AGP Executive Report

AI & the Web’s Future: Tim Berners-Lee says AI should preserve the web’s “original values,” with people able to control their own data. Bot Traffic Boom: Cloudflare reports automated bot/agent requests have overtaken human web traffic for the first time, with AI agents browsing far more pages. Search Gets Rewritten: Google’s shift toward AI answers and “conversational discovery ads” is rattling advertisers, while UK regulators push for publishers to block AI use. Cybersecurity: McAfee warns “WeedHack” malware is being hidden in Minecraft mods and sold via cheap service tiers; separate reporting flags a new HTTP/2 “Bomb” DoS risk. Internet Safety & Scams: Lafayette PD and Arkansas State Police ICAC teams urge families to tighten privacy and watch for online fraud. Connectivity in the Real World: Comcast/Xfinity restored a Spokane outage after “network damage.” Media & Culture: “Scary Movie” teases fake popcorn buckets again—none are for sale. Local Policy: Oregon’s new law closes a loophole letting lenders export higher interest rates to hit consumers.

Browser Privacy Push: Apple says Safari’s Intelligent Tracking Prevention blocks trackers and limits fingerprinting, keeping third-party cookies off by default. Space & Connectivity: SpaceX filed for a $75B IPO, valuing it around $1.8T, as it leans on Starlink and plans for space-based data centers. Public Transit: London’s RMT warns more Tube strikes are possible if talks with TfL stall. AI in Commerce: Meesho says its PRISM AI now drives 75%+ of orders, using massive inference and multi-language ranking. Business Messaging: Meta rolls out its Meta Business Agent to automate customer chats across WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram, plus a platform for custom agents. Cyber & Apps: Apple removed Russia-linked Max from the App Store amid spyware concerns. EdTech Careers: A new wave of MENA startups is building skills-to-jobs paths outside traditional degrees. Digital Culture: Ridi reports a 50x jump in fantasy web novel transactions since 2021, fueled by fandom and IP expansion.

AI & Fraud: Trustfull launched Investigator, a conversational AI that helps fraud teams assess risk signals across emails, phone numbers, IPs, domains, and onboarding attempts in seconds. Cybersecurity Supply Chain: Researchers say an npm package tied to OpenAI Codex quietly stole developers’ authentication tokens for a month, with a similar credential-theft chain also found in Android apps. Space & Internet Infrastructure: SpaceX announced a historic $75B IPO at $135/share while keeping 82.4% voting control—its Starlink satellite internet business remains central to the story. Online Safety & Crime: ALERT (Alberta) seized 500,000+ child exploitation files in Okotoks; separately, a former Tennessee 911 dispatcher was arrested after a cybertip involving CSAM on Snapchat. Media/Marcom: Pennsylvania lawmakers advanced a digital ad tax that would extend the state’s gross receipts tax to online advertising services. Everyday Web Life: A new dashboard lets people monitor Potomac/Anacostia river water quality in real time, and a boating app (Lake360) adds on-water route planning for specific lakes.

AI & Work: A new IWG survey marks AI as the top office innovation for CEOs (36%), with laptops/tablets, video calling, Wi‑Fi and hybrid work close behind—showing the shift from the internet era to agentic AI. Cyber & Platforms: Microsoft warns some Office files may not open on some Macs next month, while a newly disclosed VS Code zero-day targets github.dev to steal GitHub OAuth tokens via malicious extensions. Search & Regulation: UK regulators push new rules on Google search, including an AI-training opt-out, as Google tests changes to AI search after media sites seek control. Infrastructure & Power: St. Petersburg reports widespread mobile internet disruptions during SPIEF, with outages tied to drone threats and attacks on a major oil terminal. Local Digital Governance: Moldova’s Central Electoral Commission launches a web platform for district electoral councils to publish decisions, acts and updates in a standardized format. Media & Culture: Sony’s God of War Laufey gameplay sparks mixed reactions online, while Freely’s free-TV platform tops one million users and could overtake Freeview. Business & Telecom: Nigeria’s Legend Internet reassures investors after a pre-tax loss in H1-2026, citing expansion costs and financing pressure.

Surveillance vs privacy: Canada’s OpenMedia warned MPs that the “lawful access” Bill C-22 would force telecoms to build capabilities to retain and share communications metadata, calling it an “own goal” for privacy, security, and business. AI search goes agent-first: Microsoft unveiled Web IQ, a Bing-based suite of APIs meant to help AI agents scan the web and return compact, fast results for “grounding.” Digital equity push: NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams mapped an “Internet for All” plan treating city internet access like a utility, targeting slower, pricier service in the Bronx. SpaceX/Starlink costs: Starlink says its congestion “demand surcharge” can hit existing users if they replace dishes via retail in high-demand areas. E-commerce adoption: Bangladesh’s Dhaka leads online shopping, with 14.4% of internet users buying goods/services online, mostly via cash on delivery. Cybercrime enforcement: Texas agencies joined Operation Soteria Shield to target online child exploitation. AI + politics deepfakes: A Michigan Senate candidate was mocked after staff posted an AI-altered image of him. Broadband fraud case: A Lititz man pleaded guilty to defrauding the federal government of $741k via the COVID-era Affordable Connectivity Program.

Meta Security: Hackers hijacked Instagram accounts by tricking Meta AI into changing passwords, with some high-value accounts reportedly looted before a patch restored access. Digital Rights: India’s Delhi High Court laid out when people can seek de-indexing of acquitted/discharged cases from search results, framing it as privacy in the digital age. Cybercrime: A Missouri man was arrested for child pornography possession after an online investigation linked an IP address to alleged sharing/uploading. AI & Inequality: Seoul is building an “AI divide” measurement framework to quantify who gets left behind as AI literacy becomes the new digital gap. Streaming & Media: Netflix’s thriller Legends stayed atop charts for a third week, while A24’s Backrooms keeps turning internet lore into box-office momentum. Business & Risk: WTW acquired Redefind to offer non-custodial insurance for crypto/digital-asset theft and loss. Tech & Telecom: Ohio’s data center boom is sparking a fight over who pays rising power and transmission costs.

AI & Data Deals: Salesforce agreed to buy Contentful, aiming to plug a CMS gap into its Customer 360 stack and deepen Agentforce-driven content delivery. Scams on Social Platforms: A new report says Meta made an estimated $14.3M from Medicare scam ads on Facebook, with tens of thousands of deceptive campaigns reaching older Americans. Privacy & Search: DuckDuckGo made its “no-AI” search easier to set up via Chrome/Firefox extensions, as more users push back on AI answers. AI Agents in the Real World: OpenAI’s Codex “Computer Use” is now on Windows, but it takes over the active desktop session and is blocked in the EEA/UK/Switzerland at launch. Cybersecurity: Meta patched an Instagram account-recovery flaw where attackers used its AI assistant to redirect reset links and bypass typical MFA checks. Media & Culture: A24’s “Backrooms” turned an internet creepypasta into a breakout box-office hit, while “Obsession” kept climbing.

AI Search Shake-Up: Google’s I/O signals a shift from link-based search to AI-led, interactive answers—raising big stakes for publishers and how people discover content. Cybersecurity Bundles: Antivirus suites are evolving into “all-in-one” protection, bundling VPNs, password managers, backups, and dark-web monitoring for one subscription. War + Satellite Internet: Reuters reports SpaceX pushed back on Pentagon pricing for Starlink/Starshield drone terminals, with the Pentagon considering thousands more subscriptions—turning connectivity into a budget fight. Online Safety Rules: Malaysia starts enforcing under-16 social media account bans with government-linked age checks, with fines for platforms. Connectivity Infrastructure: NCC appoints an IPv6 council board in Nigeria to speed migration. Creator Economy: VidCon inducts early internet stars (Markiplier, Philip DeFranco, Michelle Phan, Cassey Ho) into its Hall of Fame. Culture/Entertainment: A24’s “Backrooms” turns a 4chan/YouTube meme into a box-office hit, proving internet lore can go mainstream.

Local Connectivity: GFiber and Williamson Inc. cut the ribbon on a new fiber service area in Franklin, with cables installed at The Factory and nearby neighborhoods and expansion planned later this year. Streaming & Media: HBO Max is loading up June with doc-heavy originals and debuts, including Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult (June 1) and more. Internet Culture Meets Hollywood: A24’s Backrooms—born as a YouTube creepypasta—has exploded at the box office, while Obsession keeps climbing, showing how web-born horror is now mainstream. Sports + Social Spillover: PSG’s Champions League win sparked violent unrest in France, and the internet responded with Harry Potter-style memes. AI & Work Skills: Knowledge Pillars, Miami Dade College, and NAAIC are launching an applied AI pathway for educators, aiming to bring classroom-ready AI credentials into schools. Digital Divide: Through the Trees is spotlighting its mission to bridge the digital divide in western North Carolina.

Subsea Security & AUKUS: Australia’s defence chief Richard Marles warned that “the seabed is a battlefield” as the US, UK and Australia roll out new AUKUS underwater drone work to protect critical undersea cables. Space & Connectivity: ULA’s Atlas V launched 29 Amazon Leo broadband satellites from Cape Canaveral, pushing more global coverage. Digital Identity & Web3: Beldex launched the BNS Marketplace for buying, selling and managing blockchain-based names—aiming to shift control of digital identity away from centralized systems. Online Safety & Privacy: ICE is reportedly seeking ways to use digital ad data (including social and browsing activity) to target immigrants, raising alarm about surveillance via the ad ecosystem. Internet Culture: “Backrooms” keeps climbing from viral creepypasta to mainstream horror, while “Backrooms” coverage and reactions dominate entertainment chatter. Local Internet Access: Oklahoma’s rural libraries are lending Wi‑Fi hotspots via OSU’s program, helping residents get online for school and work. Cybercrime & Fraud: Reports highlight how web-based scams hit older adults hardest, with major losses filed through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Subsea Security: The UK is proposing tougher penalties for damaging undersea internet cables, including up to two years in prison and unlimited fines, as officials cite rising sabotage fears tied to Russia. Iran Connectivity: After an 88-day blackout, Iran has partially restored internet access, but reports say it’s still limited, slow, and unstable. India Water Stress: India’s irrigation water demand could jump to 807 billion cubic metres by 2050, putting more pressure on already tight water supplies. Local Internet Controls: Haryana temporarily shut mobile internet, SMS, and dongle services in Faridabad’s NIT Zone ahead of a demolition drive, allowing voice calls and some banking-related messages. Privacy & Data Breach: California’s attorney general sued 23andMe over alleged failures to protect data in a 2023 breach affecting nearly 7 million people. Cybercrime Crackdown: Dutch authorities dismantled a 17-million-device proxy botnet, seizing 200 servers tied to the operation. Media & Culture: A24’s “Backrooms” brings the internet creepypasta to theaters, while “Panchayat” actor Faisal Malik says the show’s massive success surprised everyone.

Cybercrime Crackdown: Dutch police and the National Cyber Security Centre dismantled a botnet controlling 17M infected devices, seizing servers and disrupting proxy infrastructure used for phishing, spam, and DDoS. Child Safety Online: North Carolina arrested a man tied to child sexual exploitation after NCMEC tips, while Ireland banned a teen from internet access over CSAM involving children as young as two. Scam Watch: The FBI warned World Cup fans about fake FIFA websites designed to steal personal and banking details. Connectivity & Infrastructure: Mediacom launched a nationwide 5-Gig internet tier, and Google Fiber cut a ribbon on new service in Franklin. Space & Tech Risk: Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded during a static-fire test, raising questions about launch delays. Media & Culture: A24’s “Backrooms” turns a 4chan/YouTube meme into a big-screen horror hit, showing how internet fandom is reshaping Hollywood. Policy & Privacy: Lawmakers warned the Pentagon about adversaries using commercial location data to target U.S. personnel.

Space & Tech Rivalry: Blue Origin’s New Glenn exploded during an engine-firing test at Cape Canaveral, shaking homes and sparking a fresh Bezos–Musk spat online as both vowed to rebuild. AI & Media: The BBC’s Question Time special used AI versions of historic figures, leaving viewers uneasy about how fast synthetic “public debate” is becoming normal. AI for Kids’ Safety: New EU data says hotlines logged 4.5M reports of illegal content in 2025, with child sexual abuse material making up over half. Cybersecurity: Pick n Pay warned customers about a breach tied to an older delivery app version, with data allegedly appearing for sale on the dark web. AI in Work: The ILO flags that generative AI could automate clerical jobs faster in developing economies—yet the digital divide may block benefits for those who need them most. Retail AI: Radar’s in-store sensor tech hit a $1B valuation after reporting revenue lift for retailers. Robotics for Everyone: Hugging Face-backed DIY humanoid robot launches at $2,500, aiming to turn robotics into a build-and-learn hobby. Internet Culture: “Backrooms” keeps going from web creepypasta to big-screen horror, while the internet debates whether it’s more than just a meme.

Iran Internet Return: Iranians report the global web is back after an 88-day blackout, but access is still patchy and restrictions remain, with some apps and sites slow or blocked. Cybersecurity & Privacy: Connecticut’s Husky Medicaid portal hack attempted to divert payments, while researchers warn of a new browser-based spying method (FROST) that can infer visited sites and opened apps via SSD timing. Online Safety Law: Hawaii and other state AGs oppose a federal kids’ internet safety bill, arguing it could weaken state enforcement; Illinois debates age verification rules that critics say could violate speech rights. Child Exploitation Prosecutions: Police charged a Surrey man in an online child exploitation case, and cyber tips helped arrest a southern Indiana suspect tied to child sex abuse material. Platform/Media Moves: Bluesky expands long-form reading via Standard.site integrations, and Miami launches a pay transparency employee web portal. World Cup Scams: The FBI warns Houston fans about “typo squatting” fake FIFA sites targeting ticket and hospitality searches. Creator Economy: Creator marketing keeps accelerating, with brands leaning into in-ecosystem creators as Fortnite-style creator-to-founder paths become more common.

Cyber Scams: Sri Lanka’s SLCERT warns drivers about fake “traffic violation” SMS/WhatsApp messages that push victims to lookalike GovPay sites to steal card details and OTPs. Cloud Infrastructure: Amazon’s AWS rolls out a new data-center networking design, RNG, aimed at cutting cabling and energy costs while boosting performance. Air Travel Connectivity: Delta lags as United and American expand Starlink in-flight internet plans, signaling a faster race for onboard streaming. Public Wi‑Fi Rules: India’s DoT updates PM‑WANI with QR login and short-duration data packs, trying to fix slow hotspot adoption. Platform Backlash: YouTube faces “slop dots” backlash after Shorts users say AI-made remixes are taking over feeds. Security Research: ESET flags China-aligned spying activity across maritime, energy, and AI robotics targets, plus Russia-focused campaigns in Ukraine. Internet Safety & Law: UK police officer jailed after CCTV showed him pocketing a woman’s underwear during a search, after a TikTok post brought attention. Entertainment Culture: “Backrooms” keeps going from internet meme to mainstream movie release.

Iran Internet Politics: Iran’s partial return of international access after nearly three months is now sparking an internal power struggle, with hardliners accusing the government of bypassing top security cyber bodies. AI & Data Value: A new report puts a price tag on Americans’ personal data—arguing it’s increasingly used to train AI and profit intermediaries, not users. Public Safety Online: U.S. and state officials are pushing tougher guardrails for kids’ online safety, while the FBI warns law firms are being targeted by “IT” impersonation and phishing for data theft. Cybersecurity Tools: NordVPN is folding antivirus, scam/phishing blocking, and monitoring into one app, and easyDNS is open-sourcing encrypted email forwarding to counter “lawful access” concerns. Broadband & Connectivity: New York Public Advocate Jumaane Williams backs a city-owned fiber network, while Spectrum expands rural fiber in Indiana and Digicel PNG resells Starlink for remote business connectivity. Cloud/Business Tech: Snowflake’s $6B AWS deal tied to Graviton AI chips sends shares soaring. Culture on the Web: The “Backrooms” horror movie (from a 20-year-old YouTuber) and “Spider-Noir” keep internet fandom buzzing.