Thursday, 22 June 2017 09:22
200 million US citizens have personal data accidently exposed
200 million US citizens have had their sensitive personal data exposed accidently by a marketing firm contracted by the Republican National Committee. The data – which included 1.1 terabytes worth of information such as birth dates, home addresses, telephone numbers, and political views of about 62 percent of the entire US population – was available on a publicly accessible Amazon cloud server. The vulnerable data, according to a BBC report, was discovered by Chris Vickery, a cyber-risk analyst with the…
Thursday, 22 June 2017 05:56
Canadian minister rejects proposed high-speed internet service tax
The Canadian heritage minister rejected a recommendation to introduce a new five percent tax on high-speed internet services in the country on June 15, just shortly after the proposed tax was made public by a parliamentary committee. Canadian politician Melanie Joly told Global news that “there are no plans for a new tax” on high-speed internet services such as Netflix, Apple Music and Crave. Joly added that the Canadian government is committed to reducing taxes, not increasing them. The Prime…
Monday, 19 June 2017 08:59
US to increase scrutiny on Chinese investment in Silicon Valley over fears to national security
The United States is planning to increase its scrutiny of Chinese investment in Silicon Valley in an effort to protect what it describes as ‘sensitive technologies’ which are seen as vital to US national security. China has shown a particular interest in AI and machine learning and both technologies have received a significant amount of Chinese capital in recent years. The US has expressed concern that the cutting-edge technologies being developed in the US could be used by China to…
Monday, 19 June 2017 06:59
World’s first 3D-printed bionic hands for children begin trials
In Bristol, United Kingdom, the world’s first clinical trial of 3D-printed bionic hands for child amputees has begun. The technology is manufactured by a company called Open Bionics based in South Gloucestershire, launched four years ago. Upon success of the trial, the bionic hands will become available on the National health Service. “It’s awesome and it makes you feel confident,” said Tilly Lockey in an interview with BBC, a young girl who lost her hand due to meningitis. She has…
Sunday, 18 June 2017 07:39
European Commission opens probe into Qualcomm’s acquisition of NXP
The European Commission has opened an “in-depth” investigation to assess the proposed acquisition of NXP by Qualcomm under the EU Merger Regulation. The Commission has concerns that the transaction could lead to higher prices, less choice and reduced innovation in the semiconductor industry. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “We use our electronic devices every day - mobile phones or tablets. As semiconductors are used in practically every electronic device, we are dependent on them in those…
Sunday, 18 June 2017 06:08
German Chancellor calls for international rules for the digital world
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking alongside Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto during a visit to Mexico City, said the digital world needs concrete regulations similar to those that exist for financial markets in the G20 and for trade under the World Trade Organization. The Chancellor’s call for tighter digital regulation echo British Prime Minister Theresa May’s call for tighter international regulations on cyberspace, following the terrorist attack that took place on June 3 in London. Introducing new rules for cyberspace,…
Tuesday, 13 June 2017 05:22
European Commission endorses €101m Croatian national broadband scheme
The European Commission has determined that Croatia's €101.4 million Next Generation Network (NGN) Broadband plan is in line with EU state aid rules. This scheme aims to provide fast internet access where it is currently not available, in particular in rural areas. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: "Croatia's broadband scheme will bring faster internet to consumers and businesses that currently do not have it. It will help Croatia to put in place the necessary infrastructure for…
Tuesday, 06 June 2017 06:41
Zimbabwe approves $250 million project to connect rural areas
A $250 million project has been approved by the Zimbabwean government to implement more than 600 towers and base stations across the country to connect rural areas with low mobile connectivity. According to the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) the towers will be shared by the nation’s operators. Supa Mandiwanzira, Minister of Telecommunications, said POTRAZ had received many complaints about the low level of connectivity available to people from across the African country, which influenced the regulator…
Monday, 05 June 2017 09:17
British PM calls for tighter internet regulation after London attack
Following the terrorist attack that took place on June 3 in London, British Prime Minister Theresa May, called for tighter international regulations on cyberspace. Introducing new rules for cyberspace, she said, would “deprive the extremists of their space online.” May also insisted that technology companies are not doing enough to thwart terror groups online. The Prime Minister spoke outside Downing Street Sunday morning, the day after the attack, addressing the nation after the chaotic event in which a van drove…
Monday, 05 June 2017 07:28
European Commission approves Vivendi’s acquisition of Telecom Italia
The European Commission has approved the acquisition of de facto control over Telecom Italia by Vivendi. The decision is conditional on the divestment of Telecom Italia's stake in Persidera. Telecom Italia is an Italian company, which provides voice and data services through mobile and fixed technologies, digital content services and IT services to enterprises. It is also active, through its subsidiary Persidera (a joint venture with Gruppo Editoriale L'Espresso), in the market for the wholesale access to digital terrestrial networks…
Tuesday, 30 May 2017 05:20
Facebook CEO calls for a universal basic income
Founder and chief executive of social media giant Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, has suggested there should be a universal basic income for all people. This would allow people in society to take more risks, he said, allowing people more freedom to execute new ideas and business ventures, with the confidence that they won’t go without basic things needed to live. The idea of a universal basic income (UBI) has been regularly suggested by technologists and people working in Silicon Valley. UBI…
Thursday, 25 May 2017 07:06
FCC Chairman Pai proposes to add alert option the nation’s Emergency Alert System
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has announced a proposal to add an alert option to the nation’s Emergency Alert System (EAS) to help protect the United States’ law enforcement officers. Called a “Blue Alert,” the option would be used by authorities in states across the country to notify the public through television and radio of threats to law enforcement and to help apprehend dangerous suspects. The Chairman unveiled the proposal at an event hosted by the Department of Justice…
