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Security warning issued over OpenClaw AI agent

Cybersecurity authorities have warned that vulnerabilities in the OpenClaw AI agent could expose sensitive data. Officials in China say weak default security settings may allow attackers to exploit the system.

Experts in China warned that prompt injection attacks could manipulate OpenClaw when it accesses online content. Malicious instructions hidden in websites may cause the AI agent to reveal confidential information.

Researchers have also identified risks involving link previews in messaging apps such as Telegram and Discord. Investigators in China say attackers could trick the system into sending sensitive data to malicious websites.

Security specialists in China advise organisations to strengthen protections around AI agents. Recommendations include isolating systems, limiting network access and installing trusted software components only.

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Seoul deepens ties with global AI developers

South Korea is pursuing a partnership with AI company Anthropic as part of a national strategy to strengthen technological capabilities. Officials are working toward a memorandum of understanding with the developer of the Claude AI system.

The initiative follows discussions between South Korea’s science minister and Anthropic’s chief executive, Dario Amodei, during an AI summit in New Delhi. Authorities are also preparing for the company’s planned office opening in the city in 2026.

Government leaders in South Korea have already expanded cooperation with OpenAI. Policymakers say the strategy aims to build ties with leading global AI developers while supporting domestic innovation.

Officials are also developing a homegrown AI foundation model with local companies. The programme forms part of a national plan to position the country among the world’s leading AI powers.

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AI and robotics could offset impact of aging populations in Asia

Declining fertility rates have long been considered a major risk to economic growth, but analysts suggest the outlook may not be entirely negative for several advanced Asian economies. Rising investment in AI and robotics is increasingly viewed as a way to offset labour shortages caused by ageing populations.

According to analysts at Bank of America Global Research, technological innovation driven by AI and robotics could support productivity growth even as workforces shrink. Strong ecosystems in semiconductors, technology hardware, and industrial machinery allow some countries in the region to deploy advanced technologies faster and at lower cost than many other parts of the world.

South Korea currently has the highest robot density in the world, with about 1,012 industrial robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers. Chi n a has 470 and Japan 419, both significantly above the global average of 162, according to 2024 figures from the International Federation of Robotics.

Analysts say governments across East Asia are accelerating the adoption of AI and robotics to address demographic pressures. In particular, China, South Korea, and Japan have expanded investments in robotics, AI systems, and advanced manufacturing technologies to maintain economic productivity.

Population projections highlight the scale of the challenge facing these economies. By 2050, about 37 percent of Japan’s population and nearly 40 percent of South Korea’s population are expected to be aged 65 or older, while China’s share could reach around 31 percent.

Despite concerns about slowing growth, economists argue that advances in AI and robotics could weaken the traditional link between economic output and workforce size. Automation technologies not only replace routine tasks but also enhance human productivity in many industries.

A study by the Bank of Korea estimated that demographic pressures could reduce the country’s gross domestic product by 16.5 percent between 2023 and 2050. However, wider adoption of AI and robotics could limit the decline to around 5.9 percent under favourable conditions.

Some analysts caution that the economic benefits of automation may not be evenly distributed. While AI and robotics can improve productivity, technological gains often benefit capital owners and highly skilled workers more than others.

Economists also warn that consumption may slow as the number of households declines, while governments may face greater fiscal pressure from higher pension and healthcare costs. Policymakers may need to invest in workforce retraining and education to help workers adapt to the growing role of AI and robotics in the economy.

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Meta removes encrypted messaging from Instagram DMs

Meta will discontinue end-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages starting in May 2026. The company said the feature saw limited use among Instagram users.

Users with encrypted chats will receive instructions on how to download messages or media before the feature ends. Meta confirmed the change through updates to its support pages and in-app notifications.

The decision comes amid ongoing debate about encryption and online safety on major social platforms. Critics argue that encrypted messaging can make it harder to detect harmful activity involving minors.

Meta said users seeking encrypted communication can continue using WhatsApp or Messenger. The company maintains end-to-end encryption for messaging services outside Instagram.

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French court upholds €40 million GDPR fine for Criteo

France’s highest administrative court has upheld a €40 million GDPR fine against advertising technology company Criteo. Regulators in France concluded that the firm failed to obtain valid consent for tracking users across websites.

The investigation began in 2018 following complaints from privacy groups and examined Criteo’s behavioural advertising model. Authorities in France said the company did not properly respect rights to access, erasure and transparency.

The ruling in France also confirmed that pseudonymous identifiers linked to browsing data can still qualify as personal data. Judges rejected arguments that such identifiers were effectively anonymous.

Privacy advocates say the decision strengthens GDPR enforcement across Europe. Experts in France argue that the case highlights growing scrutiny of online tracking practices used in digital advertising.

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Study warns AI chatbots may reinforce delusional thinking

A new scientific review has raised concerns that AI chatbots could reinforce delusional thinking, particularly among people already vulnerable to psychosis. The review, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, summarises emerging evidence suggesting that chatbot interactions may validate or amplify delusional thinking in certain users.

The study examined reports and research discussing what some have described as ‘AI-associated delusions’. Dr Hamilton Morrin, a psychiatrist and researcher at King’s College London, analysed media reports and existing evidence exploring how chatbot responses might interact with psychotic symptoms.

Psychotic delusions generally fall into three categories: grandiose, romantic, and paranoid. Researchers say chatbots may unintentionally reinforce such beliefs because they often respond in ways that are supportive or affirming. In some reported cases, users received responses suggesting spiritual significance or implying that a higher entity was communicating through the chatbot.

Researchers emphasise that there is currently no clear evidence that AI systems can independently cause psychosis in individuals without prior vulnerability. However, interactions with chatbots could strengthen existing beliefs or accelerate the progression of delusional thinking in people already at risk.

Experts say the interactive nature of chatbots may intensify the effect. Unlike static sources of information such as videos or articles, chatbots can engage users directly and repeatedly, potentially reinforcing problematic beliefs more quickly.

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Google Earth AI supports disease forecasting and public health planning

Researchers are increasingly combining geospatial data with predictive modelling to anticipate health risks.

In that context, Google has introduced new capabilities within Google Earth AI designed to help public health experts forecast outbreaks and identify vulnerable communities.

The system integrates environmental information such as weather patterns, flooding and air quality with population mobility data and health records.

These insights allow researchers to analyse how environmental conditions influence the spread of diseases, including Dengue Fever and Cholera.

Several research initiatives are already testing the models. In collaboration with the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa, forecasting tools combining Google’s time-series models with geospatial data improved cholera prediction accuracy by more than 35 percent.

Academic researchers are also applying the technology to other diseases. Scientists at the University of Oxford have used Earth AI datasets to improve six-month dengue forecasts in Brazil, helping local authorities prepare preventative responses.

The technology is also being tested for chronic disease analysis. In Australia, partnerships with health organisations are exploring how geospatial models can identify regional health needs and support preventative care strategies.

Combining environmental intelligence with health data could enable public health systems to shift from reactive crisis management to earlier detection and prevention of disease outbreaks.

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EU reviews X compliance proposal under Digital Services Act

X has submitted a compliance proposal to the European Commission outlining how it intends to modify its blue check verification system following regulatory concerns under the Digital Services Act.

The EU regulators concluded that the platform’s system allowed users to obtain verification simply by paying for a subscription without meaningful identity checks, potentially misleading users about the authenticity of accounts.

The Commission imposed a €120 million fine in December and gave the company 60 working days to propose corrective measures. Officials confirmed that X met the deadline for submitting a plan, which regulators will now assess.

The platform, owned by Elon Musk, must also pay the penalty while the Commission evaluates the proposed changes. The company has challenged the enforcement decision before the EU’s General Court.

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Europe aims to tighten AI rules and personal data standards

The European Council has proposed AI Act amendments, banning nudification tools and tightening rules for processing sensitive personal data. The move represents a key step in streamlining the continent’s digital legislation and improving safeguards for citizens.

Council officials highlighted the prohibition of AI systems that generate non-consensual sexual content or child sexual abuse material. The measure matches a European Parliament ban, showing strong support for tighter AI controls amid misuse concerns.

The proposal follows incidents such as the Grok chatbot producing millions of non-consensual intimate images, which sparked a global backlash and prompted an EU probe into the social media platform X and its AI features.

Other amendments reinstate strict rules for processing sensitive data to detect bias and require providers to register high-risk AI systems, even if claiming exemptions. Negotiations between the Council and Parliament will finalise the AI Act’s updated measures.

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Deepfake attacks push organisations to rethink cybersecurity strategies

Organisations are strengthening their cybersecurity strategies as deepfake attacks become more convincing and easier to produce using generative AI.

Security experts alert that enterprises must move beyond basic detection tools and adopt layered security strategies to defend against the growing threat of deepfake attacks targeting communications and digital identity.

Many existing tools for identifying manipulated media are still imperfect. Digital forensics expert Hany Farid estimates that some systems used to detect deepfake attacks are only about 80 percent effective and often fail to explain how they determine whether an image, video, or audio recording is authentic. The lack of explainability also raises challenges for legal investigations and public verification of suspicious media.

Cybersecurity companies are creating new technologies to improve the detection of deepfake attacks by analysing slight signals that are difficult for humans to notice. Firms such as GetReal Security, Reality Defender, Deep Media, and Sensity AI examine lighting consistency, shadow angles, voice patterns, and facial movements. Environmental indicators such as device location, metadata, and IP information can also help security teams spot potential deepfake attacks.

However, experts say detection alone cannot fully protect organisations from deepfake attacks. Companies are increasingly conducting internal red-team exercises that simulate impersonation scenarios to expose weaknesses in verification procedures. Multi-factor authentication techniques can reduce the risk of employees responding to fraudulent communications.

Another emerging defence involves digital provenance systems designed to track the origin and modification history of digital content. Initiatives such as the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) embed cryptographically signed metadata into media files, allowing organisations to verify whether content linked to suspected deepfake attacks has been altered.

Recent experiments highlight how testing these threats can be. In February, cybersecurity company Reality Defender conducted an exercise with NATO by introducing deepfake media into a simulated military scenario. The findings showed how easily even experienced officials can struggle to identify manipulated communications, reinforcing calls for automated systems capable to detecting deepfake attacks across critical infrastructure.

As generative AI tools continue to advance, organisations are expected to combine detection technologies, stronger verification procedures, and provenance tracking to reduce the risks posed by deepfake attacks.

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