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DW Weekly #218 – DiploAI at the IGF 2025 in Norway, bridging the digital divide, AI, data governance, digital justice, and more!

20 – 27 June 2025

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Dear readers,

This week, DiploAI took center stage in Lillestrøm, Norway, at the 20th Internet Governance Forum (IGF 2025), the world’s annual gathering on internet governance, where we proudly served as the official reporting team in partnership with the Government of Norway and the IGF Secretariat, combining Diplo’s diplomatic expertise with AI.

Armed with cutting-edge AI-driven transcription, our team captured every session, from the opening keynote to the final workshop, delivering real-time news, detailed reports, and daily newsletters that you can find on our dig.watch platform. With Dr Jovan Kurbalija and Sorina Teleanu leading the charge, Diplo documented and actively shaped the dialogue, advocating for inclusive, innovative governance alongside global leaders, policymakers, and tech visionaries.

DiploAI at the IGF 2025

The forum kicked off on 23 June with a bold focus on ‘Building Digital Governance Together,’ setting the stage for intense debates on AI’s role in humanity’s future. Day 1 spotlighted the urgent need to bridge the digital divide, with 2.6 billion people still offline, and explored sustainable data centre solutions to curb the ICT sector’s 2-4% contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. Dr Jovan Kurbalija’s Day 0 address at the WGIG+20 session called for a renewed IGF mandate, while discussions pushed for permanent leadership and innovative funding to strengthen the forum ahead of the WSIS+20 review.

On Day 2, held on 24 June, showcased success stories like India’s Aadhaar system (80 million daily users) and Brazil’s PIX (saving $5.7 billion annually), though funding challenges loomed large. Dr Kurbalija spoke at an open forum on international AI cooperation, and Sorina Teleanu moderated a parliamentary session on digital policy, reinforcing multistakeholder collaboration. The narrative shifted toward power concentration and accountability, with sessions on AI therapists and digital emblems for conflict zones sparking fresh ideas.

As IGF 2025 progressed into Days 3 and 4, the focus sharpened on actionable outcomes. Discussions on AI governance emphasised local ecosystems and cultural diversity, while the knowledge ecology project, unlocking 19 years of IGF data with AI, promised deeper insights for the SDGs.

Efforts to tackle internet fragmentation definitely caught the attention of the audience on the last day of IGF 2025, addressing its technical, governance, and user experience dimensions. The session focused on implementing Article 29C of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) to prevent fragmentation, with stakeholders advocating for measurable frameworks and sustained dialogue via national and regional IGFs. Key concerns included the tension between seamless infrastructure and fractured user realities, raised by Gbenga Sesan. Marilia Maciel highlighted the need for economic research to understand fragmentation’s real-world impact, noting that billions face access and content restrictions, underscoring the issue as both a technical and human challenge requiring collaborative action.

Freedom Online Coalition convened a diverse panel to explore ‘How can technical standards bridge or broaden the digital divide?‘ The session, moderated by Laura O’Brien, Senior International Counsel at Access Now, highlighted how open and interoperable standards can empower underserved communities.

The final day reframed the debate with critical questions: What should the IGF look like post-2025, and how can it align with the Global Digital Compact? With Diplo’s booth (#45) and the CADE consortium’s (#57) presence in the IGF Village until the end of today’s sessions, we invite you to explore these instructive expert dialogues on dig.watch in the special IGF 2025 event section for more detailed information!

EuroDIG outcomes shared at IGF 2025 session in Norway

UNESCO and ICANN lead push for multilingual and inclusive internet governance

Ask our personalised IGF 2025 chatbot for more information on which were the most important topics discussed at the forum!

Other highlights of the week:

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman revealed that he had a conversation with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Monday to discuss the future of their partnership.

A groundbreaking quantum leap has taken place in space exploration. The world’s first photonic quantum computer has successfully entered orbit aboard SpaceX’s Transporter 14 mission.

Bitcoin holds strong above $100,000. Technical signals on Bitcoin and Ethereum point to cautious optimism with key resistance levels ahead.

The digital sector is urging the EU leaders to delay the AI act, citing missing guidance and legal uncertainty.

Meta Platforms’ messaging service WhatsApp has been banned from all devices used by the US House of Representatives, according to an internal memo distributed to staff on Monday.

NATO’s 76th summit opened in the Hague amid rising tensions in EU and the Middle East, overshadowed by conflict and cyber threats.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published new guidance to assist organisations in meeting the upcoming EU Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2) requirements.

A coalition of cybersecurity agencies, including the NSA, FBI, and CISA, has issued joint guidance to help organisations protect AI systems from emerging data security threats.

Diplo Blog – AI in Sophie’s world: How a philosophy book can help us govern AI

Jovan Kurbalija

As we convene in Oslo for the Internet Governance Forum, we reflect on the philosophical insights from Jostein Gaarder’s ‘Sophie’s World.’ The novel’s exploration of identity and constructed reality parallels the challenges of AI governance today. Just as Sophie learns her existence is scripted, AI systems are shaped by data and algorithms, raising questions about consciousness and accountability. The complexities of AI, such as the ‘black box’ problem, highlight the need for transparency and understanding. Ultimately, governance should prioritise values and meaning, urging us to engage with fundamental questions about identity and existence in our digital age. Read the full blog!

Last week in Geneva

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HRC

The ongoing 59th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC), which opened on 16 June and will last until 11 July 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, presided over by Ambassador Jürg Lauber of Switzerland, addressed critical issues including civil society space, climate change, sexual orientation and gender identity, and violence against women, while spotlighting grave human rights situations in countries like Afghanistan, China, and Sudan.

Key outcomes included the consideration of OHCHR reports on 26 June, such as the practical application of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to technology companies’ AI activities (A/HRC/59/32) and the use of digital technologies for universal birth registration (A/HRC/59/61), signaling a focus on tech accountability and inclusion.

The session also featured interactive dialogues on systemic racism, the rights of Indigenous peoples, and climate change, with the Special Rapporteur Elisa Morgera presenting a report on defossilizing economies (A/HRC/59/42), though debates revealed tensions between economic priorities and human rights obligations. Despite robust discussions, scepticism persists about the practical impact of these deliberations amid geopolitical divides and funding challenges for the UN rights system.

ITU Council 2025

ITU Council 2025, which opened on 17 June and is closing today, 27 June, in Geneva, Switzerland, delivered key highlights and outcomes that are shaping the future of global telecommunications.

The session focused on critical governance and operational matters, including the review and adoption of the 2026–2027 biennial budget, oversight of ITU programs, and strategic planning for the 2028–2031 cycle, ensuring alignment with evolving telecom landscapes.

A significant milestone was the inauguration of the Giga Connectivity Centre on 25 June at Geneva’s Campus Biotech, a joint ITU-UNICEF initiative co-hosted with Switzerland and Spain, aimed at connecting every school to the internet.

The Council also confirmed the World Telecommunication Development Conference for 17–28 November 2025 in Baku and set the 202 6 World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum theme as ‘Accelerating an inclusive, sustainable, resilient, and innovative digital future,’ emphasising bridging digital divides.

Additionally, an AI Workshop for Councillors on 16 June explored opportunities in diplomacy and governance, while side events like the WSIS information session and AI for Good initiative underscored ITU’s commitment to digital transformation and sustainable development goals.

Upcoming events

For the main updates, reflections and events, consult the RADAR, the READING CORNER and the UPCOMING EVENTS section below.

Join us as we connect the dots, from daily updates to main weekly developments, to bring you a clear, engaging monthly snapshot of worldwide digital trends.

DW Team

RADAR

Highlights from the week of 20 – 27 June 2025

IGF 2025 opens in Norway with focus on inclusive digital governance

Internet Governance Forum returns to Europe for its 20th anniversary.

Big Tech’s grip on information sparks urgent debate at IGF 2025 in Norway

With democracy under siege from AI-fueled disinformation and opaque algorithms, global leaders at IGF 2025 grappled with the urgent question: who really controls the truth in our digital age?

Civil society pushes for digital rights and justice in WSIS+20 review at IGF 2025

As global civil society leaders converge to reshape the digital rights landscape, their bold proposals signal a pivotal moment in the future of internet governance.

Children safety online in 2025: Global leaders demand stronger rules

IGF panel warns that regulation without enforcement won’t protect children from digital exploitation.

WSIS prepares for Geneva as momentum builds for impactful digital governance

At IGF 2025 in Norway, stakeholders mapped priorities ahead of the WSIS+20 high-level event in Geneva.

WGIG reunion sparks calls for reform at IGF 2025 in Norway

As digital power dynamics shift and global tensions rise, a reunion of internet governance pioneers reignites debate over who really shapes the rules of our online future.

Kurbalija’s book on internet governance turns 20 with new life at IGF

Amid rapid digital change and rising AI hype, a familiar voice returns to challenge the buzzwords and bring clarity to the evolving debate.

Global consensus grows on inclusive and cooperative AI governance at IGF 2025

AI is no longer confined to tech labs—it’s becoming a global concern that demands cooperation, creativity, and a shared commitment to humanity’s future.

AI governance debated at IGF 2025: Global cooperation meets local needs

AI governance must be inclusive, context-aware, and rooted in human rights, IGF 2025 panellists agree.

AI and the future of work: Global forum highlights risks, promise, and urgent choices

As AI continues to reshape industries and redefine the workplace, world leaders and innovators face a pressing question: Can we ensure its benefits are shared fairly before the gap between…

IGF panel urges rethinking internet governance amid rising geopolitical tensions

Can imagining the internet of 2040 help us fix the broken governance models of today?

AU Open Forum at IGF 2025 highlights urgent need for action on Africa’s digital future

With Africa’s digital ambitions at a crossroads, leaders at the IGF 2025 urged a decisive shift from promises to practical solutions that can bridge the continent’s growing connectivity and policy…

Tower of Babel reimagined: IGF 2025 experiment highlights language barriers in internet governance

What happens when global internet policy experts suddenly abandon English and try to govern in dozens of different native languages?

Rethinking AI in journalism with global cooperation

As AI rapidly transforms journalism, a diverse group of global experts and grassroots voices came together in Norway to rethink how media can harness these tools without compromising ethics, inclusion,…

View all updates

READING CORNER

AI in Sophie’s world: How a philosophy book can help us govern AI

As we convene in Oslo for the Internet Governance Forum, we reflect on the philosophical insights from Jostein Gaarder’s “Sophie’s World.” The novel’s exploration of identity and constructed reality parallels the challenges of AI governance today.

The reinvention of yoga: From ancient practice to global soft power

India has championed International Yoga Day as a celebration of its ancient tradition. But is this a genuine cultural revival, a soft-power strategy, or a political rebranding? From Vivekananda to Modi, Aldo Matteucci unpacks the reinvention of yoga.

AI governance debated at IGF 2025: Global cooperation meets local needs

AI governance must be inclusive, context-aware, and rooted in human rights, IGF 2025 panellists agree.

WSIS+20 Review Elements Paper published

On 20 June 2025, an Elements Paper was published as part of the WSIS+20 review process, outlining thematic priorities to guide negotiations ahead of the WSIS+20 High-Level Meeting in December…

Understanding Vietnam’s Rise Through Bamboo Diplomacy

How does Vietnam thrive by befriending global rivals? The answer lies in “bamboo diplomacy.” Uncover the delicate art of Vietnam’s foreign policy, which allows it to bend with geopolitical pressures without breaking its principles.

Yoga in the age of AI: Digital spirituality or algorithmic escapism?

As yoga enters the digital frontier, we must confront the paradox: can a practice rooted in presence survive an era defined by simulation?

30 June 2025

E-Commerce at the WTO: Key Insights for LDCs and SIDS

E-Commerce at the WTO: Key Insights for LDCs and SIDS As the global economy becomes increasingly digitalised, there is growing recognition of the need…

30 Jun 2025 – 4 Jul 2025

Pacific IGF 2025

Participants will address connectivity, cybersecurity, and global digital processes through workshops, policy dialogues, and side events, ensuring Pacific perspectives shape internet governance at regional and international levels.

1 Jul 2025 – 2 Jul 2025

Global Digital Collaboration Conference

The conference is designed to advance global digital trust by promoting interoperable infrastructure for digital identity, credentials, and wallets.

02 July 2025

Tech attache briefing: AI, WSIS, and IGF in Focus

Tech attache briefing: AI, WSIS, and IGF in Focus The event is part of a series of regular briefings the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) is delivering for…

3 Jul 2025 – 4 Jul 2025

Second meeting of the UN CSTD multi-stakeholder working group on data governance at all levels

The working group aims to engage in a comprehensive and inclusive multistakeholder dialogue on data governance regarding development.

3 Jul 2025, 12:30h – 13:30h

AI Summit/WSIS25: Just-in-Time Explainer

The webinar offers international actors a timely briefing on the evolving landscape of global digital and AI governance.

6 Jul 2025 – 7 Jul 2025

BRICS 2025 Summit

The BRICS partnership, built on political-security, economic-financial, and people-to-people cooperation, will also use the annual summit to address issues such as the environment, energy, science and technology, health, and broader…

IGF Daily Summary

for Thursday, 26 June 2025

Dear readers,

Welcome to our daily report from Day 3 at IGF 2025.

On the third day, the IGF discussed its future ahead of WSIS+20 negotiations. It is happening in the broader context of an unprecedented crisis at the UN and UN80 debates about the future of organisations. There is no enthusiasm for new bodies and forums in such a context, making the IGF’s future role even more critical.

While there is a shared opinion that the IGF should continue to evolve, discussants expressed a wide range of views about concrete steps and reforms. The Leadership Panel argued for stronger institutionalisation of the IGF, while some discussants warned that such a move could reduce the Forum’s flexibility and agility.

Another issue that stood out for us in yesterdays’ discussions was that digital sovereignty is becoming a priority for developing countries instead of the traditional focus on connectivity and infrastructure. For example, they aim to become content generators instead of just consumers of content provided somewhere else.

The third day debates also featured emerging technologies and their governance challenges, from open-source AI applications to autonomous weapons systems. Participants discussed how emerging technologies are reshaping power dynamics between states, private entities, and users, while exposing vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure.

What stood out to you in yesterday’s discussions?

Diplo reporting team

Key questions from Day 3

1. How can child safety be ensured in algorithmic environments?

Participants emphasised that self-regulation has not worked. Instead, regulation is needed, such as the Digital Services Act. Key recommendations included privacy and safety by design and default, turning things off to ensure children’s experience stays private with real agency and choice, and implementing age-appropriate design principles. Participants noted that platforms need to take more responsibility for taking down content that is damaging and prohibited, and secure appropriate age verification.

2. What should be the IGF’s role in digital governance?

Participants strongly supported the renewal of the IGF with adequate resourcing, describing it as the ‘only place globally where stakeholders can come together as peers’. The IGF was described as a successful prototype for implementing the multistakeholder approach in the UN system, which could be built upon to strengthen multistakeholderism in other parts of the UN system. Some concerns were expressed ‘about the IGF trying to juggle everything and please everyone,’ which was described as a disservice because it makes it impossible to dive deeply into particular topics.

3. How can AI divides be bridged sustainably?

Participants noted that ‘between 2022 and 2025, AI-related investment doubled from $100 to $200 billion’, which is about three times the global spending on climate change adaptation. Participants suggested transitioning from brute force models that are large and energy-consuming to vertical and agile foundation models with specific purposes. TinyML was presented as involving running machine learning models on extremely small devices, with the advantages of being low power and low cost.

4. How can AI development serve global needs equitably?

Participants noted that current AI deployment tends to reinforce existing inequalities while marginalising non-Western worldviews and indigenous knowledge. Participants suggested creating a CERN-like model for AI that could help pool resources to provide shared infrastructure for every stakeholder. The importance of working with community-led data and indigenous knowledge to focus on specific problems in local contexts was emphasised.

5. How can critical internet infrastructure be protected during conflicts?
Participants suggested creating multistakeholder mechanisms involving states, the technical community, private telecommunications companies, and civil society to respond to crises, providing funding and political leverage to allow repair equipment into affected areas. Technical solutions such as mesh technologies should be enforced into phones, allowing devices to communicate with each other for emergencies, particularly for low-bandwidth text communications

Summary of discussions

AI governance and development

Participants noted that policy responses to AI are very often fragmented, reactive and dominated by short-term interests, with no continuity or globality in addressing policy responses to AI’s impact. They also highlighted that current AI deployment tends to reinforce existing inequalities while marginalising non-Western worldviews and indigenous knowledge.

Discussions also revolved around the concentration of AI power, with participants noting that the real power of AI is concentrated in a few companies in a few countries. ‘Balancing the speed of how this technology is evolving (…) with the depth of the safeguards that we have to provide’ was identified as a primary challenge.

Environmental sustainability needs to be more prominent in AI governance debates. Sustainable AI will not emerge by default and needs to be actively supported and incentivised. TinyML was presented as an approach involving running machine learning models on extremely small devices with few kilobytes of memory and slow processors, but with the advantages of being extremely low power and low cost, with devices costing less than a dollar for chips and about $10 for full devices.

In the African context, open-source AI offers entrepreneurs, NGOs, governments, researchers, and academics affordable access to advanced tools that would otherwise require costly proprietary licenses. Yet over half the population of the continent are not connected to the internet, and there is a dearth of access to data and computing power for data scientists.

Child safety and digital platforms

The high-level session on child safety provided concerning statistics about children’s digital experiences. Consistently, around half of the children surveyed say they feel addicted to the internet, with rates of ADHD, depression, eating disorders, child sexual abuse, and suicide going through the roof. Nearly two-thirds say they often or sometimes feel unsafe online, with more than three-quarters encountering content they find disturbing, including sexual content, violence, and hate.

Participants noted that most services where children spend time are designed with three primary purposes geared towards revenue generation: maximise time spent, maximise reach, and maximise activity. This creates environments ‘where children can go from a simple search for slime to porn in just a single click, or from trampolining to pro-anorexia in just three clicks, and nudge to self-harm in 15 clicks’.

Research on children’s perspectives provided insights about AI development. When children learned about environmental impacts, particularly water consumption and the carbon footprint of generative AI models, they often chose not to use those models in the future. Children also identified that AI models consistently produced images of people that were white and predominantly male by default, causing distress, particularly for children of colour who felt unrepresented.

Effective regulation – illustrated by the Digital Services Act – often proves more successful than self-regulation, it was said. Recommended actions include building in privacy and safety by design and by default so children’s experiences remain private while preserving real agency and choice, and adopting age-appropriate design principles.

Digital infrastructure and connectivity

Digital exclusion translates into a ‘lack of access to essential services’, limiting opportunities and deepening inequalities. The problem is now less and less a coverage gap and more and more a usage gap requiring different interventions to close the gap, related to digital literacy, technology affordability, online safety, and ensuring that the online environment is compatible with linguistic and cultural diversity.

Community networks were discussed as representing a form of digital sovereignty, allowing communities to control and own their digital infrastructure while deciding how it is built, maintained and who benefits. However, one study showed that only a minority of surveyed initiatives cover all costs with autonomous revenues, with most requiring blended financing approaches combining private fees, community financing, public grants, and local government support.

The Arctic region presents unique connectivity challenges, with participants noting that ‘there are no roads, and there are no railways which would lead to these regions and people’. Solutions included creating IT camps where people, especially indigenous communities with nomadic lifestyles, can access free internet and digital resources upon arrival.

Cybersecurity and critical infrastructure

Cybersecurity sessions addressed evolving threats and governance challenges. Participants noted that ‘cybercriminals operate at the speed of light, while law enforcement or The Good Guys operate at the speed of the law, implying that it will always be a game of catch-up.’

Critical infrastructure protection was addressed through the lens of conflict situations. The session on securing internet access during crises noted that ‘armed conflict has become the leading trigger of internet shutdowns worldwide. What we see is that in times of conflict, warring parties see civilian internet infrastructure as a military target.[…] the warring parties weaponise access, such as banning or restricting access to repair parts, spare parts or critical components of the infrastructure that is needed to repair it.’

While the physical internet infrastructure falls within national borders, its cross-border nature raises questions about due diligence responsibilities and the prevention of transboundary harm.

Participants suggested creating a multistakeholder mechanism involving states, the technical community, private telecommunications companies, and civil society to respond to crises, providing funding and political leverage to allow repair equipment into affected areas.

Multilingualism and cultural diversity

Language barriers are obstacles to digital inclusion. With over 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, the dominance of a few major languages online prevents billions of users from fully participating in digital spaces. Almost 50% of online content is still in English, despite English not being the native, second, or third language for many internet users and those yet to come online.

The IDN World Report 2025 provided statistics showing roughly 70% of the estimated 4.4 million IDNs worldwide are under country code TLDs, but with almost minus 1% yearly growth for ccTLDs and even 5.5% growth for gTLDs. Technical implementation gaps were noted, as over half of registries do not support Unicode addresses in email servers at all, three-fourths do not permit Unicode symbols as contact emails in their registry database, and none of the ccTLDs stated they would offer support to internationalised email addresses.

A paradigm shift to multilingual first as opposed to English first was recommended, implementing multilingual by design and universal acceptance by design.

Environmental sustainability and e-waste

According to the Global E-waste Monitor, over 62 million tons of e-waste are generated annually globally, with only 32% formally collected and recycled, meaning 78% remains unmanaged and results in polluting land, air, and water while causing severe health risks. Data-driven technologies (AI, IoT, digital product passports) are crucial for making e-waste traceable and manageable – ‘we can’t manage what we can’t measure’.

Participants recommended implementing comprehensive regulations and policies focusing on strengthening and enforcing extended producer responsibility (EPR) with clear mandates that legally require manufacturers, importers and retailers to take responsibility. Moreover, environmental sustainability must be embedded in all business operations, with every digital activity having a measurable carbon footprint.

SDGs in focus

Several sessions made explicit connections between digital governance and the SDGs.

SDG 15 (Life on land) was referenced through Microsoft’s Project Sparrow, an AI-enabled device for environmental monitoring that supports SDG 15 by tracking biodiversity and habitat health in remote areas like the Amazon rainforest.

SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) featured in the discussion on local digital governance. Participants noted that the Local Online Service Index (LOSI) network plays a critical role in supporting the achievement of SDG 11, making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Over 65% of SDG targets fall under the jurisdiction of local authorities, making local digital governance essential rather than just relevant.

SDG 5 (Gender equality) was referenced in connectivity discussions. While most African countries have adopted gender-equality frameworks, the missing piece is rigorous implementation: building gender-intentional digital infrastructure, systematically measuring and tracking its impact, and feeding those insights back into policy so gaps close sustainably and no one is left behind.

Participants emphasised that achieving the SDGs can only be done by unlocking opportunities through digital transformation. TinyML applications were noted as having an impact on SDGs, with diverse applications including disease detection in livestock, bee counting, anaemia detection, and wildlife behaviour monitoring.

Thought-provoking ideas and questions

‘Why won’t adults stand up for children? You watch everything we do online, you nag us to get off our devices, even though you stay firmly glued to yours, and now you just want to outright ban us. When are you going to stop making out that we are the problem instead of the system? Why don’t you stand up for us?’

‘AI doesn’t happen to us. The current narrative is often that AI is something like the weather. We have no idea how to control it. […] But AI is not weather. AI is developed by us, is developed by organisations, by people.’

‘Now the debate is not humans versus machines. Now the debate is about who understands and uses managed AI versus who doesn’t.’

‘Nobody’s coming to save us. We need to start thinking of ways where we can invest, locally invest in natural language processing, so that we can then call the shots.’

WSIS+20 review process and the IGF

The importance of inclusive and accountable multistakeholder participation was underscored throughout the Forum. Many participants pointed to the São Paulo principles as a valuable reference for fostering transparent and equitable engagement across WSIS, IGF, and GDC discussions. They stressed the need for clear accountability mechanisms to ensure stakeholder inputs are meaningfully considered and followed up on.

Looking ahead to the WSIS+20 review, it was noted that processes must be transparent, comprehensible, actionable, and accessible to diverse stakeholders. National and Regional IGFs (NRIs) should be considered special assets within discussions on the WSIS+20 review and IGF mandate renewal. NRIs are uniquely positioned to engage with local governments and broader communities for implementing GDC and WSIS outcomes. There was strong support for positioning the IGF as a central space for tracking the implementation of outcomes from both the GDC and WSIS.

Concerns were raised about overlapping UN processes, with calls for more streamlined and simplified approaches. Participants observed the potential value of aligning GDC implementation with the WSIS architecture to foster coherence and reduce duplication in digital cooperation efforts. It was suggested that UNGIS could consider integrating GDC priorities into existing WSIS action lines and explore joint implementation mapping. accountable’.

Read all session reports

The IGF we want

Permanent mandate and enhanced institutional resourcing: Multiple participants emphasised the need for a permanent mandate for the IGF, along with support for national and regional IGFs to create a holistic and effective ecosystem. There were also recommendations for securing a long-term and stable financial foundation for the IGF to ensure the full implementation of its mandate and to strengthen the IGF Secretariat.

Cross-sectoral collaboration expansion: Participants suggested that the IGF should expand by extending invitations to educational ministries, finance ministries, and experts from other areas less represented at the Forum, as digital has become an enabler across all sectors, and decisions cannot be made in isolation.

Streamlined focus and priority setting: There were calls for greater prioritisation and streamlining IGF processes and intersessional work, to give the Forum more focus.

Enhanced accessibility and language support: A suggestion was made that there should be more possibilities to exchange in different languages at the IGF.

Diplo/GIP at IGF2025

Diplo is partnering with the IGF Secretariat and the Government of Norway (as host country) to deliver AI-enabled, just-in-time reporting from the IGF 2025 meeting. Building on a decade of just-in-time IGF reporting, we will continue to provide timely and comprehensive coverage from the forum. Our reporting initiative will include session reports, an ‘Ask IGF 2025’ AI assistant, daily highlights, and more, available on our dedicated IGF 2025 web page on the Digital Watch Observatory.

Yesterday, 26 June, the Diplo-led CADE consortium held an in-person lightning session exploring multilingual challenges in global processes. A ‘Tower of Babel’ simulation invited participants to speak their native languages, followed by a discussion on practical solutions for language barriers.

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Still in Lillestrøm for IGF? We’re here too! Come visit the Diplo and GIP booth (#45) and the CADE booth (#57) — and don’t forget, both are also live in the virtual village.

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Do you like what you’re reading? Bookmark us at https://dig.watch/event/internet-governance-forum-2025 and tweet us @DigWatchWorld

Have you heard something new during the discussions, but we’ve missed it? Send us your suggestions at digitalwatch@diplomacy.edu.

IGF 2025 – Daily 3

IGF Daily Summary

for Wednesday, 25 June 2025

Dear readers,

Welcome to our daily report from Day 2 at IGF 2025.

Day 2 of the IGF featured discussions across multiple sessions addressing AI governance, digital divides, cybersecurity, and the future of the IGF. Participants examined how emerging technologies are reshaping digital governance while exploring practical solutions for inclusion and protection online.

One specific issue raised in several AI discussions was the need for equitable access to AI computing power, particularly for the Global South. Key takeaways included the challenges of ‘compute deserts’ and the potential of regional consortia to pool investment and technical capacity. Speakers stressed the importance of not only hardware access but also digital skills development, AI literacy, and inclusive governance. Concrete projects, like leveraging AI and other technologies to transform Africa’s coffee value chain, showed how localised innovation can meet global goals. The tone was hopeful yet clear: collaboration, transparency, and political will are indispensable.

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The WSIS+20 review process featured prominently, with participants calling for a permanent IGF mandate and sustainable funding, and noting the importance of an inclusive and transparent process, among other issues.

What stood out to you in yesterday’s discussions?

Diplo reporting team

Key questions from Day 2

How can we ensure AI development serves humanity rather than concentrating power?

Participants identified ‘a double concentration of power’ where only a ‘handful of private actors shape what people see, influence democratic debate, and dominate key markets without meaningful oversight’. The Freedom Online Coalition’s Joint Statement emphasised ‘putting humans at the centre of AI development’ with ‘clear obligations for both states and the private sector’. Technical solutions included ‘developing agent-to-agent interaction protocols and model context protocols to create interoperability among various agentic systems’ while policy approaches focused on ‘risk-based regulation where high-risk applications require high levels of safety and due diligence from providers’.

What does meaningful connectivity mean in practice?

Participants defined meaningful connectivity as ‘extending beyond broadband connection to include quality, affordability, digital skills, and capabilities such as financial transactions online, security awareness, and access to government services’. Device affordability emerged as the primary barrier, with ‘for the poorest 20% of people in sub-Saharan Africa, an entry-level internet-enabled device costs 99% of average monthly income’.

How do we protect children in an AI-enabled digital environment?

Participants emphasised that ‘the digital space, the internet was not designed for children’ and that ‘children are systematically exposed to risks and harms because services are designed with three main aims: increased time spent, increased reach, and increased engagement’. Solutions include ‘safety by design approaches’ and cross-platform collaboration. The Tech Coalition’s Lantern program was highlighted as the first cross-platform signal-sharing program that helps companies securely share signals about accounts and activity that violate child safety policies.

How do we bridge the compute divide in AI development?
Participants noted that ‘AI computing power is concentrated in roughly 30 nations, primarily the US and China’. To illustrate, Brazil has ‘1% of all data centres in the world’ and ‘according to EAA numbers, Brazil has 0.2% of computational power globally’. Solutions explored included ‘multistakeholder collaboration models similar to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization’ and ‘investment in local talent and support for community-driven research’.

Summary of discussions

AI governance and technological concentration

AI dominated governance discussions, with participants examining both opportunities and challenges. The High Level Session on AI and the Future of Work demonstrated AI’s transformative potential through concrete examples: agricultural extension services costs dropped from $35 per farmer to $0.3 per farmer through AI implementation, while Norway’s tax administration achieved 85% detection rates for missing tax returns using AI, compared to 12% before.

However, participants identified fundamental architectural differences between internet and AI systems. While the internet was built on ‘open, decentralised, transparent, interoperable architecture,’ AI represents ‘a highly centralised architecture’ that is ‘frequently proprietary, non-interoperable, and very opaque’.

The concentration of AI development emerged as a critical concern. Participants noted that AI computing power is concentrated in roughly 30 nations, primarily the US and China. In China alone, there are 434 large language models as of the session date.

Agentic AI systems present additional challenges. A Stanford study revealed that ‘almost half of the tasks by the AI agents’ described in the study ‘were seen by workers as non-desired for automation’. Bias issues were illustrated through a case from Argentina where an AI agent for career guidance ‘tended to recommend degrees that usually have lower tuition fees’ to low-income students, despite most Argentine universities not charging tuition fees.

Magical realism of AI

Like many technologies, AI is magical as it amplifies our capabilities and brings us beyond our limitations. Yet, the impact of AI on our lives is very realistic. The main challenge ahead of us is reconciling this ‘magical realism’ of AI and its governance.

Jovan Kurbalija, Main session on AI governance

Digital divides and meaningful connectivity

Digital inclusion discussions revealed persistent challenges despite decades of connectivity efforts. Like in previous days, participants noted that 2.6 billion people remain unconnected to the internet, but significantly, ‘only 4% of unconnected people live in areas without mobile broadband coverage’ while ‘90% of unconnected people live in covered areas but face other barriers’.

The concept of meaningful connectivity emerged as crucial, extending beyond broadband connection to encompass quality, affordability, digital skills, and broader capabilities, including people’s ability to transact financially online, awareness of security threats, data protection capabilities, and access to government services.

Device affordability was identified as the primary barrier. Participants noted that ‘for the poorest 20% of people in sub-Saharan Africa, an entry-level internet-enabled device costs 99% of average monthly income’.

Gender disparities persist, with ‘women in low and middle-income countries 14% less likely than men to use the internet’ and ‘this gender gap has stalled without significant progress’.

Cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection

Cybersecurity discussions revealed an increasingly dangerous threat landscape. Participants noted that ‘nearly 40% of all documented cyber operations by states in 2024 focused on critical infrastructure’ while ‘ransomware attacks surged by 275%.’ The scale was illustrated by the observation that if cybercrime were a country measured by GDP, it would be the world’s third largest economy.

The interconnected nature of infrastructure creates cascading vulnerabilities where ‘a compromise in one sector, say electricity, can ripple into others like healthcare, telecommunications or transportation.’

Information sharing is both crucial and challenging. While its value for digital resilience is widely recognised, participants noted that ‘in practice, it proves to be something that is actually very difficult’ because intelligence agencies emphasise secrecy and have limited incentive to share; companies face reputational damage and liability risks when sharing breach information; and threat intelligence companies tend to protect their business models.

The most effective information sharers were identified as CISRTs and the CERT community which ‘have a long-standing tradition in the international community of exchanging information, and they see it as a core value’.

Child protection online is a critical priority. Participants noted that ‘roughly 300 million victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation every year globally; that’s about 14% of the world’s children each year’. The challenge is compounded because ‘bad actors typically exploit multiple services across the tech ecosystem in their attempts to groom children, distribute CSAM, or engage in other harmful activities like financial extortion’. Mentioned solutions included cross-platform collaboration through initiatives like the Tech Coalition’s Lantern programme which was highlighted as the ‘first cross-platform signal sharing programme’ that helps companies securely share signals about accounts and activity that violate child safety policies.

Content governance and AI-generated misinformation

The challenge of combating misinformation intensified with AI-enabled content creation. Participants documented dramatic growth of AI content forums monitored grew from 49 sites in May 2023 to 1,271 sites currently with ‘one individual behind more than 273 AI-generated websites imitating local news sites in the US and Germany.

AI reliability emerged as a critical concern, with research showing that AI chatbots repeat false claims authoritatively approximately 26% of the time when tested, creating what participants described as ‘a vicious circle of disinformation.’

Sexual deepfakes affecting teenagers became a particular focus. In Korea, policy reports about deepfake sex crimes increased from 156 cases in 2021 to 1,202 cases in 2024. The availability of creation tools was highlighted as problematic, with ‘nearly 35,000 AI models available for public download on one platform service for generative AI, many of which are even marketed or with the intention to generate NCIIs, non-consensual intimate imagery’..’ Educational responses showed promise. The Korean Ministry of Education, for instance, published five guidebooks tailored to different age groups covering three key situations: being a victim, witnessing someone else as a victim, and causing harm.

WSIS+20 and the IGF’s institutional evolution

The WSIS+20 review process dominated institutional discussions. Multiple participants called for a permanent mandate for the IGF with sustainable funding. Co-facilitators noted receiving ‘calls for either renewal of the mandate of the IGF, or a strengthening of that mandate, or even in some cases, calls to make it a permanent institution that’s able to access financing from regular resources of the United Nations’.

Participants emphasised the IGF’s unique role as ‘the only place across all the fora that we have about digital transition where all stakeholders are on equal footing’. This is especially important as some strategic foresight exercises reveal the concerning trend of ‘multistakeholder processes either being hollowed out or kind of completely undermined by corporate actors and state actors’.

Some points were made about the ability of the IGF to have its outcomes and outputs conveyed to decision-makers. Participants noted that ‘limited by its design, a lot of the great IGF discussions and outcomes do not necessarily land in decision-making fora at the UN regional or national levels’.

Despite challenges, participants proposed that a redesigned IGF, ‘a redesigned and a braver IGF, redesigned in terms of making it much more participative and innovative, in terms of the methodologies we use for our sessions, and a braver IGF, more willing to actually ask difficult questions around which there’s not going to be consensus.’

SDGs in focus

Digital technologies’ role in advancing SDGs featured in discussions, though progress remains uneven. Participants noted that with only 17% of SDGs on target, there is recognition of gaps still experienced five years into 2030, which is the target date for sustainable development goals.

Research showed that ‘digital technologies directly benefit 70% of SDG targets’, with strong correlations found between the ICT development index and SDG index, particularly on economic development. Specific examples included SDG 1 (no poverty), showing broadband expansion correlating with lower poverty, SDG 3 (good health and well-being), with universal health coverage correlating with ICT development, and SDG 4 (quality education), showing literacy and enrollment rates with positive trends related to higher ICT development index scores.

Digital public infrastructure was cited as having ‘immense potential’, with Harvard University estimates suggesting it can unlock value equivalent to 3 to 13 per cent of GDP, with an average improvement of 6 per cent for emerging economies.

However, funding gaps persist. Participants noted that ‘only 3% of official development assistance is going toward digitalisation, and digital public goods are being underfunded and undervalued’.

The African context highlighted particular challenges, with participants noting that ‘500 million of our population without any legal form of identity’ and ‘700 million of our population don’t have access to electricity’.

Thought-provoking ideas and questions

‘Will tomorrow’s Internet still be open, decentralised and user-driven if most of our online action is mediated by a handful of AI tools?’.

‘What economic incentive do people have to be creative, to do great things, to work hard?’ This question was raised in the context of concerns about AI companies using human-created content without compensation.

‘If we’re so clever with technology, why can’t we make something that, when once we’ve put an image online, it becomes indelible, it becomes unchangeable?’ This question was raised in the context of combating sexual deepfakes.

‘Innovation without trust is short-lived. Respect for rights is not a constraint, it’s a condition for sustainable, inclusive progress’.

Read all session reports

The IGF we want

– The IGF mandate should be made permanent with stable and predictable funding

– Consideration could be given to rebranding the IGF as a Digital Governance Forum, to more accurately reflect the fact that it has expanded its scope beyond internet governance to include AI and other emerging technologies

– Better integration between the IGF and NRIs, so that contributions from local communities are better brought to the global IGF

– A redesigned IGF that is ‘much more participative and innovative, in terms of the methodologies we use for our sessions, and a braver IGF, more willing to actually ask difficult questions around which there’s not going to be consensus’

– Dynamic Coalitions should be integrated into the main program rather than treated as side activities

Diplo/GIP at IGF2025

Diplo’s Executive Director, Jovan Kurbalija, launched the eighth edition of his seminal textbook ‘Introduction to Internet Governance’, marking a return to writing after a nine-year pause. The session unpacked not just the content of the new edition but also the reasoning behind retaining its original title in an era buzzing with buzzwords like ‘AI governance’ and ‘digital governance.’

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Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director of Diplo, at the launch of the 8th edition of the ‘Introduction to internet governance’

Kurbalija was also featured as a speaker during Wednesday’s main session on the governance of AI, noting that the policy community should make AI governance common sense, bottom-up, and explainable to anyone who is using AI.

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What to expect?

On Thursday, 26 June, the Diplo-led CADE consortium will organise an in-person lightning session to explore multilingual challenges in global processes. The session will recreate a ‘Tower of Babel’ experience, inviting participants to speak in their native languages and attempt spontaneous communication. The activity will be followed by a group discussion on real-world solutions to language barriers, focusing on adaptation, inclusion, and communication accommodations.

At IGF Lillestrøm? Find us at the Diplo and GIP booth (#45) and CADE booth (#57) – also online in the virtual village.

Do you like what you’re reading? Bookmark us at https://dig.watch/event/internet-governance-forum-2025 and tweet us @DigWatchWorld

Have you heard something new during the discussions, but we’ve missed it? Send us your suggestions at digitalwatch@diplomacy.edu.

IGF 2025 – Daily 2

IGF Daily Summary

for Tuesday, 24 June 2025

Dear readers, welcome to our daily report from Day 1 at IGF 2025.

Marking the 20th edition of the multistakeholder dialogue, the IGF kicked off in Oslo amidst celebrations and a stark reality check on our fractured digital landscape. The opening ceremony set the challenge memorably: ‘When digital transformation is done right, it is like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. But when it is done wrong… all that you have is really a fast caterpillar’.

From the launch of the Global Internet Standards Testing Community to discussions on AI therapists for mental health, from digital emblem initiatives for protecting infrastructure during conflicts to the role of parliamentarians in shaping digital policy, participants outlined the breadth and complexity of contemporary digital governance challenges.
A recurring theme emerged around power concentration and accountability. Session after session highlighted how ‘most of AI today is controlled by a few companies in a few countries’ and how their dominant position in organising information and knowledge can affect the lives of billions worldwide.

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Alongside this, the deep digital divides have persisted. For example, fixed broadband devouring a third of incomes in some places, leaving 2.6 billion entirely offline. Yet, IGF discussions also brought a sense of optimism: community networks of fast-growing way for affordable access, AI protecting the environment, and digital public infrastructure revolutionising governance in the Global South.

What stood out to you in yesterday’s discussions?

Diplo reporting team

Key questions from Day 1

How can we ensure AI development benefits everyone, not just a few?

Participants identified multiple barriers to inclusive AI development, including infrastructure gaps where ‘All of Africa, less than a thousand GPUs, less than one percent of the data center capacity’. Solutions include creating ‘shared infrastructure‘ and developing ‘new business models that take that reality into account’ for GPU and data center access. India’s example of making ‘around 50,000 GPUs available at a very low cost, less than a dollar a GPU per hour’ demonstrates how public infrastructure can democratise access.

What measures are needed to protect vulnerable groups online?

The challenge is multifaceted, with research showing that ‘about one in three women had experienced some form of online violence’ across Africa. Search for solutions should be multi-stakeholder collaboration and regional with participants suggesting that ‘instead of Malaysia trying to engage with this (Meta) platform, we are hoping that ASEAN as a whole can engage with this platform’. Design-based solutions include introducing ‘design friction that you can introduce that stops the content from being shared’ rather than relying solely on reactive takedowns.

How can we bridge persistent digital divides?

Despite decades of effort, participants noted that ’20 years ago we were talking about the digital divide. After 20 years, we are also talking about the digital divide’. The challenge has evolved beyond basic connectivity to meaningful access, where in Brazil, ‘almost 90% of the population has some internet connection and only 22%, according to our estimates, have meaningful connectivity’. Solutions include community-based connectivity initiatives and recognising that ‘accessibility and connectivity to the internet is a right and not a luxury’.

How should the IGF evolve for the next 20 years?

Multiple participants advocated for making the IGF permanent, ‘with stable funding, a mixed funding, voluntary contributions, but also UN contributions’, noting ‘we are not talking about tens of millions. We are talking about a couple of millions, so it’s doable’. The WSIS+20 review represents ‘an important opportunity to renew and strengthen the IGF mandate, including by ensuring a more sustainable financial basis from the regular UN budget that such a global, inclusive effort deserves and needs’.

How can we ensure information integrity in political processes?

The challenge is significant, with just two companies, Google and Meta, holding a dominant global position in how news and information are distributed. Addressing this requires three key elements: first, ensuring the financial survival of independent media — in other words, media viability; second, giving due prominence to journalism and reliable information in digital spaces; and third, tackling the question of safety, because if we want quality journalism to thrive online, journalists must be safe to operate and navigate these environments.

Summary of discussions

AI technology and governance

The discussions on AI revealed both transformative potential and significant governance challenges. Participants emphasised that ‘AI is truly a new electricity, so everything can change once electricity comes into your home’, yet warned of an emerging AI divide where ‘All of Africa, less than a thousand GPUs, less than 1% of the data centre capacity’.

The concentration of AI power emerged as a critical concern. Participants noted that ‘most of AI today is controlled by a few companies in a few countries’ and that ‘most of the data sets are in six or seven languages’, with the cultural context being very specific, North American and Western European. This concentration creates significant barriers for developing countries, where ‘Africa currently accounts for only 0.1% of the world’s computing capacity, and just 5% of the AI talent in Africa has access to the compute power it needs’.

However, promising initiatives are emerging to address these inequities. India has ‘made available almost 35,000 GPUs at a very low cost of a dollar per GPU per hour’, demonstrating how public infrastructure can democratise access to AI capabilities. The Bureau of International Cooperation, Cyberspace Administration of China, reported that ‘more than 430 generative AI service models have been registered and put online in China’, showing rapid deployment at scale.

The governance challenges are particularly acute in content moderation, where AI systems exhibit systematic biases. For instance, research revealed that on counterrorism filtering, content in Arabic was wrongly flagged 77% of the time, highlighting the risk of false negatives in AI moderation.

For mental health applications, AI presents both opportunities and risks. While AI tools could potentially reach millions in need, participants warned of inadequate responses to mental health crises, with ChatGPT responding to suicidal thoughts with: ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t assist you with that. Please seek help from a mental health professional or contact emergency services’. The solution lies in culturally sensitive approaches where ‘AI should support, not replace human connection’.

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Digital infrastructures and services

Critical internet infrastructure was identified as both a foundation for digital development and a source of vulnerability. The Global Internet Standards Testing Community was launched to highlight that ‘not deploying the new generation security-related internet standards and ICT best practices should no longer be an option for anyone manufacturing devices or offering digital services’.

The digital emblem initiative represents an innovative approach to protecting humanitarian infrastructure from cyber-attacks. Building on the historical development of the Red Cross emblem, the initiative ‘aims to create a universally-recognised symbol for protecting digital infrastructure during conflicts’. The technical implementation involves ‘protected entity flags on website addresses’, ‘digital certificates like passports for websites’, and ‘labels that are behind the scenes on digital files’.

Digital divides, inclusion, and capacity development

Despite decades of effort, digital divides remain stubbornly persistent. The nature of digital divides has evolved beyond simple connectivity. In ‘Brazil, ‘almost 90% of the population has some internet connection and only 22%, according to our estimates, have meaningful connectivity’, highlighting the gap between basic access and meaningful use. Meaningful connectivity means having ‘reliable, affordable access’ with ‘sufficient speed and quality’, supported by ‘digital literacy’, ‘relevant content and services’, a ‘safe and secure environment’, especially for children, and an ‘enabling policy framework’.

Community-based connectivity emerged as a promising solution. Participants emphasised that ‘addressing this question in today’s context is not about improving infrastructure or updating regulation. It’s about recognising that accessibility and connectivity to the internet is a right and not a luxury’. However, regulatory barriers persist, as ‘these community models cannot have the same requirements as traditional models. They must have reduced or exempted fees, and reporting requirements must be simplified and adapted to the conditions of these networks’.

Universal acceptance can help advance digital inclusion. The principle that ‘all domain names and email addresses should work across every internet enabled application device platform regardless of the language, the script or the length’ remains unrealised, contributing to digital divides where ‘the language of the internet cannot be and should not be only English’.

Skills gaps remain significant, as ‘less than 10% of adults in several countries in Africa possess basic digital skills.’ The emergence of AI creates new skill requirements, with participants noting that ‘it’s not enough to be digitally savvy, but you could also be AI ignorant. That’s the reality. Absolutely, you could be a PhD, but if you’re not adapted to AI, we have another gap. So AI gap.’

Internet governance, digital governance, and digital cooperation

The 20th anniversary of the IGF prompted significant reflection on the evolution and future of internet governance and the forum itself. Participants noted that the IGF has grown to serve ‘over 10,000 participants annually and inspiring 176 national, sub-regional, regional, and youth IGF initiatives worldwide’.

An interplay between multistakeholder and multilateral approaches remains one of the central themes often framed as a ‘false dichotomy’ between the two. Participants emphasised that ‘we cannot reinforce trust, we cannot reinforce cooperation if we don’t put a multistakeholder approach at the core of these processes. Transparency and inclusion at the core’. The geopolitical shifts featured prominently in yesterday’s discussion with participants describing ‘a shifting geopolitical order’ where ‘the last three decades of an international rule-based order are right now at a conjunction’.

The WSIS+20 review process represents a critical juncture for internet governance. Participants emphasised that ‘the review is also an important opportunity to renew and strengthen the IGF mandate, including by ensuring a more sustainable financial basis from the regular UN budget that such a global, inclusive effort deserves and needs.’ Multiple stakeholders advocated for making the IGF permanent, ‘with stable funding, mixed funding, voluntary contributions, but also UN contributions’, noting ‘we are not talking about tens of millions. We are talking about a couple of millions, so it’s doable’.

Parliamentary engagement in digital governance showed promising developments. Participants noted that ‘participation of governments and parliamentarians is not very high in the regional and local IGFs’, yet there are encouraging signs of change with ‘3,300 parliamentarians and their staff’ completing training on digital governance issues.

Content governance and information integrity

Information integrity is a critical challenge for democratic societies. Participants emphasised that ‘democracy is not an act of voting. Democracy is something that we exercise on a daily basis, an informed discussion, exchanging different views and opinions and doing it in an information environment that is healthy and sound.’

The concentration of power in information distribution poses significant risks. Participants noted that ‘two companies, Google and Meta, hold a dominant global position in the distribution of news and information. Daily, 5 billion people are affected by their decisions. The media’s heavy reliance on these platforms to reach their audiences threatens the independence and sustainability of journalism. This can lead to a fragmented information landscape.’

Climate disinformation represents a specific challenge that ‘really delays our ability to tackle climate change’ and becomes a democratic issue when ‘climate disinformation is weaponised for political purposes and political gains’. The response includes Brazil’s pledge of ‘one million dollars’ to a global fund for information integrity initiatives.

Content moderation challenges are particularly acute for vulnerable groups. Research on online violence against women showed that ‘about one in three women had experienced some form of online violence’ across Africa. Platform accountability remains inconsistent, with participants noting that some platforms have ‘no accountability’ and no longer maintain ‘trust and safety teams’ or ‘human rights teams’.

Human rights and digital technologies

The application of international law to digital spaces revealed both opportunities and gaps. Participants emphasised that ‘big tech companies, have obligations under international frameworks, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, to respect and protect digital and human rights’.

Children’s rights in digital environments require particular attention. With the 2017 UNICEF report saying that worldwide, one in three internet users is a child, the stakes are high. Research published by UNICEF found that ‘children who experience online sexual abuse or exploitation and online bullying have significantly higher levels of anxiety, more suicidal thoughts and behaviours, and are more likely to self-harm’. However, children ‘don’t want to be totally protected or excluded from the digital space, but they want to use the online space safely’.

Gender equity in digital spaces faces significant challenges. Statistics show that ‘31% of women worldwide are not in education, employment or training. 740 million women in developing economies remain unbanked. In technology development, ‘almost half of publicly documented bias in AI systems is bias against women and girls’ while ‘only about 2% of medical research funding goes towards pregnancy, childbirth and reproductive health’.

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Digital economy and innovation

Digital public goods are a transformative force for development. Defined as ‘open source digital solutions that are relevant for the attainment of the sustainable development goals and that are designed as a do no harm and with the highest respect for privacy and applicable best practices’, these solutions are scaling rapidly. The 50-5 campaign aims ‘to take DPGs to 50 countries in five years’ with about 30 countries already using one or more DPG products.

Success stories demonstrate significant impact. India’s digital infrastructure covers ‘1.3 to 1.4 billion people’ with Aadhaar being ‘used 80 million times a day today’. The UPI payment system processes ‘about 18 billion transactions a month, over 400 billion users, and over 50 million merchants’. Brazil’s PIX system achieved remarkable efficiency with ‘$4 billion investment that in a single year led to savings of $5.7 billion.’

However, funding challenges threaten digital development progress. Participants noted ‘there is a crisis in development funding that we are witnessing right at the moment’ with estimates that ‘next year there will be about 38% less development funding available around the world’. This is compounded by cuts to specific programs, with ‘the development money at the moment (being) severely cut, not only by the US government, (…) which is a large portion of international development aid for media’.

Data governance for digital public infrastructure requires new approaches. Participants noted that ‘the ambition that we have for DPI is not realised unless we have relevant governance frameworks to give us direction, to give us a strategy, and to keep us accountable for what we will do with DPI’. The challenge is that ‘there is currently a regulatory blind spot’ because ‘if this data collection, data usage by the private entities on these public platforms is not regulated, it may lead to creation of monopolistic enclosures and data hegemony in public-private partnerships’.

Cybersecurity and digital resilience

The discussions on cybersecurity revealed persistent vulnerabilities across digital infrastructure. Despite decades of awareness, fundamental security challenges remain unresolved, with ‘users still vulnerable due to low numbers of standards deployment, ICTs, devices and services that enter the market without security by design built into them’.

The internet of things (IoT) presents particular risks, with participants warning that ‘we have millions of devices with similar software and similar vulnerabilities, which makes them vulnerable to massive attacks’. The problem is compounded by poor lifecycle management, where ‘many devices like smart meters lack an over-the-air update mechanism, leaving them vulnerable for years’.

Solutions focus on implementing security by design principles and improving procurement practices. Participants emphasised that ‘security must be embedded at every layer’ and recommended adopting ‘zero-trust architecture, and so treating every request as untrusted until verified’.

Post-quantum cryptography represents an emerging critical challenge. The threat of ‘harvest now, decrypt later‘ attacks means that ‘malicious actors might be recording today’s encrypted communications for days or months or longer with the aim to decrypt them once they can utilise a cryptographically relevant quantum computer’.

SDGs in focus

The discussions explicitly connected digital technologies and governance to the SDGs. Digital public goods were defined as solutions ‘relevant for the attainment of the sustainable development goals’, helping countries advance ‘financial inclusion, food security, crisis response, healthcare delivery and public service efficiencies’. Digital public infrastructure has ‘the potential to accelerate the attainment of the Agenda 2063 and advance digital transformation, and also address the socio-economic inequalities’.

It was emphasised that ‘digitalisation accelerates progress towards the sustainable development goals’ and that ‘addressing the current digital divide will help us to get back on track when it comes to Agenda 2030 and the majority of SDG targets’. The urgency was captured in the observation that ‘we have 17 sustainable development goals, but the 18th one is keeping the Internet going because we have become so much more dependent on it’.

Research quoted that ‘more than 79% of SDGs can be done responsibly and appropriately’ with AI, highlighting the potential for artificial intelligence to accelerate progress when properly governed.

Read all session reports

The IGF We Want

Permanent mandate: Multiple participants advocated for making the IGF permanent, ‘with stable funding, mixed funding, voluntary contributions, but also UN contributions’.

Sustainable mission: Participants emphasised that ‘ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the global IGF and the wider IGF ecosystem is essential if we’re to fully realise both its purpose and its value’.

Stronger NRI integration: Recommendations included ‘ensuring that we capture and disseminate the outcomes of those national and regional initiatives in a more kind of targeted and dedicated way’.

Digital governance radar: A suggestion for creating a digital inclusion or digital governance radar in collaboration between the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the IGF secretariat.

Improve IGF outputs and policy impact: Participants called for the IGF to generate more actionable outcomes, with clearer pathways for follow-up. Suggestions included improving how session outcomes are communicated and integrated into policy dialogues at various levels.

Convene a multistakeholder discussion in 2026 on the IGF’s mandate and structure: One speaker proposed that there is a need for a clear discussion on how to improve the IGF, revise its mandate, and organise its structure more formally. This was followed by a suggestion to hold a multistakeholder discussion in 2026 on how to improve the IGF, convened under the auspices of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) or another appropriate forum’.

Diplo and GIP at IGF2025

Diplo and the GIP are also organising and participating in various sessions. Yesterday, 24 June, Diplo’s Executive Director, Jovan Kurbalija, spoke at an open forum on building an international AI cooperation ecosystem. Diplo’s Director of Knowledge, Sorina Teleanu, moderated a parliamentary exchange on enhancing digital policy practices.

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On Wednesday, 25 June, the 8th edition of Jovan Kurbalija’s book will be presented at the IGF. Kurbalija will also speak at the main session on the governance of AI. Diplo-led consortium CADE will organise a session to help connect CSOs from the Global North and Global South to share strategies on challenging repressive cyber laws and strengthen joint efforts to protect civic space.

Attending IGF in Lillestrøm? Visit the Diplo and GIP booth (#45) and the CADE consortium booth (#57)—both also accessible in the virtual village.

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Do you like what you’re reading? Bookmark us at https://dig.watch/event/internet-governance-forum-2025 and tweet us @DigWatchWorld

Have you heard something new during the discussions, but we’ve missed it? Send us your suggestions at digitalwatch@diplomacy.edu.

DW Weekly #217 – Reassessment of digital sovereignty strategies, data governance and exposure, and global crypto adoption

13 – 20 June 2025

Dear readers,

This week, concerns over digital sovereignty, data governance, and reliance on foreign cloud providers have led some EU states and other entities to question Microsoft’s reliability and review their digital sovereignty strategies.

Notably, Microsoft is under reassessment in Germany and Denmark, as the German state of Schleswig-Holstein is uninstalling the tech giant’s ubiquitous software across its entire administration, sparking concerns about digital sovereignty and the risks of foreign cloud dependency. The German case follows the Danish one, as the cities of Copenhagen and Aarhus have announced plans to reduce reliance on Microsoft software and cloud services, moving to systems such as Linux and LibreOffice. The two cases come after Microsoft previously came under scrutiny for blocking the email account of Karim Khan, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), in compliance with US sanctions imposed by the Trump administration.

Microsoft is also facing growing tensions with OpenAI, as the company reportedly seeks to revise its partnership by reducing Azure’s exclusive hosting rights, excluding a planned $3 billion Windsurf acquisition from the agreement, and renegotiating profit-sharing terms, all while OpenAI considers filing an antitrust complaint over alleged anti-competitive behaviour. On the other hand, the US Department of Defence has awarded OpenAI a $200 million contract to develop prototype generative AI tools for military use, opening alternative funding channels.

Concerns about data abuse have led a federal judge in New York to order the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to stop sharing sensitive personal data with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) agents.

Additionally, regarding data governance, the European Council and the European Parliament have reached a political agreement to strengthen cross-border enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

One of the largest-ever leaks of stolen login data has come to light, exposing more than 16 billion records across widely used services, including Facebook, Google, Telegram, and GitHub.

Let’s move to the Middle East, where Iran’s Bank Sepah was reportedly hit by the hacktivist group Predatory Sparrow in a cyberattack. The group announced on Tuesday that it had ‘destroyed all data’ at the bank, which is closely linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s military.

As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East worsened, Bitcoin prices slumped Monday evening. The drop followed Trump’s early G7 exit, his reported return to Washington for an emergency White House meeting and his Tehran evacuation warning. OKX, instead, has expanded into the EU by launching fully compliant centralised exchanges in Germany and Poland, offering access to over 270 cryptocurrencies and 60+ crypto-to-euro trading pairs. Concerning cryptocurrency adoption, the US Senate has passed the GENIUS Act, the first bill to establish a federal framework for regulating dollar-backed stablecoins. Vietnam has also officially legalised crypto assets as part of a landmark digital technology law passed by the National Assembly on 14 June.

The semiconductor export landscape is shifting as Taiwan has officially banned the export of chips and chiplets to China’s Huawei and SMIC, joining the USA in tightening restrictions on advanced semiconductor transfers.

Recent breakthroughs in quantum computing have revived fears about the long-term security of Bitcoin. With IBM aiming to release the first fault-tolerant quantum computer, the IBM Quantum Starling, by 2029, experts are increasingly concerned that such advancements could undermine Bitcoin’s cryptographic backbone.

In terms of infrastructure, Amazon will invest AU$ 20 billion to expand its data centre infrastructure in Australia, using solar and wind power instead of traditional energy sources.

Diplo in Armenia

Diplo has launched a new round of training sessions in Armenia to strengthen civil society’s understanding of digital governance. The initiative, which began on 12 June, brings together NGO representatives from both the region and the capital to deepen their knowledge of crucial digital topics, including internet governance, AI, and digital rights.

Coming up: IGF 2025 in Norway on 23–27 June

Mark your calendars for one of the main events in digital governance! The 20th annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF) kicks off on 23 June 2025 in Lillestrøm, Norway, at Nova Spektrum, and will run through 27 June under the theme ‘Building Digital Governance Together’. The event will welcome over 4,000 in-person participants, with an equal number joining online, uniting governments, private sector leaders, civil society, academia, and technical experts to shape the future of the internet. Excitingly, Diplo and the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) will serve as official reporting partners, delivering just-in-time daily updates and a comprehensive summary via the Digital Watch Observatory.

What is the OEWG on cybersecurity?

The UN’s Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on cybersecurity has brought all states to the table to shape responsible behaviour in cyberspace. As it wraps up its 5-year mandate in July 2025, experts reflect on its biggest gains, such as trust-building and the Points of Contact Directory, and its challenges, from geopolitical tensions to unresolved cyber threats. The next chapter? Read the full article

Diplo Blog – Advancing Swiss AI Trinity: Zurich’s entrepreneurship, Geneva’s governance, and communal subsidiarity
In his recent blog post ‘Advancing Swiss AI Trinity: Zurich’s entrepreneurship, Geneva’s governance, and communal subsidiarity’, Jovan Kurbalija proposes a distinctive roadmap for Switzerland to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI. Rather than mimicking the AI power plays of the US or China, Kurbalija argues that Switzerland can lead by integrating three national strengths: Zurich’s thriving innovation ecosystem, Geneva’s global leadership in governance, and the country’s foundational principle of subsidiarity, rooted in local decision-making.

Last week in Geneva

The Human Rights Council opened its 59th session on 16 June and is now in full swing. This week, the HRC has considered:

The Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, titled ‘Freedom of expression and elections in the digital age’ (A/HRC/59/50)
The Report of the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, titled ‘Artificial intelligence procurement and deployment: ensuring alignment with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights’ (A/HRC/59/53).

The ITU Council has also kicked off this week. Some of the things on the agenda in the last few days are:

The European Broadcasting Union held its annual Media Cybersecurity Seminar. The 2025 programme included sessions on broadcast infrastructure security, cloud and hybrid environments, ransomware mitigation, regulatory updates, and the integration of security practices into media workflows.
CERN hosted Sparks! 2025 – Imagining Quantum City at the CERN Science Gateway in Geneva, bringing together scientists, urban planners, and the public to explore how quantum technologies could shape the cities of the future. The event offered a balanced glimpse into the possibilities of quantum technologies, grounded in current scientific developments.

For the main updates, reflections and events, consult the RADAR, the READING CORNER and the UPCOMING EVENTS section below.

Join us as we connect the dots – from daily updates to main weekly developments – to bring you a clear, engaging monthly snapshot of worldwide digital trends.

DW Team

RADAR

Highlights from the week of 13 – 20 June 2025

TikTok ban delayed for the third time by Trump order

Caught between global politics and a massive American user base, TikTok’s fate hangs in the balance as the clock resets once again.

business person futuristic business environment

Latin America leads growth in crypto remittances this year

Stablecoins offer Latin Americans a vital dollar proxy, helping preserve value amid currency controls and economic instability.

China pushes global use of digital yuan

Beijing wants to reshape global finance with a multipolar currency model, reducing dependence on the US dollar and euro.

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GENIUS Act clears path for bank-run blockchains

New US law clears the way for banks to issue stablecoins and run blockchains, promising faster, regulated payments for clients.

Massive data leak exposes 16 billion login credentials from Google, Facebook, and more

Cybersecurity experts warn of increased phishing and identity theft risks following the discovery of 30 massive leaked datasets.

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Smart machines, dark intentions: UN urges global action on AI threats

UK security services told to prepare for AI-led terror scenarios.

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EU AI Act challenges 68% of European businesses, AWS report finds

AWS is helping customers comply with the EU AI Act through certified tools, responsible AI frameworks, and guidance on prohibited practices.

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Over $4 billion in crypto options expire today

Expiring options often push prices toward ‘max pain’ levels, where most contracts expire worthless, increasing short-term uncertainty.

France appeals porn site ruling based on EU legal grounds

A growing legal battle over online age checks is putting national authority to the test against the backdrop of the EU digital law.

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Social media overtakes TV as main news source in the US

As Americans increasingly scroll instead of switch channels, the way we engage with news is undergoing a seismic transformation that challenges the very foundations of traditional journalism.

Brazil lawmaker pushes to scrap crypto tax on Bitcoin holders

The proposal calls for formal recognition of Bitcoin as a strategic asset and tax exemption for holders.

SoftBank plans $1 trillion AI and robotics park in Arizona

Project Crystal Land could be SoftBank’s most ambitious venture, with AI-driven robotics and automation production backed by Vision Fund startups and global tech partners.

Publishers lose traffic as readers trust AI more

Cloudflare plans a tool to block unauthorised content scraping.

View all updates

READING CORNER

Advancing Swiss AI Trinity featured image

Advancing Swiss AI Trinity: Zurich’s entrepreneurship, Geneva’s governance, and communal subsidiarity

Switzerland can inspire global AI transformation by leveraging its unique strengths: Zurich’s entrepreneurial spirit, Geneva’s governance expertise, and a focus on communal subsidiarity.

The myth of the lone genius: How scientific revolutions really happen

Scientific breakthroughs aren’t lightning strikes of genius. They grow out of collective effort, practical tools, and the long churn of disagreement. Aldo Matteucci writes.

Gulf AI deals mark a new era for AI diplomacy

How is AI changing the way countries interact and hold power in the world? Find out how nations in the Middle East are teaming up on AI projects, the emergence of competing groups led by the US, China, and Russia, and what these developments could mean for the future of relationships between countries.

Breaking down the OEWG’s legacy: Hits, misses, and unfinished business

The OEWG on cybersecurity (2019–2025) shaped global debates on digital security, but did it deliver? External experts weigh in on its lasting impact, while our team, who tracked the process from day one, dissect the milestones and missed opportunities.

22 Jun 2025 – 27 Jun 2025

37th annual FIRST conference

The event aims to promote worldwide coordination and cooperation among computer security and incident response teams (CSIRTs).

23 Jun 2025 – 27 Jun 2025

Internet Governance Forum 2025

The Government of Norway will host the 20th annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Lillestrøm from 23 to 27 June 2025.

23 June 2025 – 27 June 2025

Diplo/GIP at IGF 2025 – Diplo Event

Diplo/GIP at IGF 2025 The 20th annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will be hosted by the Government of Norway, in Lillestrøm, from 23 to 27 June.

24 Jun 2025 – 27 Jun 2025

Global Forum on the Ethics of AI 2025

Thailand will host the 3rd UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence from 24 to 27 June 2025.

25 Jun 2025 15:00h – 16:00h

Countering misinformation with digital tools: Launch of WHO family planning digital content repository

The webinar will launch the toolkit, showcase WHO’s efforts to promote validated content, and discuss how digital tools can expand access to family planning information.

cgdhi who interoperability webinar flyer 25 june

25 Jun 2025 16:00h – 17:30h

Interoperability models to drive digital health transformation

The event will reflect on scalable approaches to health data exchange and foundational digital architecture.

26 Jun 2025 13:00h – 14:00h

Deepfake threats and detection: standards for digital authenticity

The webinar will explore the technology behind deepfakes, their societal impact, and current efforts to combat these threats.

IGF Daily Summary

for Monday, 23 June 2025

Dear readers, welcome to our daily report from Day 0 at IGF 2025.

The 20th Internet Governance Forum opened in Lillestrøm, Norway, with an ambitious agenda centred on ‘Building Digital Governance Together’.

Day 0 featured sessions spanning critical issues from AI governance and digital rights to cybersecurity and sustainable development. The discussions revealed both the promise and perils of our increasingly digital world, with participants grappling with fundamental questions about how to govern technologies that are evolving faster than our ability to regulate them. As one participant stated, ‘I feel like we’ve talked enough. I feel like we’ve had too many dialogues. I think it’s about time we act’.

Key themes emerged early: the urgent need to bridge persistent digital divides, the challenge of maintaining democratic values while combating disinformation, and the imperative to ensure AI development serves humanity rather than concentrating power. Participants from the Global South emphasised the need for more inclusive approaches that don’t perpetuate digital colonialism, while technical experts stressed the physical realities underlying our ‘cloud-based’ digital infrastructure.

As we stand at this 20-year milestone, with the IGF’s mandate up for renewal and the WSIS+20 review process underway, the stakes have never been higher for getting digital governance right.

What stood out to you in yesterday’s discussions?

Diplo reporting team

Key questions from Day 0

How can we ensure AI development serves humanity rather than concentrating power?

Participants grappled with the fundamental challenge that ‘50% of AI research is produced from the US and China’ and ‘80% of all VC funding for AI companies allocated to just these two countries’. Solutions focused on three pillars: ‘data sovereignty,’ ‘contextual innovation,’ and ‘peer-to-peer collaboration’. Norway’s ‘Tsetlin Machine’ approach was presented as a transparent, efficient alternative to opaque and energy-intensive large language models, reinforcing the value of human-understandable AI systems.

What does meaningful digital inclusion look like beyond connectivity?

Despite high global internet coverage, significant gaps remain. Participants noted that ‘there is still a third of the world offline’ and this is mostly a usage gap rather than a coverage issue. Meaningful inclusion requires addressing barriers including ‘infrastructure gaps, policy and regularity, uncertainty, inequalities, limited affordability of devices and services, and digital illiteracy’. The approach must work on three core dimensions: connectivity, accessibility, and digital skills, while maintaining analogue alternatives for those who cannot or choose not to be digital.

How can we combat misinformation while protecting freedom of expression?

The challenge intensified with AI capabilities, as ‘over a third of elections last year had major deepfake campaigns associated with them’. Solutions emphasised building resilience rather than reactive measures, including ‘pre-bunking’ strategies described as ‘the inoculation theory of trying to help societies and communities become more resilient to hate and lies’. However, participants stressed that ‘media and information literacy and AI literacy training is crucial, but it is not a standalone answer to mis- and disinformation problem’.

How can we achieve digital sustainability while meeting growing demand?

The ICT sector already accounts for ‘about 2 to 4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions’, with data centre power consumption increasing sharply due to AI models. Science-based targets require cutting ‘absolute ICT emissions by 45 percent between 2020 and 2030, to stay at the one-and-a-half degree pathway’. Solutions include strategic data centre placement ‘next to surplus of renewable energy’ and heat reuse systems.

What role should the IGF play in the evolving digital governance landscape?
With the IGF’s mandate up for renewal and the WSIS+20 review underway, participants advocated for strengthening the forum’s role. Recommendations included permanent mandate renewal, appointing a director position for the IGF secretariat, and ensuring that ‘the financial stability and sustainability of the IGF is key’ through more innovative funding models. The IGF should serve as ‘the agenda setter’ and strengthen its ability to ‘actually take on controversial issues’.

Summary of discussions

Digital governance and cooperation

The opening day revealed significant momentum around the WSIS+20 review process and the Global Digital Compact (GDC) implementation. Civil society organisations have mobilised through coalitions like the Global Digital Rights Coalition for WSIS, emphasising three core priorities: promoting a human rights-based and people-centric approach to the WSIS review, advancing the multistakeholder approach in internet governance, and strengthening WSIS institutions like the IGF.

Participants identified gaps in the elements paper issued by co-facilitators, noting that ‘the multistakeholder governance model is a little bit missing in action’ and that ‘the language is not always consistent with international human rights law’ in areas including surveillance, censorship, and discrimination online.

The IGF’s future emerged as a central concern, with participants advocating for permanent mandate renewal and strengthened institutional capacity. Specific recommendations included ensuring the financial stability and sustainability of the IGF through more innovative funding models and adding a government track to the IGF annual meeting.

The implementation of the UNESCO’s ROAM-X framework was presented as ‘a strategic enabler for national digital assessments’ that ‘supports evidence-based policymaking by helping countries assess their digital needs’ with elements including ‘R standing for Human Rights, O for Openness, A for Accessibility and M for Multi-Stakeholder Participation and the X refers to cross-cutting issues such as sustainability, gender equality and online safety’.

Digital divides, inclusion, and capacity development

Despite global internet coverage reaching high levels, significant gaps remain in meaningful access. Participants noted that ‘2.6 billion people remain offline as of today, most of them in the least developed regions’ and ‘in low-income countries, only 27% of the population uses the internet, compared to 93% in high-income countries’.

Africa faces particular challenges, with participants noting that ‘38% of the African population only has access to the internet’ and a need for approximately ‘$100 billion in order for us to close the digital divide in the continent’. Gender inequalities persist, with participants highlighting that ‘189 million more men (are) online than women globally’.

The concept of meaningful connectivity was emphasised, with participants noting that ‘92% of the planet now has internet coverage’ yet ‘one third of the population is still offline’. Barriers include ‘infrastructure gaps, and policy and regularity, uncertainty, inequalities, limited affordability of devices and services, and digital illiteracy’.

Solutions emphasised that digital public infrastructure must ‘encourage competition and foster innovation and fiscal resilience’ while supporting open source solutions. The Nordic paradox was highlighted: ‘the more digital our societies become, the greater the risk of deepening the digital divide’.

AI technology and governance

AI dominated discussions, with participants grappling with both opportunities and risks. The concentration of AI development was a major concern, with participants noting that ‘50% of AI research is produced from the US and China’ and ‘80% of all VC [venture capital] funding for AI companies is allocated to just these two countries’.

Small states and startups face particular challenges in the AI landscape. The fundamental question posed was: ‘Are we sidelined or are we in fact standing at a unique point of opportunity?’ Solutions focused on three pillars: ‘data sovereignty,’ ‘contextual innovation,’ and ‘peer-to-peer collaboration.’

Bias and discrimination in AI systems emerged as critical concerns. Participants noted that ‘AI systems are not neutral and reproduce and amplify structural inequality,’ with face recognition technology initially working ‘really well at the beginning for white male faces, but not at all for black and female faces’ because ‘it was just trained on white male faces’.

The environmental impact of AI raised sustainability concerns, with calculations showing that ‘to generate one single image with a large language model, such as ChatGPT, uses the same amount of CO2 as charging your mobile phone up to 50%’ and ‘the global AI demand may be accountable in two years from now for a water withdrawal equal to six times (the annual water use) of the entire country of Denmark’.

Content governance and information integrity

The fight against misinformation and disinformation took centre stage, with participants noting that ‘disinformation is there in a broader mission of creating doubt, creating division in our society’ which ‘erodes, of course, the information integrity’ essential for democratic processes.

The challenge has intensified with AI capabilities. Research showed that ‘over a third of elections last year had these major deepfake campaigns associated with them’, with ‘133 and counting instances of these big deepfake campaigns, specifically around global elections’.

Platform policies and content moderation faced scrutiny, particularly regarding recent changes where companies ‘just shut down not just the third-party fact-checking with fact-checkers in the US, but also some of the policies that allow the minorities to have their voices heard’.

Solutions focused on building resilience rather than just reactive measures. The concept of ‘pre-bunking’ emerged as ‘the inoculation theory of trying to help societies and communities become more resilient to hate and lies’. However, participants stressed that ‘media and information literacy and AI literacy training is crucial, but it is not a standalone answer to mis- and disinformation problem’.

Digital infrastructure and services

Critical internet infrastructure vulnerabilities received significant attention, particularly regarding subsea cables that carry ‘over 99% of global intercontinental data’. While ‘approximately 70% of cable damage each year is caused by fishing and anchors,’ participants noted that ‘the growing intersection of geopolitical tensions, malicious cyber capabilities, and infrastructure fragility highlights a stark reality. The risks are no longer hypothetical. They’re here and they’re multiplying.’

Solutions emphasised redundancy and resilience through ‘multiple geographical diverse cables routes and alternative routes, including satellite backups and terrestrial connections’ and ‘building intelligence into our networks, so they can adapt in real-time’ using technologies like software-defined networking and AI analytics.

The session on preparing internet infrastructure highlighted the need for comprehensive approaches covering ‘connectivity, routing security, IPv6, IXPs [Internet eXchange Points], RPKI [Resource Public Key Infrastructure], collaborative policy framework, capacity building, all these issues that create a robust internet ecosystem’. Norway’s ambitious goals were showcased, with participants noting that ‘at least 100 megabit per second broadband coverage to 99.1% of households with gigabit coverage reaching 96.2%’.

IGF session highlights urgent need for democratic resilience online

Cybersecurity and cybercrime

Cybersecurity challenges intensified with ransomware attacks growing by ‘nearly 300% last year alone’. Microsoft tracks ‘over 600 million cyber attacks daily’ which breaks down to ‘somewhere around 415,000 attacks a minute’.

The fraud ecosystem presents massive challenges, with participants noting that ‘25% of the worldwide connected population’ have been victims of scams, yet ‘only 2.5% of those behind the scenes, those to fraudsters and the online scammers are actually prosecuted’ and ‘globally, only 4% are capable of getting a full refund’ from fraud.

Innovative solutions emerged, including Norway’s implementation of a digital anti-spoofing roaming shield that ‘entered into force 19 November 2024 as one of the first in the world’ making it so ‘no practical Norwegian mobile number can be spoofed from abroad’.

Human rights

Digital rights advocacy faced new challenges in an era of increasing surveillance and platform power concentration. The Pegasus Project revelations highlighted ongoing concerns, with the spyware targeting ‘at least 189 journalists, 85 human rights defenders, and over 600 politicians and government officials globally, including cabinet ministers and diplomats’.

Facial recognition technology (FRT) emerged as a particular concern, with civil society organisations developing 18 principles for police use, including the position that live FRT should be prohibited.

The intersection of human rights and AI development required urgent attention. Participants emphasised that ‘equality needs to be promoted in and through the use of AI and informed by the views of those impacted’ while ensuring access to remedies when discrimination occurs.

Sustainable development and environment

Environmental sustainability in the digital sector gained prominence, with participants noting that ‘the ICT sector alone already accounts for about 2 to 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions’. The challenge intensifies with AI development, as ‘data centres are particularly important in (…) this transformation.’

The concept of ‘net digital sustainability’ emerged, where digitalisation should not only reduce harm, but actively deliver net positive environmental and societal outcomes, redefining how we measure and how we manage a truly sustainable digital transformation.

Science-based targets require cutting ‘absolute ICT emissions by 45% between 2020 and 2030, to stay at the one-and-a-half degree pathway’. Solutions include strategic data centre placement, locating them next to a surplus of renewable energy.

SDGs in focus

Digital technologies emerged as both accelerators and potential barriers to achieving the SDGs. Participants explicitly noted that ‘Digital inclusion is essential for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals’ and that digital and AI have ‘potential to be an accelerator of development and achievement of the SDGs itself’.

The WSIS+20 review process specifically addresses SDG alignment, and countries like Tanzania shared their success of aligning their National Digital Strategic Framework to ‘SDGs number 1, number 8, number 9 and SDG number 11’. The Global Digital Compact’s Action 35E ‘focuses on strengthening information integrity to assess and thereby support efforts to ensure that the sustainable development goals are not impeded by mis- and disinformation’.

However, challenges remain significant. With billions still offline, participants emphasised that ‘we are keeping them out of the economy of the current times’. The digital economy’s potential was highlighted, with projections that ‘this digital economy can create 230 million jobs by 2030’ in Africa alone.

The ROAM-X framework was presented as helping ‘align with SDG targets, and ensure a digital development that is transparent, equitable, and accountable’.

Read all session reports

The IGF we want

Permanent mandate renewal: Multiple participants suggested that the IGF mandate be renewed permanently rather than for limited periods, providing institutional stability and independence.

Enhanced financial sustainability: Recognition that ‘the financial stability and sustainability of the IGF is key’ with calls for ‘more innovative ideas to sort of guarantee or at least offer or put forward a sustainable model for funding and supporting the IGF’.

Communities of practice: A proposal for ‘communities of practice’ to ‘focus energy and effort from all parts of the community into problems that we know exist, challenges that we know are being articulated and digital gaps or digital divides that need to be closed and bridged’.

Enhanced infrastructure focus: A suggestion that ‘maybe we need to realise that to build trust in the internet services, we should have the infrastructure layer more into the debate, also in IGF forums, like we do today. But that has been somewhere missed in the past’.

Government track: A suggestion that a government track is embedded into the IGF (e.g. during the forum’s first day), as a way to bring more governments on board and also respond to calls for ‘enhanced cooperation’ to be operationalised.

Diplo/GIP at IGF2025

We are pleased to share that Diplo is partnering with the IGF Secretariat and the Government of Norway (as host country) to deliver AI-enabled, just-in-time reporting from the IGF 2025 meeting. Building on a decade of just-in-time IGF reporting, we will continue to provide timely and comprehensive coverage from the forum. Our reporting initiative will include session reports, an ‘Ask IGF 2025’ AI assistant, daily highlights, and more.

Diplo and the GIP are also organising and participating in various sessions. Yesterday, 23 June, Diplo’s Executive Director Jovan Kurbalija spoke at Day 0 event #79 WGIG+20: Glancing Backward and Looking Forward.

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Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director of Diplo, speaking at WGIG+20: Glancing Backward and Looking Forward

Today, 24 June, our experts will participate in Open Forum #33: Building an international AI cooperation ecosystem and Parliamentary session 5: Parliamentary exchange: Enhancing digital policy practices.

If you’re attending the IGF in Lillestrøm, make sure to drop by our Diplo and GIP booth, numbered 45. If you’re joining the IGF online, check out our space in the virtual village.

The CADE consortium, led by DiploFoundation, is also present in the IGF village, with booth numbered 57. Their virtual booth is available in the virtual village.

Do you like what you’re reading? Bookmark us at https://dig.watch/event/internet-governance-forum-2025 and tweet us @DigWatchWorld

Have you heard something new during the discussions, but we’ve missed it? Send us your suggestions at digitalwatch@diplomacy.edu.

DW Weekly #216 – EU’s International Digital Strategy, GENIUS Act and the Trump-Musk crypto frenzy, new Quantum inventions, and news from Geneva

6 – 13 June 2025

Animal, Bear, Mammal, Wildlife, Person, Face, Head, Game, Chess

Dear readers,

In this week’s edition, we spotlight the EU’s International Digital Strategy, a landmark blueprint that marks a clear evolution from the EU’s traditional values-driven approach to a more assertive, interest-based digital policy.

Essential strategic priorities of the International Digital Strategy:
At its core, the EU’s International Digital Strategy aims to: (1) strengthen the EU’s position as a global tech power through secure infrastructure, digital trade, and AI leadership; (2) build a resilient ecosystem for cybersecurity, semiconductors, and emerging technologies like quantum and 6G; (3) scale trusted digital partnerships worldwide via instruments such as Global Gateway, Digital Partnerships, and Digital Trade Agreements; (4) promote interoperable Digital Public Infrastructure and digital identities; and (5) shape global digital governance by anchoring multilateral cooperation and advancing human-centric standards.

These strategic pillars reflect the EU’s ambition to lead by example, combining innovation, security, and ethical digital leadership to set up and uphold a safe, solid, and interest-based digital policy in a quite cyber-fragmented world.

Cybersecurity: main news of the week

This week, Interpol launched a sweeping crackdown on global cybercrime networks just two days after the FBI issued a warning about the resurgence of BADBOX 2.0, a dangerous form of malware infecting millions of consumer electronics globally. Meanwhile, Donald Trump signed a new executive order revamping US cyber policy, expanding sanctions and sharpening the nation’s digital defences.

Quantum computing developments

Quantum developments are coming at light speed this week, quite literally, as a surprise photonic experiment showed quantum light outsmarting AI itself. Paris has just gone live with a quantum-secure communication network, while IBM has set 2029 as the finish line for a game-changing quantum system. Meanwhile, Oxford physicists have achieved record-breaking qubit precision. As if that were not enough, UK-based OQC has unveiled its audacious vision: a 50,000-qubit quantum leap.

Crypto corner

Crypto markets are riding a wave of political drama and regulatory shifts. South Korea’s new president is pushing his stablecoin legislation, contributing to the worldwide trend of crypto adoption. The US Senate, similarly to South Korea, is inch closer to passing the GENIUS Act, and Bank of America is gearing up for a dollar-backed stablecoin. Meanwhile, a Trump–Musk feud sent memecoins into a frenzy, briefly boosting trading before Dogecoin plunged over 10% amid investor jitters. And all eyes are on Japan, where a central bank policy twist could ignite Bitcoin’s next big surge.

Deals and investments

Big Tech is going all in on AI this week. The UK has teamed up with leading tech giants to supercharge AI training, while Amazon is pouring $20 billion into AI infrastructure to stay ahead of the compute race. Not to be outdone, Meta has inked a massive $15 billion deal with Scale AI, betting big on next-gen data pipelines.

AI and education

AI is making the grade, but not without raising questions. The UK government is backing AI tools to ease teachers’ administrative burdens, while EU schools begin adjusting to the demands of the new AI Act. In higher education, the verdict is still out: AI promises efficiency and innovation, but also sparks concern over student dependency and institutional integrity.

Semiconductor industry

Semiconductor innovation is accelerating at breakneck speed, powering the next generation of AI, and companies like TSMC are cashing in big, with soaring revenues driven by insatiable demand for AI chips.

Last week in Geneva

The Final Brief on the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 took place on Tuesday, 10 June, in Geneva, with remote participation available. Organised as part of the ongoing WSIS+20 process, the session provided a retrospective on the Open Consultation Process meetings, outlined the agenda highlights and key elements of the upcoming WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025, presented a vision for the future of the WSIS process, and explained the next key steps in the WSIS+20 overall review by the UN General Assembly.

The 113th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), convened by the International Labour Organization (ILO), started on 2 June and is wrapping up today, 13 June. This year’s agenda includes pivotal discussions on: Protection against biological hazards at work; Decent work in the platform economy; Innovative approaches to tackling informality; Tripartite input to the Second World Summit for Social Development; Amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention.

For the main updates, reflections and events, consult the RADAR, the READING CORNER and the UPCOMING EVENTS section below.

Join us as we connect the dots – from daily updates to main weekly developments – to bring you a clear, engaging monthly snapshot of worldwide digital trends.

DW Team

RADAR

Highlights from the week of 6 – 13 June 2025

Europe’s new digital diplomacy: From principles to power

As global tech rivalries intensify, the EU is charting a bold new course that redefines digital diplomacy as a tool of strategic power rather than just a mirror of its…

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Switzerland to begin crypto data sharing in 2026

Partner countries must meet OECD standards to exchange crypto asset information with Switzerland.

Meta and TikTok contest the EU’s compliance charges

Under the Digital Services Act, large platforms face a 0.05% fee, but Meta and TikTok argue that the method used to determine it is unclear and excessive.

overhead view of children using digital tablet while lying on grass

Growing push in Europe to regulate children’s social media use

As concerns mount over the digital well-being of young users, a growing movement within Europe aims to redefine what it means to be a child in the online age.

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Elon Musk’s X tightens control on AI data use

New policy restricts third-party use of X data for AI.

UK cracks down on rogue influencers

FCA removes hundreds of misleading finance posts from social media.

Wikipedia halts AI summaries test after backlash

Editors warned that AI summaries could undermine Wikipedia’s core values, replacing collaborative accuracy with unverified, centralised outputs.

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Diplo highlights cybersecurity at AfriSIG

As Africa’s digital landscape rapidly evolves, new alliances and fresh perspectives are emerging to shape the continent’s cybersecurity future from within.

Anthropic debuts AI tools for US national security

Claude Gov reflects Anthropic’s strategic move into government contracts.

UAE AI megaproject faces US chip export concerns

A major UAE AI hub faces delays over US national security concerns.

AI startup faces lawsuit from Disney and Universal

Despite warnings, Midjourney reportedly ignored copyright concerns and continued upgrading its image service, prompting legal action from Disney and Universal.

View all updates

READING CORNER

BLOG featured image 2025 EU Digital Diplomacy

EU Digital Diplomacy: Geopolitical shift from focus on values to economic security

The EU’s International

Digital Strategy 2025 shifts focus from a values-centric approach to prioritising geopolitical and economic security. While it retains a commitment to human rights, the new strategy emphasises resilience, competitive tech development, and secure infrastructure, particularly in defence-related technologies.

blog vulnerabilities of international law

The vulnerabilities of international law

Citicorp Centre nearly collapsed because no one questioned the building code. What does that say about international law? When rules replace reality, disaster isn’t far behind. Aldo Matteucci writes.

Meme coins: Fast gains or crypto gambling?

A high-stakes game of digital chance, meme coins blur the line between viral entertainment and financial risk in the wildest corner of crypto.

BLOG featured image 2025 77 The Crimson vs White House

The Crimson vs White House: Harvard’s Fight for Sovereignty – Diplo

An in-depth analysis of the escalating feud between Harvard and the Trump administration over federal funding, international students, and academic freedom.

15 Jun 2025 – 17 Jun 2025

2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit

Leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the USA, along with the EU, and invitees Australia, Mexico, and Ukraine, will convene to discuss a wide range of…

16 Jun 2025 – 11 Jul 2025

Human Rights Council (HRC) 59th session

This session provides a key platform for the international community to discuss, promote, and protect human rights worldwide.

16 Jun 2025 – 20 Jun 2025

UN Open Source Week 2025

This year’s edition of the UN Open Source Week underscores the importance of shared digital infrastructure and inclusive governance in achieving the objectives of the Global Digital Compact (GDC).

17 Jun 2025 – 27 Jun 2025

ITU Council 2025

This year’s session will focus on key governance and operational matters, including the review and adoption of the 2026–2027 biennial budget, oversight of ITU programmes, and strategic planning for the…

23 Jun 2025 – 27 Jun 2025

Internet Governance Forum 2025

The Government of Norway will host the 20th annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Lillestrøm from 23 to 27 June 2025.

23 June 2025 – 27 June 2025

Diplo/GIP at IGF 2025 – Diplo Event

Diplo/GIP at IGF 2025 The 20th annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will be hosted by the Government of Norway, in Lillestrøm, from 23 to 27 June.

24 Jun 2025 – 27 Jun 2025

Global Forum on the Ethics of AI 2025

Thailand will host the 3rd UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence from 24 to 27 June 2025.

Rétrospective de mai 2025

Chères lectrices,
Cher lecteurs,

Bienvenue dans le 100e numéro de la newsletter Mensuelle du Digital Watch, avec de nouvelles perspectives, mises à jour et sources d’inspiration directement dans votre boîte mail ! À l’occasion de cette édition spéciale, nous revenons sur un mois de mai 2025 riche en transformations.

Depuis les actions réglementaires affirmées de l’UE jusqu’aux effets persistants des tensions technologiques entre les États-Unis et la Chine, en passant par les avancées révolutionnaires en informatique quantique, notre Digital Watch Monthly Newsletter reflète l’interaction dynamique entre technologie et politique.

Commençons par l’Union européenne, qui a renforcé en mai dernier l’application de la loi sur les services numériques (DSA), visant des plateformes telles que Pornhub et Shein pour non-respect des règles visant à réduire les contenus nuisibles et garantir la transparence.

De l’autre côté de l’Atlantique, le Département de la Justice des États-Unis (DOJ) a intensifié sa campagne antitrust contre Google, exigeant la cession de plateformes publicitaires clés comme AdX et DFP afin de démanteler son monopole dans la publicité numérique.

En ce qui concerne TikTok et sa saga américaine, le président Trump a prolongé le délai accordé à ByteDance pour vendre les activités américaines de TikTok, dans un contexte de tensions commerciales persistantes entre les États-Unis et la Chine.

Le partenariat entre les États-Unis et les Émirats arabes unis pour l’accélération de l’IA, soutenu par un accord de 200 milliards de dollars, a souligné les efforts considérables déployés pour contrer l’influence technologique de la Chine.

La société irlandaise Equal1 a présenté un ordinateur quantique à base de silicium conçu pour être intégré dans les centres de données existants. Cette avancée, conjuguée au lancement par les Émirats arabes unis du plus grand campus dédié à l’IA en dehors des États-Unis, a intensifié la course mondiale à la domination dans les domaines de l’IA et de l’informatique quantique.

Le Royaume-Uni a enregistré la croissance la plus rapide au monde en matière d’adoption des cryptomonnaies en 2025. À l’inverse, en raison des difficultés liées à leur adoption et de la volatilité économique, le Salvador a réduit son projet visant à faire du bitcoin une monnaie légale.

Rejoignez-nous pour décrypter les grandes tendances de mai 2025, en reliant les points à partir de nos mises à jour hebdomadaires pour vous offrir un aperçu clair et stimulant de ce qui fait palpiter le monde numérique.

Dans le numéro mensuel #100 de mai, vous pourrez suivre : TENDANCES en matière d’IA et de technologie | Développements à GENÈVE | Dig.Watch ANALYSE

Les tendances du mois : Mai 2025

Gouvernance de contenu et cadres juridiques

Le mois de mai 2025 a marqué un tournant décisif pour la gouvernance des contenus, avec le durcissement de la mise en application de la loi sur les services numériques (DSA) par l’Union européenne. Un événement organisé à Bruxelles a mis en avant l’approche fondée sur les risques de la DSA, qui incite les plateformes à s’attaquer aux risques systémiques tout en répondant aux demandes de davantage de transparence. Des plateformes telles que Pornhub et Shein ont fait l’objet d’un examen minutieux afin de vérifier leur conformité avec les règles visant, d’une part, les contenus préjudiciables et, d’autre part, la transparence. Les mesures d’application comprenaient un examen minutieux des sites pour adultes qui ne protégeaient pas les mineurs, avec des projet de vérification de l’âge à l’échelle de l’UE. En outre, l’UE a exigé de Shein qu’elle se conforme à la réglementation en matière d’étiquetage trompeur et de fausses réductions, en mettant l’accent sur la transparence dans le commerce électronique. Enfin, TikTok s’est vu infliger une amende de 530 millions d’euros (600 millions de dollars) par le commissaire irlandais à la protection des données (DPC) pour violation de la confidentialité des données impliquant le transfert d’informations sur les utilisateurs vers la Chine.

EuroDIG 2025, organisé par le Conseil de l’Europe, a mis en avant le dialogue multipartite, plaidant pour une modération équilibrée des contenus, respectueuse de la liberté d’expression tout en luttant contre la désinformation. À l’échelle mondiale, les plateformes peinent à concilier les réglementations locales avec les attentes des utilisateurs, soulignant le besoin de cadres de gouvernance adaptatifs.

Aux États-Unis, le Département de la Justice (DOJ) a intensifié sa pression antitrust contre Google, réclamant la cession de plateformes publicitaires comme AdX et DFP pour démanteler son monopole publicitaire. Dans le même temps, la Convention du Conseil de l’Europe sur l’IA et les droits humains, adoptée plus tôt, a établi un précédent mondial pour une régulation éthique de l’IA, influençant les débats à EuroDIG 2025.

Du côté du Royaume-Uni, les débats autour de l’IA et des droits d’auteur se sont intensifiés. Plus de 400 artistes, dont Elton John et Dua Lipa, o n t appelé le Premier ministre Keir Starmer à protéger les œuvres créatives contre une utilisation non autorisée par l’IA. La Chambre des Lords a amendé le projet de loi sur les données pour obliger les entreprises d’IA à révéler les contenus protégés utilisés pour l’entraînement des modèles. Le gouvernement a toutefois résisté, invoquant les risques pour le secteur. Nick Clegg, ancien vice-premier ministre, a estimé que l’obligation du consentement des artistes pourrait paralyser l’industrie britannique de l’IA. Malgré certaines concessions, comme des évaluations d’impact et des consultations, la communauté créative demeure inquiète quant à l’érosion potentielle des droits de propriété intellectuelle face à l’essor de l’IA.

Tensions commerciales et concurrence mondiale

Les tensions commerciales entre les États-Unis et la Chine se sont poursuivies, le président Donald Trump ayant prolongé le délai accordé à ByteDance pour céder les activités américaines de TikTok, illustrant ainsi de nouvelles manœuvres géopolitiques. Par ailleurs, les États-Unis ont renforcé les contrôles à l’exportation sur les puces d’IA, poussant Nvidia à reconcevoir ses produits pour le marché chinois. De son côté, AMD prévoit une perte d’environ 1,5 milliard de dollars de chiffre d’affaires cette année en raison des nouvelles restrictions américaines sur l’exportation de puces d’IA avancées, désormais soumises à une licence obligatoire pour leur vente à la Chine. Par ailleurs, le président Trump a accepté de reporter au 9 juillet 2025 l’instauration prévue d’un tarif douanier de 50 % sur les importations en provenance de l’Union européenne, à la suite d’une demande de la présidente de la Commission européenne, Ursula von der Leyen.

IA, avancées quantiques et infrastructure numérique

L’innovation en matière d’IA a connu un essor fulgurant, les modèles spécialisés de petite taille prenant le pas sur les systèmes à grande échelle. En mai 2025, l’IA a fait des progrès considérables dans tous les domaines : Anthropic a lancé les modèles Claude 4 dotés de capacités autonomes, tandis que DeepMind a poussé plus loin l’optimisation algorithmique avec AlphaEvolve. Google a dévoilé Veo 3 pour la génération de vidéos synchronisées, et Midjourney V7 a amélioré les flux de travail créatifs grâce à un rendu plus rapide.

Dans le secteur industriel, TCS a promu un modèle de main-d’œuvre « Humain + IA », et l’État d’Odisha a approuvé une politique pionnière en matière d’IA. Toutefois, les inquiétudes concernant les pertes d ‘emplois et la demande énergétique se sont accrues. Sur le front de la recherche, les États-Unis ont lancé le superordinateur Doudna dédié à la génomique, et des scientifiques ont mis au point une nouvelle protéine conçue par IA, l’esmGFP, marquant ainsi une avancée majeure dans le domaine de la bio-ingénierie.

Le mois de mai a remis l’informatique quantique sous les feux de la rampe, avec des initiatives audacieuses en Europe et en Asie. La start-up française Quandela a dévoilé Belenos, un ordinateur quantique de 12 qubits accessible via le cloud, positionnant ainsi l’Europe comme un acteur sérieux dans le domaine du matériel quantique. De son côté, le Japon a lancé ABCI-Q, sa nouvelle plateforme quantique, soutenue par un accroissement des investissements nationaux visant à accélérer la recherche et l’adoption industrielle.

En Irlande, Equal1 a présenté un ordinateur quantique à base de silicium, conçu pour une intégration fluide dans les centres de données existants, marquant une avancée importante dans la convergence entre le quantique et l’IA.

Les Émirats arabes unis ont annoncé leur intention de construire le plus grand campus dédié à l’IA au monde en dehors des États-Unis, un complexe de 26 km² situé à Abu Dhabi et dirigé par G42, dans le cadre d’un accord de 200 milliards de dollars conclu dans le cadre du partenariat entre les États-Unis et les Émirats arabes unis pour l’accélération de l’IA. G42 et OpenAI collaborent déjà sur l’initiative Stargate, un immense centre de données dédié à l’IA.

Inquiétudes liées à la cybersécurité et à la confidentialité des données

En mai 2025, les inquiétudes en matière de cybersécurité se sont intensifiées,représentant une menace croissante pour les méthodes de chiffrement actuelles. BlackRock a mis à jour les documents relatifs à l’ETF iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) afin de souligner le risque potentiel que représente l’informatique quantique pour la sécurité cryptographique du Bitcoin. La firme a averti que de futures percées dans le domaine quantique pourraient compromettre les systèmes cryptographiques protégeant les portefeuilles Bitcoin, et qu’il serait nécessaire d’atteindre un large consensus au sein du réseau décentralisé pour mettre en place des mesures de défense.

Parallèlement, les progrès rapides de la Chine en matière de technologies quantiques, notamment le développement d’une ligne de communication quantique sécurisée de 600 miles (environ 965 km), ont mis en évidence l’urgence de mettre en place des mesures de cryptographie post-quantique. Ces avancées ont accéléré les efforts mondiaux visant à adopter des normes de chiffrement résistantes au quantique, alors que les algorithmes cryptographiques traditionnels risquent de devenir obsolètes face aux capacités émergentes de l’informatique quantique.

La cybersécurité est restée une priorité essentielle, l’UE ayant prolongé le délai de mise en œuvre de la directive sur les équipements radioélectriques afin de renforcer la sécurité numérique face à la montée des cybermenaces. Le Royaume-Uni et l’UE ont convenu de renforcer leur coopération en matière de cybersécurité dans le cadre d’un pacte plus large sur la défense et la sécurité. Alors que le Japon a promulgué une nouvelle législation sur la cybersécurité, reflétant une tendance mondiale au renforcement des défenses numériques, le gouvernement néerlandais a adopté une nouvelle législat i on élargissant le champ d’application de ses lois sur l’espionnage afin d’y inclure l’espionnage numérique et d’autres activités menées pour le compte d’États étrangers susceptibles de nuire aux intérêts nationaux néerlandais.

Le centre de données dédié à l’IA de 544 millions de dollars des Émirats arabes unis, développé en collaboration avec Microsoft, et ses initiatives d’accélération de l’IA ont mis en évidence le lien entre l’IA et la cybersécurité. Les débats sur la confidentialité des données se sont intensifiés, l’EuroDIG 2025 abordant les impacts des algorithmes sur l’autonomie humaine. À l’échelle mondiale, les appels en faveur d’une protection renforcée de la vie privée se sont multipliés, le traitement des données par l’IA soulevant des questions éthiques et incitant les décideurs politiques à donner la priorité aux droits des utilisateurs.

Pour mieux comprendre la section suivante, Coinbase, la plus grande bourse de cryptomonnaies aux États-Unis, a révélé qu’une récente cyberattaque pourrait lui coûter entre 180 et 400 millions de dollars.

Dynamique des politiques numériques sur les cryptomonnaies

Le paysage des cryptomonnaies a connu des évolutions contrastées. En 2025, le Royaume-Uni a enregistré la croissance la plus rapide au monde en matière d’adoption des cryptomonnaies. La proportion d’adultes britanniques détenant des cryptoactifs est passée de 18 % en avril 2024 à 24 % en avril 2025, stimulée par une réglementation plus claire et une adoption institutionnelle croissante — soit la hausse annuelle la plus marquée parmi les pays étudiés. Singapour conserve toutefois le taux d’adoption individuelle le plus élevé, avec 29 % des répondants déclarant posséder des cryptomonnaies. À l’inverse, en raison de difficultés d’adoption et d’une instabilité économique persistante, le Salvador a réduit l’ampleur de son expérimentation du Bitcoin comme monnaie légale.

Le Bitcoin a atteint un niveau historique de 111 544 dollars, soutenu par un intérêt institutionnel croissant et des facteurs macroéconomiques favorables. Tether a annoncé son intention d’inve stir plus de 2 milliards de dollars pour devenir le plus grand mineur de Bitcoin au monde d’ici la fin de l’année. Sur le plan politique, le vice-président américain J.D. Vance a souligné l’importance d’un engagement politique actif pour l’avenir du Bitcoin, tandis que le parti britannique Reform UK est devenu le premier parti politique du pays à accepter les dons en Bitcoin, en proposant des mesures favorables à l’univers crypto.

Les débats réglementaires se sont concentrés sur la recherche d’un équilibre entre innovation et protection des consommateurs. L’Union européenne envisage un renforcement de la supervision des cryptomonnaies par le biais de son cadre de finance numérique, adoptant ainsi une approche prudente vis-à-vis de la finance décentralisée (DeFi).

Diplo Blog – Le Dr Jovan Kurbalija écrit: ‘Que pouvons-nous apprendre de 160 ans de diplomatie technologique à l’UIT?‘

À l’occasion du 160e anniversaire de l’UIT, le Dr Jovan Kurbalija a rédigé un article de blog dans lequel il revient sur cet événement et nous rappelle que : « Le 17 mai 1865, l’Union internationale des télécommunications (UIT) a été fondée par 20 États européens afin de normaliser la transmission des messages télégraphiques entre les pays, soulignant ainsi la nécessité d’une coopération multilatérale dans le domaine des communications. Depuis plus de 160 ans, l’UIT poursuit sa mission qui consiste à trouver un équilibre entre la souveraineté nationale et la connectivité partagée dans un contexte technologique en constante évolution. L’histoire nous enseigne que les crises peuvent être à l’origine de changements nécessaires, tandis que les progrès technologiques continuent de façonner la dynamique du pouvoir mondial. Alors que nous célébrons l’héritage de l’UIT, nous nous rappelons que la collaboration, les normes et la diplomatie restent essentielles pour relever les défis du paysage numérique interconnecté d’aujourd’hui. »

Au cas où vous l’auriez manqué

Au cas où vous l’auriez manqué, la GIP a rendu compte du Forum IGF de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (WAIGF) 2025, qui s’est tenu la semaine dernière. Le WAIGF est une initiative régionale qui rassemble diverses parties prenantes afin de discuter et d’aborder les questions liées à l’Internet en Afrique de l’Ouest.

Diplo a également participé activement au Forum brésilien sur l’Internet (FIB), du 26 au 30 mai et était organisé par le Comité directeur de l’Internet au Brésil (CGI.br). Représentant Diplo, Marilia Maciel a contribué à des discussions cruciales sur le rôle des États et la collaboration multipartite dans la gestion des infrastructures cloud et la défense de la souveraineté numérique. Elle a également apporté son expertise lors de la session principale consacrée à l’établissement de principes pour la réglementation des plateformes numériques.

Rejoignez-nous le mois prochain pour suivre l’évolution de ces tendances. Abonnez-vous à nos mises à jour hebdomadaires sur dig.watch pour découvrir les dernières informations sur les politiques numériques.

Coup d’oeil : les développements qui font des vagues

TECHNOLOGIE

Des chercheurs ont utilisé un seul atome pour simuler la réaction des molécules à la lumière, marquant ainsi une étape importante dans le domaine de la chimie quantique.

Les discussions autour des conflits d’intérêts liés aux activités cryptos du président américain Donald Trump ralentissent l’adoption de la législation sur les cryptomonnaies. Les démocrates bloquent la loi sur les stablecoins, le projet GENIUS Act, afin d’empêcher Trump de tirer profit de l’écosystème crypto.

Dans divers secteurs, les organisations se tournent vers l’automatisation agentique, une nouvelle génération de systèmes d’IA capables de penser, planifier et agir de manière autonome pour résoudre des problèmes complexes et à étapes multiples.

Deux physiciens de l’université Aalto estiment avoir trouvé une solution à l’un des défis les plus complexes de la science : réunir la gravité et la physique quantique.

GOUVERNANCE

Politiscope a récemment organisé une conférence à l’Association des journalistes croates afin de mettre en lumière les risques liés à l’IA en matière de droits humains, alors que la Croatie commence à rédiger une loi nationale visant à mettre en œuvre la loi européenne sur l’IA.

Le Pakistan a créé un nouvel organisme chargé de réglementer son marché croissant des actifs numériques et d’encourager l’innovation financière basée sur la blockchain.

Les sénateurs ont voté à 66 voix contre 32 en faveur de l’adoption du GENIUS Act, un projet de loi visant à réglementer les stablecoins. Seize démocrates ont rejoint les républicains pour soutenir la mesure, annulant ainsi un blocage antérieur.

L’ONU et des experts mondiaux ont souligné l’urgence d’une réglementation complète de l’IA dans les applications militaires.

Alors que les négociations avancent entre les membres de l’Assemblée générale des Nations unies à New York, un projet de résolution révisé (rev1) a été publié, présentant les propositions actualisées concernant le mandat et les modalités du Comité scientifique sur l’IA et le dialogue mondial sur la gouvernance de l’IA.

Le Sénat américain a voté contre l’adoption de la loi GENIUS, qui visait à réglementer les stablecoins.

L’Union européenne s’apprête à introduire de nouvelles mesures dans le cadre de son règlement sur la lutte contre le blanchiment de capitaux (AMLR) afin de suivre les transferts de cryptomonnaies.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Une start-up chinoise, Origin Quantum, a dévoilé Tianji 4.0, un système de mesure et de contrôle quantique supraconducteur de pointe capable de prendre en charge des ordinateurs quantiques de plus de 500 qubits.

Les autorités tchadiennes ont révelé un ensemble de politiques stratégiques visant à renforcer l’infrastructure numérique du pays et à réduire sa dépendance vis-à-vis du Cameroun pour la connectivité Internet internationale.

Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC (du) s’est associée à Microsoft pour construire un centre de données hyperscale de 2 milliards de dirhams (544,5 millions de dollars) aux Émirats arabes unis, dévoilé lors de la Dubai AI Week.

IHS Nigeria et le Corps nigérian de sécurité et de défense civile (NSCDC) ont conclu un partenariat visant à renforcer la protection des infrastructures de télécommunications critiques à travers le Nigeria.

JURIDIQUE

Un juge fédéral a statué que Google et la start-up d’IA Character.AI devaient faire face à un procès intenté par une mère de Floride, qui affirme qu’un chatbot de la plateforme a contribué à la mort tragique de son fils de 14 ans.

Meta fait l’objet d’une nouvelle enquête accusée de pratiquer un « Open source de façade » après avoir parrainé un livre blanc de la Linux Foundation vantant les avantages de l’IA open source.

ECONOMIE

Les États-Unis continuent de renforcer leur contrôle sur l’exportation de puces d’IA avancées vers la Chine. L’objectif est d’empêcher la Chine d’accéder à des technologies susceptibles de renforcer ses capacités militaires ou de lui permettre de surpasser les États-Unis dans le domaine de l’intelligence artificielle.

Lors de la conférence Bitcoin 2025 à Las Vegas, Bilal Bin Saqib, président du Pakistan Crypto Council, a annoncé des plans pour créer réserve nationale de bitcoins dans le cadre de la stratégie nationale du pays en matière d’actifs numériques.

Le PDG de Nvidia, Jensen Huang, a fait part de ses inquiétudes quant au fait que les restrictions américaines à l’exportation accélèrent la croissance des entreprises chinoises spécialisées dans l’IA, les rendant ainsi plus compétitives.

Le Bitcoin a atteint un nouveau record historique de 111 544 dollars jeudi matin, lors des premières heures de négociation en Asie jeudi, soit une hausse de 4 % par rapport au pic de mercredi.

Les ministres du Commerce des pays du BRICS se sont réunis à Brasilia pour échanger sur les défis en matière de commerce et d’investissement.

Crypto.com a obtenu une licence MiFID, lui permettant d’offrir des dérivés cryptographiques réglementés dans tout l’Espace économique européen.

OpenAI a annoncé qu’elle renonçait à sa transition complète vers une société à but lucratif.

Gemini a reçu une licence MiFID II de l’Autorité maltaise des services financiers, lui permettant d’offrir des dérivés cryptographiques réglementés dans toute l’UE et l’EEE.

OpenAI envisage de réduire la part des revenus qu’elle verse à Microsoft dans le cadre de son partenariat à long terme selon un rapport publié par The Information.

Les deux plus grandes bourses indiennes, la National Stock Exchange (NSE) et la BSE Ltd, ont temporairement restreint l’accès à leurs sites web depuis l’étranger en raison des préoccupations croissantes liées aux cybermenaces.

SÉCURITÉ

Taïwan a rejeté les accusations de Pékin qui affirme que le parti au pouvoir aurait orchestré des cyberattaques contre des infrastructures chinoises.

Le Royaume-Uni et l’Union européenne ont convenu de renforcer leur coopération en matière de cybersécurité dans le cadre d’un pacte élargi sur la défense et la sécurité.

La communauté mondiale de la cybersécurité est confrontée à une course contre la montre. Les progrès rapides de la Chine en informatique quantique, combinés à l’insuffisance d’ investissements mondiaux en cryptographie quantique, placent les responsables de la sécurité des systèmes d’information (RSSI) à un moment critique.

Le ministère britannique de la Défense (MoD) a annoncé la création d’un commandement cyber et électromagnétique afin d’unifier les opérations cyber défensives et de coordonner les capacités offensives avec la Force cyber nationale.

Prague a officiellement accusé la Chine d’avoir lancé une campagne cybermalveillante contre le réseau de communications non classifié de son ministère des Affaires étrangères.

La plateforme d’échange de cryptomonnaies Coinbase a révélé un impact financier potentiel de 180 à 400 millions de dollars à la suite d’une cyberattaque ayant compromis les données de ses clients, selon un document réglementaire déposé jeudi.

Le Conseil de l’UE a prolongé ses sanctions contre les cyberattaques jusqu’au 18 mai 2026, le cadre juridique pour leur l’application étant désormais prolongé jusqu’en 2028.

Un nouveau projet de loi présenté par le sénateur républicain Tom Cotton vise à renforcer la sécurité nationale en exigeant des fonctionnalités de vérification de la localisation sur les puces IA fabriquées aux États-Unis.

À Édimbourg, des milliers d’élèves ont dû se rendre à l’école un samedi après qu’une attaque de phishing a perturbé l’accès à des ressources d’apprentissage en ligne essentielles.

Les cyberattaques visant les États-Unis ont considérablement augmenté début 2025, selon un nouveau rapport de la société de cybersécurité Trellix.

DÉVELOPPEMENT

L’Union européenne a lancé un programme de financement de 500 millions d’euros dans le cadre d’Horizon Europe pour soutenir la recherche et l’innovation menées par l’Afrique. Un total de 24 appels à projets sont organisés autour de cinq grands axes thématiques.

Nvidia a dévoilé son projet d’ouverture du Centre de quantique accélérée de Nvidia (NVAQC) à Boston, et destiné à faire le lien entre l’informatique quantique et le supercalcul pour l’IA.

Google a licencié environ 200 employés au sein de son unité commerciale mondiale, dans le cadre d’un recentrage stratégique sur l’IA et les services cloud.

La société de cybersécurité CrowdStrike licencie 500 employés, soit 5 % de ses effectifs, afin de passer à un modèle opérationnel basé sur l’IA pour améliorer son efficacité et atteindre un chiffre d’affaires annuel de 10 milliards de dollars.

Enfin, Duolingo est sous le feu des critiques après que son PDG, Luis von Ahn, a déclaré que l’entreprise allait adopter un modèle « IA-First », avec l’intention de remplacer certaines fonctions humaines par l’IA.

SOCIO-CULTUREL

Le Texas envisage un projet de loi interdisant l’utilisation des réseaux sociaux aux moins de 18 ans. Cette proposition, qui a récemment été approuvée par la commission sénatoriale de l’État, devrait être soumise au vote avant la fin de la session législative, le 2 juin.

L’essor de l’IA personnalisée est sur le point de bouleverser radicalement notre rapport à la technologie, les moteurs de recherche évoluant vers des agents intelligents qui non seulement récupèrent des informations, mais comprennent également nos intentions et agissent en notre nom.

Selon la commissaire européenne chargée de la technologie, Henna Virkkunen, les entreprises technologiques américaines suppriment beaucoup plus de contenu en ligne sur la base de leurs propres conditions d’utilisation que ce que ne prévoit la législation européenne via le Digital Services Act (DSA).

Le PDG de Telegram, Pavel Durov, a affirmé que les services de renseignement français avaient tenté de faire pression sur lui afin qu’il bannisse des chaînes conservatrices roumaines, en amont de l’élection présidentielle de 2025.

Plus de 400 artistes britanniques de renom, dont Dua Lipa, Elton John et Sir Ian McKellen, ont signé une lettre adressée au Premier ministre Keir Starmer, l’exhortant à mettre à jour la législation britannique sur le droit d’auteur afin de protéger leurs œuvres contre toute utilisation non consentie dans le cadre de la formation des systèmes d’intelligence artificielle.

Pour plus d’informations sur la cybersécurité, les politiques numériques, la gouvernance de l’IA et d’autres sujets connexes, veuillez consulter le site diplomacy.edu.

Mai 2025 à Genève

Développements, événements et points à retenir

En mai 2025, Genève a réaffirmé son rôle de plaque tournante de la diplomatie numérique en accueillant une série d’événements importants qui ont fait progresser les discussions mondiales sur la cybersécurité, la gouvernance numérique et le déploiement éthique des technologies émergentes.

Le fait marquant a été la deuxième Conférence mondiale sur le renforcement des capacités dans le domaine de la cybersécurité (GC3B), qui s’est tenue les 13 et 14 mai et a réuni des décideurs politiques, des experts en développement et des responsables de la cybersécurité afin d’évaluer les progrès accomplis et de définir un programme d’action tourné vers l’avenir, conformément à l’appel d’Accra de 2023. La conférence a mis l’accent sur l’utilisation sécurisée des nouvelles technologies numériques dans la coopération au développement, en particulier dans les pays du Sud, et a constitué un événement phare de la première édition de la Cyber Week de Genève.

En complément, le Geneva Cybersecurity Hub a été officiellement lancé le 16 mai, établissant un réseau multidisciplinaire et multipartite d’institutions basées à Genève qui se concentrent sur l’intersection entre le cyberespace et la sécurité internationale.

Le 28 mai, Diplo et la Geneva Internet Platform ont organisé une réunion d’information consacrée aux interactions entre l’initiative UN80, les processus onusien de gouvernance numérique et l’intelligence artificielle (IA). La session a exploré comment l’Initiative UN80 pourrait reconfigurer les mécanismes de gouvernance numérique au sein de l’ONU et de ses agences spécialisées, y compris à Genève, et a examiné le rôle potentiel de l’IA dans le renforcement de l’efficacité des Nations unies.

En outre, les préparatifs sont en cours pour l’événement de haut niveau WSIS+20, prévu en juillet 2025 à Genève. Cet événement vise à examiner les progrès accomplis au cours des 20 années qui ont suivi le Sommet mondial sur la société de l’information, en facilitant le dialogue multipartite sur les réalisations, les principales tendances et les défis dans le domaine numérique.

dig.watch Analyses

L’essor de l’IA à Hollywood, dans les jeux vidéo et dans la musique

L’IA est en train de transformer la manière dont les histoires sont présentées dans les films, les jeux et la musique, soulevant des questions sur la propriété intellectuelle, l’éthique et l’identité artistique.

On a l’impression que c’était hier: Internet s’enthousiasmait pour les premières versions de l’outil DALL·E d’OpenAI. Des millions de personnes rivalisaient d’imagination pour créer les invites les plus drôles ou les plus étranges, partageant leurs créations sur les réseaux sociaux. Le message était clair : le public était fasciné par le potentiel créatif de cette nouvelle technologie.

Mais derrière les rires et les mèmes viraux se cachait une question plus sourde, plus inquiétante : que se passera-t-il lorsque l’IA ne se contentera plus de générer des œuvres farfelues, mais commencera à transformer notre quotidien – en ligne comme hors ligne ? En réalité, ce processus était déjà en marche, en coulisses et nous n’en avions même pas conscience.

L’IA en action: comment l’industrie du divertissement l’utilise aujourd’hui

Trois ans plus tard, nous avons atteint un point où l’influence de l’IA semble avoir franchi le seuil de non-retour. L’industrie du divertissement a été parmi les premières à adopter cette technologie et, à partir de la cérémonie des Oscars 2025, les films intégrant de l’intelligence artificielle sont désormais éligibles aux nominations.

Cette décision a suscité des réactions pour le moins contrastées. Certains saluent l’ouverture du milieu à de nouvelles frontières technologiques, tandis que d’autres estiment que l’IA réduit considérablement la part humaine dans l’art cinématographique, allant jusqu’à en dénaturer l’essence même, celle du septième art.

La première vague de scénarios améliorés par l’IA

Un exemple récent est le film The Brutalist, dans lequel l’IA a été utilisée pour affiner le dialogue hongrois d’Adrien Brody afin qu’il semble plus authentique, une initiative qui a suscité à la fois l’admiration technique et le scepticisme créatif.

Avec l’IA désormais intégrée à tout, des voix off aux acteurs numériques complets, nous commençons seulement à prendre conscience de ce que signifie réellement le fait que la créativité ne soit plus exclusivement humaine.

Le contexte: l’IA sous les projecteurs

La première grand retour à l’écran a eu lieu en 1994 dans The Crow, où le décès soudain de Brandon Lee en cours de tournage a contraint le studio à recourir à des doublures, des effets numériques et des séquences existantes pour terminer ses scènes. Cependant, ce n’est qu’en 2016 que le public a pu assister à la première résurrection entièrement numérique.

Dans Rogue One : A Star Wars Story, le personnage de Peter Cushing a été ramené à la vie grâce à une combinaison d’images de synthèse, de capture de mouvement et d’un sosie. Bien que reposant principalement sur des effets spéciaux traditionnels, ce projet a ouvert la voie à l’utilisation future des deepfakes et de la reproduction de performances assistée par l’IA dans les films, les séries télévisées et les jeux vidéo.

Par la suite, certains ont émis l’hypothèse que les studios liés à l’héritage de Peter Cushing, tels que Tyburn Film Productions, pourraient intenter une action en justice contre Disney pour avoir ressuscité son image sans autorisation directe. Bien qu’aucune poursuite n’ait été engagée, des questions ont été soulevées quant à la propriété de l’identité numérique d’un artiste après son décès.

Le Jedi numérique: comment l’IA a contribué à recréer Luke Skywalker

Le destin a voulu que les débuts remarqués de l’IA aient lieu dans une galaxie lointaine, très lointaine, avec l’apparition surprise de Luke Skywalker dans le dernier épisode de la saison 2 de The Mandalorian (attention, spoiler). Ce moment a enthousiasmé les fans et marqué un tournant pour la série, mais il ne s’agissait pas seulement d’un clin d’œil aux fans.

Voici le coup de théâtre : Mark Hamill n’a enregistré aucune nouvelle réplique. C’est l’acteur Max Lloyd-Jones qui a interprété le rôle physique, tandis que la voix rajeunie de Hamill a été recréée à l’aide de Respeecher, une entreprise ukrainienne spécialisée dans la synthèse vocale basée sur l’IA.

Impressionné par leur travail, Disney a de nouveau fait appel à Respeecher, cette fois-ci pour recréer la voix emblématique de Dark Vador, interprétée par James Earl Jones, pour la mini-série Obi-Wan Kenobi. À partir d’enregistrements d’archives que Jones a cédés pour une utilisation par l’IA, le système a synthétisé de nouveaux dialogues qui correspondent parfaitement à l’intonation et au timbre de ses performances dans la trilogie originale.

Darth Vader, James Earl Jones, Star Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Respeecher, AI voice synthesizer

L’IA dans la réalisation cinématographique: pérenniser un héritage ou repousser les limites?

L’utilisation de l’IA pour conserver et perpétuer les voix d’acteurs légendaires a suscité à la fois admiration et inquiétude. Si beaucoup ont salué la qualité de la réalisation et le respect témoigné à la mémoire de Hamill et Jones, d’autres se sont interrogés sur le consentement, l’authenticité créative et les implications à long terme du recours à l’IA pour remplacer des êtres humains.

Dans les deux cas, les acteurs ont été directement impliqués ou ont donné leur accord explicite, mais ces exemples très médiatisés pourraient créer un précédent pour un avenir où ce niveau de contrôle ne sera pas garanti.

Un cas notable qui a suscité de vives réactions est l’utilisation prévue d’un James Dean entièrement généré par CGI dans le film inédit Finding Jack, plusieurs décennies après sa mort. Les critiques et ses collègues acteurs ont exprimé leur vive opposition, arguant que le fait de faire revivre un artiste sans son consentement le réduit à une marque ou à un actif, plutôt que de lui rendre hommage en tant qu’artiste.

L’IA à Hollywood: les acteurs seront-ils remplacés?

Ce qui a encore exacerbé les inquiétudes des acteurs en activité, est le lancement de Promise, un nouveau studio hollywoodien entièrement axé sur l’IA générative. Soutenu par de riches investisseurs, Promise mise gros sur Muse, un outil GenAI conçu pour produire des films et des séries télévisées de haute qualité à un coût et dans des délais bien inférieurs à ceux requis par les productions hollywoodiennes traditionnelles.

Après tout, le cinéma est un business, et avec des budgets de production qui explosent d’année en année, le divertissement alimenté par l’IA semble être un rêve devenu réalité pour les studios axés sur le profit.

La récente collaboration de Meta avec Blumhouse Productions sur Movie Gen ne fait qu’ajouter de l’huile sur le feu, signalant que les grands acteurs sont impatients d’explorer un avenir où la narration pourrait être autant guidée par des algorithmes que par un véritable talent artistique.

L’IA dans le jeu vidéo: automatisation ou déclin artistique?

En matière de divertissement, nous ne pouvons ignorer le média le plus populaire au monde : le jeu vidéo. Si la pandémie a déclenché un engouement massif pour le développement de jeux et l’engagement des joueurs, cet élan a été de courte durée.

Alors que les bénéfices commençaient à chuter dans les années qui ont suivi, le secteur a été frappé par une vague de licenciements, entraînant une restructuration interne généralisée et obligeant les éditeurs à repenser entièrement leurs modèles économiques. Dans l’espoir de réduire leurs coûts, les entreprises AAA ont vu dans l’IA leur seule planche de salut.

Le développement de puces IA par Nvidia, ainsi que les investissements d’Ubisoft et d’EA dans l’IA et l’apprentissage automatique, ont envoyé un signal clair à l’industrie : l’automatisation n’est plus seulement un outil en arrière-plan, c’est une stratégie de premier plan.

Grâce au comportement des PNJ assisté par l’IA et au dou b lage vocal par l’IA, le développement des jeux vidéo s’oriente vers une production plus rapide, moins coûteuse et potentiellement moins dépendante de l’intervention humaine. En réponse, les développeurs de jeux vidéo s’inquiètent pour leur avenir dans le secteur, et les acteurs sont moins enclins à céder leurs droits pour de futurs projets.

Doublage par IA dans les jeux vidéo

Dans le but de rivaliser avec les studios plus influents, même les développeurs indépendants se sont tournés vers l’IA générative pour reproduire les voix d’acteurs célèbres. Des outils tels que ElevenLabs et Altered Studio offrent un moyen apparemment simple d’obtenir des talents de haute qualité, si seulement c’était aussi simple.

Les lois sur le droit d’auteur et les préoccupations relatives à l’authenticité restent deux des principaux obstacles à l’adoption généralisée des voix générées par l’IA, d’autant plus que de nombreux consommateurs considèrent encore cette technologie comme une béquille plutôt que comme un outil créatif pour les développeurs de jeux.

Le paysage juridique autour des voix générées par l’IA reste flou. Dans de nombreux endroits, les droits sur la voix d’une personne, ou son clone synthétique, sont mal définis, ce qui crée des failles dont les développeurs peuvent tirer parti.

Le clonage vocal par IA remet en question les limites juridiques dans le domaine du jeu vidéo

L’ambiguïté juridique a suscité une vive réaction de la part des comédiens de doublage, qui affirment que leurs performances sont imitées sans leur consentement et sans rémunération. La SAG-AFTRA et d’autres organisations ont commencé à faire pression pour obtenir des protections juridiques plus strictes en 2023.

Un incident notable s’est produit en 2025, lorsque Epic Games a été critiqué pour avoir utilisé une voix de Dark Vador générée par l’IA dans Fortnite. La SAG-AFTRA a déposé une plainte officielle, invoquant des problèmes de licence et l’absence d’implication des acteurs.

Toutes les utilisations n’ont pas été controversées. CD Projekt Red a recréé la voix du regretté Miłogost Reczek dans Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, avec l’accord de sa famille, établissant ainsi un précédent respectueux en matière d’utilisation éthique de l’IA.

Comment l’IA transforme la production musicale et l’identité des artistes

L’IA est en train de transformer rapidement la production musicale. Une enquête récente montre que près de 25 % des producteurs intègrent déjà des outils d’IA dans leurs processus créatifs. Cette évolution reflète une tendance croissante de l’influence de la technologie sur la composition, le mixage et même les performances vocales.

Des artistes comme Imogen Heap embrassent ce changement avec des projets tels que Mogen, une version IA d’elle-même capable de créer de la musique et d’interagir avec ses fans, brouillant ainsi la frontière entre créativité humaine et innovation numérique.

Les grandes maisons de disques s’y mettent également : Universal Music a récemment utilisé l’IA pour réinterpréter le classique de Brenda Lee de 1958 en espagnol, préservant ainsi l’esprit de l’original tout en élargissant sa portée culturelle.

L’IA et l’avenir du divertissement

À mesure que l’IA s’intègre dans le divertissement, la frontière entre innovation et exploitation s’estompe. Ce qui relevait autrefois de la science-fiction redéfinit aujourd’hui la manière dont les histoires sont racontées, et qui peut les raconter.

Que l’IA devienne un outil d’expansion créative ou une menace pour l’art humain dépendra de la manière dont l’industrie et le public choisiront de l’aborder dans les années à venir. Comme dans toute entreprise, les consommateurs votent avec leur portefeuille, et seul le temps nous dira si l’IA et l’authenticité peuvent véritablement aller de pair.

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L’émergence des géants technologiques dans le domaine de la santé: comment l’IA transforme-t-elle les sciences de la vie?

Les outils basés sur l’intelligence artificielle développés par Google, IBM et des start-ups améliorent le diagnostic, la gestion des dossiers médicaux et les soins prodigués aux patients, ce qui réduit la charge de travail des cliniciens et améliore les résultats en matière de santé dans le monde entier.

La Silicon Valley se concentre sur la santé

La rencontre entre la technologie et les soins de santé évolue rapidement, alimentée par les progrès de l’IA et stimulée par les grandes entreprises technologiques qui étendent leur présence dans le secteur des sciences de la vie.

Autrefois principalement connues pour leurs produits électroniques grand public ou leurs moteurs de recherche, des entreprises telles que Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple et IBM jouent désormais un rôle de plus en plus central dans la transformation du domaine médical.

Souvent qualifiées de « Big Tech », ces entreprises repoussent les limites de ce qui relevait autrefois de la science-fiction, en utilisant l’IA pour innover dans de nombreux aspects des soins de santé, notamment le diagnostic, le traitement, le développement de médicaments, les essais cliniques et les soins aux patients.

L’IA devient le nouvel outil des médecins

L’IA est au cœur de cette révolution. Au cours de la dernière décennie, elle est passée d’un simple outil théorique à une force pratique et transformatrice dans le domaine des soins de santé.

Les entreprises développent des algorithmes avancés d’apprentissage automatique, des modèles informatiques cognitifs et des systèmes alimentés par l’IA capables d’égaler, voire de surpasser, les capacités humaines en matière de diagnostic et de traitement des maladies.

L’IA est également en train de transformer de nombreux aspects des soins de santé, du dépistage précoce des maladies aux traitements personnalisés, en passant par la découverte de nouveaux médicaments. Cette évolution ouvre la voie à un avenir où l’IA jouera un rôle important dans le diagnostic des maladies, l’élaboration de plans de traitement et l’amélioration des résultats pour les patients à grande échelle.

L’une des contributions les plus importantes de l’IA concerne le diagnostic. Google Health et sa filiale DeepMind sont des exemples parfaits de la manière dont l’IA peut être utilisée pour améliorer les performances des experts humains dans certaines tâches médicales.

Par exemple, les outils d’IA de DeepMind ont démontré leur capacité à diagnostiquer des maladies telles que le cancer du sein et les maladies pulmonaires avec une précision remarquable, surpassant dans certains cas les capacités des radiologues humains.

De même, Philips a déposé des brevets pour des systèmes d’IA capables de détecter des maladies neurodégénératives et de suivre leur progression à l’aide de capteurs d’activité cardiaque et de mouvement.

Du diagnostic au dossier

Ces avancées ne représentent qu’une petite partie de la manière dont l’IA révolutionne le domaine du diagnostic en améliorant la rapidité et la précision des diagnostics, et en sauvant potentiellement des vies.

Outre ses capacités diagnostiques, l’IA a également un impact sur la documentation médicale, un domaine souvent négligé qui affecte l’efficacité des cliniciens.

Traditionnellement, les médecins consacrent une grande partie de leur temps à la paperasse, ce qui réduit le temps qu’ils peuvent passer avec leurs patients.

Cependant, des sociétés d’IA telles qu’Augmedix, DeepScribe et Nabla s’attaquent à ce problème en proposant des solutions qui génèrent des notes cliniques directement à partir des conversations entre médecins et patients.

Ces plateformes s’intègrent aux systèmes de dossiers médicaux électroniques (DME) et automatisent le processus de prise de notes, ce qui réduit la charge administrative et permet aux cliniciens de se concentrer sur les soins aux patients.

Augmedix, par exemple, affirme permettre aux cliniciens de gagner jusqu’à une heure par jour, tandis que la technologie d’IA de DeepScribe serait plus précise que GPT-4 pour la gestion des dossiers médicaux.

Nabla va encore plus loin en proposant des chatbots basés sur l’IA et des outils d’aide à la décision qui améliorent les processus cliniques et réduisent les risques d’épuisement professionnel chez les médecins.

Appareils d’échographie portables alimentés par l’IA

L’IA transforme également l’imagerie médicale, un domaine qui dépend traditionnellement d’équipements coûteux et encombrants nécessitant une formation spécialisée.

Des innovateurs tels que Butterfly Network développent des appareils à ultrasons portables alimentés par l’IA qui offrent des capacités de diagnostic à un coût bien inférieur à celui des équipements traditionnels. Ces appareils offrent une plus grande accessibilité, en particulier dans les régions où l’accès aux technologies d’imagerie médicale est limité.

La possibilité de réaliser des échographies et des IRM dans des zones reculées, à l’aide d’appareils portables alimentés par l’IA, démocratise les soins de santé et améliore les capacités de diagnostic dans les régions mal desservies.

Une approche innovante en matière de recherche pharmaceutique

Dans le domaine de la recherche pharmaceutique et de la personnalisation des traitements, l’IA fait des progrès considérables. Des entreprises telles qu’IBM Watson sont à la pointe de l’utilisation de l’IA pour personnaliser les plans de traitement en analysant de grandes quantités de données sur les patients, notamment leurs antécédents médicaux, leurs informations génétiques et leur mode de vie.

IBM Watson a joué un rôle déterminant dans le secteur de l’oncologie, où il assiste les médecins en leur recommandant des protocoles de traitement du cancer adaptés à chaque patient.

Une telle performance est rendue possible grâce aux volumes considérables de données médicales traités par Watson afin d’identifier les meilleures options thérapeutiques pour chaque patient, garantissant ainsi une plus grande efficacité des traitements en tenant compte des caractéristiques propres à chacun.

Automatisation intelligente dans le domaine de la santé

En outre, l’IA rationalise les tâches administratives au sein des systèmes de santé, qui imposent souvent aux prestataires de soins des tâches répétitives et chronophages telles que la prise de rendez-vous, la gestion des dossiers et la vérification des assurances.

En automatisant ces tâches, l’IA leur permet de se concentrer davantage sur la qualité des soins prodigués aux patients.

Amazon Web Services (AWS), par exemple, exploite sa plateforme cloud pour développer des outils d’apprentissage automatique qui aident les professionnels de santé à prendre des décisions cliniques plus efficaces tout en améliorant l’efficacité opérationnelle.

Cela inclut l’utilisation de l’IA pour améliorer la prise de décision clinique, prédire les résultats pour les malades et gérer le volume croissant de données sur les personnes que les systèmes de santé doivent traiter.

Les start-ups et les géants mènent la course dans le domaine de la santé

À côté des géants technologiques, les start-ups spécialisées dans l’IA jouent également un rôle clé dans l’innovation en matière de santé. Tempus, par exemple, associe le séquençage génomique à l’IA afin de fournir aux médecins des informations exploitables qui améliorent les résultats pour les patients, en particulier dans le traitement du cancer.

La fusion de données provenant de plusieurs sources améliore la précision et l’efficacité des décisions médicales. Zebra Medical Vision, une autre entreprise spécialisée dans l’IA, utilise cette technologie pour analyser des données d’imagerie médicale et détecter un grand nombre de pathologies, des maladies hépatiques au cancer du sein.

Les algorithmes d’IA de Zebra sont conçus pour identifier les pathologies souvent avant même l’apparition des symptômes, ce qui améliore nettement les chances de réussite du traitement grâce à un dépistage précoce.

Les géants technologiques sont profondément ancrés dans l’écosystème des soins de santé et utilisent leurs capacités avancées en matière de cloud computing, d’IA et d’analyse de données pour remodeler le secteur.

Microsoft, par exemple, a réalisé des progrès significatifs dans le domaine de l’IA au service de l’accessibilité, en se concentrant sur la création de solutions de santé qui autonomisent les personnes handicapées. Son travail contribue à rendre les soins de santé plus inclusifs et accessibles à une population plus large.

La plateforme cloud AWS d’Amazon est un autre exemple de la manière dont les géants de la technologie exploitent leur infrastructure pour développer des outils d’apprentissage automatique qui aident les prestataires de soins de santé à fournir des soins plus efficaces.

Les fusions-acquisitions rencontrent la médecine

Outre le développement de leurs propres outils d’IA, ces géants de la technologie ont réalisé plusieurs acquisitions de grande envergure afin d’accélérer leurs stratégies dans le domaine de la santé.

L’acquisition de Fitbit par Google, celle de PillPack et One Medical par Amazon, ainsi que celle de Nuance par Microsoft pour 19,7 milliards de dollars sont autant d’exemples évidents de la manière dont les géants de la technologie cherchent à intégrer l’IA dans tous les aspects de la chaîne de valeur des soins de santé, de la recherche pharmaceutique à la prestation clinique.

Ces acquisitions et partenariats permettent également aux géants technologiques de conquérir de nouveaux segments du marché de la santé et d’offrir des solutions plus complètes et de bout en bout aux prestataires de soins de santé et aux patients.

Les appareils intelligents améliorent la santé

Les technologies de santé grand public ont également gagné en popularité, portées par la tendance plus large des outils numériques de santé et de bien-être. Les trackers d’activité, montres connectées et applications mobiles de santé permettent aux utilisateurs de suivre une multitude d’indicateurs, allant du rythme cardiaque à la qualité du sommeil.

Des appareils tels que l’Apple Watch et le Fitbit de Google collectent en continu des données de santé et fournissent aux utilisateurs des informations personnalisées sur leur bien-être.

seoul 05 02 2022 male hand with two apple watches with pink and gray strap on white background

Au lieu d’être cloisonnées dans des appareils individuels, les données sont de plus en plus intégrées dans des systèmes de santé plus vastes, ce qui permet aux médecins et autres prestataires de soins de santé d’avoir une vision plus complète de la santé d’un patient.

Cette intégration a également favorisé la croissance des services de télésanté, des millions de personnes optant désormais pour des consultations virtuelles grâce à l’infrastructure des grandes technologies et à des outils de triage basés sur l’IA.

Les hôpitaux chinois adoptent l’IA générative

L’essor de l’IA générative transforme également le secteur de la santé, en particulièrement dans des pays tels que la Chine, où les technologies évoluent rapidement. Autrefois considérée comme une ambition lointaine, l’utilisation de l’IA générative dans les soins de santé est désormais mise en œuvre à grande échelle.

Cette technologie est utilisée pour gérer d’énormes bases de données sur les médicaments, faciliter les diagnostics complexes et reproduire les processus de raisonnement des experts, ce qui aide les médecins à prendre des décisions plus éclairées.

À l’hôpital de médecine traditionnelle chinoise de Pékin, le modèle médical d’Ant Group a impressionné le personnel en proposant des suggestions de diagnostic et en reproduisant le raisonnement des experts, permettant de rationaliser les consultations sans remplacer les médecins humains.

Notre priorité dans un monde axé sur la technologie

À mesure que l’IA continue d’évoluer, les géants de la technologie sont susceptibles de continuer à bouleverser le secteur de la santé tout en collaborant avec les prestataires de soins traditionnels.

Alors que certaines entreprises traditionnelles des sciences de la vie peuvent se sentir menacées par l’essor des géants de la tech dans le domaine de la santé, celles qui adoptent l’intelligence artificielle et nouent des partenariats avec ces entreprises technologiques seront probablement mieux positionnées pour réussir.

La fusion entre l’IA et la santé est déjà en train de redéfinir l’avenir de la médecine, et les principaux acteurs traditionnels du secteur doivent s’adapter sous peine d’être laissés pour compte.

generate an image of an artificial intelligence head in front of a human head and digital codes in the background reproducing all the human heads inputs and psychological reactions

Malgré cet élan considérable, certains défis doivent être relevés. La confidentialité des données, les préoccupations réglementaires et la domination croissante des géants technologiques dans le secteur de la santé restent des obstacles importants.

Toutefois, si ces défis sont relevés de manière responsable, l’intégration de l’IA dans les soins de santé pourrait moderniser la prestation des soins à l’échelle mondiale.

Plutôt que de remplacer les médecins, l’objectif est de leur fournir de meilleurs outils, des informations plus pertinentes et des résultats plus efficaces. L’avenir des soins de santé repose sur une collaboration entre la technologie et l’expertise humaine, afin d’améliorer l’expérience des patients et les résultats globaux en matière de santé.

En tant qu’êtres humains, nous devons comprendre que l’intégration de la technologie dans de multiples secteurs est une arme à double tranchant. Elle peut soit nous profiter et contribuer à bâtir de meilleures sociétés futures, soit marquer le début de notre déclin, mais en fin de compte, ce choix nous appartiendra toujours.

Souhaitez-vous en savoir plus sur l’IA, les technologies et la diplomatie numérique ? Si oui, interrogez notre chatbot Diplo!

Les marionnettistes politiques du Bitcoin: du code à l’influence

Autrefois salué comme l’avenir de la liberté financière, le Bitcoin est aujourd’hui influencé par le pouvoir politique, l’élite et la manipulation médiatique, suscitant des questions urgentes quant à savoir si cette révolution est devenue le système même qu’elle cherchait à fuir.

Le Bitcoin était autrefois considéré comme la pierre angulaire d’une utopie financière : immunisé contre tout contrôle politique, libre de tout système bancaire traditionnel et régi uniquement par des protocoles blockchain. Pendant un certain temps, ce rêve semblait réel, et nous l’avons vécu.

Aujourd’hui, les choses ont changé. L’ensemble du marché des cryptomonnaies est devenu de plus en plus sensible à l’influence politique, aux actions des « baleines » et à la montée des tensions mondiales.

Alors que les marchés financiers devraient réagir aux développements mondiaux, la volatilité du prix du bitcoin a commencé à révéler des signes plus inquiétants. Au lieu d’être principalement motivé par l’innovation ou une adoption naturelle, les cours du BTC sont de plus en plus influencés par la couverture médiatique et les transactions stratégiques de personnalités influentes.

Dans cet écosystème en pleine mutation, la manipulation et concentration de l’influence nuisent progressivement aux idéaux fondamentaux de décentralisation et d’autonomie financière. Est-ce vraiment la révolution qui nous avait été promise?

La famille Trump renforce son emprise sur le marché des cryptomonnaies

Donald Trump n’a pas toujours été un partisan des cryptomonnaies. Autrefois critique à l’égard du Bitcoin, il se positionne désormais comme un leader favorable aux cryptomonnaies. Ce revirement est motivé par des opportunités, non seulement politiques, mais aussi financières. M. Trump comprend que le soutien aux actifs numériques pourrait aider les États-Unis à devenir un pôle mondial des cryptomonnaies. Mais cela correspond également parfaitement à sa réputation d’homme d’affaires avant tout, et de politicien ensuite.

Le problème réside dans l’influence démesurée que ses propos exercent désormais sur l’univers des cryptomonnaies. Une simple publication sur les réseaux sociaux comme X ou Truth peut faire monter ou chuter le prix du Bitcoin. Qu’il encense la crypto ou qu’il affirme ne pas en tirer de bénéfice personnel, le marché réagit instantanément.

Ses fils, Donald Trump Jr. et Eric Trump, sont également actifs et promeuvent souvent l’idée que les banques sont obsolètes et que la cryptomonnaie est l’avenir. Ils font fréquemment des remarques suggestives sur les tendances du marché. Parfois, ils vont même jusqu’à suggérer aux investisseurs où placer leur argent, tout en restant dans les limites de la légalité. Néanmoins, cette pratique oriente subtilement l’humeur des investisseurs, ce qui soulève des inquiétudes quant à une influence coordonnée et à une manipulation délibérée des tendances du marché.

Le lancement de cryptomonnaies à thème politique telles que $TRUMP et $MELANIA a aggravé la situation. Ces cryptomonnaies ont provoqué des hausses spectaculaires, suivies de chutes tout aussi spectaculaires. En effet, le record historique du Bitcoin a été suivi d’une chute brutale, en partie déclenchée par l’engouement médiatique et la chute finale de ces jetons.

Les enquêtes suggèrent désormais l’existence d’activités d’initiés. Un portefeuille a gagné 39 millions de dollars en seulement 12 heures après avoir acheté $MELANIA avant même son annonce. Parallèlement, les initiés de $TRUMP coin ont transféré 4,6 millions de dollars en USDC juste avant le déblocage majeur du jeton.

Bien que techniquement légales, ces actions soulèvent de sérieuses questions éthiques. De plus, 80 % de l’offre est contrôlée par des initiés, dont Donald Trump lui-même. Cela révèle un schéma d’influence clair, où des actions stratégiques sont utilisées pour influencer les mouvements du marché et générer des profits pour une poignée de privilégiés.

Nous assistons à l’impact sans précédent d’une seule famille. La combinaison de l’influence politique et de l’ambition financière est en train de remodeler le sentiment à l’égard des cryptomonnaies, et le Bitcoin reflète également ce changement. Ce n’est plus subtil, et c’est certainement préoccupant. Les cryptomonnaies sont censées être libres de toute influence centrale, mais à l’heure actuelle, elles plient sous le poids d’un seul nom.

Les investisseurs majeurs et l’influence de Michael Saylor

Au-delà de la politique, les crypto-baleines jouent un rôle dans la manipulation des mouvements du Bitcoin. Elles peuvent provoquer d’importantes fluctuations de prix en achetant ou en vendant en grande quantité.

L’une des plus influentes est Michael Saylor, cofondateur de Strategy. Sa société détient environ 555 450 BTC et continue d’acheter. Chaque fois qu’il annonce un nouvel achat, le prix du Bitcoin grimpe en flèche. Les traders surveillent chacun de ses mouvements — ses tweets sont considérés comme des signaux de transaction.

Cependant, M. Saylor a des projets plus ambitieux. Il a déclaré un jour qu’il pourrait devenir une « banque Bitcoin », une annonce qui a suscité de vives réactions. Il est particulièrement frappant de constater qu’un homme d’affaires qui a soutenu dès le début la nature décentralisée du Bitcoin agit aujourd’hui d’une manière qui semble contredire cette vision. Le Bitcoin a été conçu pour éviter tout contrôle centralisé, afin de ne pas être dominé par un seul acteur, aussi optimiste soit-il. Lorsque trop de BTC se concentrent au même endroit, la promesse d’autonomie commence à s’effriter.

La confiance du marché passe du code aux individus, ce qui est risqué.

Le Bitcoin comme indicateur des tensions mondiales

Le Bitcoin ne se contente plus de réagir aux tweets. Les tensions mondiales en ont fait un actif géopolitique, un baromètre de l’inquiétude financière.

Les récentes mesures tarifaires américaines, en particulier sur les équipements miniers chinois, ont augmenté les coûts d’extraction. Elles ont également perturbé la chaîne d’approvisionnement des plateformes minières, ralentissant leur expansion et affectant les taux de hachage.

Dans le même temps, lorsque les États-Unis ont exempté les produits technologiques tels que les iPhones et les ordinateurs portables de ces droits de douane, le Bitcoin a bondi, atteignant 86 000 dollars. Cela montre à quel point la politique commerciale et la pression technologique sont désormais directement liées à l’évolution du prix du Bitcoin.

Toutefois, il semble toujours y avoir une dynamique de poussée et de traction, pas nécessairement coordonnée, mais clairement motivée par une dynamique à court terme et des intérêts opportunistes.

C’est là que réside l’ironie : le Bitcoin a été conçu pour être apolitique. Mais aujourd’hui, il est étroitement lié à la politique mondiale. Son prix fluctue désormais en fonction des élections, des sanctions et des conflits internationaux, c’est-à-dire les forces mêmes qu’il était censé contourner. Ce qui était autrefois une alternative décentralisée à la finance traditionnelle est en train de devenir le reflet des systèmes qu’il cherchait à déstabiliser.

Bitcoin : d’un rêve décentralisé à une réalité politique

Le Bitcoin n’est plus uniquement influencé par les principes fondamentaux du marché. Il évolue au gré des tweets politiques, des décisions des baleines et des conflits mondiaux. Un rêve décentralisé est désormais confronté à une réalité centralisée.

Tout a commencé lorsque les gouvernements et les institutions financières ont commencé à s’intéresser activement au Bitcoin et au marché plus large des cryptomonnaies. Si l’adoption par le grand public était essentielle pour légitimer les actifs numériques, cette attention s’accompagnait toutefois de certaines conditions, notamment l’influence externe.

Ce qui était autrefois un mouvement alternatif alimenté par des idéaux décentralisés a progressivement attiré l’attention des dirigeants politiques, des régulateurs et des géants du monde des affaires. C’est l’histoire des deux faces d’une même médaille : la promesse de la légitimité, tempérée par le risque de perdre l’indépendance du système.

Dans ce contexte, l’absence de contrôle centralisé et la nature autonome du système deviennent de plus en plus symboliques. Le marché réagit non seulement aux algorithmes ou aux indicateurs d’adoption, mais aussi aux opinions et aux actions d’une poignée de personnes puissantes, ce qui soulève des inquiétudes quant à la manipulation du marché, à l’inégalité d’accès et à la viabilité à long terme de la vision fondatrice de la cryptomonnaie. S’agit-il vraiment d’une structure non centralisée?

La cryptomonnaie était censée nous libérer des gardiens de la finance. Mais si le Bitcoin peut être ébranlé par la publication d’un homme sur un réseau social, nous devons nous poser la question suivante : peut-on encore le considérer comme libre?

Pour plus d’informations sur ces sujets, visitez diplomacy.edu.

Souhaitez-vous en savoir plus sur l’IA, les technologies et la diplomatie numérique ? Si oui, interrogez notre chatbot Diplo !

Les inventions technologiques qui gomment la frontière entre réalité et fiction

Des robots liquides à la parole contrôlée par la pensée, ces inventions bousculent notre perception de la réalité et de la science-fiction.

Les progrès fulgurants de l’IA au cours des dernières années ont perturbé la population mondiale, à tel point qu’il est désormais extrêmement difficile de déterminer avec certitude si un contenu a été créé par une IA ou non.

Nous sommes confrontés à ce phénomène à travers des photos, des enregistrements vidéo et audio qui peuvent facilement nous induire en erreur et nous amener à remettre en question notre perception de la réalité.

Digital twins are being used by scammers in the crypto space to impersonate influencers and execute fraudulent schemes.

Et si le grand public se concentre souvent sur les deepfakes, nous assistons parallèlement à l’émergence, partout dans le monde, d’inventions et de brevets qui méritent notre admiration, mais qui suscitent également une réflexion importante : sommes-nous en train de franchir, ou avons-nous déjà franchi, la limite éthique ?

Pour ces raisons, et bien d’autres encore, dans un monde où les différences visuelles et fonctionnelles entre science-fiction et réalité ont presque disparu, les dernières inventions sont un véritable choc.

Nous sommes désormais confrontés à des technologies qui nous obligent à redéfinir ce que nous entendons par le mot « réalité ».

Neuralink: franchir la frontière entre le cerveau et la machine

La sclérose latérale amyotrophique (SLA) est une maladie neurologique rare causée par la détérioration et la dégénérescence des motoneurones, des cellules nerveuses situées dans le cerveau et la moelle épinière. Ces lésions perturbent la transmission des impulsions nerveuses vers les muscles via les nerfs périphériques, entraînant une perte progressive de la fonction musculaire.

Cependant, la puce Neuralink, développée par la société d’Elon Musk, a aidé un type de patient à contrôler son esprit et à parler en utilisant sa voix. Cette avancée ouvre la voie à une nouvelle forme de communication où les pensées deviennent des interactions directes.

Robot liquide sud-coréen

Les scènes de films de science-fiction deviennent réalité, et dans ce cas précis (heureusement), un robot liquide a une noble mission: participer à des opérations de sauvetage et être utilisé dans le domaine médical.

Actuellement au stade de prototype, il a été testé en laboratoire dans le cadre d’une collaboration entre le MIT et des instituts de recherche coréens.

Exosquelette ULS comme support pour les soins aux personnes âgées

Le personnel soignant et les accompagnants en Chine ont vu leur travail considérablement simplifié grâce à l’exosquelette ULS Robotics, qui ne pèse que cinq kilos mais permet à ses utilisateurs de soulever jusqu’à 30 kilos.

Il s’agit d’une avancée majeure dans les soins aux personnes à mobilité réduite, qui améliore également la sécurité et l’efficacité. Des prototypes commerciaux ont été testés dans des hôpitaux et des environnements industriels.

Agrorobots : pulvérisation autonome des cultures

Un autre exemple provenant de Chine, en usage depuis plusieurs années. Des robots équipés d’IA effectuent des pulvérisations précises sur les cultures. Le système analyse les parasites et les cible sans intervention humaine, réduisant ainsi les risques potentiels pour la santé.

Cette application est désormais standardisée et devrait se développer et s’améliorer dans un avenir proche.

La batterie flexible du futur

Des chercheurs suedois ont mis au point une batterie flexible capable de doubler de longueur sans perte d’énergie, ce qui la rend idéale pour les technologies portables.

Bien qu’elle ne soit pas encore disponible dans le commerce, elle a fait l’objet d’articles dans des revues scientifiques. L’objectif est qu’elle devienne un composant clé des appareils pliables, des vêtements intelligents et des implants médicaux.

Adult, Male, Man, Person, machine, Wheel, Helmet, Face, Head, Motorcycle, Transportation, Vehicle

Scooter volant Volonaut: décollage d’un véhicule de science-fiction

En matière d’innovation, le scooter volant Volonaut est une véritable réussite. Conçu pour ressembler à un speeder bike monoplace de Star Wars, il représente un pas de géant vers le transport aérien individuel.

Des prototypes fonctionnels existent, mais les essais restent limités en raison des coûts de production élevés et des obstacles réglementaires liés au code de la route.

Néanmoins, la société polonaise à l’origine de ce projet reste déterminée à le mener à bien, et il sera passionnant de suivre ses progrès.

Robot NEO: l’assistant domestique humanoïde

Une entreprise norvégienne développe actuellement un robot humanoïde capable d’effectuer des tâches ménagères, notamment des travaux de jardinage tels que ramasser et mettre en sac les feuilles ou l’herbe.

Il s’agit là d’une des premières étapes sérieuses vers la création d’assistants humanoïdes domestiques. Actuellement en mode démonstration, le robot a reçu le soutien d’OpenAI.

Lenovo Yoga Solar: l’ordinateur portable qui fonctionne à l’énergie solaire

Si vous vous retrouvez sans chargeur mais avec un accès direct à la lumière du soleil, cet ordinateur portable fera tout son possible pour vous permettre de continuer à travailler. Grâce à l’énergie solaire, 20 minutes de charge au soleil permettent environ une heure de lecture vidéo.

Idéal pour les écologistes et les nomades numériques. Bien qu’il ne soit pas encore disponible dans le commerce, il a été présenté lors de plusieurs grands salons technologiques.

Prochaines étapes: la nécessité d’une réglementation adaptée

À mesure que la technologie progresse, la réglementation doit suivre le rythme. De la neurotechnologie aux robots autonomes, chaque innovation soulève de nouvelles questions concernant la vie privée, la responsabilité et l’éthique.

Les gouvernements et les développeurs technologiques doivent collaborer pour garantir que ces inventions restent des outils au service du bien commun et ne constituent pas un risque pour la société.

Alors, qu’est-ce qui est réel et qu’est-ce qui est généré?

Cette question deviendra de plus en plus difficile à résoudre au fil du temps. Cependant, si la révolution technologique continue d’évoluer dans une direction utile et positive, il n’y a peut-être pas lieu de s’inquiéter.

Le véritable dilemme de cette ère d’innovation rapide ne réside peut-être pas dans les outils eux-mêmes, mais dans une question fondamentale : sommes-nous façonnés par la technologie ou continuons-nous à la façonner?

Pour plus d’informations sur ces sujets, visitez diplomacy.edu.

Souhaitez-vous en savoir plus sur l’IA, les technologies et la diplomatie numérique ? Si oui, interrogez notre chatbot Diplo !

DW Weekly #215 – Japan is boosting its cyberdefence, NATO shifts digital priorities, EU’s International Digital Strategy

30 May – 6 June 2025

Person, Reading, Computer, Electronics, Laptop, Pc, Art, Face, Head, Book, Publication, Drawing, Painting, La Parka

Dear readers,

Amid heightened cybersecurity tensions in East Asia, exemplified by China’s recent accusations against Taiwan for alleged cyberattacks and bounty offers targeting Taiwanese hackers, Japan is taking proactive steps to strengthen its cyberdefence capabilities. In May, the Japanese parliament approved a cyberdefence law, empowering authorities to monitor international communications through domestic infrastructure and neutralise overseas servers preemptively if they’re suspected of initiating cyberattacks. To complement these legislative measures, Japan is also formulating a comprehensive new cybersecurity strategy by the end of 2025, which will prioritise advanced encryption, proactive threat detection, and enhanced resilience of critical national infrastructure.

Cybersecurity policy strengthening is frequent these days, not only in Asia but also across the EU, as the UK and NATO bring important shifts in their cyberdefence strategies. The UK Ministry of Defence recently announced the establishment of a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command aimed at integrating defensive cyber operations with offensive cyber and electronic warfare capabilities. Concurrently, NATO is considering formally incorporating cybersecurity into its defence spending guidelines, potentially including cyber capabilities within the alliance’s new 5% GDP target for defence expenditures.

Related to state security, another notable military development from the past week is the announcement that Chinese scientists have created the world’s first AI-based system capable of distinguishing real nuclear warheads from decoys, marking a significant breakthrough in arms control verification.

Cryptocurrencies continue to reshape Europe’s financial landscape, prompting varying responses from institutions across the continent. While the EU is actively advancing its ambitions for a digital euro, viewing it as a strategic tool to enhance the eurozone’s global currency influence and financial sovereignty, the Bank of Italy has expressed scepticism about current regulatory efforts. Specifically, Italy’s central bank criticised the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, pointing out its limited impact on boosting crypto adoption or effectively addressing consumer protection and market stability concerns.

The EU continues its legal battle with tech companies that do not comply with its digital market policies. Namely, the European Commission has imposed a €329 million fine on Berlin-based Delivery Hero and its Spanish subsidiary, Glovo, for participating in what it described as ‘a cartel’ in the online food delivery market.

A content policy correction initiative from France: TikTok has globally banned the hashtag ‘SkinnyTok’ after pressure from the French government, which accused the platform of promoting harmful eating habits among young users.

EU’s International Digital Strategy

On 5 June 2025, the European Commission and the High Representative unveiled a new International Digital Strategy for the EU, aiming to enhance the EU’s global tech competitiveness and security amid a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The strategy emphasises deepening existing Digital Partnerships and Dialogues, establishing new ones, and creating a Digital Partnership Network to foster collaboration on emerging technologies like AI, 5G/6G, semiconductors, and quantum computing, while promoting secure connectivity through initiatives like the Global Gateway. It also introduces an EU Tech Business Offer, a modular approach to combine technology solutions with capacity-building, supporting trusted partners in building secure digital infrastructure, such as submarine cables and AI Factories.

Prioritising cybersecurity, the EU plans to strengthen defences against cyber threats and Foreign Information Manipulation (FIMI) by enhancing resilience and promoting algorithmic transparency on online platforms. The strategy reaffirms the EU’s commitment to shaping global digital governance by advocating for human-centric standards in forums like the UN and G7, ensuring the digital transformation aligns with democratic values and fundamental rights.

Last week in Geneva

In Geneva, the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), convened by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), is currently taking place from 2 to 13 June 2025 at the Palais des Nations and ILO headquarters, where delegates are deliberating on pressing global labour issues.

On 5 June, the Giga Research Lab, in collaboration with Giga and the Geneva Innovation Movement, hosted a high-level event titled Bridging the Digital Divide: Cross-Sector Insights for Scaling School Connectivity. Held on Giga premises, the event welcomed invited guests for an exchange of ideas on expanding digital access in education.

On the same day, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) held a webinar to launch the fourth edition of the landmark report, Greening Digital Companies: Monitoring Emissions and Climate Commitments 2025.

For the main updates, reflections and events, consult the RADAR, the READING CORNER and the UPCOMING EVENTS section below.

DW Team

RADAR

Highlights from the week of 30 May – 6 June 2025

EU launches global digital strategy

As the global race for digital dominance accelerates, the European Union is stepping forward with a bold strategy that blends technological ambition with a commitment to democratic values and international…

AI copyright clash stalls UK data bill

Peers warn the UK’s creative sector could suffer if AI firms are allowed to use copyrighted content without consent or fair compensation.

Colt, Honeywell and Nokia to trial quantum cryptography in space

Space-based cryptography aims to secure sensitive data from quantum threats.

NVIDIA unveils world’s largest quantum research supercomputer

New centre aims to accelerate real-world use of quantum computing.

enter new era computing with large quantum computer generative ai

Netherlands unveils open-architecture quantum computer

The open-architecture Tuna-5 showcases how academic labs and startups can build a functional quantum machine with interoperable components from the local supply chain.

Czech justice minister quits over bitcoin scandal

Opposition seeks answers in emergency parliament session on 5 June.

Vodafone fined €45 million in Germany over data privacy violations

Vodafone is facing one of the largest privacy-related fines in Germany’s telecom sector, revealing deep concerns over how personal data is handled behind the scenes.

Crypto-friendly legislation advances in California

The lawmakers have approved a bill allowing crypto payments for state services under a pilot programme.

Meta Clinton Clean Energy Center Illinois Constellation nuclear energy AI

Meta inks 20-year nuclear deal to power AI expansion

Meta’s AI infrastructure plans include $65 billion in spending for 2025.

amazon india beverly hills polo club Lifestyle equities trademark lawsuit

Amazon invests $10 billion in AI data centres

However, an expert warned that Amazon’s investment shows how costly AI infrastructure has become, pushing out smaller developers.

nord quantique qubit quantum computers photons multimode encoding

Nord Quantique says fewer qubits needed for fault tolerance

Quantum computers may need fewer qubits, thanks to new photon-based encoding.

View all updates

READING CORNER

Cognitive offloading and the future of the mind in the AI age

The rise of AI is transforming work and education, but raises questions about its impact on critical thinking and cognitive independence.

9 Jun 2025 – 10 Jun 2025

Informal interactive WSIS stakeholder consultation on the review of implementation of the outcomes of the WSIS+20

The consultation, organised by the the President of the General Assembly, aims to gather input from all relevant WSIS stakeholders on the preparatory process for the review of the implementation…

9 Jun 2025 – 12 Jun 2025

ICANN 83

The event will focus on ongoing policy development, community outreach, and collaboration among global stakeholders.

10 Jun 2025, 14:00h – 15:00h

Final Brief on the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025

The session aims to foster open dialogue, encourage active stakeholder engagement, and support continued progress toward the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025

12 June 2025 – 13 June 2025

Digital Democracy for All (D4ALL): Capacity Building Programme for Armenia – Diplo Event

Digital Democracy for All (D4ALL): Capacity Building Programme for Armenia The Digital Democracy for All (DD4ALL) project is a collaborative initiative

23 Jun 2025 – 27 Jun 2025

Internet Governance Forum 2025

The Government of Norway will host the 20th annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Lillestrøm from 23 to 27 June 2025.

23 June 2025 – 27 June 2025

Diplo/GIP at IGF 2025 – Diplo Event

Diplo/GIP at IGF 2025 The 20th annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will be hosted by the Government of Norway, in Lillestrøm, from 23 to 27 June.

24 Jun 2025 – 27 Jun 2025

Global Forum on the Ethics of AI 2025

Thailand will host the 3rd UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence from 24 to 27 June 2025.

May 2025 in Retrospect

Dear readers,

Welcome to the 100th issue of the Digital Watch Monthly Newsletter with new insights, updates, and inspiration delivered straight to your inbox! As we mark this milestone, we reflect on a transformative May 2025.

From the EU’s assertive regulatory actions to the persisting side effects of US-China tech tensions, and groundbreaking strides in quantum computing, our Digital Watch Monthly Newsletter encapsulates the dynamic interplay of technology and policy.

Let’s start with the EU, which this May intensified its enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA), targeting platforms like Pornhub and Shein for non-compliance with rules aimed at curbing harmful content and ensuring transparency.

On the other side of the Atlantic, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) escalated its antitrust campaign against Google, demanding the divestiture of key advertising platforms like AdX and DFP to dismantle its digital advertising monopoly.

Speaking of TikTok and its US saga, President Trump extended the deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations amid ongoing US-China trade frictions.

The US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership, backed by a $200 billion deal, underscored a big effort to counter China’s technological reach.

Ireland’s Equal1 introduced a silicon-based quantum computer designed for integration into existing data centres. This breakthrough, alongside the UAE’s launch of the world’s largest AI campus outside the USA, underscores the global race for AI and quantum leadership.

The UK recorded the fastest growth in cryptocurrency adoption globally in 2025. Conversely, due to adoption challenges and economic volatility, El Salvador scaled back its Bitcoin-as-legal-tender experiment.

Join us as we unravel the key tendencies of May 2025, connecting the dots from our weekly updates to bring you a clear, engaging monthly snapshot of the digital trends worldwide.

Diplo’s analysis and reporting in an exceptional time

In a world where history unfolds at breakneck speed, the real challenge isn’t just keeping up—it’s making sense of it all. Every day brings a flood of information, but the bigger picture often gets lost in the noise. How do today’s developments shape long-term trends? How do they impact us as individuals, communities, businesses, and even humanity?

At Diplo, we bridge the gap between real-time updates and deeper insights. Our Digital Watch keeps a pulse on daily developments while connecting them to weekly, monthly, and yearly trends as illustrated bellow.

From cybersecurity to e-commerce to digital governance, we track these shifts from daily fluctuations to long-term industry pivots.

In our 100th issue of the monthly newsletter, you can follow: AI and tech TENDENCIES | Developments in GENEVA | Dig.Watch ANALYSIS

Best regards,

DW Team

Tendencies: May 2025

Content, data governance and legal frameworks

May 2025 marked a very trend-setting moment for content governance, with the EU intensifying enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA). A Brussels workshop highlighted the DSA’s risk-based approach, pushing platforms to address systemic risks while facing calls for greater transparency. Platforms like Pornhub and Shein faced scrutiny for compliance with rules targeting, the first, harmful content and the second transparency. Enforcement actions included scrutiny of adult sites for failing to protect minors, with plans for EU-wide age verification. Additionally, the EU demanded compliance from Shein over misleading labels and fake discounts, emphasising transparency in e-commerce. To end, TikTok was handed a €530 million ($600 million) fine by Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) over data privacy violations involving user information transfers to China.

EuroDIG 2025, hosted by the Council of Europe, emphasised multistakeholder dialogue, advocating for balanced content moderation that respects free expression while curbing misinformation. Globally, platforms have grappled to align local regulations with user expectations, highlighting the need for adaptive governance frameworks.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) escalated its antitrust push against Google, demanding divestitures of ad platforms like AdX and DFP to dismantle its advertising monopoly. Adopted earlier, the Council of Europe’s Convention on AI and Human Rights set a global precedent for ethical AI regulation, influencing discussions at EuroDIG 2025.

Speaking about abuse of data and copyright, the UK’s debate over AI and copyright intensified as over 400 artists, including Elton John and Dua Lipa, urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to protect creative works from unauthorised AI use. The House of Lords amended the Data (Use and Access) Bill to require AI firms to disclose copyrighted materials used in training. Still, the government resisted, citing potential harm to the AI sector. Former Deputy PM Nick Clegg argued that mandatory artist consent could cripple the UK’s AI industry. Despite government concessions, including impact assessments and consultations, the creative community remains concerned about the potential erosion of intellectual property rights in the face of advancing AI technologies.

Trade tensions and global competition: side effects

US-China trade frictions persisted, with President Trump extending ByteDance’s deadline to divest TikTok’s US operations, signalling ongoing geopolitical chess moves. Additionally, the USA tightened export controls on AI chips, prompting Nvidia to redesign its products for the Chinese market. AMD expects to lose around $1.5 billion in revenue this year because of new US export restrictions on advanced AI chips, which now require a licence to be sold to China. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump agreed to delay a planned 50% tariff on EU imports until 9 July 2025, following a request from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

AI, quantum advancements, and digital infrastructure

AI innovation surged, with smaller, specialised models gaining traction over large-scale systems. In May 2025, AI made major strides across fields: Anthropic launched Claude 4 models with autonomous capabilities, while DeepMind’s AlphaEvolve further pushed algorithmic optimisation. Google unveiled Veo 3 for synchronised video generation, and Midjourney V7 boosted creative workflows with faster rendering.

In industry, TCS promoted a ‘Human+AI’ workforce model, and Odisha approved a pioneering AI policy. However, concerns over job displacement and energy demands were growing. On the research front, the USA introduced the Doudna supercomputer for genomics, and scientists engineered a new AI-designed protein, esmGFP, marking a leap forward in bioengineering.

May brought quantum computing back into the spotlight as Europe and Asia made bold moves. French startup Quandela unveiled Belenos, a 12-qubit quantum computer available via the cloud, positioning Europe as a serious contender in the quantum hardware arena. Not to be outdone, Japan launched ABCI-Q, its new quantum platform, backed by increased national investment to accelerate research and industrial adoption.

Ireland’s Equal1 unveiled a silicon-based quantum computer, designed for seamless integration into existing data centres, marking a leap in quantum-AI convergence. The United Arab Emirates announced plans for the world’s largest AI campus outside the USA, a 10-square-mile facility in Abu Dhabi led by G42, in a $200 billion deal as part of the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership. G42 and OpenAI have been collaborating on the Stargate Initiative, a massive AI data facility.

Cybersecurity concerns

In May 2025, cybersecurity concerns intensified as quantum computing advancements posed significant threats to current encryption methods. BlackRock updated its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) ETF filings to highlight the potential risk quantum computing poses to Bitcoin’s cryptographic security. The firm warned that future quantum breakthroughs could undermine the cryptographic systems that protect Bitcoin wallets, necessitating broad consensus across the decentralised network to implement defences.

Simultaneously, China’s rapid progress in quantum technology, including the development of a 600-mile secure quantum communication line, underscored the urgency for post-quantum cryptographic measures. These developments have accelerated global efforts to transition to quantum-resistant encryption standards, as traditional cryptographic algorithms face obsolescence in the face of emerging quantum capabilities.

Cybersecurity remained a critical focus, with the EU extending the Radio Equipment Directive’s deadline to bolster digital safety amid rising cyber threats. The UK and the EU agreed to enhance cooperation on cybersecurity as part of a broader defence and security pact. While Japan enacted new cybersecurity legislation, reflecting a global trend towards strengthening digital defences, the Dutch government adopted new legislation expanding the scope of its espionage laws to include digital espionage and other activities carried out on behalf of foreign states that may harm Dutch national interests.

The UAE’s $544 million AI data centre with Microsoft and its AI accelerator initiatives underscored the intersection of AI and cybersecurity. Data privacy debates intensified, with EuroDIG 2025 addressing algorithmic impacts on human autonomy. Globally, calls for stronger privacy protections grew as AI-driven data processing raised ethical concerns, urging policymakers to prioritise user rights.To better follow up on the next section, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the USA, Coinbase, revealed that a recent cyber-attack could cost between $180 million and $400 million.

Cryptocurrency digital policy dynamics

The cryptocurrency landscape has seen mixed developments. The UK recorded the fastest growth in cryptocurrency adoption globally in 2025. The proportion of UK adults holding cryptocurrencies rose to 24% in April 2025, up from 18% a year earlier, driven by regulatory clarity and institutional adoption and marking the sharpest year-on-year increase among the countries surveyed. Singapore held the highest individual rate, with 29% of respondents reporting ownership of cryptocurrencies. Conversely, due to adoption challenges and economic volatility, El Salvador scaled back its Bitcoin-as-legal-tender experiment.

Bitcoin reached an all-time high of $111,544, driven by increased institutional interest and macroeconomic factors. Tether announced plans to invest over $2 billion to become the world’s largest Bitcoin miner by the end of the year. In the political arena, US Vice President J.D. Vance emphasised the importance of political engagement for Bitcoin’s future, while Reform UK became the first British political party to accept Bitcoin donations, proposing crypto-friendly policies.

Regulatory debates have focused on balancing innovation with consumer protection, with the EU exploring stricter crypto oversight under its digital finance framework, reflecting a cautious approach to decentralised finance.

Diplo Blog – Dr Jovan Kurbalija writes ‘What can we learn from 160 years of tech diplomacy at ITU?‘

On the occasion of the 160th anniversary of ITU, Dr Jovan Kurbalija has written a blog post reflecting on the event, reminding us that: “On 17 May 1865, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was founded by 20 European states to streamline telegraph messaging across borders, highlighting the need for multilateral cooperation in communication. Over 160 years, ITU has maintained its mission to balance national sovereignty with shared connectivity amidst evolving technologies. Historical lessons illustrate that crises can prompt necessary changes, while technological advancements continue to shape global power dynamics. As we celebrate ITU’s legacy, we are reminded that collaboration, standards, and diplomacy remain vital in navigating the challenges of today’s interconnected digital landscape.”

Read the full blog on diplomacy.edu!

In case you missed it

In case you missed it, the GIP reported from the West African IGF (WAIGF) 2025, held last week. The WAIGF is a regional initiative that brings together various stakeholders to discuss and address internet-related issues in West Africa.

Diplo also actively participated in the Brazilian Internet Forum (FIB), held on 26-30 May and hosted by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br). Representing Diplo, Marilia Maciel contributed to critical discussions on state roles and multistakeholder collaboration in managing cloud infrastructures and defending digital sovereignty. She also offered insights during the main session on setting principles for regulating digital platforms.

Join us next month as we track these evolving trends. Subscribe to our weekly updates at dig.watch for the latest digital policy insights!

For more information on cybersecurity, digital policies, AI governance and other related topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Geneva in May

Developments, events and takeaways

In May 2025, Geneva reaffirmed its role as a pivotal hub for digital diplomacy, hosting a series of significant events that advanced global discussions on cybersecurity, digital governance, and the ethical deployment of emerging technologies.

The highlight was the second Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building (GC3B), held on 13-14 May, which convened policymakers, development experts, and cybersecurity leaders to assess progress and chart a forward-looking agenda in line with the 2023 Accra Call. The conference emphasised the secure use of new digital technologies in development cooperation, particularly in the Global South, and was a key event of the inaugural Geneva Cyber Week.

Complementing this, the Geneva Cybersecurity Hub was formally launched on 16 May, establishing a multidisciplinary, multistakeholder network of Geneva-based institutions focused on the intersection of cyberspace and international security.

On 28 May, Diplo and the Geneva Internet Platform hosted a briefing exploring the interplay between the UN80 Initiative, UN processes on digital governance, and AI. The session examined how the UN80 Initiative could reshape digital governance processes across the UN and its specialised agencies, including in Geneva, and considered the potential role of AI in enhancing the UN’s effectiveness.

Additionally, preparations were underway for the WSIS+20 High-Level Event, scheduled for July 2025 in Geneva. The event aims to review 20 years of progress since the World Summit on the Information Society, facilitating multistakeholder dialogue on achievements, key trends, and challenges in the digital domain.

Snapshot: The developments that made waves

May 2025 was marked by notable developments in AI governance, cybersecurity, and global digital policy. Here’s a snapshot of what happened over the last month:

TECHNOLOGY

Researchers have used a single atom to simulate how molecules react to light, marking a milestone in quantum chemistry.

Discussions about the conflict of interest surrounding US President Donald Trump’s crypto ventures are delaying crypto legislation. Democrats are blocking the stablecoin bill, the GENIUS Act, to prevent Trump from profiting off crypto.

Organisations across sectors are turning to agentic automation—an emerging class of AI systems designed to think, plan, and act autonomously to solve complex, multi-step problems.

Two physicists from Aalto University believe they may have found a solution to one of science’s most enduring challenges: uniting gravity with quantum physics.

GOVERNANCE

Politiscope recently held an event at the Croatian Journalists’ Association to highlight the human rights risks of AI. As Croatia begins drafting a national law to implement the EU AI Act, the event aimed to push for stronger protections and transparency instead of relying on vague promises of innovation.

Pakistan has formed a new body to regulate its growing digital asset market and embrace blockchain-based financial innovation.

Senators voted 66-32 to advance the GENIUS Act, a bill aimed at regulating stablecoins. Sixteen Democrats joined Republicans in backing the measure, reversing a previous block.

The UN and global experts have emphasised the urgent need for comprehensive regulation of AI in military applications.

As negotiations advance among UN General Assembly members in New York, a revised draft resolution (rev1) has been issued outlining updated proposals for the terms of reference and modalities for the Scientific Panel on AI and Global Dialogue on AI Governance.

The US Senate voted against advancing the GENIUS Act, which sought to regulate stablecoins.

The European Union is set to introduce new measures under its Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (AMLR) to track cryptocurrency transfers.

INFRASTRUCTURE

A Chinese startup, Origin Quantum, has unveiled Tianji 4.0, a cutting-edge superconducting quantum measurement and control system capable of supporting quantum computers with over 500 qubits.

Chadian authorities have unveiled a set of strategic policies aimed at strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure and reducing its dependence on Cameroon for international internet connectivity.

Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC (du) has partnered with Microsoft to build a 2 billion dirham (US$544.5 million) hyperscale data centre in the UAE, unveiled during Dubai AI Week.

IHS Nigeria and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have partnered to enhance the protection of critical telecommunications infrastructure across Nigeria.

LEGAL

A federal judge has ruled that Google and AI startup Character.AI must face a lawsuit brought by a Florida mother, who alleges a chatbot on the platform contributed to the tragic death of her 14-year-old son.

Meta is under renewed scrutiny for what critics describe as ‘open washing’ after sponsoring a Linux Foundation whitepaper on the benefits of open source AI.

ECONOMY

The United States continues to tighten its control over the export of advanced AI chips to China. The intent is to block China from accessing technology that could strengthen its military or help it surpass US leadership in AI.

Bilal Bin Saqib, head of the Pakistan Crypto Council, announced the plans to establish a national Bitcoin reserve as part of Pakistan’s broader digital asset strategy at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has raised concerns that US export restrictions are accelerating the growth of Chinese AI firms, making them more competitive.

Bitcoin surged to a fresh all-time high of $111,544 during early Asian trading on Thursday, marking a 4% jump from Wednesday’s peak.

Trade Ministers from BRICS countries convened in Brasília to exchange views on trade and investment challenges.

Crypto.com has secured a MiFID licence, allowing it to offer regulated crypto derivatives across the European Economic Area.

OpenAI has announced it will no longer pursue a full transition to a for-profit company.

Gemini has received a MiFID II licence from the Malta Financial Services Authority, allowing it to offer regulated crypto derivatives across the EU and EEA.

OpenAI plans to reduce the share of revenue it gives Microsoft as part of its long-term partnership, according to a report by The Information.

OpenAI plans to reduce the share of revenue it gives Microsoft as part of its long-term partnership.

India’s two largest stock exchanges, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and BSE Ltd, have temporarily restricted overseas access to their websites amid rising concerns over cyber threats.

SECURITY

Taiwan has rejected accusations from Beijing that its ruling party orchestrated cyberattacks against Chinese infrastructure.

The UK and the EU have agreed to step up cooperation on cybersecurity as part of a wider defence and security pact.

The global cybersecurity community faces a ticking clock. China’s rapid advances in quantum computing, combined with insufficient global investment in quantum-safe cryptography, have placed Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) at a critical crossroads.

The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) will establish a Cyber and Electromagnetic Command to unify defensive cyber operations and coordinate offensive capabilities alongside the National Cyber Force.

Prague has formally accused China of launching a malicious cyber campaign against its Foreign Affairs ministry’s unclassified communications network.

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has disclosed a potential financial impact of $180 million to $400 million following a cyberattack that compromised customer data, according to a regulatory filing on Thursday.

The EU Council has extended its sanctions on cyberattacks until 18 May 2026, with the legal framework for enforcing these measures now lasting until 2028.

A new bill introduced by Republican Senator Tom Cotton aims to bolster national security by requiring location verification features on American-made AI chips.

Thousands of Edinburgh pupils were forced to attend school on Saturday after a phishing attack disrupted access to vital online learning resources.

Cyberattacks targeting the US surged dramatically in early 2025, according to a new report from cybersecurity firm Trellix.

DEVELOPMENT

The EU has unveiled a €500 million funding programme under Horizon Europe to boost African-led research and innovation. A total of 24 funding calls are organised around five thematic areas.

Nvidia has unveiled plans to open the Nvidia Accelerated Quantum Research Centre (NVAQC) in Boston, a facility set to bridge quantum computing and AI supercomputing.

Google has laid off around 200 employees from its global business unit as the company sharpens its focus on AI and cloud services.

Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike is laying off 500 employees—5% of its workforce—as it shifts towards an AI-led operating model to boost efficiency and hit a $10 billion annual revenue goal.

Duolingo has come under fire after CEO Luis von Ahn announced the company is transitioning to an ‘AI-first’ model, with plans to replace certain human roles with AI.

SOCIO-CULTURAL

Texas is considering a bill that would ban social media use for anyone under 18. The proposal, which recently advanced past the state Senate committee, is expected to be voted on before the legislative session ends on 2 June.

The rise of personalised AI is poised to radically reshape how we interact with technology, with search engines evolving into intelligent agents that not only retrieve information but also understand and act on our behalf.

Far more online content is removed under US tech firms’ terms and conditions than under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), according to Tech Commissioner Henna Virkkunen.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has alleged that France’s foreign intelligence agency attempted to pressure him. He claims they wanted him to ban Romanian conservative channels ahead of the 2025 presidential elections.

More than 400 prominent British artists, including Dua Lipa, Elton John, and Sir Ian McKellen, have signed a letter urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to update UK copyright laws to protect their work from being used without consent in training AI systems.

For more information on cybersecurity, digital policies, AI governance and other related topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

The rise of AI in Hollywood, gaming, and music

AI is reshaping how stories are told in film, games, and music, raising questions about authorship, ethics, and artistic identity.

It feels like just yesterday that the internet was buzzing over the first renditions of OpenAI’s DALL·E tool, with millions competing to craft the funniest, weirdest prompts and sharing the results across social media. The sentiment was clear: the public was fascinated by the creative potential of this new technology.

But beneath the laughter and viral memes was a quieter, more uneasy question: what happens when AI not only generates quirky artwork, but begins to reshape our daily lives—both online and off? As it turns out, that process was already underway behind the scenes—and we were none the wiser.

AI in action: How the entertainment industry is using it today

Three years later, we have reached a point where AI’s influence seems to have passed the point of no return. The entertainment industry was among the first to embrace this technology, and starting with the 2025 Academy Awards, films that incorporate AI are now eligible for Oscar nominations.

That decision has been met with mixed reactions, to put it lightly. While some have praised the industry’s eagerness to explore new technological frontiers, others have claimed that AI greatly diminishes the human contribution to the art of filmmaking and therefore takes away the essence of the seventh art form.

The first wave of AI-enhanced storytelling

One recent example is the film The Brutalist, in which AI was used to refine Adrien Brody’s Hungarian dialogue to sound more authentic—a move that sparked both technical admiration and creative scepticism.

With AI now embedded in everything from voiceovers to entire digital actors, we are only beginning to confront what it truly means when creativity is no longer exclusively human.

Setting the stage: AI in the spotlight

The first major big-screen resurrection occurred in 1994’s The Crow, where Brandon Lee’s sudden passing mid-production forced the studio to rely on body doubles, digital effects, and existing footage to complete his scenes. However, it was not until 2016 that audiences witnessed the first fully digital revival.

In Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Peter Cushing’s character was brought back to life using a combination of CGI, motion capture, and a facial stand-in. Although primarily reliant on traditional VFX, the project paved the way for future use of deepfakes and AI-assisted performance recreation across movies, TV shows, and video games.

Afterward, some speculated that studios tied to Peter Cushing’s legacy—such as Tyburn Film Productions—could pursue legal action against Disney for reviving his likeness without direct approval. While no lawsuit was filed, questions were raised about who owns a performer’s digital identity after death.

The digital Jedi: How AI helped recreate Luke Skywalker

Fate would have it that AI’s grand debut would take place in a galaxy far, far away—with the surprise appearance of Luke Skywalker in the Season 2 finale of The Mandalorian (spoiler alert). The moment thrilled fans and marked a turning point for the franchise—but it was more than just fan service.

Here’s the twist: Mark Hamill did not record any new voice lines. Instead, actor Max Lloyd-Jones performed the physical role, while Hamill’s de-aged voice was recreated with the help of Respeecher, a Ukrainian company specialising in AI-driven speech synthesis.

Impressed by their work, Disney turned to Respeecher once again—this time to recreate James Earl Jones’s iconic Darth Vader voice for the Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries. Using archival recordings that Jones signed over for AI use, the system synthesised new dialogue that perfectly matched the intonation and timbre of his original trilogy performances.

AI in moviemaking: Preserving legacy or crossing a line?

The use of AI to preserve and extend the voices of legendary actors has been met with a mix of admiration and unease. While many have praised the seamless execution and respect shown toward the legacy of both Hamill and Jones, others have raised concerns about consent, creative authenticity, and the long-term implications of allowing AI to perform in place of humans.

In both cases, the actors were directly involved or gave explicit approval, but these high-profile examples may be setting a precedent for a future where that level of control is not guaranteed.

A notable case that drew backlash was the planned use of a fully CGI-generated James Dean in the unreleased film Finding Jack, decades after his death. Critics and fellow actors have voiced strong opposition, arguing that bringing back a performer without their consent reduces them to a brand or asset, rather than honouring them as an artist.

AI in Hollywood: Actors made redundant?

What further heightened concerns among working actors was the launch of Promise, a new Hollywood studio built entirely around generative AI. Backed by wealthy investors, Promise is betting big on Muse—a GenAI tool designed to produce high-quality films and TV series at a fraction of the cost and time required for traditional Hollywood productions.

Filmmaking is a business, after all—and with production budgets ballooning year after year, AI-powered entertainment sounds like a dream come true for profit-driven studios.

Meta’s recent collaboration with Blumhouse Productions on Movie Gen only adds fuel to the fire, signalling that major players are eager to explore a future where storytelling may be driven as much by algorithms as by authentic artistry.

AI in gaming: Automation or artistic collapse?

Speaking of entertainment businesses, we cannot ignore the world’s most popular entertainment medium: gaming. While the pandemic triggered a massive boom in game development and player engagement, the momentum was short-lived.

As profits began to slump in the years that followed, the industry was hit by a wave of layoffs, prompting widespread internal restructuring and forcing publishers to rethink their business models entirely. In hopes of cost-cutting, AAA companies had their eye on AI as their one saving grace.

Nvidia developing AI chips, along with Ubisoft and EA investing in AI and machine learning, have sent clear signals to the industry: automation is no longer just a backend tool—it is a front-facing strategy.

With AI-assisted NPC behaviour and AI voice acting, game development is shifting toward faster, cheaper, and potentially less human-driven production. In response, game developers have become concerned about their future in the industry, and actors are less inclined to sign off their rights for future projects.

AI voice acting in video games

In an attempt to compete with wealthier studios, even indie developers have turned to GenAI to replicate the voices of celebrity voice actors. Tools like ElevenLabs and Altered Studio offer a seemingly straightforward way to get high-quality talent—but if only it were that simple.

Copyright laws and concerns over authenticity remain two of the strongest barriers to the widespread adoption of AI-generated voices—especially as many consumers still view the technology as a crutch rather than a creative tool for game developers.

The legal landscape around AI-generated voices remains murky. In many places, the rights to a person’s voice—or its synthetic clone—are poorly defined, creating loopholes developers can exploit.

AI voice cloning challenges legal boundaries in gaming

The legal ambiguity has fuelled a backlash from voice actors, who argue that their performances are being mimicked without consent or pay. SAG-AFTRA and others began pushing for tighter legal protections in 2023.

A notable flashpoint came in 2025, when Epic Games faced criticism for using an AI-generated Darth Vader voice in Fortnite. SAG-AFTRA filed a formal complaint, citing licensing concerns and a lack of actor involvement.

Not all uses have been controversial. CD Projekt Red recreated the voice of the late Miłogost Reczek in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty—with his family’s blessing—setting a respectful precedent for the ethical use of AI.

How AI is changing music production and artist Identity

AI is rapidly reshaping music production, with a recent survey showing that nearly 25% of producers are already integrating AI tools into their creative workflows. This shift reflects a growing trend in how technology is influencing composition, mixing, and even vocal performance.

Artists like Imogen Heap are embracing the change with projects like Mogen, an AI version of herself that can create music and interact with fans—blurring the line between human creativity and digital innovation.
Major labels are also experimenting: Universal Music has recently used AI to reimagine Brenda Lee’s 1958 classic in Spanish, preserving the spirit of the original while expanding its cultural reach.

AI and the future of entertainment

As AI becomes more embedded in entertainment, the line between innovation and exploitation grows thinner. What once felt like science fiction is now reshaping the way stories are told—and who gets to tell them.

Whether AI becomes a tool for creative expansion or a threat to human artistry will depend on how the industry and audiences choose to engage with it in the years ahead. As in any business, consumers vote with their wallets, and only time will tell whether AI and authenticity can truly go hand-in-hand.

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

The rise of tech giants in healthcare: How AI is reshaping life sciences?

AI-powered tools from Google, IBM, and startups improve diagnostics, clinical documentation, and patient care, reducing clinician workloads and enhancing healthcare outcomes worldwide.

Silicon Valley targets health

The intersection of technology and healthcare is rapidly evolving, fuelled by advancements in ΑΙ and driven by major tech companies that are expanding their reach into the life sciences sector.

Once primarily known for consumer electronics or search engines, companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, and IBM are now playing an increasingly central role in transforming the medical field.

These companies, often referred to as ‘Big Tech’, are pushing the boundaries of what was once considered science fiction, using AI to innovate across multiple aspects of healthcare, including diagnostics, treatment, drug development, clinical trials, and patient care.

AI becomes doctors’ new tool

At the core of this revolution is AI. Over the past decade, AI has evolved from a theoretical tool to a practical and transformative force within healthcare.

Companies are developing advanced machine learning algorithms, cognitive computing models, and AI-powered systems capable of matching—and sometimes surpassing—human capabilities in diagnosing and treating diseases.

AI is also reshaping many aspects of healthcare, from early disease detection to personalised treatments and even drug discovery. This shift is creating a future where AI plays a significant role in diagnosing diseases, developing treatment plans, and improving patient outcomes at scale.

One of the most significant contributions of AI is in diagnostics. Google Health and its subsidiary DeepMind are prime examples of how AI can be used to outperform human experts in certain medical tasks.

For instance, DeepMind’s AI tools have demonstrated the ability to diagnose conditions like breast cancer and lung disease with remarkable accuracy, surpassing the abilities of human radiologists in some cases.

google deepmind AI progress Demis Hassabis

Similarly, Philips has filed patents for AI systems capable of detecting neurodegenerative diseases and tracking disease progression using heart activity and motion sensors.

From diagnosis to documentation

These breakthroughs represent only a small part of how AI is revolutionising diagnostics by improving accuracy, reducing time to diagnosis, and potentially saving lives.

In addition to AI’s diagnostic capabilities, its impact extends to medical documentation, an often-overlooked area that affects clinician efficiency.

Traditionally, doctors spend a significant amount of time on paperwork, reducing the time they can spend with patients.

However, AI companies like Augmedix, DeepScribe, and Nabla are addressing this problem by offering solutions that generate clinical notes directly from doctor-patient conversations.

These platforms integrate with electronic health record (EHR) systems and automate the note-taking process, which reduces administrative workload and frees up clinicians to focus on patient care.

Augmedix, for example, claims to save up to an hour per day for clinicians, while DeepScribe’s AI technology is reportedly more accurate than even GPT-4 for clinical documentation.

Nabla takes this further by offering AI-driven chatbots and decision support tools that enhance clinical workflows and reduce physician burnout.

Portable ultrasounds powered by AI

AI is also transforming medical imaging, a field traditionally dependent on expensive, bulky equipment that requires specialised training.

Innovators like Butterfly Network are developing portable, AI-powered ultrasound devices that can provide diagnostic capabilities at a fraction of the cost of traditional equipment. These devices offer greater accessibility, particularly in regions with limited access to medical imaging technology.

The ability to perform ultrasounds and MRIs in remote areas, using portable devices powered by AI, is democratising healthcare and enabling better diagnostic capabilities in underserved regions.

An advanced drug discovery

In the realm of drug discovery and treatment personalisation, AI is making significant strides. Companies like IBM Watson are at the forefront of using AI to personalise treatment plans by analysing vast amounts of patient data, including medical histories, genetic information, and lifestyle factors.

IBM Watson has been particularly instrumental in the field of oncology, where it assists physicians by recommending tailored cancer treatment protocols.

A capability like this is made possible by the vast amounts of medical data Watson processes to identify the best treatment options for individual patients, ensuring that therapies are more effective by considering each patient’s unique characteristics.

Smart automation in healthcare

Furthermore, AI is streamlining administrative tasks within healthcare systems, which often burden healthcare providers with repetitive, time-consuming tasks like appointment scheduling, records management, and insurance verification.

By automating these tasks, AI allows healthcare providers to focus more on delivering high-quality care to patients.

Amazon Web Services (AWS), for example, is leveraging its cloud platform to develop machine learning tools that assist healthcare providers in making more effective clinical decisions while improving operational efficiency.

It includes using AI to enhance clinical decision-making, predict patient outcomes, and manage the growing volume of patient data that healthcare systems must process.

Startups and giants drive the healthcare race

Alongside the tech giants, AI-driven startups are also playing a pivotal role in healthcare innovation. Tempus, for example, is integrating genomic sequencing with AI to provide physicians with actionable insights that improve patient outcomes, particularly in cancer treatment.

The fusion of data from multiple sources is enhancing the precision and effectiveness of medical decisions. Zebra Medical Vision, another AI-driven company, is using AI to analyse medical imaging data and detect a wide range of conditions, from liver disease to breast cancer.

Zebra’s AI algorithms are designed to identify conditions often before symptoms even appear, which greatly improves the chances of successful treatment through early detection.

Tech giants are deeply embedded in the healthcare ecosystem, using their advanced capabilities in cloud computing, AI, and data analytics to reshape the industry.

Microsoft, for example, has made significant strides in AI for accessibility, focusing on creating healthcare solutions that empower individuals with disabilities. Their work is helping to make healthcare more inclusive and accessible for a broader population.

Amazon’s AWS cloud platform is another example of how Big Tech is leveraging its infrastructure to develop machine learning tools that support healthcare providers in delivering more effective care.

M&A meets medicine

In addition to developing their own AI tools, these tech giants have made several high-profile acquisitions to accelerate their healthcare strategies.

Google’s acquisition of Fitbit, Amazon’s purchase of PillPack and One Medical, and Microsoft’s $19.7 billion acquisition of Nuance are all clear examples of how Big Tech is seeking to integrate AI into every aspect of the healthcare value chain, from drug discovery to clinical delivery.

These acquisitions and partnerships also enable tech giants to tap into new areas of the healthcare market and provide more comprehensive, end-to-end solutions to healthcare providers and patients alike.

Smart devices empower health

Consumer health technologies have also surged in popularity, thanks to the broader trend of digital health and wellness tools. Fitness trackers, smartwatches, and mobile health apps allow users to monitor everything from heart rates to sleep quality.

Devices like the Apple Watch and Google’s Fitbit collect health data continuously, providing users with personalised insights into their well-being.

Instead of being isolated within individual devices, the data is increasingly being integrated into broader healthcare systems, enabling doctors and other healthcare providers to have a more complete view of a patient’s health.

This integration has also supported the growth of telehealth services, with millions of people now opting for virtual consultations powered by Big Tech infrastructure and AI-powered triage tools.

Chinese hospitals embrace generative AI

The rise of generative AI is also transforming healthcare, particularly in countries like China, where technology is advancing rapidly. Once considered a distant ambition, the use of generative AI in healthcare is now being implemented at scale.

The technology is being used to manage massive drug libraries, assist with complex diagnoses, and replicate expert reasoning processes, which helps doctors make more informed decisions.

At Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ant Group’s medical model has impressed staff by offering diagnostic suggestions and replicating expert reasoning, streamlining consultations without replacing human doctors.

Our choice in a tech-driven world

As AI continues to evolve, tech giants are likely to continue disrupting the healthcare industry while also collaborating with traditional healthcare providers.

While some traditional life sciences companies may feel threatened by the rise of Big Tech in healthcare, those that embrace AI and form partnerships with tech companies will likely be better positioned for success.

The convergence of AI and healthcare is already reshaping the future of medicine, and traditional healthcare players must adapt or risk being left behind.

Despite the tremendous momentum, there are challenges that need to be addressed. Data privacy, regulatory concerns, and the growing dominance of Big Tech in healthcare remain significant hurdles.

If these challenges are addressed responsibly, however, the integration of AI into healthcare could modernise care delivery on a global scale.

Rather than replacing doctors, the goal is to empower them with better tools, insights, and outcomes. The future of healthcare is one where technology and human expertise work in tandem, enhancing the patient experience and improving overall health outcomes.

As human beings, we must understand that the integration of technology across multiple sectors is a double-edged sword. It can either benefit us and help build better future societies, or mark the beginning of our downfall— but in the end, the choice will always be ours.

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Bitcoin’s political puppeteers: From code to clout

Once hailed as the future of financial freedom, Bitcoin now finds itself swayed by political power, elite influence, and media manipulation, raising urgent questions about whether the revolution has become the very system it sought to escape.

Bitcoin was once seen as the cornerstone of a financial utopia — immune to political control, free from traditional banking systems, and governed solely by blockchain protocols. For a while, that dream felt real, and we lived it.

Today, things have changed. The whole crypto market has become increasingly sensitive to political influence, the actions of crypto whales, and rising global tensions.

While financial markets are expected to respond to global developments, Bitcoin’s price volatility has started to reflect something more concerning. Instead of being driven primarily by innovation or organic adoption, BTC price movements are increasingly shaped by media exposure and the strategic trades by influential figures.

In this shifting ecosystem, manipulation and concentrated influence are gradually undermining the core ideals of decentralisation and financial autonomy. Is this really the revolution we were promised?

Trump’s family growing grip on the crypto market

Donald Trump has not always been a crypto fan. Once critical of Bitcoin, he is now positioning himself as a pro-crypto leader. It is a shift driven by opportunity — not just political, but financial. Trump understands that supporting digital assets could help the USA become a global crypto hub. But it also aligns perfectly with his reputation as a businessman first, politician second.

"Welcome to the first-ever White House Digital Asset Summit. Last year, I promised to make America the Bitcoin superpower of the world, AND WE'RE TAKING HISTORIC ACTION TO DELIVER ON THAT PROMISE." –President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/nqUrHQ1xLl
— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) March 8, 2025

The issue lies in the outsized influence his words now have in the crypto space. A single post on social media like X or Truth can send Bitcoin’s price up or down. Whether he is praising crypto or denying personal gain, the market reacts instantly.

His sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump are also active — often promoting the narrative that banks are obsolete and crypto is the future. They frequently make suggestive remarks about market trends. At times, they even imply where investors should put their money — all while staying within legal limits. Still, this pattern subtly steers market sentiment, raising concerns about coordinated influence and the deliberate shaping of market trends.

In my opinion, it’s a great time to add $ETH.
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) February 3, 2025

The launch of politically themed meme coins like $TRUMP and $MELANIA added fuel to the fire. These coins sparked massive rallies — and equally dramatic crashes. In fact, Bitcoin’s all-time high was followed by a sharp fall, partially triggered by the hype and eventual dump around these tokens.

Investigations now suggest insider activity. One wallet made $39 million in just 12 hours after buying $MELANIA before it was even announced. Meanwhile, $TRUMP coin insiders moved $4.6 million in USDC right before the major token unlock.

While technically legal, these actions raise serious ethical concerns. Also, 80% of its supply is controlled by insiders — including Donald Trump himself. It points to a clear pattern of influence, where strategic actions are being used to shape market movements and drive profits for a select few.

What we are seeing is the unprecedented impact of a single family. The combination of political clout and financial ambition is reshaping crypto sentiment, and Bitcoin is reflecting the shift as well. It is no longer subtle — and it is certainly troubling. Crypto is supposed to be free from central influence — yet right now, it bends under the weight of a single name.

Whales and the Michael Saylor effect

Beyond politics, crypto whales are playing their part in manipulating Bitcoin’s movements. They can cause major price swings by buying or selling in bulk.

JUST IN: Michael Saylor posted the Saylor #Bitcoin tracker again 👀

Strategy always announces another BTC purchase the next day 🚀 pic.twitter.com/oty1bEfOHo
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 11, 2025

One of the most influential is Michael Saylor, co-founder of Strategy. His company holds approximately 555,450 BTC and is still buying. Every time he announces a new purchase, Bitcoin prices spike. Traders monitor his every move — his tweets are treated like trading signals.

But Saylor has bigger plans. He once said he could become a Bitcoin bank — a statement that sparked backlash. What is particularly striking is that a businessman who has supported Bitcoin’s decentralised nature from the beginning is now acting in ways that appear to contradict it. Bitcoin was designed to avoid central control — not to be dominated by one player, no matter how bullish. When too much BTC ends up concentrated in one place, the autonomous promise begins to crack.

Market trust is shifting from code to individuals — and that is risky.

How trading has evolved in 2025 pic.twitter.com/kK0ttMDIYQ
— Markets & Mayhem (@Mayhem4Markets) May 11, 2025

Global tensions as a Bitcoin barometer

Bitcoin does not just respond to tweets anymore. Global tensions have made it a geopolitical asset — a barometer of financial anxiety.

Recent US tariffs, particularly on Chinese mining equipment, have raised mining costs. Tariffs also disrupted the supply chain for mining rigs, slowing down expansion and affecting hash rates.

At the same time, when the US exempted tech products like iPhones and laptops from tariffs, Bitcoin surged — reaching $86,000. It shows how trade policy and tech pressure are now directly linked to Bitcoin price action.

Yet, there always seems to be a push-and-pull dynamic at play — not necessarily coordinated, but clearly driven by short-term momentum and opportunistic interests.

It is where irony lies — Bitcoin was built to be apolitical. But today, it is tightly tied to global politics. Its price now swings in response to elections, sanctions, and international conflicts — the very forces it was meant to bypass. What was once a decentralised alternative to traditional finance is becoming a mirror of the same systems it sought to disrupt.

Two friends, one passion: Bitcoin 🚀 @Saylor pic.twitter.com/frpPpq4zu7
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) January 3, 2025

Bitcoin: from decentralised dream to politically-driven reality

Bitcoin is no longer moved by natural market fundamentals alone. It dances to the tune of political tweets, whale decisions, and global conflicts. A decentralised dream now faces a centralised reality.

It all started when governments and financial institutions began taking an active interest in Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency market. While mainstream adoption was essential for legitimising digital assets, that level of attention came with strings attached — most notably, external influence.

What was once an alternative movement powered by decentralised ideals has gradually attracted the gaze of political leaders, regulators, and corporate giants. The tale of two sides of the sword: the promise of legitimacy, tempered by the risk of losing the system’s independence.

🔥 SAYLOR: “My forecast for #Bitcoin is, it goes up 29% a year compounded for 21 years which is going to be 3, 4 times better than the next best thing.” pic.twitter.com/zIgQezoGlw
— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) May 12, 2025

In this environment, the absence of central control and the self-governing nature of the system are becoming increasingly symbolic. The market reacts not just to algorithms or adoption metrics, but also to the opinions and actions of a powerful few — raising concerns about market manipulation, unequal access, and the long-term health of crypto’s founding vision. Is that really a non-centralised structure?

Crypto was meant to free us from financial gatekeepers. But if Bitcoin can be shaken by one man’s post on a social network, we must ask: can it still considered free?

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

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Technological inventions blurring the line between reality and fiction

From liquid robots to mind-controlled speech, these inventions are challenging our understanding of what’s real and what’s science fiction.

The rapid progress of AI over the past few years has unsettled the global population, reaching a point where it is extremely difficult to say with certainty whether certain content has been created by AI or not.

We are confronted with this phenomenon through photos, video and audio recordings that can easily confuse us and force us to question our perception of reality.

And while the public often focuses on deepfakes, at the same time we are witnessing inventions and patents emerging around the world that deserve admiration, but also spark important reflection: are we nearing, or have we already crossed, the ethical red line?

For these and many other reasons, in a world where the visual and functional differences between science fiction and reality have almost disappeared, the latest inventions come as a shock.

We are now at a point where we are facing technologies that force us to redefine what we mean by the word ‘reality’.

Neuralink: Crossing the boundary between brain and machine

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurological disease caused by damage and degeneration of motor neurons—nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. This damage disrupts the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles via peripheral nerves, leading to a progressive loss of muscle function.

However, the Neuralink chip, developed by Elon Musk’s company, has helped one patient type with their mind and speak using their voice. This breakthrough opens the door to a new form of communication where thoughts become direct interactions.

Liquid robot from South Korea

Scenes from sci-fi films are becoming reality, and in this case (thankfully), a liquid robot has a noble purpose—to assist in rescue missions and be applied in medicine.

Currently in the early prototype stage, it has been demonstrated in labs through a collaboration between MIT and Korean research institutes.

ULS exoskeleton as support for elderly care

Healthcare workers and caregivers in China have had their work greatly simplified thanks to the ULS Robotics exoskeleton, weighing only five kilograms but enabling users to lift up to 30 kilograms.

This represents a leap forward in caring for people with limited mobility, while also increasing safety and efficiency. Commercial prototypes have been tested in hospitals and industrial environments.

Thanks for Bloomberg News reports,We hope that all works who are at risk of occupational injuries can use exoskeleon robotics to make our work , easier,safer and healthier in the future @QuickTake https://t.co/NxEbrNl2a6
— ULS Robotics (@ulsrobotics) October 17, 2020

Agrorobots: Autonomous crop spraying

Another example from China that has been in use for several years. Robots equipped with AI perform precise crop spraying. The system analyses pests and targets them without the need for human presence, reducing potential health risks.

The application has become standardised, with expectations for further expansion and improvement in the near future.

The stretchable battery of the future

Researchers in Sweden have developed a flexible battery that can double in length without losing energy, making it ideal for wearable technologies.

Although not yet commercially available, it has been covered in scientific journals. The aim is for it to become a key component in bendable devices, smart clothing and medical implants.

Volonaut Airbike: A sci-fi vehicle takes off

When it comes to innovation, the Volonaut Airbike hits the mark perfectly. Designed to resemble a single-seat speeder bike from Star Wars, it represents a giant leap toward personal air travel.

Functional prototypes exist, but testing remains limited due to high production costs and regulatory hurdles related to traffic laws. Nevertheless, the Polish company behind it remains committed to this idea, and it will be exciting to follow its progress.

NEO robot: The humanoid household assistant

A Norwegian company has been developing a humanoid robot capable of performing household tasks, including gardening chores like collecting and bagging leaves or grass.

These are among the first serious steps toward domestic humanoid assistants. Currently functioning in demo mode, the robot has received backing from OpenAI.

Lenovo Yoga Solar: The laptop that loves sunlight

If you find yourself without a charger but with access to direct sunlight, this laptop will do everything it can to keep you powered. Using solar energy, 20 minutes of charging in sunlight provides around one hour of video playback.

Perfect for ecologists and digital nomads. Although not yet commercially available, it has been showcased at several major tech expos.

What comes next: The need for smart regulation

As technology races ahead, regulation must catch up. From neurotech to autonomous robots, each innovation raises new questions about privacy, accountability, and ethics.

Governments and tech developers alike must collaborate to ensure that these inventions remain tools for good, not risks to society.

So, what is real and what is generated?

This question will only become harder to answer as time goes on. But on the other hand, if the technological revolution continues to head in a useful and positive direction, perhaps there is little to fear.

The true dilemma in this era of rapid innovation may not be about the tools themselves, but about the fundamental question: Is technology shaping us, or do we still shape it?

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

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