COGNICURRENT

The Polish government is set to implement age restrictions on social media access for children under 15, shifting the responsibility to digital platforms.

Chinese AI tools, particularly those developed by ByteDance, are criticized for facilitating the spread of non-consensual sexual deepfakes, raising serious concerns regarding women's rights and safety.

Opposition parties in Italy are criticizing the government for failing to regulate the digital platform job sector, highlighting exploitation cases like those of Glovo and Deliveroo.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has mandated banks to eliminate misleading practices from their apps to enhance transparency in digital banking by 2026.

Russian authorities are investigating Pavel Durov, the founder of the messaging app Telegram, for alleged terrorism-related charges, indicative of the regime's desire to control or block the platform altogether.

The Stop Killing Games platform has presented over 1.3 million signatures in Brussels, urging the EU to legislate against the shutdown of online video games, igniting a broader debate on digital content rights.

New legislation in Czechia introduces penalties of up to five years in prison for the unauthorized sharing of intimate photographs.

Illegal wiretapping in Nigeria threatens citizens' privacy rights, particularly in a digital landscape.

The Trump administration's 'freedom.gov' project aims to create a platform that circumvents European digital laws, which critics argue poses a threat to democracy and fundamental rights.

The upcoming launch of the U.S. government's website Freedom.gov has sparked concerns in Europe regarding its implications for freedom of expression.

The Supreme Court of Latvia questions the authority of the State Revenue Service (VID) to gather data about individuals without formally starting an audit, in a case involving undeclared income from puppy sales.

The US has launched a website called 'freedom.gov' that enables Europeans to access content blocked by their governments, including hate speech and terrorism-related material.

Estonia's Minister of Education Kristina Kallas announced the country's opposition to the Chat Control proposal during a government press conference.

The US State Department is developing an internet portal to allow people in Europe and elsewhere to access content banned by their governments as hate speech and terrorist propaganda.

Gabon's authorities have imposed a social media ban citing the need to combat inappropriate content, as discussed by the director of Internet Without Borders.

The F.A.Z. podcast discusses the legal hurdles of implementing a social media ban for children and adolescents in Germany, as well as a proposed women's quota in the Bundestag.

Amnesty International reported that the phone of prominent Angolan journalist and activist Teixeira Candido was hacked in 2024 using the invasive spyware 'Predator', marking the first criminal confirmation of its use in Angola.

The EU has initiated a formal investigation into Shein for potential violations of the Digital Services Act, following past controversies related to product safety.

The IT department in Åstorp erased a man's life's work, impacting everyone deeply.

Poles are increasingly requesting to have their personal data removed from online searches, reflecting a growing concern about privacy.

Experts alerted the Senate about the dangers children face from criminal groups operating on digital platforms, especially TikTok, where 100 accounts aimed at recruiting minors were found.

The Piauí government highlights the use of digital services in the Gov.pi Cidadão app to enhance safety and access to rights during Carnival.

WhatsApp has reported that the Russian government attempted to completely block its services in the country, with plans to enforce a permanent shutdown by 2026.

Spain's judiciary has criticized the government's social media law for lacking legal precision and security, particularly in its age restrictions for social media access.

The Kremlin has confirmed that it is taking measures against the Telegram messenger for non-compliance with local laws, resulting in reported slowdowns affecting users across Russia.

The recent update of CapCut's terms of service has sparked concerns over user privacy and intellectual property rights after the platform claimed extensive rights over user-uploaded content.

Brazil's Chamber of Deputies has approved a provisional measure transforming the ANPD into a regulatory agency and establishing 218 new positions for it.

More than half of Danish students using digital textbooks illegally obtain one or more copies, risking fines for copyright infringement, according to the Rights Alliance organization.

Germany is discussing the possibility of banning social media use for children and teenagers under 16 years old to protect them from the negative effects of digital platforms.

Nubank was ordered by the Maranhão court to pay R$ 3,000 to a client for closing their account without justification or prior notice and keeping it inaccessible for nearly a month.

A digital verification team revealed a systematic Israeli campaign targeting Palestinian doctor Hossam Abu Safia, aimed at justifying his continued detention and undermining his medical and humanitarian identity.

The article discusses how a generation has become a testing ground for platform economies and advocates for a wise state intervention that addresses addictive technologies while preserving freedom.

Portugal is actively discussing the limits of minors' digital life, with parliament considering a transformative law proposal regarding teenagers' access to social media, aiming for a model similar to those already adopted or considered by other countries.

The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) is preparing a new registry for properties that will gather data on rights, areas, uses, and leases of houses in the country, set to be operational by the end of March under a new digital platform for property management.

The "Red Ribbons" campaign launches a global digital initiative to unify international voices in support of Palestinian prisoners, with a call for a global action day on January 31.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves expressed her comfort with various forms of digital ID for validating workers' rights in the UK, despite backlash over recent government changes.

The article discusses how digital shutdowns in Sudan and Iran hinder visibility of atrocities committed against civilians who are protesting for fundamental rights.

The Spanish government has approved a bill to address 'deepfakes' as a violation of personal rights, aiming to protect honor, privacy, and personal image in the context of modern digital challenges.

The British government is set to illegalize applications and internet services that facilitate the unauthorized sexualized manipulation of images, amid a surge of complaints regarding an AI model from Elon Musk that 'strips' digital photographs with a cursor touch.

A new law makes creating or attempting to create non-consensual intimate images a crime, targeting the rise of sexualized deepfakes on Elon Musk's platform X.

The Iranian government has implemented a total internet blackout affecting 85 million citizens, showcasing its sophistication by disrupting even virtual networks and satellites.

Iran has implemented a severe and sophisticated internet shutdown lasting over 36 hours to suppress anti-government protests, with experts predicting it could continue for an extended period.

The Washington Post discusses India's extensive government surveillance methods that compromise both national and international democratic values, as articulated by Indian journalist Rana Ayyub.

Experts have sent an open letter to Poland's first lady, urging her to advocate for the implementation of the EU's Digital Services Act to enhance user protection, particularly for children.

The article emphasizes the need for Europe to create its own digital path in response to the unchecked influence of US and Chinese intermediaries using Artificial Intelligence, which poses a threat to democracy and public discourse.

Michael Rosemann, a German academic in Australia, reflects on the contradictions of his homeland, criticizing its lack of progress in the digital realm despite its rich intellectual heritage.

At the 39th Chaos Communication Congress in Hamburg, Marc-Uwe Kling warns about the concentration of digital power among the wealthy, as a coalition calls for a monthly 'Digital Independence Day' starting January 4.