Computing
U.K. Security Minister Dan Jarvis said at the Financial Times Cyber Resilience Summit 2025 that the U.K. government plans to rewrite the Computer Misuse Act, which was implemented in 1990 to criminalize unauthorized computer system access. The rewrite will aim to protect cybersecurity professionals who identify and disclose vulnerabilities through routine activities like penetration testing. Jarvis said the law will be amended to provide a statutory defense for researchers who comply with specific safeguards.
From "UK Government to Reform Computer Misuse Act"
Computing (12/05/25) Dev Kundaliya
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Financial Times
Taiwan has banned the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu for one year, citing widespread scams and the company’s failure to comply with local regulations. The move marks a rare restriction on Chinese platforms by a democratic country that typically avoids bans to protect free expression. Still, officials say Beijing is escalating “cognitive warfare,” influencing young Taiwanese through lifestyle-oriented apps like Xiaohongshu, Douyin, and TikTok.
From "Taiwan Bans Popular Chinese Social Media App"
Financial Times (12/05/25) Kathrin Hille
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Government Technology
A software system developed by Quinnipiac University researchers uses a standard webcam and AI to help people with limited mobility communicate using facial gestures. AccessiMove lets users make command inputs and move cursors via head-tilt detection, wink/gesture recognition, and facial-landmark tracing. The system essentially enables the user's facial gestures to act as a computer mouse, with head tilts opening a browser or restarting the computer and eye blinks acting as mouse or keyboard clicks.
From "Researchers Use AI to Help People with Motor Impairments Communicate"
Government Technology (12/04/25) Livi Stanford
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The Wall Street Journal
EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said a formal bidding process for AI gigafactories will be open from January or February until sometime next summer. Virkkunen said the EU lacks production capacity for the advanced chips needed to power the gigafactories, so they will be purchased from outside the bloc. The legal framework for gigafactory projects is being finalized.
From "EU to Open Bidding for AI Gigafactories in Early 2026"
The Wall Street Journal (12/04/25) Mauro Orru
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The New York Times
As Phoenix emerges as a semiconductor manufacturing hub, one estimate indicates more than 115,000 local semiconductor jobs will be created there over the next four years. At the center of the development is TSMC, which has brought workers from Taiwan to start work in its factories but also is working with local universities and community colleges to train the local workforce to take over those jobs.
From "A Growing U.S. Tech Hub Needs Workers. Colleges Try to Keep Up"
The New York Times (12/04/25) Peter S. Goodman
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Reuters
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security issued an advisory and a detailed malware analysis report on Dec. 4 indicating that hackers with ties to the Chinese government have targeted unnamed government and IT entities using the sophisticated "Brickstorm" malware. The malware enables hackers to penetrate an organization's network, steal login credentials and other sensitive data, and even take full control of targeted devices.
From "Chinese-Linked Hackers Use Back Door for Potential 'Sabotage,' U.S. and Canada Say"
Reuters (12/04/25) A.J. Vicens
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