Politico Europe
An open letter from 371 security and privacy academics from 29 countries called on governments to pause implementation of age verification on social media "until the scientific consensus settles on the benefits and harms that age-assurance technologies can bring, and on the technical feasibility." The signatories, including ACM A.M. Turing Award laureate Ronald Rivest, cited the difficulties of building and maintaining such infrastructure and the dangers of centralizing tools with the few companies able to deploy them at scale.
From "Resist Age Checks for Social Media, Scientists Warn"
Politico Europe (03/02/26) Eliza Gkritsi
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Wired
GPS and automatic identification system interference has surged across the Gulf amidst renewed fighting in the Middle East, sharply disrupting maritime navigation through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Maritime intelligence firm Windward reported more than 1,100 ships have experienced jamming or spoofing since February 28, with some vessels falsely appearing inland, including near sensitive sites. Aviation also has been affected, although disruptions eased as flights were canceled.
From "Attacks on GPS Spike amid War in Middle East"
Wired (03/02/26) Matt Burgess
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Xinhua (China)
China introduced its first national standard system for humanoid robotics, a comprehensive framework designed to unify technical specifications, safety rules, and industry protocols across the sector. Developed by more than 120 institutions under the nation’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the system’s six pillars include foundational standards, intelligent computing, components, full-system integration, applications, and ethics. More than 140 Chinese firms have launched 330-plus humanoid models to date.
From "China Releases National Standard for Humanoids"
Xinhua (China) (03/03/26)
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The Wall Street Journal
Block's announcement last week that it would eliminate 4,000 workers, almost half of its workforce, due to AI efficiencies has generated concerns about whether other companies will move forward with similarly aggressive job cuts. The resulting anxiety has rattled the markets and prompted more executives to discuss the economic and societal impacts of AI. According to financial-research platform AlphaSense, AI is being mentioned more often on earnings calls when layoffs are discussed.
From "The Week the Dreaded AI Jobs Wipeout Got Real"
The Wall Street Journal (02/28/26) Chip Cutter
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Computing (U.K.)
The U.K. launched a Vulnerability Monitoring Service to strengthen cyber defenses across roughly 6,000 public bodies, cutting the median time to fix domain-related flaws from 50 days to eight and reducing high-risk vulnerabilities by 75%. Overseen by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology and supported by the National Cyber Security Center, the system continuously scans Internet-facing infrastructure to identify exploitable weaknesses before hackers can act.
From "U.K. Launches Cyber Monitoring Service"
Computing (U.K.) (03/02/26) Dev Kundaliya
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BBC News
Meta Platforms will begin alerting parents if teens repeatedly search for suicide or self-harm content on Instagram, marking the first time it will proactively notify families about such activity rather than merely blocking content. The feature, launching in the U.K., U.S., Australia, and Canada, will send alerts alongside expert resources to help parents respond. Meta said its system will err on the side of caution, as scrutiny of child safety online intensifies.
From "Instagram to Alert Parents if Teens Search for Self-Harm and Suicide Content"
BBC News (02/26/26) Richard Morrisand; Liv McMahon
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