Digital standards Archives | Page 90 of 364

UK considers social media limits for youth

Keir Starmer has told Labour MPs that he is open to an Australian-style ban on social media for young people, following concerns about the amount of time children spend on screens.

The prime minister said reports of very young children using phones for hours each day have increased anxiety about the effects of digital platforms on under-16s.

Starmer previously opposed such a ban, arguing that enforcement would prove difficult and might instead push teenagers towards unregulated online spaces rather than safer platforms. Growing political momentum across Westminster, combined with Australia’s decision to act, has led to a reassessment of that position.

Speaking to MPs, Starmer said different enforcement approaches were being examined and added that phone use during school hours should be restricted.

UK ministers have also revisited earlier proposals aimed at reducing the addictive design of social media and strengthening safeguards on devices sold to teenagers.

Support for stricter measures has emerged across party lines, with senior figures from Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK signalling openness to a ban.

A final decision is expected within months as ministers weigh child safety, regulation and practical implementation.

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OpenAI expands healthcare strategy with Torch acquisition

The US AI company, OpenAI, has acquired healthcare technology startup Torch only days after unveiling ChatGPT Health, signalling an accelerated push into medical and clinical applications.

Financial terms were not officially disclosed, although media reports estimate the transaction at between $60 million and $100 million.

Torch was developed as a unified medical memory platform, designed to consolidate patient data from hospitals, laboratories, wearable devices and consumer testing services.

The company positioned its technology as a means to support AI systems in navigating fragmented healthcare information, rather than relying on isolated data sources.

Torch’s four-person team will join OpenAI following the acquisition, reinforcing the company’s internal healthcare expertise. OpenAI has emphasised privacy, safety and collaboration with medical professionals as core principles guiding its expansion into sensitive data environments.

The move follows a broader strategy by OpenAI to strengthen enterprise offerings, particularly for large healthcare organisations. Recent hires and partnerships suggest healthcare remains a priority area as AI adoption increases across regulated sectors.

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Google and Ant expand agentic commerce standards

Ant International has announced a partnership with Google to support the launch of the Universal Commerce Protocol, a new open standard designed to enable agent-driven commerce across discovery, purchasing and post-purchase support.

A collaboration that aims to simplify how AI agents, merchants and payment providers interact across platforms.

The protocol establishes a shared language that enables agents to collaborate seamlessly without requiring bespoke integrations, while remaining compatible with existing industry frameworks. Google says alignment on common standards is essential for agentic commerce to scale across sectors and markets.

AI interfaces such as the Gemini app and AI Mode in Google Search are expected to support native purchasing within conversations. Users expressing shopping intent will receive curated product options and complete payments through integrated wallet services without leaving the chat environment.

Ant International is contributing payment expertise, alternative payment methods and AI-based risk management to ensure traceable transactions and consumer trust.

The company states that secure intent verification and fraud protection are crucial as users entrust purchasing decisions to intelligent agents.

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Billions in data protection fines remain unpaid

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission is owed more than €4 billion in fines imposed on companies, primarily Big Tech firms. Most of the penalties remain unpaid due to ongoing legal challenges.

Figures released under Freedom of Information laws show the watchdog collected only €125,000 from over €530 million in fines issued last year. Similar patterns have persisted across several previous years.

Since 2020, the commission has levied €4.04 billion in data protection penalties. Just €20 million has been paid, while the remaining balance is tied up in appeals before Irish and EU courts.

The regulator states that legislation prevents enforcement until the court proceedings conclude. Several cases hinge on a landmark WhatsApp ruling at the EU’s top court, expected to shape future collections.

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Grok controversy fuels political backlash in Northern Ireland

A Northern Ireland politician, Cara Hunter of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), has quit X after renewed concerns over Grok AI misuse. She cited failures to protect women and children online.

The decision follows criticism of Grok AI features enabling non-consensual sexualised images. UK regulators have launched investigations under online safety laws.

UK ministers plan to criminalise creating intimate deepfakes and supplying related tools. Ofcom is examining whether X breached its legal duties.

Political leaders and rights groups say enforcement must go further. X says it removes illegal content and has restricted Grok image functions on the social media.

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AI tools influence modern personal finance practices

Personal finance assistants powered by AI tools are increasingly helping users manage budgets, analyse spending, and organise financial documents. Popular platforms such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Claude now offer features designed to support everyday financial tasks.

Rather than focusing on conversational style, users should consider how financial data is accessed and how each assistant integrates with existing systems. Connections to spreadsheets, cloud storage, and secure platforms often determine how effective AI tools are for managing financial workflows.

ChatGPT is commonly used for drafting financial summaries, analysing expenses, and creating custom tools through plugins. Google Gemini is closely integrated with Google Docs and Sheets, making it suitable for users who rely on Google’s productivity ecosystem.

Microsoft Copilot provides strong automation for Excel and Microsoft 365 users, with administrative controls that appeal to organisations. Claude focuses on safety and large context windows, allowing it to process lengthy financial documents with more conservative output.

Choosing the most suitable AI tools for personal finance depends on workflow needs, data governance preferences, and privacy considerations. No single platform dominates every use case; each offers strengths across different financial management tasks.

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Ireland moves to fast-track AI abuse fines

The Irish government plans to fast-track laws allowing heavy fines for AI abuse. The move follows controversy involving misuse of image generation tools.

Ministers will transpose an existing EU AI Act into Irish law. The framework defines eight harmful uses breaching rights and public decency.

Penalties could reach €35 million or seven percent of global annual turnover. AI systems would be graded by risk under the enforcement regime.

A dedicated AI office is expected to launch by August to oversee compliance. Irish and UK leaders have pressed platforms to curb harmful AI features.

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Government IT vulnerabilities revealed by UK public sector cyberattack

A UK public sector cyberattack on Kensington and Chelsea Council has exposed the growing vulnerability of government organisations to data breaches. The council stated that personal details linked to hundreds of thousands of residents may have been compromised after attackers targeted the shared IT infrastructure.

Security experts warn that interconnected systems, while cost-efficient, create systemic risks. Dray Agha, senior manager of security operations at Huntress, said a single breach can quickly spread across partner organisations, disrupting essential services and exposing sensitive information.

Public sector bodies remain attractive targets due to ageing infrastructure and the volume of personal data they hold. Records such as names, addresses, national ID numbers, health information, and login credentials can be exploited for fraud, identity theft, and large-scale scams.

Gregg Hardie, public sector regional vice president at SailPoint, noted that attackers often employ simple, high-volume tactics rather than sophisticated techniques. Compromised credentials allow criminals to blend into regular activity and remain undetected for long periods before launching disruptive attacks.

Hardie said stronger identity security and continuous monitoring are essential to prevent minor intrusions from escalating. Investing in resilient, segmented systems could help reduce the impact of future UK public sector cyberattack incidents and protect critical operations.

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US exit from global bodies leaves digital governance mostly intact

The United States’ recent withdrawal from several international organisations has raised concerns about the future of global digital cooperation, but its impact on technology governance appears more limited than initial headlines suggest. In a blog post titled ‘USA’s exit from international organisations leaves digital governance largely unscathed’, Jovan Kurbalija argues that Washington is not abandoning digital multilateralism outright, but selectively disengaging from forums it sees as less aligned with its interests.

While the US stepped back from dozens of international initiatives in early January, most major technology-related bodies remained unaffected. Organisations central to standards, infrastructure, and spectrum coordination, such as the International Telecommunication Union and international standardisation bodies, continue to enjoy US support.

According to Kurbalija, this reflects a pragmatic calculation. Multilateral tech forums often enable the US to project power more efficiently than bilateral arrangements, particularly in areas such as global interoperability and satellite governance.

The most notable digital-related withdrawals were from the Freedom Online Coalition and the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise. Both initiatives focus on values-based cooperation, such as human rights online and cyber capacity development, and have limited institutional power. Kurbalija suggests the exits may signal a shift away from multilateral approaches to internet freedom and development-oriented cyber assistance, in favour of bilateral tools, national security measures, and tighter control over technology diffusion.

Greater uncertainty surrounds US disengagement from broader UN bodies with growing digital relevance, including UNCTAD and UN DESA. These organisations host discussions on digital trade, data governance, and the follow-up to global digital summits.

Although their work is unlikely to collapse, Kurbalija warns that reduced US involvement could weaken momentum, resources, and agenda-setting power, particularly in areas important to developing countries.

Overall, the blog argues that US digital governance policy is becoming more selective rather than isolationist. Washington appears willing to stay engaged where international cooperation supports its strategic and commercial interests, while withdrawing from spaces tied to development, training, or rights-based agendas.

For now, Kurbalija concludes, the foundations of global digital governance remain intact, but the balance of priorities is clearly shifting.

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EU warns X over Grok AI image abuse

The European Commission has warned X to address issues related to its Grok AI tool. Regulators say new features enabled the creation of sexualised images, including those of children.

EU Tech Sovereignty Commissioner Henna Virkkunen has stated that investigators have already taken action under the Digital Services Act. Failure to comply could result in enforcement measures being taken against the platform.

X recently restricted Grok’s image editing functions to paying users after criticism from regulators and campaigners. Irish and EU media watchdogs are now engaging with Brussels on the issue.

UK ministers also plan laws banning non-consensual intimate images and tools enabling their creation. Several digital rights groups argue that existing laws already permit criminal investigations and fines.

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