Human rights principles

Italy closes Google probe after consent changes

Italy has closed its investigation into Google after the company agreed to adjust how it requests user consent for personal data use. Regulators had accused Google of presenting unclear and potentially misleading choices when connecting users to its services.

The authority said Google will now offer clearer explanations about how consent affects data processing. Updates will outline where personal information may be combined or used across the company’s wider service ecosystem.

Officials launched the probe in July 2024, arguing Google’s approach could amount to aggressive commercial practice. Revised consent flows were accepted as sufficient remedies, leading to the closure of the case without financial penalties.

The Italian competition regulator indicated that transparency improvements were central to compliance. Similar scrutiny continues across Europe as regulators assess how large technology firms obtain permission for extensive data handling.

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Bangladesh unveils national roadmap for ethical AI development

Bangladesh has launched its first national AI Readiness Assessment Report to guide ethical, inclusive and rights-centred development of AI across public services.

The report was unveiled in Dhaka with representatives from government, international organisations, academia, civil society and the private sector. Officials described the assessment as a pivotal step as the country prepares for an increasingly AI-driven era.

The report outlines Bangladesh’s current strengths, including solid progress in e-government and high public trust in digital services, while also identifying areas requiring urgent attention.

Connectivity gaps, digital divides, limited computing capacity and the need for stronger data protection and cybersecurity remain key challenges. Policymakers noted that evidence-based decisions are essential as Bangladesh completes its National AI Policy.

International partners highlighted that the direction of AI development will depend heavily on choices made today. Strengthening digital infrastructure, improving skills, and building rights-driven governance structures were cited as central to ensuring AI benefits all communities.

Stakeholders also stressed the importance of using AI to improve services across health, education, justice and social protection without deepening existing inequalities.

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New study shows AI improves mental health diagnoses

A Lund University study shows an AI assistant can assess psychiatric conditions more accurately than standard mental health rating scales. In a study of 303 participants, the AI assistant Alba gave DSM-based diagnoses, outperforming standard tools in eight of nine disorders.

The study included conditions such as depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, autism, eating disorders, substance use disorder and bipolar disorder.

Alba proved particularly effective at distinguishing overlapping conditions where traditional rating scales often yield similar results. Participants also reported positive experiences with the AI interview, describing it as empathic, supportive and engaging.

Researchers highlighted that AI-assisted interviews could serve as a scalable, person-centred tool to complement clinical assessments while preserving the clinician’s essential role.

The study advances digital mental health tools, with Alba analysing the full DSM-5 manual instead of individual disorders. Talk To Alba offers AI-powered clinical interviews, CBT support, DSM-5-based diagnosis, and consultation transcription.

Experts emphasise that such AI solutions can ease healthcare workloads, provide preliminary assessments, and maintain high diagnostic reliability without replacing mental health professionals.

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Google launches Nano Banana Pro image model

Google has launched Nano Banana Pro, a new image generation and editing model built on Gemini 3 Pro. The upgrade expands Gemini’s visual capabilities inside the Gemini app, Google Ads, Google AI Studio, Vertex AI and Workspace tools.

Nano Banana Pro focuses on cleaner text rendering, richer world knowledge and tighter control over style and layout. Creators can produce infographics, diagrams and character consistent scenes, and refine lighting, camera angle or composition with detailed prompts.

The AI model supports higher resolution visuals, localised text in multiple languages and more accurate handling of complex scripts. Google highlights uses in marketing materials, business presentations and professional design workflows, as partners such as Adobe integrate the model into Firefly and Photoshop.

Users can try Nano Banana Pro through Gemini with usage limits, while paying customers and enterprises gain extended access. Google embeds watermarking and C2PA-style metadata to help identify AI-generated images, foregrounding safety and transparency around synthetic content.

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Smart glasses by Meta transform life for disabled users

Meta has presented a new generation of AI glasses designed to increase independence for people with disabilities. The devices support hands-free calls, messages and translations while offering voice-activated photography and video capture.

Users can rely on spoken prompts instead of phones when they want to explore their surroundings or capture important moments.

The glasses help blind and low-vision individuals identify objects, read documents and understand scenes through detailed AI descriptions. Meta partnered with the Blinded Veterans Association to produce a training guide that explains how to activate voice commands and manage daily tasks more easily.

Veterans Affairs rehabilitation centres have adopted the glasses to support people who need greater autonomy in unfamiliar environments.

Creators and athletes describe how the technology influences their work and daily activities. A filmmaker uses first-person recording and AI-assisted scene guidance to streamline production. A Paralympic sprinter relies on real-time updates to track workouts without pausing to check a phone.

Other users highlight how hands-free photography and environmental awareness allow them to stay engaged instead of becoming distracted by screens.

Meta emphasises its collaboration with disabled communities to shape features that reflect diverse needs. The company views AI glasses as a route to improved participation, stronger confidence and wider digital access.

An approach that signals a long-term commitment to wearable technology that supports inclusion in everyday life.

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OpenAI Academy supports small firms with AI training

OpenAI Academy is running a US nationwide Small Business AI Jam for more than 1,000 owners. Workshops in San Francisco, New York, Detroit, Houston and Miami give practical help using AI to handle everyday tasks.

Participants from restaurants, retailers, professional services and creative firms work alongside mentors to build tailored AI tools. Typical projects include marketing assistants, customer communication helpers and organisers for bookings, stock or paperwork. Everyone leaves with at least one ready to use workflow.

A survey for OpenAI found around half of small business leaders want staff comfortable with AI. About sixty percent expect clear efficiency gains when employees have those skills, from faster content writing to smoother operations.

Only available in the US, owners gain access to an online academy hub before and after the in person events. Follow up offers a virtual jam on 4 December, office hours, and links to an AI for Main Street certification track and jobs platform.

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Creative industries seek rights protection amid AI surge

British novelists are raising concerns that AI could replace their work, with nearly half saying the technology could ‘entirely replace’ them. The MCTD survey of 332 authors found deep unease about the impact of generative tools trained on vast fiction datasets.

About 97% of novelists expressed intense negativity towards the idea of AI writing complete novels, while around 40% said their income from related work had already suffered. Many authors have reported that their work has been used to train large language models without their permission or payment.

While 80 % agreed AI offers societal benefits, authors called for better protections, including copyright reform and consent-based use of their work. MCTD Executive Director Prof. Gina Neff stressed that creative industries are not expendable in the AI race.

A UK government spokesperson said collaboration between the AI sector and creative industries is vital, with a focus on innovation and protection for creators. But writers say urgent action is needed to ensure their rights are upheld.

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AI shows promise in supporting emergency medical decisions

Drexel University researchers studied how AI can aid emergency decisions in pediatric trauma at Children’s National Medical Center. Clinicians used the AI display DecAide to view key patient data, AI-synthesised information, or AI data with treatment recommendations.

The study tested 35 emergency care providers across 12 scripted scenarios, comparing their decisions to established ground truth outcomes.

The results showed participants achieved the highest accuracy, 64.4%, when both AI information and recommendations were provided, compared to 56.3% with information alone and 55.8% with no AI support.

Decision times were consistent across all conditions, suggesting AI did not slow clinicians, though providers varied in how they used the recommendations. Some consulted the guidance after deciding, while others ignored it due to trust or transparency concerns.

Researchers highlight the potential for AI to augment emergency care without replacing human judgement, particularly in time-critical settings. Researchers stress the need for larger studies and clear policies to ensure clinicians can trust and use AI tools effectively.

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EU unveils vision for a modern justice system

The European Commission has introduced a new Digital Justice Package designed to guide the EU justice systems into a fully digital era.

A plan that sets out a long-term strategy to support citizens, businesses and legal professionals with modern tools instead of outdated administrative processes. Central objectives include improved access to information, stronger cross-border cooperation and a faster shift toward AI-supported services.

The DigitalJustice@2030 Strategy contains fourteen steps that encourage member states to adopt advanced digital tools and share successful practices.

A key part of the roadmap focuses on expanding the European Legal Data Space, enabling legislation and case law to be accessed more efficiently.

The Commission intends to deepen cooperation by developing a shared toolbox for AI and IT systems and by seeking a unified European solution to cross-border videoconferencing challenges.

Additionally, the Commission has presented a Judicial Training Strategy designed to equip judges, prosecutors and legal staff with the digital and AI skills required to apply the EU digital law effectively.

Training will include digital case management, secure communication methods and awareness of AI’s influence on legal practice. The goal is to align national and EU programmes to increase long-term impact, rather than fragmenting efforts.

European officials argue that digital justice strengthens competitiveness by reducing delays, encouraging transparency and improving access for citizens and businesses.

The package supports the EU’s Digital Decade ambition to make all key public services available online by 2030. It stands as a further step toward resilient and modern judicial systems across the Union.

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Tech groups welcome EU reforms as privacy advocates warn of retreat

The EU has unveiled plans to scale back certain aspects of its AI and data privacy rules to revive innovation and alleviate regulatory pressure on businesses. The Digital Omnibus package delays stricter oversight for high-risk AI until 2027 and permits the use of anonymised personal data for model training.

The reforms amend the AI Act and several digital laws, cutting cookie pop-ups and simplifying documentation requirements for smaller firms. EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen says the aim is to boost competitiveness by removing layers of rigid regulation that have hindered start-ups and SMEs.

US tech lobby groups welcomed the overall direction. Still, they criticised the package for not going far enough, particularly on compute thresholds for systemic-risk AI and copyright provisions with cross-border effects. They argue the reforms only partially address industry concerns.

Privacy and digital rights advocates sharply opposed the changes, warning they represent a significant retreat from Europe’s rights-centric regulatory model. Groups including NOYB accused Brussels of undermining hard-won protections in favour of Big Tech interests.

Legal scholars say the proposals could shift Europe closer to a more permissive, industry-driven approach to AI and data use. They warn that the reforms may dilute the EU’s global reputation as a standard-setter for digital rights, just as the world seeks alternatives to US-style regulation.

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