Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
Political content has got a trend in Threads despite trying to avoid
OUR TAKE:Political content is often sensitive yet highly discussed. Social networking platforms were originally aimed at offering space for people to express themselves liberally, but if political issues could be discussed with impunity online, some unpredictable consequences might happen. Therefore…
Epic Games won the legal battle with Apple and back to the EU app store
OUR TAKE:Apple’s decision to open the door for Epic Games in Europe reflects the growing pressure on tech giants to comply with antitrust regulations. While this move is a step towards fair competition, it also highlights the challenges Apple faces in maintaining its App Store dominance. The outcome…
Investor lawsuit against Binance reopens over crypto losses
On March 8, Binance’s alleged violation of US securities laws through the sale of unregistered tokens resurfaced.
U.S. pours $5 billion into Taiwan chip maker TSMC for Arizona plant
OUR TAKEWe are not sure how much Intel received from the chip Act, but it has been reported that the US government will give Intel about $10 billion in subsidies, of which $3.5 billion will be used to produce advanced semiconductors for military and intelligence projects, the exact amount is still t…
Open Source in Asia: NetDEF’s Martin Winter on talent and challenges
Oopen source fuels talent, breaks barriers, and sparks creativity, and the APAC region needs to embrace these benefits, says Martin Winter.
Top tech news stories today: March 11, 2024
Bitcoin briefly rises to record high over $70,000, Binance must face revived investor lawsuit in US over crypto losses and other tech news.
South Korea investigates data protection issues on e-commerce platforms such as AliExpress and Temu
OUR TAKEWith the increasing number of Koreans using Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba (9988. HK) opening new tabs AliExpress and Temu jumped. South Korea’s data protection watchdog stated on Thursday, that they are looking into consumer data practices of major overseas shopping platforms.…
Hong Kong to host major cryptocurrency conference in 2025 to attract virtual asset firms
OUR TAKEThe 2025 Consensus, one of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency-themed conferences, will be held in Hong Kong. This will be one of the largest international crypto conferences since the Asian financial centre committed to embracing and growing its virtual asset industry by the end of 2022. Thi…
Ubicloud offers open source cloud service, rival AWS
Startup Ubicloud is trying to establish an open-source cloud offering, which will compete with AWS. Ubicloud will start its open-source cloud services business, aiming at providing a attracting alternative Ubicloud, a new startup founded by the team behind Citus Data, which Microsoft acquired in 201…
U.S. government asks ByteDance to sell TikTok shares
OUR TAKE:The move to fast-track legislation requiring ByteDance to divest from TikTok reflects ongoing concerns about national security and data privacy. While balancing these concerns is crucial, a complete ban on TikTok could have far-reaching economic and creative consequences for millions of Ame…
LinkedIn disclosed dales for its premium subscription business
OUR TAKE:LinkedIn’s revenue growth in its premium subscription business driven by AI tools is impressive. The platform’s strategic integration of AI features enhances user experience and reflects a proactive approach to meet evolving job market demands.— Iris Deng, BTW reporter LinkedIn approached i…
Clover Infotech driving bank’s digital transformation
OUR TAKE:Clover Infotech, under the leadership of Javed Tapia, is making significant strides in driving digital transformation within the banking sector. With a focus on seamless integration and leveraging Oracle technologies, the company’s commitment to serving the industry is evident. Their Centre…
X’s new features may lead to the disclosure of user privacy
OUR TAKE:The introduction of audio and video calling features in X presents exciting possibilities for users. However, the concerns raised about privacy leakage and encryption ambiguity cannot be ignored. X must prioritize addressing these issues promptly to ensure user data protection and build tru…
AWS canceled its cloud services fees for data transfer
OUR TAKE:AWS and Google Cloud are changing the tech industry with free data transfers and account closure policies. This aims to improve user experience and competition. Regulators need to check these changes to ensure fairness and innovation in cloud services, creating a fair market for all compani…
Indian app developers in a dangerous standoff with Google
OUR TAKES:The conflict between Indian app developers and Google underscores the need for a fair app ecosystem. The call for regulatory intervention highlights concerns about market fairness and the impact of tech giants on smaller players. This dispute emphasizes the importance of maintaining a bala…
Artists vs AI: Who will win the copyright fight of the century?
The rise of OpenAI’s Sora model prompts global debates on AI’s impact, highlighting copyright and ethical concerns among creators.
What can we expect from Samsung’s ‘trailblazing’ Galaxy Ring?
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring, only recently unveiled, showcases an elegant fusion of style and health technology. So what can we expect?
SpaceX prepares for more complex third Starship test flight
SpaceX plans its third Starship test flight, aiming for ambitious goals like engine relighting and controlled reentry.
India announces a $12.54 billion investment into AI
The ‘IndiaAI Mission’ project, with a budget of $12.54 billion USD, aims to bolster AI infrastructure and services in India.
Did Tesla buy bitcoin again?
Tesla’s bitcoin holdings reportedly rise to 11,509, with confirmation pending in the next financial report.
Cryptography startup Zama secures $73M to enhance data privacy
Zama, a French cryptography startup, secures $73 million in Series A funding, bolstering its mission to enhance data privacy.
Google established its first Asia-Pacific cybersecurity base in Tokyo
OUR TAKEAs countries in the region grow increasingly concerned about threats from Asia, Google sets up its first Asia-Pacific cybersecurity in Tokyo on Thursday, according to the Nikkei Asia report.—Jennifer YU, BTW reporter Cooperation with the local department The new center, which will be located…
Android apps lost official support from Windows 11
OUR TAKE:Microsoft’s decision to end support for the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) and discontinue official Android app access on Windows 11 is a significant setback for users looking to seamlessly integrate Android apps into their Windows experience. While the initial promise of WSA aimed to …
Arthur Lewis, president of Dell ISG, on GenAI’s huge resistance
OUR TAKE:Dell’s early AI business is focused on four areas: software development, sales chatbots, customer service, and content creation. This indicates Dell’s favorable market position in the field of artificial intelligence.Dell, meanwhile, expects its ISG revenue to grow about 15 percent this yea…
Former Google engineer indicted for stealing AI secrets
Former Google engineer arrested for allegedly stealing tech secrets to start a company in China, faces 10 years in prison if convicted.
Musk: X will soon receive payment licenses in New York
Elon Musk’s X platform nears payment features with upcoming NY license, eyes WeChat-like services, and considers UI simplification.
Sam Altman’s Worldcoin ordered to cease data collection in Spain
On March 6, the Spanish Agency for the Protection of Data (AEPD) issued an order halting Worldcoin’s operations for three months.
Nigerian central bank partners with Gluwa to grow eNaira platform
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and blockchain platform Gluwa are jointly promoting the eNaira central bank digital currency (CBDC).
Decentralised derivatives trading platform AEVO joins Binance
Binance introduces AEVO, a decentralised derivatives trading platform, on Launchpool, allowing users to earn AEVO tokens through BNB.
Top tech news stories today: March 7, 2024
Burnt Banksy launches XION blockchain and MicroStrategy raises convertible notes offering to $700M amid stock rally and other news.
Paul Wilson resigns as Director General of APNIC
Wilson oversaw Internet governance in APAC for 25 years, but was recently accused of promoting undemocratic and biased policies.
Tesla’s German factory halts production after going up in flames
A suspected arson near Tesla’s German factory halted production, sparking environmental concerns and Elon Musk’s condemnation.
AWS will stop charging for data transfers to other platforms
Amazon AWS and Google end data migration fees amid regulatory scrutiny, boosting cloud and generative AI service.
OpenAI: Musk’s investment and influence have been small
On Wednesday, OpenAI, the most esteemed AI company, declared its intention to refute every claim made by Elon Musk in a recent legal dispute.
Algorithmic trading blamed for crypto exchange outages
The chief strategy officer of dYdX stated the recent exchange outages were attributed to heightened workloads from algorithmic trading firms.
Institutional investment boosts bitcoin’s sustainability, says Reuters
Reuters hints that bitcoin’s recent surge to a new peak may be more sustainable than its 2021 growth, due to institutional investment influx.
Manal Ismail honoured with ICANN Community Excellence Award 2024
Awards recognition for Manal Ismail In an acknowledgment of dedication and service, Manal Ismail, a prominent figure in the realm of Internet governance, has been honoured with the ICANN Community Excellence Award 2024. The announcement took place during the ICANN79 Welcome Ceremony in San Juan, Pue…
Apple’s iPhone Sales Decline in China Amidst Fierce Competition
Sales drop and intensifying competition In the first six weeks of 2024, Apple experienced a significant setback in China as iPhone sales plummeted by 24% year-on-year, according to research firm Counterpoint. The decline is attributed to heightened competition from local rivals, notably Huawei, whic…
LACNIC’s webinar on critical Internet infrastructure program
The rapid development of the Internet in Latin America and the Caribbean naturally comes with increased risks. Thus, LACNIC’s work to develop and protect Internet infrastructure is key to maintain the stability of Internet connection in the region. On February 28th, Lacnic will review the past detai…
Apple to appeal $2 billion EU antitrust fine in Spotify case
Apple, the tech giant, has been hit with a hefty fine of 1.84 billion euros ($2 billion) by the European Union for allegedly impeding competition from music streaming rivals through restrictions on its App Store. This marks the first time the iPhone maker has faced such a penalty for violating EU re…
Cisco introduces AI assistant for enhanced cloud app security
Cisco has unveiled an AI-powered assistant to bolster its cloud app security service, aiming to revolutionize the way businesses manage security issues inherent in cloud-native applications. This solution, named the Cisco AI Assistant for Panoptica, will simplify and expedite the handling of risks a…
Bitcoin all-time high: Records expected to fall as BTC nears $69,000
The bitcoin price may surpass previous highs, marking a notable increase since November 2021 when bitcoin reached a record high of $69,000.
Blast Network integration expands Binance Web3 wallet features
The Blast Network is now supported by Binance’s Web3 Wallet, offering users an Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution.
MicroStrategy boosts bitcoin reserves with $600M senior notes offering
MicroStrategy seeks to boost its bitcoin reserves through the issuance of $600 million in convertible senior notes to qualified purchasers.
20 tech giants agree to fight election interference by AI
Nick Clegg, president of global affairs at Meta Platforms, said: “It would be great if platforms developed new policies for detection, provenance, labelling, watermarking and more.” Collaborative efforts to safeguard elections In response to rising concerns about deceptive artificial intelligence c…
Top tech news stories today: March 5, 2024
From MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin investment plans to Apple’s legal battles. Stay informed with insights on cryptocurrency, and cloud computing.
Cloudflare launches ‘Firewall for AI’ to protect LLMs
Cloudflare has announced the introduction of its “Firewall for AI” service, aimed at bolstering protections for applications utilizing large language models (LLMs). This development is particularly timely, as the tech industry grapples with the dual challenges of maximizing the potential of LLMs whi…
Anthropic claims its AI chatbot models surpass OpenAI’s GPT-4
Anthropic, a startup with substantial backing from Google and a hefty venture capital infusion, has unveiled its latest creation: Claude 3. This new suite of AI models not only challenges but claims to surpass the performance of OpenAI’s GPT-4, setting a new benchmark in the rapidly evolving AI land…
Former Twitter executives sue Elon Musk for unpaid severance
Former top Twitter executives, including ex-CEO Parag Agrawal, have taken legal action against tech mogul Elon Musk, seeking over $128 million in unpaid severance. The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in San Francisco, marks another legal hurdle for Musk following his acquisition of the social medi…
Apple announces new MacBook Air laptops with an emphasis on AI
Apple has recently unveiled the latest additions to its MacBook Air lineup, featuring the new M3 processors. These new models, available in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, promise a significant performance boost of up to 60% compared to the previous M1 processor models. The incorporation of AI capabiliti…