Huawei launches own operating system Harmony OS
« On Friday Huawei announced the launch of its operating system. The company fears that it might soon lose access to Android systems due to increasing China-US trade tensions. The company is established thirty-two years ago in Guangdong, China…” https://technology.inquirer.net/89751/huawei-launches-its-own-operating-system-harmony-os
Huawei employees reportedly intercepted encrypted messages to help African governments spy on political opponents
« Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant, helped governments in two African countries to spy on political opponents, it has been claimed…” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/15/huawei-employees-helped-african-governments-spy-opponents/
Huawei deny helping African governments spy on Arab and African politicians
China’s Huawei subsidiary denied on Friday a report by the Wall Street Journal that Huawei is helping Ugandan and Algerian governments to spy on political opponents. https://www.mbs.news/2019/08/huawei-responds-to-charges-of-spying-on-arab-and-african-politicians.html
U.S. Department of Defense announces new cybersecurity Model for DoD contractors
« The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has announced that it will be rolling out a new cybersecurity certification model for private companies who hold contracts with the DoD. The model is called the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)…” https://baltimorepostexaminer.com/u-s-department-of-defense-announces-new-cybersecurity-model-for-dod-contractors/2019/08/15
U.S. Cyber Command warns of North Korea-linked Lazarus Group malware
« Malicious software samples uploaded by U.S. Cyber Command to VirusTotal on Wednesday are associated with campaigns from Lazarus Group, an advanced persistent threat group linked with North Korea, two cybersecurity researchers told CyberScoop…” https://www.cyberscoop.com/lazarus-group-hacking-malware-cyber-command/
Facebook expands local language coverage in Africa to tame fake news
« Facebook has added new local language support for several African languages including Kiswahili, as part of its Third-Party Fact-Checking program…” https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/2019/08/facebook-expands-local-language-coverage-in-africa-to-tame-fake-news/
Russia warns Google against election ‘interference’
« Google has been warned by Russia’s state communications regulator to stop “advertising” protests on YouTube ahead of local elections in Moscow…” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/12/tech/russia-google-youtube-protests-election/index.html
Google, Facebook, Amazon to testify in US against French digital tax
« Alphabet Google unit, Facebook and Amazon are among the companies that will testify Monday at a U.S. government hearing on the French government’s digital services tax…” https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/14/google-facebook-amazon-to-testify-in-us-against-french-digital-tax.html
Lack of sleep and cyberbullying ‘more harmful than social media use’ to teenagers, study finds
« Cyberbullying and lack of sleep have a bigger impact on teenagers’ mental health than social media use, according to new research…” https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/social-media-mental-health-cyber-bullying-sleep-exercise-teenagers-study-imperial-college-london-a9056731.html
Facebook paid contractors to transcribe users’ audio clips
« Facebook has paid contractors to transcribe audio clips from users of its Messenger service, raising privacy concerns for a company with a history of privacy lapses…” https://www.voanews.com/economy-business/facebook-paid-contractors-transcribe-users-audio-clips
FTC Chairman hints that acquisitions made by Silicon Valley Tech Giants can be forced to be undone
“A Bloomberg report is claiming that ‘the head of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said he’s prepared to break up major technology platforms if necessary by undoing their past mergers as his agency investigates whether companies including Facebook Inc. are harming competition. ..”https://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2019/08/ftc-chairman-hints-that-acquisitions-made-by-silicon-valley-tech-giants-can-be-forced-to-be-undone.html
Israel launches satellite to provide internet to Middle East, Africa
« Israel has successfully launched a satellite which will provide internet, TV and mobile services to the Middle East and Africa.. » https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190807-israel-launches-satellite-to-provide-internet-to-middle-east-africa/
New Study Demonstrates YouTube’s Role In Far-Right Radicalization, Spread Of Conspiracies In Brazil
« Max Fisher and Amanda Taub have spent two years researching and reporting on the internet’s role as a force for radicalization. But as Fisher said on Twitter, nothing has disturbed him more than their recent story about how Youtube radicalized Brazil…” https://washingtonmonthly.com/2019/08/14/what-we-can-learn-from-youtubes-impact-on-brazil/
Microsoft August 2019 Patch Tuesday fixes 93 security bugs
« This month, Microsoft patched 93 security flaws and published two security advisories with mitigations for two security-related issues impacting the company’s products & services…” https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-august-2019-patch-tuesday-fixes-93-security-bugs/
Netflix partners with World Economic Forum’s Digital Asean to further develop 4.0 IR
« Netflix has pledged to work with the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Digital Asean working group to help people and governments in South-east Asia develop creative and digital skills and capabilities for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4.0 IR)…” https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2019/08/16/netflix-partners-with-world-economic-forums-digital-asean-to-further-develo/1781369
Instagram to test ‘fake news’ reporting tool
« Instagram is to test a new tool which will allow users to report content they believe is misinformation. The Facebook-owned social media platform said it would launch the new trial feature at the end of August…” https://techcentral.co.za/instagram-to-test-fake-news-reporting-tool/91858/
Alibaba files blockchain domain name patent application
« Chinese internet giant Alibaba has filed a U.S. patent application (pdf) for a domain name system connected to blockchain networks…” https://domainnamewire.com/2019/08/15/alibaba-files-blockchain-domain-name-patent-application/
Free self-driving car service launches at Brooklyn Navy Yard (New York)
« The Brooklyn Navy Yard on Wednesday will debut a new self-driving car service that’ll give passengers free rides between the complex’s new NYC Ferry stop and its entrance on Flushing Ave. »
https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-self-driving-cars-brooklyn-navy-ride-20190806-
Internet Governance updates 