University of Melbourne and Wi-Fi Location Data Controversy
In a recent incident, the University of Melbourne in Australia was found to have used Wi-Fi location data to identify students involved in a protest. This action took place during a sit-in protest in July 2024. According to a report by the state of Victoria’s Office of the Information Commissioner, the university directed protestors to leave the building they occupied and warned those who remained could face suspension, disciplinary action, or be reported to the police.
The report highlighted that 22 individuals chose to stay, and the university used both CCTV and Wi-Fi location data to identify them. While the use of CCTV was not considered a privacy breach, the use of Wi-Fi location data raised concerns. The Information Commissioner noted that individuals were not aware of how their Wi-Fi data was being collected or used, which meant they couldn’t make an informed decision about using the Wi-Fi network during the protest.
Following the investigation, the university revised its policies regarding the use of location data. As a result, the Office of the Information Commissioner decided not to issue a formal compliance notice but will continue to monitor the university to ensure it adheres to its new policies.
Fastly Explores Expansion into Asia
Content delivery network (CDN) service provider Fastly is exploring ways to expand its services into Asia. Like other CDN providers, Fastly deploys its infrastructure close to the network edge to bring data closer to consumers. However, Fastly prefers fewer, more substantial infrastructure deployments compared to its competitors.
CEO Kip Compton recently stated that expanding into Asia presents challenges due to the large populations in countries like India and Indonesia, where infrastructure is limited. He also mentioned that many Indian users still rely on phones with small screens, which reduces the demand for high-bandwidth streaming. However, he predicts that as more capable phones become available, data usage across Asia will increase significantly.
Fastly is currently researching how to adapt its CDN to meet these evolving needs, ensuring it can deliver efficient and effective services to Asian markets.
SK Hynix Unveils 321-Layer SSDs
South Korean memory manufacturer SK Hynix has announced the mass production of 321-layer QLC NAND chips, marking a significant advancement in storage technology. This is the first time a company has produced QLC NAND with over 300 layers, offering improved performance and efficiency.
According to SK Hynix, the new memory technology enhances write performance by up to 56% and read speeds by 18%, while also improving energy efficiency. These chips will initially be used in 2TB SSDs for personal computers before being integrated into enterprise SSDs and smartphone memory.
The company expects the product to be available in the first half of 2026 after customer validation.
Grab Faces Fare Glitch
Singapore-based rideshare company Grab recently experienced a technical glitch that caused the quoted prices for short rides in its app to exceed S$1,000 ($780). Given Singapore's relatively small size, these fares were extremely high and unreasonable. The company attributed the issue to a "misconfigured fee" and resolved the problem within 20 minutes.
India Bans Online Money Games
India's parliament recently passed a bill banning all games and online services that involve the chance to win or lose real money. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill targets "online money games," which include certain card games and fantasy sports platforms.
The government claims these platforms have caused widespread harm, leading to financial losses, addiction, and even tragic cases of suicide. The ban aims to distinguish between constructive digital recreation and gambling or betting activities that exploit users with false promises of profit.
Japanese Developers Move Away from Big Tech Payment Systems
Japanese mobile game developers are increasingly adopting their own payment systems to avoid the high commissions charged by Apple and Google. Research by Kyodo News found that 11 out of 16 Japanese developers among the top 30 games on local app store charts now operate their own payment services.
This shift comes as Japan prepares to implement a law that will reduce Big Tech's dominance in app stores, set to take effect in December. The research suggests that developers are proactively seeking cheaper alternatives to maintain control over their revenue streams.
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