A UK-based COVID-19 digital passport, developed by tech companies Mvine and iProov, is moving into a live testing phase. The passport, backed by Innovate UK, enables a person’s test result or vaccination status to be registered and proved without disclosing their identity, and without the need for extensive new infrastructure.
Volkswagen is to use commercetools’ cloud-based software to launch a new group-wide e-commerce platform. The partnership will help the car manufacturer deliver new commerce functionality and online channels.
Concerns have been raised by several watchdogs about Amazon’s “manipulative” design techniques that make it unreasonably difficult to unsubscribe from its Prime service. A study by The Norwegian Consumer Council (NCC) said that the process of cancelling an Amazon Prime subscription is “riddled with a combination of manipulative design techniques, known as ‘dark patterns.’”
Chinese drone manufacturer DJI is reportedly forming an engineering team that will focus on self-driving technologies. According to Reuters, job posts have revealed that the business is hiring engineers for auto electronics, autonomous driving, and in-car software.
Parler, the self-proclaimed alternative to Twitter, could be cut off permanently, its chief executive John Matze told Reuters on Wednesday. Parler is currently in the process of suing Amazon Web Services (AWS) over its decision to suspend the social media platform.
Sennder, which bought Uber’s freight business last year, has raised $160 million in investment. The funding puts the value of the business at over $1 billion.
Worldwide spend on mobile apps jumped by 20 per cent to $143 billion last year. Top markets driving the increase include China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, according to App Annie’s latest State of Mobile report.
General Motors (GM) has announced plans to develop a flying Cadillac that will transport passengers across cities. The self-driving vehicle, which is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone, will be able to carry a single passenger, and will travel from city rooftops at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour.
Alternative messaging platforms are experiencing a surge in users after WhatsApp announced new data sharing rules earlier this month. Platforms Signal and Telegram have reportedly seen heightened downloads as a result of the announcement about data sharing rules.
Parler is suing Amazon Web Services (AWS) over its decision to suspend the social media platform. The tech giant, which up until Sunday supported the microblogging website with its cloud computing service, suspended the account after it found posts encouraging violence.
European Union commissioner Thierry Breton has said violence by pro-Trump rioters at the US Capitol will prompt an era of tougher social media regulation. The EU commissioner for internal market compared the fallout from the storming of the government building to the global crackdown on terrorism that was triggered by the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York.
Payment processing business Stripe has banned all donations to the Trump campaign in response to violence that took place in Capitol Hill last week. Last Wednesday pro-trump rioters stormed the Capitol building in Washington, resulting in the deaths of at least five people.
Hyundai has said it is in early talks with Apple after local media reported an electric car and battery tie-up between the two businesses, said Reuters. The news pushed Hyundai shares up by around 25 per cent.
Those using WhatsApp in the UK and EU will avoid new rules that force users to share their data with Facebook. Users outside of the European region will have to agree with updates to data sharing rules by 8 February or delete their accounts.
BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, has said it is disappointed that algorithms have again been blamed in general for last year’s exams results crisis. The institute said that while the government’s decision cancel exams this summer is “understandable,” it did not agree that algorithms were solely responsible for mistakes made in determining exam results last year.