Timeline

AI governance needs urgent international coordination

A GIS Reports analysis emphasises that as AI systems become pervasive, they create significant global challenges, including surveillance risks, algorithmic bias, cyber vulnerabilities, and environmental pressures.

Unlike legacy regulatory regimes, AI technology blurs the lines among privacy, labour, environmental, security, and human rights domains, demanding a uniquely coordinated governance approach.

The report highlights that leading AI research and infrastructure remain concentrated in advanced economies: over half of general‑purpose AI models originated in the US, exacerbating global inequalities.

Meanwhile, facial recognition or deepfake generators threaten civic trust, amplify disinformation, and even provoke geopolitical incidents if weaponised in defence systems.

The analysis calls for urgent public‑private cooperation and a new regulatory paradigm to address these systemic issues.

Recommendations include forming international expert bodies akin to the IPCC, and creating cohesive governance that bridges labour rights, environmental accountability, and ethical AI frameworks.

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Surging AI use drives utility upgrades

The rapid rise of AI is placing unprecedented strain on the US power grid, as the electricity demands of massive data centres continue to surge.

Utilities nationwide are struggling to keep up, expanding infrastructure and revising rate structures to accommodate an influx of power-hungry facilities.

Regions like Northern Virginia have become focal points, where dense data centre clusters consume tens of megawatts each and create years-long delays for new connections.

Some next-generation AI systems are expected to require between 1 and 5 gigawatts of constant power, roughly the output of multiple Hoover Dams, posing significant challenges for energy suppliers and regulators alike.

In response, tech firms and utilities are considering a mix of solutions, including on-site natural gas generation, investments in small nuclear reactors, and greater reliance on renewable sources.

At the federal level, streamlined permitting and executive actions are used to fast-track grid and plant development.

‘The scale of AI’s power appetite is unprecedented,’ said Dr Elena Martinez, senior grid strategist at the Centre for Energy Innovation. ‘Utilities must pivot now, combining smart-grid tech, diverse energy sources and regulatory agility to avoid systemic bottlenecks.’

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EXA to boost European connectivity with new fibre route and subsea cable

EXA Infrastructure has launched a strategic 1,200 km high-capacity fibre route connecting London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Brussels (FLAP cities), featuring the first new subsea cable in the North Sea corridor in 25 years.

The new deployment includes 1,085 km of low-loss terrestrial fibre and a 115 km subsea segment using ultra-low-loss G.654C cable, running between Margate (UK) and Ostend (Belgium).

The project also introduces two new landing stations, EXA’s 21st and 22nd globally, enhancing its infrastructure across the UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands. These efforts complement EXA’s prior investments in the Channel Tunnel route, including upgrades to in-line amplifier (ILA) facilities and modern, high-fibre-count cables.

The new route is part of EXA’s broader push to improve Europe’s digital infrastructure with ultra-low latency, high-bandwidth, and scalable fibre paths between key hubs.

Over 65,000 km of its network is now 400G-enabled, supporting future scalability demands. EXA’s network spans 155,000 km across 37 countries, including six transatlantic cables. Among them is EXA Express, which offers the lowest latency link between Europe and North America.

The network serves a range of mission-critical functions, including hyperscale infrastructure for global enterprises, government networks, and specialised solutions for latency-sensitive industries like finance, gaming, and broadcasting.

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Ransomware attack hits Swiss government data

A ransomware attack on the Swiss non-profit Radix has led to the theft and online publication of sensitive government data. Radix, which carries out projects for various federal offices and public authorities, confirmed that the Sarcoma ransomware group breached its systems on 16 June.

According to the Swiss government, some stolen data has already appeared on the dark web.
Authorities are working with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to assess which federal offices were impacted and how severely.

While Radix has notified affected individuals, it states there is no evidence that sensitive data from its partner organisations was compromised. However, Sarcoma reportedly leaked 1.3TB of documents online, including financial records, contracts, and private correspondence.

Sarcoma is a relatively new but aggressive cybercrime group that began operating in late 2024. It typically gains access through phishing emails, outdated software vulnerabilities, and supply chain weaknesses.

The group has claimed dozens of victims and is known for publishing stolen data if ransom demands are not met.

However, this marks the second serious incident involving Swiss government data in recent months. In March, the government disclosed that a breach at another third-party provider, Xplain, had exposed tens of thousands of documents containing personal details.

The Swiss authorities are urging continued vigilance as investigations into the Radix breach continue.

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Digital time travel on social media

Recent weeks have seen a surge in AI-generated videos that transport viewers to historical eras, from the medieval streets during the Black Death to the dramatic eruption of Vesuvius. Creators Dan from the UK and Hogne from Norway, behind the accounts POV Lab and Time Traveller POV, have produced these first-person narratives to bring history to life in a unique and engaging manner.

While the videos have attracted millions of views and sparked widespread fascination, several historians have raised concerns over their historical accuracy. Experts such as Dr Amy Boyington and Dr Hannah Platts point out numerous inaccuracies, including anachronistic details like modern bread rolls and train tracks in medieval scenes, that risk misrepresenting historical facts. They caution that such artistic interpretations, though visually striking, could mislead young viewers and distort their understanding of history.

The creators defend their work as a means to spark curiosity and encourage further research, openly acknowledging that their videos are not intended to be strict documentaries. They label their content as AI-created and urge audiences to verify historical details independently. Despite the debate, these innovative videos are opening up new ways for the public to engage with the past, even as calls for greater accuracy and transparency grow louder.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu. 

Third reading of the GDC zero draft

The third reading of the GDC zero draft – as part of the intergovernmental negotiations process – is scheduled to take place on 16 May 2024, in the Trusteeship Council Chamber (UN headquarters in New York).

Second reading of the GDC zero draft

The second reading of the GDC zero draft – as part of the intergovernmental negotiations process – is scheduled to take place on 2 May 2024, in Conference Room 1 (UN headquarters in New York).

Negotiations on the GDC

Intergovernmental negotiations on the Global Digital Compact are expected to start in April 2024 and continue throughout the second quarter of the year.

First reading of the GDC zero draft

The first reading of the GDC zero draft – as part of the intergovernmental negotiations process – is scheduled to take place on 5 April 2024, in the Trusteeship Council Chamber (UN headquarters in New York).

Deadline for written input

The permanent representatives of Rwanda and Zambia will invite UN member states, observers and stakeholders to submit written input by 8 March 2024 to inform the preparation of the zero draft of the GDC.