Global Scans · Social · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: In the years to come, social commerce will become more widespread and the level of personalization will improve with advanced AI solutions & chatbots. The number of worldwide social media users is projected to grow from 2.1 billion in 2016 to 2.5 billion by 2018.

• [New] The Cabinet Office will lead AI adoption across the civil service. UKAuthority
• [New] Responsibility for AI strategy, public sector AI adoption and the AI Security Institute moves to the Cabinet Office, which will also lead AI adoption across the civil service. UKAuthority
• [New] By 2030, overseas opportunities and internships will increase, and a new Youth Policy Network will engage young people in policymaking and social issues. ST
• [New] AI will have a negative impact on society; only 16% said it would be positive. / USA Business Insider
• [New] AI and Indigenous interests will never be a non-issue - Indigenous communities face ongoing threats to self-determination as data is extracted globally without consent, and participation in the AI landscape is not optional. The Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance
• [New] AI and digital communities offer matching tools and virtual spaces, but WHO warns against over-reliance without human elements. Socialworkin
• [New] The positive outlook is that wide-scale humanoid adoption will herald an unprecedented era of global abundance, automating mundane and dangerous labour while ushering in post-scarcity societies. Time
• [New] The Civil Justice Council is to continue exploring proportionate transparency on the use of AI in preparing witness statements for trial but will not extend it to other documents. Legal Futures
• [New] Build Capacity Against Hybrid Threats: India must adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to counter hybrid threats that blend terrorism, cyber attacks, disinformation, and economic coercion. Drishti IAS
• [New] Technological risks are rising globally, with misinformation and disinformation ranking 5th worldwide, reflecting growing threats to democratic processes and social trust. Drishti IAS
• [New] As governments, businesses, and communities continue seeking cleaner and more resilient energy systems, microgrids are expected to play a transformative role in shaping the future of global electricity generation and distribution. Trader
• [New] Amid heightened threats against Israel, American Jews share concerns about their place in society. The Christian Science Monitor
• [New] While email remains the dominant initial access vector, threat actors increasingly abused Microsoft Teams during Q2 to deliver social engineering, phishing, and malware payloads. Microsoft Security Blog
• [New] The EU will adopt a start date for children's use of social media as part of a new graduated approach to social media restriction, with parental oversight remaining central. Passle
• [New] The Retirement Living Council's 'Shared Care' pilot program will demonstrate that retirement villages can help alleviate pressure on the health system while allowing older Australians to receive care in the communities they love. Mirage News
• [New] Collaboration across sectors and the political spectrum is essential to drive the cultural and institutional change that will be required for intergenerational fairness to be achieved in Australia. Intergenerational Fairness Coalition
• [New] More than £250 million is to be invested into increasing policing in Jewish communities after a spate of violent attacks so Jewish communities can live and celebrate their faith free from fear. RTE
• [New] The cash boost will see £250 million spread out across the next three years, providing Jewish communities with a major boost in protection and fund efforts to root out antisemitism across society, focusing on education, building cohesion and countering extremism. RTE
• [New] Under the proposed changes - the first for an Australian state - social media companies could be forced to identify anonymous accounts accused of online vilification. The Guardian
• [New] The NAO highlights that AI and digital technologies are expected to deliver £45 billion in annual efficiencies, with 76% of civil servants anticipating AI will change their jobs within five years. UKAuthority
• [New] In 2026, social engineering has transcended simple phishing emails, evolving into a highly personalized, AI-augmented threat that targets human trust as a technical vulnerability. CyberSec Magazine - CyberSec Magazine is your trusted s

Last updated: 27 July 2026