The day-long program brought together government leaders, business executives, academics, and civil society representatives to address AI governance, digital public infrastructure development, and inclusive digital economies.
Civil society groups are warning that the EU’s landmark AI Act risks becoming an empty promise unless Member States urgently implement it at national level. In an open letter, 31 organisations called on the European Commission and governments to pass laws, appoint oversight authorities, and ensure adequate resources, stressing that without immediate action, people’s rights will not be protected from harmful uses of artificial intelligence.
A joint investigation by Canada’s federal and provincial privacy authorities has found that TikTok’s safeguards to protect children from having their personal information collected and used were not adequate. The inquiry was carried out by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada along with counterparts in Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta. Although TikTok’s rules [...]
Tech giant Oracle is set to receive a copy of TikTok's algorithm to manage the app's operations for US users as part of an agreement addressing national security concerns.
US lawmakers held a hearing on September 17 to weigh the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence, focusing on innovation, jobs, privacy, and national security. Experts urged Congress to create a federal framework that encourages growth while protecting workers and consumers from bias, scams, and other harms.
ICANN’s GNSO Council has opened a call for volunteers to join the Standing Predictability Implementation Review Team (SPIRT), which will address issues in the upcoming round of new domain names. Applications are due by 17 October 2025. The team will help ensure transparency and fairness in how changes to the program are managed, giving civil society and other stakeholders a chance to shape the process.
A new joint statement coordinated by the Global Network Initiative and the Center for Democracy & Technology condemns Russia’s escalating restrictions on encrypted communication. The signatories warn that blocking end-to-end encrypted services, forcing citizens onto state-controlled platforms and restricting VPNs violates international human-rights standards and risks normalizing digital authoritarianism worldwide.
Simon Stiell said AI can enhance planning, energy management and climate risk mapping if used wisely instead of replacing human skills.
The UN’s Scientific Advisory Board has called for urgent action to advance open science, stressing that sharing research data and knowledge openly is vital for tackling global challenges like climate change, pandemics, and inequality. The Board warned that geopolitical tensions and the privatisation of research threaten progress, urging governments, the UN, and private actors to make scientific knowledge a true global public good.
The French data protection authority (CNIL) has warned parents against using GPS trackers and similar devices to monitor their children in real time, saying it can harm their development, autonomy, and trust within the family. The regulator also raised privacy and safety concerns, urging parents to avoid constant tracking and instead use less intrusive ways to stay in contact.
Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment (CADE) is a project co-funded by the European Union.
