Digital standards

M&S technology chief steps down after cyberattack

Marks & Spencer’s technology chief, Rachel Higham, has stepped down less than 18 months after joining the retailer from BT.

Her departure comes months after a cyberattack in April by Scattered Spider disrupted systems and cost the company around £300 million. Online operations, including click-and-collect, were temporarily halted before being gradually restored.

In a memo to staff, the company described Higham as a steady hand during a turbulent period and wished her well. M&S has said it does not intend to replace her role, leaving questions over succession directly.

The retailer expects part of the financial hit to be offset by insurance. It has declined to comment further on whether Higham will receive a payoff.

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AI smart glasses give blind users new independence

Smart glasses powered by AI give people with vision loss new ways to navigate daily life, from cooking to crossing the street.

Users like Andrew Tutty in Ontario say the devices restore independence, helping with tasks such as identifying food or matching clothes. Others, like Emilee Schevers, rely on them to confirm traffic signals before crossing the road.

The AI glasses, developed by Meta, are cheaper than many other assistive devices, which can cost thousands. They connect to smartphones, using voice commands and apps like Be My Eyes to describe surroundings or link with volunteers.

Experts, however, caution that the glasses come with significant privacy concerns. Built-in cameras stream everything within view to large tech firms, raising questions about surveillance, data use and algorithmic reliability.

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AI and cyber priorities headline massive US defence budget bill

The US House of Representatives has passed an $848 billion defence policy bill with new provisions for cybersecurity and AI. Lawmakers voted 231 to 196 to approve the chamber’s version of the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA).

The bill mandates that the National Security Agency brief Congress on plans for its Cybersecurity Coordination Centre and requires annual reports from combatant commands on the levels of support provided by US Cyber Command.

It also calls for a software bill of materials for AI-enabled technology that the Department of Defence uses. The Pentagon will be authorised to create up to 12 generative AI projects to improve cybersecurity and intelligence operations.

An adopted amendment allows the NSA to share threat intelligence with the private sector to protect US telecommunications networks. Another requirement is that the Pentagon study the National Guard’s role in cyber response at the federal and state levels.

Proposals to renew the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act and the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program were excluded from the final text. The Senate is expected to approve its version of the NDAA next week.

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Moncler Korea fined over customer data breach

South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission has fined Moncler Korea 88 million won ($63,200) over a large-scale customer data breach.

The regulator said a cyberattack in December 2021 exposed the personal details of about 230,000 customers. Hackers gained access by compromising an administrator account and installing malware on the company’s servers.

The stolen information of the South Korean customers included purchase-related data, though names, dates of birth, emails and card numbers were not part of the leak.

According to officials, Moncler Korea only became aware of the breach a month later and delayed reporting it to both customers and the regulator.

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Meta and TikTok win court challenge over EU fee

Europe’s General Court has backed challenges by Meta Platforms and TikTok against an EU supervisory fee imposed under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The companies argued that the levy was calculated unfairly and imposed a disproportionate financial burden.

The supervisory fee, introduced in 2022, requires large platforms to pay 0.05% of their annual global net income to cover monitoring costs. Meta and TikTok said the methodology relied on flawed data, inflated their fees, and even double-counted users.

Their lawyers told the court the process lacked transparency and produced ‘implausible’ results.

Lawyers for the European Commission defended the fee, arguing that group-wide financial resources justified the calculation method. They said the companies had adequate information about how the levy was determined.

The ruling reduces pressure on the two firms as they continue investing in the EU market. A final judgement from the General Court is expected next year and may shape how supervisory costs are applied to other major platforms.

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Cyberattack hits LNER passenger data, investigation under way

The contact details of rail passengers have been stolen in a cyberattack affecting London North Eastern Railway (LNER). The company stated that it had been notified of unauthorised access to files managed by a third-party supplier and advised customers to be vigilant against phishing attempts.

LNER stressed that no bank details, card numbers, or passwords had been compromised. The York-based operator stated that it was collaborating with cybersecurity experts and the supplier to investigate the breach and ensure necessary safeguards.

The company did not confirm the number of passengers affected. The incident comes as LNER reported revenues exceeding £1 billion, yet it continues to rely on government support since its nationalisation in 2018.

Passenger complaints rose 12.2 percent in 2025, reaching 24,015, and competition from private operators is driving losses—online ticket platforms such as Trainline direct passengers to cheaper rivals, costing LNER significant revenue.

The breach follows other attacks on UK transport services, including a 2024 incident in which the bank details of 5,000 Transport for London customers were exposed, resulting in weeks of disrupted online services.

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AI-generated film sparks copyright battle as it heads to Cannes

OpenAI has taken a significant step into entertainment by backing Critterz, the first animated feature film generated with GPT models.

Human artists sketch characters and scenes, while AI transforms them into moving images. The $30 million project, expected to finish in nine months, is far cheaper and faster than traditional animation and could debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 2026.

Yet the film has triggered a fierce copyright debate in India and beyond. Under India’s Copyright Act of 1957, only human works are protected.

Legal experts argue that while AI can be used as a tool when human skill and judgement are clearly applied, autonomously generated outputs may not qualify for copyright at all.

The uncertainty carries significant risks. Producers may struggle to combat piracy or unauthorised remakes, while streaming platforms and investors could hesitate to support projects without clear ownership rights.

A recent case involving an AI tool credited as a co-author of a painting, later revoked, shows how untested the law remains.

Global approaches vary. The US and the EU require human creativity for copyright, while the UK recognises computer-generated works under certain conditions.

In India, lawyers suggest contracts provide the safest path until the law evolves, with detailed agreements on ownership, revenue sharing and disclosure of AI input.

The government has already set up an expert panel to review the Copyright Act, even as AI-driven projects and trailers rapidly gain popularity.

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Cyberattack keeps JLR factories shut, hackers claim responsibility

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed that data was affected in a cyberattack that has kept its UK factories idle for more than a week. The company stated that it is contacting anyone whose data was involved, although it did not clarify whether the breach affected customers, suppliers, or internal systems.

JLR reported the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office and immediately shut down IT systems to limit damage. Production at Midlands and Merseyside sites has been halted until at least Thursday, with staff instructed not to return before next week.

The disruption has also hit suppliers and retailers, with garages struggling to order spare parts and dealers facing delays registering vehicles. JLR said it is working around the clock to restore operations in a safe and controlled way, though the process is complex.

Responsibility for the hack has been claimed by Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters, a group linked to previous attacks on Marks & Spencer, the Co-op, and Las Vegas casinos in the UK and the US. The hackers posted alleged screenshots from JLR’s internal systems on Telegram last week.

Cybersecurity experts say the group’s claim that ransomware was deployed raises questions, as it appears to have severed ties with Russian ransomware gangs. Analysts suggest the hackers may have only stolen data or are building their own ransomware infrastructure.

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Claude AI gains powerful file editing tools for documents and spreadsheets

Anthropic’s Claude has expanded its role as a leading AI assistant by adding advanced tools for creating and editing files. Instead of manually working with different programs, users can now describe their needs in plain language and let the AI produce or update Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF files.

A feature that supports uploads of CSV and TSV data and can generate charts, graphs, or images where needed, with a 30MB size limit applying to uploads and downloads.

The real breakthrough lies in editing. Instead of opening a document or spreadsheet, users can simply type instructions such as replacing text, changing currencies, or updating job titles. Claude processes the prompt and makes all the changes in one pass, preserving the original formatting.

It positions the AI as more efficient than rivals, as Gemini can only export reports but not directly modify existing files.

The feature preview is available on web and desktop for subscribers on Max, Team, or Enterprise plans. Analysts suggest the update could reshape productivity tools, especially after reports that Microsoft has partnered with Anthropic to explore using Claude for Office 365 functions.

By removing repetitive tasks and making file handling conversational, Claude is pushing productivity software into a new phase of automation.

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Small business revival could hinge on AI-driven tools

If AI is to matter in the economy, it must first matter to small businesses. Firms employ over 61 million people, nearly half the private workforce, yet most run on outdated technology. While smartphones update monthly, many small businesses still use systems built a decade ago.

Search fund entrepreneurs bridge this gap by upgrading established firms with modern tech. One deal turned a 50-person roadside assistance firm into Asurion, now a global tech-care provider. Others have scaled compliance firms into nationwide SaaS platforms.

Generative AI now accelerates these transformations, cutting work times by over 60% across supply chains, compliance, and document processing functions. Complex tasks can now be completed in hours, unlocking double-digit productivity gains and allowing small businesses to focus on growth.

Search funds are not the only path forward. AI consulting firms, tech studios, and AI-powered roll-up strategies bring enterprise-grade tools to family-run firms. For communities that have relied on traditional playbooks, decades of growth can be compressed into months.

The cost of AI has never been lower, and the opportunity is wide open. Once deployed at scale, AI could power a wave of productivity on Main Street, helping small businesses compete and strengthening the economy for half of their workforce.

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