Technology
The subtle rise of a China, U.S. tech cold war
Stakes have been mounting between two of the world’s major superpowers; however, the matter has shied away from ideologies and nuclear weapons and has moved matters into a realm etched into the very fabric of our everyday life: technology.
Noticeably everything sharply ignited by former U.S. president Donald Trump’s blacklisting of Chinese tech titan Huawei back in 2019, tensions have trickled down to other facets in the tech sphere.
But while many have titled these tensions as an uneasy peace between both superpowers, tensions can be felt throughout the entirety of the global tech ecosystem.
The U.S. has made moves to curb the reach of China’s technological power among its allies, by merely pressuring them to block Chinese tech companies from being included within the rollout and deployment of the fifth generation of mobile networks citing data security and cybersecurity at the helm.
But now, matters have escalated forward, going from a trade war to tech war; and China is starting to fight back.
Taming the tech dragon
The first escalation was seen when the eastern country began taming its very own tech sector, especially those that deal with large private user data, its security, as well as overseas listings.
On the surface, this move seems as though China is shooting itself in the foot, by curbing the scale of which its tech sector could innovate, while scaring off investors; but a closer look would show that the eastern superpower is aligning its most dangerous weapons with its political agenda.
But while China’s Premier Li Keqianq declared during the country’s annual legislative session in March that “the state supports the innovation and development of platform companies,” Beijing had subtly pushed another message for its tech giants: No matter how big or innovative they may be, commercial success is secondary to the mission of bolstering Chinese technological security.
An example was made from e-commerce behemoth Alibaba and its FinTech subsidiary Ant Group; the former was slapped with a whopping $2.8 billion fine by regulators citing anti-competitive tactics earlier in April, while the latter was suspended from debuting its ballooning IPO in November of last year.
And now the pressure has intensified.
Injured giants
According to report by Bloomberg, due to continuous pressure from China’s regulators, the country’s tech giants have lost a combined $823 billion in market share since their peak in February.
This was followed by the issuance of a sweeping warning on Tuesday to the country’s Big Tech companies, that the government intends to buckle down on its oversight of data security and oversees listing; a timely move, as local ride hailing Didi had concluded its initial public offering in the U.S.
Prior to that, the country’s internet watchdog pushed matters further by opening a security review into Didi last week, while demanding that the app be removed from local app stores; a move which stunned everyone, including the company’s biggest backer Tencent.
Bloomberg highlighted that these moves have increased pressure not only on the companies themselves, but on their investors who are indirectly being forced to sell their stocks within some of the country’s biggest tech names including Tencent, Alibaba, JD, Baidu, and Meituan.
“The Hang Seng Tech Index, whose members include many of China’s biggest tech companies, fell as much as 1.9 percent before paring losses to 0.6 percent Wednesday, marking its sixth consecutive day of declines. Tencent slid 1.9 percent, among the biggest decliner on the Hang Seng Index. Alibaba dropped 1.7 percent, while Meituan fell 1.3 percent,” Bloomberg’s report explained.
This has rendered any Chinese tech investments in the near future as caveat emptor.
Hong Kong’s collateral damage
With these actions and steps to crack down on its tech sector, the move will likely reflect Beijing’s political belief and strategy of weeding off those who doesn’t succumb to its agenda.
Meanwhile on the side of the camp, U.S.-based tech firms are making threats to pull out of the Hong Kong market due a new security law which aims at curbing doxing.
Doxing is the act of searching and publishing private or identifiable information found online for malicious reasons; this tactic was used during the 2019 mass-democracy protests in Hong Kong. During the events, everyone bore witness to personal details being released by all sides of the spectrum targeting law enforcement, journalists, activists, and their families.
In a letter penned by a coalition representing tech giants such as Facebook, Google, Apple, Twitter, and LinkedIn, the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) warned the city’s Privacy Commissioner that the laws in the bill could unleash “severe sanctions” on individuals and organizations for what it deems as doxing.
The AIC described the law to be “not aligned with global norms and trends.”
“The only way to avoid these sanctions for technology companies would be to refrain from investing and offering their services in Hong Kong, thereby depriving Hong Kong businesses and consumers, whilst also creating new barriers to trade,” the letter said.
But while Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, refuted those claims and stressed that the proposed law only targets “illegal doxing,” it was still internationally condemned, especially with regards to its vagueness.
Lam argued that the law, which was introduced last year, has been successful in maintaining order and stability in the city.
The letter, signed by AIC managing director, Jeff Paine, highlighted that the language used in the draft law would subject intermediaries and local subsidiaries to criminal investigations and prosecution for doxing offences, including for not removing material from platforms.
“This is a completely disproportionate and unnecessary response to doxing, given that intermediaries are neutral platforms with no editorial control over the doxing posts, and are not the persons publishing personal data,” it said.
“In reality, most intermediaries already have notice and takedown regimes in place to deal with doxing content and such requests would be responded to without undue delay.”
This battle could be interpreted as a point of pressure for Beijing – who has started exerting its influence on the metropolitan city – since an exit of such vital tech resources would track back Hong Kong’s ability to remain as a tech innovator across the board.
The semiconductors Frontier
The rising economic and technological tensions between both superpowers have evolved drastically over the years, from a trade war to a tech war, and now stands at the heart of the world’s largest innovation and competition rivalry.
Escalations will continue to simmer over this slow burn, especially as U.S. president Joe Biden looks to bolster the western country’s position in the tech world, by banking on technology’s biggest resource: semi-conductors.
Earlier last month, The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approved the Innovation and Competition Act – a rare show of unity between Democrats and Republicans – with Beijing responding to the bill and labelling it “filled with cold war zero-sum mentality.”
What is biometric identification? It is the process through which unique biological characteristics are used in biometric identification to recognize and validate a person. These characteristics can be found in facial traits, eye structures, DNA, fingerprint patterns, and even handwriting. All this data that can be gathered on an individual inevitably brings up the ethical issues in biometrics that need to be addressed.
Facial recognition and fingerprint scans were previously the domain of security, and they were utilized for identification and law enforcement. However, increasingly more business and civil applications are using biometrics authentication. Due to this increased use, it is crucial to address the moral and ethical issues in biometrics when used in the creation of new application and technology.
Applied biometrics and corporate ethics have received little empirical study despite the widespread use of biometric technologies. As a result, there is plenty of room for future study to help us better comprehend the moral consequences of adopting this technology.
This article examines the ethical concerns associated with the use of biometric technology on the use of biometrics for non-security applications as well as the moral ramifications for business.
Ethical Issues in Biometrics and Privacy
Biometric data takes privacy concerns to a whole new level that typical data gathering only touches on. Digital identities can be forged, and anonymity on the web can be maintained to a degree if you know how. Also, digital data can be deleted – if we forget that Meta (Facebook) has been revealed to store deleted data, which is an ethical concern in itself.
The problem with biometric data is that it is unforgeable, unconcealable, and permanent, You can’t change your eye structure, your fingerprint, or your facial features. Big tech companies already have your face, fingerprints, and your voice recorded and stored via current biometric authentication systems – mainly used for unlocking your phone. That data will be there forever, and there is little that people can do about it besides avoid it In the first place.
While many companies still give users the option of using a good old fashion passcode to unlock their phones, as technology as a whole tends to do, the biometric alternative is slowly gaining more traction, and will one day become the norm, as it is hard to argue its convenience and security. You can’t accidentally leave your eyeball at home or forget your fingerprint. But in the same sense, you can’t change it. If your childish curiosity while browsing the web put a black spot on your record, there’s no changing that.
Therein lies the question of who if anyone should have access to such data. Today’s tech giants have all our data in their hands, that won’t change with the spread of biometric verification methods. Indeed, it will only increase targeting capabilities.
While the collection of biometric data on its own does not necessarily mean it will be shared, monetized, or abused in any way, it never the less requires clear and strict guidelines and regulations to be implemented around it. There are too many things that can be abused by the wrong party when the ethical issues in biometrics are not taken seriously, and if such limitations are not applied stringently.
Inside Telecom provides you with an extensive list of content covering all aspects of the tech industry. Keep an eye on our Technology space to stay informed and up-to-date with our daily articles.
The Reno line of smartphones has always had a fantastic camera and an attractive design. The Reno 8 and 8 Pro include a 120Hz AMOLED display, the newest Dimensity chipsets, 80W fast charging, a 32-megapixel front camera, and triple 50-megapixel back cameras, among other notable features that make the Oppo Reno 8 and Reno 8 Pro high-quality yet affordable option for anyone.
Here we compare the two latest Oppo phone series iterations and see what to expect from the flagship Oppo smartphone, and how the Oppo Reno 8 and the Oppo Reno Pro stack up against each other.
Oppo Reno 8 Specifications
The Oppo Reno 8 has a smaller 6.43-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display with a resolution of 1,080 by 2,400 pixels, a 90Hz refresh rate, and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. It also runs Android 12 with ColorOS 12.1 on top. Additionally, the display has an 800 nits maximum brightness and a 20:09 aspect ratio. An octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC, up to 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM, and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage are all found within the Oppo smartphone.
The Reno 8 has a triple back camera configuration for pictures and movies, with a 50-megapixel main sensor and an f/1.8 lens as its focal point. Additionally, there is a 2-megapixel macro camera with a 112-degree field of view and an 8-megapixel sensor coupled with an f/2.2 ultra-wide angle lens.
The Reno 8 offers 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.3, GPS/A-GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C connector as connection options. An accelerometer, light, gyroscope, magnetometer, and a proximity sensor are among the sensors on board. For biometric verification, the phone also has a fingerprint sensor hidden behind the display. A 4,500mAh battery inside the Oppo Reno 8 supports 80W Super Flash Charge quick charging. The phone weighs 179 grams and has dimensions of 160 x 73.4 x 7.67mm.
Oppo Reno 8 Pro Specifications
A 6.7-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,412) AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection is included with the Oppo Reno 8 Pro. Running on top of Android 12 is ColorOS 12.1. Additionally, the display supports HDR10+ and is certified by Netflix HD, Amazon HDR, SGS Low Motion Blur, and SGS Low Blue Light. The MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Max SoC, which has eight cores, and up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM power the smartphone. Storage on the Oppo Reno 8 Pro is UFS 3.1 capable of up to 256GB.
The Oppo Reno 8 Pro boasts a triple rear camera arrangement with a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 main sensor and an f/1.8 lens, an 8-megapixel sensor and an ultra-wide lens with an f/2.2 aperture and a 112-degree field of view, and a 2-megapixel macro camera with an f/2.4 aperture. Along with the MariSilicon X NPU, the phone’s camera will offer generally better performance in both bright and dim light. It has a 32-megapixel front-facing camera sensor with an f/2.4 lens for taking selfies and making video calls.
The phone has 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.3, GPS/A-GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C connector as connectivity options. An accelerometer, a light meter, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, and a proximity sensor are among the sensors built into the phone. For biometric authentication, the phone also contains a fingerprint sensor underneath the touchscreen. The smartphone has a 4,500mAh battery that supports rapid charging at 80W Super Flash Charge. The phone weighs 183 grams and has dimensions of 161 x 74.2 x 7.34mm.
Both the Oppo Reno 8 and Reno 8 Pro are prime smartphones that can fit any user’s preferences and can be considered premium smartphones on the cheaper side. If you like photography, you will be satisfied with the level of quality overall, but keep in mind that neither phone is particularly water resistant, so be careful where you take it.
Inside Telecom provides you with an extensive list of content covering all aspects of the tech industry. Keep an eye on our Technology sections to stay informed and up-to-date with our daily articles.
Many prefer the rumbling ‘vroom’ of a gasoline car to the soft hum of an electric vehicle, while others would rather just be satisfied in the knowledge that they are lessening their carbon footprint. Let’s look at the cold hard facts however, and compare electric cars vs gas cars
Electric Cars vs Gas Cars: Components
The amount of moving components is an important distinction between electric and gasoline-powered automobiles. While a gasoline-powered car contains hundreds of moving components, an electric vehicle just has one, the motor. Another significant distinction is that the electric car has fewer moving components. The electric car is more dependable and needs less routine maintenance. The maintenance needed for a gasoline-powered car ranges from routine oil changes, filter replacements, tune-ups, and exhaust system repairs to less frequent component replacements including water and fuel pumps, alternators, and so on.
Electric Cars vs Gas Cars: Maintenance
The expenses associated with maintaining an electric car are reduced since there are less maintenance requirements. The shaft, the only moving component of the electric motor, is extremely dependable and needs little to no maintenance. The controller and charger are electrical devices that require minimal to no maintenance because they have no moving components. Modern sealed lead acid batteries are maintenance free and utilized in electric cars nowadays. However, these batteries have a finite lifespan and will eventually need to be replaced. New batteries are being developed to increase the range of electric cars as well as the battery pack’s lifespan, perhaps eliminating the need to replace the battery pack throughout the course of the vehicle’s lifespan.
Electric Cars vs Gas Cars: Efficiency
In addition to being simpler and less expensive to repair than gasoline-powered vehicles, electric vehicles are also more cost-effective to run. The electric car will drive roughly 43 miles for $1 based on the efficiency of 3 miles/kwhr and the cost of power at 7 cents per kwhr. The gasoline-powered car will go roughly 18 miles based on the average gas mileage of 22 miles per gallon and the price of gasoline at $1.25 per gallon. As a result, an electric car may drive more than twice as far on a dollar’s worth of petrol.
Where Electric Falls Behind
There are still a number of difficulties for the owner of an electric car despite the fact that it will be less expensive to operate and maintain.
The primary issue is the restricted range offered by existing battery technology. The amount of driving distance possible utilizing the current batteries is between 50 and 150 miles. These ranges are being extended by new battery technologies, and prototypes of these batteries have shown ranges of up to 200 miles between recharging. Solar powered charging stations are being implemented in numerous places to decrease range anxiety towards electric vehicles
The lack of qualified service professionals to repair and maintain electric cars is another issue that faces their owners. A two-year associate degree program has been developed to train high school graduates to become proficient electric vehicle technicians, and training programs are being developed and made available to upgrade the conventional automotive technician with the skills needed to maintain an electric vehicle.
Infrastructure to recharge the batteries is also required. The most important component of the infrastructure for recharging already exists: electric power is accessible practically everywhere. To support the electric car, it is still necessary to guarantee that charging stations with the right sorts of service (i.e., maximum voltage and current) are placed in important areas. Plans must also be made.
Inside Telecom provides you with an extensive list of content covering all aspects of the tech industry. Keep an eye on our Technology sections to stay informed and up-to-date with our daily articles.
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Ian Terblanche, Global Strategic Sales & Channel Director at Sigfox
