Encryption Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

South Korea reviews AI cyber threat response

The Office of National Security of South Korea held a cybersecurity meeting to review how government agencies are responding to AI-driven cyber threats. The session focused on the growing risks posed by the misuse of advanced AI technologies.

Officials from multiple ministries attended, including science, defence and intelligence bodies, to coordinate responses. The government warned that AI-enabled hacking capabilities are becoming increasingly realistic as global technology companies release more advanced models.

Authorities have instructed relevant agencies to strengthen cooperation with businesses and institutions and distributed guidance on responding to AI-based security risks. Discussions also covered practical measures to support rapid responses to cybersecurity vulnerabilities across public and private sectors.

The government plans to establish a joint technical response team to improve information sharing and enable immediate action. Officials emphasised that while AI increases cyber risks, it also offers opportunities to strengthen security capabilities in South Korea.

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China unveils Hanyuan-2 dual-core quantum computer breakthrough

China’s CAS Cold Atom Technology has unveiled Hanyuan-2, a 200-qubit neutral atom quantum computer that Chinese state media described as the world’s first dual-core neutral atomic quantum computer.

Developed in Wuhan by a company affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hanyuan-2 is presented as a shift from single-core to dual-core quantum architecture. The system uses neutral-atom array technology and combines 100 rubidium-85 and 100 rubidium-87 atoms to form a 200-qubit system.

The dual-core architecture allows the two processing units to operate independently in parallel or to work together in a main-and-support configuration. Developers say the approach could improve computational efficiency, support error correction and help address challenges linked to stability, qubit interference and scalability.

Unlike many quantum systems that require highly specialised operating environments, Hanyuan-2 is described as using a compact integrated design with a simplified laser-cooling setup and power consumption below 7 kilowatts. The design is intended to reduce operating complexity and make quantum computing systems easier to deploy.

The announcement highlights China’s continued investment in quantum computing hardware, particularly neutral atom systems. However, the system’s practical performance remains difficult to assess publicly because detailed benchmarks such as gate fidelity, coherence time and error rates have not yet been released in peer-reviewed or standardised form.

Why does it matter?

Hanyuan-2 points to growing experimentation with quantum computing architectures designed to improve scalability, stability and efficiency. Dual-core designs could support more flexible processing and error-correction approaches, but their real significance will depend on independently verifiable performance metrics. For now, the announcement is best understood as a signal of China’s ambition in quantum hardware rather than proof of practical superiority over other systems.

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China opens a new era of computing with fourth generation quantum machine

China has launched its fourth-generation superconducting quantum computer, marking a further step in the country’s push to scale advanced computing infrastructure. Developed by Origin Quantum, the system, named Origin Wukong-180, has begun accepting quantum computing tasks from users worldwide.

The machine is built around a 180-qubit superconducting chip and integrates fully self-developed core systems, including the chip architecture, measurement and control systems, environmental support, and operating software. According to the company, the platform represents full-stack domestic capability across the quantum computing chain.

Origin Wukong-180 builds on earlier generations of the system, following the third-generation version that has already processed tens of millions of remote accesses and hundreds of thousands of computing tasks across more than 160 countries.

The company also reports milestones such as China’s first export of quantum computing services and the establishment of the country’s first quantum chip production line.

Researchers and developers view systems like Origin Wukong-180 as part of a broader shift toward practical quantum computing applications in areas such as AI, cryptography, finance, biochemistry, and engineering design, where large-scale computational power could reshape existing technological limits.

Why does it matter?

The development signals a broader shift in global technological competition, where quantum computing is becoming a strategic layer of future digital infrastructure alongside AI and advanced semiconductor systems.

As countries race to build scalable quantum capabilities, control over this technology could influence breakthroughs in secure communications, complex simulations, and financial modelling, while also reshaping supply chains for high-performance computing.

Wider global access to such systems may accelerate scientific discovery, but it also raises questions about technological dependence, standards-setting, and long-term geopolitical balance in the digital economy.

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Instagram pulls the plug on encrypted chats

Instagram will no longer support end-to-end encrypted chats from 8 May 2026, ending an optional privacy feature for some direct messages on the platform.

Users affected by the change are being prompted to download any messages or media from encrypted chats that they wish to keep before the feature is removed. Instagram’s help page says users may need to update the app to access or download their end-to-end encrypted chats.

End-to-end encryption allows only the people in a conversation to read messages or hear calls, with messages protected by encryption keys linked to authorised devices. On Instagram, however, encrypted chats were an optional feature rather than the default for all direct messages.

After 8 May 2026, users will no longer be able to send or receive end-to-end encrypted messages or calls on Instagram. The help page also notes that users can still report messages from encrypted chats and that shared content may still be forwarded outside an encrypted conversation.

The change marks a rollback of a privacy feature on one of Meta’s major social platforms, even as end-to-end encryption remains central to debates over secure communications, platform safety and user confidentiality.

Why does it matter?

End-to-end encryption is widely seen as a core privacy protection because it limits access to message content, including by the platform itself. Its removal from Instagram encrypted chats raises questions about how major platforms prioritise privacy features, user safety, product complexity and interoperability across their messaging services.

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UK National Cyber Security Centre recommends passkeys over passwords

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recommends the use of passkeys as a more secure alternative to passwords for accessing online services. The guidance supports wider adoption of passwordless authentication across digital platforms.

Passkeys are created and managed on user devices and do not need to be remembered. The NCSC noted that they are resistant to phishing, as they cannot be intercepted, reused or stolen in the same way as passwords.

The NCSC also stated that passkeys can be faster and more convenient to use. Authentication relies on existing device security methods, such as fingerprint, facial recognition or PIN, rather than separate login credentials.

Passkeys are stored and managed through credential managers, which can synchronise access across trusted devices and provide backups. The NCSC advised that where passkeys are not available, users should continue using strong passwords and enable two-step verification.

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Italy issues guidelines requiring consent for email tracking pixels

Italy’s Data Protection Authority has issued new guidelines on tracking pixels used in email communications, requiring organisations to inform users and obtain consent before deploying the hidden monitoring tools.

Published on 17 April 2026, the Garante per la Protezione dei Dati Personali guidelines address the invasive nature of tracking pixels, which silently monitor whether recipients open and read emails without their knowledge.

Tracking pixels are tiny, often invisible images embedded in emails that automatically send information back to the sender when recipients open the message. The pixels can collect data, including device type, IP address, and exact time of access.

The Authority identified limited exceptions to the consent requirement, including statistical measurements of email open rates, security protocols during user authentication, and mandatory institutional communications such as fraud alerts or contractual notifications.

The guidelines allow organisations six months from publication to achieve compliance with the new standards. Users in Italy must be able to revoke consent easily and granularly, meaning they can withdraw permission for tracking whilst continuing to receive emails.

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California challenges federal approach with new AI rules

The government of California is advancing a more interventionist approach to AI governance, signalling a divergence from federal deregulatory preferences.

An executive order signed by Gavin Newsom mandates the development of comprehensive AI policies within 4 months, prioritising public safety and protecting fundamental rights.

The proposed framework requires companies seeking state contracts to demonstrate safeguards against harmful outputs, including the prevention of child exploitation material and violent content.

It also calls for measures addressing algorithmic bias and unlawful discrimination, alongside increased transparency through mechanisms such as watermarking AI-generated media.

Federal guidance has discouraged state-level intervention, framing such efforts as obstacles to technological leadership.

The evolving policy landscape reflects growing concern over the societal impact of AI systems, including risks to employment, content integrity and civil liberties.

An initiative by California that may therefore serve as a testing ground for future regulatory models, shaping broader debates on balancing innovation with accountability in digital governance.

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Healthcare data breach raises concerns over cloud security

A cybersecurity incident involving CareCloud has exposed vulnerabilities in the protection of sensitive medical information, following unauthorised access to patient records stored within its systems.

A breach was detected on 16 March, allowing attackers to access electronic health records for several hours, which raised concerns about potential data exposure.

The company has stated that the intrusion was contained on the same day, with systems restored and an external investigation launched.

However, uncertainty remains about whether any data were extracted and the scale of the potential impact, particularly given the company’s role in supporting tens of thousands of healthcare providers and millions of patients.

Such an incident reflects broader structural risks within digital healthcare infrastructures, where centralised storage of highly sensitive data increases the potential impact of cyberattacks.

Cloud environments, including services provided by Amazon Web Services, are increasingly integral to such systems, amplifying both efficiency and exposure.

The breach follows a pattern of escalating cyber threats targeting healthcare data, driven by its high value in criminal markets.

As investigations continue, the case underscores the need for stronger data protection measures, enhanced monitoring systems and more robust regulatory oversight to safeguard patient information.

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EU boosts fact-checking with €5 million disinformation resilience plan

The European Commission has committed €5 million to strengthen independent fact-checking networks, reinforcing efforts to counter disinformation across Europe. The initiative seeks to expand verification capacity in all EU languages while improving coordination among key stakeholders.

The programme introduces a comprehensive support system for fact-checkers, covering legal assistance, cybersecurity protection and psychological support.

It also establishes a centralised European repository of verified information, designed to enhance transparency and improve access to reliable content across the EU.

Led by the European Fact-Checking Standards Network, the project builds on existing frameworks such as the European Digital Media Observatory. The initiative forms part of the EU’s broader strategy to strengthen information integrity and safeguard democratic processes.

By reinforcing independent verification ecosystems, the programme reflects a policy-driven effort to address disinformation threats while supporting a more resilient and trustworthy digital environment across Europe.

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New quantum threat could weaken cryptocurrency encryption systems

A new warning from Google says advances in quantum computing could weaken widely used cryptographic systems protecting cryptocurrencies and digital infrastructure. A new whitepaper suggests future quantum machines may need fewer resources than previously estimated to break elliptic curve cryptography.

The research focuses on the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem, which underpins much of today’s blockchain security. Findings suggest quantum algorithms like Shor’s could run with fewer qubits and gates, increasing concerns about cryptographic resilience.

To address the risk, the paper recommends a transition to post-quantum cryptography, which is designed to resist quantum attacks. It also outlines short-term blockchain measures, including avoiding reuse of vulnerable wallet addresses and preparing digital asset migration strategies.

Google also introduced a responsible disclosure approach using zero-knowledge proofs to communicate vulnerabilities without exposing exploitable details.

The company says this balances transparency and security, supporting coordinated efforts across crypto and research communities to prepare for quantum threats.

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