Ghana to Launch Universal QR code, Huawei Gets Limited Role in UK, and Facebook settles $550m Lawsuit

Africa

Ghana to launch Universal QR payment system

The Ghana Interbank Payments and Settlements System, GhIPSS, has announced plans to launch a Universal QR code payment system in 2020, a news report has said. “This Universal QR code system will not be restricted to a particular financial institution or technology partner but this QR code system can be used by all,” Chief Executive Archie Hesse said. At the same time, GhIPSS aims to roll out a Proxy Pay System where individuals can transfer funds into another person’s account using only a mobile phone number or the name of a company in terms of corporate entities. The Universal QR code means vendors will no longer require POS devices as payments can be made directly using the smartphone. A QR code allows you to make payment to a vendor by scanning a code using your smartphone’s camera. Ghana will become the first country in Africa to rollout the Universal Code after China, UK, and Singapore.

eCampus and Vivo Energy Ghana sign students to e-learning platform

Vivo Energy Ghana, marketers and distributors of Shell-branded products, have signed up to 500 students onto the eCampus e-learning platform, according to a report by Tech Nova Ghana. The students include 200 males and 300 females pursuing courses in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). “We need to highlight the importance of electronic education and take the e-Campus platform as an opportunity for students to practise subjects online, get better and replicate it in their examination rooms,” Ekwow Spio Garbrah, chairman of Africa Business Centre for Developing Education, said at the launch of the partnership. eCampus is an online learning platform available to laptops and smartphone users.

Europe

Facebook introduces new ad controls in the UK

Facebook has introduced new ad controls that allow individuals to see which companies are sharing user data with the social media network, the BBC has confirmed. Many firms track users throughout the internet and share their data with Facebook through a snippet of code embedded in their websites called a Facebook Pixel. The snippet of code records every website visitor and once transferred to Facebook, it allows for easy ad targeting. The snippet of code collects Off-Facebook data such as could range from email address to any unique web browser identification. Following the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook’s data-gathering practices have come under serious scrutiny. With the new ad controls, users will be able to stop Facebook from targeting them with ads using said information. Said data would not be permanently deleted, however, meaning they will see ads which are not as personalised as before.

Huawei will get limited role in UK

The UK has decided to allow Huawei to continue supplying equipment for its 5G network despite pressure from the US and its allies, a BBC report has confirmed. Huawei, however, will be barred from supplying kit for the core of the network which is said to be the sensitive part of the system. As part of UK’s concession to allow Huawei in its network, the Chinese manufacturer can only provide 35% of all the kits in a network’s periphery, further limiting the firm’s influence in the industry. Telecoms firms have up to three years to comply with this cap. Huawei will also be banned from areas close to nuclear sites and military bases. While the US referred to Huawei as a spy risk and that countries that use it will not receive intelligence from the US, the UK believe their concessions should not affect their relationship greatly. “Nothing in this review affects this country’s ability to share highly-sensitive intelligence data over highly-secure networks both within the UK and our partners, including the Five Eyes,” Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the House of Commons.

The Americas

Microsoft issues another Windows 7 update

Microsoft has issued another update to what is supposed to be the last update for the aged Windows 7 operating system, the BBC has revealed. Microsoft had previously issued what it hoped to be its last update for Windows 7. However, the patch had a glitch that affected wallpapers when a desktop computer was restarted. The glitch led to a barrage of complaints on Reddit and on the company’s forums that called on Microsoft to fix the issue. Though the company had said the new update would be to a number of users who were subscribed to its extended security update, it later issued a message saying, “We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release, which will be released to all customers running Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.” Microsoft officially ended support for the OS on January 14, 2020.

Facebook settles for $550m in facial recognition lawsuit

Facebook said it has reached a $550 million settlement in a facial recognition lawsuit, according to a Reuters report. The lawsuit claimed Facebook had collected biometric information of millions of people without consent. Accusers of Facebook had been pursuing the case since 2015 when it was claimed Facebook abused Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act, the report added. In the lawsuit, Facebook allegedly collected such data using a ‘tag suggestions’ feature that allowed users to recognise friends from old photos. Having agreed to the settlement in principle, lawyers of the plaintiffs will ask the court to approve the settlement.

Asia

Tech giants shut down following corona virus outbreak

Google has temporarily shut down its offices in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China as a result of the coronavirus, it has been reported. Others including Microsoft and Amazon have closed down their offices in China and warned staff not to visit the country for fear of contracting the deadly virus. Staff already in the country are being asked to leave the country as quickly as possible. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are restricting business travel to and from China until further notice and encouraging our employees to follow the health and safety guidelines provided by international health agencies”, Amazon told a BBC reporter about the situation.

Tata launches ecosystem to kick start clean vehicle production

Tata Group has announced plans to kick start a clean vehicle ecosystem in India through a number of investments in the clean vehicle sector, a Reuters report said. The plans include the establishment of an electric vehicle plant, charging stations, and a battery recycling plant. The Indian government is touting clean vehicles as a solution to air pollution and rising fuel costs and has charged automakers to diversify their vehicles. However, charging stations and batteries needed for said cars can be prohibitive. Tata Group hopes to pool resources to help kick start the industry in order to cut down costs for players in the industries. Tata Power, a member of the Tata Group, hopes to establish up to 650 charging stations in more than 20 cities by the end of next year.