been taught how to deal with it.’

Advocates warn that the erosion of online privacy could have wider social consequences. Cybersecurity expert Prof Alan Woodward from the University of Surrey says the issue goes beyond personal privacy. ‘People should care about online privacy because it shapes who has power over their lives,’ he says, arguing that privacy is ‘about having something to protect: freedom of thought, experimentation, dissent and personal development without permanent surveillance.’

Despite a growing number of privacy tools and regulations, data exposure remains widespread. According to Statista, more than 1.35 billion people were affected by data breaches, hacks, or exposure in 2024 alone. At the same time, more than 160 countries now have privacy legislation, while users regularly encounter cookie consent prompts that govern how their data is collected online.

Experts say frustration with privacy controls reflects a broader ‘privacy paradox’, in which people express concern about data protection but rarely change their behaviour. Cisco’s Consumer Privacy Survey found that while 89% of respondents said they care about privacy, only 38% actively take steps to protect their data.

As philosopher Carissa Véliz notes, the challenge is not simply awareness but a sense of agency: ‘Mostly, people don’t feel like they have control.’ She argues that protecting privacy requires stronger regulation, responsible technology design, and cultural change, adding: ‘It’s about having [access to] the right tech, but also using it.’

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Global AI race intensifies as China claims leadership in strategic technologies

China asserted its position as the global leader in AI and strategic technology R&D, pledging to accelerate advancement toward technological autonomy. The assertion was prominently featured in government reports presented to the National People’s Congress.

A National Development and Reform Commission report states that China leads international research, development, and implementation in AI, biomedicine, robotics, and quantum technology. The report also references advancements in domestic chip innovation as proof of progress.

Competition between China and the United States for dominance in advanced technologies has escalated. Washington imposed export controls on advanced chips, while Beijing retaliated with restrictions on rare earth resources, escalating trade tensions over strategic technologies.

The report also highlighted the country’s global leadership in open-source AI models and its expansion into emerging technology sectors, including industrial robots and drones. Authorities pledged to nurture future industries such as quantum technology, embodied AI, and 6G networks, while promoting large-scale AI deployment across key sectors.

Officials also plan to launch new data centres, coordinate nationwide computing capacity, and establish mechanisms to prevent AI security risks. The strategy places particular emphasis on embodied AI to boost productivity and performance across sectors. Although US firms command larger investment resources, Beijing is relying on supply chains, manufacturing capacity, and rapid R&D cycles to scale emerging industries despite questions about long-term growth.

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UK to launch new lab for breakthrough AI research

Researchers in the UK will gain a new AI lab designed to drive transformational breakthroughs in healthcare, transport, science, and everyday technology, supported by government funding.

The lab will provide up to £40 million in funding over six years, alongside substantial access to large-scale computing resources, inviting UK researchers to pitch their most ambitious ideas.

The Fundamental AI Research Lab will focus on tackling core AI challenges, including hallucinations, unreliable memory, and unpredictable reasoning.

The lab will support high-risk, blue-sky research rather than simply scaling existing systems. Its goal is to unlock entirely new capabilities that could improve medical diagnoses, infrastructure resilience, scientific discovery, and public services.

UK officials highlighted the country’s strength in world-class universities, AI talent, and a thriving sector attracting over £100 billion in private investment. Experts, including Raia Hadsell of Google DeepMind, will peer-review funding applications, prioritising bold, high-reward proposals.

The initiative is part of the UKRI AI Strategy, which is backed by £1.6 billion and aims to strengthen research and ensure AI benefits society and the economy. UK AI projects like RADAR for rail faults and the IXI Brain Atlas for Alzheimer’s research demonstrate the approach’s potential impact.

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AI adoption and jobs debated at India summit

Governments, companies and international organisations gathered in India in February for the AI Impact Summit to discuss the future of AI governance and adoption. Participants in India focused on economic impacts, labour market changes and sector specific uses of AI.

Delegates in India also highlighted growing interest in international cooperation on AI governance. Ninety one countries endorsed a declaration supporting shared tools, global collaboration and people centred development of AI.

Language diversity became a central topic during discussions in India. India’s government announced eight foundation AI models designed to support generative AI across the country’s 22 recognised languages.

Debate in India also reflected the growing influence of the Global South in AI policy discussions. Policymakers and experts in India emphasised infrastructure gaps, language diversity and local economic realities shaping AI adoption.

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ECB reports minor impact of AI on employment

AI has so far had only a small effect on employment across Europe, according to economists at the European Central Bank. A comparison of 5,000 firms- both AI users and non-users- showed no significant difference in job creation or reduction.

Some firms that use AI intensively were even four percent more likely to hire new staff than average.

Economists noted that AI investment has not replaced existing jobs. In some cases, firms are hiring additional employees to develop and implement AI systems or to scale up operations more efficiently.

Only a minority of firms, around 15 percent, reported reducing labour costs as a motivation for AI adoption.

Despite limited impacts so far, the ECB cautioned that AI could have more significant effects as technology matures. Firms that specifically invest in AI to cut jobs may indeed reduce employment, and the long-term consequences for production processes and labour markets remain uncertain.

The findings come amid rising concern over AI-driven job losses, with companies such as Amazon and Allianz citing AI as a reason for recent cuts. Markets reacted negatively last week after a viral post predicted widespread layoffs, though current evidence shows only minor effects.

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