Digital standards Archives | Page 2 of 385

Canada issues age assurance guidance

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has issued guidance on how organisations should assess and implement age assurance tools for websites and online services.

The OPC states that age assurance should only be used where there is a clear legal requirement or a demonstrable risk of harm to children. It emphasises that organisations must evaluate whether alternative, less intrusive measures could address these risks before adopting such systems.

The guidance highlights that any age assurance approach, including those that use AI, must be proportionate, limit personal data collection, and operate in a privacy-protective manner. It also warns against using collected data for other purposes or linking user activity across sessions.

The OPC adds that organisations must provide user choice with respect to the type of personal information they would prefer to use in an age-assurance process, provide appeal mechanisms, and minimise repeated verification. The framework aims to balance child protection with privacy rights, with the guidance applying to online services in Canada.

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California expands digital democracy platform for AI policy debate

California’s Governor is expanding Engaged California, a digital democracy initiative designed to give residents a direct voice in shaping AI policy across the state. The programme invites Californians to share how AI is affecting their jobs, industries, and communities, with the findings expected to help guide future state policy decisions.

The initiative will begin with a public participation phase, during which residents can submit experiences and recommendations through the state’s online platform. A second phase, later in 2026, will bring together a smaller representative group of residents for live deliberative forums focused on AI’s economic and social impact. The process aims to identify areas of public consensus on how government should respond to rapidly evolving AI technologies.

State officials described ‘Engaged California’ as a first-in-the-nation deliberative democracy programme inspired partly by Taiwan’s digital governance model. Instead of functioning like a social media platform or public poll, the initiative is designed to encourage structured discussion and collaborative policymaking around emerging technologies.

California also used the announcement to highlight broader AI initiatives already underway, including AI procurement reforms, workforce training partnerships with major technology companies, AI-powered wildfire detection systems, cybersecurity assessments, and responsible governance frameworks.

Officials said the state aims to balance innovation with safeguards related to child safety, deepfakes, digital likeness protections, and AI accountability.

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European Commission updates guidance on generative AI use in research

The European Commission has updated the ERA Living Guidelines on the responsible use of generative AI in research, reflecting the growing use of AI tools across scientific work. The revised guidance aims to support researchers, research organisations and funding bodies in adopting generative AI while maintaining core principles of research integrity.

The guidelines emphasise reliability, honesty, respect and accountability, including transparency over AI use, protection of privacy and confidential information, and responsibility for research outputs. They also stress that researchers remain ultimately responsible for scientific output and should verify AI-generated results.

New recommendations address risks linked to the use of generative AI by third parties, including in meetings, note-taking, summaries and document overviews, where confidential information, data protection or intellectual property rights may be affected. The guidelines encourage researchers and organisations to inform third parties about the use of such tools and related risks.

A specific addition concerns the risk of ‘hidden prompts’, where instructions may be secretly embedded in documents or inputs to influence generative AI tools. The guidelines call on research funding organisations to remain aware of such risks, set rules prohibiting manipulation where relevant, and introduce appropriate safeguards in IT systems used to process information.

Developed through the European Research Area Forum, the guidelines are intended as a non-binding supporting tool for the research community. The Commission says they will be updated regularly and that users can continue to provide feedback as generative AI and the surrounding policy landscape evolve.

Why does it matter?

Generative AI is becoming part of everyday research workflows, from drafting and summarising to proposal preparation and document analysis. The updated guidelines show that research integrity risks now extend beyond individual misuse to organisational processes, third-party tools and hidden technical behaviours that may affect scientific judgement. Shared guidance across the European Research Area can help institutions adopt AI without weakening transparency, accountability or trust in research.

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French CNIL hosts global privacy talks in Paris

The French Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés will host the G7 roundtable of data protection and privacy authorities in June 2026. The meeting aims to strengthen international cooperation amid rapid digital and AI developments.

The roundtable, created in 2021, brings together data protection authorities from G7 countries and the EU. It focuses on sharing legal and technological developments and encouraging coordinated approaches to common challenges.

Key areas of work for 2026 include emerging technologies, enforcement cooperation and the free flow of data. The discussions are expected to address growing concerns about data protection amid expanding AI use.

The CNIL stated that the French presidency will prioritise dialogue and practical cooperation, aiming to support global governance that respects fundamental rights, and that the event will take place in Paris.

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Ireland and the EU intensify DSA pressure on Meta

Coimisiún na Meán, the media regulator of Ireland, has launched two formal investigations into Meta over the design of recommender systems on Facebook and Instagram under the Digital Services Act. The investigations focus on whether users are prevented from choosing recommendation feeds that are not based on the profiling of their personal data.

Coimisiún na Meán said concerns emerged following platform supervision reviews and complaints linked to potential ‘dark patterns’ and deceptive interface designs. Regulators are examining whether users can easily access and modify non-profiled recommendation feeds as required under Article 27 of the DSA, alongside whether interface designs may improperly influence user choices under Article 25.

John Evans, Digital Services Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, said recommender systems can repeatedly push harmful material into user feeds, particularly affecting children and younger users. The regulator also warned that Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) must ensure users can exercise their rights under the DSA without manipulation or unnecessary barriers.

EU investigates Meta over under-13 access on Instagram and Facebook

At the same time, the European Commission has preliminarily found Meta in potential breach of the DSA over failures to adequately prevent children under 13 from accessing Instagram and Facebook. Regulators said Meta’s age verification and reporting systems may be ineffective, while the company’s risk assessments allegedly failed to properly address harms faced by underage users.

Why does it matter?

These investigations are critical because they could shape how the DSA is enforced across Europe, particularly in cases involving children and algorithmic recommendation systems. If regulators conclude that Meta failed to properly protect minors or used manipulative interface designs that discouraged users from choosing non-profiled feeds, the case may set a wider precedent for how large online platforms handle age assurance, user consent, privacy protections, and recommender system transparency under EU law.

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White paper sets priorities for Europe’s digital sovereignty and tech competitiveness

A new whitepaper by GITEX AI Europe, in partnership with research firm LUE, outlines key priorities for strengthening Europe’s digital sovereignty and long-term technological competitiveness.

The study suggests scaling AI computing power, expanding cloud infrastructure, adopting open-source standards and increasing startup investment as central pillars. These measures aim to align innovation capacity with broader economic and industrial growth.

It highlights rising demand for AI infrastructure, with data centre expansion and energy integration seen as essential. The report also stresses the need for sovereign cloud systems to ensure greater control over data, alongside the role of open-source technologies in enabling flexibility and transparency.

The whitepaper concludes that stronger investment and coordinated policy are required to support deep-tech growth and prevent talent loss, with initiatives and partnerships shaping Europe’s digital future across the continent.

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EU and Armenia deepen digital and security partnership in Yerevan

The EU and Armenia have signed a new connectivity partnership during their first bilateral summit in Yerevan, expanding cooperation across digital infrastructure, transport, energy, defence, and border management. The agreement forms part of the EU’s broader effort to strengthen political and economic ties in the South Caucasus while supporting regional stability.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the summit had taken EU-Armenia relations to a new level, with future cooperation focused on economic integration, political dialogue, and security. The partnership aligns the EU’s Cross-Regional Connectivity Agenda with Armenia’s ‘Crossroad of Peace’ initiative and introduces high-level dialogues on connectivity and transport.

The summit also launched new initiatives in digital infrastructure, semiconductor skills, innovation ecosystems, and private investment mobilisation. Brussels advanced Armenia’s visa liberalisation process, strengthened border cooperation through Frontex, and backed security cooperation through an EU Partnership Mission and €30 million in European Peace Facility assistance.

At the same time, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez used the European Political Community meeting in Yerevan to call for stronger digital governance across Europe. Speaking at a roundtable on democratic resilience and hybrid threats, he warned that digital infrastructure and social media platforms are being used to exploit democratic vulnerabilities.

Sánchez called for action in three areas: implementing the European Democracy Shield, strengthening the European Centre for Democratic Resilience, and establishing a European-level digital age of majority. He also urged a review of platform obligations under the Digital Services framework and promoted coordinated action among countries committed to defending democracy.

Alongside the summit, Sánchez met Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss peace efforts, EU-Armenia relations, multilateralism, energy cooperation, and digital sovereignty.

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EU partnership with global telecom coalition targets 6G and next-generation networks

The European Commission has joined the Global Coalition on Telecommunications as its first strategic partner, marking a further step in international cooperation on next-generation telecommunications infrastructure.

GCOT operates as an informal multilateral group focused on promoting telecommunications systems built around security, resilience, and international cooperation. With participation from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Australia, Finland, and Sweden, the coalition aims to strengthen global dialogue and align technological development across borders.

In its new role, the EU is expected to contribute expertise, participate in policy discussions, and support joint initiatives across key telecom workstreams. Strategic partnership status is designed to allow more flexible cooperation, while governance remains with the coalition’s core members.

Telecommunications remain central to European competitiveness, particularly as AI, cloud systems, sensing capabilities, and satellite networks begin to reshape the sector. The partnership is therefore likely to support the EU priorities such as supply chain diversification, infrastructure resilience, and the development of future technologies, including 6G.

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Brazil restricts use of cryptoassets for cross-border payment settlement

Brazil’s central bank has introduced new restrictions preventing regulated cross-border payment providers from using cryptoassets to settle international transactions. The measure forms part of updated rules for electronic foreign exchange services, known as eFX.

Under Resolution BCB No. 561, settlement between eFX providers and foreign counterparties must take place through authorised foreign exchange transactions or non-resident Brazilian real accounts. Use of virtual assets such as stablecoins or cryptocurrencies for settlement is explicitly prohibited.

The rule does not ban crypto trading or peer-to-peer transfers, but focuses on the infrastructure used by regulated payment firms. Stablecoin-based settlement models are expected to be most affected, as they have been widely used to facilitate faster and lower-cost cross-border payments.

The decision aligns with Brazil’s broader regulatory strategy to tighten oversight of digital assets, including AML compliance, taxation frameworks, and classification of certain crypto flows as foreign exchange operations.

Regulators aim to maintain control over cross-border capital movement while allowing crypto activity to continue outside regulated payment rails.

Why does it matter?

Brazil’s decision reflects a broader global effort to reassert control over cross-border financial infrastructure as crypto-based settlement systems grow in scale and speed.

By keeping regulated payment flows within traditional foreign exchange channels, authorities aim to preserve monetary oversight, tax visibility, and compliance enforcement in a system where stablecoins are increasingly bypassing conventional banking rails.

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Data access emerges as cornerstone of EU AI plan

The European Commission has unveiled its AI Continent Action Plan, setting out a strategy to strengthen Europe’s position in the global AI landscape. The plan responds to rapid international advances and seeks to accelerate AI adoption across European industry and public services, where progress remains uneven.

Rather than introducing a new regulatory framework, the plan brings together targeted investments and policy measures around five priorities: expanding AI infrastructure, improving access to data, accelerating adoption in strategic sectors, strengthening skills, and supporting the implementation of existing rules.

Access to high-quality and interoperable data is presented as one of the key conditions for scaling AI in Europe. The plan links this objective to the EU’s wider data strategy and to efforts to make cross-border data use more practical, enabling organisations to train and deploy AI systems more effectively while operating within Europe’s transparency and accountability standards.

The broader ambition is to move Europe from fragmented experimentation towards more scalable and trustworthy AI deployment. In that sense, the Action Plan treats data, infrastructure, skills, and implementation capacity as parts of the same competitiveness agenda rather than separate policy tracks.

Why does it matter?

Europe’s AI challenge is no longer only about regulation, but about whether companies and public institutions can actually build and use AI at scale. If access to data remains fragmented across borders, sectors, and technical systems, the EU risks falling further behind competitors that already combine compute, capital, and data more effectively. By putting data access alongside infrastructure and skills, the Commission is signalling that AI competitiveness will depend as much on operational capacity as on rules or research strength.

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