Safer Internet Day – How the VPN industry is reacting to the rising risks of AI (www.techradar.com)

Safer Internet Day 2026 emphasizes the urgent need for safe and responsible AI use, as rapid advancements in tools like ChatGPT and Gemini introduce significant digital threats, including data harvesting and AI-powered scams. The VPN industry is responding to these challenges by developing privacy-first technologies. For instance, Proton launched Lumo, an open-source AI assistant that safeguards user data through zero-access encryption, ensuring conversations remain confidential and are not used for model training or sold to third parties. Meanwhile, ExpressVPN is set to introduce ExpressAI, a private AI platform featuring end-to-end encryption and message self-deletion, maintaining user privacy. NordVPN is taking a different approach by enhancing security tools, such as its Meshnet feature that creates secure virtual networks to protect users from "prompt injection" attacks associated with AI agents like OpenClaw. This proactive strategy aims to fortify defenses against AI-enabled scams and other threats, expanding the capabilities of their Threat Protection Pro suite. As the battle between emerging AI threats and privacy defenses intensifies, these innovations showcase a vital shift in the tech landscape, highlighting the importance of robust safety mechanisms to support ethical AI usage.