The EU has opened an antitrust investigation into Meta’s integration of AI features within WhatsApp, assessing whether the move restricts competition for conversational tools. Regulators aim to clarify how embedded assistants affect market access for rivals as generative AI becomes a core part of digital communication.
A new study commissioned by noyb examines how people navigate 'pay or okay' consent models and whether these systems provide a genuine choice. The research finds that most users reject tracking in principle but accept it when no alternative is provided. When a non-tracking, ad-supported option is introduced, users overwhelmingly shift toward it, indicating that current consent structures do not reflect their actual preferences and raise questions about the voluntariness of consent under EU da Sources
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has opened a call for its Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees to nominate mentors for the next cycle of the Fellowship Program, covering ICANN87 through ICANN89. The mentors will guide selected fellows before, during, and after three consecutive ICANN Public Meetings.
Canada has released its first national standard dedicated to accessible and equitable artificial intelligence, offering practical guidance to ensure AI systems are inclusive by design. The new CAN-ASC-6.2 standard outlines processes for fairness, accessibility, and participation, with a focus on supporting people with disabilities and other equity-deserving groups throughout the AI lifecycle.
The co-facilitators of the WSIS+20 review have issued Revision 2 of the outcome document, reflecting inputs from governments and stakeholders and setting the stage for the next round of informals.
EU member states have reached a compromise on new rules addressing online child sexual abuse, removing mandatory scanning of private messages while setting the stage for difficult negotiations on how to balance child safety with privacy and encryption.
Coimisiún na Meán has launched formal investigations into TikTok and LinkedIn under the EU Digital Services Act, examining whether their reporting tools for illegal content are accessible, anonymous, and free from deceptive design practices.
The European Commission has opened a consultation on its draft Implementing Regulation for AI regulatory sandboxes, setting out how these supervised testing environments will operate under the EU AI Act and how participants, particularly SMEs, can access them.
ICANN is inviting community members to register for an informational webinar in December 2025 and January 2026, offering an overview of its draft FY27 operating and financial plans for both ICANN and Public Technical Identifiers ahead of upcoming Public Comment proceedings.
A new UNDP report examines how artificial intelligence may widen development gaps between and within countries. It argues that the Asia-Pacific region is the world’s testing ground for whether AI becomes a driver of inclusion or a catalyst for deeper inequality, and outlines the policy choices that will determine which path prevails.
Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment (CADE) is a project co-funded by the European Union.
