Tech giants join legal challenge against Trump worker visa ban August 10, 2020 A number of tech giants have pledged their support to a legal challenge against a ban on foreign worker visas by US President Donald Trump, aimed at preserving jobs for Americans during the pandemic. Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, Netflix and Twitter were among 52 companies that signed the legal brief, which was filed in a [...]
Bezos accused of ‘wilful blindness’ over use of unlicensed music on Twitch August 10, 2020 Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has found himself under fire by the music industry for an “apparent unwillingness” to counteract use of unlicensed music on streaming platform Twitch. In a letter, seen by Morning Wire, non-profit organisation the Artist Rights Alliance (ARA) accused Bezos of being ignorant of copyright issues on Twitch, having submitted more than [...]
Whatsapp update to allow users to sync chats between devices August 10, 2020 Whatsapp is reportedly developing a new update that will allow users to sync chats between multiple devices at once. The Facebook-owned messaging app currently limits its service to one main device, meaning users can only be logged in on one device at a time and messages cannot be synced. Whatsapp Web also requires a phone [...]
Twitter wades into bidding war for Tiktok’s US operations August 9, 2020 Twitter is said to have expressed interest in buying Tiktok’s US operations, as the short-form video app continues to hold talks with Microsoft about a sale. However it is far from certain that Twitter would be able to outbid Microsoft, and complete a deal within the 45-day deadline set by US President Donald Trump, two [...]
Tiktok threatens legal action over Trump executive order August 7, 2020 Tiktok has said it is considering legal action after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning the app in 45 days’ time. The short-form video app said it was “shocked” by the order. It added that it would it would “pursue all remedies available” to “ensure the rule of law is not discarded”. [...]
Facebook staff to work from home until July 2021 August 7, 2020 Facebook has said its employees will be allowed to work from home until July 2021, and will be given $1,000 towards the cost of building a home office. It follows in the footsteps of other big technology firms, after Google said last month it would permit those who do not need to be in the [...]
Trump issues executive order against Tiktok and Wechat over China links August 7, 2020 US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order promising a ban on Chinese-owned apps such as Tiktok and Wechat within 45 days. The two apps must be removed from Apple and Google’s app stores and all business ceased with US companies by the deadline. Tiktok owner Bytedance is currently in negotiations over a sale [...]
Uber’s food delivery business doubles but demand for rides falters August 6, 2020 Uber said demand for its food-delivery service doubled in the second quarter as users were locked down due to the pandemic, while demand for rides was hit. The company maintained it was sticking to its goal of being profitable on an adjusted basis before the end of next year. Today it reported that revenue in [...]
Tory MPs in China Research Group targeted by phishing attacks August 6, 2020 Cybersecurity experts have slammed Parliament’s online security training as “appalling” after members of the Sino-sceptic China Research Group of Conservative MPs have been targeted by phishing attacks. China Research Group Tom Tugendhat, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and co–founder of the China Research Group, last week revealed he believed Chinese state-sponsored hackers were [...]
Pompeo pushes to ban Tiktok, Wechat and other ‘untrusted’ Chinese apps August 6, 2020 The Trump administration is pushing to purge “untrusted” Chinese apps including Tiktok and Wechat from US app stores, amid increasing tensions across the Pacific. US secretary of state Mike Pompeo yesterday signalled that the US may soon order Apple and Google to remove certain Chinese apps over national security concerns. Pompeo said apps linked to [...]