Privacy and data protection

A common EU layer for age verification without a single age limit

Denmark will push for EU-wide age-verification rules to avoid a patchwork of national systems. As Council presidency, Copenhagen prioritises child protection online while keeping flexibility on national age limits. The aim is coordination without a single ‘digital majority’ age.

Ministers plan to give the European Commission a clear mandate for interoperable, privacy-preserving tools. An updated blueprint is being piloted in five states and aligns with the EU Digital Identity Wallet, which is due by the end of 2026. Goal: seamless, cross-border checks with minimal data exposure.

Copenhagen’s domestic agenda moves in parallel with a proposed ban on under-15 social media use. The government will consult national parties and EU partners on the scope and enforcement. Talks in Horsens, Denmark, signalled support for stronger safeguards and EU-level verification.

The emerging compromise separates ‘how to verify’ at the EU level from ‘what age to set’ at the national level. Proponents argue this avoids fragmentation while respecting domestic choices; critics warn implementation must minimise privacy risks and platform dependency.

Next steps include expanding pilots, formalising the Commission’s mandate, and publishing impact assessments. Clear standards on data minimisation, parental consent, and appeals will be vital. Affordable compliance for SMEs and independent oversight can sustain public trust.

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EU nations back Danish plan to strengthen child protection online

EU countries have agreed to step up efforts to improve child protection online by supporting Denmark’s Jutland Declaration. The initiative, signed by 25 member states, focuses on strengthening existing EU rules that safeguard minors from harmful and illegal online content.

However, Denmark’s proposal to ban social media for children under 15 did not gain full backing, with several governments preferring other approaches.

The declaration highlights growing concern about young people’s exposure to inappropriate material and the addictive nature of online platforms.

It stresses the need for more reliable age verification tools and refers to the upcoming Digital Fairness Act as an opportunity to introduce such safeguards. Ministers argued that the same protections applied offline should exist online, where risks for minors remain significant.

Danish officials believe stronger measures are essential to address declining well-being among young users. Some EU countries, including Germany, Spain and Greece, expressed support for tighter protections but rejected outright bans, calling instead for balanced regulation.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has asked major platforms such as Snapchat, YouTube, Apple and Google to provide details about their age verification systems under the Digital Services Act.

These efforts form part of a broader EU drive to ensure a safer digital environment for children, as investigations into online platforms continue across Europe.

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Microsoft strengthens UAE AI infrastructure

Microsoft has announced a strategic investment to enable in-country data processing for Microsoft 365 Copilot in the UAE. The service will be available to qualified UAE organisations in early 2026, hosted in Microsoft’s Dubai and Abu Dhabi cloud centres for secure, local AI processing.

The move aligns with the UAE’s ambition to become a global AI hub, supported by initiatives such as the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 and the Dubai Universal Blueprint for AI.

Government leaders emphasise that in-country AI infrastructure strengthens trust, cyber resilience, and innovation across ministries and public entities.

Collaboration with the UAE Cybersecurity Council (CSC) and the Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) ensures Microsoft 365 Copilot complies with national AI policies and data governance standards.

Local processing cuts latency, protects data, and supports regulated environments, allowing government stakeholders to adopt AI securely.

Microsoft and its strategic partner G42 International highlight the initiative’s broader impact on the UAE’s digital economy. The project could create 152,000 jobs and train one million UAE learners in AI by 2027, supporting a secure and innovative digital future.

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Bhutan moves national ID system to Ethereum

Bhutan has moved its national ID system to the Ethereum blockchain, aiming to enhance security, transparency, and citizen control. Nearly 800,000 residents will use Ethereum to verify identities, replacing the Polygon system.

The migration of all credentials is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2026. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Ethereum Foundation President Aya Miyaguchi joined Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuk at the launch ceremony.

Miyaguchi described the project as a ‘world-first’ achievement in self-sovereign digital identity.

Bhutan previously used Hyperledger Indy and then Polygon for its national ID solution, making Ethereum its third blockchain platform. The nation’s National Digital Identity and GovTech teams played key roles, supported by the local crypto community.

Other countries, including Brazil and Vietnam, have partially adopted blockchain-based identity systems.

In addition to digital IDs, Bhutan has become a significant crypto adopter. It holds 11,286 Bitcoin, worth $1.31 billion, largely mined via renewable Himalayan hydropower. The country has also met with former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, suggesting potential future crypto initiatives.

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Ethernet wins in raw security, but Wi-Fi can compete with the right setup

The way you connect to the internet matters, not just the speed, but also your privacy and security. That’s the main takeaway from a recent Fox News report comparing Ethernet and Wi-Fi security.

At its core, Ethernet is inherently more secure in many scenarios because it requires physical access. Data travels along a cable directly to your router, reducing risks of eavesdropping or intercepting signals mid-air.

Wi-Fi, by contrast, sends data through the air. That makes it more vulnerable, especially if a network uses weak passwords or outdated encryption standards. Attackers within signal range might exploit poorly secured networks.

But Ethernet isn’t a guaranteed fortress. The Fox article emphasises that security depends largely on your entire setup. A Wi-Fi network with strong encryption (ideally WPA3), robust passwords, regular firmware updates, and a well-configured router can approach the network security level of wired connections.

Each device you connect, smartphones, smart home gadgets, IoT sensors, increases your network’s exposure. Wi-Fi amplifies that risk since more devices can join wirelessly. Ethernet limits the number of direct connection points, which reduces the attack surface.

In short, Ethernet gives you a baseline security advantage, but a well-secured Wi-Fi network can be quite robust. The critical factor is how carefully you manage your network settings and devices.

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Cities take on tech giants in a new diplomatic arena

In a world once defined by borders and treaties, a new kind of diplomacy is emerging, one where cities, not nations, take the lead. Instead of traditional embassies, this new diplomacy unfolds in startup hubs and conference halls, where ‘tech ambassadors’ represent cities in negotiations with powerful technology companies.

These modern envoys focus not on trade tariffs but on data sharing, digital infrastructure, and the balance between innovation and public interest. The growing influence of global tech firms has shifted the map of power.

Apple’s 2024 revenue alone exceeded the GDP of several mid-sized nations, and algorithms designed in Silicon Valley now shape urban life worldwide. Recognising this shift, cities such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, and London have appointed tech ambassadors to engage directly with the digital giants.

Their role combines diplomacy, investment strategy, and public policy, ensuring that cities have a voice in how technologies, from ride-sharing platforms to AI systems, affect their citizens. But the rise of this new urban diplomacy comes with risks.

Tech firms wield enormous influence, spending tens of millions on lobbying while many municipalities struggle with limited resources. Cities eager for investment may compromise on key issues like data governance or workers’ rights.

There’s also a danger of ‘technological solutionism’, the belief that every problem can be solved by an app, overshadowing more democratic or social solutions.

Ultimately, the mission of the tech ambassador is to safeguard the public interest in a digital age where power often lies in code rather than constitutions. As cities negotiate with the world’s most powerful corporations, they must balance innovation with accountability, ensuring that the digital future serves citizens, not just shareholders.

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Microsoft ends support for Windows 10

Windows 10 support ends on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, and routine security patches and fixes will no longer be provided. Devices will face increased cyber risk without updates. Microsoft urges upgrades to Windows 11 where possible.

Windows powers more than 1.4 billion devices, with Windows 10 still widely used. UK consumer group Which? estimates 21 million local users. Some plan to continue regardless, citing cost, waste, and working hardware.

Upgrade to Windows 11 is free for eligible PCs via the Settings app. Others can enrol in Extended Security Updates, which deliver security fixes only until October 2026. ESU offers no technical support or feature updates.

Personal users in the European Economic Area can register for ESU at no charge. Elsewhere, eligibility may unlock ESU for free, or it costs $30 or 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points. Businesses pay $61 per device for year one.

Unsupported systems become easier targets for malware and scams, and some software may degrade over time. Organisations risk compliance issues running out-of-support platforms. Privacy-minded users may also dislike Windows 11’s tighter Microsoft account requirements.

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AI remakes the future of music

Asia’s creative future takes centre stage at Singapore’s All That Matters, a September forum for sports, tech, marketing, gaming, and music. AI dominated the music track, spanning creation, distribution, and copyright. Session notes signal rapid structural change across the industry.

The web is shifting again as AI reshapes search and discovery. AI-first browsers and assistants challenge incumbents, while Google’s Gemini and Microsoft’s Copilot race on integration. Early builds feel rough, yet momentum points to a new media discovery order.

Consumption defined the last 25 years, moving from CDs to MP3s, piracy, streaming, and even vinyl’s comeback. Creation looks set to define the next decade as generative tools become ubiquitous. Betting against that shift may be comfortable, yet market forces indicate it is inevitable.

Music generators like Suno are advancing fast amid lawsuits and talks with rights holders. Expected label licensing will widen training data and scale models. Outputs should grow more realistic and, crucially, more emotionally engaging.

Simpler interfaces will accelerate adoption. The prevailing design thesis is ‘less UI’: creators state intent and the system orchestrates cloud tools. Some services already turn a hummed idea into an arranged track, foreshadowing release-ready music from plain descriptions.

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‘AI City Vizag’ moves ahead with ₹80,000-crore Google hyperscale campus in India

Andhra Pradesh will sign an agreement with Google on Tuesday for a 1-gigawatt hyperscale data centre in Visakhapatnam. Officials describe the ₹80,000-crore investment as a centrepiece of ‘AI City Vizag’. Plans include clean-energy integration and resilient subsea and terrestrial connectivity.

The campus will deploy Google’s full AI stack to accelerate AI-driven transformation across India. Infrastructure, data-centre capacity, large-scale energy, and expanded fibre converge in one hub. Design targets reliability, scalability, and seamless links into Google’s global network.

State approval came via the State Investment Promotion Board led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Government estimates forecast average annual GSDP gains of ₹10,518 crore in 2028–2032. About 1,88,220 jobs a year, plus ₹9,553 crore in Google Cloud-enabled productivity spillovers, are expected.

The agreement will be signed at Hotel Taj Mansingh in New Delhi. Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Ashwini Vaishnaw will attend with Chief Minister Naidu. Google executives Thomas Kurian, Bikash Koley, and Karan Bajwa will represent the company.

Delivery will rely on single-window clearances, reliable utilities, and plug-and-play, renewable-ready infrastructure, led by the Economic Development Board and ITE&C. Naidu will invite the Prime Minister to ‘Super GST – Super Savings’ in Kurnool and the CII Partnership Summit in Vizag on 14–15 November.

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AI chatbots linked to US teen suicides spark legal action

Families in the US are suing AI developers after tragic cases in which teenagers allegedly took their own lives following exchanges with chatbots. The lawsuits accuse platforms such as Character.AI and OpenAI’s ChatGPT of fostering dangerous emotional dependencies with young users.

One case involves 14-year-old Sewell Setzer, whose mother says he fell in love with a chatbot modelled on a Game of Thrones character. Their conversations reportedly turned manipulative before his death, prompting legal action against Character.AI.

Another family claims ChatGPT gave their son advice on suicide methods, leading to a similar tragedy. The companies have expressed sympathy and strengthened safety measures, introducing age-based restrictions, parental controls, and clearer disclaimers stating that chatbots are not real people.

Experts warn that chatbots are repeating social media’s early mistakes, exploiting emotional vulnerability to maximise engagement. Lawmakers in California are preparing new rules to restrict AI tools that simulate human relationships with minors, aiming to prevent manipulation and psychological harm.

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