U.S. diplomats ordered to resist data sovereignty rules. A February 18 diplomatic cable instructs U.S. envoys to counter foreign data localisation and sovereignty initiatives that could restrict cross‑border flows for AI and cloud services, framing such measures as burdensome and risky for cybersecurity and civil liberties (Reuters)

ABC News reports Australia has scrapped a planned permanent AI Advisory Body after months of work, prompting concern that delays and shifts away from mandatory guardrails may narrow the window to put durable safety oversight in place. 

Reuters reports the UK Information Commissioner’s Office joined a multi-authority statement warning about AI-generated images of identifiable people made without consent, urging early safeguards and proactive regulator engagement. 

Emmanuel Macron emphasised inclusive global cooperation on artificial intelligence at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, urging resistance to digital fragmentation and support for shared technology growth. This reflects an ongoing international governance discourse that balances innovation with broad participation.

Reuters reports that California Attorney General Rob Bonta launched an AI oversight and accountability programme while continuing an investigation into xAI over alleged non consensual sexualised imagery generated by Grok. This matters for AI governance because it pairs institution building with an active enforcement posture, which raises the bar for auditable safeguards, monitoring, and rapid incident response.