A Fistful of Discretion: The UK’s DMCC After Two Years
Two years after the UK Competition and Markets Authority began enforcing the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC), the regulator has shown a measured approach that contrasts sharply with the EU’s more aggressive Digital Markets Act. The CMA’s most notable move was declining to designate Amazon Web Services as a strategic market player, opting instead for voluntary commitments on cloud egress fees and interoperability. At the same time, the agency has floated extensive conduct requirements for Apple, Google’s mobile platforms and search services, raising concerns about costly interoperability mandates. Analysts warn that the regime’s future hinges on political discretion, as a change in leadership could expand the DMCC’s ex‑ante powers dramatically.
Only 16% of Businesses Are Fully Compliant with NIS2 Despite 2024 Compliance Deadline
A CyberSmart survey of 670 leaders across eight European countries found that only 16% feel fully compliant with the EU’s NIS2 directive, despite the October 2024 transposition deadline having passed. Budget constraints (20%) and lack of implementation guidance (16%) are the...
24/7 GP Appointment Booking Is Now Live in the NHS App for More than One Million Patients
Rapid Health’s AI‑powered Smart Triage is now embedded in the NHS App, giving more than one million English patients 24‑hour, seven‑day access to GP appointments. The integration presents each user with an average of 61 available slots, with most selections...
Europe Shouldn’t “Move Fast and Break Things” With Fundamental Rights
The European Union is considering the Digital Omnibus, a package that would simplify its digital rules but also roll back key safeguards in the GDPR, ePrivacy and the upcoming AI Act. The proposals would narrow the definition of personal data,...
The Court of Justice of the European Union Condemns France’s Police Profiling Practices
On 19 March 2026 the Court of Justice of the European Union issued the “Comdribus” judgment, declaring France’s statutory collection of fingerprints and photographs of suspects disproportionate and contrary to EU law. The ruling emphasizes that biometric data are “sensitive” and may...
The Digital Omnibus Reopens the EU Data Acquis Before It Has Even Been Tested
The European Union’s Digital Omnibus proposal folds the Data Governance Act, Open Data Directive and other recent statutes into the 2023 Data Act, turning it into the central hub for data access, reuse and governance. While marketed as simplification, critics...
How Can the EU Protect Children Online While Dismantling the Very Rules Designed to Keep Them Safe?
EU policymakers are intensifying focus on child safety online, but recent proposals risk eroding the very safeguards built into the Digital Services Act, AI Act and GDPR. A coalition of over 300 civil‑society organisations warns the Digital Omnibus simplification could...
Where the Hottest Blocks in Your City Are — And How To Cool Them Down
The World Resources Institute’s Center for Sustainable Cities unveiled the Cool Cities Lab, an open‑source platform that maps heat exposure at a one‑meter resolution across city blocks. Piloted in 20 cities, the tool combines data on shade, roof albedo, vegetation...
From Pledges to Projects to Procurement: How to Build a Digital Platform to Manage Climate Finance
The Open Contracting Partnership found that while the technology to track climate finance exists, misaligned incentives and data silos prevent its use. Commitments such as the UNFCCC’s $6 trillion annual target remain high‑level because current systems cannot follow money through procurement...
NYC Congestion Zone Cuts Air Pollution 22% Study Finds | Phys.org
New York City’s congestion pricing, launched in January 2025, has delivered measurable environmental gains. A Cornell study shows that particulate matter 2.5 concentrations fell 22% within the Congestion Relief Zone during the first six months. The program also cut traffic, reduced...
DOT Moves to Clear Regulatory Path for Vehicles Without Steering Wheels
The U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing to strip federal vehicle standards that mandate human controls, clearing a path for fully autonomous cars and trucks. NHTSA is fast‑tracking Amazon‑owned Zoox’s request to operate up to 2,500 purpose‑built robotaxis without steering...
A Data Center Near You
Maine became the first state to impose a moratorium on new data centers of 20 MW or more, signaling growing backlash against the industry’s water‑intensive, low‑job projects. Communities from Ohio to South Memphis report massive water withdrawals—up to a million gallons...
Responding to AI-Driven Demand on Public Systems
Large language models are stripping away the friction that once limited citizen engagement with public services, leading to a surge in submissions such as complaints, FOI requests, and planning objections. While this democratizes access, the resulting volume threatens to overwhelm...
Tech Giants and Giant Slayers: The Case for Digital Sovereignty and the Digital Commons
The Open Rights Group report warns that the United Kingdom’s heavy reliance on a handful of foreign tech giants threatens its economic stability, national security, and democratic discourse. It defines digital sovereignty as the ability to control domestic digital infrastructure,...
Hot Off the Press: EFF's Updated Guide to Tech at the US-Mexico Border
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has issued an updated 40‑page, full‑color zine documenting surveillance technology along the U.S.–Mexico border. The new edition adds fresh models of towers, military‑grade equipment, disguised trail cameras, and automated license‑plate readers, and is available for purchase...
Asset Reality Tackles the Challenge of Seized Assets
Asset Reality is building a unified software platform to modernize how law‑enforcement agencies manage seized assets. The solution centralizes tracking, documentation, and recovery workflows for both physical items and digital currencies such as crypto. Founder Aidan Larkin, drawing on his...
FBI Classifies Suspected Chinese Breach of Wiretap Surveillance System as ‘Major Incident’
The FBI announced that a suspected Chinese state‑sponsored intrusion compromised its Digital Collection System Network (DCSNet), the internal platform that manages pen‑register and trap‑and‑trace wiretap data. The breach, achieved through a commercial ISP vendor, was classified as a “major incident”...
In Its Push to Become Big Tech’s Data Center Hub, India Is Overlooking Local Resistance
India has rolled out a 20‑year tax holiday to lure U.S. cloud giants such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta to build multibillion‑dollar data‑center campuses. The incentive package, including up to $2.4 billion in subsidies for Google’s $15 billion Andhra Pradesh project,...
Telecoms Consumer Charter — Sky Broadband Change Calls Into Question What Exactly Is the Point?
Sky Broadband has replaced its explicit £3‑per‑month price rise (about $3.80) with a vague "price may change" clause, testing the limits of the government‑backed Telecoms Consumer Charter. The voluntary charter, signed by major operators, promises consumers certainty and bans unexpected...
EXCLUSIVE: Dreeshen Says Alberta's New Trucking Hub May Help Reduce Costs
Alberta’s Transportation and Economic Corridors Ministry is rolling out a digital pre‑trip inspection and permitting hub, scheduled to go live this month. The online platform enables carriers to plan routes, secure permits faster and avoid hazards such as low‑clearance bridges....
A Big Data Grab in Federal Health
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has issued a notice seeking detailed, monthly health‑claims data from the 65 private insurers that administer the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. The request covers diagnoses, prescriptions, provider information and rebate details for...
Hackers Claim Control over Venice San Marco Anti-Flood Pumps
Hackers claiming to be the "Infrastructure Destruction Squad" breached the operational technology controlling Venice’s San Marco flood‑gate system in late March, asserting they could disable defenses and flood the historic piazza. The group posted screenshots of control panels on Telegram...
OpenAI Is Backing an Illinois Bill that Would Shield AI Companies From Lawsuits over Catastrophic Harm if They Meet Safety...
OpenAI is backing Illinois Senate Bill 3444, which would limit liability for AI developers when "critical harms" occur, provided the companies did not act intentionally or recklessly and have published safety and transparency reports. The bill defines critical harms as...
Fiber Monitoring | ProRail Selects Adtran to Strengthen Nationwide Rail Network
ProRail, the Dutch railway operator, has deployed Adtran’s ALM in‑service fiber monitoring solution across its 4,600 km backbone. The 16‑port system provides real‑time visibility into fiber health, alerting operators to breaks, degradation and abnormal attenuation. Implemented with TrueCom, the solution integrates...
Premium: Axon's Expanding Stack
Axon announced a major expansion of its software stack during Axon Week, introducing an integrated cloud platform that unifies body‑camera footage, evidence management, and real‑time analytics. The company also unveiled AI‑driven dispatch tools designed to modernize next‑generation 911 services. Partnerships...
Goodbye Passport Stamps. Europe Just Turned Borders Into a Database
On April 10 the European Union launched its Entry/Exit System (EES) across 29 member states, replacing traditional passport stamps with biometric data for non‑EU short‑stay visitors. The system records entry and exit dates, fingerprints and facial images, aiming to tighten security,...
Texas Investigates Battery Project Over China Fears
Texas Attorney General Will Wassdorf announced an investigation into Finnish firm Taaleri’s battery storage project after a complaint alleged that Chinese‑made CATL cells could let Beijing monitor or control the Texas grid. The probe marks the first state‑level action targeting...
FAA Short-Lists Competitors for Key Next-Gen ATC Software Platform
The Federal Aviation Administration has short‑listed five firms—Collins Aerospace, Leidos, Thales, Indra and Frequentis—to develop the Common Automation Platform (CAP), a software layer that will underpin the next‑generation national air traffic control system. The CAP concept is tied to the...
North Lanarkshire Council Seeking Provider for Full-Fibre Rollout to Social Housing
North Lanarkshire Council has launched an expression of interest for a broadband partner to deliver a full‑fibre rollout across its social‑housing portfolio. The programme, valued at £40 million (approximately $51 million), aims to provide 1 Gbps‑capable service to roughly 36,000 properties. The council...
Arqiva Helps United Utilities Roll Out 200,000 Smart Water Meters
United Utilities, the North‑West England water provider, has installed more than 200,000 smart water meters in the past year, a rollout enabled by Arqiva and its Network Plus platform. The initial phase covered households in Greater Manchester, Cumbria and Merseyside. United...
No More Flying: China’s Massive New Drone Crackdown
China has rolled out sweeping drone regulations that take effect on May 1, designating Beijing as a controlled airspace where any unmanned aerial vehicle flight requires prior authorization, effectively banning private recreational use. The rules also bar the sale, hire, and...
AI and Machine Learning Offer New Framework for Managing Urban Plastic Waste
Researchers have unveiled an AI‑enhanced framework that uses machine learning validation and life‑cycle assessment to optimize urban plastic‑waste management. The model predicts up to a 96.3% cut in greenhouse‑gas emissions by 2060 and economic gains of about $27.7 billion for a...
E-Invoicing and VIDA: Why the VAT Gap Is Closing, Whether You’re Ready or Not
The EU’s VIDA (VAT in the Digital Age) program will require real‑time e‑invoicing for all businesses by 2030, replacing periodic VAT filings with instant digital reporting. The initiative relies on the PEPPOL network, a standardized cross‑border invoice exchange system that...
Lawmakers Are Using AI to Write Laws. What Could Go Wrong?
Lawmakers are increasingly turning to large‑language‑model tools to draft legislation, a shift that began with a 2023 California resolution written by ChatGPT and has accelerated to federal and state agencies adopting AI platforms. Companies such as Vulcan Technologies and FiscalNote...
The Government AI Procurement Trap No One Is Talking About
A mid‑size city spent 18 months procuring an AI benefits‑application tool, only to launch it without any mechanism to gauge resident impact. The article argues that government AI contracts routinely measure vendor deliverables rather than real outcomes, creating hidden dependencies...
Egypt Plans SIM Cards with Child Protection by June
Egypt’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority announced that child‑protection SIM cards will be launched within 60 days. The new SIMs, offered by Vodafone, Orange, WE and Etisalat, will let parents block adult or violent content and disable bypass tools. NTRA chairman...
Networked Information and Industrial Output: Evidence From Chile’s 1972 Truckers’ Strike
The NBER paper investigates Chile’s cybernetic coordination system, Cybersyn, during the October 1972 national truckers’ strike, which slashed aggregate industrial output by roughly 9 percent. By applying monthly data from twenty sectors to a calibrated CES‑Leontief model, the author constructs...
On Microsoft’s Lousy Cloud Security
In late 2024, federal cybersecurity evaluators warned that Microsoft’s Government Community Cloud High (GCC High) lacked detailed security documentation, describing the offering as “a pile of shit.” Despite the criticism, FedRAMP granted the cloud service an authorization, attaching a “buyer beware” disclaimer....
Namibia Plans NAD 78 Mln Telecom Investment Tackle Digital Divide as Part of 2026-27 Budget
Namibia will allocate NAD 78 million (approximately $5.2 million) from its 2026‑27 budget to expand telecom infrastructure in underserved regions. The funding is part of a broader NAD 682 million (about $45.7 million) ICT ministry budget aimed at deploying new towers and free public Wi‑Fi. ICT...
Apple’s New iPhone Update Is Restricting Internet Freedom in the UK
Apple’s iOS 26.4 update now forces mandatory age and identity checks on iPhones sold in the UK, automatically activating web‑content filtering and AI‑driven communication‑safety tools. Users must verify their age with a credit card, driver’s licence or a limited set of...
AI's Silent Coup
Will Dunn’s investigation reveals that the UK government is racing ahead of its G7 peers to embed artificial intelligence across the public sector, yet remains woefully unprepared for the technology’s transformative impact. Large‑language models are already drafting parliamentary statutes, ministerial...
How the OECD Thinks About Public Sector Dilemmas and Adopting Tech via Strategic Intent
The OECD found that only 43% of public servants across ten countries view their organization’s innovation climate positively, highlighting deep‑seated resistance to change in large bureaucracies. To address this, the OECD’s Observatory of Public Sector Innovation introduced the Facets of...
D.C. Circuit Declines to Stay Department of War's "Supply-Chain Risk" Designation of Claude
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Anthropic PBC’s bid for a stay of the Department of War’s supply‑chain risk designation on its Claude AI model. The judges held that the balance of equities favors the government, citing national‑security concerns...
Banning New Foreign Routers Mistargets Products to Fix Real Problem
On March 23 the FCC updated its Covered List to ban all new consumer routers made abroad unless granted a Department of Defense or Homeland Security exception. The agency says foreign‑made routers create supply‑chain vulnerabilities that could threaten the U.S....
Europe’s New Entry/Exit System Goes Fully Live This Week
Europe’s Entry/Exit System (EES) went fully live on April 10, replacing passport stamps with digital kiosks that capture biometric data for non‑EU travelers. The system records entry and exit dates to enforce the 90‑day stay limit across the Schengen area...
Another Court Rules Copyright Can’t Stop People From Reading and Speaking the Law
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld that reproducing building codes incorporated into federal or state law qualifies as fair use, rejecting ASTM’s claim of copyright over those standards. The court found UpCodes’ use transformative, factual, and...
News Roundup for April 8, 2026
Toronto is deploying AI‑controlled traffic signals to alleviate congestion, while the TTC chief issued an apology after a water spill on subway line 2 caused commuter chaos. The city also launched an East‑West water shuttle pilot on the inner harbour this...
FDA Seeks Input on Digital Health Technologies in Clinical Investigations for Drugs and Biological Products
The FDA has issued a Federal Register notice seeking stakeholder input on the use of digital health technologies (DHTs) in clinical investigations for drugs and biologics. The agency asks for comments on regulatory challenges, guidance needs, and topics for future...
How Non-Profits and Governments Use Data to Drive Real System Change
Philanthropic groups are redesigning funding models in the Global South to make data a catalyst for systemic change. Generation India restructured payments, cutting input‑linked fees to 56% and tying 44% to verified job placement and retention, boosting employment outcomes. The...
Same Platform, Different Outcomes: Metadata Practices and Open Data Use
The study examines how metadata design on open‑government data portals influences user behavior across 15 U.S. cities, analyzing 5,863 datasets. Using affordance theory, researchers measured metadata quality and linked it to two usage metrics: dataset views and downloads. Results show...