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Saudi Arabia’s NHC, NAVER Agree to Operate Smart City Solutions for Digital Twin Platform 'Baladi'

The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed bin Abdullah Al-Hogail. (SPA)
The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed bin Abdullah Al-Hogail. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia’s NHC, NAVER Agree to Operate Smart City Solutions for Digital Twin Platform 'Baladi'

The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed bin Abdullah Al-Hogail. (SPA)
The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed bin Abdullah Al-Hogail. (SPA)

In a pioneering move towards digital transformation, Saudi Arabia’s National Housing Company (NHC) signed on Sunday a contract with the Republic of Korea's NAVER Cloud Platform to implement smart city solutions on the digital twin platform "Baladi."

The collaboration aims to adopt global best practices in the municipal and housing sectors by utilizing innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced cloud services.

The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed bin Abdullah Al-Hogail.

The integration will facilitate the development of advanced digital solutions in major cities across Saudi Arabia, including 3D maps, simulation models for urban planning and flood management, and monitoring and control centers.

The partnership aligns with NHC's commitment as the leading developer of residential communities to boost digital capabilities in the municipal and housing sectors and achieve a sustainable future that supports the aspirations of citizens and the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

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SDAIA Builds Regulatory Environment for Data, AI to Promote Responsible Use

SDAIA Builds Regulatory Environment for Data, AI to Promote Responsible Use
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SDAIA Builds Regulatory Environment for Data, AI to Promote Responsible Use

SDAIA Builds Regulatory Environment for Data, AI to Promote Responsible Use

The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) has contributed to building and enhancing the regulatory environment for data and artificial intelligence through governance frameworks that protect individual privacy, safeguard national data sovereignty, and promote the responsible use of AI tools and applications in line with international best practices, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to global leadership in data and AI governance, SPA reported.

As part of the Kingdom’s efforts to strengthen the regulatory environment for data and AI, SDAIA has developed a range of regulatory tools that serve as a national reference.

These include the Personal Data Protection Law and its executive regulations, national data governance policies, data management and protection standards, and the National Data Index (NDI), which assesses data management maturity among government entities.

In the field of AI governance, SDAIA has launched 10 regulatory documents covering the ethical and responsible use of AI, including AI ethics principles and generative AI principles for government entities.

Technology

Meta Takes Legal Action Against Israeli Spyware Firm NSO

The logo of Meta at the Meta Lab in Los Angeles, California, US, May 20, 2026. (Reuters)
The logo of Meta at the Meta Lab in Los Angeles, California, US, May 20, 2026. (Reuters)
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Meta Takes Legal Action Against Israeli Spyware Firm NSO

The logo of Meta at the Meta Lab in Los Angeles, California, US, May 20, 2026. (Reuters)
The logo of Meta at the Meta Lab in Los Angeles, California, US, May 20, 2026. (Reuters)

Meta said on Monday it is filing a federal court contempt order against Israeli spyware firm NSO Group for violating a permanent injunction that barred it from ever targeting WhatsApp and its users. 

The company said its WhatsApp messaging service disrupted new spear phishing attempts linked to NSO, an entity blacklisted by the US government for engaging in activities that are contrary to ‌the national ‌security or foreign policy interests. 

These ‌attempts ⁠were similar to ⁠previous "1-click phishing campaigns," aimed to trick users into clicking malicious links and direct them to external websites, Meta said in a blogpost. 

"1-click" is a type of cyberattack where a single click on a malicious link or attachment is sufficient ⁠to compromise a victim's device or ‌account, without requiring them ‌to enter their credentials. 

Meta said WhatsApp took down test ‌accounts and groups created by NSO on its ‌platform. NSO did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. 

Last year, a US court ordered NSO to stop targeting Meta's WhatsApp, a development the ‌spyware company warned could put it out of business. 

While the ruling significantly ⁠reduced the ⁠punitive damages NSO owed Meta to $4 million from an initial $167 million, the injunction itself was seen as a substantial challenge for the company, which faces ongoing accusations of enabling human rights abuses through its Pegasus hacking tool. 

Meta said on Monday that last month it was joined by 12 prominent civil rights organizations, a coalition of security researchers, privacy advocates and digital rights experts, who filed their amicus briefs to fight NSO's appeal against the permanent injunction. 

Technology

SDAIA, World Bank to Discuss Global Best Practices in Data Governance and AI in Belgium and Germany

The events aim to enhance international cooperation and explore global best practices in AI governance
The events aim to enhance international cooperation and explore global best practices in AI governance
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SDAIA, World Bank to Discuss Global Best Practices in Data Governance and AI in Belgium and Germany

The events aim to enhance international cooperation and explore global best practices in AI governance
The events aim to enhance international cooperation and explore global best practices in AI governance

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), in partnership with the World Bank, will organize 25 specialized sessions and meetings in Belgium and Germany from June 8 to 12.

The events aim to enhance international cooperation and explore global best practices in AI governance, with participation from leading experts, policymakers, and representatives of international organizations and entities concerned with AI governance.

The sessions aim to strengthen international cooperation and exchange expertise in data and artificial intelligence, showcase Saudi Arabia's experience in building a leading national data and AI ecosystem, and explore key enablers, policies, and legislation for AI governance.

The discussions are expected to contribute to international efforts to develop responsible governance frameworks for emerging technologies.

The sessions will address a range of key topics related to AI governance, including the EU AI Act, data governance and privacy, international cooperation in AI, European standards and regulations, and responsible AI applications, in line with global efforts to promote the safe and trustworthy use of these technologies.