(DigWatch) The EU and Australia have reaffirmed their digital partnership during the third EU-Australia Digital Dialogue, advancing cooperation on AI, cybersecurity, digital policy and secure infrastructure. The online meeting was co-chaired by Renate Nikolay, Deputy Director-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology at the European Commission, and Helen Wilson, Deputy Secretary of the Science and Technology Group at Australia’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources. – EU-Australia Digital Dialogue focuses on AI and online safety | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Commission have reaffirmed their strategic partnership, agreeing to strengthen cooperation on social justice, quality jobs and the human-centred governance of AI and digital transformation. Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, climate change, demographic shifts and rapid technological change, the two organisations committed to ensuring that global transitions create inclusive labour markets and resilient economies. – ILO and EU deepen cooperation on AI and jobs | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has launched a new global initiative to develop international standards for trusted digital identity and agentic AI, responding to the rapid emergence of increasingly autonomous AI systems. Announced at the AI for Good Global Summit, the new Focus Group on Trust and Identity for Humans and Agentic AI will develop frameworks aimed at strengthening accountability while ensuring meaningful human oversight of autonomous AI systems. – ITU launches standards group for agentic AI | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) Finland has ranked among the EU’s leading digital economies in the European Commission’s latest State of the Digital Decade report, with the country highlighted for its digital skills, AI leadership, supercomputing capabilities and advanced public services. The report paints a mixed picture across the EU. While digital adoption, connectivity, cloud services and AI continue to advance, the bloc still faces shortages of digital skills and lags in semiconductor production and globally competitive technology companies. According to the Commission, insufficient investment and market fragmentation remain major obstacles. – Finland ranks among EU’s digital leaders | Digital Watch Observatory
Security and Surveillance
(Pierluigi Paganini – Security Affairs) The European Union imposed sanctions on Monday targeting nine individuals and four entities linked to a Russian cyberespionage and sabotage operation that Brussels says has been running since 2010. The targets include Russian military intelligence officers, hackers, and private companies. The European Council said the sanctioned actors helped Russia destabilize the EU and its partners. The cyberespionage campaign affected at least nine countries. The European Council stopped short of publishing their names in its public statement, which is an unusual level of restraint for a sanctions announcement. – EU Targets FSB-Linked Hackers in New Sanctions Over Cyber Sabotage
(Pierluigi Paganini – Security Affairs) Dutch police have identified strong indications that Dutch nationals were involved in the February 2026 cyberattack on telecom provider Odido, which resulted in data from more than six million customers being stolen and subsequently made public. Odido is a Dutch telecommunications company and one of the largest mobile network operators in the Netherlands. It was formed when T-Mobile Netherlands and Tele2 were rebranded as Odido in 2023 after private equity firms Apax Partners and Warburg Pincus acquired the business. – Dutch Nationals Suspected in Odido Hack That Exposed Six Million Customers – Security Affairs
(Pierluigi Paganini – Security Affairs) Australia’s Signals Directorate has issued an alert about a large-scale exploitation campaign actively targeting content management systems (CMS) worldwide, with many small and medium-sized Australian businesses already hit. Attackers are scanning websites for known vulnerabilities, deploying webshells to gain persistent remote access, and using compromised servers as a base for broader attacks. “A large-scale exploitation campaign is targeting various vulnerabilities in content management systems (CMS) globally, including in Australia, with many small to medium sized Australian businesses impacted.” reads the alert published by the Australia’s Signals Directorate. – Australia Alerts Organizations to Ongoing CMS Exploitation Attacks
(Pierluigi Paganini – Security Affairs) Armenian national Karen Serobovich Vardanyan (34) pleaded guilty in the U.S. for his role in Ryuk ransomware attacks targeting American organizations between 2019 and 2020. Extradited from Ukraine after his 2025 arrest, he admitted providing initial access to corporate networks that enabled ransomware deployment. “An Armenian national extradited from Ukraine to the United States pleaded guilty yesterday for his role in Ryuk ransomware attacks and an extortion conspiracy targeting companies throughout the United States, including a technology company operating in Oregon.” reads the press release published by DoJ. “Karen Serobovich Vardanyan, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and computer fraud.” – Ryuk Ransomware Member Pleads Guilty Over Attacks on U.S. Organizations
