cybersecurity Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

UK’s National Cyber Security Centre chief warns of ‘perfect storm’ for UK cybersecurity

Dr Richard Horne, chief executive of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, has described the country as facing a ‘perfect storm’ for cybersecurity.

Speaking at the CYBERUK conference in Glasgow, Horne described developments in AI and wider international tensions as creating a period of ‘tumultuous uncertainty’. He added that the definition of cybersecurity is expanding as technology becomes more deeply embedded in robotics, autonomous systems, and human-integrated technologies.

Horne called for what he described as a ‘cultural shift’ across organisations, adding: ‘cybersecurity is the responsibility of everyone, whether they sit on the Board or the IT help desk… cybersecurity is part of their mission.’

He also argued: ‘organisations that do not focus on their technology base…as core to their prosperity … are no longer just naïve but are failing to grasp the reality of today’s world.’

On the threat landscape, Horne noted that incident numbers remain ‘fairly steady’, but that the source of attacks has shifted, with ‘the majority of the nationally significant incidents that the NCSC is handling now originate directly or indirectly from nation states.’

He also described cyberspace as part of the contested space ‘between peace and war’ and warned that the UK is seeing Russia apply lessons learned during its invasion of Ukraine beyond the battlefield. In that context, he argued that recent conflicts show ‘cyber operations are now integral to conflict’ and that ‘cybersecurity is the home front’.

Addressing frontier AI, Horne said: ‘Frontier AI is rapidly enabling discovery and exploitation of existing vulnerabilities at scale, illustrating how quickly it will expose where fundamentals of cybersecurity are still to be addressed.’

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Frontier AI cybersecurity risks highlighted by the World Economic Forum

A shift is emerging in cybersecurity as frontier AI systems become more capable and harder to control.

Anthropic’s decision to restrict access to the Claude Mythos Preview reflects growing concern about how such models can be used in real-world cybersecurity operations, as highlighted in an article published by the World Economic Forum.

Reported capabilities include identifying unknown vulnerabilities and generating working exploits. Tasks that once required specialised teams over long periods can now be accelerated significantly.

Defensive benefits exist, particularly in faster vulnerability detection, but the same capabilities can also lower barriers for attackers.

The main challenge is no longer finding weaknesses but managing them. AI can generate large volumes of vulnerabilities in a short time, while many organisations still rely on slower response cycles.

That gap increases exposure, especially for critical systems and infrastructure.

Cybersecurity is therefore moving away from static protection toward continuous monitoring and rapid response. At the same time, the lack of clear global rules on access to advanced AI systems raises broader concerns about governance and long-term stability.

Such an evolving imbalance between capability and control is likely to define the next phase of cyber risk.

The World Economic Forum report also stresses that AI-driven cyber risk is becoming a strategic issue, requiring board-level attention, stronger public–private coordination, and faster response timelines, as vulnerability discovery and exploitation compress from weeks to hours.

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UK NCSC calls for stronger cyber readiness

The UK National Cyber Security Centre has warned that organisations must urgently prepare for severe cyber threats, describing them as a growing risk to operations and national resilience. The guidance calls for immediate action from leadership.

Cyber attacks are becoming more capable and disruptive, with new technologies such as AI increasing their speed and scale. These threats can lead to major operational, financial and security impacts.

The agency emphasises that resilience, rather than prevention alone, is critical. Organisations must be able to continue operating and recover during cyber attacks, with preparation and planning carried out in advance.

The Centre states that responsibility lies with organisational leaders, urging investment, coordination and early planning to ensure essential services can continue under pressure in the UK.

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Kazakhstan prioritises cyber resilience

The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan has reviewed cybersecurity measures for state bodies during an interagency meeting chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of AI and Digital Development.

According to the Government, reports highlighted progress in cybersecurity policies alongside ongoing vulnerabilities. Audits of local executive bodies identified systemic weaknesses requiring stronger safeguards.

The meeting also introduced new measures, including mandatory biometric identification for operators managing large databases. Officials stressed the importance of integrating systems into a unified monitoring framework.

The Government stated that cybersecurity is essential for digital transformation and instructed agencies to improve oversight, public awareness and data protection efforts in Kazakhstan.

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Russia advances draft AI regulation framework

Russia has moved forward with a draft law outlining the fundamentals of state regulation of AI technologies, with the public consultation closed on 15 April 2026. The proposal outlines a structured compliance framework to tighten oversight of AI system development and deployment nationwide.

Under the draft, AI system operators would be required to test their systems to identify potential uses that could violate Russian legislation.

The framework also introduces a classification of trusted AI models, which would be subject to formal security verification by authorised federal bodies responsible for technical intelligence countermeasures and information security.

The proposed rules also establish a certification process for quality compliance, to be carried out in accordance with procedures defined by the Russian government. These measures aim to create a multi-layered oversight system for AI security and performance in regulated environments.

The proposed framework signals a shift towards tighter state control over how AI is tested, classified, and deployed, particularly in sensitive or high-risk environments. By introducing mandatory testing, security certification and government-defined quality standards, it increases regulatory scrutiny across the AI lifecycle.

The broader implication is a move towards more centralised governance of AI systems, where compliance and risk management become embedded requirements rather than optional best practices.

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Australian authorities warn of data exploitation through social media platforms

Social media and messaging services pose growing security and privacy risks, with personal data used to build profiles for fraud, espionage, or social engineering. Even routine posts may contribute to broader data collection and unintended exposure.

Platforms typically collect extensive user and device data under evolving privacy policies, sometimes storing it across jurisdictions with varying legal protections. Such conditions increase the risks to identity theft, reputational harm, and the misuse of aggregated personal information.

The Australian Government advises organisations to restrict access to official accounts, train staff, and enforce clear policies on what can be shared. It also highlights the importance of breach response procedures to maintain operational security.

For individuals, the Government guidance recommends limiting exposure of personal data, using privacy settings, avoiding unknown contacts, and applying strong authentication.

Regular updates, careful app permissions, and device security measures are also encouraged to reduce cyber risks.

Strengthening awareness and applying consistent security practices reduces vulnerability and supports more resilient organisational systems in an increasingly interconnected digital environment.

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EU launches Mediterranean digital programme to support governance, cybersecurity and skills

The European Commission has launched a digital transformation programme for countries in North Africa and the Middle East, marking the first digital initiative under the Pact for the Mediterranean.

EU aims to support inclusive and sustainable growth by improving access to digital services and strengthening regulatory alignment.

The initiative focuses on enhancing digital governance by aligning telecommunications regulations with the EU standards and strengthening national regulatory authorities. It also promotes regional cooperation by creating coordinated networks across participating countries.

Cybersecurity forms a central component, with measures designed to improve national frameworks and institutional capacity to prevent and respond to cyber threats.

Additionally, the programme advances digital skills development based on EU competency frameworks, supporting long-term capacity development.

Such an approach reflects a broader policy objective to foster regional digital integration, strengthen institutional resilience and promote secure and inclusive digital transformation across neighbouring regions.

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FBI reports billions lost to crypto and AI scams

The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that cyber-enabled crimes cost Americans nearly $21 billion in 2025, according to its latest Internet Crime Report. The Internet Crime Complaint Center recorded more than 1 million complaints, marking a rise from the previous year.

Investment fraud, phishing, extortion, and tech support scams remained the most common threats, with older adults reporting disproportionately high losses. Individuals over 60 accounted for approximately $7.7 billion in losses, reflecting a sharp year-on-year increase.

Cryptocurrency-related fraud was the most financially damaging category, with losses exceeding $11 billion across more than 180,000 complaints. The report also highlighted emerging risks linked to AI, including deepfake identities, voice cloning, and fabricated media used to manipulate victims.

The FBI has expanded initiatives such as Operation Level Up to identify ongoing scams and reduce losses, while emphasising early reporting and awareness measures. Officials say scammers increasingly use psychological pressure and realistic digital impersonation to deceive victims.

Rising losses highlight how rapidly evolving digital fraud techniques are outpacing public awareness, with crypto and AI tools making scams more scalable and convincing.

Strengthening detection, reporting, and education will be critical to reducing financial harm and improving resilience against increasingly sophisticated online crime networks.

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Geneva Cyber Week to bring diplomacy, cyber policy, and AI security debates together

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs will co-host Geneva Cyber Week from 4 to 8 May 2026, bringing policymakers, diplomats, technical experts, industry leaders, academics, and civil society representatives to venues across Geneva and online for a week of discussions on cyber stability, resilience, governance, digitalisation, and the security implications of emerging technologies, including AI.

Returning after its inaugural edition, the event is being positioned as a response to a more fragile cyber and geopolitical environment. Held under the theme ‘Advancing Global Cooperation in Cyberspace’, Geneva Cyber Week 2026 comes at a moment of mounting cyber insecurity, intensifying geopolitical tension, and rapid technological change, with organisers framing the gathering as a space for more practical cooperation across diplomatic, technical, operational, and policy communities.

“Cybersecurity is no longer a niche technical issue; it is a strategic policy challenge with implications for international peace, economic stability and public trust. At a moment of growing fragmentation and accelerating technological change, Geneva Cyber Week brings together the communities that need to be in the room — diplomatic, technical, operational and policy — to move from shared concern to practical cooperation,” said Dr Giacomo Persi Paoli, Head of Security and Technology Programme at UNIDIR.

The programme will feature nearly 90 events and reinforce Geneva’s role as a centre for cyber diplomacy, international cooperation, and digital governance. Scheduled sessions include UNIDIR’s Cyber Stability Conference, Peak Incident Response organised by the Swiss CSIRT Forum, Digital International Geneva, the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting on Cybersecurity, and a Council of Europe session titled ‘Artificial Intelligence, Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence: Risks, Opportunities, and Global Cooperation’.

The week will also include partner-led panels, workshops, simulations, exhibitions, and networking events to connect specialist communities that do not always work in the same room. That broader structure reflects an effort to treat cyber issues not only as a technical or security matter but also as a governance, trust-building, and international-coordination challenge.

“At a time when digital threats know no borders, fostering inclusive discussions is essential to building trust, advancing common norms, and promoting a secure and open cyberspace for all. International Geneva provides an unparalleled multilateral environment to address these cybersecurity challenges collectively. Geneva Cyber Week’s diverse programme embodies this collaborative spirit,” said Marina Wyss Ross, Deputy Head of International Security Division and Chief of Section for Arms Control, Disarmament and Cybersecurity at the Swiss FDFA.

Across the city, Geneva will also mark the week visually, including flags on the Mont Blanc Bridge and special illumination of the Jet d’Eau on Monday evening. But beyond the symbolism, the event’s significance lies in how it seeks to bring cyber diplomacy, incident response, governance debates, and emerging technology risks into the same international conversation.

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European Business Council in Japan holds first cybersecurity conference in Tokyo

Tokyo hosted a cybersecurity conference organised by the European Business Council in Japan (EBC) Digital Committee on 7 April. The event took place at the EU Delegation in Tokyo.

The conference was the EBC Digital Committee’s first event. It brought together experts from the public and private sectors to exchange views on cybersecurity challenges and policy developments.

Speakers included Luis Miguel Vega Fidalgo from the European Commission, Satoshi D. from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Amelia Alder from Knorr-Bremse. A question-and-answer session followed their presentations.

Participants continued discussions during a networking reception after the session. The Digital Committee co-chairs, Wataru Suzuki and Felix von Helden, thanked the speakers and organisers, including Peter Fatelnig from the EU Delegation to Japan.

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