Future of work Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

Ireland pushes EU plan for ID-verified social media accounts

The presidency of the Council of the European Union next year is expected to see Ireland lead a European drive for ID-verified social media accounts.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said the move is intended to limit anonymous abuse, bot activity and coordinated disinformation campaigns that he views as a growing threat to democracy worldwide.

A proposal that would require users to verify their identity instead of hiding behind anonymous profiles. Harris also backed an Australian-style age verification regime to prevent children from accessing social media, arguing that existing digital consent rules are not being enforced.

Media Minister Patrick O’Donovan is expected to bring forward detailed proposals during the presidency.

The plan is likely to trigger strong resistance from major social media platforms with European headquarters in Ireland, alongside criticism from the US.

However, Harris believes there is growing political backing across Europe, pointing to signals of support from French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Harris said he wanted constructive engagement with technology firms rather than confrontation, while insisting that stronger safeguards are now essential.

He argued that social media companies already possess the technology to verify users and restrict harmful accounts, and that European-level coordination will be required to deliver meaningful change.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

KT faces action in South Korea after a femtocell security breach impacts users

South Korea has blamed weak femtocell security at KT Corp for a major mobile payment breach that triggered thousands of unauthorised transactions.

Officials said the mobile operator used identical authentication certificates across femtocells and allowed them to stay valid for ten years, meaning any device that accessed the network once could do so repeatedly instead of being re-verified.

More than 22,000 users had identifiers exposed, and 368 people suffered unauthorised payments worth 243 million won.

Investigators also discovered that ninety-four KT servers were infected with over one hundred types of malware. Authorities concluded the company failed in its duty to deliver secure telecommunications services because its overall management of femtocell security was inadequate.

The government has now ordered KT to submit detailed prevention plans and will check compliance in June, while also urging operators to change authentication server addresses regularly and block illegal network access.

Officials said some hacking methods resembled a separate breach at SK Telecom, although there is no evidence that the same group carried out both attacks. KT said it accepts the findings and will soon set out compensation arrangements and further security upgrades instead of disputing the conclusions.

A separate case involving LG Uplus is being referred to police after investigators said affected servers were discarded, making a full technical review impossible.

The government warned that strong information security must become a survival priority as South Korea aims to position itself among the world’s leading AI nations.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

AI chatbots struggle with dialect fairness

Researchers are warning that AI chatbots may treat dialect speakers unfairly instead of engaging with them neutrally. Studies across English and German dialects found that large language models often attach negative stereotypes or misunderstand everyday expressions, leading to discriminatory replies.

A study in Germany tested ten language models using dialects such as Bavarian and Kölsch. The systems repeatedly described dialect speakers as uneducated or angry, and the bias became stronger when the dialect was explicitly identified.

Similar findings emerged elsewhere, including UK council services and AI shopping assistants that struggled with African American English.

Experts argue that such patterns risk amplifying social inequality as governments and businesses rely more heavily on AI. One Indian job applicant even saw a chatbot change his surname to reflect a higher caste, showing how linguistic bias can intersect with social hierarchy instead of challenging it.

Developers are now exploring customised AI models trained with local language data so systems can respond accurately without reinforcing stereotypes.

Researchers say bias can be tuned out of AI if handled responsibly, which could help protect dialect speakers rather than marginalise them.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

AI transforms Indian filmmaking

Filmmakers in India are rapidly adopting AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney and Stable Diffusion to create visuals, clone voices, and streamline production processes for both independent and large-scale films.

Low-budget directors now produce nearly entire films independently, reducing costs and production time. Filmmakers use AI to visualise scenes, experiment creatively, and plan sound and effects efficiently.

AI cannot fully capture cultural nuance, emotional depth, or storytelling intuition, so human oversight remains essential. Intellectual property, labour protections, and ethical issues remain unresolved.

Hollywood has resisted AI, with strikes over rights and labour concerns. Indian filmmakers, however, carefully combine AI tools with human creativity to preserve artistic vision and cultural nuance.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Historic Ghosts house gains digital protection

In the UK, a historic Surrey manor made famous by the BBC sitcom Ghosts has been digitally mapped. Engineers completed a detailed 3D survey of West Horsley Place.

The year long project used laser scanners to capture millions of measurements. Researchers from University of Surrey documented every room and structural feature.

The digital model reveals hidden deterioration and supports long term conservation planning. Future phases may add sensors to track temperature, humidity, and structural movement.

British researchers say the work could enhance preservation and visitor engagement. Virtual tours and augmented storytelling may deepen understanding of the estate’s history.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

AI reshaped European healthcare in 2025

Europe’s healthcare systems turned increasingly to AI in 2025, using new tools to predict disease, speed diagnosis, and reduce administrative workloads.

Countries including Finland, Estonia and Spain adopted AI to train staff, analyse medical data and detect illness earlier, while hospitals introduced AI scribes to free up doctors’ time with patients.

Researchers also advanced AI models able to forecast more than a thousand conditions many years before diagnosis, including heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers.

Further tools detected heart problems in seconds, flagged prostate cancer risks more quickly and monitored patients recovering from stent procedures instead of relying only on manual checks.

Experts warned that AI should support clinicians rather than replace them, as doctors continue to outperform AI in emergency care and chatbots struggle with mental health needs.

Security specialists also cautioned that extremists could try to exploit AI to develop biological threats, prompting calls for stronger safeguards.

Despite such risks, AI-driven approaches are now embedded across European medicine, from combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria to streamlining routine paperwork. Policymakers and health leaders are increasingly focused on how to scale innovation safely instead of simply chasing rapid deployment.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Bitcoin adoption remains uneven across US states

A recent SmartAsset study based on IRS tax return data highlights sharp regional differences in Bitcoin participation across the US. Crypto engagement is concentrated in certain states, driven by income, tech adoption, and local economic culture.

Washington leads the rankings, with 2.43 per cent of taxpayers reporting crypto transactions, followed by Utah, California, Colorado and New Jersey. These states have strong tech sectors, higher incomes, and populations familiar with digital financial tools.

New Jersey’s position also shows that crypto interest extends beyond traditional tech hubs in the West. At the opposite end, states such as West Virginia, Mississippi, Kentucky, Louisiana and Alabama record participation close to or below one per cent.

Lower household incomes, smaller tech industries and a preference for conventional financial products appear to limit reported crypto activity, although some low-level holdings may not surface in tax data.

The data also reflects crypto’s sensitivity to market cycles. Participation surged during the 2021 bull run before declining sharply in 2022 as prices fell.

Higher-income households remain far more active than middle-income earners, reinforcing the view that Bitcoin adoption in the US is still largely speculative and unevenly distributed.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

AI is changing how Europeans work and learn

Generative AI has become an everyday tool across Europe, with millions using platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok for personal, work, and educational purposes. Eurostat data shows that around a third of people aged 16–74 tried AI tools at least once in 2025.

Adoption varies widely across the continent. Norway leads with 56 percent of the population using AI, while Turkey records only 17 percent.

Within the EU, Denmark tops usage at 48 percent, and Romania lags at 18 percent. Northern and digitally advanced countries dominate, while southern, central-eastern, and Balkan nations show lower engagement.

Researchers attribute this to general digital literacy, internet use, and familiarity with technology rather than government policy alone. AI tools are used more for personal purposes than for work.

Across the EU, 25 percent use AI for personal tasks, compared with 15 percent for professional applications.

Usage in education is even lower, with only 9 percent employing AI in formal learning, peaking at 21 percent in Sweden and Switzerland and dropping to just 1 percent in Hungary.

Experts stress that while access is essential, understanding how to apply AI effectively remains a key barrier. Countries with strong digital foundations adopt AI more, while limited awareness and skills restrict use, emphasising the need for AI literacy and infrastructure.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Sberbank issues Russia’s first crypto-backed loan

Sberbank has issued Russia’s first crypto-backed loan, providing financing to Intelion Data, one of the country’s largest Bitcoin miners. The bank did not disclose the loan size or the cryptocurrency used as collateral but described the move as a pilot project.

The loan leveraged Sberbank’s own cryptocurrency custody solution, Rutoken, ensuring the digital assets’ safety throughout the loan period. The bank plans to offer similar loans and collaborate with the Central Bank on regulatory frameworks.

Intelion Data welcomed the deal, calling it a milestone for Russia’s crypto mining sector and a potential model for scaling similar financing across the industry. The company is expanding with a mining centre near the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant and a gas power station.

Sberbank has also been testing decentralised finance tools and supports gradual legalisation of cryptocurrencies in Russia. VTB and other banks are preparing to support crypto transactions, while the Central Bank may allow limited retail trading.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Korean Air employee data breach exposes 30,000 records after cyberattack

Investigators are examining a major data breach involving Korean Air after personal records for around 30,000 employees were exposed in a cyberattack on a former subsidiary.

An incident that affected KC&D Service, which previously handled in-flight catering before being sold to private equity firm Hahn and Company in 2020.

The leaked information is understood to include employee names and bank account numbers. Korean Air said customer records were not impacted, and emergency security checks were completed instead of waiting for confirmation of the intrusion.

Korean Air also reported the breach to the relevant authorities.

Executives said the company is focusing on identifying the full scope of the breach and who has been affected, while urging KC&D to strengthen controls and prevent any recurrence. Korean Air also plans to upgrade internal data protection measures.

The attack follows a similar case at Asiana Airlines last week, where details of about 10,000 employees were compromised, raising wider concerns over cybersecurity resilience across the aviation sector of South Korea.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!