OpenAI’s vs Italy’s Garante saga continues, as the data protection authority notifies OpenAI that ChatGPT is violating data protection rules. China approved 40 AI models in the last six months to rival the USA. The White House outlines key AI actions post-Biden’s order, and the UK plans tests for new AI laws. Elon Musk’s Neuralink implants a brain chip, pushing the boundaries of tech-human integration.
Germany and Namibia, serving as co-facilitators of the Summit of the Future, unveiled the zero draft of the Pact for the Future. Cybersecurity highlights of the week include the announcement of an OEWG roundtable on capacity building and the FBI thwarting Chinese hacks on critical infrastructure in the USA.
Content concerns rise with Taylor Swift’s deepfakes. India joined the fight against deepfakes, emphasising the need for accountability from platforms hosting such content. Big Tech CEOs testified at a US Senate hearing over accusations of failing to take effective measures to protect children from harmful and CSAM content.
Amazon and Roomba iRobot cancelled a $1.4 billion deal due to EU antitrust concerns.
Let’s get started.
Andrijana and the Digital Watch team
Highlights from the week of 26 January-2 February 2024
According to the authority, there are indications of violations of data privacy law. OpenAI has been granted a 30-day period to present its defence arguments in response to the allegations. Read more.
According to the authority, there are indications of violations of data privacy law. OpenAI has been granted a 30-day period to present its defence arguments in response to the allegations. Read more.
Regulators granted approvals for 14 large language models (LLMs) last week after granting approvals in three precedent batches the previous year. Read more.
Regulators granted approvals for 14 large language models (LLMs) last week after granting approvals in three precedent batches the previous year. Read more.
Three months after the release of President Biden’s highly anticipated executive order, the White House released a fact sheet with its key actions on AI. Read more.
Three months after the release of President Biden’s highly anticipated executive order, the White House released a fact sheet with its key actions on AI. Read more.
Neuralink’s founder Elon Musk announced that the first human patient implanted with the brain-chip startup’s device on Sunday is recovering well, with promising initial results indicating neuron spike detection. Read more.
Neuralink’s founder Elon Musk announced that the first human patient implanted with the brain-chip startup’s device on Sunday is recovering well, with promising initial results indicating neuron spike detection. Read more.
CEOs of Meta (Mark Zuckerberg), X (Linda Yaccarino), TikTok (Shou Chew), Snap (Evan Spiegel) and Discord (Jason Citron), testified before Congress over accusations of failing to protect children from sexual exploitation online. Read more.
CEOs of Meta (Mark Zuckerberg), X (Linda Yaccarino), TikTok (Shou Chew), Snap (Evan Spiegel) and Discord (Jason Citron), testified before Congress over accusations of failing to protect children from sexual exploitation online. Read more.
India is proactive in recognising and addressing the threat of deepfakes due to its large online population base, with approximately 870 million internet users. Read more.
India is proactive in recognising and addressing the threat of deepfakes due to its large online population base, with approximately 870 million internet users. Read more.
Proton, a Swiss-based privacy company, conducted a study indicating that if each company paid their fines sequentially, it would take a little over a week, with Meta requiring the longest—five days and 13 hours. Read more.
Proton, a Swiss-based privacy company, conducted a study indicating that if each company paid their fines sequentially, it would take a little over a week, with Meta requiring the longest—five days and 13 hours. Read more.
Amazon and Roomba iRobot terminated their acquisition due to EU antitrust concerns. FTC also investigated Amazon for market dominance and antitrust violations. Read more.
Amazon and Roomba iRobot terminated their acquisition due to EU antitrust concerns. FTC also investigated Amazon for market dominance and antitrust violations. Read more.
As the curtains fall, it is time for reflections. The 9th Geneva Engage Awards on 1 February 2024 acknowledged and celebrated the efforts of International Geneva actors in digital outreach and creating meaningful engagement with the rest of the world. Through 3 pre-ceremony interactive workshops, communication experts from different stakeholder groups and Diplo’s researchers deliberated about good website information organisation practices, social media management, and the future of event and conference hosting.
Congratulations to all the winners! To watch the recording or to learn about our methodology, please visit the dedicated website.
#ReadingCorner
We all need accessibility. To everything. Really.
DW Weekly #145 – 2 February 2024 34
Web accessibility is often misperceived as a cost rather than an investment, a challenge rather than an opportunity, and a legal hurdle rather than compliance with obligations that benefit all users. In her blog post, Diplo’s Senior Policy Editor Virginia (Ginger) Paque argues that we all need accessibility, to everything.
We watched the new Netflix documentary ‘Bitconned’ on cryptocurrency industry fraud. Diplo’s resident expert on crypto Arvin Kamberi analyses what were the ingredients to create such a perfect storm for victims.
Follow the Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime with GIP reports
Will the UN Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime stick to its plan and have the first global treaty on cybercrime? Stay tuned for real-time updates and just-in-time reporting facilitated by The Digital Watch Observatory’s AI-driven App!
