Global AI Newsletter·Issue 9
Table of Contents
I. Domestic Governance Developments
(I) Policy and Legislative Updates
1. Eight departments including the Cyberspace Administration jointly issued “Measures for the Classification of Online Information that May Affect the Physical and Mental Health of Minors”.
(II) Law Enforcement and Judicial Updates
(III) International Cooperation Updates
2. Artificial intelligence was in the spotlight at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos
3. The global AI guardrail Research project kicks off in Beijing
4. The 2026 China Expo Forum for International Cooperation opens in Wuhan
1. Tencent Research releases 2025 AI Governance Report
1. The Qwen3-TTS series of speech generation models is fully open source
II. International Governance Developments
(I) Policy and Legislative Updates
1. The European Commission Adopts the Digital Networks Act
2. Florida House Commerce and Tourism Committee Passes the Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights
5. Singapore Releases a New Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI
7. India Releases a White Paper on Strengthening AI Governance Through a Techno-Legal Framework
(II) Law Enforcement and Judicial Updates
3. Vietnam Imposes Fines of VND 880 Million Each on Zalo and TikTok
(III) International Cooperation Updates
1. OECD Releases the “Digital Education Outlook 2026” Report
2. TikTok Announces the Establishment of TikTok US Data Security Joint Venture LLC
I. Domestic Governance Developments
(I) Policy and Legislative Updates
1. Eight departments including the Cyberspace Administration jointly issued “Measures for the Classification of Online Information that May Affect the Physical and Mental Health of Minors”.
On January 23, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the National Press and Publication Administration, the National Film Administration, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the National Radio and Television Administration jointly issued the Classification of Online Information that May Affect the Physical and Mental Health of Minors (hereinafter referred to as the “Measures”). The Measures specify the types of information that may cause or induce minors to imitate or engage in bad behavior, information that may have a negative impact on minors' values, information that may improperly use minors’images, and improper disclosure and use of minors’personal information, as well as the restrictions on such information.
Link: https://www.cac.gov.cn/2026-01/23/c_1770728781060093.htm
On January 24, the Cyberspace Administration of China released the “Guidelines for the Classification and Grading of Financial Information Services Data (Draft for Public Comment)” (hereinafter referred to as the “Guidelines”) and solicited public opinions. The Guidelines set out the rules for classifying and grading financial information service data and apply to financial information service providers engaged in financial information services within the territory of the People’s Republic of China for data classification and grading and identification of important data.
Link: https://www.cac.gov.cn/2026-01/24/c_1770812246428118.htm
On January 21, in order to implement the decisions and plans of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and The State Council, and to accelerate the formation of a national “one account” of computing power resources and improve the efficiency of computing power resource management, the General Office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the “Notice on Fully Implementing the Automated Monitoring of Computing Power Situation Awareness” (hereinafter referred to as the “Notice”).
The work will be carried out in two batches to organize regions and key computing power enterprises across the country to promote automated monitoring based on the China Computing Power platform system, with a focus on enhancing automated monitoring capabilities, improving the data quality verification mechanism, and improving the level of intelligent data analysis to comprehensively strengthen computing power monitoring capabilities. The Notice proposes that by the end of 2026, automated monitoring of computing power resource data will be achieved in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government) and key computing power enterprises across the country, and a monitoring system covering the whole country, with unified standards and intelligent efficiency will be basically established, effectively enhancing the quality of monitoring data, intelligent analysis capabilities and the application level of results.
Link:https://www.miit.gov.cn/xwfb/gxdt/sjdt/art/2026/art_d9a97da3826d4072beed83c66c19f81f.html
On January 21, the Information Office of The State Council held a press conference where the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology introduced the achievements of industrial and information technology development in 2025 and clarified the direction of key tasks in multiple fields for the future.
The follow-up work will focus on several key areas: launching the second phase of 6G technology trials and continuously promoting the iterative upgrade of mobile communication technology; Implement the “AI + Manufacturing” initiative, break through key technologies such as training chips and heterogeneous computing power, expand the integration of large and small models and agents in multiple industries, and improve the industrial ecosystem and security governance; In 2026, guidelines for the construction of a comprehensive standardization system for humanoid robots and embodied intelligence will be released to drive the development of related industries through technological breakthroughs, security guarantees and ecosystem cultivation; Deepen the implementation of intelligent manufacturing projects, continuously carry out gradient cultivation of intelligent factories, and output shared standards, norms and solutions; Formulate the “15th Five-Year Plan” for promoting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, optimize the development environment for enterprises, cultivate specialized, refined, distinctive and innovative enterprises, and strengthen full-element and full-cycle services; Foster new drivers of green development from three aspects: technology-driven, application-led, and standard-led. In addition, the coverage of “secondary number renewal” will be expanded and the regular and long-term governance mechanism for personal information protection of apps will be improved.
Link: https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202601/content_7055631.htm
January 23, Beijing Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology, Beijing Municipal Commission of Science and Technology and Zhongguancun Science Park Administration (Seal of Beijing Municipal Commission of Science and Technology), Beijing Municipal Commission of Planning and Natural Resources The Beijing Municipal Government Services and Data Administration has issued “Several Measures of Beijing Municipality on Promoting the Development and Utilization of Commercial Satellite Remote Sensing Data Resources (2026-2030)” (hereinafter referred to as the “Measures”). The Measures stipulate the following six measures: First, strengthen the basic capacity building of remote sensing data resources; Second. Strengthen the common support capacity of remote sensing data resources;Third, enhance the capacity for scientific and technological innovation of remote sensing data resources;Fourth,Optimize the environment for the development and utilization of remote sensing data resources;Fifth,expand the application scenarios of remote sensing data resources; Six safeguard measures.
Link:https://jxj.beijing.gov.cn/zwgk/2024zcwj/202601/t20260123_4459532.html
On January 22, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology held a press conference to systematically introduce relevant measures to promote the development of high-precision industries. The meeting pointed out that by 2025, the city’s industrial and information software sectors will achieve a combined added value of over 1.8 trillion yuan, accounting for 35.2% of GDP and contributing nearly 60 percent to economic growth. The added value of high-tech manufacturing above designated size and strategic emerging industries will increase by 7.5% and 15.5% respectively, and the industrial structure will continue to move towards high-end. In 2026, the municipal Economic and Information technology bureau will release no less than 25 policy support directions around more than ten key industries such as integrated circuits and digital economy, and plans to invest more than 1.5 billion yuan. The support directions cover multiple dimensions such as “promoting innovation”, “fast transformation” and gradient cultivation, including encouraging the first trial use of innovative products such as robots in scenarios such as supermarkets and logistics. Support the first batch of demonstration applications of new materials and accelerate the growth of enterprises through the construction of pilot platforms and other means.
Link:https://kw.beijing.gov.cn/xwdt/kcyx/xwdtshgg/202601/t20260123_4458434.html
Recently, Tianjin issued the “Overall Plan for Deepening Smart City Construction and Promoting Urban Governance and Digital Transformation in Tianjin”(hereinafter referred to as the “Overall Plan”). The overall Plan deploys 14 key tasks and builds the “1183” overall framework for smart city construction, namely creating one data foundation base to consolidate the data support for digital transformation; Build one city “smart management center” to achieve “one-screen view” of city operations, “one-network management” of event coordination, and “integrated application” of scenarios; Focus on the digital transformation of urban governance in eight key areas: urban management, grassroots governance, safety and emergency response, public services, ecological environment, integrated transportation, peace and rule of law, and economic activities; Create three types of smart city service terminals: “Jinxinban”, “Jinzhitong”, and “Jinchanfa”.
Link: https://data.tj.gov.cn/xwfb/gzdt/202601/t20260122_7229558.html
On January 20, the Development and Reform Commission of Suzhou City issued an announcement to solicit public opinions on the revision of the "Regulations on Promoting the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Suzhou City (Draft for Public Comment)". The public comment period is from January 20, 2026 to February 19, 2026.
The regulation consists of six chapters and fifty articles: Chapter One is the general provisions, mainly including the legislative purpose, scope of application, basic principles, organizational responsibilities of various agencies, etc. Chapter 2 is about application scenarios, which defines the scope of artificial intelligence scenario cultivation and promotes the application of specific scenarios; Chapter 3 Facilities Elements, focusing on core supporting elements such as data, algorithms, computing power, hardware, open source communities, and test platforms; Chapter 4 is about facilitation measures, which clearly define the supporting measures for promoting the development of AI applications in terms of policy tools, financial guarantees, industrial agglomeration, innovation platforms, and talent cultivation; Chapter 5 on security Assurance mainly includes the implementation of the overall national security outlook, industry regulation, ethical safety, legal liability, etc. Chapter 6, the supplementary provisions, sets out the effective date of the regulations.
Link:https://fg.suzhou.gov.cn/szfgw/ggl/202601/c5b3059e27d8408eb8e4e3761755e022.shtml
(II) Law Enforcement and Judicial Updates
On January 22, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate released a batch of typical cases of procuratorial public interest litigation for the protection of personal information. The six typical cases released this time cover scenarios such as smart parking lots, facial recognition in residential areas, online false recruitment, “online box opening”, leakage of personal information of the deceased and their relatives, and abuse of personal information by “scalpers” and travel agencies.
Link: https://www.spp.gov.cn/xwfbh/wsfbt/202601/t20260122_716635.shtml#2
On January 19, the Supreme People’s Court held a meeting of presidents of higher people's courts across the country, proposing to tighten the legal net by improving the two-way connection between administrative penalties and criminal penalties, and to strengthen the law-based and comprehensive governance of new types of crimes by making good use of systems and mechanisms such as clue transfer and judicial recommendations. New types of crimes committed using network information technology, especially artificial intelligence, tend to be more concealed, have deeper subjective malignancy and cause greater social harm. In general, they should be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law to promote the realization of fairness and justice. While cracking down hard on “high-tech” professional gangs and crimes committed through temporary online contacts, we should also expose the means, nature and harm of the crimes in depth and educate and warn the public.
Link: https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/486761.html
The Central Political and Legal Affairs Work Conference was held in Beijing from January 18 to 19 to make arrangements for political and legal work in 2026, according to China News Service. In terms of comprehensive governance of cyberspace, the meeting proposed to strengthen research on new technologies, strictly prevent the use of encryption technologies such as blockchain to evade supervision, and crack down on the use of artificial intelligence technology to generate and release false information in accordance with the law. At the same time, the meeting stressed the need to advance the “Clean Internet” campaign, crack down on online rumors, online violence, online trolls, online hackers and other chaos in accordance with the law, and severely punish criminal acts such as infringing upon personal information to ensure a clean online environment.
Link: https://qwgzyj.gqb.gov.cn/gn/2026/01-19/10554912.shtml
(III) International Cooperation Updates
On January 20, the Chinese Embassy in Israel held a special exchange meeting with Israeli think tanks and science and technology experts, focusing on the Global governance initiative, especially artificial intelligence governance. Starting from the challenges facing global governance, Chinese Ambassador to Israel, Xiao Jun, expounded on the significance of the Global governance Initiative, pointing out that in the context of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, the international community urgently needs to improve the governance system, strengthen coordination and cooperation, and promote global governance in a more just and reasonable direction. The meeting set out China's basic position and principles on AI governance, emphasizing people-oriented development, promoting technology for good, balancing development and security, opposing technology monopoly and abuse, supporting the United Nations to play a leading platform role in AI development, security and governance, and looking forward to enhanced communication of ideas and practical cooperation between China and Israel in the field of AI governance.
Link:https://il.china-embassy.gov.cn/dsxx/dshd/202601/t20260123_11843769.htm
2. Artificial intelligence was in the spotlight at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos
At the 56th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), artificial intelligence has gone beyond the realm of mere technological trends to become the core “super system” that dominates the agenda, China Global Television reported on January 21. In the presence of Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and US President Donald Trump, the forum featured a special discussion on “Deploying Innovative Technologies on Scale and Responsibly” to explore the far-reaching social impact of AI systems.
This special discussion expounded on the practical impact of artificial intelligence on various fields. In the financial sector, AI enables real-time systematic analysis and personalized services; In the energy sector, the synergy between AI and carbon reduction is in the spotlight; In the real estate sector, AI is used for sustainable urban planning, predictive building maintenance, and scalable energy efficiency improvements. The panel discussion reached a consensus that AI supersystems have both potential and the need to establish a framework that ensures their safety, fairness, and ultimately benefits human development.
3. The global AI guardrail Research project kicks off in Beijing
The international research project “Building a Global Consensus on AI Guardrails” was launched in Beijing, with top scholars from China and the United States in attendance, China Daily website reported on January 23. The research project plans to draw a comprehensive map of existing AI protection measures, identify commonalities and differences among major global policy frameworks, and propose a policy and implementation blueprint for building an international consensus. The blueprint is intended to provide a reference for global AI security governance by bringing together multi-national governance experiences, defining key risk boundaries, and proposing operational mechanisms.
Link:https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202601/23/WS69737446a310d6866eb3579b.html
4. The 2026 China Expo Forum for International Cooperation opens in Wuhan
The China Expo Forum for International Cooperation (CEFCO) opened in Wuhan on January 21, 2026, with the theme of “An Era of Change: The China Expo Forum for International Cooperation (CEFCO), with the theme of “Shaping Links and Creating the Future Together”, attracted representatives of exhibition institutions, enterprises, experts and scholars from more than 20 countries and regions including the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom.
During the forum, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and four international organizations in the exhibition industry jointly signed the “Agreement on Further Deepening International Cooperation in the Exhibition Industry”, signed the “Memorandum on Deepening China-Singapore Exhibition Industry Cooperation” with the Singapore Tourism Board, held the signing ceremony of a number of exhibition cooperation projects, and released the “Report on the Development of China’s Exhibition Economy 2025”. The forum also held a number of signing ceremonies for exhibition cooperation projects. A number of cooperation agreements have been reached among local exhibition enterprises, covering areas such as joint operation of projects, joint training of talents, co-construction of standards, settlement of new projects, and international project certification, further broadening the dimensions of cooperation between China and foreign exhibition industries.
Link: https://www.cefco.org.cn/cefco2026/article/117
1. Tencent Research releases 2025 AI Governance Report
On January 22, Tencent Research released a research report titled “AI Governance 2025: Returning to Realism”, focusing on analyzing core themes such as the overall situation and major issues of global AI in 2025.
The report is divided into four parts: Annual insights on AI governance 2025, the overall situation of international AI governance, major issues of AI governance, and appendices. In Part 1 of the Annual Insights on AI governance 2025, the report points out that the focus of global AI governance in 2025 has shifted from “preventing hypothetical doomsday risks” to “unlocking real industrial potentil”. In Part 2 of the overall situation of international AI governance 2025, the report first points out that international AI governance in 2025 will be developing-oriented and seek consensus amid differences. Secondly, the report presents an overview of AI legislation in major countries and regions around the world, including the United States, the European Union, Japan, and South Korea. Finally, the report presents conclusions on the overall situation of global AI in 2025: on the whole, more countries are prioritizing industrial development at present; In terms of the implementation mechanism, it reflects governance capacity building oriented towards development and practice; From the perspective of national legislation, global policy legislation on AI governance is still largely in the experimental and exploratory stage. In Part 3 of the review and Outlook on Key Issues in AI governance, the report analyzes the key governance issues in the three sections of data, model and application governance. In the appendix of the fourth part, the report lists the top ten events in international and domestic AI in 2025.
Link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/aN3QraiCdB3IPgS_KvMjwg
(V) Industry Developments
1. The Qwen3-TTS series of speech generation models is fully open source
On January 22nd, the Qwen team announced that the Qwen3-TTS series of speech generation models were fully open-sourced, covering two versions, 1.7B and 0.6B, and supporting core functions such as speech cloning, design, ultra-high-quality human voice generation, and natural language speech control. The model is equipped with the self-developed Qwen3-TTS-Tokenizer-12Hz encoder, with an end-to-end architecture and dual-track streaming generation technology. The first package output only requires single-character processing, with an end-to-end latency as low as 97ms, while fully preserving sub-language information and acoustic features. In terms of performance, the series reaches SOTA level in dimensions such as speech design, cloning, and control, leads the competition in cross-language clone similarity, and has excellent stability in generating long text.
Link: https://qwen.ai/blog? id=qwen3tts-0115
II. International Governance Developments
(I) Policy and Legislative Updates
1. The European Commission Adopts the Digital Networks Act
On January 21, the European Commission adopted the Digital Networks Act (DNA), which is intended to replace the 2018 European Electronic Communications Code and consolidate several related regulations, including the BEREC Regulation. The core objective of the Act is to modernize, simplify, and harmonize the EU’s digital connectivity rules. Its main elements include: First, the introduction of a Single Permit regime, allowing companies registered in one Member State to operate across the entire EU, thereby reducing market fragmentation; Second, the establishment of an EU-level spectrum authorization framework, extending license durations and easing sharing restrictions to incentivize pan-European satellite communications; Third, the acceleration of fiber network deployment and the phased withdrawal of legacy technologies such as copper networks, to better support innovative applications including AI and quantum computing; Fourth, the strengthening of cybersecurity measures, aligned with the Cybersecurity Act 2.0, to enhance the resilience of 5G and 6G networks; Fifth, the regulation of network cost-sharing mechanisms to promote cooperation between telecom operators and content and cloud service providers, while firmly upholding the principle of net neutrality.The proposal will be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council for consideration, laying the foundation for the EU’s digital transformation.
Link:https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52026PC0016&from=EN
2. Florida House Commerce and Tourism Committee Passes the Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights
On January 21, the Florida House Commerce and Tourism Committee passed the Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights. The bill aims to clarify the fundamental rights of Florida residents in the use of artificial intelligence and to regulate the provision and use of AI products and services. It has now entered the appropriations committee review stage.
The main provisions of the bill include: First, ensuring individuals’ right to be informed during AI interactions. Residents have the right to know whether they are interacting with an AI system, program, or chatbot, and whether AI is used to generate content or advertisements; Second, requiring guardian consent for minors’ use of AI. Companion chatbot platforms are prohibited from allowing minors to create new accounts or maintain existing accounts without explicit parental or guardian consent; Third, requirements for personal data protection and anonymization. AI technology companies are prohibited from selling or disclosing users’ personal information unless the data have been de-identified, and are required to take reasonable measures to ensure that the data cannot be re-identified; Fourth, expanding the scope of civil remedies and criminal protections. Residents may pursue legal action against conduct that uses another person’s name, likeness, or other identifying information for commercial purposes without consent; Fifth, restricting non-compliant AI partnerships in government procurement, prohibiting government entities from renewing or extending contracts with certain entities.
Link: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/482
On January 22, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced the Transparency and Responsibility for Artificial Intelligence Networks Act (TRAIN Act) and referred it to the House Judiciary Committee.
The bill applies to entities that develop or deploy large-scale AI models and use external content for training purposes. By introducing the use of administrative subpoena powers, the bill establishes a mechanism for the disclosure of training data, balancing transparency with the protection of trade secrets, and providing support for copyright enforcement and subsequent litigation. The bill seeks to enhance transparency regarding the sources of AI training data and address the challenge faced by copyright holders and content creators who are unable to determine whether their works have been used for AI training.
Link: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7209/text
On January 20, the California state government announced the launch of the Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP) for California residents. As an implementation mechanism supporting the Delete Act, the platform integrates what previously required contacting data brokers individually into a unified “one-time submission, centralized forwarding” process.
According to official explanations, after verifying the applicant’s status as a California resident, the platform will forward deletion requests to registered data brokers. This approach reduces the transaction costs for individuals exercising their rights to request deletion and to opt out of the sale of personal information, while improving the operability and traceability of data brokers’ handling of compliant requests.
5. Singapore Releases a New Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI
On January 22, at the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information announced the release of the world’s first government-led Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI. The framework is intended to guide organizations and enterprises in the responsible deployment of agentic AI systems capable of autonomous decision-making and task execution.
Compared with traditional AI, agentic AI may access sensitive data and make changes to its environment, which introduces potential new risks. The governance framework provides guidance for managing such risks. By offering both technical and non-technical measures, the framework promotes responsible deployment of agentic systems across four dimensions: First, assessing and limiting agent permissions in advance; Second, establishing key checkpoints that require human approval; Third, implementing technical controls and process governance throughout the entire agent lifecycle; Fourth, enhancing end-user accountability through transparency and education and training.
On January 22, South Korea’s Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Establishment of Trust officially entered into force, becoming the world’s second comprehensive framework law on artificial intelligence.
The Act consists of six chapters: Chapter I, General Provisions, sets out the purpose, definitions, principles, and scope of application; Chapter II, Promotion of Sound AI Development and the Establishment of Trust Foundations, provides for the formulation of basic AI plans and establishes an AI Strategic Committee and an AI Policy Center; Chapter III, Development of AI Technologies and Industrial Growth, sets out multiple directions for AI development, including support for small and medium-sized enterprises, promotion of AI integration, and support for international cooperation; Chapter IV, Ensuring the Ethics and Reliability of AI, safeguards ethical compliance through measures such as establishing ethics committees, building trust infrastructure, ensuring transparency and security, and conducting impact assessments for high-impact AI systems; Chapter V, Supplementary Provisions, addresses matters such as delegated authority for implementing the Act; Chapter VI, Penalties, specifies enforcement measures and the amounts of fines for violations of relevant provisions.
7. India Releases a White Paper on Strengthening AI Governance Through a Techno-Legal Framework
On January 23, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India released the white paper Strengthening AI Governance Through a Techno-Legal Framework.
The white paper is divided into six parts: Part I, Introduction, notes that unlike traditional “command-and-control” approaches, India requires a governance approach that combines technical and legal tools; Part II, Understanding the Techno-Legal Approach to AI Governance, calls for embedding this approach into the full lifecycle of AI systems through legal obligations and regulatory requirements; Part III, Lifecycle Safety and Trustworthy AI, emphasizes that risk identification and technical controls should cover five stages: data collection, use, training and model evaluation, secure inference, and trustworthy agents; Part IV, Technical Pathways for Techno-Legal AI Governance, outlines government-led initiatives and supporting technologies, including privacy-enhancing technologies, vulnerability scanning, real-time anomaly detection, and prompt-level detection techniques; Part V, Implementation of India’s AI Governance Framework, proposes measures such as establishing AI governance working groups, technical and policy expert committees, an AI Safety Institute, and a national “AI incident” database; Part VI, Considerations for Developing Techno-Legal Tools and Frameworks, addresses issues including trade-offs between privacy and model performance, governance of AI-centric applications, special considerations for deepfakes, cross-border coordination needs, capacity-building for AI governance, balancing compliance and flexibility, costs and accuracy, and ensuring legal clarity and consistency.
Link:https://psa.gov.in/CMS/web/sites/default/files/publication/AI-WP_TechnoLegal.pdf
(II) Law Enforcement and Judicial Updates
On January 21, the New Zealand Office of the Privacy Commissioner issued a statement announcing that it will initiate an inquiry under the Privacy Act into the “Manage My Health” cybersecurity incident, adopting a public-interest-oriented review. The statement noted that the incident involves sensitive health information. The regulator will focus on key issues including the scope of impact, notification and response measures, systemic security governance, and the fulfillment of compliance responsibilities. Through the inquiry mechanism, the authority will promote corrective actions by the relevant entities and strengthen the protection of personal information and data security measures.
On January 20, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner of Kenya (ODPC) issued a public notice confirming that it has verified the deletion of biometric data previously collected in Kenya by the “Worldcoin” project. Several authoritative local media outlets cited the notice, reporting that the regulator has examined the deletion process and that the actions taken align with court decisions and regulatory requirements. The core focus is on compliance requirements governing the collection, use, and deletion of highly sensitive biometric information.
3. Vietnam Imposes Fines of VND 880 Million Each on Zalo and TikTok
On January 22, the Vietnam National Competition Commission (Ủy ban Cạnh tranh Quốc gia) issued a statement announcing fines of VND 880 million each on Zalo and TikTok. Both companies were found to have committed violations, including the failure to provide consumers with mechanisms to independently choose whether to allow their information to be used for advertising or for the promotion of goods or services.
Link:https://vcc.gov.vn/default.aspx?page=news&do=detail&id=301efa2c-02d6-4df6-9b57-2291a6293060
(III) International Cooperation Updates
On January 19, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and 13 other United Nations entities and international organizations jointly issued a statement calling on countries and relevant stakeholders to respect, protect, and promote children’s rights in the field of artificial intelligence.
The statement focuses on three main areas. First, AI governance should be grounded in children’s rights. The statement urges countries to adopt necessary legislative, administrative, and policy measures to ensure effective AI governance at the international, national, and local levels, and to establish risk detection and assessment mechanisms. Second, child safety and data protection. AI systems must not be used to perpetrate or facilitate violence and exploitation against children, and enterprises should be required, where necessary, to adopt supporting safeguards such as age verification and privacy protection measures. Third, children’s participation, education, and capacity building in the AI domain. The joint statement calls on countries to ensure that children have meaningful participation at all stages of AI policymaking and system design, and to provide capacity-building training, as well as to cultivate children’s AI literacy through formal education systems or non-formal education programs.
Link: https://news.un.org/zh/story/2026/01/1141492
According to a January 22 report by the Bahrain News Agency, a delegation from the Bahraini parliamentary division participated in a virtual seminar organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) entitled “Global Governance of AI: How Prepared Is the UN?”. The seminar focused on AI governance, risk management, and the challenges and requirements faced by global governance systems in responding to the rapid development of AI technologies. Key topics included the feasibility of establishing a dedicated international body to regulate AI, the readiness of governments and parliaments to enact national legislation ensuring the safe and responsible use of AI, and AI-related challenges and risks, including impacts on human cognition, the environment, national economies, and security. Participants emphasized the need to strengthen parliamentary and international cooperation and to develop balanced policies to minimize risks while supporting the sustainable development of AI.
1. OECD Releases the “Digital Education Outlook 2026” Report
On January 19, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released the Digital Education Outlook 2026. The report focuses on the effective application of generative AI in the education sector, highlighting its significant potential to transform learning quality and improve the efficiency of education systems, while emphasizing the need for strict risk management. The report calls for the promotion of education-specific AI aligned with learning sciences, the strengthening of AI literacy among teachers and students, and guidance on the responsible use of AI tools, providing important direction for the global digital transformation of education and helping to balance technological empowerment with the core values of education.
2. TikTok Announces the Establishment of TikTok US Data Security Joint Venture LLC
On January 23, TikTok announced that it has formally established TikTok US Data Security Joint Venture LLC (TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC). According to the announcement, the joint venture will be responsible for data protection, algorithm security, content moderation, and software and system security for TikTok’s operations within the United States. The arrangement aims to strengthen safeguards for U.S. user data and platform operations through corporate governance structures.
The joint venture is jointly owned by multiple investors, with Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX each holding a 15% stake. Other investors include Vastmere Strategic Investments LLC, an affiliated entity of General Atlantic, and Alpha Wave Partners, among others. ByteDance retains a 19.9% stake and remains the largest single shareholder of the joint venture. The company will be managed by a seven-member board of directors, including TikTok Chief Executive Officer Shou Zi Chew.
This arrangement is viewed as a significant institutional adjustment by TikTok amid its prolonged engagement with U.S. regulators over data security, algorithm governance, and platform compliance issues. By introducing U.S.-based capital and governance structures, the move seeks to address regulatory concerns related to data security and national security.
Link:https://newsroom.tiktok.com/announcement-from-the-new-tiktok-usds-joint-venture-llc?lang=en
