Digital standards Archives | Page 3 of 398

European Parliament committee backs stronger online protections for children

The European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education has adopted a report calling for stronger enforcement of existing EU digital legislation to create a safer online environment, particularly for children and young people.

MEPs argue that platforms should be held more accountable for the impact of their services through stronger safeguards, greater algorithmic transparency and stricter protections against addictive digital design.

The European Parliament report calls for a ban on the most harmful addictive platform features and supports introducing a dedicated ‘youth mode’ that would disable targeted advertising and reduce minors’ exposure to addictive design practices.

MEPs also propose greater transparency around recommender systems so users can better understand why content is promoted, restricted or removed. They further suggest introducing personal liability for serious and persistent failures to comply with child protection obligations.

Beyond platform design, the report recommends an EU-wide code of conduct for influencers and stronger safeguards against practices such as kidfluencing and sharenting, where children are used in commercial content or exposed excessively online.

MEPs also call for mandatory ethical standards for AI companions, greater transparency around AI model training, measures against AI-generated impersonation scams, stronger protection against synthetic child sexual abuse material, and systematic monitoring of children’s digital habits across the EU.

The committee said these measures should complement existing legislation, including the Digital Services Act, AI Act, GDPR and Audiovisual Media Services Directive, creating a more coherent EU framework for protecting minors online. The report will now be submitted to Parliament’s plenary session in September 2026.

Why does it matter?

The report signals growing political support for strengthening children’s online safety by making platforms more accountable for the design and operation of their services. Rather than relying solely on new legislation, MEPs are urging stronger enforcement of existing EU rules alongside targeted measures addressing addictive design, recommender systems and AI-powered services.

Although the report is not legally binding, it could influence future EU legislation and enforcement priorities by reinforcing the shift towards safety-by-design, greater transparency and stronger protections for minors across digital platforms.

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UK MPs call for clearer sovereign AI strategy

UK MPs have called on the government to set out a clearer strategy for building sovereign AI and other critical technology capabilities.

A new report from the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee warns that the UK may not be able to rely on allies for access to technologies essential to economic growth and national security.

The committee said the government has not clearly defined what sovereign capability means, how it should be measured or what success would look like.

MPs also criticised the absence of a coherent strategic framework for using the UK’s scientific research and institutions to support wider diplomatic and economic goals.

Instead, the report says the government has taken an opportunistic approach to international science and technology agreements, risking substituting activity for strategy.

AI is identified as a central arena for global competition and collaboration.

The committee said recent US restrictions on access to advanced AI models show how reliance on partners can leave the UK exposed if access to critical technologies changes suddenly.

MPs called on the government to define sovereign capability in key technology areas, identify critical supply-chain dependencies and use those assessments to guide investment, procurement and research funding.

The report also warned that the UK continues to struggle to turn world-class research into large domestic technology companies, with many promising firms forced to scale overseas.

It called for targeted investment, stronger public procurement and later-stage funding to help commercialise homegrown innovation in strategic sectors.

Why does it matter?

The report places sovereign AI inside a wider debate about technology dependence, national security and economic resilience. AI capability increasingly depends on access to compute, models, talent, data, infrastructure and supply chains that foreign governments or companies may control. The committee warns that the UK cannot treat partnerships as a substitute for strategy. It needs to decide which capabilities it must own, where it should collaborate and where reliable access is enough.

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UNCTAD launches global consumer product safety framework

UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has officially launched the United Nations Principles for Consumer Product Safety, providing countries with the first globally agreed framework to strengthen product safety, improve market surveillance and enhance international cooperation.

The launch took place during a meeting in Geneva attended by more than 400 participants from over 80 countries, where governments, regulators and international organisations discussed emerging challenges in consumer protection, competition policy and digital markets.

The Principles, adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2025, are intended to help countries respond to increasingly complex global supply chains and the rapid growth of digital marketplaces.

UNCTAD also announced plans to publish a practical Handbook on Consumer Product Safety to support their implementation. Participants stressed that product safety is essential for consumer confidence and that stronger international cooperation is needed as product risks increasingly cross national borders.

Participants also discussed wider consumer protection and competition issues, including the impact of digital markets, cross-border e-commerce and concentrated supply chains.

They called for stronger international cooperation and regulatory frameworks capable of keeping pace with technological change while supporting innovation and consumer trust.

The meeting also launched the Voluntary Peer Review of Argentina’s consumer protection framework, reinforcing UNCTAD’s role in supporting member states through policy advice, technical assistance and the exchange of best practices.

Participants reaffirmed that international dialogue remains essential to ensuring markets remain fair, competitive, and safe during a period of growing global economic uncertainty.

Why does it matter?

The UN Principles for Consumer Product Safety establish a common international reference point for governments seeking to strengthen consumer protection in increasingly global and digital markets. As products are traded through complex international supply chains and online marketplaces, shared principles can help improve market surveillance, regulatory cooperation and consumer confidence.

The initiative also reflects a broader trend towards international coordination on digital commerce and consumer protection. By providing a common framework rather than legally binding rules, the Principles give countries greater guidance while encouraging more consistent approaches to product safety across jurisdictions.

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Greece adds digital passport to Gov.gr Wallet

The Greek Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence has added the national passport to the Gov.gr Wallet, allowing citizens with active ordinary passports to store a secure digital version on their mobile devices.

The digital passport can be used for identification and as a travel document within Greece. Diplomatic and service passports are not currently supported.

The passport becomes the thirteenth document available through the Gov.gr Wallet, joining digital identity cards, driving licences, disability cards, unemployment cards, academic IDs, insurance information, vehicle records, driver penalty points, pet records, the Athens Ring Road permit and the Real Estate File.

According to the Ministry, more than 2.5 million digital identity cards and almost 2 million digital driving licences have already been added to the application.

The Gov.gr Wallet is available on both Android and iOS devices through wallet.gov.gr. The service was developed by the General Secretariat for Information Systems and Digital Governance and GRNET, in cooperation with the Ministry of Citizen Protection and the Hellenic Police.

Citizen data is retrieved through the government’s Interoperability Centre.

Why does it matter?

The addition of the passport further expands Greece’s digital identity ecosystem and reflects the country’s continued investment in digital public services. By enabling citizens to carry more official documents securely on their mobile devices, the government is reducing reliance on physical credentials while improving access to public services.

The initiative also aligns with wider European efforts to strengthen digital identity infrastructure. As more governments develop interoperable digital wallets and electronic identity systems, mobile credentials are expected to play an increasingly important role in public administration and cross-border digital services.

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UNESCO promotes inclusive digital transformation at WSIS Forum 2026

UNESCO used the WSIS Forum 2026 to promote a vision of digital transformation centred on inclusion, multilingualism, human rights and the public interest, arguing that emerging technologies should remain accessible, ethical and beneficial for everyone.

A central theme of UNESCO’s participation was multilingual digital inclusion. The organisation argued that people should be able to access digital services, create knowledge, preserve cultural heritage and participate online using their own languages and writing systems.

Together with ICANN, UNESCO launched a joint policy brief on Universal Acceptance, calling on governments, industry and the technical community to ensure that all domain names and email addresses work seamlessly across different languages and writing systems.

UNESCO also reaffirmed the importance of human rights-centred governance for AI and emerging technologies. Discussions focused on embedding ethics into digital transformation, strengthening international cooperation on AI governance and preparing for the transition to quantum-safe technologies through transparent, inclusive and rights-based policy approaches.

The organisation also highlighted the role of libraries and other trusted public institutions in narrowing the digital divide by expanding access to digital services, digital skills and reliable information.

Why does it matter?

UNESCO’s participation at WSIS Forum 2026 highlights a vision of digital transformation that extends beyond technological innovation to include cultural diversity, inclusion and human rights. Rather than treating AI, internet governance and emerging technologies as purely technical issues, the organisation argues they should be shaped by public-interest principles that ensure everyone can participate in the digital economy.

By linking multilingual internet access, ethical AI, quantum governance and trusted public institutions, UNESCO is promoting a comprehensive approach to digital governance that could influence future international cooperation as governments implement the outcomes of WSIS+20 and the Global Digital Compact.

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MIT develops safer way to detect harmful AI models

MIT researchers have developed a new auditing method to detect whether generative AI models have been adapted to produce child sexual abuse material without generating illegal content during testing.

The technique was developed with Thorn, a child safety nonprofit focused on protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation online.

Traditional AI safety testing often involves prompting a model and checking its outputs, but that approach cannot be used for child sexual abuse material, which is illegal to generate in the US and many other jurisdictions.

MIT said the problem has become more urgent as open-source generative AI models become easier to download, adapt and redistribute.

The researchers’ method examines internal changes during fine-tuning, rather than testing the model by generating images.

In tests, the auditing procedure identified model variants adapted to generate child sexual abuse material with 100% accuracy.

MIT said hosting platforms could use the method to flag unsafe models, block uploads or remove harmful adaptations before they spread more widely online.

The researchers also plan to test whether the approach can detect harmful capabilities in a larger set of model variants and in base models before adaptation.

Why does it matter?

The research addresses a serious AI safety blind spot: some harmful model capabilities cannot be tested safely or legally by generating outputs. A non-generative auditing method could give hosting platforms, auditors and law enforcement a safer way to detect models adapted for child sexual abuse material before they are distributed. It also points to a broader governance challenge around open-source generative AI: platforms may need scalable tools to assess harmful adaptations without exposing reviewers to illegal or traumatic content.

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Saudi Arabia launches AI tool for national data insights

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Economy and Planning has launched the beta version of INSAIGHTS, an agentic AI tool integrated into the Data Saudi Platform. The system is designed to improve how users access, analyse, and interact with national economic and social data.

INSAIGHTS allows users to convert questions into instant insights and analytics by drawing on more than 7,500 indicators available through the platform. The tool aims to support decision-makers, researchers, analysts and the public with faster access to reliable information for data-driven decisions.

The launch forms part of Saudi Arabia’s wider digital transformation agenda under Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program. The Ministry plans to continue expanding the tool’s capabilities while using emerging technologies to improve transparency, innovation and user experiences across its digital ecosystem.

Why does it matter?

The INSAIGHTS highlights Saudi Arabia’s growing focus on AI as a tool to improve public data accessibility and strengthen evidence-based decision-making. By combining AI capabilities with extensive national datasets, the platform could help organisations and individuals extract insights more efficiently.

The initiative also demonstrates how governments are increasingly adopting agentic AI systems to enhance digital services and economic planning. As the technology develops, platforms like INSAIGHTS may become important models for using AI to improve transparency, research capabilities and public-sector innovation.

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New York City targets junk fees and subscription traps

New York City has introduced two major consumer protection measures targeting hidden charges and difficult subscription cancellations, combining mandatory all-in pricing with new ‘Click-to-Cancel’ requirements.

The Click-to-Cancel rule will take effect on 1 October 2026, making New York City the first municipality to require businesses to offer subscription cancellations that are as simple as sign-up. Companies must clearly disclose subscription terms and provide straightforward cancellation mechanisms, ending practices that rely on confusing procedures or hidden recurring charges. According to the Roosevelt Institute, the rule could save New Yorkers between $21.5 million and $162.5 million each year.

The proposed Junk Fees rule would require businesses to display the full price upfront, including all mandatory charges. Companies would be prohibited from advertising misleading prices and would have to include service and processing fees in advertised prices. Businesses that violate either rule could face consumer restitution and civil penalties starting at $525 per violation.

Consumer Reports estimates that hidden fees cost the average family of four around $3,200 annually. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has published guidance explaining the proposed all-in pricing rules, with public consultation remaining open until a hearing on 7 August.

Why does it matter?

The measures reflect a growing regulatory effort to tackle so-called ‘dark patterns’—design practices that make prices harder to understand or subscriptions more difficult to cancel. By requiring transparent pricing and straightforward cancellation, New York City is shifting responsibility from consumers to businesses to ensure commercial practices are fair by design.

The rules could also influence wider consumer protection policy. As many companies operate nationally or globally, local requirements on pricing transparency and subscription management may encourage businesses to adopt similar practices across multiple markets, potentially shaping future regulation in other jurisdictions.

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Greece launches digital university examination system

The Greek Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) have launched a large-scale digital examination system to modernise university assessments and accelerate the digital transformation of higher education.

Backed by a €1.2 million investment, the project in Greece provides 2,730 tablets equipped with dedicated examination software, enabling students to complete university exams electronically.

The system has already been used by more than 8,000 students across 27 departments and 165 undergraduate courses, demonstrating the growing adoption of digital assessments. The tablets support multiple-choice questions, essay responses, mathematical calculations, diagrams and other discipline-specific examination formats.

According to the Ministry, the initiative reduces grading time, speeds up the publication of results, lowers administrative workloads for academic staff and cuts paper consumption across roughly 5,000 courses and more than 50,000 student examinations each year.

To protect academic integrity, the tablets operate exclusively on a dedicated wireless network that restricts access to authorised users and blocks external internet connections during examinations.

Officials described the initiative as part of Greece’s broader digital transformation strategy, aimed at improving higher education while equipping universities and students with modern digital tools.

Why does it matter?

The initiative illustrates how digital transformation is extending beyond public administration into higher education. By digitising examinations, universities can improve efficiency, reduce administrative burdens and provide faster feedback while maintaining secure assessment processes.

The project also highlights the growing role of digital infrastructure in education. As universities increasingly adopt digital tools for teaching, assessment and administration, secure and scalable systems will become an important part of modern higher education across Europe.

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Malaysia launches consultations on AI Governance Bill

Malaysia’s Ministry of Digital has launched public engagement sessions on its proposed AI Governance Bill, marking the next step towards establishing the country’s first dedicated legal framework for AI governance.

The sessions, organised by the National AI Office throughout July 2026, aim to explain the proposed framework, encourage dialogue and gather feedback from government agencies, industry, businesses, academia and the public.

According to the Ministry, the AI Governance Bill will become Malaysia’s first horizontal legal framework dedicated specifically to AI governance. It is intended to establish common principles that complement existing legislation and create a more coherent governance framework across sectors.

The proposed legislation adopts a risk-based approach, recognising that AI-related risks can arise throughout a system’s lifecycle. Governance responsibilities would be allocated according to the roles and level of control exercised by different parties.

The Ministry also highlighted incident reporting, appropriate safeguards and regulatory sandboxes as key mechanisms for supporting responsible innovation and strengthening public trust.

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo told Parliament on 24 June that the bill would not regulate AI-generated content directly. Existing laws and regulatory frameworks would continue to govern illegal content.

A nationwide consultation through the Unified Public Consultation portal was expected to begin on 10 July 2026, providing another channel for individuals, businesses and organisations to submit feedback before the legislation is finalised.

The Ministry said the process is intended to be transparent, inclusive and consultative, supporting Malaysia’s ambition to become a trusted and globally competitive AI hub under the Towards an AI Nation 2030 roadmap.

Why does it matter?

The proposed AI Governance Bill would provide Malaysia with a single legal framework for AI governance rather than relying on sector-specific rules. By combining a risk-based approach with regulatory sandboxes, incident reporting and public consultation, the government is seeking to balance innovation with legal certainty and public trust.

The initiative also reflects a broader regional trend, with governments across Asia increasingly introducing dedicated AI governance frameworks to support investment while preparing for the safe deployment of increasingly capable AI systems.

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