Key Internet developments Archives | Page 16 of 49

UK launches software security ambassadors scheme

The UK government has launched the Software Security Ambassadors Scheme to promote stronger software security practices nationwide. The initiative is led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the National Cyber Security Centre.

In the UK, participating organisations commit to championing the new Software Security Code of Practice within their industries. Signatories agree to lead by example through secure development, procurement and advisory practices, while sharing lessons learned to strengthen national cyber resilience.

The scheme aims to improve transparency and risk management across UK digital supply chains. Software developers are encouraged to embed security throughout the whole lifecycle, while buyers are expected to incorporate security standards into procurement processes.

Officials say the approach supports the UK’s broader economic and security goals by reducing cyber risks and increasing trust in digital technologies. The government believes that better security practices will help UK businesses innovate safely and withstand cyber incidents.

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Amazon One Medical launches health AI assistant

One Medical has launched a Health AI assistant in its mobile app, offering personalised health guidance at any time. The tool uses verified medical records to support everyday healthcare decisions.

Patients can use the assistant to explain lab results, manage prescriptions, and book virtual or in-person appointments. Clinical safeguards ensure users are referred to human clinicians when medical judgement is required.

Powered by Amazon Bedrock, the assistant operates under HIPAA-compliant privacy standards and avoids selling personal health data. Amazon says clinician and member feedback will shape future updates.

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Microsoft restores Exchange and Teams after Microsoft 365 disruption

The US tech giant, Microsoft, investigated a service disruption affecting Exchange Online, Teams and other Microsoft 365 services after users reported access and performance problems.

An incident that began late on Wednesday affected core communication tools used by enterprises for daily operations.

Engineers initially focused on diagnosing the fault, with Microsoft indicating that a potential third-party networking issue may have interfered with access to Outlook and Teams.

During the disruption, users experienced intermittent connectivity failures, latency and difficulties signing in across parts of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

Microsoft later confirmed that service access had been restored, although no detailed breakdown of the outage scope was provided.

The incident underlined the operational risks associated with cloud productivity platforms and the importance of transparency and resilience in enterprise digital infrastructure.

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From chips to jobs: Huang’s vision for AI at Davos 2026

AI is evolving into a foundational economic system rather than a standalone technology, according to NVIDIA chief executive Jensen Huang, who described AI as a five-layer infrastructure spanning energy, hardware, data centres, models and applications.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Huang argued that building and operating each layer is triggering what he called the most significant infrastructure expansion in human history, with job creation stretching from power generation and construction to cloud operations and software development.

Investment patterns suggest a structural shift instead of a speculative cycle. Venture capital funding in 2025 reached record levels, largely flowing into AI-native firms across healthcare, manufacturing, robotics and financial services.

Huang stressed that the application layer will deliver the most significant economic return as AI moves from experimentation to core operational use across industries.

Concerns around job displacement were framed as misplaced. AI automates tasks rather than replacing professional judgement, enabling workers to focus on higher-value activities.

In healthcare, productivity gains from AI-assisted diagnostics and documentation are already increasing demand for radiologists and nurses rather than reducing headcount, as improved efficiency enables institutions to treat more patients.

Huang positioned AI as critical national infrastructure, urging governments to develop domestic capabilities aligned with local language, culture and industrial strengths.

He described AI literacy as an essential skill, comparable to leadership or management, while arguing that accessible AI tools could narrow global technology divides rather than widen them.

Diplo is live reporting on all sessions from the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos.

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South Korea sets the global standard for frontier AI regulation

South Korea will begin enforcing its Artificial Intelligence Act on Thursday, becoming the first country to introduce formal safety requirements for high-performance, or frontier, AI systems, reshaping the global regulatory landscape.

The law establishes a national AI governance framework, led by the Presidential Council on National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, and creates an AI Safety Institute to oversee safety and trust assessments.

Alongside regulatory measures, the government is rolling out broad support for research, data infrastructure, talent development, startups, and overseas expansion, signalling a growth-oriented policy stance.

To minimise early disruption, authorities will introduce a minimum one-year grace period centred on guidance, consultation, and education rather than enforcement.

Obligations cover three areas: high-impact AI in critical sectors, safety rules for frontier models, and transparency requirements for generative AI, including disclosure of realistic synthetic content.

Enforcement remains light-touch, prioritising corrective orders over penalties, with fines capped at 30 million won for persistent noncompliance. Officials said the framework aims to build public trust while supporting innovation, serving as a foundation for ongoing policy development.

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EU telecoms reform advances in small steps

The European Commission has unveiled the Digital Networks Act, aiming to reduce fragmentation across the EU telecoms sector. Proposals include limited spectrum harmonisation and an EU-wide numbering scheme to support cross-border business services.

Despite years of debate, the plan stops short of creating a fully unified telecoms market. National governments continue to resist deeper integration, particularly around control of 4G, 5G and wi-fi spectrum management.

The proposal reflects a cautious approach from the European Commission, balancing political pressure for reform against opposition from member states. Longstanding calls for consolidation have struggled to gain consensus.

Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has backed greater market integration, though the latest measures represent an incremental step rather than a structural overhaul.

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UNESCO raises alarm over government use of internet shutdowns

Yesterday, UNESCO expressed growing concern over the expanding use of internet shutdowns by governments seeking to manage political crises, protests, and electoral periods.

Recent data indicate that more than 300 shutdowns have occurred across over 54 countries during the past two years, with 2024 recorded as the most severe year since 2016.

According to UNESCO, restricting online access undermines the universal right to freedom of expression and weakens citizens’ ability to participate in social, cultural, and political life.

Access to information remains essential not only for democratic engagement but also for rights linked to education, assembly, and association, particularly during moments of instability.

Internet disruptions also place significant strain on journalists, media organisations, and public information systems that distribute verified news.

Instead of improving public order, shutdowns fracture information flows and contribute to the spread of unverified or harmful content, increasing confusion and mistrust among affected populations.

UNESCO continues to call on governments to adopt policies that strengthen connectivity and digital access rather than imposing barriers.

The organisation argues that maintaining open and reliable internet access during crises remains central to protecting democratic rights and safeguarding the integrity of information ecosystems.

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Gemini introduces Answer Now button for faster AI replies

A new ‘Answer Now’ button has been added to Gemini, allowing users to skip extended reasoning and receive instant replies. The feature appears alongside the spinning status indicator in Gemini 3 Pro and Thinking/Flash, but is not available in the Fast model.

When selected, the button confirms that Gemini is ‘skipping in-depth thinking’ before delivering a quicker response. Google says the tool is designed for general questions where speed is prioritised over detailed analysis.

The update coincides with changes to usage limits across subscription plans. AI Pro users now receive 300 Thinking prompts and 100 Pro prompts per day, while AI Ultra users get 1,500 Thinking prompts and 500 Pro prompts daily.

Free users also gain access to the revised limits, listed as ‘Basic access’ for both the Thinking and Pro models. Google has not indicated whether the Fast model will receive the Answer Now feature.

The rollout follows the recent launch of Gemini’s Personal Intelligence feature, which allows the chatbot to draw on Google services such as Gmail and Search history. Google says Answer Now will replace the existing Skip button and is now available on Android, iOS, and the web.

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Cloudflare expands open-source strategy with Astro framework team

The team behind the Astro web framework is joining Cloudflare, strengthening long-term support for open-source tools used to build fast, content-driven websites.

Major brands and developers widely use Astro to create pages that load quickly by limiting the amount of JavaScript that runs during initial rendering, improving performance and search visibility.

Cloudflare said Astro will remain open source and continue to be developed independently, ensuring long-term stability for the framework and its global user community.

Astro’s creators said the move will allow faster development and broader infrastructure support, while keeping the framework available to developers regardless of hosting provider.

The company added that Astro already underpins platforms such as Webflow and Wix, and that recent updates have expanded runtime support and improved build speeds.

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California moves to halt X AI deepfakes

California has ordered Elon Musk’s AI company xAI to stop creating and sharing non-consensual sexual deepfakes immediately. The move follows a surge in explicit AI-generated images circulating on X.

Attorney General Rob Bonta said xAI’s Grok tool enabled the manipulation of images of women and children without consent. Authorities argue that such activity breaches state decency laws and a new deepfake pornography ban.

The Californian investigation began after researchers found Grok users shared more non-consensual sexual imagery than users of other platforms. xAI introduced partial restrictions, though regulators said the real-world impact remains unclear.

Lawmakers say the case highlights growing risks linked to AI image tools. California officials warned companies could face significant penalties if deepfake creation and distribution continue unchecked.

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