digital technology

The U.S. government's sanctions on the International Criminal Court in early 2025 had swift, far-reaching effects. The measures cut off the ICC's chief prosecutor's access to Microsoft services, including email, highlighting how deeply dependent international institutions are on American technology firms. Observers say the episode raises questions about digital sovereignty and the vulnerability of global justice bodies to unilateral US pressure.

The digital euro has made its first appearance in wholesale financial markets, marking a step in the European Central Bank's push toward a central bank digital currency. The debut signals that the eurozone is moving beyond research stages and testing how a digital version of the currency could function for institutional financial transactions. Details on scale and participants remain limited, but the development is being closely watched as Europe weighs a broader rollout.

Mobile phone data is being used to help track the spread of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. By analysing movement patterns from mobile networks, health authorities and researchers aim to anticipate where the virus might travel next and target containment measures more effectively. The approach highlights how digital technology is increasingly deployed in epidemic response across Africa.

Ukraine's digital minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, says Kyiv wants European countries and companies to use Ukraine as a sandbox for developing and testing artificial intelligence technologies. The proposal positions the country, which has built deep digital expertise during the war, as a live testing environment for EU AI innovation and regulation.

The Atlantic Council argues the United States needs a coherent strategy toward the Global South on technology, framing it as essential to American competitiveness. The piece suggests Washington must engage developing nations on digital and tech issues or risk ceding influence to rival powers seeking those markets and partnerships.

European data centers could become a key pillar of the continent's push for digital sovereignty, reducing reliance on foreign cloud and infrastructure providers. The debate ties into wider EU efforts to keep data, technology and critical digital infrastructure under European control amid geopolitical tensions and growing dependence on US-based tech giants.

Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's minister of digital transformation, has launched 'Army of Robots', an initiative to develop robotics for defence purposes. The move builds on Kyiv's broader push into defence technology since Russia's full-scale invasion. Details on funding and partners remain limited, but the announcement highlights Ukraine's growing role as a hub for wartime tech innovation.

U.S. regional bank Valley National has agreed to buy Israeli fintech Bluevine for $340 million. The deal gives the bank a digital small business lending platform and is expected to accelerate its technology and artificial intelligence strategy. Industry commentators are watching it as another sign of traditional banks buying fintech capabilities rather than building them in-house.

Walmart says it does not use customers' personal information to set prices, pushing back on privacy concerns as it rolls out digital shelf labels across more of its US stores. The retailer says the electronic tags allow faster price updates and clearer labelling, but the expansion has raised questions about whether dynamic, personalised pricing could follow. Walmart maintains prices will not vary based on individual shopper data.

Walmart's chief executive has publicly pushed back against rumors claiming the retailer's digital shelf labels and AI systems are being used to raise prices. The company says the technology is meant for efficiency, not dynamic pricing. The remarks come amid growing consumer suspicion over how retailers use automation to set costs.

The Dutch government has chosen NixOS, a configurable Linux distribution, as the basis for a sovereign desktop strategy, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign software vendors such as Microsoft. The move aligns the Netherlands with a broader European push toward open-source digital autonomy. Technology observers see it as a notable endorsement of NixOS, which is less commonly used at government scale.

The Netherlands is developing a sovereign Linux-based workplace for government use. The move follows February 2025, when the US government sanctioned the International Criminal Court in The Hague, giving the Dutch a direct lesson in the risks of depending on foreign-controlled software. Commenters see it as part of a broader European push for digital sovereignty and independence from US technology providers.

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition is highlighting digital solutions for rice cultivation as a way to cut super pollutants such as methane across food and climate systems. Rice paddies are a major source of methane, a potent short-lived greenhouse gas, and the initiative points to technology-driven practices that can reduce emissions while supporting food production and climate goals.

American Cardinal Robert McElroy is examining how the Catholic Church should operate in the digital era, according to Vatican News. The piece explores how the Church can engage with technology, online communities and digital communication while carrying out its mission. The topic touches ongoing Vatican debates about evangelisation and how the institution should adapt to a world increasingly shaped by digital media.

A newly published book argues that digital screens are driving growing social disconnection, examining how constant device use reshapes relationships, attention and everyday face-to-face interaction. The work adds to ongoing public debate about the psychological and social costs of screen time, joining a wider wave of recent writing on technology's effects on community and mental health.

Heise online reports on a digital health podcast episode about a robot designed to measure vital data in patients with concussion. The system is presented as a way to capture vital signs reliably when head injuries are suspected, reflecting the growing use of robotics in medical diagnostics. Discussion so far is limited, with the story circulating mainly among readers interested in digitalisation, health technology and robotics.

A report estimates that $3.5 trillion in economic value is being lost or left untapped because of the global digital divide, the gap between those with access to digital technology and connectivity and those without. The figure highlights how billions of people remain offline, restricting economic participation and growth, particularly in developing regions.

Oracle Health and ID.me have announced a partnership aimed at simplifying how patients securely access their health data. The collaboration is intended to streamline identity verification for accessing medical records, reducing friction for patients and providers. Details beyond the announcement are limited, and reactions from the healthcare and technology sectors are still emerging.

Electronics For Imaging (EFI) and Agfa have announced an agreement to combine EFI with Agfa's Digital Printing & Solutions business, creating a global, full-service industrial inkjet company. The merger pairs EFI's digital printing platforms with Agfa's inkjet technology and consumables. Industry watchers see it as a bid to consolidate scale in industrial printing amid competitive pressure.

Electronics For Imaging (EFI) and Agfa have announced a combination of EFI with Agfa's Digital Printing Solutions business, creating a larger player in industrial and digital printing technology. The deal brings together EFI's print software, inkjet and Fiery platforms with Agfa's printing systems and chemistry operations. Industry watchers are weighing the competitive impact on the digital printing market.

A commentary argues that people may need to step back from digital technology, making the case for a 'techlash' — a backlash against the dominance of digital tools in everyday life. The piece questions whether it is possible to survive the digital age without reverting to analogue habits, reflecting a growing debate about screen dependence, privacy and the effects of constant connectivity on wellbeing.

The America First Policy Institute has published a piece examining Virginia's 'Data Center Alley' in Loudoun County, the world's largest concentration of data centers, and what it means for the digital economy under an America First agenda. The article reportedly draws policy lessons on infrastructure, energy demand, and US technological competitiveness from the region's rapid growth.