Key Internet developments

Disney+ subscribers protest AI content plans

Disney faces intense criticism after CEO Bob Iger announced plans to allow AI-generated content on Disney+. The streaming service, known for its iconic hand-drawn animation, now risks alienating artists and fans who value traditional craftsmanship.

Iger said AI would offer Disney+ users more interactive experiences, including the creation and sharing of short-form content. The company plans to expand gaming on Disney+ by continuing its collaborations with Fortnite, as well as featuring characters from Star Wars and The Simpsons.

Artists and animators reacted sharply, warning that AI could lead to job losses and a flood of low-quality material. Social media users called for a boycott, emphasising that generative AI undermines the legacy of Disney’s animation and may drive subscribers away.

The backlash reflects broader industry concerns, as other studios, such as Illumination and DreamWorks, have also rejected the use of generative AI. Creators like Dana Terrace of The Owl House urged fans to support human artistry, backing the push to defend traditional animation from AI-generated content.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

New funding round by Meta strengthens local STEAM education

Meta is inviting applications for its 2026 Data Centre Community Action Grants, which support schools, nonprofits and local groups in regions that host the company’s data centres.

The programme has been a core part of Meta’s community investment strategy since 2011, and the latest round expands support to seven additional areas linked to new facilities. The company views the grants as a means of strengthening long-term community vitality, rather than focusing solely on infrastructure growth.

Funding is aimed at projects that use technology for public benefit and improve opportunities in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. More than $ 74 million has been awarded to communities worldwide, with $ 24 million distributed through the grant programme alone.

Recipients can reapply each year, which enables organisations to sustain programmes and increase their impact over time.

Several regions have already demonstrated how the funding can reshape local learning opportunities. Northern Illinois University used grants to expand engineering camps for younger students and to open a STEAM studio that supports after-school programmes and workforce development.

In New Mexico, a middle school used funding to build a STEM centre with advanced tools such as drones, coding kits and 3D printing equipment. In Texas, an enrichment organisation created a digital media and STEM camp for at-risk youth, offering skills that can encourage empowerment instead of disengagement.

Meta presents the programme as part of a broader pledge to deepen education and community involvement around emerging technologies.

The company argues that long-term support for digital learning will strengthen local resilience and create opportunities for young people who want to pursue future careers in technology.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Irish regulator opens DSA probe into X

Ireland’s media watchdog has opened a formal investigation into X under the EU’s Digital Services Act. Regulators will assess appeal rights and internal complaint handling after reports of inaccessible processes for users.

Irish officials will examine whether users can challenge refusals to remove reported content and receive clear outcomes. Potential penalties reach up to 6% of global turnover for confirmed breaches.

The case stems from ongoing supervision, a user complaint, and information from HateAid, marking the first such probe by Ireland. Wider EU scrutiny continues across huge platforms.

Other services, including Meta and TikTok, have faced DSA actions, underscoring tighter enforcement across the bloc. Remedial measures and transparency improvements could follow if non-compliance is found.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Meta expands AI infrastructure with $1 billion sustainable facility

The US tech giant, Meta, has announced the construction of its 30th data centre in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, a $1 billion investment that will power the company’s growing AI infrastructure while benefiting the local community and environment.

A facility, designed to support Meta’s most demanding AI workloads, that will run entirely on clean energy and create more than 100 permanent jobs alongside 1,000 construction roles.

The company will invest nearly $200 million in energy infrastructure and donate $15 million to Alliant Energy’s Hometown Care Energy Fund to assist families with home energy costs.

Meta will also launch community grants to fund schools and local organisations, strengthening technology education and digital skills while helping small businesses use AI tools more effectively.

Environmental responsibility remains central to the project. The data centre will use dry cooling, eliminating water demands during operation, and restore 100% of consumed water to local watersheds.

In partnership with Ducks Unlimited, Meta will revitalise 570 acres of wetlands and prairie, transforming degraded habitats into thriving ecosystems. The facility is expected to achieve LEED Gold Certification, reflecting Meta’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and community-focused innovation.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Brussels leak signals GDPR and AI Act adjustments

The European Commission is preparing a Digital Package on simplification for 19 November. A leaked draft outlines instruments covering GDPR, ePrivacy, Data Act and AI Act reforms.

Plans include a single breach portal and a higher reporting threshold. Authorities would receive notifications within 96 hours, with standardised forms and narrower triggers. Controllers could reject or charge for data subject access requests used to pursue disputes.

Cookie rules would shift toward browser-level preference signals respected across services. Aggregated measurement and security uses would not require popups, while GDPR lawful bases expand. News publishers could receive limited exemptions recognising reliance on advertising revenues.

Drafting recognises legitimate interest for training AI models on personal data. Narrow allowances are provided for sensitive data during development, along with EU-wide data protection impact assessment templates. Critics warn proposals dilute safeguards and may soften the AI Act.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Google and Cassava expand Gemini access in Africa

Google announced a partnership with Cassava Technologies to widen access to Gemini across Africa. The deal includes data-free Gemini usage for eligible users coordinated through Cassava’s network partners. The initiative aims to address affordability and adoption barriers for mobile users.

A six-month trial of the Google AI Plus plan is part of the package. Benefits include access to more capable Gemini models and added cloud storage. Coverage by regional tech outlets reported the exact core details.

Education features were highlighted, including NotebookLM for study aids and Gemini in Docs for writing support. Google said the offer aims to help students, teachers, and creators work without worrying about data usage. Reports highlight a focus on youth and skills development.

Cassava’s role aligns with broader investments in AI infrastructure and services across the continent; recent announcements reference model exchanges and planned AI facilities that support regional development. Observers see momentum behind accessible AI tools.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

ChatGPT-5 outperformed by a Chinese startup model

A Chinese company has stunned the AI world after its new open-source model outperformed OpenAI’s ChatGPT-5 and Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4.5 in key benchmarks.

Moonshot AI’s Kimi K2 Thinking model achieved the best reasoning and coding scores yet, shaking confidence in American dominance over advanced AI systems.

The Beijing-based startup, backed by Alibaba and Tencent, released Kimi K2 Thinking on 6 November. It scored 44.9 percent in Humanity’s Last Exam and 60.2 percent in BrowseComp, both surpassing leading US models.

Analysts dubbed it another ‘DeepSeek moment ‘, echoing the earlier success of China in breaking AI cost barriers.

Moonshot AI trained the trillion-parameter system for just US$4.6 million (nearly ten times cheaper than GPT-5’s reported costs) using a Mixture-of-Experts structure and advanced quantisation for faster generation.

The fully open-weight model, released under a Modified MIT License, adds commercial flexibility and intensifies competition with US labs.

Industry observers called it a turning point. Hugging Face’s Thomas Wolf said the achievement shows how open-source models can now rival closed systems.

Researchers from the Allen Institute for AI noted that Chinese innovation is narrowing the gap faster than expected, driven by efficiency and high-quality training data rather than raw computing power.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

MK1 joins AMD to accelerate enterprise AI and reasoning technologies

AMD has completed the acquisition of MK1, a California-based company specialising in high-speed inference and reasoning-based AI technologies.

The move marks a significant step in AMD’s strategy to strengthen AI performance and efficiency across hardware and software layers. MK1’s Flywheel and comprehension engines are designed to optimise AMD’s Instinct GPUs, offering scalable, accurate, and cost-efficient AI reasoning.

The MK1 team will join the AMD Artificial Intelligence Group, where their expertise will advance AMD’s enterprise AI software stack and inference capabilities.

Handling over one trillion tokens daily, MK1’s systems are already deployed at scale, providing traceable and efficient AI solutions for complex business processes.

By combining MK1’s advanced AI software innovation with AMD’s compute power, the acquisition enhances AMD’s position in the enterprise and generative AI markets, supporting its goal of delivering accessible, high-performance AI solutions globally.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Joint quantum partnership unites Canada and Denmark for global research leadership

Canada and Denmark have signed a joint statement to deepen collaboration in quantum research and innovation.

The agreement, announced at the European Quantum Technologies Conference 2025 in Copenhagen, reflects both countries’ commitment to advancing quantum science responsibly while promoting shared values of openness, ethics and excellence.

Under the partnership, the two nations will enhance research and development ties, encourage open data sharing, and cultivate a skilled talent pipeline. They also aim to boost global competitiveness in quantum technologies, fostering new opportunities for market expansion and secure supply chains.

Canadian Minister Mélanie Joly highlighted that the cooperation showcases a shared ambition to accelerate progress in health care, clean energy and defence.

Denmark’s Minister for Higher Education and Science, Christina Egelund, described Canada as a vital partner in scientific innovation. At the same time, Minister Evan Solomon stressed the agreement’s role in empowering researchers to deliver breakthroughs that shape the future of quantum technologies.

Both Canada and Denmark are recognised as global leaders in quantum science, working together through initiatives such as the NATO Transatlantic Quantum Community.

A partnership that supports Canada’s National Quantum Strategy, launched in 2023, and reinforces its shared goal of driving innovation for sustainable growth and collective security.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Denmark’s new chat control plan raises fresh privacy concerns

Denmark has proposed an updated version of the EU’s controversial ‘chat control’ regulation, shifting from mandatory to voluntary scanning of private messages. Former MEP Patrick Breyer has warned, however, that the revision still threatens Europeans’ right to private communication.

Under the new plan, messaging providers could choose to scan chats for illegal material, but without a clear requirement for court orders. Breyer argued that this sidesteps the European Parliament’s position, which insists on judicial authorisation before any access to communications.

He also criticised the proposal for banning under-16s from using messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, claiming such restrictions would prove ineffective and easily bypassed. In addition, the plan would effectively outlaw anonymous communication, requiring users to verify their identities through IDs.

Privacy advocates say the Danish proposal could set a dangerous precedent by eroding fundamental digital rights. Civil society groups have urged EU lawmakers to reject measures that compromise secure, anonymous communication essential for journalists and whistleblowers.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!