The United States House of Representatives has taken a decisive step against the popular social media app TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, by passing a crucial bill. This legislation compels ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations within six months or face a nationwide ban.

Legislative moves against TikTok amid 2024 election concerns

The bill’s passage signifies a crucial moment in the ongoing discourse over balancing national security with free expression and innovation rights. It spotlights the intricate motivations behind the proposed ban, the political dynamics involved, and the extensive implications for U.S. tech policy and the landscape of global digital governance.

Central to the initiative to ban TikTok is the escalating concern among U.S. lawmakers regarding the app’s potential exploitation by the Chinese government. According to Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, U.S. officials have raised alarms about TikTok’s management being “beholden to the Chinese government,” emphasizing concerns.

The U.S. Department of Justice amplifies these concerns with warnings about the risks posed by ByteDance’s Beijing headquarters to American users’ privacy and data security, in the context of China’s notoriety for surveillance and censorship.

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Reuters has highlighted that the bill’s passage is a clear display of significant bipartisan agreement in an otherwise divided political environment, securing an overwhelming majority with 352 votes for and 65 against. Sponsored by Mike Gallagher, the Republican head of the House’s select committee on China, and Democrat Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, the legislation has garnered extensive support across party lines, though it has faced some opposition.

Implementing the ban: Challenges and implications

Arizona Senate candidate, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez highlighted, “There are serious antitrust and privacy questions here, and any national security concerns should be laid out to the public prior to a vote.” This situation underscores the complex interplay of technology, privacy, and national security in legislative processes.

Implementing such a ban presents practical hurdles. Questions linger about whether China would permit the sale of TikTok’s U.S. assets or if such a divestiture could realistically be achieved within the designated timeframe.

Furthermore, the ban would impose restrictions on app stores and web hosting services, potentially transforming the manner—or indeed, the possibility—of TikTok’s access by U.S. users. This strategy echoes actions taken by nations like India and Nepal, which have cited national security reasons for banning TikTok, and mirrors measures by the U.S. and its allies to restrict the app on government-owned devices.

The potential prohibition of TikTok bears significant political weight, especially with the 2024 election on the horizon. TikTok has become a critical platform for engaging younger voters, which has traditionally leaned towards the Democratic Party. The active use of TikTok by the Biden campaign illustrates the app’s pivotal role in connecting with this demographic.

Nonetheless, as House Republicans point out, this proposed ban could signify ‘the most substantial threat to the app since the Trump administration,’ potentially stripping the Democrats of a vital engagement tool.

Senate’s deliberation on TikTok: The road ahead in 2024 and beyond

As this bill heads to the Senate, its future is uncertain. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has indicated that the Senate will deliberate on the legislation, albeit without a definitive schedule. Senator Maria Cantwell, chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, has voiced a preference for “legislation that can withstand judicial scrutiny,” suggesting a thorough and cautious evaluation of the bill’s implications. This sentiment mirrors a broader aspiration among senators to address threats from foreign apps in a comprehensive manner, avoiding piecemeal legislative efforts.

The TikTok debate encapsulates the broader challenges facing digital platform regulation in an era marked by intense global technology competition and digital sovereignty concerns. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew’s engagements on Capitol Hill, where he cautioned that the bill “could lead to TikTok’s ban in the United States,” underscore the high stakes for the company and its millions of American users. Senator Ron Wyden’s remark that “history teaches us that haste in tech legislation often leads to errors” emphasizes the importance of deliberate and informed policy-making.

TikTok CEO speaks on the ban in the U.S. (Source – X)

This legislative push against TikTok marks a pivotal point in the intersection of technology, politics, and national security. With bipartisan momentum to mitigate perceived threats from foreign-owned applications, the outcome of this endeavor will profoundly affect the future of digital communication, political mobilization, and international relations in the digital epoch. As the Senate contemplates its next steps, the broader discussion on balancing security concerns against the benefits of a globally interconnected digital ecosystem continues to evolve.

The looming decision on TikTok’s fate in the United States is a testament to the complex interplay between constitutional freedoms and cybersecurity imperatives. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s cautious stance on advancing the bill, juxtaposed with President Biden’s readiness to sign it into law, highlights the nuanced deliberations that define the legislative process.

This scenario is reminiscent of previous attempts to regulate TikTok, including an executive order by former President Donald Trump that encountered legal obstacles. Public sentiment on TikTok remains divided, reflecting broader debates on privacy, security, and freedom of expression in the digital age.

In response to the legislative proceedings, TikTok has launched an extensive lobbying campaign, emphasizing the platform’s commitment to data security and its integral role in the lives of millions for personal and business purposes. This includes engaging its vast creator community, though this strategy has faced criticism. The potential hurdles for TikTok extend beyond legislative challenges, encompassing antitrust concerns and the complexities of divesting U.S. operations under the scrutiny of both U.S. and Chinese authorities.

The business community and investors are keenly observing these developments, considering ByteDance’s valuation and the broader implications for the digital market landscape. Should the bill become law, it would signify a pivotal shift in how social media platforms operate within the U.S., potentially redefining the digital space for American users and content creators alike.

The discourse surrounding TikTok’s proposed ban highlights the ongoing tensions between technological innovation and regulatory oversight and signals a potential shift in the digital competitive landscape. A ban could inadvertently benefit competitors like Meta’s Instagram Reels, illustrating the intricate dynamics in the global tech ecosystem. This scenario underlines the wide-ranging consequences of regulatory actions, shaping the future of digital interaction, political discourse, and international tech competition.

The global dimension of TikTok’s regulatory challenges

Beyond the United States, TikTok faces regulatory scrutiny worldwide, emphasizing the global dimension of its challenges.

Italy’s antitrust authority has imposed a fine of 10 million euros (US$10.94 million) on TikTok for not sufficiently monitoring content that could harm minors or vulnerable individuals. TikTok, a subsidiary of the Chinese corporation ByteDance, faces global regulatory scrutiny, alongside other social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, to enhance protection for underage users.

The Italian watchdog criticized TikTok for not effectively preventing the distribution of dangerous content, such as videos promoting the ‘French scar’ challenge, and for failing to adhere to its safety assurances. Despite TikTok’s claim of limiting the visibility of such videos to users under 18, Italy’s AGCOM demanded their removal last month, criticizing TikTok for failing to effectively prevent the distribution of dangerous content and for not adhering to its own safety assurances.

In addition to Italy’s actions, TikTok is confronting challenges in the United States, where a proposed bill could ban the app unless ByteDance divests its U.S. operations within six months, reflecting ongoing national security concerns over Chinese technology.

Simultaneously, Canada is examining TikTok’s expansion proposal for national security implications, which might lead to mitigation requests or block the expansion. This scrutiny comes as Canada previously prohibited TikTok on government devices due to privacy and security risks, and its privacy commissioner is investigating the app’s data practices. Despite these challenges, TikTok has expressed its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of its platform for users in Canada.

Canada reviewing TikTok’s expansion plan (Source – Shutterstock)

As we move towards the 2024 election, the future of TikTok is becoming a hot topic amid legislative scrutiny and concerns over national security. With bipartisan worries about data privacy and security front and center, this legislation has kicked off a nuanced debate about the role of digital platforms in the U.S. As this conversation unfolds, it’s set to have significant implications for the digital competitive scene, political dialogue, and how Americans interact with social media as the election gets closer. It’s a complex issue that’s drawing a lot of attention, shaping up to be a key discussion point as we head into the next election cycle.

The post What’s happening with TikTok as 2024 progresses? Is a ban in the U.S. imminent? appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

When tensions between the US and China heightened in February this year over a potential Chinese surveillance balloon, US President Joe Biden immediately called off his Secretary of State’s planned trip to China. The US needed the trip to mend the rift with China for a more “constructive” relationship.

But as anticipated, the Americans were not giving up. On an early Sunday morning on June 18, 2023, Anthony Blinken arrived in Beijing – the first US Secretary of State visit to China in five years. The mission remained the same – to try to cool the exploding tensions that have set many worldwide on edge.

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The closely watched two-day visit involved Blinken meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Sunday, followed by the Director of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee Foreign Affairs Commission Office Wang Yi on Monday. What caught global attention was his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“President Biden asked me to travel to Beijing because he believes that the US and China have an obligation and responsibility to manage our relationship. The US is committed to doing that. It’s in the interest of the US, in the interests of China, and in the interest of the world,” Blinked said in his welcome note at the Chinese capital Monday.

While Blinken’s talks with senior Chinese officials were seen as a critical litmus test for whether the two governments could stop relations from continuing to plummet at a time of lingering distrust, his 30-minute meeting with Xi mainly was to echo his administration’s desire for “de-risking and diversifying” their economic relationships with China, not “decoupling.”

Had a candid, substantive, and constructive conversation with People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping in Beijing today. We discussed a range of important issues, including the need to manage our relationship responsibly. pic.twitter.com/Q8kuMm6kly

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) June 19, 2023

What did Xi and Blinken discuss about the US and China?

Blinken and Xi held talks at the Great Hall of the People, the grand building on the west side of Tiananmen Square, where the latter often receives dignitaries. “Mr. Secretary, welcome to China. Director Wang Yi and State Councilor Qin Gang have met or held talks with you at length, and generally speaking, the two sides have had candid (inaudible) discussions,” Xi said.

On a relatively friendly note, at the top of the meeting, Xi praised the US and China for progressing in the right direction. “The Chinese side has made our decision clear, and the two sides have agreed to follow through with the common understandings President Biden and I had reached in Bali. The two sides have also made progress and agreed on specific issues. This is very good,” Xi noted.

China and the US, the world’s two largest economies, have been under growing pressure from other nations to tamp down their governments’ increasingly contentious stances toward each other. The two countries have opposing positions on towering issues:

• The status of Taiwan, the de facto independent island that Beijing claims as its territory.
• The Chinese military’s growing footprint.
• The development of advanced technologies.
• Russia’s war in Ukraine.
• Human rights.

A report by South China Morning Post (SCMP) indicated that Xi, in what appeared to be a conciliatory tone, said China hoped for the return of “healthy and stable” relations with the US and that he believed the two countries could “overcome all difficulties and find the right way to get along.”

Xi even urged Washington to adopt a “rational and pragmatic attitude” when dealing with Beijing, put their positive statements into action, and work towards improving US-China ties. He even called for Blinken to contribute more positively to stabilizing China-US relations. The Chinese leader believes that since China respects the interests of the US and will not challenge or replace them, he expects the same from the US. 

“Similarly, the United States must also respect China and not harm its legitimate rights and interests. Neither party can shape the other according to its wishes, let alone deprive the other of its legitimate right to development,” Xi said, according to SCMP. 

Acknowledging that his visit to China was a step in the right direction, Blinken reiterated that Washington and Beijing recognized the need to stabilize the relationship. However, it was still far from solving every problem between the two countries. “Progress is hard, it takes time, and it’s not the product of one visit, one trip, one conversation,” he added.

He also anticipates visits by other senior US officials to China “over the coming weeks.” So far, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo have indicated their hope to travel to China this year.  

While it remains unclear whether high-level diplomacy can change the trajectory of relations, US officials say they hope, at the very least, that such talks will allow each side to see more clearly the intentions of the other and avert miscalculations.

On an early Sunday morning on June 18, 2023, Anthony Blinken arrived in Beijing – the first US Secretary of State visit to China in five years. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)

Harsh reality for the US

While the meeting with Xi was a gentle end-note to Blinken’s visit, the US top official also heard some harsh words over his two-day visit. In his meeting with Wang on Monday morning, the CCP Central Foreign Affairs Office director delivered a blunt message during a three-hour session at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, blaming Washington for recent tensions.

According to the Chinese government, Wang said Washington should cooperate with Beijing instead of “hyping” the “China threat theory.” He even repeated that Washington must lift sanctions on China and stop suppressing the country’s technological development. Tha’s not all: Wang accused the US of “recklessly interfering in China’s internal affairs” on issues such as Taiwan, which the United States supplies with weapons.

While American politicians have tried to portray the Biden administration as soft on China, Biden and his aides have enacted tough, sweeping commercial policies such as export controls to limit China’s growth in strategic sectors, notably semiconductors. The US had even strengthened military cooperation with other countries across Asia.

What’s next in the US-China tech war?

Truth be told, the US initiated most of the technology or trade tussle between both powerhouses. The tech war started as a trade dispute and soon morphed into a battle for leadership in core technologies like 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and semiconductors. 

With its long history of R&D and invention, the US has been the global tech leader for decades, but that position has been challenged by China, which has thrown its total weight – and tens of billions in state funding – behind efforts to catch up to the US.

But since Washington began blocking China’s access to core US-controlled technologies like semiconductors, Beijing doubled its efforts to “de-Americanise” its supply chain. Top officials have begun earnest dialogue but the tech war won’t end anytime soon. 

What remains certain is that enterprises in different economic sectors worldwide are bound to get caught in the crossfire between the world’s two largest economies.

The post Blinken recently visited China. Here are the key takeaways appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

On the afternoon of November 14, the President of China, Xi Jinping, met with the US President Joe Biden in Bali, Indonesia – their first in-person encounter since the latter took office. The meeting, albeit closed door, offered a clarifying opportunity for the world’s most important bilateral relationship.

The two presidents had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on issues of strategic importance in China-US relations and major global and regional issues. Biden and Xi agreed in their opening remarks that they were looking for ways to coexist despite their disagreements.

Between November 14 and now, a lot has happened between both nations, including the US military shooting down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America. The presence of the balloon in the skies above the US in February this year dealt a severe blow to the already strained US-China relations that have been in a downward spiral for years. 

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It immediately prompted the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to abruptly cancel a high-stakes Beijing trip aimed at easing tensions. Conversely, China has claimed that the balloon was merely a weather research “airship” that had been blown off course. The Pentagon rejected that out of hand — as well as China’s contention that it was not being used for surveillance and had limited navigational ability.

Since then, the US and China have maintained an arm’s length distance, and relations have been wholly paused between the superpowers until last week when top US and China envoys met in Vienna in what is dubbed the highest in-person engagement since Xi and Biden’s meet-up in November.

When in Vienna, with US and China

After two intense meetings on May 10 and 11 between national security adviser Jake Sullivan and top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi, the two nations used identical language to describe the meetings: candid, substantive, constructive. The Vienna meeting came ahead of Biden’s expected visit to Asia, starting with a G7 summit in Japan from May 19-21 that is likely to look for closer alignment of the group’s approach towards China.

According to statements from the White House and the Chinese embassy, the outcome of the eight-hour-long meeting was an agreement to maintain communication. “The two sides agreed to maintain this important strategic communication channel to advance these objectives,” the White House said.

Among key issues in the US-China bilateral relationship that were discussed include global and regional security issues, Russia’s war against Ukraine, and cross-Strait issues, among other topics. China’s embassy in Washington DC said the “in-depth” talks focused “on removing obstacles in China-US relations and stabilizing the relationship from deterioration.” 

A report by China’s state news agency Xinhua indicated that the Taiwan issue was on the agenda during the Sullivan-Wang talks. “Wang Yi comprehensively elaborated on China’s solemn position on the Taiwan issue,” Xinhua added. “The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern, such as the Asia-Pacific situation and Ukraine. 

Frankly, the statements on May 11 were the most transparent signal since bilateral engagement broke down earlier this year that it was reigniting. Just before the Sullivan-Wang discussions took place, there was also a meeting between US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns and China’s second-highest diplomat, Qin Gang, last week. 

Even the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had recently said he hopes to reschedule a postponed trip to China in February after a row over the alleged Chinese spy balloon that was shot down over the US. While the talks are, without a doubt, the latest in a series of minor signs that tensions could be easing between the world’s two biggest economies, other events on the horizon will test both countries’ ability to keep engagement intact.

The post What happened between the US and China in Vienna? appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the US, India and China were competing with each other for technical superiority in each sector. Be it quantum computing, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, or semiconductors, each country had its own master plan for achieving its goals.

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While India may seem to be trailing behind China and the US, its capabilities in matching China’s manufacturing strength, adaptability and growing tech population is making the country quickly become a tech giant nation itself. In fact, India’s semiconductor industry is growing rapidly, while its EV ambitions are now being taken seriously around the globe.

Despite the competition between the three countries, there are still concerns among them when it comes to using technology from China. Both the US and India continue to take action against Chinese technologies that are being used in their countries, with some applications and tech brands even being banned.

The Indian government has already banned apps that are Chinese-owned since June 2020. This includes social media apps like TikTok, WeChat, Bigo Live as well as gaming apps like PUBG. Citing privacy and espionage concerns, the banning of China technology products has even raised concerns that Chinese-made mobile phones, which are extremely popular in India, facing similar situations as well.

Now, India’s Ministry of Electronics and IT has begun a process to ban and block 138 betting apps and 94 loan lending apps with Chinese links, according to a report by Reuters. The ban comes under India’s IT law that allows the government to block public access to content in the interest of national security.

When it comes to mobile devices, the Indian government has stated that Chinese smartphone companies like Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi will not be banned in the country. The government has also asked smartphone makers to increase exports from India.

It’s a similar scenario in the US as well. While China has banned Google and several other tech sites in the country, the US has imposed similar sanctions on Chinese apps. TikTok continues to face challenges operating there with the app already banned from usage on government devices in several states. The House of Representatives will also be looking to vote for a complete ban of the app in March this year. Given the US being the country with the most TikTok users, it remains to be seen how the ban will go down with users in the country.

When it comes to hardware, Huawei seems to be the main target. While many criticized former US President Donald Trump’s actions towards the tech company, current US President Joe Biden seems to be continuing the legacy as well. Most of Huawei’s hardware is already banned in the US, and also by some of its allies, but there are now reports that a complete ban on the tech company could be on the horizon as well.

So with the US and India giving Chinese technology a hard time, China may just find its redeemer in Southeast Asia. The fastest growing economic region in the world is already witnessing rapid technology adoption, thanks to its capabilities of using new technologies with minimal legacy technology.

China’s Huawei and Alibaba have already made significant investments in Southeast Asia and are expected to continue to develop their business in the region. Huawei specifically is looking at providing its 5G infrastructure to both mainland Southeast Asia and also the thousands of islands in the region.

TikTok parent company ByteDance has also increased its investments in the region. The company has already announced plans for new data centers and is also looking to cater more products to meet the demands of local customers. In fact, TikTok’s gross merchandise volume in Southeast Asia reached US$4.4 billion in 2022.

While some ASEAN nations are concerned by China’s continued dominance over the South China Sea, the investments China is bringing to nations in the region are seemingly enabling them to grow and remain influential in the region. Countries like Vietnam, Laos and Thailand continue to enjoy the benefits of Chinese investments in their nation.

For Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, China remains an essential trade partner to them. It is also important to note that all of the nations in Southeast Asia want to maintain their good relationships with the US and India as well. Unlike most US allies, ASEAN’s relationship with China remains positive which is why the country could end up finding the region its biggest redeemer for its technology in the near future.

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The backlash has been swift and heavy. In the hours following Trump’s speech on Thursday afternoon, countless criticisms have been leveled at the president – from world leaders and top environmentalists to the biggest business and technology giants.

Tesla’s Elon Musk and Walt Disney Co.’s CEO Bob Iger have both withdrawn from Trump’s advisory council in protest of his decision. Apple’s Tim Cook expressed his disappointment in a letter to employees, seen by Bloomberg, and said he tried to convince Trump not to make such a decision.

Cook said in the letter.

“Climate change is real and we all share a responsibility to fight it.”

“I know many of you share my disappointment with the White House’s decision.”

Twitter’s Jack Dorsey and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg also added their thoughts of disappointment. Dorsey said the move was “incredibly short-sighted” and “backwards”, while Zuckerberg expressed concern it “puts our children at risk”.

But perhaps most apt was Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s Lloyd Blankfein’s response. He was so dismayed by the president’s decision he posted for the first time on Twitter since he joined the platform in 2011:

Today's decision is a setback for the environment and for the U.S.'s leadership position in the world. #ParisAgreement

— Lloyd Blankfein (@lloydblankfein) June 1, 2017

Blankfein’s opinion has been echoed worldwide, with many wondering: Has Trump’s decision opened the door for China to become the global leader in environmental issues, green technology, and other global matters beyond climate change?

China has been arming itself to fill this position for years, in an effort to reach its goal of stopping carbon emissions growth by 2030.

According to the Associated Press, China has beaten the US in its transition to renewable energy. It produces a fifth of its electricity from renewable sources, whereas the US only generates about 13 percent of its electricity that way.

China has also been aggressively charging towards dominance in the electric vehicle market, announcing plans in February to transform its taxi fleet to electric cars within five years – that’s 70,000 gas and diesel-powered cars it wishes to replace, reported Forbes.

SEE ALSO: ‘It’s about exploration’: NASA’s Dennis Andruyck talks climate change, big data and Mars

China’s President Xi Jinping has pledged to “protect” the Paris climate deal time and time again, and in an address to the United Nations in Geneva earlier this year, he said: “The Paris agreement is a milestone in the history of climate governance. We must ensure this endeavor is not derailed.

“All parties should work together to implement the Paris agreement. China will continue to take steps to tackle climate change and fully honor its obligations.”

Xi and Trump’s opinions on climate change couldn’t be more different.

While Xi has positioned himself as a protector of the environment, Trump has labeled climate change a “hoax” during his campaign trail for the presidency, and also derided the facts as “expensive global warming bullshit“.

He has also repeatedly blamed China for global pollution:

We should be focusing on beautiful, clean air & not on wasteful & very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bullshit! China & others are hurting our air

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2013

The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012

So, it comes as no surprise the Chinese government saw Trump’s decision coming, and have begun preparing themselves. Premier Li Keqiang has scheduled a meeting with officials from the European Union to discuss the matter on Friday in Brussels.

Jerry Brown, governor of California – US’ largest state economy – told AP he would be travelling to China this week to “build foreign support for carbon-cutting efforts”. He said alliances with China would “build momentum for a clean-energy future”.

China’s desire and single-minded drive to take leadership in technological advances has given them an edge in many sectors globally. And now with Trump stepping aside and bowing them into a position of command in matters of the Earth, China is that much closer to claiming the coveted keys to the kingdom of global influence, significance and power.

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Infosys is the largest employer of workers under the United States H1-B visa program for skilled workers, which has been under fire as the Trump administration moves to tighten a range of immigration laws. Many large companies hire so-called outsourcing firms such as Infosys to manage their computer operations.

Infosys announced three weeks ago it would hire 10,000 Americans, and said on Monday it had leased 35,000sq ft of office space in downtown Indianapolis.

SEE ALSO: India: Infosys pledges over 10k American hires amid pressure from US govt

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, who succeeded Vice-President Mike Pence in the state’s top office, and Indiana University president Michael McRobbie appeared at the San Francisco event to voice their support.

Infosys deputy chief operating officer Ravi Kumar said the company would be looking to hire both experienced professionals and recent college graduates at a range of skill levels.

Each month, Ravi said, the company planned to put large batches of prospective employees through training courses of eight to 10 weeks that will prepare them for positions in fields like data analytics, enterprise cloud applications and cybersecurity.

He said the new moves did not reflect any major change in the company’s business model, with US workers being compensated at the same level as H1-B visa professionals.

SEE ALSO: India: Infosys, Wipro warn staff of dark clouds ahead due to global conflicts

The company also used the meeting to highlight the launch of Infosys Nia, a new artificially intelligent service designed to allow IT professionals to automate more of their tasks. Infosys stressed AI and automation are the future of technology, and that innovations in these areas will allow enterprises to be more productive without having to hire more people.

“If problem-solving is going to be done by machines, then problem-finding is the human frontier,” Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka said in his keynote. – Reuters

The post Infosys touts plan to hire Americans in face of visa pressures appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

The US National Security Agency (NSA) should shoulder some blame for the attack, which targets vulnerabilities in Microsoft Corp systems and has infected some 30,000 Chinese organizations as of Saturday, the China Daily said.

“Concerted efforts to tackle cyber crimes have been hindered by the actions of the United States,” it said, adding Washington had “no credible evidence” to support bans on Chinese tech firms in the US following the attack.

NSA agents say using EternalBlue, the leaked exploit used in WannaCry ransomware, was like "fishing with dynamite" https://t.co/5v8ZZZZvDw pic.twitter.com/oW75jBOPkC

— Mikael Thalen (@MikaelThalen) May 17, 2017

The malware attack, which began on Friday and has been linked by some researchers to previous hits by a North Korean-run hacking operation, leveraged a tool built by the NSA that leaked online in April, Microsoft says.

It comes as China prepares to enforce a wide-reaching cyber security law US business groups say will threaten the operations of foreign firms in China with strict local data storage laws and stringent surveillance requirements.

China’s cyber authorities have repeatedly pushed for what they call a more “equitable” balance in global cyber governance, criticizing US dominance.

The China Daily pointed to the US ban on Chinese telecommunication provider Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., saying the curbs were hypocritical given the NSA leak.

Beijing has previously said the proliferation of fake news on US social media sites, which are largely banned in China, is a reason to tighten global cyber governance.

SEE ALSO: Real winners of the WannaCry ransomware attack? Insurance companies

The newspaper said the role of the US security apparatus in the attack should “instill greater urgency” in China’s mission to replace foreign technology with its own.

The state-run People’s Daily compared the cyberattack to the terrorist hacking depicted in the US film Die Hard 4, warning China’s role in global trade and internet connectivity opened it to increased risks from overseas.

The fast-spreading cyber extortion campaign eased for the second day on Tuesday, but the identity and motive of its creators remain unknown. – Reuters

The post US should take some blame for cyberattack – Chinese state media appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

The President has claimed companies like Infosys displace locals by bringing in foreign workers on H1-B visas and last month he signed an executive order designed to scale back its use.

Indian outsourcing firms have frequently said this is a necessity due a shortage of tech talent in the US, though many claim it is aimed at keeping costs low. But in an increasingly protectionist political climate companies like Infosys may have to balance increased labor costs against keeping the administration happy.

SEE ALSO: India: Infosys founder Narayana Murthy criticizes COO’s pay hike

“In the fast-changing world of today, we need the ability to be local. We need to be trusted by our customers as being local,” CEO Vishal Sikka told Bloomberg. “To work with a mix of global and local talent is absolutely the right thing to do.”

Alongside the extra hires the company said it would open four new “innovation hubs” in the US that will focus on cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud, and big data.

But the company was keen to stress that the decisions is as much about developing new business models to cope with the impact of these new technologies as it is about keeping American politicians sweet.

“More and more of the work that we do going forward will be about rapid implementations, very agile implementations, problem finding and design thinking and empathy for clients,” Sikka told The Times of India. “You need a great amount of presence locally.”

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Berkshire Hathaway’s real estate brokerage is expanding its global reach https://t.co/VIp8VpXFGE pic.twitter.com/qCmbqadmtb

— Bloomberg (@business) April 17, 2017

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices believes the agreement will make it “much easier” for the two million monthly users of Juwai.com and Juwai.com/luxe to browse franchisees’ residential listings, chief executive Gino Blefari said in a statement.

The Chinese surpassed Canadians as the largest foreign buyers of US residential property in 2013, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Including buyers from Hong Kong and Taiwan, the Chinese accounted for US$27.3 billion (or 26.7 percent) of international sales in the year ended March 2016, the trade group said.

“The US is a safe, attractive investment opportunity for foreigners, especially the Chinese,” Peter Turtzo, who is spearheading Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ foreign push as senior vice-president of international operations, said in an interview.

Juwai will offer an easy link for Chinese investors to purchase US real estate, tapping into an already strong demand. Source: Juwai.com

Turtzo said Chinese buyers spent in the “mid-US$900,000s” on average for US homes, triple what US buyers spent, often using them as second homes or to house children attending American colleges and universities.

Berkshire’s HomeServices of America Inc, the second-largest US residential real estate brokerage, is the majority owner of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. It has expanded rapidly and now accounts for about one percent of its parent’s overall profit.

Juwai.com, which is analogous to US portals such as Realtor.com and Trulia, hosts sites on both sides of China’s Internet censorship mechanism known as the Great Firewall, making it easier to browse.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices also hopes the agreement will help it benefit from Buffett’s popularity in China.

The 86-year-old billionaire, known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” recently let Coca-Cola Co. put his smiling likeness on cans of Cherry Coke, which he drinks often, in China.

SEE ALSO: China overtakes Singapore as top investor in Malaysian real estate

He is also providing real-time translation only in Mandarin for the May 6 webcast of Berkshire’s annual shareholder meeting. Berkshire is a large investor in Chinese car company BYD Co.

“There is no way our brand would be as successful without the endorsement and support of Warren Buffett,” Turtzo said.

“He is iconic in China as well as in the US, and he comes with a high level of credibility and trust. People believe in him and we find that extremely advantageous in the marketing of our properties globally.” – Reuters

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According to reports by the Financial Times, China is prepared to raise the investment ceiling in the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), as well as end a ban on American beef imports.

US President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart, had their first meeting in Florida last week.

“China was prepared to [raise the investment ceilings] in the BIT, but those negotiations were put on hold [after Trump’s election victory],” a Chinese official involved in the talks told the Financial Times. “Had Obama been in office for another six months we would have gotten there.”

Trump-Xi summit: Trade war averted for now. The "100-day" negotiating agenda to be complex | By @SDonnan & @TMitchPK https://t.co/5ccr5dgRK7

— Chad P. Bown (@ChadBown) April 10, 2017

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross also said on Friday Trump and Xi had agreed to a new 100-day plan for trade talks.

Currently, foreign investors are forbidden from holding a majority stake in securities and insurance companies in China.

A ban on US beef imports has been in place since 2003. According to reports, China will also buy more grains and other agricultural products from the US to reduce tensions.

China has a US$347 billion annual trade surplus in goods it enjoys with its biggest trading partner.

SEE ALSO: US, Japan in talks to prevent China acquiring Westinghouse – US official

Trump’s campaign had threatened last year to put tariffs on Chinese goods and declare Beijing a currency manipulator.

On Saturday, Trump tweeted about his meeting with Xi: “Goodwill and friendship were formed. But only time will tell on trade.”

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