The tech revolution could be a catastrophic setback for civilisation November 8, 2018 Social earthquakes are looming fast from the emerging wave of automation and the tech revolution. We’ve all seen the headlines about artificial intelligence (AI), the rise of the robots, self-driving cars, and leaps forward in machine learning. But does society realise what is coming? Will it prepare itself? Can the scale and speed of change [...]
DEBATE: In losing the US House of Representatives, has President Trump lost his mandate? November 8, 2018 In losing the US House of Representatives, has President Trump lost his mandate? David Waywell, author and political commentator, says YES. Republican losses in the midterms were not as overwhelming as some might have predicted, but defeats in the House of Representatives do mean that Donald Trump loses the mandate he took rather for granted. [...]
Facebook founder Zuckerberg rejects invitation to appear before UK MPs November 7, 2018 Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg was today revealed to have refused an invite to appear before an “international grand committee” by Digital, Culture and Media and Sport (DCMS) Select Committee chairman Damian Collins The 27 November hearing would have debated the social media giant’s role in perpetuating so-called fake news. Collins had joined forces with his [...]
Theresa May invites ministers to preview draft EU deal November 7, 2018 Theresa May has invited Cabinet ministers into Downing Street to catch a glimpse of the UK’s draft deal with the European Union. The deal being discussed is not the full withdrawal agreement and crucially does not contain the protocol on Northern Ireland, which Downing Street said was still to be finalised as negotiations were ongoing. The [...]
Irish Prime Minister casts fresh doubt on chances of reaching November Brexit deal November 7, 2018 Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar has said hopes of reaching a Brexit deal later this month are fading, echoing comments by the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier that "we are not there yet". Speaking at a conference while on a visit to Helsinki, Finland, the Taoiseach said: “I do think that, with every day that passes, the possibility [...]
EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager signals decision on Google Adsense investigation November 7, 2018 European competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager has said regulators are close to releasing findings against Google, which could see the tech giant hit with another record-breaking fine. The investigation is the third of its kind into Google and its parent firm Alphabet by the antitrust watchdog in recent years, after the firm was fined €4.3bn (£3.8bn) earlier this year over market [...]
The EU’s highest court sets date to decide whether the UK can reverse Brexit November 7, 2018 The EU’s highest court has set a date to decide whether or not Britain can reverse its Brexit decision. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) will review if it is possible for Britain to withdraw its decision to leave the EU in March 2019 on 27 November, according to Reuters. There is no indication of when [...]
DEBATE: Is Tim Berners-Lee right that we need to save the web from abuse? November 7, 2018 Is Tim Berners-Lee right that we need to save the web from abuse? Sven Hughes, chief executive and founder of Verbalisation and Global Influence, says YES. When info.cern.ch went live in 1991, it was the address of the world’s first ever website and web server. Sir Tim Berners-Lee was the man to create that website, and [...]
Hammond’s digital tax is an illogical game of whack-a-mole November 7, 2018 The introduction of a new digital services tax was the most depressingly inevitable part of Philip Hammond’s Budget speech last week. Years of pressure from a pincer movement of corporate tax moralists and traditional retailers have paid off. Starting in April 2020, profitable digital businesses with £500m in global revenues would face a two per cent [...]
Politicians should be wary of regulating the internet November 7, 2018 The internet is under scrutiny like never before. On Monday, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, architect of the world wide web, warned of his invention’s detrimental effect on society and democracy, and launched a “Magna Carta” so people can use it “freely, safely and without fear”. Then yesterday, the UK information commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, gave evidence to [...]