The US Senate has widened its probe into AI chatbots after parents testified that their children were harmed by the technology. Lawmakers are demanding Google, Meta, and other firms hand over internal safety records by October 17, citing evidence that chatbots used by most American minors expose them to risks such as grooming, self-harm, and sexual content.
The EDPS warned that a proposed EU-US data-sharing agreement for border security must include strict safeguards to protect personal data, limit scope, and ensure transparency and judicial redress for individuals.
The Maldives passed a controversial media regulation law that critics warn could severely restrict both traditional and online media freedoms by imposing the same regulatory framework on electronic media as on traditional outlets.
Brazil has passed its first dedicated law to protect children online, updating its 1990 child protection statute for the digital age. The ECA Digital, signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, bans behavioral advertising aimed at minors, restricts misuse of children’s personal data, and revives a ban on 'loot boxes' in video games. The law takes effect in March 2026
The hearing focused on risks posed by consumer-facing chatbots, particularly for minors, and the lack of safeguards in the fast-moving artificial intelligence industry.
taly has passed the EU’s first national artificial intelligence law, setting rules for privacy, oversight, and child access. The law requires human oversight of AI decisions, restricts use by under-14s without parental consent, and introduces penalties for harmful AI uses like deepfakes. It also allocates €1 billion to support AI, cybersecurity, and quantum technology, though critics say this funding is modest compared to global efforts.
The EU’s ICT Supply Chain Toolbox will be presented on September 25, aiming to strengthen security of critical communications infrastructure against high-risk foreign suppliers such as Huawei and ZTE. While designed as guidance, Brussels is considering tying it to the Cybersecurity Act revision, which could make restrictions binding. Member states remain split, with Germany and Sweden moving toward phaseouts, while others like Spain and Hungary resist tougher measures.
Age prediction and identity checks are among OpenAI’s measures to protect young users.
The initiative builds on earlier consultations, including reviews of the EU’s Data Strategy, Cybersecurity Act, and AI strategy.
The future of TikTok in the United States now rests on a tentative agreement that could reshape both trade relations and digital security discussions.
Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment (CADE) is a project co-funded by the European Union.
