Posts Tagged: Countries
House passes bill that would bar data brokers from selling Americans’ personal information to ‘adversary’ countries
The House of Representatives approved a measure targeting data brokers’ ability to sell Americans’ personal data to “adversary” countries, like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. The Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act passed with a unanimous 414 – 0 vote.
The bill, which was introduced alongside a measure that could force a ban or sale of TikTok, would prohibit data brokers from selling Americans’ “sensitive” data to people or entities in “adversary” countries. Much like a recent executive order from President Joe Biden targeting data brokers, the bill specifically covers geolocation, financial, health, and biometric data, as well as other private information like text logs and phone call history.
If passed — the bill will need Senate approval before landing on Biden’s desk — it would represent a significant check on the relatively unregulated data broker industry. US officials have previously warned that China and other geopolitical rivals of the United States have already acquired vast troves of Americans’ information from brokers and privacy advocates have long urged lawmakers to regulate the multibillion-dollar industry.
The bill is the second major piece of bipartisan legislation to come out of the House Energy and Commerce this month. The committee previously introduced the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act,” which would require TikTok to divest itself from parent company ByteDance or face a ban in the US. In a statement, Representatives Frank Pallone and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, said that the latest bill “builds” on their work to pass the measure targeting TikTok. “Today’s overwhelming vote sends a clear message that we will not allow our adversaries to undermine American national security and individual privacy by purchasing people’s personally identifiable sensitive information from data brokers,” they said.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/house-passes-bill-that-would-bar-data-brokers-from-selling-americans-personal-information-to-adversary-countries-004735748.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Netflix cuts prices in over 30 countries
Despite raising North American prices a year ago, Netflix is getting cheaper in over 30 countries. Although that seems to be a contradiction at first glance, the company appears to be experimenting with the right balance of global revenue and subscriber growth as viewer habits change post-lockdowns.
The company has cut prices by as much as half in parts of the Middle East (Yemen, Jordan, Libya and Iran), Sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya), Europe (Croatia, Slovenia and Bulgaria), Latin America (Nicaragua, Ecuador and Venezuela) and Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines). Although periodic price increases have become a regular occurrence for Netflix, it also introduced a cheaper ad-supported plan in 12 countries last October.
The subscription price cuts come as several other streaming services (including Disney+, Hulu and Sling TV) have raised prices recently. “It definitely goes against the recent trends not just for Netflix, but for the broader streaming industry,” John Hodulik, media and entertainment analyst at UBS Group AG toldThe Wall Street Journal. “Some of these cuts on a percentage basis are substantial,” he said.
In Netflix’s January earnings call, co-CEO Greg Peters said the company wants to find areas where it can raise prices, helping to fund new content investments. “We think of ourselves as a non-substitutable good,” said Peters. The regional price increases let Netflix add subscribers to global markets where its share could be higher. The fact that rival services, including Disney+, HBO Max and Paramount+, are expanding globally likely weighed in the decision.
Netflix is still rolling out a new monthly fee for people who share their login credentials outside their homes. After trialing the program in Latin America, the company has rolled out paid account sharing in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain. The new fee costs $ 8 in Canada and New Zealand, €4 in Portugal and €6 in Spain. It’s expected to come to the US early this year.
Google Fi adds 5G coverage for more countries plus hotspot tethering for iPhones
Google Fi is getting a boost this month in the form of 5G coverage in more countries plus additional new features for Pixel and selected Samsung smartphones, and finally, the debut of hotspot tethering to iPhones. We’ve got the details for you after the break. The number of countries covered by Google Fi’s 5G coverage […]
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US will bring together 30 countries to tackle ransomware
The Biden administration plans to bring together 30 countries later this month to discuss the threat ransomware attacks pose to global economic and national security. Per CNN, the virtual meeting is part of what the president says will become an ongoing multilateral initiative to tackle the cybersecurity problem.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told the network the goal of the meeting is "to accelerate our cooperation in combatting cybercrime, improving law enforcement collaboration, stemming the illicit use of cryptocurrency, and engaging on these issues diplomatically."
The alliance marks the latest effort by the Biden administration to tackle the issue of ransomware following a year in which one such attack on the Colonial Pipeline led to gas shortages across parts of the US. In the aftermath of the incident, the president signed an executive order that called for greater cooperation and information sharing between disparate federal agencies. More recently, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the SUEX cryptocurrency exchange for allegedly facilitating several attacks.
Google Stadia is now available in 8 new countries ahead of the Cyberpunk 2077 release
In the face of competing cloud gaming services from Amazon, Microsoft, and even Apple, Google is taking steps to extend Stadia’s reach to eight new countries, bringing the total to 22. With Cyberpunk 2077 launching on the platform on December 10th, it makes sense on Google’s part to make the most of the hype that […]
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Android Auto is expanding to more countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia
Just because we are living in a pandemic world doesn’t mean that driving safely isn’t a priority, after all, it’s illegal to drive while using a smartphone in most countries. This is where Android Auto comes in with its ability to allow users to navigate, make and receive calls, and control their audio entertainment via […]
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Spotify expands to Russia and 12 other countries in eastern Europe
Spotify is expanding to 13 additional markets. Starting today, music fans in Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia and Ukraine can check out the platform….
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OxygenOS update begins rolling out to the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro in select countries
It’s time for another slight upgrade for the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro. The latest version of OxygenOS is beginning to roll out to the latest high-end OnePlus phones with a few new features and enhancements. We’ll go over what’s new and when you can expect it on your phone. OnePlus 8 Pro OxygenOS […]
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GNI YouTube innovation funding: supporting 87 news organizations in 23 countries to build video capabilities and innovate with new formats
Hailing from 23 countries around the world, they represent a diverse array of broadcasters, traditional and digital publishers, local media, agencies and creators, but all share a commitment to quality journalism and a spirit of innovation.
Many of these projects are focused on expanding newsroom video operations and trying out new ways of reporting news through video — from reaching younger audiences online to exploring live and fact-checking formats. Other projects look at the sustainability of news organizations, including work on new business models and programs to support a healthy news ecosystem. Here’s a sample of some of the projects funded:
- Advance Local (United States): U.S. publisher Advance Local will build out a new format for local news storytelling, enabling them to connect more deeply with their communities across the country. They will start in Michigan, where MLive Media Group (Mlive.com) will connect directly with its viewers, providing avenues for action on topics of important local interest, giving viewers the information they need to have their voice heard on issues of the day.
- The Economist (United Kingdom): British publisher The Economist will strengthen its video production facilities and expertise, enabling it to launch a weekly video format that will explore the true story behind trending news topics. Through live streaming and audience engagement tools, viewers will be able to interact with the story along with the producers, their processes and sources. The new format aims to give viewers the tools to spot misinformation, analyze news sources and join the conversation.
- HugoDécrypte (France): A top French news creator, HugoDécrypte will staff and train a production team to create a studio-based live news show. The show will form an on-screen meeting place for HugoDécrypte’s YouTube community to learn about and debate the key news issues of the day. It will consist of regular segments including news bulletins, fact-checking and interviews with well-known political figures and subject matter experts.
- La Nación (Argentina): One of Argentina’s leading newspapers, La Nación will enhance their video operations at large. In business since 1870, La Nación has a rich history in print journalism, which they are extending to video. This funding will be used to grow their video team, improve digital video skills and increase output, enabling them to deliver engaging content, including behind the scenes snapshots of their hard-hitting investigative journalism and fresh takes on news of the day through video digests.
- Narasi TV (Indonesia): Independent Indonesian journalist Najwa Shihab’s media company will mobilize its community across the country’s 34 provinces. It will host workshops to train budding citizen journalists on visual storytelling, news video production and media literacy, encouraging more Indonesians to become credible content creators as well as critical consumers of media. Meanwhile, Narasi TV’s own investigative journalism team will staff up their video team to produce more in-depth reports, particularly in hotly contested parts of the country in the run-up to Indonesia’s general elections.
- Thairath (Thailand): The digital arm of one of Thailand’s oldest news publishers, Thairath, will create a rights management platform for Thailand’s freelance journalists. This platform will help Thai “stringers” more easily manage their footage rights from media companies. By protecting and promoting the important work of independent Thai journalists, the effort will support both the Thai media ecosystem and global news agencies seeking news about Thailand.
Today’s announcement reinforces our commitment to supporting a strong future for news video. Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing insights gained from the projects and giving newsrooms the opportunity to benefit from the learnings, as we work together to support the development of long-term, sustainable news video businesses.
For more information about YouTube’s work with the news industry, please visit our website. We look forward to seeing how our partners across the globe push the boundaries of video journalism.
Timothy Katz, Director of News Partnerships, YouTube
Facebook’s Level Up is available for game streamers in 21 countries
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YouTube Music and YouTube Premium launch in 17 countries: It’s all here
The wait is over! Starting today, YouTube Music is available to everyone in the U.S, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and South Korea* in addition to 12 new countries including Austria, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Now fans around the world can find more of the music they love and effortlessly discover new favorites.
YouTube Music is a new music streaming service built on top of all the music on YouTube that you can’t find anywhere else – personalized and all simply organized in one new app and web player.
Here’s how it all comes together:
- It’s ALL here. Not just music videos, but official albums, singles, remixes, live performances, covers and hard-to-find music you can only get on YouTube.
- Recommendations built for you. A home screen that dynamically adapts to provide recommendations based on the artists and songs you’ve played before, where you are and what you’re doing. Chilling at the beach? Need some motivation? The right music is right here, built just for you.
- Thousands of playlists across any genre, mood or activity. Try “A Dose of Sun” for brighter tunes on a cloudy day, “The Pop Hotlist” for the biggest hits around the world or “Distrito Latino” for Latin pop hits of the moment.
- Smart search so we’ll find the song, even if you can’t remember what it’s called. “That space-themed Spice Girls song in the desert.” Here you go. You can also search by lyrics (even if they’re wrong). It’s “Hold me closer, Tony Danza,” right?
- The hottest videos. We’ll keep you on top of what’s hot! The hottest videos in the world right now are right there, on their own dedicated Hotlist screen. Today in the U.S., it features “Nervous” by Shawn Mendes, in the U.K, it’s “Drippy” by IAMDDB, and in France, it’s “Fais moi la passe” by JUL.
- Ad-free listening, downloads and more. Get YouTube Music Premium to listen ad-free, in the background and on-the-go with downloads. Plus, your Offline Mixtape automatically downloads songs you love just in case you forgot to. For a limited time, get three months free of YouTube Music Premium here, ($ 9.99 per month after, $ 14.99 per month for a Family Plan)*.
YouTube Premium also launches today
Starting today, YouTube Premium (formerly YouTube Red) will be available in 17 countries, providing members with the benefits of Music Premium, plus ad-free, background, and downloads across all of YouTube. YouTube Premium members also get access to the full slate of YouTube Originals shows and movies including the hit series Cobra Kai, Impulse, F2 Finding Football and The Sidemen Show. For a limited time, get three months free of YouTube Premium here, ($ 11.99 per month after, $ 17.99 per month for a Family Plan)*.
Current YouTube Red and Google Play Music members (including family plans) in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico will automatically receive access to YouTube Premium at their current price. Google Play Music subscribers in all other countries will automatically receive access to YouTube Music Premium at their current price as it becomes available there. Nothing is changing with Google Play Music – you’ll still be able to access all of your purchased music, uploads and playlists in Google Play Music just like always.
Try YouTube Music and YouTube Premium
Get the new YouTube Music from the Play Store and App Store today or check out the brand new web player at music.youtube.com. You can sign up for YouTube Premium at youtube.com/premium.
*YouTube Music Premium is $ 9.99 per month and YouTube Premium is $ 11.99 per month for individual memberships in the U.S. Pricing and Family Plan availability varies by country. South Korea will only offer YouTube Premium at the current price of YouTube Red.
Google Play expands 4K and HDR movies to more countries around the world
Google brought 4K movie rentals and purchases to Google Play Movies late last year, but like most of Google’s brand new features, it was limited in rollout to just a few countries. In this case, only the US and Canada had access to Google’s full selection of digital 4K content. That’s apparently changing as of […]
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Bringing the power of YouTube to more countries with YouTube Go
Last year, we launched YouTube Go in India, a brand new app built from the ground up to unlock the power of YouTube for the next generation of users. Since then, we’ve also launched YouTube Go in 14 additional countries, including Indonesia, Nigeria and Thailand, and we’ve seen firsthand the impact that bringing more people into the world of video can have.
For instance, Mapan — a startup in Indonesia that uses technology to train and empower low-income communities and families in rural Indonesia — is using YouTube Go as part of their regular arisans or community meet-ups to equip entrepreneurial women with financial skills and resources. Each arisans’ chairwoman downloads a playlist of videos related to starting and running a small business; they then share these videos with each other using YouTube Go’s nearby sharing function. A teacher who runs a primary school for low-income children in Lagos, Nigeria, says that using YouTube Go has “allowed me to download and watch more videos that help with everything from mathematics lesson plans to how to decorate the classroom.”
We’re excited to expand YouTube Go to over 130 countries around the globe starting today. YouTube Go gives access to YouTube regardless of connectivity status and more control over data usage, while being locally and socially relevant. Key features of YouTube Go include:
- Videos that matter to you: The YouTube Go home screen features trending and popular videos in your area, so that you can find and discover videos that you and your community care about. The entire experience is available in your language, with videos that are relevant to you.
- Control over your experience: On YouTube Go, we’ll show you a video preview when you tap on a thumbnail, giving you a better sense of what the video is about before you decide if you want to watch it. You can then choose to download the video for viewing later or stream it now. And we also allow you to choose the amount of data you’d like to spend on that video.
- Share videos with friends nearby: With YouTube Go, you can share videos with friends and family nearby without using any data.
From our previous launches, we’ve learned that you love those new features, so we made a few design changes to make them even more prominent in the app:
- Watch in high quality: In response to user feedback, we’ve given you even more control of your experience and added the ability to download, stream, and share videos in High Quality in addition to basic and standard quality resolutions.
- Discover fresh content you love: We heard that you wanted an even easier way to get the freshest videos recommended to you. Now, you can get new personalized content with a simple pull of the home screen. We also notify you when new videos are uploaded from the channels you love.
- Share more easily: We know you love sharing videos, so we made design changes to make it even easier to access the share nearby feature right from the home page. We also added a highly requested feature: allowing multiple videos to be shared at once.
We’ve been working hard to build a YouTube app that works for you, with brand new features designed with your preferences, aspirations and needs in mind. We can’t wait to see what you can do with the power of YouTube in the palm of your hand.
Jay Akkad, Product Manager, YouTube, recently downloaded and watched “Diving into 1000 Mousetraps in 4K Slow Motion – The Slow Mo Guys.”
Twitter Lite picks up steam, starts to roll out in more countries
Twitter has recently been testing a Twitter Lite mobile app as a way to get more users involved in the platform, especially those in parts of the world without consistently high-speed data connections. The results? Actually pretty good. Twitter has seen a 50% growth in tweets from Twitter Lite since April, and they’ve been hard […]
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Twitter’s Lite app reaches 24 more countries
Twitter's data-saving application has landed on the local Google Play stores of 24 new locations. The social network has released its Lite app in Algeria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, Israel, Kazakhstan, M…
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Russia added to list of countries where Android Pay is available
Today Google announced Russia has become the 11th country where Android Pay is available for use. In their announcement, Google goes over all of the basics about Android Pay including things like how to use it with your device via NFC at a physical retailer or using the Android Pay button with online retailers. Like […]
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Sprint adds more countries and destinations to Open World and Global Roaming programs
Sprint announced today that it has added support for 36 new countries and destinations to its Open World and Global Roaming programs. With these new additions, Sprint now offers its international services at 110 destinations.
These countries include Austria, Luxembourg, Afghanistan, Macau, Bangladesh, Macedonia, Belarus, Malaysia and Belgium. The Republic of Malta, Bolivia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Netherlands, and Cambodia are also included in the additions.
There’s also support for Norway, Croatia, Philippines, Estonia, Poland, Finland, Rwanda, Ghana, Serbia, Hong Kong and Singapore. Those traveling to Hungary, Slovenia, Iceland, South Africa, Indonesia, Taiwan, Kenya, Thailand, Liechtenstein or Turkey will be happy to find out these countries are included as well.
It might be a mouthful, but Sprint’s Open World and Global Roaming programs are aimed to offer some serious savings for the carrier’s customers that plan on traveling abroad. The Open World program provides 1GB of free data, as well as free calling and texting, in Mexico, Canada and countries across Latin America.
The program also offers some discounted rates in other nations.
In contrast, the Global Roaming program allows customers to have unlimited data–up to 2G in speed–unlimited texting and calls at a rate of $ 0.20 per minute in supported countries.
Sprint’s new international offerings seem to have been a roaring success as far as savings goes. Unfortunately, it’s not the best package considering that the 2G connection speeds don’t keep up with the demands consumers put on their smartphones.
The carrier is looking to help consumers save money in other ways by ending two-year contracts as well.
On the upside, it’s a convenient package, allowing those travelling abroad to stay in touch with family, friends, colleagues and business partners on the cheap. Hopefully we’ll see Sprint and other companies add more value to programs like this in the future.
source: Sprint
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Google Maps and YouTube will work offline for people in developing countries
Google has announced it’s working hard on an offline feature for Google Maps, but rather than a simplified version, it will contain many of the major features, including turn-by-turn navigation — all without a data connection.
The post Google Maps and YouTube will work offline for people in developing countries appeared first on Digital Trends.
Apple Watch Available in Nine Countries on April 24
Apple today announced that Apple Watch will be available April 24 to customers in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK, and the U.S. Apple Watch brings an entirely new way to receive information at a glance and interact with the world through third-party apps designed specifically for the wrist. “Apple Watch begins a new chapter in the way we relate to technology and we think our customers are going to love it,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We can’t wait for people to start wearing Apple Watch to easily access information that matters, to interact with the world, and to live a better day by being more aware of their daily activity than ever before.”
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