Vietnam reviews draft law to guide national digital transformation
The proposal aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework to support the country’s transition to a digital economy, digital government, and digital society.
Civil-society groups warn UN cybercrime treaty could threaten human rights
The joint statement is supported by more than 20 organisations. The coalition emphasises that, while tackling cybercrime is important, global cooperation should not come at the expense of fundamental rights and freedoms.
ICANN Board invites feedback on plan to address gaps in domain-data request system
The new consultation seeks community views on a roadmap to align the RDRS with broader efforts to develop a permanent System for Standardized Access/Disclosure. Feedback will help guide discussions between the ICANN Board and the Generic Names Supporting Organization as they reassess previous policy recommendations and consider next steps for managing access to domain holder information in a privacy-compliant way.
EU AI Act faces complexity test as new report warns of regulatory friction
While the act sets out the world’s first comprehensive legal framework for AI, the report finds that its interaction with existing rules - including the GDPR, Data Act, Digital Services Act and Cyber Resilience Act - may create overlapping compliance obligations and legal uncertainty.
Commission launches digital commons EDIC to bolster Europe’s digital sovereignty
The European Commission has established the Digital Commons European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (DC-EDIC) to help EU countries jointly develop open, sovereign and interoperable digital infrastructure. Led initially by France, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy, the new body will support shared data services, public-sector digital tools and open-source technologies designed and built in Europe.
ICANN urges ITU development conference to prioritise multilingual internet access and universal acceptance
In a submission to the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025, ICANN outlines how Internationalized Domain Names and Universal Acceptance can advance meaningful connectivity, while warning that large gaps remain in software support, email interoperability and multilingual access.
Meta and TikTok commit to Australia’s under-16 ban, but enforcement questions remain
Australia’s model stands out for its wide applicability across platforms and its enforcement-first approach, rather than mandating age-verification technologies upfront.
UN report examines effects of nationwide connectivity loss in Afghanistan
The blackout - carried out without public explanation - cut off internet and phone services across the country, disrupting everyday communication, public services, humanitarian operations, and critical access to healthcare.
Kenya’s new guidelines on child online protection take effect
At the core of the framework is the principle that child protection is a shared responsibility among all participants in the internet ecosystem. The guidelines balance children’s right to access information and express themselves online with the need to prevent exploitation, exposure to harmful content, and other risks.
Digital rights groups urge Tanzania to guarantee online freedoms ahead of general election
A coalition of African and international digital rights organisations has issued an open letter urging the Tanzanian government to refrain from internet shutdowns, censorship, and arbitrary restrictions during the country’s general election on 29 October 2025. The letter calls on authorities and telecommunications companies to uphold constitutional and international human rights standards guaranteeing freedom of expression and access to information.
