Consumer protection Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

EU launches AI platform to detect food fraud and contamination

Food safety monitoring across the EU is receiving a technological upgrade with the launch of TraceMap, a new AI platform designed to detect food fraud, contamination and disease outbreaks more quickly.

The European Commission introduced the tool as part of efforts to strengthen consumer protection and improve oversight of the agri-food supply chain.

TraceMap helps authorities analyse large volumes of data related to food production, distribution and trade. By identifying connections between operators, shipments and supply chains, the system allows investigators to spot suspicious activity and potential safety risks earlier.

National authorities in the EU member states can already access the platform, enabling them to conduct more targeted inspections and investigations without requiring additional resources.

The platform draws on data from existing EU systems such as the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) and the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). Using AI to structure and interpret information, TraceMap can reveal patterns in production and trade flows that may indicate contamination, fraud, or other irregularities in the food supply chain.

Early testing of the platform has already demonstrated its practical value. A pilot version of TraceMap helped authorities identify and recall infant milk formula produced with contaminated ARA oil originating from China.

European officials say the system will strengthen the EU’s ability to respond rapidly to food safety risks while improving monitoring of both domestic production and imported products.

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Canada warns about AI-generated scams targeting citizens online

Authorities in Canada have issued a warning about the growing use of AI in impersonation scams targeting citizens. Fraudsters increasingly deploy advanced tools capable of mimicking politicians, government officials and other public figures with convincing realism.

Deepfake videos, synthetic audio and AI-generated messages allow scammers to create convincing communications that appear to come from trusted authorities.

Such tactics are often used to persuade victims to send money, reveal personal information, install malicious software or engage with fraudulent investment offers.

Officials also warn about fake government websites created with AI-assisted tools that imitate official pages by copying national symbols and similar domain names. Suspicious websites often use unusual web addresses, extra characters, or unfamiliar domain endings to mislead visitors.

Authorities advise Canadians to verify unexpected messages through official channels rather than clicking links or responding immediately.

Suspected impersonation attempts should be reported to the Competition Bureau or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

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Blockchain network Tron joins Agentic AI Foundation to advance AI infrastructure

Tron has joined the Linux Foundation’s Agentic AI Foundation (AAIF) as a governing member to support the development of AI agent infrastructure. The network aims to enable collaboration and interoperability among systems that efficiently manage high-volume, low-value transactions.

Founder Justin Sun highlighted Tron’s speed, scalability, and low fees as key advantages for AI-agent use cases. He noted that as AI agents move to mainstream machine-to-machine commerce, transaction volumes could rise, increasing demand for robust blockchain networks.

The AAIF encourages open-source agentic AI development and establishes standards for governance, safety, and interoperability. Tron joins major members like Circle and JPMorgan while building tools and infrastructure to support AI, including the Bank of AI with AINFT.

Tron currently leads in blockchain revenue, with data showing strong performance over 24 hours, seven days, and 30 days. Sun confirmed that AI activity is contributing to this growth, reflecting the rapid adoption and scaling of agentic AI on the network.

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Blockchain and AI security central to US cyber framework

The US National Cyber Strategy emphasises support for emerging technologies, including blockchain, cryptocurrencies, AI, and post-quantum cryptography. The strategy highlights the importance of securing digital infrastructure while advancing technological leadership.

The strategy rests on six pillars, including modernising federal networks, protecting critical infrastructure, and advancing secure technology. Specific sections reference cryptocurrencies and blockchain, noting the need to safeguard digital systems from design to deployment.

Financial systems, data centres, and telecommunications networks are identified as key components of the broader cybersecurity framework. The strategy also stresses collaboration with private-sector technology companies and research institutions to foster innovation and strengthen protections.

AI plays a central role, with measures to secure AI data centres and deploy AI-driven tools for network defence. The plan avoids direct crypto rules but signals greater integration of blockchain and cryptography into national digital infrastructure.

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Online scams rise as Parkin urges Dubai residents to stay vigilant

Dubai’s parking provider, Parkin, has warned residents to stay alert as online scams targeting digital service users continue to rise, urging people to take immediate steps to protect their digital identities.

In an advisory, the company stressed that official entities will never ask users to log in or disclose sensitive information through unsolicited messages, emails, or phone calls. The warning comes amid growing concerns about phishing attempts and other online scams targeting users of digital platforms.

Parkin said residents should exercise caution if they receive unexpected requests for personal details, passwords, or verification codes. Users are strongly advised not to respond to suspicious links, attachments, or messages from unknown sources, which are commonly used in online scams.

The operator also urged the public to verify the authenticity of communications before taking any action. Residents who are unsure about the legitimacy of a message should check official websites or contact customer service channels directly. The advice applies to messages claiming to come from Parkin or other service providers.

Authorities and service providers across the UAE have repeatedly warned that cybercriminals often impersonate trusted organisations in online scams designed to steal sensitive information. Such attacks can lead to identity theft, financial losses, or unauthorised access to personal accounts.

Parkin encouraged residents who receive suspicious communications to report them through official channels so that appropriate action can be taken. The company added that staying vigilant and safeguarding personal data remain essential to preventing online scams.

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AI tools linked to rise in abuse disclosures

Support organisations in the UK report that some abuse survivors are turning to AI tools such as ChatGPT before contacting helplines. Charities in the UK say individuals increasingly use AI to explore experiences and seek guidance before approaching professional support services.

The National Association of People Abused in Childhood said callers in the UK have recently reported being referred to its helpline after conversations with ChatGPT. Staff say AI is being used as an informal step in processing trauma.

Law enforcement and support groups in the UK have also recorded a rise in disclosures involving ritualistic sexual abuse. Authorities in the UK say only 14 criminal cases since 1982 have formally recognised such practices.

Police and support organisations are responding by improving training and launching specialist working groups. Officials aim to strengthen the identification and investigation of complex cases of abuse.

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Codex Security expands OpenAI’s push into cybersecurity tools

OpenAI has launched Codex Security, an AI-powered application security agent that detects hard-to-find software vulnerabilities and proposes fixes through advanced reasoning. By providing detailed context about a system’s architecture, the tool identifies security risks that are often missed by conventional automation.

The system uses advanced models to analyse repositories, construct project-specific threat models, and prioritise vulnerabilities based on their potential real-world impact. By combining automated validation with system-level context, Codex Security aims to reduce the number of false positives that security teams must review while highlighting high-confidence findings.

Initially developed under the name Aardvark, the tool has been tested in private deployments over the past year. During early use, OpenAI said it uncovered several critical vulnerabilities, including a cross-tenant authentication flaw and a server-side request forgery issue, allowing internal teams to quickly patch affected systems.

The company says improvements during the beta phase significantly reduced noise in vulnerability reports. In some repositories, unnecessary alerts fell by 84 percent, while over-reported severity dropped by more than 90 percent, and false positives declined by more than half.

Codex Security is now rolling out in research preview for ChatGPT Pro, Enterprise, Business, and Edu customers. OpenAI also plans to expand access to open-source maintainers through a dedicated programme that offers security scanning and support to help identify and remediate vulnerabilities across widely used projects.

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Hackers can use AI to de-anonymise social media accounts

AI technology behind platforms like ChatGPT is making it significantly easier for hackers to identify anonymous social media users, a new study warns. LLMs could match anonymised accounts to real identities by analysing users’ posts across platforms.

Researchers Simon Lermen and Daniel Paleka warned that AI enables cheap, highly personalised privacy attacks, urging a rethink of what counts as private online. The study highlighted risks from government surveillance to hackers exploiting public data for scams.

Experts caution that AI-driven de-anonymisation is not flawless. Errors in linking accounts could wrongly implicate individuals, while public datasets beyond social media- such as hospital or statistical records- may be exposed to unintended analysis.

Users are urged to reconsider what information they share, and platforms are encouraged to limit bulk data access and detect automated scraping.

The study underscores growing concerns about AI surveillance. While the technology cannot guarantee complete de-anonymisation, its rapid capabilities demand stronger safeguards to protect privacy online.

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People show growing comfort with AI for counselling and teaching

A global survey of nearly 31,000 adults across 35 countries has revealed rising public trust in AI for roles traditionally handled by humans. In the UK, 41% of adults said they would be comfortable using ChatGPT for mental health support, while 61% expressed the same globally.

Experts note the appeal of AI’s non-judgmental tone and 24/7 availability, although cautioning that it cannot replace professional care.

The study also found that a quarter of UK adults would trust AI to teach their children, and 45% of people globally would rely on AI as their doctor.

Researchers warned that overreliance on AI in education could harm memory and cognitive development, potentially affecting the hippocampus, which is critical for learning and spatial awareness.

Trust in AI was strongest in social contexts. Over three-quarters of respondents globally, and more than half in the UK, said they would use AI chat tools as companions or friends.

The research team suggested that adaptive tone and private conversations give users a sense of security and personalised support.

Researchers emphasised the need for greater awareness of AI’s limitations. While generative AI is becoming integrated into daily life, caution is urged, particularly for education and health roles, until the long-term cognitive and social impacts are better understood.

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EU faces challenges in curbing digital abuse against women

Researchers and policymakers are raising concerns about how new technologies may put women at risk online, despite existing EU rules designed to ensure safer digital spaces.

AI-powered tools and smart devices have been linked to incidents of harassment and the creation of non-consensual sexualised imagery, highlighting gaps in enforcement and compliance.

The European Commission’s Gender Equality 2026–2030 Strategy noted that women are disproportionately targeted by online gender-based violence, including harassment, doxing, and AI-generated deepfakes.

Investigations into tools such as Elon Musk’s Grok AI and Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses have drawn attention to how digital platforms and wearable technologies can be misused, even where legal frameworks like the Digital Services Act (DSA) are in place.

Experts emphasise that while the EU’s rules offer a foundation to regulate online content, significant challenges remain. Advocates and lawmakers say enforcement gaps let harmful AI functions like nudification persist.

Commissioners have stressed ongoing cooperation with tech companies and upcoming guidelines to prioritise flagged content from independent organisations to address gender-based cyber violence.

Authorities are also monitoring new technologies closely. In the case of wearable devices, regulators are considering how users and bystanders are informed about recording features.

Ongoing discussions aim to strengthen compliance under existing legislation and ensure that digital spaces become safer and more accountable for all users.

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