Softbank launches $100m minorities startup fund in the wake of George Floyd protests June 4, 2020 Softbank has launched a new startup fund to invest in companies led by “people of colour” in the wake of protests over the death of George Floyd. The Japanese technology giant announced the $100m (£80m) Opportunity Growth Fund as other executives of firms speak out over racial inequality. Chief executive Masayoshi Son wrote on Twitter [...]
Channel 4 to air Hollyoaks on Snapchat as it targets young viewers June 4, 2020 Channel 4 today said it will air Hollyoaks on Snapchat as part of a fresh deal to bring more than 300 episodes of its TV programmes to the social media app over the next year. From today the broadcaster will show short-form edits of the soap opera favourite on Snapchat’s Discover section. The Undateables, The [...]
Let hydrogen fuel our vehicles to a greener future June 4, 2020 Almost exactly a year ago, the UK became the first major economy to sign into law an ambition to become carbon neutral by 2050. Getting to “net zero” will be a monumental feat, and will require both behavioural changes and new technological solutions coming to market. Such efforts are essential to protect against the worst [...]
Zoom revenue surges as video conferencing app cashes in on Covid-19 June 3, 2020 Zoom has reported a huge surge in revenue for the first quarter as the video conferencing app enjoys booming demand during the coronavirus lockdown. The California-based company posted revenue of $328.2m (£260.8m) in the first three months of the year, an increase of 169 per cent on the same period in 2019. Zoom also lifted [...]
Twitter’s feud with Trump could be a savvy business move June 3, 2020 The social media founders promised utopias, where speech would be democratised and each of us would be given our voice in the public square. Utopias, however, have always been tricky. The term was coined by Thomas More in his 1516 work of the same name, and it was a pun that More’s learned readers would [...]
US senator: China using Huawei to ‘drive wedge’ in UK-US relationship June 3, 2020 China is using telecoms giant Huawei to “drive a hi-tech wedge” into the special relationship between the UK and the US, a top US senator told MPs yesterday. Republican Tom Cotton is a vocal critic of Huawei and is part of a group of US senators who have urged Britain to reverse its decision to [...]
Facebook launches new tool to help users hide old posts June 2, 2020 Facebook has today launched a new tool designed to help users hide old posts that could harm their job prospects. The new privacy tool, labelled Manage Activity, will allow Facebook users to either hide certain posts from public view and store them in an archive or remove them from the site completely. “Whether you’re entering [...]
Facebook blasted by civil rights leaders over Donald Trump riot post June 2, 2020 Facebook has been accused of setting a “dangerous precedent” after refusing to remove a post from US President Donald Trump that has been widely condemned for inciting violence. Trump’s post, which referred to protests against the killing of George Floyd in police custody last week, was flagged by Twitter for “glorifying violence”. But Facebook boss [...]
O2 reopening after lockdown with virtual queueing technology June 1, 2020 O2 will reopen its stores across England this month, with new layouts and a virtual queuing system as part of its safety measures during the pandemic. At the so-called future stores, which will open from 15 June, customers will skip queues and instead join a virtual system. They will receive a text when an advisor [...]
Facebook employees stage rebellion over Mark Zuckerberg’s inaction on Trump June 1, 2020 Facebook staff have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction with Mark Zuckerberg over his refusal to act against Donald Trump. Employees at all levels of the company, including some senior executives, took to criticising Zuckerberg for his decision to leave up the Facebook version of a tweet sent by Trump. The president appeared [...]