The UK government is moving to force tech platforms to remove non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours of being flagged or face fines of up to 10 percent of global turnover.

The 48 Hour Rule

On 19 February 2026, ministers confirmed an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that will place a strict 48 hour takedown duty on platforms hosting intimate images shared without consent.

Under the proposed law, any non-consensual intimate image reported to a platform must be removed within two days. Failure to comply could trigger fines of up to 10 percent of qualifying worldwide revenue or, in extreme cases, service blocking in the UK.

The government is also clear that victims should not have to chase individual platforms. The intention is that an image will only need to be reported once, with removal applied across multiple services and future uploads automatically blocked.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “The online world is the frontline of the 21st century battle against violence against women and girls. That’s why my government is taking urgent action against chatbots and ‘nudification’ tools.

“Today we are going further, putting companies on notice so that any non-consensual image is taken down in under 48 hours.”

Why The Government Is Escalating This

Ministers have highlighted intimate image abuse as part of a wider violence against women and girls strategy, which the government has labelled a national emergency.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “The days of tech firms having a free pass are over. Because of the action we are taking, platforms must now find and remove intimate images shared without consent within a maximum of 48 hours.

“No woman should have to chase platform after platform, waiting days for an image to come down. Under this government, you report once and you’re protected everywhere.”

The government has also signalled that non-consensual intimate images will become a “priority offence” under the Online Safety Act. Ofcom is expected to treat such material with the same severity as child sexual abuse content and terrorist material, including exploring digital marking techniques so that flagged images are automatically detected and blocked on re-upload.

Internet service providers may also receive guidance on blocking access to rogue websites that fall outside the reach of mainstream regulation but host abusive content.

What This Means For Platforms

For large social media firms, messaging services and content hosts, the message from government is that platforms must act fast.

The 48 hour window will require robust detection systems, clear reporting mechanisms and sufficient human moderation capacity to assess complex cases. Automated tools may help, particularly where digital fingerprints are applied to known abusive material, yet borderline cases will still require judgement.

The financial stakes are high. A 10 percent global revenue fine is significant for multinational platforms, and the threat of service blocking in the UK raises further commercial risk.

There are also operational challenges to consider. Images may be edited, cropped or slightly altered to evade automated detection. Smaller platforms may lack the infrastructure of larger tech companies. Critics argue that strict timelines could lead to over-removal, particularly where context is disputed.

Civil liberties groups have historically warned that rapid takedown mandates risk curbing legitimate expression if not carefully implemented. Platforms will need clear guidance from Ofcom on evidential thresholds and appeals processes.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

The impact of this measure extends beyond consumer social media. Any UK business operating user-generated content, community forums, file sharing or messaging functionality will need to understand its exposure. If intimate content is hosted or shared on a corporate platform, the 48 hour rule will apply once flagged.

Even organisations that don’t host content directly need to pay attention. Investors, customers and partners now expect clear and proactive safeguards against online abuse, and there is far less tolerance for getting this wrong.

This law is also designed to reinforce a broader compliance trend. The Online Safety Act already imposes duties of care on platforms, and this amendment tightens expectations around response time and cross-platform coordination.

For SMEs building apps or digital services, moderation strategy can no longer be an afterthought. Clear reporting channels, defined internal processes and documented escalation routes will be essential.

This legislation marks a significant escalation in how the UK treats online intimate image abuse. It shifts responsibility firmly onto platforms and signals that enforcement will be measured not only by policy statements, but by speed and action.

Microsoft has published peer-reviewed research demonstrating that data can be written into ordinary borosilicate glass and preserved for more than 10,000 years, positioning its ‘Project Silica’ work as a potential long-term archival storage platform for the cloud era.

The Challenge

This development addresses a persistent challenge for hyperscale cloud providers and large enterprises, i.e., how to store growing volumes of data reliably, economically and sustainably for decades.

Why Long-Term Storage Is Becoming a Strategic Issue

Global data volumes are growing at an exponential rate. Much of that data does not need high-performance storage. It needs durable, low-cost archival storage that can be retrieved if required, often for regulatory, legal or historical reasons.

Traditional archival media have limits. Magnetic tape, still widely used for cold storage, degrades over time. Hard disk drives and solid-state systems are not designed for century-scale retention. All require periodic migration to new media generations. That migration cycle consumes energy, equipment, labour and budget.

Microsoft’s Project Silica is designed to remove that recurring migration requirement. The central proposition is simple: store data once, in a chemically and thermally stable medium, and leave it in situ for its entire retention life.

How The Technology Works

Project Silica uses femtosecond lasers to write data inside glass. The laser modifies the optical properties of microscopic regions within the material, creating three-dimensional data structures known as voxels. These voxels encode information in multiple layers within a 2 mm thick glass platter.

In its latest Nature publication, the Microsoft Research team reports:

– A data density of 1.59 Gbit per cubic millimetre

– 301 data layers within a 120 mm square glass piece

– A usable capacity of approximately 4.8 TB per platter

– Write throughput of 25.6 Mbit per second per beam

– Energy efficiency of around 10 nJ per bit

Crucially, the team has extended the technology beyond high-purity fused silica to borosilicate glass, the same class of material used in cookware and industrial glazing. This change addresses one of the barriers of cost and material availability to commercialisation.

The research also demonstrates accelerated ageing tests suggesting data lifetimes could exceed 10,000 years at room temperature.

Why Borosilicate Changes the Equation

Earlier glass storage demonstrations relied on specialised fused silica, which is expensive and available from limited suppliers. Borosilicate is far more common and significantly cheaper.

Moving to borosilicate reduces media cost and simplifies manufacturing. It also allows Microsoft to streamline the read hardware. The latest phase-voxel method requires only a single camera in the reader, rather than multiple polarisation-sensitive cameras.

From a systems perspective, that reduction in mechanical and optical complexity matters. Archival infrastructure must be robust, scalable and economically viable at datacentre scale. The shift to borosilicate makes that discussion more realistic.

Security and Air Gap by Design

One notable feature of the Silica architecture is its inherent immutability (it can’t be altered, overwritten or deleted without leaving evidence). Reading the glass requires regular light microscopy, which does not have sufficient power to modify the material. Writing requires high-energy femtosecond laser pulses.

As a result, the medium cannot be overwritten accidentally during read operations. Microsoft describes this as “true air gap by design”. In practical terms, it offers strong protection against ransomware and unauthorised modification of archived data.

For organisations with strict evidential retention requirements, that immutability is significant.

Performance Is Not the Primary Objective

Silica is not competing with SSDs, HDDs or even active tape libraries for performance workloads. It is designed for deep archival storage.

The write throughput, while technically impressive, remains modest compared to high-performance systems. Read operations rely on wide-field microscopy and machine-learning-based decoding to reconstruct data from voxel patterns. Error correction is handled using forward error correction and low-density parity-check codes.

The system has been engineered end-to-end, from writing and reading hardware to machine-learning decoding models. That full-stack approach distinguishes it from earlier academic demonstrations that focused only on materials science.

This is really a storage system design project, not simply a physics experiment.

Sustainability and Cloud Economics

Microsoft is also keen to frame Project Silica within a sustainability context. Magnetic media requires periodic data refresh cycles. Each refresh involves powering up systems, copying data, validating integrity and decommissioning ageing media.

A medium that can remain stable for millennia reduces the need for repeated migrations. That lowers energy use, operational complexity and embodied carbon associated with replacement hardware.

For hyperscale cloud providers operating at massive archival volumes, even incremental reductions in refresh cycles translate into meaningful cost and energy savings.

The broader strategic implication is that long-term archival storage may become more media-centric and less migration-dependent over time.

Where This Sits in Microsoft’s Strategy

Project Silica sits within Microsoft Research and has been developed alongside Azure storage architecture research. It has already been used in proofs of concept, including archival storage of Warner Bros.’ Superman film and collaborations with preservation initiatives.

Microsoft describes the research phase as complete, and the company is now evaluating how the learnings translate into production systems.

That distinction matters. This is not yet a commercial Azure tier. It is a demonstrated platform technology that has met key storage system metrics in peer-reviewed publication.

Commercial deployment will require further engineering around robotics, media handling, library design and operational integration within datacentres.

Is This a Near-Term Disruption?

Glass storage will not replace existing archival systems overnight. Tape remains cost-effective and deeply embedded in enterprise infrastructure.

However, the technical barriers that once made glass storage largely theoretical have been reduced. The extension to borosilicate glass, simplified reading systems and validated longevity testing move the concept closer to practical viability.

If Microsoft can industrialise the robotics and system-level integration, Silica could become a credible long-term archival tier within hyperscale cloud platforms.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

For most organisations, Microsoft’s glass storage technology is certainly not something you will deploy next year.

The more important development here is not the material itself, but what it reflects. Long-term data retention is no longer just an IT housekeeping task. It is becoming a strategic infrastructure issue. Regulatory obligations are extending retention periods. Litigation exposure is expanding. Sustainability commitments are tightening. Meanwhile, data volumes continue to grow.

If your archival strategy relies entirely on periodic media refresh cycles, manual integrity checks and legacy tape rotations, it is worth asking whether that model will remain economically and operationally sustainable over the next ten to twenty years.

Microsoft’s research indicates that the industry is now actively exploring media that reduce migration cycles, lower long-term energy use and improve immutability by design. Whether Silica becomes commercially mainstream is almost secondary. The strategic lesson is that archival architecture is evolving.

For your business, the practical implications are essentially threefold:

1. Treat long-term data retention as part of your infrastructure strategy, not just a compliance checkbox.

2. Understand the full lifecycle cost of your archival estate, including refresh, migration and energy overheads.

3. Recognise that immutability and physical air gap characteristics are becoming increasingly relevant in a world shaped by ransomware and supply chain attacks.

Glass storage may or may not become the dominant archival medium. What is clear is that long-term data stewardship is now a strategic capability. Organisations that plan for that reality early will have greater flexibility, lower long-term risk and a clearer sustainability narrative than those that continue to treat archive storage as static background plumbing.

Ransomware gangs are abusing legitimate employee monitoring software to break into business networks.

Security firm Huntress uncovered two recent incidents in which attackers used Net Monitor for Employees alongside remote management platform SimpleHelp to gain persistent access. Instead of custom malware, they relied on commercial tools to blend in with normal IT activity.

Net Monitor includes remote shell and command execution features. Huntress said attackers used it for “hands-on-keyboard reconnaissance” before attempting to deploy Crazy ransomware. In one case, access began through a compromised vendor SSL VPN account, with the monitoring agent disguised as a legitimate Windows service.

The attackers also configured SimpleHelp to monitor cryptocurrency-related keywords, indicating financial motives beyond ransomware alone. Huntress said the shared infrastructure and tactics “strongly suggest a single threat actor or group behind this activity.”

Businesses should tighten remote access controls, enforce multi-factor authentication and closely audit any monitoring or RMM software in use. These intrusions relied on stolen credentials and the misuse of trusted tools, not sophisticated zero-day exploits.

A cluster of well-funded startups is attempting to modernise one of the oldest components of the electricity system, replacing passive iron-core transformers with software-driven power electronics designed for an AI and electrification era.

Why The Timing Matters

Transformers have changed little in principle for more than a century. Built from copper windings and steel cores, they step voltage up or down and operate reliably for decades. What they do not offer is active control.

That limitation is becoming more visible as electricity demand accelerates. AI data centres, electric vehicle charging networks and distributed renewable generation are increasing loads on ageing infrastructure. Industry estimates suggest that more than half of distribution transformers in service are over 35 years old, while total power flowing through them is expected to rise sharply over the coming decades.

At the same time, transformer supply chains are under strain. Lead times have stretched, delaying grid upgrades and major industrial projects. Electrification is moving quickly. Core grid hardware is not.

From Passive Hardware To Power Electronics

Solid-state transformers replace traditional magnetic cores with high-frequency power semiconductors such as silicon carbide or gallium nitride. Instead of simply stepping voltage up or down, they integrate rectification, conversion and inversion into a programmable system.

The result is a device that can manage alternating and direct current, handle bidirectional flows and adjust dynamically to changing grid conditions. In practical terms, that means tighter voltage control, smoother integration of solar and batteries, and the ability to route power between multiple sources and loads in real time.

Unlike conventional transformers, which respond passively to disturbances, power-electronic systems can actively stabilise output and support ride-through during faults.

Investment

Investors are backing the thesis that the transformer is overdue for reinvention. For example, Heron Power, based in Santa Cruz, California, has raised $140 million to scale production of its solid-state systems. North Carolina-based DG Matrix has secured $60 million to advance its multi-port Interport platform. Amperesand, also in the US and focused on next-generation power architecture for data centres, has raised $80 million targeting data centre deployments.

The early focus is data centres, where space constraints, high power density and the need for rapid deployment create strong incentives to consolidate equipment. Solid-state platforms can combine the functions of transformers, inverters and certain backup systems into a single modular unit, reducing footprint and simplifying architecture.

Heron Power says its medium-voltage systems are designed to deliver efficiency above 98 percent in data centre and renewable applications, with materially smaller footprints compared to traditional assemblies.

Implications For Utilities And Renewable Projects

For utilities, the appeal lies in flexibility. Networks built around passive components require significant spare capacity to cope with fluctuations. More intelligent transformer systems could allow operators to push more power through existing lines while maintaining stability.

For renewable developers, integrating inverter and transformer functionality can simplify plant design and potentially shorten interconnection timelines. Projects combining solar, storage and grid support services may benefit from more modular, software-configurable infrastructure.

These capabilities are particularly relevant as grids absorb higher proportions of intermittent generation and distributed energy resources.

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation?

For UK businesses pursuing electrification, on-site generation or high-density computing, the evolution of transformer technology could reshape project economics. Faster connections, smarter load management and more adaptable behind-the-meter systems may reduce both risk and delay.

Yet challenges remain. Solid-state transformers still carry a cost premium in many use cases. Utilities and regulators are cautious by design, and new hardware must prove long-term reliability under demanding conditions. Scaling manufacturing to meaningful global volumes will also take time.

What is clear is that a traditionally static component of the grid is becoming a point of innovation. As sustainability targets tighten and electricity demand climbs, the transformer is shifting from a passive box on the edge of the network to an intelligent, software-defined asset at the centre of it.

Copilot, used in Research mode, is a very powerful way undertake “Deep Research” on various topics that you choose to prompt. This video shows how you can access a window which show you in real-time what the research tool is up to, a bit like having a mini computer running in the background that you can watch.

[Note – To Watch This Video without glitches/interruptions, It may be best to download it first]

Amazon’s Rufus is a built-in AI shopping assistant that helps you compare products faster and spot whether a “deal” really is one, useful for anyone buying kit for work or keeping an eye on market pricing.

What Is Rufus AI?

Amazon’s Rufus is Amazon’s generative AI shopping assistant inside the Amazon Shopping app and on Amazon’s website. You can ask it questions in plain English about a product you’re viewing, and it will summarise useful details (features, suitability, differences between options) using Amazon’s catalogue information plus signals such as customer reviews and Q&A. For business buyers, it’s handy for cutting down research time, checking fit for purpose quickly, and avoiding purchases based on vague specs or marketing fluff.

What Rufus Is Good For

– Quick product comparisons, e.g., asking what’s different between two models, or which one best fits a use case (home office, travel, light design work, small business NAS, and so on).

– Plain English answers to practical questions. For example, “Will this work with…?”, “Is it quiet?”, “Is it suitable for video calls?”, “How portable is it?”.

– A reality check on discounts. Rufus can surface price history (typically over 30 or 90 days) so you can see whether today’s price is genuinely good or just a short-term promotion.

How to Use Rufus

– Open Amazon on the Amazon Shopping app or Amazon.co.uk in your browser.

– Go to a product page for something you’re considering buying.

– Open Rufus by tapping or clicking the Rufus or AI chat prompt (it appears as a chat-style assistant on supported pages).

– Ask a focused question, such as “What’s the difference between this and [other model]?”, “Is this suitable for a small office with 10 users?”, or “What are the common problems people mention in reviews?”.

– Check the deal properly. Ask Rufus, “Show price history”, or tap the Price history option where shown. Switch between 30 days and 90 days if available to see whether the price is trending up, stable or genuinely discounted.

– Use the answer to decide fast. Shortlist the best option, or move on before you waste time or budget on the wrong specification.

Why UK Businesses Should Care

If you buy equipment regularly, Rufus can work as a fast first pass, i.e., it speeds up comparison shopping, turns messy listings into clearer decisions, and makes it harder for superficial discounts to slip through procurement. It won’t replace due diligence for big-ticket purchases, but it’s a new way to trim time spent on everyday buying and price checking.