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 [...]
Amazon unveils $2bn net zero venture capital fund June 23, 2020 Tech giant Amazon today announced a $2bn (£1.6bn) venture capital fund to help the firm reach its commitment to be carbon neutral by 2040. The Climate Pledge Fund, as the initiative is known, will be used to back sustainable services and technologies that will allow Amazon and other countries to meet their climate targets. Last [...]
Competition watchdog moves closer to green light on Amazon and Deliveroo deal June 23, 2020 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is set to make the first step in giving the tie-up between Amazon and Deliveroo the green light. The announcement, which could be made this afternoon, would reissue a provisional approval of Amazon’s £442m deal to buy a 16 per cent stake in Deliveroo, Sky News reported. The watchdog [...]
Apple makes concessions to developers after outcry June 23, 2020 Apple is to begin allowing developers that break its App Store rules to appeal company decisions, marking a change in its policy as outside scrutiny of its marketplace ramps up. Similarly, updates to apps that include minor bug fixes will not be delayed while an appeal is in progress. The move was prompted by a [...]
Google faces calls from staff to end tech sales to police June 23, 2020 Google employees have been circulating an internal petition to push the tech giant to stop selling its services to police forces, following similar moves from other companies. More than 1,600 employees are said to have signed the petition so far, seen by Reuters, which voiced disappointment with Google for not joining the “millions who want [...]
Big tech vs the market: what you need to know June 23, 2020 | City Talk Big tech has led the global market recovery in the wake of Covid-19. Can the dominance of the FAMAGs continue? On 8 June the S&P 500 of US stocks recovered all their Covid-19 losses for 2020. The so-called FAMAGs (Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple and Alphabet (Google’s parent company)) led that recovery. Even before the pandemic, [...]
Getting small businesses match fit for economic recovery June 23, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic is having a profound shock on the economy, with UK GDP dropping by a record 20.4 per cent in April. Businesses of all sizes have been shaken, with many — especially smaller ones — struggling to survive. It has also become clear that there is no longer a separate digital economy and [...]
Amazon launches accelerator for UK startups and small businesses June 23, 2020 Amazon has today launched an accelerator programme for the UK’s small businesses and startups, aimed at providing them with digital tools to recover lost income during the coronavirus crisis. Launched in partnership with small business support network Enterprise Nation, the Amazon Small Business Accelerator will operate a free online training programme for 200,000 businesses. The [...]
Apple WWDC 2020: Everything Apple announced June 22, 2020 Tech giant Apple today unveiled its latest product updates at the annual WWDC developer conference, streamed online from the Steve Jobs Theater in California for the first time. Usually a five-day, $1,600 event for tech developers to learn about the latest tools for making apps, the WWDC — which stands for Worldwide Developer Conference — [...]