Government ‘likely to miss’ 2025 full-fibre broadband target October 7, 2020 The government’s promise to provide full-fibre broadband to every home in the UK by 2025 is likely to be missed without sweeping reforms of telecoms policy, according to a new report. Prime Minister Boris Johnson made “levelling up” the country’s broadband provision a key part of his election manifesto and last year pledged £5bn to [...]
Citigroup fires employee who ran QAnon conspiracy website October 7, 2020 Citigroup has sacked an employee in its technology department after it emerged he ran a popular website dedicated to the QAnon conspiracy theory. Jason Gelinas, who worked as an information technology specialist, was identified by fact checking website Logically.ai as the operator of the website QMap.pub. He was initially placed on leave from the investment [...]
Bill Gates issues warning over spread of ‘titillating untruths’ on social media October 6, 2020 Bill Gates today took aim at social media platforms for allowing the spread of misinformation relating to the coronavirus pandemic. The business mogul said the Covid-19 crisis had highlighted the “urgent” need to crack down misleading and false information online, which he said spread “so much faster than the truth”. “There’s certainly a human weakness [...]
Facebook removes Trump post claiming flu is more deadly than Covid-19 October 6, 2020 Facebook today removed a post by US President Donald Trump in which he falsely claimed that seasonal flu was more deadly than coronavirus. The social media site removed the post as it breached its policies on misinformation related to Covid-19. In the post Trump falsely claimed that the flu sometimes killed more than 100,000 Americans [...]
Media minister warns Channel 4 could be privatised in fresh broadcasting row October 6, 2020 Media minister John Whittingdale today said the government was mulling a sale of Channel 4 as he launched a fresh salvo on the publicly-owned broadcaster. Speaking at a virtual event during the Tory party conference, Whittingdale said ministers were debating the Great British Bake Off broadcaster’s future amid competition from streaming services such as Netflix [...]
Software mogul John McAfee arrested on US tax evasion charges October 6, 2020 Controversial tech millionaire John McAfee has been arrested in Spain on US charges of tax evasion. The anti-virus mogul, who founded software company McAfee, allegedly failed to file tax returns despite earning millions from promoting cryptocurrencies, speaking engagements and selling the rights to his life story for a documentary. McAfee faces extradition to the US [...]
Swedish telecoms giant Telia sells international carrier business for $1bn October 6, 2020 Swedish telecoms group Telia Company today said it has agreed to sell its international carrier business to infrastructure firm Polhem Infra for 9.5bn Swedish krona ($1.1bn). Telia, which is led by British media veteran Allison Kirkby, said it has simultaneously entered into a long-term partnership with its carrier division to ensure continued network provision for [...]
Yougov hikes dividend by a quarter as Covid-19 data demand drives up revenue October 6, 2020 Yougov today said it will raise its dividend by 25 per cent after strong demand for its data products and services during the coronavirus pandemic helped drive up revenue for the full year. The figures Yougov posted revenue of £152.4m in the year to the end of July, up 12 per cent on 2019. Statutory [...]
Travelex owner Finablr agrees takeover offer after fraud scandal October 6, 2020 Travelex owner Finablr today said it has approved a takeover offer from software group Prism Advance Solutions in a deal that will settle the fraud-hit payment firm’s debts. The deal will see Prism acquire 100 per cent of Finablr and its subsidiaries, though the companies did not disclose the value of the transaction. The agreement [...]
Licence to kill: Will the Bond debacle be fatal for the UK’s cinema sector? October 6, 2020 It was a plot twist that would have made Ian Fleming proud. For decades James Bond has been a leading light of cinema, delivering a reliable string of blockbuster hits to line pockets in Hollywood. But overnight the suave spy has been transformed into a villain, and has left cinemas fighting for survival. The decision [...]
