Oracle is expanding AI data centres across the United States while pairing infrastructure growth with workforce development through its philanthropic education programme, Oracle Academy.
The initiative provides schools and educators with curriculum, cloud tools, software, and hands-on training designed to prepare students for enterprise-scale technology roles increasingly linked to AI operations.
As demand for specialised skills rises, Oracle Academy is introducing Data Centre Technician courses to fast-track learners into permanent roles supporting AI infrastructure development and maintenance.
The programme already works with hundreds of institutions across multiple US states, including Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, and New Mexico, spanning disciplines from computer science and engineering to construction management and supply chain studies.
Alongside new courses in machine learning, generative AI, and analytics, Oracle says the approach is intended to close skills gaps and ensure local communities benefit from the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure.
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Snapchat has blocked more than 415,000 Australian accounts after the national ban on under-16s began, marking a rapid escalation in the country’s effort to restrict children’s access to major platforms.
The company relied on a mix of self-reported ages and age-detection technologies to identify users who appeared to be under 16.
The platform warned that age verification still faces serious shortcomings, leaving room for teenagers to bypass safeguards rather than supporting reliable compliance.
Facial estimation tools remain accurate only within a narrow range, meaning some young people may slip through while older users risk losing access. Snapchat also noted the likelihood that teenagers will shift towards less regulated messaging apps.
The eSafety commissioner has focused regulatory pressure on the 10 largest platforms, although all services with Australian users are expected to assess whether they fall under the new requirements.
Officials have acknowledged that the technology needs improvement and that reliability issues, such as the absence of a liveness check, contributed to false results.
The EU’s attempt to revise core privacy rules has faced resistance from France, which argues that the Commission’s proposals would weaken rather than strengthen long-standing protections.
Paris objects strongly to proposed changes to the definition of personal data within the General Data Protection Regulation, which remains the foundation of European privacy law. Officials have also raised concerns about several more minor adjustments included in the broader effort to modernise digital legislation.
These proposals form part of the Digital Omnibus package, a set of updates intended to streamline the EU data rules. France argues that altering the GDPR’s definitions could change the balance between data controllers, regulators and citizens, creating uncertainty for national enforcement bodies.
The national government maintains that the existing framework already includes the flexibility needed to interpret sensitive information.
A disagreement that highlights renewed tension inside the Union as institutions examine the future direction of privacy governance.
Several member states want greater clarity in an era shaped by AI and cross-border data flows. In contrast, others fear that opening the GDPR could lead to inconsistent application across Europe.
Talks are expected to continue in the coming months as EU negotiators weigh the political risks of narrowing or widening the scope of personal data.
France’s firm stance suggests that consensus may prove difficult, particularly as governments seek to balance economic goals with unwavering commitments to user protection.
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Institutions in the EU have begun designing a new framework to help European armies share defence information securely, rather than relying on US technology.
A plan centred on creating a military-grade data platform, the European Defence Artificial Intelligence Data Space, is intended to support sensitive exchanges among defence authorities.
Ultimately, the approach aims to replace the current patchwork of foreign infrastructure that many member states rely on to store and transfer national security data.
The European Defence Agency is leading the effort and expects the platform to be fully operational by 2030. The concept includes two complementary elements: a sovereign military cloud for data storage and a federated system that allows countries to exchange information on a trusted basis.
Officials argue that this will improve interoperability, speed up joint decision-making, and enhance operational readiness across the bloc.
A project that aligns with broader concerns about strategic autonomy, as EU leaders increasingly question long-standing dependencies on American providers.
Several European companies have been contracted to develop the early technical foundations. The next step is persuading governments to coordinate future purchases so their systems remain compatible with the emerging framework.
Planning documents suggest that by 2029, member states should begin integrating the data space into routine military operations, including training missions and coordinated exercises. EU authorities maintain that stronger control of defence data will be essential as military AI expands across European forces.
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The smooth functioning of the global internet depends on a largely unseen but critical system, the undersea fibre-optic cables that carry nearly all international data traffic. These cables, laid across the ocean floor, support everything from everyday online communication to global financial transactions.
Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General of ITU, has stressed that submarine cables are the backbone of global connectivity and that their resilience must be strengthened as societies become ever more dependent on digital networks. From their origins as 19th-century telegraph lines, undersea cables have evolved into high-capacity systems capable of transmitting hundreds of terabits of data per second, forming a dense web that connects continents, economies, and communities.
Today, more than 500 commercial submarine cables stretch for roughly 1.7 million kilometres beneath the seas. Although these cables are relatively thin, their installation is complex, requiring detailed seabed surveys, environmental assessments, and specialised cable-laying vessels to ensure safe deployment and protection.
Despite their robust design, undersea cables remain vulnerable. Natural hazards such as earthquakes and underwater landslides pose risks, but around 80% of cable faults are caused by human activities, including ship anchors and fishing trawlers.
When cables are damaged, the effects can be immediate, disrupting internet access, emergency communications, financial services, and digital healthcare and education, particularly in remote or island regions.
Repairing or replacing damaged cables is often slow and costly. While faults can usually be located quickly, repairs may be delayed by complex permitting procedures and coordination across multiple jurisdictions.
With some cables installed during the dot-com boom now approaching the end of their lifespan, ITU is increasingly focused on fostering international cooperation, setting standards, and promoting best practices to ensure that these hidden networks can continue to support global connectivity in the years ahead.
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Hamad Bin Khalifa University has unveiled the UNESCO Chair on Digital Technologies and Human Behaviour to strengthen global understanding of how emerging tools shape society.
An initiative, located in the College of Science and Engineering in Qatar, that will examine the relationship between digital adoption and human behaviour, focusing on digital well-being, ethical design and healthier online environments.
The Chair is set to address issues such as internet addiction, cyberbullying and misinformation through research and policy-oriented work.
By promoting dialogue among international organisations, governments and academic institutions, the programme aims to support the more responsible development of digital technologies rather than approaches that overlook societal impact.
HBKU’s long-standing emphasis on ethical innovation formed the foundation for the new initiative. The launch event brought together experts from several disciplines to discuss behavioural change driven by AI, mobile computing and social media.
An expert panel considered how GenAI can improve daily life while also increasing dependency, encouraging users to shift towards a more intentional and balanced relationship with AI systems.
UNESCO underlined the importance of linking scientific research with practical policymaking to guide institutions and communities.
The Chair is expected to strengthen cooperation across sectors and support progress on global development goals by ensuring digital transformation remains aligned with human dignity, social cohesion and inclusive growth.
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Bitcoin traded sideways on Tuesday after a short-lived rebound from a 10-month low, as caution continued to dominate derivatives markets. Early Asian trading saw limited movement, with prices hovering below $78,500 following a sharp sell-off the previous day.
Options positioning suggests nerves have yet to ease fully. Data from Deribit showed heavy put option concentrations around $75,000, marking a key support level, while the next downside area is seen closer to $70,000.
Although downside protection demand has softened, positioning indicates traders remain defensive.
Signals from perpetual futures markets reinforced the cautious tone. According to CryptoQuant, funding rates turned negative, their weakest since mid-2024, pointing to a market dominated by short sellers.
Implied volatility stayed elevated near 48.8, based on data from TradingView.
Some traders highlighted early signs of stabilisation after aggressive selling. Analysts at FalconX and STS Digital noted that a weekly close below $75,000 could reignite downside pressure, while holding above that level may support a near-term recovery.
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India has unveiled a plan to offer foreign cloud providers zero taxes on revenues from services sold abroad if workloads are run from Indian data centres until 2047. The move aims to attract AI investment despite power and water shortages.
Major US tech companies, including Google, Microsoft and Amazon, have pledged billions of dollars to expand AI-focused data centres in India. Domestic operators are also increasing capacity, with large projects announced in Andhra Pradesh and other states.
The government has boosted incentives for electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, critical minerals, and cross-border e-commerce. These measures aim to integrate India more deeply into global technology supply chains.
Analysts warn that execution risks remain, including energy shortages, land access and regulatory hurdles. Observers say the tax holiday and incentives reflect a strategic bet on establishing India as a global hub for AI and cloud computing.
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A proposal filed with the US Federal Communications Commission seeks approval for a constellation of up to one million solar-powered satellites designed to function as orbiting data centres for artificial intelligence computing, according to documents submitted by SpaceX.
The company described the network as an efficient response to growing global demand for AI processing power, positioning space-based infrastructure as a new frontier for large-scale computation.
In its filing, SpaceX framed the project in broader civilisational terms, suggesting the constellation could support humanity’s transition towards harnessing the Sun’s full energy output and enable long-term multi-planetary development.
Regulators are unlikely to approve the full scale immediately, with analysts viewing the figure as a negotiating position. The USFCC recently authorised thousands of additional Starlink satellites while delaying approval for a larger proposed expansion.
Concerns continue to grow over orbital congestion, space debris, and environmental impacts, as satellite numbers rise sharply and rival companies seek similar regulatory extensions.
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Bison Bank plans to integrate Bison Digital Assets into its core operations, moving closer to becoming Portugal’s first cryptobank. The investment bank plans to support client-led asset tokenisation projects, signalling a wider move into regulated digital finance.
The strategy is backed by the EU’s MiCA framework, which provides legal clarity and regulatory certainty for cryptoasset firms. Regulatory approval under MiCA allows the bank to operate in Portugal while dealing in and investing in cryptoassets on behalf of clients.
Alongside the structural integration, the bank outlined three initiatives: issuing the first stablecoin by a Portuguese bank, advancing tokenised asset offerings, and completing its transition into a cryptobank.
Tokenisation is designed to enable fractional ownership, continuous trading, improved liquidity, and transparent settlement for assets ranging from real estate to bonds.
Although no official launch date has been confirmed, chief executive António Henriques indicated that the new services are expected to become available in the first half of the year, subject to final regulatory and operational steps.
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