Privacy and data protection

Eurofiber France reportedly hit by data breach

Eurofiber France has suffered a data breach affecting its internal ticket management system and ATE customer portal, reportedly discovered on 13 November. The incident allegedly involved unauthorised access via a software vulnerability, with the full extent still unclear.

Sources indicate that approximately 3,600 customers could be affected, including major French companies and public institutions. Reports suggest that some of the allegedly stolen data, ranging from documents to cloud configurations, may have appeared on the dark web for sale.

Eurofiber has emphasised that Dutch operations are not affected.

The company moved quickly to secure affected systems, increasing monitoring and collaborating with cybersecurity specialists to investigate the incident. The French privacy regulator, CNIL, has been informed, and Eurofiber states that it will continue to update customers as the investigation progresses.

Founded in 2000, Eurofiber provides fibre optic infrastructure across the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Germany. Primarily owned by Antin Infrastructure Partners and partially by Dutch pension fund PGGM, the company remains operational while assessing the impact of the breach.

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Teenagers still face harmful content despite new protections

In the UK and other countries, teenagers continue to encounter harmful social media content, including posts about bullying, suicide and weapons, despite the Online Safety Act coming into effect in July.

A BBC investigation using test profiles revealed that some platforms continue to expose young users to concerning material, particularly on TikTok and YouTube.

The experiment, conducted with six fictional accounts aged 13 to 15, revealed differences in exposure between boys and girls.

While Instagram showed marked improvement, with no harmful content displayed during the latest test, TikTok users were repeatedly served posts about self-harm and abuse, and one YouTube profile encountered videos featuring weapons and animal harm.

Experts warned that changes will take time and urged parents to monitor their children’s online activity actively. They also recommended open conversations about content, the use of parental controls, and vigilance rather than relying solely on the new regulatory codes.

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How neurotech is turning science fiction into lived reality

Some experts now say neurotechnology could be as revolutionary as AI, as devices advance rapidly from sci-fi tropes into practical reality. Researchers can already translate thoughts into words through brain implants, and spinal implants are helping people with paralysis regain movement.

King’s College London neuroscientist Anne Vanhoestenberghe told AFP, ‘People do not realise how much we’re already living in science fiction.’

Her lab works on implants for both brain and spinal systems, not just restoring function, but reimagining communication.

At the same time, the technology carries profound ethical risks. There is growing unease about privacy, data ownership and the potential misuse of neural data.

Some even warn that our ‘innermost thoughts are under threat.’ Institutions like UNESCO are already moving to establish global neurotech governance frameworks.

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ChatGPT launches group chats in Asia-Pacific pilot

OpenAI has introduced a new group chat feature in its ChatGPT app, currently piloted across Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan. The rollout aims to test how users will interact in multi-participant conversations with the AI.

The pilot enables Free, Plus, and Team users on both mobile and web platforms to start or join group chats of up to 20 participants, where ChatGPT can participate as a member.

Human-to-human messages do not count against AI usage quotas; usage only applies when the AI replies. Group creators remain in charge of membership; invite links are used for access, and additional safeguards are applied when participants under the age of 18 are present.

This development marks a significant pivot from one-on-one AI assistants toward collaborative workflows, messaging and shared decision-making.

From a digital policy and governance perspective, this new feature raises questions around privacy, data handling in group settings, the role of AI in multi-user contexts and how usage quotas or model performance might differ across plans.

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Digital records gain official status in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has granted full legal validity to online personal data stored on the my.gov.uz Unified Interactive Public Services Portal, placing it on equal footing with traditional documents.

The measure, in force from 1 November, supports the country’s digital transformation by simplifying how citizens interact with state bodies.

Personal information can now be accessed, shared and managed entirely through the portal instead of relying on printed certificates.

State institutions are no longer permitted to request paper versions of records that are already available online, which is expected to reduce queues and alleviate the administrative burden faced by the public.

Officials in Uzbekistan anticipate that centralising personal data on one platform will save time and resources for both citizens and government agencies. The reform aims to streamline public services, remove redundant steps and improve overall efficiency across state procedures.

Government bodies have encouraged citizens to use the portal’s functions more actively and follow official channels for updates on new features and improvements.

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Salesforce unveils eVerse for dependable enterprise AI

The US cloud-based software company, Salesforce and its Research AI department, have unveiled eVerse, a new environment designed to train voice and text agents through synthetic data generation, stress testing and reinforcement learning.

In an aim to resolve a growing reliability problem known as jagged intelligence, where systems excel at complex reasoning yet falter during simple interactions.

The company views eVerse as a key requirement for creating an Agentic Enterprise, where human staff and digital agents work together smoothly and dependably.

eVerse supports continuous improvement by generating large volumes of simulated interactions, measuring performance and adjusting behaviour over time, rather than waiting for real-world failures.

A platform that played a significant role in the development of Agentforce Voice, giving AI agents the capacity to cope with unpredictable calls involving noise, varied accents and weak connections.

Thousands of simulated conversations enabled teams to identify problems early and deliver stronger performance.

The technology is also being tested with UCSF Health, where clinical experts are working with Salesforce to refine agents that support billing services. Only a portion of healthcare queries can typically be handled automatically, as much of the knowledge remains undocumented.

eVerse enhances coverage by enabling agents to adapt to complex cases through reinforcement learning, thereby improving performance across both routine and sophisticated tasks.

Salesforce describes eVerse as a milestone in a broader effort to achieve Enterprise General Intelligence. The goal is a form of AI designed for dependable business use, instead of the more creative outputs that dominate consumer systems.

It also argues that trust and consistency will shape the next stage of enterprise adoption and that real-world complexity must be mirrored during development to guarantee reliable deployment.

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Meta pushes deeper into robotics with key hardware move

Meta is expanding its robotics ambitions by appointing Li-Chen Miller, previously head of its smart glasses portfolio, as the first product manager for Reality Labs’ robotics division. Her transfer marks a significant shift in Meta’s hardware priorities following the launch of its latest augmented reality devices.

The company is reportedly developing a humanoid assistant known internally as Metabot within the same organisation that oversees its AR and VR platforms. Former Cruise executive Marc Whitten leads the robotics group, supported by veteran engineer Ning Li and renowned MIT roboticist Sangbae Kim.

Miller’s move emphasises Meta’s aim to merge its AI expertise with physical robotics. The new team collaborates with the firm’s Superintelligence Lab, which is building a ‘world model’ capable of powering dextrous motion and real-time reasoning.

Analysts see the strategy as Meta’s attempt to future-proof its ecosystem and diversify Reality Labs, which continues to post heavy losses. The company’s growing investment in humanoid design could bring home-use robots closer to reality, blending social AI with the firm’s long-term vision for the metaverse.

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China targets deepfake livestreams of public figures

Chinese cyberspace authorities announced a crackdown on AI deepfakes impersonating public figures in livestream shopping. Regulators said platforms have removed thousands of posts and sanctioned numerous accounts for misleading users.

Officials urged platforms to conduct cleanups and hold marketers accountable for deceptive promotions. Reported actions include removing over 8,700 items and dealing with more than 11,000 impersonation accounts.

Measures build on wider campaigns against AI misuse, including rules targeting deep synthesis and labelling obligations. Earlier efforts focused on curbing rumours, impersonation and harmful content across short videos and e-commerce.

Chinese authorities pledged a continued high-pressure stance to safeguard consumers and protect celebrity likenesses online. Platforms risk penalties if complaint handling and takedowns fail to deter repeat infringements in livestream commerce.

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New guidelines by Apple curb how apps send user data to external AI systems

Apple has updated its App Review Guidelines to require developers to disclose and obtain permission before sharing personal data with third-party AI systems. The company says the change enhances user control as AI features become more prevalent across apps.

The revision arrives ahead of Apple’s planned 2026 release of an AI-enhanced Siri, expected to take actions across apps and rely partly on Google’s Gemini technology. Apple is also moving to ensure external developers do not pass personal data to AI providers without explicit consent.

Previously, rule 5.1.2(i) already limited the sharing of personal information without permission. The update adds explicit language naming third-party AI as a category that requires disclosure, reflecting growing scrutiny of how apps use machine learning and generative models.

The shift could affect developers who use external AI systems for features such as personalisation or content generation. Enforcement details remain unclear, as the term ‘AI’ encompasses a broad range of technologies beyond large language models.

Apple released several other guideline updates alongside the AI change, including support for its new Mini Apps Programme and amendments involving creator tools, loan products, and regulated services such as crypto exchanges.

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LinkedIn introduces AI-powered people search for faster networking

LinkedIn has launched an AI-powered people search feature, allowing users to find relevant professionals using plain language instead of traditional keywords and filters. The new tool surfaces experts based on experience and skills rather than exact job titles or company names.

The feature uses advanced AI and LinkedIn’s professional data to match users with the right people at the right time. It transforms connections into actionable opportunities, helping members discover mentors, collaborators, or industry specialists more efficiently.

Previously, searches required highly specific information, making it difficult to identify the right professional. The new conversational approach simplifies the process, making LinkedIn a more intuitive and powerful platform for networking, career planning, and business growth.

AI-powered people search is currently available to Premium subscribers in the US, with plans for expansion in the coming months. LinkedIn plans to expand the feature globally, helping professionals connect, collaborate, and find opportunities more quickly.

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