Vodafone and Uber to Offer Rides With No Data, Uber Banned in Germany, and Instagram Clamps Down on Vaping Products

Africa

Huawei Mobile Services launches developer programme in South Africa

Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) has launched a developer programme in South Africa to provide support for developers in Africa, it has been reported. Dubbed Shinning Star, the project is part of a $1 billion programme to encourage developer innovation around the world. Shinning Star will provide support in talent development, marketing support, innovation support and developer community support. In addition, Huawei will introduce the Huawei Developer Integration Challenge to support local app development in South Africa.

Vodafone, Uber to offer rides with no data

Vodafone Ghana is partnering Uber to provide its customers with ride offers with no data charges, it has been reported. The no-data charge applies to both riders and drivers of Uber who use the Vodafone network. In addition, all Vodafone customers will enjoy 30% discounts on at least one trip each month. “We are excited about this strategic partnership, as it will offer great convenience to our customers particularly during this festive season,” Director of Consumer Business Unit at Vodafone Ghana, Pushpinder Gujral, said of the partnership.

Asia

Iran foils massive cyberattack

Iran has foiled yet another cyberattack targeting its electronic government systems, it has been reported. This follows another attack last week which targeted the country’s electronic infrastructure, telecommunications minister Mohammad Javad Azari-Jahromi said. There had been reports of hacked bank accounts before that which the minister dismissed. The attackers used a known APT27 method that has been used by Chinese-speakers in the past. Though government officials claim they have tracked the hackers, they failed to name them or their locations. In June, the US launched a cyberattack on Iran’s rocket and missile systems after accusing it of attacking oil tankers and also for shooting down a US drone.

Japan to tighten regulations on tech giants

Japan is looking to craft tighter regulations to prevent tech giants like Google and Facebook from using their dominant market positions at the disadvantage of smaller businesses, Reuters has reported. The new law would improve transparency by forcing tech giants to disclose terms of contracts with customers. In addition, regulators wish to give individuals the right to request digital platforms to suspend the use of their personal data. An anti-monopoly law would also investigate any mergers and acquisitions. Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said, “We want to put the new law into effect in the way that would make business transactions become transparent without imposing excessive burdens or hampering innovation.”

Europe

An EU court adviser has declared that it was legal for Facebook to transfer data of its EU users to the USA and other countries, a Reuters report has said. This is after an Austrian privacy activist, Max Schrems, argued that Facebook’s contract with its users that allowed it to transfer data to other countries was not as safe as EU levels. Schrems was worried by the possibility of spy activities from US agencies. The EU court adviser objected to the claims but argued that where countries receiving such data had privacy laws at variance with that of the EU’s, privacy regulators had the right to block that transfer. Facebook and other tech companies normally transfer user information for purposes of processing finance data and making use of cloud and hosting infrastructure.

Uber banned in Germany

A German court has banned Uber from offering ride-hailing services due to a lack of requisite license to offer said service, Reuters has reported. This comes as another hurdle for the US ride-hailing firm after it was found guilty of putting customers at risk in London. In Germany, Uber works exclusively with car rentals and their drivers. This has been declared illegal, meaning the ruling comes into immediate effect. Uber has said that it will appeal the decision, adding, “We will assess the court’s ruling and determine next steps to ensure our services in Germany continue.” If enforced, Uber could face fines of between 250 euros and 250,000 euros per ride.

The Americas

Boeing test capsule fails to reach space station

Boeing’s astronaut capsule failed to reach the International Space Station according to a report by NASA. While the CST-100 had a successful launch, an automated timer error prevented the capsule from reaching orbit. The error caused the craft to burn too much fuel too soon, making it impossible to reach its orbit. NASA and Boeing tried and failed to override the automatic timer due to satellites interfering with signals. The test by Boeing is part of NASA’s move to revive human spaceflight through independent contracts with Boeing and SpaceX. The craft is now expected to land at White Sands in New Mexico, it has been reported.

Instagram bans influencers from promoting vaping products

Instagram is banning social media influencers from promoting weapons as well as tobacco and vaping products, it has been reported. This is part of efforts to enforce bans on companies that produce these products; even though Instagram and Facebook have banned ads by these companies, they circumvent the rules by using influencers to promote their products. “Branded content that promotes goods such as vaping, tobacco products and weapons will not be allowed,” Instagram has confirmed.