Page 92 - IBT October 2020

Techonomist Take
World
Traditional politics revolved around
the tangible resources of land, water,
air, and people. These assertions for
power were driven by the economics
of reigning supreme over physical
assets. Political powers have risen and
fallen; their weapons have changed
shapes and means. As the 4th
Industrial Revolution gains more
momentum, the powers of the east
and west look to extend their
dominions over the most lucrative
resources of today - data. The battles
of data are fought with the internet
and with the tools of tech. Welcome to
World War T.
East or West
Individuals and companies will soon
be forced to make a stark decision
about their online futures in the
divided internet. The choices are
simple: the Western approach or a
model shaped by China. The choice
between the two very different
philosophical camps isn’t easy and can
have serious implications. The
growing debate comes as governments
globally impose greater national
restrictions on online activity, often
motivated by concerns over security
and crime.
86
data that we give away so willingly headlines. This incident resulted in brought under the net as a pledge of Tik Tok Tik Tok
many in the US administration
President Xi Jinping's to strengthen
can cause an incomprehensible
On June 15, 2020, Chinese and Indian
including President Trump to come
internet security and benefit the
amount of harm. Then there is the
under scrutiny. Russia was bashed by
nation's cyber sovereignty. According to
military troops engaged in a deadly
advent of Information of Things (IoT)
clash over disputed land that resulted
US politicians, especially the
an 18-month study by Peking and
proliferated by 4G and now, 5g
Democrats. So it is indeed possible to
Stanford University, Chinese university
in Indian troop casualties and an
technologies. In such an
undisclosed number of Chinese deaths.
students showed little interest in
not only affect a country’s democratic
interconnected world via the internet,
process but in doing so affect foreign
At the end of the month, India had
having access to uncensored, political
a cyber threat can result in massive
disasters. There is every reason why
including the popular video platform
most students did not actively seek out
governments may wish to restrict the
Filtration Nation
TikTok citing security concerns. This
sensitive content because they grew up
availability of these sensitive pieces of policy as well via technology. content online. The study revealed that banned 59 Chinese mobile apps,
information to foreign nations, as well The OpenNet Initiative has documented being accustomed to having was followed by officials in the US and
as, access to devices and network filtering of the Internet by information censored. Australia who have called for bans of
infrastructure through the internet. It national governments in over 40 the app over concerns that the Chinese
is equally probable that some countries worldwide. Countries use this The Developing government can access TikTok’s user
administrations may wish to know network filtering as one of many data as the app is owned by
about specific details of a country or methods to control the flow of online Direction Beijing-based tech firm ByteDance Ltd.
influence public opinion to gain a content that is objectionable to the Developing countries are now heading Officials and activists have also
political, economical, and military filtering governments for social, in a different direction away from criticized the company for censoring
edge over rival countries. political, and security reasons. Filtering western nations when it comes to their content deemed politically sensitive or
is particularly appealing to technology needs. Independent controversial in China (TikTok has
State of Play governments as it allows them to watchdog Freedom House estimates denied the allegations).TikTok collects
So how do states intervene in the manipulate content not published that about almost 40 countries have users’ location, IP address, and
cyberspace to assert their interests? within their borders. In many cases, now had their telecommunications browsing history. The app can also
Firstly it can be through direct attacks this is to discourage certain social and infrastructure designed and store phone numbers, age, and
in cyberspace through hackers. We religious thoughts as deemed manufactured by Chinese tech firms. payment details if users opt-in. TikTok,
have heard allegations of North anti-state. For example, at least 9 Chinese successes in developing like all social media companies,
Korean hackers attack financial and Middle Eastern and North African state markets include mobile phone giant collects users’ data but as it is owned
other institutions globally. There can censors use Western-built technologies Transsion which is known as the by a Chinese company, it will be
be counter teams set up to tackle to impede access to online content. “Apple of Africa”. difficult for the company to refuse
offenses such as these by nations Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in information requests from the Chinese
under fire. By contrast, it can be a Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Saudi E-commerconomics government. The same National
only a small glimpse of the ever simple data collection through Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Sudan, and These Chinese systems also favour Intelligence Law seemed to be the
increasing impact that the internet seemingly ‘harmless’ apps for Tunisia use the Western-built Chinese platforms like Alibaba, undoing of many Chinese tech firms as
has on our lives through enjoyment. Moreover, retrieval of automated filtering solutions to block Tencent, and Baidu, as opposed to was the case with Tik Tok.
Entrenched in smartphones. sensitive documents can also be mass content, such as websites that American giants like Facebook and
ordered by certain political moves. provide skeptical views of Islam, Google. E-platforms services can also Body of Lies
Defense It’s a Smartphone’s Moreover national and global policy secular and atheist discourse, LGBT, control the economic interests of a So how do you decide what is best for
The connection of technology with World The Data changes can affect nations and dating services, and proxy and nation by diverting business away from you from the clutter? First, you may
power is nothing new. It is no wonder With our lives becoming Revolution citizens. Whatever the action maybe anonymity tools. These lists of sites are western companies like Amazon and start with reading the End User License
that the first generation computers in interconnected and sometimes Ask any cybersecurity specialist they have serious local and global maintained by the Western company Ebay to Alibaba within China. Agreement of any app. Know what data
the 1940s like Colossus were built for synonymous with our screen time, and they will tell you that we live repercussions. vendors. However, the question is does you are giving out and what you
the military. Moreover, Alan Turing, the effect of the internet on our in a world where Facebook and the filtering stop there? Could there be shouldn’t. Whether it’s Faceapp or
who is known as the father of lives is tantamount. Presently Google know more about us than The Cold War of Tech a political agenda to stop companies Why Huawei TikTok a moment of enjoyment may
computing, helped decode encrypted there are over 3 billion you do ourselves! Where you are; Even the war between the Soviets and from operating? Also, could this Last year the US-led ban of many come at a great cost. Second, remember
messages of the Germans for the smartphone users worldwide. what you like (and dislike); who Allies is long gone, the new global filtration be discriminating? Huawei products followed by other the first option. As we want things
Allies during World War II. Moreover, you know are some of the basic tech tug of war is between the US and countries. The US argued China's 2017 quickly we forget that the many small
the foundations of the modern Individuals spend an average of 3 information that we are willingly its allies against China, Russia with The Great Firewall of National Intelligence Law, which says details we are giving away may cause
hours and 15 minutes on their
internet were conceived by J.C.R. phones. Americans only spend sharing in a socially connected their allies. The game has changed to organizations must "support, cooperate regret later.
Licklider of MIT when he was around 5.4 hours a day using world. However, think about the vying with trade versus just traditional China with and collaborate in national
working for the Defense Advanced phones! Specifically, millennials biometric information that you military proliferation of weapons. The The Chinese Firewall is a digital border intelligence work", meaning Beijing The Siege.
Research Projects Agency (DARPA). are on their phones 5.7 hours per have on your smartphone and US and China especially are at a trade built by the Chinese Government to could force Huawei to do its bidding. In this world of hackers, big tech, and
With contributions of numerous day, while baby boomers give 5 what access your retina or war and this has translated into a control the internet in the mid-1990s. The biggest impact was on their 5G governments, data is the new currency
scientists the ARPANET, the internet’s hours to the same devices. People fingerprint gives someone. Access Silent War of Technology too. With the Some may go as to call it a digital network contracts as this was thought and you are the dealer. You are playing
predecessor was given birth to in check their smartphones 58 times to your national ID card, bank production of software and hardware, version of the Berlin Wall. With US to not only have security flaws but also with bigger players but you can control
1969. As such, it can make sense that a day on average with more than account, or passport? Additionally, both nations have taken up the notch services like Facebook being blocked, potential data seizure by the Chinese the game. Share smart.
with roots such as this and with the half of those occurring when they with the advent of facial in their vocal dissent of the other. Chinese digital platforms such as authorities. Google, Intel, and
shift in global power over time, are at work. 70% of mobile recognition, machine learning, WeChat and Baidu aim to provide Qualcomm have subsequently had to
governments may want to invest their sessions are shorter than 2 and artificial intelligence you can Russian Roulette China’s generation Z everything they abide by US law and discontinue doing
energy, time, and assets to influence minutes. Each day millennials be recognized and your actions The incident of Russian hackers could ask for online. 10’s of millions of business with Huawei as the The Writer is the CEO of MCFG and Executive
Director of Global Chamber ® Dhaka & Barisal. He
the direction of the information spend 48 minutes to text. This is can be predicted. In the hands of manipulating influenced the recent Chinese Generation Z - who are known geo-politics got intertwined with can be reached at maimun@globalchamber.org
highway. the wrong entity, the very bits of 2016 US Elections created many as “The Firewall Generation” have been business.