UK MPs seize Facebook Documents, While Trump Ponders Chinese Phone Tax

Africa

Ghana launches phase 2 of mobile money interoperability

Ghana’s Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumiah, has launched the second phase of the country’s mobile money interoperability at an event in Accra. The launch indicates the integration of E-zwich Payment Systems into mobile money wallets, allowing for smooth transfer of funds between the two platforms. This concludes the Financial Inclusion Triangle project to allow transfer of funds between mobile money wallets, bank accounts, and the E-zwich payment systems.

MTN joins IoT World Alliance

MTN has become the first African telco to join the IoT World Alliance. The alliance cooperative is an attempt by multinational firms to remove hurdles associated with rolling out connected devices across the world. It provides a global solution to the problems of implementing an efficient Internet-of-Things, helping to bridge gaps between internet access and device compatibility. MTN is the largest telco by user subscription in Africa.

Europe

UK MPs seize Facebook documents

An MP in UK has seized Facebook documents in relation to the Cambridge Analytica data breach. The documents, which include emails and information about Facebook’s privacy controls, were intercepted when an executive of Six4Three was on a trip in London. UK laws grant parliament the powers to seize documents within UK. MP Damian Collins, chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee that is investigating the Cambridge Analytica breach insisted the documents were critical to the ongoing investigation despite Facebook’s demand for their return.

Massage app exposes clients guilty of alleged sexual assault

Urban, a massage-booking app, has left the records of thousands of clients exposed, due to a security breach. The records include personally identifiable information about clients who asked for sexual favours. Urban has since taken the database offline, promising to investigate the situation.

The Americas

Apple sued over 30% app commissions

A group of Apple users have accused Apple of breaching anti-trust laws by charging 30% commission on every iPhone app sale. Apple is proclaiming its innocence by saying it doesn’t own or manufacture the apps on its store. By design, all iPhone apps can only be bought on the store, granting the tech giant huge revenues annually. Any decision could have a rippling effect in the app space, BBC claims, as both Google and Microsoft also take 30% commission on app sales.

Trump ponders over Chinese phone tax

The Trump administration is considering imposing a 10% tariff on mobile phones and laptops coming from China. If the proposal sees light, it could add another blow for Apple’s below-par forecast for the end of year. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, President Trump said, “I mean, I can make it 10 percent, and people could stand that very easily.” Apple’s shares, as well as those of its largest assembler, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., slid 1.6% and 1% respectively following the news.

Asia and Oceania

New Zealand bars Huawei amid national security fears

New Zealand has joined Australia to bar companies from using Huawei in their internet infrastructure. Spark New Zealand intended to build its 5G infrastructure on Huawei technology. However, the country’s security agency said the deal would pose significant security threats. In UK and America, security agencies have raised concerns over the close relationship between Chinese tech firms and the central government, claiming technology from China could be leveraged for espionage purposes.

International shipping startup secures $4 million in funding

Easyship, a Hong Kong-based shipping startup founded by former Lazada duo has raised $4 million in a series A funding. Easyship empowers e-commerce sites to provide international shipping services at checkout by leveraging its 250 discounted solutions. The startup, which was established in 2015, now provides services to 40,000 small and medium-sized online businesses, a report says.