Kaspersky has announced that its developer account on the Google Play store has been terminated, resulting in the removal of all its apps. This decision follows recent US government actions that restrict the distribution and sales of Kaspersky products within the United States after September 29. While these restrictions have no legal impact outside the country, Google has preemptively removed Kaspersky’s products, limiting global access to its cybersecurity solutions.
Kaspersky believes Google’s decision stems from a misinterpretation of US restrictions, which are not confirmed by the US Department of Commerce. The company asserts that these measures do not prohibit the sale or distribution of its products and services beyond US borders. Kaspersky has communicated this understanding to the Department of Commerce and is awaiting further guidance.
For users with already-installed Kaspersky apps on Android, the apps will continue to function normally and receive database updates via Kaspersky’s cloud infrastructure. All paid features will remain operational. However, users will no longer be able to update or reinstall the apps directly from the Google Play store.
OpenAI is expanding its global presence with plans to open new offices in key cities, including Singapore, Paris, and Brussels. These will add to its existing hubs in San Francisco, London, and Tokyo, positioning the company for broader international reach. The company’s efforts follow a substantial $6.6 billion funding round and leadership changes.
Oliver Jay, formerly of Asana and Dropbox, will lead OpenAI’s international operations from Singapore. The new Singapore office, expected to open by the end of the year, will serve as a hub for the Asia Pacific region. The company is actively hiring engineers to build out its team in the region, which has seen rapid growth in ChatGPT usage.
The decision to expand into Singapore is partly driven by the country’s strong engagement with AI technology. OpenAI noted that Singapore has one of the highest per capita uses of ChatGPT, with usage doubling since the start of the year. This new office will be OpenAI’s second in Asia, after Tokyo.
As part of the expansion, OpenAI is partnering with AI Singapore, a national programme that promotes the development and adoption of AI in the region. CEO Sam Altman highlighted Singapore’s leadership in AI and its role in tackling complex societal issues, as well as fostering economic growth.
David Kagel, an 86-year-old former California attorney, has been sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay nearly $14 million after admitting to his role in a crypto Ponzi scheme. Kagel, who is currently in hospice care, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit commodity fraud, according to a ruling by Las Vegas Federal Court Judge Gloria Navarro.
Prosecutors revealed that Kagel, along with two accomplices, ran the fraudulent scheme from December 2017 to June 2022, luring investors with promises of high returns through a crypto bot trading programme. Victims were convinced their investments were secure, with claims of guaranteed profits and no risk. Kagel even drafted letters on his law firm’s official letterhead to build trust among investors, falsely claiming to hold significant amounts of Bitcoin in escrow.
Kagel’s law license had been revoked by the California Supreme Court in 2023 after misappropriating client funds, with previous suspensions in 1997 and 2012. His co-conspirators, David Saffron and Vincent Mazzotta, have pleaded not guilty and await trial next year.
Coinbase has warned Gen Z users about the increasing threat of online scams, particularly those targeting cryptocurrency investors. In a recent blog post, the platform highlighted four major risks – social media fraud, romance scams, fake websites, and recovery schemes. The company stressed the importance of personal responsibility when securing crypto assets, as users are their own safeguards in the decentralised crypto world.
Among the scams discussed, fraudsters frequently use social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to lure victims by impersonating public figures or promoting fake investment opportunities. Romance scams, also known as ‘pig butchering’ scams, were another key threat, with scammers building fake relationships to steal funds from their victims. A recent scam in Vietnam saw victims lose over $700,000 through a fraudulent investment platform.
Coinbase also pointed out the dangers of fake websites that mimic legitimate companies to trick users into providing sensitive information or funds. The platform encourages users to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity to law enforcement or platforms like Coinbase, helping prevent others from falling victim to similar fraud.
South Korea is preparing to impose foreign exchange rules on cross-border transactions involving stablecoins, especially those tied to the dollar. The Ministry of Economy and Finance revealed plans to ensure the security of stablecoin transactions, focusing on cross-border uses. The Financial Services Commission will address these regulations in the upcoming phase of the country’s Virtual Asset User Protection Act.
The regulatory framework will initially focus on stablecoins tied to South Korea’s won before expanding to include foreign currency-backed tokens. It mirrors recent regulatory moves in Japan and the EU. With a strong emphasis on user protection, South Korea’s new laws will enforce stricter security standards for virtual asset service providers, including insurance mandates and penalties for non-compliance.
MediaTek is reportedly collaborating with NVIDIA to develop a new AI processor, which is expected to be manufactured using 3nm technology and is slated for tape-out later this month. This move comes alongside MediaTek’s recent launch of its Dimensity 9400 smartphone chipset, indicating the company’s ambition to diversify its product lineup. The new AI processor is projected to enter mass production by late 2025 and aims to fill a gap in the market for Windows-on-Arm devices, especially given the comparatively weaker graphics performance of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite.
The new chip is expected to work alongside NVIDIA’s GPU, aiming at major laptop brands like Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Asus as potential clients. Priced at approximately $300, this processor signifies MediaTek’s move into the AI PC sector, marking a significant shift from its usual collaborations with AMD. However, MediaTek has previously partnered with NVIDIA, notably in their recent unveiling of automotive SoCs that incorporate NVIDIA technology, highlighting their mutual interest in enhancing AI capabilities.
As the AI landscape evolves, MediaTek’s partnership with NVIDIA could bolster its position in a competitive market, especially given NVIDIA’s dominance in AI processors. This collaboration underscores MediaTek’s strategic shift and opens avenues for innovative products in the AI-driven technology sector.
OpenAI, known for its AI models, appears to be exploring the semiconductor manufacturing sector, raising questions about the feasibility of building wafer fabrication plants. Reports recently surfaced about CEO Sam Altman’s discussions with executives from major chip manufacturers, including TSMC and Samsung, during his trip to Asia last year. Altman proposed an ambitious $7 trillion plan to construct 36 new wafer fabs and data centres, aiming to produce AI chips funded by the United Arab Emirates. He believes these facilities would support the burgeoning demand for AI capabilities.
The investment Altman suggested is staggering, amounting to a quarter of the annual output of the US economy. However, the timeline for establishing these fabs is lengthy, as it would take several years to meet OpenAI’s growing computing power requirements. TSMC, while approached for the project, found the proposal too aggressive and risky, noting that even a few additional wafer fabs would entail significant capital and risk.
Building a wafer fab is an enormous undertaking, often costing hundreds of billions of dollars due to various factors. The expenses stem from land acquisition, facility construction, equipment procurement, and ongoing operational costs. Advanced lithography machines and other essential equipment represent substantial financial commitments, while research, maintenance, and talent training add to the complexity. Current estimates place the cost of modern fabs in the billions; for instance, Intel’s factories in Arizona are expected to cost around $15 billion each, and Samsung’s Texas fab is projected at $25 billion.
Moreover, the cost of constructing a wafer fab varies by region. In Asia, established supply chains, available talent, and supportive policies contribute to lower costs, whereas building in Europe, the US, and the Middle East can be more expensive due to the necessity of importing technology and developing a comprehensive supply chain. Overall, OpenAI’s ambitions in the semiconductor space highlight the significant challenges and investments required to succeed in this critical industry.
Russia‘s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has blocked the messaging platform Discord for alleged violations of Russian law, according to the TASS news agency. The San Francisco-based company becomes the latest foreign tech platform to face restrictions in Russia. Discord has yet to respond to the decision.
For years, Russia has pressured foreign tech companies to remove content it deems illegal, imposing frequent, though generally small, fines for non-compliance. Last week, Roskomnadzor ordered Discord to delete nearly 1,000 pieces of content it classified as illegal and had previously fined the platform for failing to remove banned material.
Moscow has also blocked other major platforms, including Twitter (now X), Facebook, and Instagram, shortly after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
TikTok is facing multiple lawsuits from 13 US states and the District of Columbia, accusing the platform of harming and failing to protect young users. The lawsuits, filed in New York, California, and other states, allege that TikTok uses intentionally addictive software to maximise user engagement and profits, particularly targeting children who lack the ability to set healthy boundaries around screen time.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta condemned TikTok for fostering social media addiction to boost corporate profits, while New York Attorney General Letitia James connected the platform to mental health issues among young users. Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb further accused TikTok of operating an unlicensed money transmission service through its live streaming and virtual currency features and claimed that the platform enables the sexual exploitation of minors.
TikTok, in response, denied the allegations and expressed disappointment in the legal action taken, arguing that the states should collaborate on solutions instead. The company pointed to safety measures, such as screen time limits and privacy settings for users under 16.
These lawsuits are part of a broader set of legal challenges TikTok is facing, including a prior lawsuit from the U.S. Justice Department over children’s privacy violations. The company is also dealing with efforts to ban the app in the US due to concerns about its Chinese ownership.
Leonardo, the defence company from Italy, is actively pursuing acquisitions in the cybersecurity sector, targeting a dozen companies both domestically and abroad. CEO Roberto Cingolani mentioned that some deals could be finalised by the end of the year. The company has been working on these acquisition processes for the past several months.
No acquisition will exceed 15% of the cyber division’s turnover, following guidelines set in Leonardo’s strategic plan. The company is prioritising cyber security as a key growth area, expecting strong double-digit expansion in this field in the coming years.
Leonardo aims to establish itself as a significant player in Europe’s cyber security market. Cingolani highlighted that the sector is at the heart of the group’s strategic development, especially as digitalisation continues to offer new opportunities.
The company’s 2024-2028 industrial plan outlines its commitment to strengthening its core businesses while also focusing on cybersecurity. Over the next five years, Leonardo forecasts a 16% rise in orders and a 13% growth in revenue in this area.
