| News Roundup |
| Global UNESCO launched its inaugural Tech Diplomacy Forum last month, bringing together global leaders from governments, tech industries, and civil society. The forum focused on bridging the gap between technology and diplomacy and addressing challenges like cybersecurity, disinformation, and digital inequality while emphasizing the need for inclusive, trust-based diplomatic frameworks. This event marked the beginning of an annual platform aimed at fostering collaboration and shaping a more equitable global digital future. China’s approach to tech diplomacy has become increasingly important amid rising U.S.-China competition, utilizing the practice as a tool to counter Western dominance and assert influence over global tech standards, a new journal article from Global Policy investigates. The U.S. and EU are in a tense dispute over the regulation of Big Tech, with the Trump administration imposing 30% tariffs on European goods in retaliation for the EU’s push to regulate artificial intelligence. While the EU advances its AI regulations, including a new voluntary Code of Practice, the U.S. administration, supported by Silicon Valley, seeks to resist such measures. This conflict could reshape global digital policies, with the potential for a significant trade war impacting tech companies worldwide, Ece Yildirim reports for Gizmodo. Learn more about the “hidden labor that makes AI work” in this excerpt from The AI Con, written by Alex Hanna and Emily M. Bender and shared by Rest of World. Check out Tech Policy Press’ Global Digital Policy Roundup for June, featuring updates on content moderation, AI, competition, and data governance. |
| North America The success of U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” in the Senate has implications for several areas, including clean energy, Big Tech, chipmaking, and defence, to name a few. President Trump and Senator Dave McCormick have announced 92 billion USD in private data center and energy investments in Pennsylvania, aiming to fuel economic revival through job creation and infrastructure development and position the region as an AI hub. In a bid to end China’s dominance in critical minerals, the U.S. Defense Department struck a multibillion-dollar deal to become the top shareholder in MP Materials, America’s sole rare-earth mining firm. The agreement will majorly expand U.S. output of rare-earth magnets by financing new processing facilities and guaranteeing a floor price for rare earths at double China’s going rate. The Trump administration’s push to deregulate AI in government is encountering challenges, particularly in the realm of national security. Despite memos released in 2025 aimed at speeding up AI integration, key safeguards on risk management and bias mitigation were removed, raising concerns about transparency and accountability. There is a growing need for Congress to create consistent, enforceable regulations to ensure the safe and responsible use of AI in national security without compromising public trust, Amos Toh writes for the Brennan Center for Justice. Late last month, President Trump announced the suspension of trade talks with Canada after the country moved forward with a digital services tax targeting tech giants like Google and Amazon. In response, Canada’s recent reversal on the digital services tax is seen as a win for tech companies and could influence similar efforts globally: while the move may have calmed trade tensions with the U.S., experts predict it could lead to other nations following Canada’s lead, potentially altering global tech tax strategies. Canada’s anti-money laundering agency, FINTRAC, has issued a warning about the increasing attempts by groups, including terrorist organizations, to acquire dual-use technologies for weapons development. The agency urged Canadian financial institutions to be vigilant and disrupt these activities to prevent the proliferation of “weapons of mass destruction,” Barbara Shecter reports for Financial Post. U.S.-based tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta are pushing for a nuclear energy revival, advocating for increased U.S. nuclear power production to meet the rising demand for AI-driven data centers. Backed by President Trump’s recent executive orders, this initiative involves reopening decommissioned plants and building new reactors. However, this push is raising concerns about the loss of crucial government oversight in ensuring nuclear energy’s safety and security, Jayita Sarkar writes for TIME. Africa Zimbabwe’s state-owned Kuvimba Mining House will begin constructing a $270 million lithium processing plant, aiming to start production by early 2027. The project, built and operated for five years by two Chinese metal companies in partnership with Zimbabwe, will have the capacity to process 600k tons of lithium ore per year in Africa’s top lithium-producing nation. However, locals are struggling, as despite the mining boom boosting national revenues and creating jobs, it has also subjected communities to exclusion, displacement, environmental degradation, and exploitation. South Africa and Tunisia are strengthening their collaboration in science, technology, and innovation through a recent partnership, focusing on joint research, knowledge exchange, and governance. The agreement aims to address pressing issues like youth unemployment, climate change, and digital transformation across the continent, building on existing ties and emphasizing regional cooperation for sustainable development. Interpol is raising alarms about the rapid rise of cybercrime in Africa, which now makes up over 30% of reported crimes in many countries, with phishing, ransomware, and business email compromise being the most common offenses. Challenges such as inadequate legal frameworks, lack of cooperation, and poor cybersecurity infrastructure hinder effective law enforcement efforts across the continent, although some initiatives have been launched to help disrupt cybercrime networks and improve regional collaboration. South Africa’s recently unveiled National Security Strategy for 2024–2029 has a focus on modern digital threats, especially cybersecurity, seeking to bolster capabilities and resilience against attacks as part of a broader effort to tackle national security challenges in an evolving digital landscape, TechAfrica News reports. Benin is also positioning itself as an emerging leader in digital resilience with a growing focus on cybersecurity and infrastructure, highlighted during the Cyber Africa Forum late last month. This month, the inaugural Africa Digital Parliamentary Summit in Zambia brought together lawmakers from 20 nations to craft a shared tech policy framework focused on areas like AI, digital health services, and smart manufacturing. The summit resulted in the Lusaka Declaration, which includes commitments to harmonize data protection standards and boost ICT training in public service. Asia Malaysia’s government is under growing pressure to reject Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador, Nick Adams, a self-described “alpha male” political commentator and digital influencer whose controversial views on Islam and support for Israel have triggered backlash in the Muslim-majority nation. Critics warn that accepting Adams, known for his provocative social media presence and ties to Trump, could strain diplomatic ties amid sensitive U.S.-Malaysia trade negotiations. Speaking of Malaysia, the nation is tightening controls on the export of U.S. AI chips, requiring a 30-day notification for shipments in an effort to prevent the illicit diversion of advanced AI technology to China. China is rolling out a digital ID system, allowing the government to oversee the online activities of its citizens. The system centralizes user data and gives authorities access to personal information across various platforms, raising concerns about privacy and censorship. Critics fear it may lead to greater government surveillance, while supporters argue it could help protect individuals from data breaches and online fraud, Katrina Northrop writes for the Washington Post. The Gulf region is investing heavily in AI, with nations including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar pledging 2 trillion USD to become global tech leaders. Despite significant funding and high-profile partnerships, experts caution that overcoming talent shortages and creating sustainable infrastructure will be key to achieving true AI leadership. However, regardless of challenges, “some industry executives remain optimistic about the region’s potential to emerge as a major AI center,” Divsha Bhat writes for Rest of World. Earlier this month, UNCTAD and Thailand signed an agreement to enhance consumer protection across Southeast Asia, focusing on the growing digital economy to strengthen regional regulatory frameworks and promote cooperation. South Korea has made significant strides in promoting AI technology, with the implementation of policies like the “AI Basic Act” and the creation of various committees to ensure safety. However, the current framework falls short in addressing AI’s role in national defense and security, lacking clear legal guidelines for its use in these areas, Sunha Bae and So Jeong Kim write for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. WhatsApp’s attempt to break into India’s massive fintech market has struggled despite its vast user base, with regulatory hurdles and a lack of substantial product support or marketing allowing competitors to dominate this corner of the market. Europe The EU is set to increase stockpiles of critical materials to better prepare for potential conflicts and climate-related crises, a move part of a broader strategy to strengthen the EU’s resilience against escalating geopolitical threats, climate change, and cyber attacks. The EU recently unveiled a voluntary code of practice designed to help businesses comply with its AI regulations. The guidelines focus on transparency, copyright protection, and the safety of AI models, and are set to take effect in August 2025. An antitrust complaint has been filed against Google with the European Commission, accusing the tech giant of misusing web content in its AI Overviews, which has led to significant losses in traffic, readership, and revenue for news publishers. Google responded by emphasizing that its AI-driven search features create new opportunities for businesses and content discovery. Denmark is proposing a groundbreaking bill to protect citizens from deepfakes by amending copyright laws, allowing individuals to demand the removal of manipulated digital content without their consent. The legislation aims to address the rapid development of deepfake technology, emphasizing the right to control one’s likeness in the digital age, but challenges such as enforcement and defining deepfakes remain. Central and Eastern European tech companies are growing rapidly, with Poland leading the region in the number of tech companies and Baltic countries dominating in valuation. However, challenges such as limited capital access and complex EU regulations hinder further growth, although investor interest is on the rise, particularly in AI, cybersecurity, and deep tech. Europol has disrupted a major Russian cybercrime network responsible for multiple denial-of-service attacks targeting Ukraine and its NATO allies, successfully dismantling the group’s infrastructure and initiating several arrests across France, Spain, and the U.S. Latin America China’s surge of electric vehicle exports to Brazil is raising concerns among local industry groups about the impact on domestic production and jobs, prompting calls for higher tariffs to protect local manufacturers. While China’s presence is growing, production plans by firms from the nation have been delayed, as Brazil struggles to balance green initiatives with industrial growth. The U.S. is investigating Brazil’s impact on American tech companies, particularly regarding digital trade, electronic payment services, and restrictions on social media platforms. The investigation highlights allegations that Brazil’s actions, including censorship and retaliatory measures, might harm the competitiveness of U.S. tech firms, John Liu reports for CNN. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights, based in Costa Rica, emphasized the need for states to adopt science-based approaches to combat climate change, urging them to take “urgent and effective” actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Latin America, in particular, is a region that offers “a strategic advantage for tackling the climate crisis with climate technology,” Georgina Mondino and Maximiliano Frey argue for the World Economic Forum. Latin America is experiencing a surge in data center investments, positioning the region as a potential hub for digital infrastructure. However, the rapid expansion of these facilities raises concerns about energy consumption, environmental impact, and social implications, particularly in biodiverse areas, Juan Pablo Spinetto reports for Bloomberg. Latin America “has a narrow window to develop its own approach” to AI regulation and can take “inspiration from international frameworks while adapting them to local needs,” to position the region as a leader in ethical AI governance, Eduardo Levy Yeyati writes for Americas Quarterly. Oceania Australia’s lawsuit against a “China-linked entity” over rare-earth mining highlights its commitment to national sovereignty and protecting its critical minerals sector, serving as a critical test of the nation’s efforts to safeguard strategic resources amidst increasing geopolitical tension, John Coyne and Justin Bassi opine for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. New Zealand’s AI strategy focuses on economic growth and encouraging businesses to adopt AI with little governmental interference, but concerns about the tech’s ethical risks remain unaddressed, Andrew Lensen writes for The Conversation. Lensen looks to the EU’s approach as one “New Zealand might emulate” to consider risks for marginalized populations and other issues instead of promoting productivity at the expense of society. The Australian government’s trial of technology to enforce a ban on under-16s using social media has faced challenges, with age-verification tools, including face-scanning, producing inaccurate results. The trial operators acknowledged these issues but emphasized that improvements are possible, although concerns have also emerged over privacy risks. A recent audit of Palau’s stablecoin pilot project revealed legal oversights in the Ministry of Finance’s collaboration with digital payment protocol Ripple, with findings showing that necessary legal approvals were not secured, causing concerns about compliance and the future of the project. Australia and Papua New Guinea have discussed the construction of three subsea cables to enhance PNG’s internet capacity, improve network redundancy, and support regional digital integration as part of PNG’s broader digital transformation strategy. |
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Tech Diplomacy Newsletter 7-25
