France’s centre-right UDR party, led by Éric Ciotti, has introduced a groundbreaking proposal to create a national Bitcoin Strategic Reserve. The bill is France’s first major effort to integrate cryptocurrency and strengthen financial sovereignty through digital assets.
Under the plan, France would gradually acquire up to 2% of Bitcoin’s total supply- around 420,000 BTC- over seven to eight years. A new Public Administrative Establishment would oversee the reserve, mirroring the management of France’s gold and foreign currency holdings.
The proposal seeks to use surplus renewable and nuclear energy for Bitcoin mining to create economic value. The state would keep seized crypto and use national savings funds for daily Bitcoin purchases, potentially adding about 55,000 BTC yearly.
Beyond Bitcoin, the bill promotes euro-denominated stablecoins for everyday payments and rejects a European Central Bank-controlled digital euro, citing privacy concerns. It proposes tax exemptions for small transactions under €200 and allows certain taxes to be paid in Bitcoin or euro stablecoins.
Despite its ambition, the UDR’s limited representation in Parliament may slow progress on the proposal.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Nordic ministers for culture have approved funding for a new network dedicated to language models for AI. The decision, taken at a meeting in Stockholm on 29 October, aims to ensure AI development reflects the region’s unique linguistic and cultural traits.
It is one of the first projects for the recently launched Nordic-Baltic centre for AI, New Nordics AI.
The network will bring together national stakeholders to address shared challenges in AI language models. The initiative aims to protect smaller languages and ensure AI tools reflect Nordic linguistic diversity through knowledge sharing and collaboration.
Finland’s Minister for Research and Culture, Mari-Leena Talvitie, said the project is a key step in safeguarding the future of regional languages in digital tools.
Ministers also discussed AI’s broader cultural impact, highlighting issues such as copyright and the need for regional oversight. The network will identify collaboration opportunities and guide future investments in culturally and linguistically anchored Nordic AI solutions.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Foxconn will add humanoid robots to a new Houston plant building Nvidia AI servers from early 2026. Announced at Nvidia’s developer conference, the move deepens their partnership and positions the site as a US showcase for AI-driven manufacturing.
Humanoid systems based on Nvidia’s Isaac GR00T N are built to perceive parts, adapt on the line, and work with people. Unlike fixed industrial arms, they handle delicate assembly and switch tasks via software updates. Goals include flexible throughput, faster retooling, and fewer stoppages.
AI models are trained in simulation using digital twins and reinforcement learning to improve accuracy and safety. On the line, robots self-tune as analytics predict maintenance and balance workloads, unlocking gains across logistics, assembly, testing, and quality control.
Texas, US, offers proximity to a growing semiconductor and AI cluster, as well as policy support for domestic capacity. Foxconn also plans expansions in Wisconsin and California to meet global demand for AI servers. Scaling output should ease supply pressures around Nvidia-class compute in data centres.
Job roles will shift as routine tasks automate and oversight becomes data-driven. Human workers focus on design, line configuration, and AI supervision, with safety gates for collaboration. Analysts see a template for Industry 4.0 factories running near-continuously with rapid changeovers.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
The United States and South Korea agreed on a broad science and technology memorandum to deepen alliance ties and bolster Indo-Pacific stability. The non-binding pact aims to accelerate innovation while protecting critical capabilities. Both sides cast it as groundwork for a new Golden Age of Innovation.
AI sits at the centre. Plans include pro-innovation policy alignment, trusted exports across the stack, AI-ready datasets, safety standards, and enforcement of compute protection. Joint metrology and standards work links the US Center for AI Standards and Innovation with the AI Safety Institute of South Korea.
Trusted technology leadership extends beyond AI. The memorandum outlines shared research security, capacity building for universities and industry, and joint threat analysis. Telecommunications cooperation targets interoperable 6G supply chains and coordinated standards activity with industry partners.
Quantum and basic research are priority growth areas. Participants plan interoperable quantum standards, stronger institutional partnerships, and secured supply chains. Larger projects and STEM exchanges aim to widen collaboration, supported by shared roadmaps and engagement in global consortia.
Space cooperation continues across civil and exploration programmes. Strands include Artemis contributions, a Korean cubesat rideshare on Artemis II, and Commercial Lunar Payload Services. The Korea Positioning System will be developed for maximum interoperability with GPS.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Speaking at the CNBC Technology Executive Council Summit in New York, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has expressed scepticism about Elon Musk’s new AI-powered Grokipedia, suggesting that large language models cannot reliably produce accurate wiki entries.
Wales highlighted the difficulties of verifying sources and warned that AI tools can produce plausible but incorrect information, citing examples where chatbots fabricated citations and personal details.
He rejected Musk’s claims of liberal bias on Wikipedia, noting that the site prioritises reputable sources over fringe opinions. Wales emphasised that focusing on mainstream publications does not constitute political bias but preserves trust and reliability for the platform’s vast global audience.
Despite his concerns, Wales acknowledged that AI could have limited utility for Wikipedia in uncovering information within existing sources.
However, he stressed that substantial costs and potential errors prevent the site from entirely relying on generative AI, preferring careful testing before integrating new technologies.
Wales concluded that while AI may mislead the public with fake or plausible content, the Wiki community’s decades of expertise in evaluating information help safeguard accuracy. He urged continued vigilance and careful source evaluation as misinformation risks grow alongside AI capabilities.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Norway’s efforts to improve cryptocurrency tax compliance have led to a significant increase in declarations. More than 73,000 residents reported owning digital assets in their 2024 filings, a 30% rise compared with 2023, according to the Norwegian Tax Administration.
Officials attribute the growth to enforcement measures, educational campaigns, and improved digital reporting systems.
The total reported value of these holdings exceeded US$4 billion, with gains of around US$550 million and losses near US$290 million. Tax director Nina Schanke Funnemark said higher participation reflects the success of recent initiatives and increased taxpayer awareness.
From January 2026, Norwegian crypto service providers, including exchanges and custodians, must share client transaction data under a new third-party reporting regime. The measure aims to close oversight gaps and ensure transparency across the sector.
The 2024 declaration figures contrast sharply with 2019, when only 6,470 individuals reported crypto ownership.
Norway’s sovereign wealth fund holds indirect crypto exposure through investments in companies such as Coinbase, Metaplanet, and Strategy, representing roughly 7,161 Bitcoin. Other countries are boosting crypto oversight, with the UK’s HMRC sending around 65,000 warning letters to suspected non-compliers.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
China has pledged to expand its high-tech industries over the next decade. Officials said emerging sectors such as quantum computing, hydrogen energy, nuclear fusion, and brain-computer interfaces will receive major investment and policy backing.
Development chief Zheng Shanjie told reporters that the coming decade will redefine China’s technology landscape, describing it as a ‘new scale’ of innovation. The government views breakthroughs in science and AI as key to boosting economic resilience amid a slowing property market and demographic decline.
The plan underscores Beijing’s push to rival Washington in cutting-edge technology, with billions already channelled into state-led innovation programmes. Public opinion in Beijing appears supportive, with many citizens expressing optimism that China could lead the next technological revolution.
Economists warn, however, that sustained progress will require tackling structural issues, including low domestic consumption and reduced investor confidence. Analysts said Beijing’s long-term success will depend on whether it can balance rapid growth with stable governance and transparent regulation.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Tech firms now spend a record €151 million a year on lobbying at EU institutions, up from €113 million in 2023, according to transparency-register analysis by Corporate Europe Observatory and LobbyControl.
Spending is concentrated among US giants. The ten biggest tech companies, including Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Qualcomm and Google, together outspend the top ten in pharma, finance and automotive. Meta leads with a budget above €10 million.
Estimates calculate there are 890 full-time lobbyists now working to influence tech policy in Brussels, up from 699 in 2023, with 437 holding European Parliament access badges. In the first half of 2025, companies declared 146 meetings with the Commission and 232 with MEPs, with artificial intelligence regulation and the industry code of practice frequently on the agenda.
As industry pushes back on the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act and the Commission explores the ‘simplification’ of EU rulebooks, lobbying transparency campaigners fear a rollback on the progress made to regulate the digital sector. On the contrary, companies argue that lobbying helps lawmakers grasp complex markets and assess impacts on innovation and competitiveness.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Meta and TikTok have confirmed they will comply with Australia’s new law banning under-16s from using social media platforms, though both warned it will be difficult to enforce. The legislation, taking effect on 10 December, will require major platforms to remove accounts belonging to users under that age.
The law is among the world’s strictest, but regulators and companies are still working out how it will be implemented. Social media firms face fines of up to A$49.5 million if found in breach, yet they are not required to verify every user’s age directly.
TikTok’s Australia policy head, Ella Woods-Joyce, warned the ban could drive children toward unregulated online spaces lacking safety measures. Meta’s director, Mia Garlick, acknowledged the ‘significant engineering and age assurance challenges’ involved in detecting and removing underage users.
Critics including YouTube and digital rights groups have labelled the ban vague and rushed, arguing it may not achieve its aim of protecting children online. The government maintains that platforms must take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent young users from accessing their services.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
A Paris court has ordered Apple to pay around €39 million to French mobile operators, ruling that the company imposed unfair terms in contracts governing iPhone sales more than a decade ago. The court also fined Apple €8 million and annulled several clauses deemed anticompetitive.
Judges found that Apple required carriers to sell a set number of iPhones at fixed prices, restricted how its products were advertised, and used operators’ patents without compensation. The French consumer watchdog DGCCRF had first raised concerns about these practices years earlier.
Under the ruling, Apple must compensate three of France’s four major mobile networks; Bouygues Telecom, Free, and SFR. The decision applies immediately despite Apple’s appeal, which will be heard at a later date.
Apple said it disagreed with the ruling and would challenge it, arguing that the contracts reflected standard commercial arrangements of the time. French regulators have increasingly scrutinised major tech firms as part of wider efforts to curb unfair market dominance.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
