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German Court Rules in Favor of Meta’s AI Training Using Public Data

On May 23, 2025, the Higher Regional Court of Cologne dismissed an emergency injunction filed by German consumer protection groups, allowing Meta to continue its AI training initiative, which began on May 27, 2025. The decision is a notable development in Europe’s ongoing discussion about balancing AI innovation with data privacy, particularly regarding the use of publicly available information.

Meta defended its approach by stating that it adheres to EU regulations, using only publicly accessible data while offering users clear opt-out options or the ability to privatize their profiles by May 26, 2025. The court ruled that these measures sufficiently address privacy concerns and found no feasible alternative that would be less intrusive, especially since such public data is already accessible through search engines. While Meta’s AI training plans had previously received conditional approval from the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), the case highlights gaps in regulatory oversight. The ruling may serve as a precedent, prompting other companies to adopt similar practices while increasing calls for AI-specific regulatory frameworks across the EU.

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UK Seeks to Join European AI Supercomputing Network

The UK government is inviting applications to establish a national AI hub that would connect British researchers to Europe’s high-performance computing infrastructure. This initiative is part of a broader effort to advance AI development and strengthen collaboration between the UK and the European Union. The planned facility, called the ‘AI Factory Antenna,’ would work alongside a European AI factory supported by the European High Performance Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC).

The project has up to €5 million in joint UK-EU funding available, including a £2.5 million contribution from the UK. The AI Factory Antenna aims to serve as a gateway to advanced computing resources, enabling UK researchers and startups to access powerful systems for AI-driven innovations in fields such as healthcare and clean energy. Minister for AI, Feryal Clark, highlighted the importance of this initiative in providing the necessary computational capabilities to drive economic growth and job creation, aligning with the UK’s “Plan For Change” and supporting its role in the global AI sector.

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BSI Warns of Windows Server 2025 Security Vulnerability

The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has issued a critical alert about a newly identified vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Server 2025. Security researchers from Akamai, who publicly disclosed the flaw—named “BadSuccessor”—warn that it allows attackers to exploit the delegated Managed Service Account (dMSA) feature in Active Directory to escalate privileges. While Microsoft initially classified the issue as “moderate” and has not yet assigned a CVE identifier, BSI has rated its severity at 9.9 out of 10.

Akamai’s analysis found that 91% of examined environments included users outside the domain administrators group with the necessary permissions to execute this attack. This widespread risk underscores the need for stricter access controls within enterprise networks. As a formal patch is not yet available, both BSI and Akamai recommend organizations identify and limit dMSA creation permissions to trusted administrators. The advisory highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by modern IT infrastructure, urging immediate action from enterprises using Windows Server 2025.

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Apple App Store Blocks Over $9 Billion in Fraudulent Transactions

Apple’s App Store has prevented more than $9 billion in fraudulent transactions over the past five years, including over $2 billion in 2024 alone. This figure, outlined in Apple’s annual fraud analysis, highlights the company’s ongoing efforts to maintain a secure marketplace for users and developers worldwide.

Apple’s anti-fraud strategy involves dedicated teams working across the company to detect and prevent malicious activity before it affects users. In 2024, Apple terminated more than 146,000 developer accounts due to fraud concerns and rejected 139,000 additional enrollments. The company also blocked over 711 million fraudulent customer account creations and deactivated nearly 129 million risky accounts to prevent scams, fake reviews, and other abuse. Additionally, Apple took action against unauthorized apps, blocking more than 10,000 illegitimate applications on pirate storefronts to protect users from malware and counterfeit software. These ongoing security measures reinforce the App Store as a trusted and safe ecosystem.

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Microsoft Launches AI-Ready Cloud Region in Indonesia

Microsoft has introduced its first cloud region in Indonesia, called “Indonesia Central,” marking a key step in the country’s digital development. This new hyperscale cloud infrastructure is designed to support AI applications, offering in-country data residency, enhanced security, and lower latency for businesses and government organizations. The project is part of Microsoft’s $1.7 billion investment in Indonesia from 2024 to 2028.

An IDC study estimates that this investment, along with contributions from Microsoft’s partners and cloud users, could generate about $15.2 billion in new economic value and create over 106,000 jobs in Indonesia from 2025 to 2028. The Indonesia Central cloud region is now live with three availability zones, providing high availability and enterprise-grade security. It also ensures global connectivity while meeting local data regulations. Additionally, the initiative aligns with Microsoft’s sustainability goals, including becoming carbon negative and water positive by 2030. Over 100 organizations have already joined, using Microsoft’s services for productivity, data analysis, and cybersecurity, reinforcing Indonesia’s growing role in AI-powered innovation.