Asian Tech Roundup: Australia passes right to disconnect
Plus, Beijing leans on domestic tech industry
Welcome to Computing's fortnightly roundup of tech news in Asia. This time we look at Australia's new Right to Disconnect law, China cracking down on its domestic tech industry, and accusations of censorship against the Indian government.
Australia
- Australia's Productivity Commission has recommended light-touch AI regulation, and that government departments lead by example by contributing their own data and resources to for the development of AI models. Source
- Australia has passed a Right To Disconnect law that prevents employers from contacting workers after hours, with sanctions including jail time. At least until parliament strikes it down. Source
- Authorities arrested 150 people who worked at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for a tax fraud scam promoted on social media. Source
China
- A massive data leak has exposed Chinese infosec vendor I-Soon's cyberattacks-for-hire partnership with the government. Source
- Lenovo Group, the world's biggest computer manufacturer, announced third-quarter revenues of $15.72 billion, up 3% year-on-year. Source
- The government plans to take a more overt role in steering China's tech industry, according to a CCTV report. Source
- China is increasing its investment in 'chiplet' technologies - a modular approach to semiconductors - in a bid to lower its reliance on US imports. Source
- Alibaba's 2023 revenues were 4% below their 2021 peak and its share of the Chinese ecommerce market shrank from 68% in 2019 to 42%. Source
- A Chinese-speaking threat group has been seen using deepfakes and advanced GoldPickaxe iOS banking malware that can exfiltrate identity documents and facial recognition data as well as intercepting authentication messages. Source
- China's censorship apparatus, although wide-reaching, is unevenly developed and poorly funded says a new report. Source
India
- Semiconductor manufacturers are worried about India's plans to impose duties on cross-border digital e-commerce and data transfers. Source
- India is to allow increased foreign investment of up to 100% in its space sector. Source
- Ahead of elections, the Indian government has been accused of shuttering websites and ISPs to silence critical voices and tighten its control on the media. Source
- India is behind only Iran when it comes to internet restrictions in 2023, with 11 out of the 55 internet restrictions reported in Asia compared to Iran's 29. Source
- India has approved four schemes under its Semicon India programme for the development of semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in the country. Source
- China's Xiaomi has told the Indian government that its heavy scrutiny of Chinese firms has made smartphone component suppliers reluctant to establish operations in the country, in a bid to unlock new incentives. Source
- Asset manager Macquarie Bank significantly lowered its forecast for leading Indian payment startup Paytm, citing risks of customers leaving the platform as a result of increased regulatory scrutiny by the Indian government. Source
- At the same time, the Indian government has shut down the Paytm bank, effectively killing the Paytm e-wallet service for more than 300 million people. Source
- Fearing competition from China and Vietnam, India is seeking to "act fast" to attract smartphone manufacturing by lowering tariffs. Source
- Indian startup PhonePe has launched an Android app store to rival Google Play. Indus Appstore supports 12 regional languages plus English and already features over 200,000 apps with charges waived for a year. Source
Japan
- In the last two years at least nine Taiwanese chip manufacturers have expanded their operations into Japan. Source
- Toyota has joined the Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing consortium of TSMC, Sony and Denso in Kumamoto prefecture, which has announced plans to build a second wafer fab. Source
- Chipmaker Renesas Electronics , opens new tab is to acquire electronics design firm Altium opens new tab for $5.9 billion in cash as it looks to offer digital device design services. Source
- Researchers at Kyoto University, working with Sumitomo Forestry, have built a satellite made of magnolia wood. The LignoSat probe will be launched on a US rocket this summer. Source
- Japan is pouring $67 billion into a scheme to revive its chipmaking industry and reduce its dependency on India and China. Source
Pakistan
- Authorities in Pakistan shut down mobile and internet services across the country ahead of the general election. Source
- X has been inaccessible to users in Pakistan in the aftermath of widespread protests in the country triggered by the alleged vote rigging in general elections. Source
Singapore
- The Monetary Authority of Singapore has advised financial institutions to learn how to secure their systems in a post-quantum world. Source
- Singapore-based fintech startup Xalts has acquired Contour Network, a digital trading platform set up by eight major banks. Source
South Korea
- Samsung Electronics sold its entire stake in semiconductor manufacturing equipment maker ASML last year. Source
- Samsung and Arm have announced a partnership to develop the next-generation Cortex-X CPU. Source
- North Korea hacked the personal emails of an aide to South Korea's president, Yoon Suk Yeol, last November. The president's office has hinted that human error is to blame. Source