In the span of just a few weeks, our lives moved from the physical world to digital spaces.
The technology companies that have driven Wall Street for years - Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon - are more important to our daily lives than ever and are reaping the financial rewards. This week, with first-quarter earnings being reported, traditional industries are running out of cash while meanwhile, these giants are rebounding from the initial shock to markets and coming back stronger than ever.
The question now is, what will the lasting effect be of this tech boom on our shared digital culture?
This crisis has accelerated trends that were already present.
We have debated the possibility of remote work and increased automation for years. Covid-19 pushed us into action. But in the rush to adapt to our new digital existence, compromises are being made in terms of users’ privacy, the value of content and how we communicate with one another.
With massive and nearly immediate uptake in turning almost exclusively to the web to run our work and social lives, this new type of digital connection surfaces some thorny issues. In a highly unusual partnership, Apple and Google announced in April that they would work together to create a global contact tracing application for Covid-19.
The companies will add features to the popular Android and iOS operating systems that will allow certain applications to track the physical proximity between phones using Bluetooth radios. If a person with Covid-19 is registered in an application, a user would receive an alert if their phone came in close contact. Varying forms of contact tracing have been used in China and South Korea with great success but the potential for negative consequences is high with regard to negligent oversharing and reckless surveillance.
Experts are in unison that contact tracing can help fight the virus, but users will need to make a leap of faith in order for the apps to make a difference.
For these applications to work, they need buy-in from users. In China, that wasn’t a challenge because users were given no choice but to use the applications. In Western countries, however, privacy experts are already raising alarm bells over potential issues with the system. If there was ever a time for the leading technology companies to demonstrate their commitment to the public good and data privacy it is now.
These types of privacy issues serve as a reminder of just how far we have to go in building a robust digital infrastructure that encourages innovation while protecting consumers. Given the surge in technology use during the crisis, we appear to be going backward when it comes to some basic issues of data privacy.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. We can use this crisis as an opportunity to draft the type of regulations and consumer awareness that are needed to reverse these trends. The first step is addressing the tradeoff between sensible regulations and a marketplace that encourages innovation.
In the US, the world’s most powerful technology companies have been able to grow free from meaningful regulations that specifically safeguard user privacy. By extension, users are more likely to sign up for new services without reading the fine print detailing how their data is used. Just ask yourself: Did you read Zoom’s terms and conditions before you signed up to use the service during Covid-19?
This approach needs to change and, thankfully, there are some precedents that can guide better policy. The EU, for example, has been working to establish new approaches to data that seek to safeguard users’ rights under the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
In 2018, the GDPR came into effect across the EU. The legislation is designed to modernise the laws that protect personal information on the internet. The GDPR forces companies to disclose how they collected certain pieces of user data and what they used the data for. Instead of creating different platforms for different countries, many companies simply updated their entire approach to data collection based on the GDPR for all users. While there have been some hiccups in implementation, the GDPR is widely regarded as a success for users since it gives people more control over their data and knowledge of how it is used on the internet.
We have all experienced the awesome power of technology during the Covid-19 crisis. We have also experienced some of the challenges that such impressive technology brings to the market. The Covid-19 crisis might be the perfect catalyst for a new approach to sensible technology regulations. Such change is critical as Big Tech is poised to emerge from Covid-19 even more dominant. This is a watershed moment for our digital culture. We can’t afford to miss this opportunity to change it for the better.
Mary Ames is the director of strategy at Xische, a venture consulting and communications agency and publishing house in Dubai
ANATOMY%20OF%20A%20FALL
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Sugary teas and iced coffees
The tax authority is yet to release a list of the taxed products, but it appears likely that sugary iced teas and cold coffees will be hit.
For instance, the non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Cold coffee brands are likely to be hit too. Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh960,000
Engine 3.9L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power 661hp @8,000rpm
Torque 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.4L / 100k
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Liverpool’s fixtures until end of 2019
Saturday, November 30, Brighton (h)
Wednesday, December 4, Everton (h)
Saturday, December 7, Bournemouth (a)
Tuesday, December 10, Salzburg (a) CL
Saturday, December 14, Watford (h)
Tuesday, December 17, Aston Villa (a) League Cup
Wednesday, December 18, Club World Cup in Qatar
Saturday, December 21, Club World Cup in Qatar
Thursday, December 26, Leicester (a)
Sunday, December 29, Wolves (h)
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
Lives: In the UAE
Background: M&A, investment banking
Studied: Corporate finance
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
J%20Street%20Polling%20Results
%3Cp%3E97%25%20of%20Jewish-Americans%20are%20concerned%20about%20the%20rise%20in%20anti-Semitism%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E76%25%20of%20US%20Jewish%20voters%20believe%20Donald%20Trump%20and%20his%20allies%20in%20the%20Republican%20Party%20are%20responsible%20for%20a%20rise%20in%20anti-Semitism%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E74%25%20of%20American%20Jews%20agreed%20that%20%E2%80%9CTrump%20and%20the%20Maga%20movement%20are%20a%20threat%20to%20Jews%20in%20America%22%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
