Grok back online in Indonesia
Indonesia has reinstated access to the AI tool Grok after platform owner X committed to stronger compliance measures, but authorities warn that renewed violations could lead to another ban.
Spain plans ban on social media access for children under 16
Spain is preparing legislation that would prohibit children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms. The proposal is part of a broader effort to address online risks for minors and would introduce mandatory age-verification requirements for platforms.
RIR governance document second consultation summary and next steps
Number Resource Organization Number Council has released a summary of public feedback on a draft document that explains how these registries are recognised, operated, and, if necessary, withdrawn. The next revision of the document will be shaped by this input.
ICANN releases initial list of evaluated registry service providers for 2026 gTLD round
ICANN has published the first list of registry service providers that have passed parts of its technical evaluation ahead of the 2026 round of new generic top-level domains. The list identifies which providers are already cleared to support future gTLD applicants.
Research ICT Africa comments on draft hate speech regulations in South Africa
Research ICT Africa has submitted formal comments on draft regulations under South Africa’s Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act, raising questions about implementation capacity, data protection, and constitutional safeguards.
Amnesty International flags digital abuse and online targeting of LBQ women in UN submission
A new submission to the UN Independent Expert details how criminalisation, weak safeguards and technology-facilitated violence combine to expose lesbian, bisexual and queer women to heightened risks, including in digital spaces.
Austria and Poland consider age limits for social media access
Austria and Poland are preparing legislation to restrict minors’ access to social media, joining a growing number of European countries debating age-based controls for online platforms.
Chinese court rules AI developer not automatically liable for hallucination errors
A court in Hangzhou has ruled that an AI developer is not automatically responsible for false information generated by its system, unless a user can prove fault and actual harm.
GNSO Standing Selection Committee agrees on mentor recommendation for ICANN Fellowship Programme
The GNSO Standing Selection Committee has reached consensus on its preferred candidate for a Fellowship Programme mentoring role, following a review of applications and survey feedback during its January 2026 meeting.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has launched a campaign calling on tech firms to expand end-to-end encryption
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has launched a campaign calling on several large technology companies to broaden and enable end-to-end encryption. The initiative focuses on protecting users’ private messages, files, and data from unauthorised access.
