AI GOVERNANCE
While in catch up mode in AI, China also intends to participate in shaping the rules that will govern their use. On July 16, representatives from 29 countries signed an agreement in Shanghai establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), a new intergovernmental organization dedicated to AI. The initiative had been presented a year earlier by Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC). According to the agreement, the new organization will be legally independent and headquartered in Shanghai. It will be tasked with promoting international cooperation and contributing to the global governance of artificial intelligence.
Founding members include China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, Cuba, Serbia, and Venezuela
Hence, besides the USA leaning to national self-regulation – in a face to face between US large providers and national security boards and the 2025 French initiative including India among others, a 3rd multinational initiative emerges. However, the list of participants desperately sounds like China’ clients, which will hinders its capacity to federate worldwide regulation efforts.
GOOGLE ONCE AGAIN FINED, THIS TIME FOR NOT ABIDING BY THE DMA
The European Commission (EC) has taken decisive action, imposing a total fine of €880 million on Google. The hyperscaler had been under investigation since 2024. The EC based its decision on findings of anti-competitive practices regarding online search and the Google Play app store, citing the Digital Markets Act (DMA) the EU regulation designed to curb abuses of dominant market positions by tech giants.Google was fined €460 million for favoring its own services in Google Search results, and a second fine of €430 million was imposed for preventing developers using the Play Store from directing customers to other virtual marketplaces. This is a record-breaking fine, representing the highest amount ever levied under the DMA.
