Jurisdiction

EU confirms AI Act rollout and releases GPAI Code of Practice

The European Commission has confirmed it will move forward with the EU AI Act exactly as scheduled, instead of granting delays requested by tech giants and businesses.

On 10 July 2025, it published the final General-Purpose AI (GPAI) Code of Practice alongside FAQs to guide organisations aiming to comply with the new law.

Rather than opting for a more flexible timetable, the Commission is standing firm on its regulatory goals. The GPAI Code of Practice, now in its final form, sets out voluntary but strongly recommended steps for companies that want reduced administrative burdens and clearer legal certainty under the AI Act.

The document covers transparency, copyright, and safety standards for advanced AI models, including a model documentation form for providers.

Key dates have already been set. From 2 August 2025, rules covering notifications, governance, and penalties will come into force. By February 2026, official guidelines on classifying high-risk AI systems are expected.

The remaining parts of the legislation will take effect by August 2026, instead of being postponed further.

With the publication of the GPAI Code of Practice, the EU takes another step towards building a unified ethical framework for AI development and deployment across Europe, focusing on transparency, accountability, and respect for fundamental rights.

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Thailand to advance policies to boost space industry and satellite services

Thailand’s Digital Economy Ministry is advancing several key policies to boost the country’s space industry and satellite services. The draft Landing Rights policy, approved by the National Space Policy Committee and pending Cabinet approval, will allow foreign satellite operators to provide services within Thailand while ensuring fair competition with domestic providers.

Alongside this, the committee approved the updated National Space Master Plan, reflecting recommendations from national development councils. These policies form part of the broader National Satellite Policy Framework, which addresses policy, legal and regulatory development, international collaboration, and space infrastructure to support the growing space sector.

The government is focused on using space technology and satellite data to improve areas like disaster management, agriculture, and resource governance. Thailand is also enhancing international cooperation by planning to sign the Artemis Accords, working with China on lunar research, and developing space traffic management policies to strengthen its global role.

To support these goals, Thailand is investing in digital infrastructure to expand space activities, ensure inclusive access, reduce inequality, and boost economic and social security.

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Netherlands urges EU to reduce reliance on US cloud providers

The Dutch government has released a policy paper urging the European Union to take coordinated action to reduce its heavy dependence on non-EU cloud providers, especially from the United States.

The document recommends that the European Commission introduce a clearer and harmonized approach at the EU level.

Key proposals include creating a consistent definition of ‘cloud sovereignty,’ adjusting public procurement rules to allow prioritizing sovereignty, promoting open-source technologies and standards, setting up a common European decision-making framework for cloud choices, and ensuring sufficient funding to support the development and deployment of sovereign cloud technologies.

These measures aim to strengthen the EU’s digital independence and protect public administrations from external political or economic pressures.

A recent investigation found that over 20,000 Dutch institutions rely heavily on US cloud services, with Microsoft holding about 60% of the market.

The Dutch government warned this dependence risks national security and fundamental rights. Concerns escalated after Microsoft blocked the ICC prosecutor’s email following US sanctions, sparking political outrage.

In response, the Dutch parliament called for reducing reliance on American providers and urged the government to develop a roadmap to protect digital infrastructure and regain control.

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AI Appreciation Day highlights progress and growing concerns

AI is marking another milestone as experts worldwide reflect on its rapid rise during AI Appreciation Day. From reshaping business workflows to transforming customer experiences, AI’s presence is expanding — but so are concerns over its long-term implications.

Industry leaders point to AI’s growing role across sectors. Patrick Harrington from MetaRouter highlights how control over first-party data is now seen as key instead of just processing large datasets.

Vall Herard of Saifr adds that successful AI implementations depend on combining curated data with human oversight rather than relying purely on machine-driven systems.

Meanwhile, Paula Felstead from HBX Group believes AI could significantly enhance travel experiences, though scaling it across entire organisations remains a challenge.

Voice AI is changing industries that depend on customer interaction, according to Natalie Rutgers from Deepgram. Instead of complex interfaces, voice technology is improving communication in restaurants, hospitals, and banks.

At the same time, experts like Ivan Novikov from Wallarm stress the importance of securing AI systems and the APIs connecting them, as these form the backbone of modern AI services.

While some celebrate AI’s advances, others raise caution. SentinelOne’s Ezzeldin Hussein envisions AI becoming a trusted partner through responsible development rather than unchecked growth.

Naomi Buckwalter from Contrast Security warns that AI-generated code could open security gaps instead of fully replacing human engineering, while Geoff Burke from Object First notes that AI-powered cyberattacks are becoming inevitable for businesses unable to keep pace with evolving threats.

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Europe to launch Eurosky to regain digital control

Europe is taking steps to assert its digital independence by launching the Eurosky initiative, a government-backed project to reduce reliance on US tech giants.

Eurosky seeks to build European infrastructure for social media platforms and promote digital sovereignty. The goal is to ensure that the continent’s digital space is governed by European laws, values, and rules, rather than being subject to the influence of foreign companies or governments.

To support this goal, Eurosky plans to implement a decentralised content moderation system, modelled after the approach used by the Bluesky network.

Moderation, essential for removing harmful or illegal content like child exploitation or stolen data, remains a significant obstacle for new platforms. Eurosky offers a non-profit moderation service to help emerging social media providers handle this task, thus lowering the barriers to entering the market.

The project enjoys strong public and political backing. Polls show that majorities in France, Germany, and Spain prefer Europe-based platforms, with only 5% favouring US providers.

Eurosky also has support from four European governments, though their identities remain undisclosed. This momentum aligns with a broader shift in user behaviour, as Europeans increasingly turn to local tech services amid privacy and sovereignty concerns.

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US House passes NTIA cyber leadership bill after Salt Typhoon hacks

The US House of Representatives has passed legislation that would officially designate the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) as the federal lead for cybersecurity across communications networks.

The move follows last year’s Salt Typhoon hacking spree, described by some as the worst telecom breach in US history.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act, introduced by Representatives Jay Obernolte and Jennifer McClellan, cleared the House on Monday and now awaits Senate approval.

The bill would rebrand an NTIA office to focus on both policy and cybersecurity, while codifying the agency’s role in coordinating cybersecurity responses alongside other federal departments.

Lawmakers argue that recent telecom attacks exposed major gaps in coordination between government and industry.

The bill promotes public-private partnerships and stronger collaboration between agencies, software developers, telecom firms, and security researchers to improve resilience and speed up innovation across communications technologies.

With Americans’ daily lives increasingly dependent on digital services, supporters say the bill provides a crucial framework for protecting sensitive information from cybercriminals and foreign hacking groups instead of relying on fragmented and inconsistent measures.

Pentagon awards AI contracts to xAI and others after Grok controversy

The US Department of Defence has awarded contracts to four major AI firms, including Elon Musk’s xAI, as part of a strategy to boost military AI capabilities.

Each contract is valued at up to $200 million and involves developing advanced AI workflows for critical national security tasks.

Alongside xAI, Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI have also secured contracts. Pentagon officials said the deals aim to integrate commercial AI solutions into intelligence, business, and defence operations instead of relying solely on internal systems.

Chief Digital and AI Officer Doug Matty states that these technologies will help maintain the US’s strategic edge over rivals.

The decision comes as Musk’s AI company faces controversy after its Grok chatbot was reported to have published offensive content on social media. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, have raised ethical concerns about awarding national security contracts to a company under public scrutiny.

xAI insists its Grok for Movement platform will help speed up government services and scientific innovation.

Despite political tensions and Musk’s past financial support for Donald Trump’s campaign, the Pentagon has formalised its relationship with xAI and other AI leaders instead of excluding them due to reputational risks.

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Nvidia to restart China AI chip sales after US talks

Nvidia has announced plans to resume sales of its H20 AI chip in China, following meetings between CEO Jensen Huang and US President Donald Trump in Beijing.

The move comes after US export controls previously banned sales of the chip on national security grounds, costing Nvidia an estimated $15 billion in lost revenue.

The company confirmed it is filing for licences with the US government to restart deliveries of the H20 graphics processing unit, expecting approval shortly.

Nvidia also revealed a new RTX Pro GPU designed specifically for China, compliant with US export rules, offering a lower-cost alternative instead of risking further restrictions.

Huang, attending a supply chain expo in Beijing, described China as essential to Nvidia’s growth, despite rising competition from local firms like Huawei.

Chinese companies remain highly dependent on Nvidia’s CUDA platform, while US lawmakers have raised concerns about Nvidia engaging with Chinese entities linked to military or intelligence services.

Nvidia’s return to the Chinese market comes as Washington and Beijing show signs of easing trade tensions, including relaxed rare earth export rules from China and restored chip design services from the US.

Analysts note, however, that Chinese firms are likely to keep diversifying suppliers instead of relying solely on US chips for supply chain security.

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Mexican voice actors demand AI regulation over cloning threat

Mexican actors have raised alarm over the threat AI poses to their profession, calling for stronger regulation to prevent voice cloning without consent.

From Mexico City’s Monument to the Revolution, dozens of audiovisual professionals rallied with signs reading phrases like ‘I don’t want to be replaced by AI.’ Lili Barba, president of the Mexican Association of Commercial Announcements, said actors are urging the government to legally recognise the voice as a biometric identifier.

She cited a recent video by Mexico’s National Electoral Institute that used the cloned voice of the late actor Jose Lavat without family consent. Lavat was famous for dubbing stars like Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. Barba called the incident ‘a major violation we can’t allow.’

Actor Harumi Nishizawa described voice dubbing as an intricate art form. She warned that without regulation, human dubbing could vanish along with millions of creative jobs.

Last year, AI’s potential to replace artists sparked major strikes in Hollywood, while Scarlett Johansson accused OpenAI of copying her voice for a chatbot.

Streaming services like Amazon Prime Video and platforms such as YouTube are now testing AI-assisted dubbing systems, with some studios promoting all-in-one AI tools,

In South Korea, CJ ENM recently introduced a system combining audio, video and character animation, highlighting the pace of AI adoption in entertainment.

Despite the tech’s growth, many in the industry argue that AI lacks the creative depth of real human performance, especially in emotional or comedic delivery. ‘AI can’t make dialogue sound broken or alive,’ said Mario Heras, a dubbing director in Mexico. ‘The human factor still protects us.’

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AI fake news surge tests EU Digital Services Act

Europe is facing a growing wave of AI-powered fake news and coordinated bot attacks that overwhelm media, fact-checkers, and online platforms instead of relying on older propaganda methods.

According to the European Policy Centre, networks using advanced AI now spread deepfakes, hoaxes, and fake articles faster than they can be debunked, raising concerns over whether EU rules are keeping up.

Since late 2024, the so-called ‘Overload’ operation has doubled its activity, sending an average of 2.6 fabricated proposals each day while also deploying thousands of bot accounts and fake videos.

These efforts aim to disrupt public debate through election intimidation, discrediting individuals, and creating panic instead of open discussion. Experts warn that without stricter enforcement, the EU’s Digital Services Act risks becoming ineffective.

To address the problem, analysts suggest that Europe must invest in real-time threat sharing between platforms, scalable AI detection systems, and narrative literacy campaigns to help citizens recognise manipulative content instead of depending only on fact-checkers.

Publicly naming and penalising non-compliant platforms would give the Digital Services Act more weight.

The European Parliament has already acknowledged widespread foreign-backed disinformation and cyberattacks targeting EU countries. Analysts say stronger action is required to protect the information space from systematic manipulation instead of allowing hostile narratives to spread unchecked.

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