Commentary / World Apr 30, 2018
How to stop surveillance capitalism
by Dirk Helbing
Facebook, Google & Co. are the new quasi-royal sovereigns. Their algorithmic de-facto laws do not require the approval of any parliaments.
NEWSWORTHY
Commentary / World Apr 29, 2018
Mapping out the future of tech policy
by Michael J. Boskin
The far-reaching social, political and economic risks posed by "Big Tech" have finally prompted a more concerted response from policymakers and regulators.
Commentary / World Apr 13, 2018
The Orwellian danger of Facebook
by Steven Hill
Is Mark Zuckerberg really in control of Facebook? Or is he a sorcerer's apprentice that cannot handle the invention?
Business Mar 24, 2018
Apple Inc. Chief Executive Tim Cook has called for stronger privacy regulations that prevent the misuse of data in the light of the controversial leak of Facebook user information. Cook called for "well-crafted" regulations that prevent the information of users being put together and applied ...
Editorials Mar 22, 2018
Every day brings new revelations about the protection of personal data and the nefarious uses to which it can be put.
Asia Pacific / Social Issues Feb 28, 2018
China using big data and 'predictive policing' in Xinjiang region to round up perceived threats: HRW
Chinese authorities are using big data and predictive computing power to flag and detain individuals deemed threatening in the western Xinjiang region, Human Rights Watch said Tuesday. According to the New York-based rights group, Xinjiang authorities are collating vast troves of information on individuals, often ...
National Jan 30, 2018
University of Tokyo opens center to promote use of big data from Japan's public sector
by Shusuke Murai
The University of Tokyo has embarked on a quest to unearth Japan's latent assets that could be worth more than ¥700 billion — big data held by the public sector. The nation's most prestigious school, also known as Todai, has opened what it claims is ...
Business Jan 15, 2018
Japan's loyalty cards to provide early sneak peek at company profits
by Gareth Allan, Komaki Ito and James Mayger
When shopping in Japan, a phrase you'll hear all the time is "Do you have a point card?" And the most common is the T-card, which can be used at hundreds of thousands of shops nationwide, from car accessory dealers to convenience stores. Half of ...
Business Dec 6, 2017
Tokyo startup taps AI and big data to turn customer complaints into cash
by Kazuaki Nagata
Hearing consumers' frustrations may be unpleasant for business operators, but within such feedback lies a hidden trove of information that can be used to improve products and services. Tokyo-based startup Insight Tech is betting on that concept, making what at first glance appears to be ...
Business Jun 7, 2017
Fair Trade Commission team warns against big data 'hoarding' by major firms
A Fair Trade Commission study group has warned against the hoarding of big data, such as consumer purchase histories, by major companies. If companies refuse to disclose data to other companies without a justifiable reason, that could constitute a violation of the anti-monopoly law, the ...
Editorials Jun 1, 2017
Efforts must be made to ensure that tightened rules on the handling of personal data does not deter the disclosure or flow of necessary information in the name of privacy protection.
Business Feb 6, 2017
Transportation firms are tapping into big data to improve the safety of their services, with the collection of information hoped to detect mechanical problems before they occur. In other industries, big data have begun to play a larger role in understanding consumer tastes or even ...