European ministers have adopted conclusions aimed to boosting the Union’s digital competitiveness, urging quicker progress toward the 2030 digital decade goals.
Officials called for stronger digital skills, wider adoption of technology, and a framework that supports innovation while protecting fundamental rights. Digital sovereignty remains a central objective, framed as open, risk-based and aligned with European values.
Ministers supported simplifying digital rules for businesses, particularly SMEs and start-ups, which face complex administrative demands. A predictable legal environment, less reporting duplication and more explicit rules were seen as essential for competitiveness.
Governments emphasised that simplification must not weaken data protection or other core safeguards.
Concerns over online safety and illegal content were a prominent feature in discussions on enforcing the Digital Services Act. Ministers highlighted the presence of harmful content and unsafe products on major marketplaces, calling for stronger coordination and consistent enforcement across member states.
Ensuring full compliance with EU consumer protection and product safety rules was described as a priority.
Cyber-resilience was a key focus as ministers discussed the increasing impact of cyberattacks on citizens and the economy. Calls for stronger defences grew as digital transformation accelerated, with several states sharing updates on national and cross-border initiatives.
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Australian regulators have released new guidance ahead of the introduction of industry codes designed to protect children from exposure to harmful online material.
The Age Restricted Material Codes will apply to a wide range of online services, including app stores, social platforms, equipment providers, pornography sites and generative AI services, with the first tranche beginning on 27 December.
The rules require search engines to blur image results involving pornography or extreme violence to reduce accidental exposure among young users.
Search services must also redirect people seeking information related to suicide, self-harm or eating disorders to professional mental health support instead of allowing harmful spirals to unfold.
eSafety argues that many children unintentionally encounter disturbing material at very young ages, often through search results that act as gateways rather than deliberate choices.
The guidance emphasises that adults will still be able to access unblurred material by clicking through, and there is no requirement for Australians to log in or identify themselves before searching.
These codes will operate alongside existing standards that tackle unlawful content and will complement new minimum age requirements for social media, which are set to begin in mid-December.
Authorities in Australia consider the reforms essential for reducing preventable harm and guiding vulnerable users towards appropriate support services.
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European regulators have imposed a fine of one hundred and twenty million euros on X after ruling that the platform breached transparency rules under the Digital Services Act.
The Commission concluded that the company misled users with its blue checkmark system, restricted research access and operated an inadequate advertising repository.
Officials found that paid verification on X encouraged users to believe their accounts had been authenticated when, in fact, no meaningful checks were conducted.
EU regulators argued that such practices increased exposure to scams and impersonation fraud, rather than supporting trust in online communication.
The Commission also stated that the platform’s advertising repository lacked essential information and created barriers that prevented researchers and civil society from examining potential threats.
European authorities judged that X failed to offer legitimate access to public data for eligible researchers. Terms of service blocked independent data collection, including scraping, while the company’s internal processes created further obstacles.
Regulators believe such restrictions frustrate efforts to study misinformation, influence campaigns and other systemic risks within the EU.
X must now outline the steps it will take to end the blue checkmark infringement within sixty working days and deliver a wider action plan on data access and advertising transparency within ninety days.
Failure to comply could lead to further penalties as the Commission continues its broader investigation into information manipulation and illegal content across the platform.
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Authorities in Taiwan will block the Chinese social media and shopping app RedNote for a year following a surge in online scams linked to the platform. Officials report that more than 1,700 fraud cases have been linked to the app since last year, resulting in losses exceeding NT$247 million.
Regulators report that the company failed to meet required data-security standards and did not respond to requests for a plan to strengthen cybersecurity.
Internet providers have been instructed to restrict access, affecting several million users who now see a security warning message when opening the app.
Concerns over Beijing’s online influence and the spread of disinformation have added pressure on Taiwanese authorities to tighten oversight of Chinese platforms.
RedNote’s operators are also facing scrutiny in mainland China, where regulators have criticised the company over what they labelled ‘negative’ content.
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Google has begun rolling out the Gemini 3 Deep Think mode to AI Ultra subscribers, offering enhanced reasoning for complex maths, science and logic tasks. The rollout follows last month’s preview during the Gemini 3 family release, allowing users to activate the mode directly within the Gemini app.
Deep Think builds on earlier Gemini 2.5 variants by utilising what Google refers to as parallel reasoning to test multiple hypotheses simultaneously. Early benchmark results show gains on structured problem-solving tasks, with improvements recorded on assessments such as Humanity’s Last Exam and ARC-AGI-2.
Subscribers can try the mode by selecting Deep Think in the prompt bar and choosing Gemini 3 Pro. Google states that the broader Gemini 3 upgrade enhances reliability when following lengthy instructions and reduces the need for repeated prompts during multi-step tasks.
Gemini 3 features stronger multimodal handling, enabling analysis of text, images, screenshots, PDFs and video. Capabilities include summarising lengthy material, interpreting detailed visuals and explaining graphs or charts with greater accuracy.
Larger context windows and improved planning support extended workflows such as research assistance and structured information management. Google describes Gemini 3 as its most secure model to date, with reinforced protections around sensitive or misleading queries.
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SoftBank chief Masayoshi Son told South Korean President Lee Jae Myung that advanced AI could surpass humans by an extreme margin. He suggested future systems may be 10,000 times more capable than people. The remarks came during a meeting in Seoul focused on national AI ambitions.
Son compared the potential intelligence gap to the difference between humans and goldfish. He said AI might relate to humans as humans relate to pets. Lee acknowledged the vision but admitted feeling uneasy about the scale of the described change.
Son argued that superintelligent systems would not threaten humans physically, noting they lack biological needs. He framed coexistence as the likely outcome. His comments followed renewed political interest in positioning South Korea as an AI leader.
The debate turned to cultural capability when Lee asked whether AI might win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Son said such an achievement was plausible. He pointed to fast-moving advances that continue to challenge expectations about machine creativity.
Researchers say artificial superintelligence remains theoretical, but early steps toward AGI may emerge within a decade. Many expect systems to outperform humans across a wide set of tasks. Policy discussions in South Korea reflect growing urgency around AI governance.
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Researchers in Australia are examining how sweat could support new forms of health monitoring. A recent study highlights its diagnostic potential when combined with machine learning, noting the appeal of simple, non-invasive collection for people already using wearables.
Early hydration patches show how sweat data is entering the sports and fitness space. Advances in microfluidics and flexible electronics have enabled thin, real-time sweat-sampling patches. UTS researchers say AI can extract useful biomarkers and deliver personalised insights for everyday tracking.
Experts say sweat remains underused despite carrying biological signals relevant to preventive care. UTS scientists point to gains from reading multiple biomarkers and sending data wirelessly for assessment. Improvements in pattern recognition now support more accurate interpretation.
Development work in Sydney, Australia, includes microfluidic devices that detect trace levels of glucose and cortisol. Most systems remain prototypes, yet commercial interest is increasing as companies explore non-invasive alternatives to blood-based testing.
The research team expects broader adoption as sensor accuracy improves. They anticipate wearables that monitor stress markers and help identify chronic conditions earlier, framing skin-based sensing combined with AI as a route to wider access to continuous health insights.
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AI adoption in manufacturing is accelerating as generative tools are reshaping frontline roles. Many firms see connected worker platforms as a response to labour shortages and a draw for younger recruits. GenAI is emerging as a support layer that boosts productivity without displacing staff.
Operators face mixed training needs, language gaps and stricter safety demands. GenAI supports tailored instructions and smoother knowledge transfer, cutting documentation effort.
Retrieval is becoming more critical as factories digitise. Frontline teams need fast access to clear guidance across text, image and video formats. AI-enabled search interprets intent, reducing delays caused by navigating large content libraries.
Video-based guidance is rising in prominence as short-form media becomes a preferred way for younger workers to learn. AI can convert lengthy procedures into concise visual steps, while multilingual transcription expands accessibility for diverse teams across global operations.
The growing use of AI tools marks a shift toward more adaptive factory operations. Manufacturers view connected worker platforms as vital to competitiveness, with AI integration offering gains in engagement, safety and performance.
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Ireland’s online safety regulator has agreed a new partnership with Australia’s eSafety Commissioner to strengthen global approaches to digital harm. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reinforces shared ambitions to improve online protection for children and adults.
The Irish and Australian plan to exchange data, expertise and methodological insights to advance safer digital platforms. Officials describe the arrangement as a way to enhance oversight of systems used to minimise harmful content and promote responsible design.
Leaders from both organisations emphasised the need for accountability across the tech sector. Their comments highlighted efforts to ensure that platforms embed user protection into their product architecture, rather than relying solely on reactive enforcement.
The MoU also opens avenues for collaborative policy development and joint work on education programs. Officials expect a deeper alignment around age assurance technologies and emerging regulatory challenges as online risks continue to evolve.
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A significant shift in property law has occurred in the United Kingdom, as digital assets are gaining formal recognition as personal property.
The Property Digital Assets Act has received Royal Assent, giving owners of cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens clearer legal rights and stronger protection. Greater certainty over ownership aims to reduce disputes and strengthen trust in the sector.
The government aims to boost the country’s position as a global centre for legal innovation, rather than merely reacting to technological change. The new framework reassures fintech companies that England, Wales and Northern Ireland can support modern commercial activity.
As part of a wider growth plan, the change is expected to stimulate further investment in a legal services industry worth more than £ 40 billion annually.
Traditional law recognised only tangible items and legal rights, yet digital assets required distinct treatment.
The Act creates a new category, allowing certain digital assets to be treated like other property, including being inherited or recovered during bankruptcy. With cryptocurrency fraud on the rise, owners now have a more straightforward path to remedy when digital assets are stolen.
Legal certainty also simplifies commercial activity for firms handling crypto transactions. The move aligns digital assets with established forms of property rather than leaving them in an undefined space, which encourages adoption and reduces the likelihood of costly disagreements.
The government expects the new clarity to attract more businesses to the UK and reinforce the country’s role in shaping future digital regulation.
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