Google to automatically delete search and location data June 25, 2020 Google will now automatically delete your search and location history after 18 months, as it attempts to assuage concerns from regulators that it controls too much information about individuals. Users will be able to toggle in their settings to wipe their data every three or 18 months, with the latter now automatically turned on. The [...]
Softbank boss steps down from Alibaba board June 25, 2020 Softbank Group chief executive Masayoshi Son is to step away from his position on the board of Alibaba, as he defended the firm’s financial health and prospects. Son said he sees the move as “graduating” from Alibaba, a month after the e-commerce firm’s founder Jack Ma resigned from his own position on Softbank’s board. Son [...]
Half of all equity investment goes to UK tech businesses June 25, 2020 Nearly half of the total equity investment in UK SMEs last year went to tech firms, as the sector continues to remain attractive to investors. Equity investment in the UK’s tech firms increased 27 per cent to £4bn in the last year, its highest level since 2011. The growing tech sector in the UK remains [...]
Small tech firms rake in record £4bn investment in 2019 – and deals continue despite coronavirus June 25, 2020 Equity investment in the UK’s smaller tech businesses soared to £4bn last year, the highest figure on record – and despite a coronavirus-induced slowdown, deals are still being done. The highest investment total ever meant that Britain’s tech companies enjoyed 27 per cent more funding than the previous year, according to the British Business Bank’s [...]
Britain’s tech scene ready to welcome foreign talent after Trump’s visa ban June 24, 2020 The UK stands to gain from US President Donald Trump’s visa ban that will prevent foreign talent from setting up shop on American soil, tech figures have told City A.M., providing new opportunities to entrepreneurs and highly-skilled workers. An executive order signed by Trump this week suspended foreign work permits such as the H1-B and [...]
Data breach fears raised over test and trace pubs register June 24, 2020 Cyber security experts have raised privacy fears over the potential for data breaches in the government’s plan to make pubs and restaurants keep a register of all visitors. Under new rules laid out yesterday, all hospitality venues must keep a guest register to record the contact details of visitors for 21 days to help track [...]
Softbank secures $14.8bn in first wave from T-Mobile US share sale June 24, 2020 Softbank is set to gain almost $15bn from the first in a series of transactions to unwind its stake in T-Mobile US, as it seeks to bolster its cash reserves following a major annual loss. T-Mobile said it has priced a sale of its shares at $103 each — a four per cent discount on [...]
The City View: ‘The second digital revolution’ – with Irana Wasti of GoDaddy June 24, 2020 In this episode, Christian is joined by Irana Wasti, President in Europe and the Middle East of website giant GoDaddy. Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSS Irana says the pandemic has already triggered a ‘second digital revolution’ with small businesses turning to online retail and digital business models to keep themselves afloat. What started as [...]
The government should have been working on multiple tracing apps all along June 24, 2020 The NHS contract tracing app has been scrapped in favour of a system developed by Google and Apple. Although health secretary Matt Hancock has been heavily criticised for this failure, the UK is by no means alone. For example, Denmark, Germany and Italy each tried to build their own app, based on the same type [...]
Twitter apologises to business users for data breach June 23, 2020 Twitter has begun contacting businesses to inform them of a data breach on its platform, it emerged today, which could have leaked private information to other users. Business users’ billing information was being stored in their browser’s cache if they accessed the data via its analytics or advertising platforms, making it available for other users [...]