Growing concern over data privacy and subscription fatigue has led an independent developer to create WitNote, an AI note-taking tool that runs entirely offline.
The software allows users to process notes locally on Windows and macOS rather than relying on cloud-based services where personal information may be exposed.
WitNote supports lightweight language models such as Qwen2.5-0.5B that can run with limited storage requirements. Users may also connect to external models through API keys if preferred.
Core functions include rewriting, summarising and extending content, while a WYSIWYG Markdown editor provides a familiar workflow without network delays, instead of relying on web-based interfaces.
Another key feature is direct integration with Obsidian Markdown files, allowing notes to be imported instantly and managed in one place.
The developer says the project remains a work in progress but commits to ongoing updates and user-driven improvements, even joining Apple’s developer programme personally to support smoother installation.
For users seeking AI assistance while protecting privacy and avoiding monthly fees, WitNote positions itself as an appealing offline alternative that keeps full control of data on the local machine.
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The booming influencer economy of Belgium is colliding with an advertising rulebook that many creators say belongs to another era.
Different obligations across federal, regional and local authorities mean that wording acceptable in one region may trigger a reprimand in another. Some influencers have even faced large fines for administrative breaches such as failing to publish business details on their profiles.
In response, the Influencer Marketing Alliance in Belgium has launched a certification scheme designed to help creators navigate the legal maze instead of risking unintentional violations.
Influencers complete an online course on advertising and consumer law and must pass a final exam before being listed in a public registry monitored by the Jury for Ethical Practices.
Major brands, including L’Oréal and Coca-Cola, already prefer to collaborate with certified creators to ensure compliance and credibility.
Not everyone is convinced.
Some Belgian influencers argue that certification adds more bureaucracy at a time when they already struggle to understand overlapping rules. Others see value as a structured reminder that content creators remain legally responsible for commercial communication shared with followers.
The alliance is also pushing lawmakers to involve influencers more closely when drafting future rules, including taxation and safeguards for child creators.
Consumer groups such as BEUC support clearer definitions and obligations under the forthcoming EU Digital Fairness Act, arguing that influencer advertising should follow the same standards as other media instead of remaining in a grey zone.
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A ransomware attack has disrupted the Oltenia Energy Complex, Romania’s largest coal-based power producer, after hackers encrypted key IT systems in the early hours of 26 December.
The state-controlled company confirmed that the Gentlemen ransomware strain locked corporate files and disabled core services, including ERP platforms, document management tools, email and the official website.
The organisation isolated affected infrastructure and began restoring services from backups on new systems instead of paying a ransom. Operations were only partially impacted and officials stressed that the national energy system remained secure, despite the disruption across business networks.
A criminal complaint has been filed. Additionally, both the National Directorate of Cyber Security of Romania and the Ministry of Energy have been notified.
Investigators are still assessing the scale of the breach and whether sensitive data was exfiltrated before encryption. The Gentlemen ransomware group has not yet listed the energy firm on its dark-web leak site, a sign that negotiations may still be underway.
An attack that follows a separate ransomware incident that recently hit Romania’s national water authority, underlining the rising pressure on critical infrastructure organisations.
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A Moscow court has dismissed a class action lawsuit filed against Russia’s state media regulator Roskomnadzor and the Ministry of Digital Development by users of WhatsApp and Telegram. The ruling was issued by a judge at the Tagansky District Court.
The court said activist Konstantin Larionov failed to demonstrate he was authorised to represent messaging app users. The lawsuit claimed call restrictions violated constitutional rights, including freedom of information and communication secrecy.
The case followed Roskomnadzor’s decision in August to block calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, a move officials described as part of anti-fraud efforts. Both companies criticised the restrictions at the time.
Larionov and several dozen co-plaintiffs said the measures were ineffective, citing central bank data showing fraud mainly occurs through traditional calls and text messages. The plaintiffs also argued the restrictions disproportionately affected ordinary users.
Larionov said the group plans to appeal the decision and continue legal action. He has described the lawsuit as an attempt to challenge what he views as politically motivated restrictions on communication services in Russia.
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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.
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Apple has filed an appeal of a major UK antitrust ruling that could result in billions of dollars in compensation for App Store users. The move would escalate the case from the Competition Appeal Tribunal to the UK Court of Appeal.
The application follows an October ruling in which the tribunal found Apple had abused its dominant market position by charging excessive App Store fees. The decision set a £1.5 billion ($1.9 billion) compensation figure, which Apple previously signalled it would challenge.
After the tribunal declined to grant permission to appeal, Apple sought to appeal to a higher court. The company has not commented publicly on the latest filing but continues to dispute the tribunal’s assessment of competition in the app economy.
Central to the case is the tribunal’s proposed developer commission rate of 15-20 per cent, lower than Apple’s longstanding 30 per cent fee. The rate was determined using what the court described as informed estimates.
If upheld, the compensation would be distributed among UK App Store users who made purchases between 2015 and 2024. The case is being closely watched as a test of antitrust enforcement against major digital platforms.
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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.
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South Korea has introduced mandatory facial recognition for anyone registering a new SIM card or eSIM, whether in-store or online.
The live scan must match the photo on an official ID so that each phone number can be tied to a verified person instead of relying on paperwork alone.
Existing users are not affected, and the requirement applies only at the moment a number is issued.
The government argues that stricter checks are needed because telecom fraud has become industrialised and relies heavily on illegally registered SIM cards.
Criminal groups have used stolen identity data to obtain large volumes of numbers that can be swapped quickly to avoid detection. Regulators now see SIM issuance as the weakest link and the point where intervention is most effective.
Telecom companies must integrate biometric checks into onboarding, while authorities insist that facial data is used only for real-time verification and not stored. Privacy advocates warn that biometric verification creates new risks because faces cannot be changed if compromised.
They also question whether such a broad rule is proportionate when mobile access is essential for daily life.
The policy places South Korea in a unique position internationally, combining mandatory biometrics with defined legal limits. Its success will be judged on whether fraud meaningfully declines instead of being displaced.
A rule that has become a test case for how far governments should extend biometric identity checks into routine services.
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South Korean e-commerce firm Coupang has apologised for a major data breach affecting more than 33 million users and announced a compensation package worth 1.69 trillion won. Founder Kim Bom acknowledged the disruption caused, following public and political backlash over the incident.
Under the plan, affected customers will receive vouchers worth 50,000 won, usable Choi Minonly on Coupang’s own platforms. The company said the measure was intended to compensate users, but the approach has drawn criticism from lawmakers and consumer groups.
Choi Min-hee, a lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party, criticised the decision in a social media post, arguing that the vouchers were tied to services with limited use. She accused Coupang of attempting to turn the crisis into a business opportunity.
Consumer advocacy groups echoed these concerns, saying the compensation plan trivialised the seriousness of the breach. They argued that limiting compensation to vouchers resembled a marketing strategy rather than meaningful restitution for affected users.
The controversy comes as the National Assembly of South Korea prepares to hold hearings on Coupang. While the company has admitted negligence, it has declined to appear before lawmakers amid scrutiny of its handling of the breach.
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Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger has indicated support for stricter age limits on social media after Australia banned teenagers under 16 from using major online platforms. He said age restrictions were more than justified and that the policy had clear merit.
Australia’s new rules require companies to remove under 16 user profiles and stop new ones from being created. Officials argued that the measure aims to reduce cyberbullying, grooming and mental health harm instead of relying only on parental supervision.
The European Commission President said she was inspired by the move, although social media companies and civil liberties groups have criticised it.
Germany has already appointed an expert commission to examine child and youth protection in the digital era. The panel is expected to publish recommendations by summer 2025, which could include policies on social media access and potential restrictions on mobile phone use in schools.
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