Future of work

Meta criticised for AI-generated adverts scams

Meta has faced criticism after numerous consumers reported being misled by companies using AI-generated adverts on Facebook and Instagram. The firms posed as UK businesses while shipping cheap goods from Asia, prompting claims that scams were ‘running rampant’ on the platforms.

Victims were persuaded by realistic adverts and AI-generated images but received poorly made clothing and jewellery. Several companies, including C’est La Vie, Mabel & Daisy, Harrison & Hayes, and Chester & Clare, were removed after investigations revealed fabricated backstories and fake shopfronts.

Consumer guides recommend vigilance, advising shoppers to check company websites, reviews, and use Trustpilot to verify legitimacy. Experts warn that overly perfect images, including AI-generated shopfronts or models, may signal fraudulent adverts.

Platforms such as Facebook and Instagram are urged to enforce stricter measures to prevent scams.

Meta stated it works with Stop Scams UK and encourages users to report suspicious adverts, while the Advertising Standards Authority continues to crack down on misleading online promotions.

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Spar Switzerland expands crypto payments across its mobile app

Spar Switzerland has advanced retail crypto adoption by adding Bitcoin and over 100 digital assets to its mobile app. On-chain QR payments now replace third-party processors, following earlier pilots with the Lightning Network and Binance Pay.

Supportive national regulations continue to make Switzerland one of the most active retail environments for crypto payments. Merchants across the country have increasingly embraced digital assets, encouraged by clear legal frameworks and a population already familiar with fintech services.

The update follows previous pilots involving the Lightning Network and Binance Pay that began in 2025. Lessons from those trials helped shape Spar’s shift towards a fully integrated on-chain payment system.

Industry analysts view the expansion as a strong signal of growing consumer demand for flexible payment options. Broader access in major retail chains often accelerates mainstream adoption and encourages users and businesses to engage more confidently with the crypto economy.

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South Korea retailer admits worst-ever data leak

Coupang disclosed a major data breach on 30 November 2025 that exposed 33.7 million customer accounts. The leaked data includes names, email addresses, phone numbers, shipping addresses and some order history but excludes payment or login credentials.

The company said it first detected unauthorised access on 18 November. Subsequent investigations revealed that attacks likely began on 24 June through overseas servers and may involve a former employee’s still-active authentication key.

South Korean authorities launched an emergency probe to determine if Coupang violated data-protection laws. The government warned customers to stay alert to phishing and fraud attempts using the leaked information.

Cybersecurity experts say the breach may be one of the worst personal-data leaks in Korean history. Critics claim the incident underlines deep structural weaknesses in corporate cybersecurity practices.

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UK to require crypto traders to report details from 2026

The UK government has confirmed that cryptocurrency traders will be required to report personal details to trading platforms from 1 January 2026. The move forms part of the Cryptoasset Reporting Framework (CAFR), aligned with an OECD agreement, and aims to improve compliance with existing tax rules.

Under the framework, exchanges must provide HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) with customer information, including cryptocurrency transactions and tax reference numbers.

Traders who fail to supply required details could face fines of up to £300, while platforms may be fined the same amount per unreported customer. HMRC expects to raise up to £315 million by 2030 from the new reporting rules.

Experts warn exchanges may face challenges collecting accurate information, potentially passing compliance costs onto users. Some investors may initially turn to noncompliant platforms, but international standards are expected to drive global alignment over time.

The 2025 Budget also addressed the taxation of DeFi activities such as lending and staking. HMRC appears to favour taxing gains only when they are realised, although no final decision has been made and consultations with stakeholders will continue.

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AWS unveils new agentic AI tools at reInvent

AWS introduced major AI upgrades at re:Invent 2025, led by new agentic capabilities in Amazon Connect. Companies can now automate complex service tasks while customers engage with natural, multilingual voice interactions.

Customer service teams gain deeper support as agentic tools summarise conversations, prepare documents and manage routine actions. AI also drives personalised recommendations by combining live clickstream data with detailed customer histories.

AWS expanded its multicloud strategy by launching Interconnect multicloud with Google Cloud. The partnership enables private, high bandwidth links that avoid the complexity of traditional cross cloud networking.

Deepgram strengthened its collaboration with AWS by bringing real time speech models to SageMaker, Connect and Lex. Enterprises now deploy rapid speech processing across their AWS environments with improved performance and flexibility.

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Vanity Fair publisher penalised for cookie breaches

France’s data regulator fined Les Publications Condé Nast €750,000 for unlawful cookie practices on vanityfair.fr. Investigators found consent-based cookies loading immediately when visitors landed on the site.

CNIL officials also noted unclear information describing several trackers as strictly necessary without explaining their true purposes. Users faced further issues when refusal tools failed to block or halt consent-based cookies.

Repeated non-compliance weighed heavily, as the company had already received a formal order in 2021. Earlier proceedings had been closed after corrective steps, yet later inspections showed renewed breaches.

The French regulator stated that millions of visitors were potentially affected by the unlawful tracking activity. The case highlights continuing enforcement efforts under Article 82 of France’s Data Protection Act.

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ByteDance launches AI voice assistant for phones

ByteDance unveiled a new AI voice assistant that will debut on ZTE’s Nubia M153 smartphone. The tool uses the Doubao large language model to handle spoken tasks such as content searches and ticket bookings.

ZTE’s shares jumped after the announcement, helped by strong interest in the device and recent 5G contract wins in Vietnam. The prototype handset is priced at 3,499 yuan and can be pre-ordered in limited quantities.

ByteDance confirmed discussions with multiple manufacturers to integrate the assistant into future smartphones. The firm stated it has no intention of developing its own hardware.

The assistant enters a competitive market led by Huawei and Xiaomi, while Apple has yet to introduce Apple Intelligence in China. Doubao remains China’s most popular consumer AI app, with 159 million monthly active users.

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EU members raise concerns over the Digital Networks Act

Six EU member states urged the Union to reconsider the direction of the Digital Networks Act by asking for greater room for national decision-making.

Their joint position emphasised the wish to retain authority over frequency management and questioned proposals that could expand telecom rules into the digital services sector.

An intervention that followed previous debates at the ministerial level, where governments signalled reluctance to introduce new interconnection measures and stressed the need to consider the specific roles of different actors across the value chain instead of applying a single regulatory model to all.

Consumer groups and business organisations voiced further doubts as plans for network fees resurfaced in recent discussions. They argued that earlier consultations had already shown major risks for competition, innovation, and net neutrality, making renewed consideration unnecessary.

The US–EU trade agreement added another layer by including a clause that commits the EU to avoid such fees, leaving open how the Commission will balance domestic expectations with international obligations.

The Digital Networks Act faced an additional setback when the EU’s Regulatory Scrutiny Board delivered a negative opinion about its preparedness. That view disrupted earlier hopes of releasing a draft before the end of the year.

Even so, the Commission is expected to present an updated proposal in January 2026, setting the stage for one of the most difficult legislative debates of the coming year.

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EU-South Korea digital partnership enhances collaboration

The European Union and the Republic of Korea strengthened their digital partnership during the third Digital Partnership Council meeting in Seoul, where both sides emphasised the value of deeper cooperation in advanced technologies.

The discussions focused on how joint research on semiconductors, 6G, AI and quantum technologies can support competitiveness and provide broader economic benefits.

Both sides agreed to continue collaborative work on semiconductor research to advance more efficient chips suitable for AI and automated mobility. Quantum research under Horizon Europe is set to expand through shared expertise and long-term cooperation.

Regulatory alignment on AI will progress through dialogue on conformity assessment results linked to the EU AI Act, supported by joint work on innovation, standardisation and safety evaluation.

Information exchange on emerging data spaces is also expected to grow, with both partners assessing whether a dedicated working group could enhance interoperability.

Cyber cooperation remains a priority, covering threat information sharing, software supply chain security and the safety of connected devices, combined with efforts to strengthen skills and explore new research.

Engagement in international standardisation bodies such as the International Telecommunications Union will continue to support broader global alignment. The two partners plan to meet again in Brussels in 2026 to assess progress.

The partnership reflects broader EU objectives in the Indo-Pacific and supports the goals of the International Digital Strategy.

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Estonia invests in Germany to strengthen European tech independence

During an official visit to Germany, Prime Minister Kristen Michal joined Saxony’s Minister President Michael Kretschmer to open a new Skeleton Technologies factory near Leipzig, underlining Estonia’s long-term commitment to European technological development.

An investment of 220 million euros that marks the most significant industrial commitment an Estonian company has made in Germany and reflects a shift towards mutual economic engagement.

The factory produces supercapacitors that aim to reduce energy consumption in AI data centres while enhancing the reliability of the power grid.

Michal noted that the relationship between the two countries has entered a new phase, as Estonia is now investing in Germany, rather than only receiving investment. He pointed to Germany’s industrial capacity and Estonia’s digital expertise as complementary strengths.

The project benefited from financial and strategic support through programmes such as EUBatIn, while partnerships with Siemens and Marubeni strengthened the technological foundation of the initiative.

Cooperation between Estonia and Saxony already extends across innovation, microelectronics and digital public services.

Several Estonian technology firms operate in the region, while universities in both countries maintain active collaboration in engineering, IT and business administration. These links continue to grow and support talent, research and industrial development.

The new factory is presented as a practical step towards European technological resilience, as the components used in the supercapacitors are sourced from European suppliers.

Estonian officials argue that Europe must develop and produce key technologies instead of relying on external suppliers. The opening of the plant is seen as the beginning of broader cooperation in IT, green technology, defence and advanced manufacturing.

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