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Tag: Oliver Dowden

  • UK Joins US, EU, Canada In Banning TikTok From Government Devices

    UK Joins US, EU, Canada In Banning TikTok From Government Devices

    The UK has joined the US, EU, and Canada in banning TikTok from government devices, citing “a specific risk with government devices.”

    TikTok is facing an existential crisis as governments and jurisdictions struggle with the security implications of the social media app. The company has come under fire for its ties to Beijing, especially since Chinese companies are required to aid the government with surveillance. There have also been repeated lapses in privacy, including TikTok’s parent admitting to surveilling journalists.

    The UK has evidently determined the risks are too great, passing a ban involving the app and government devices, according to The Guardian. Oliver Dowden, the Cabinet Office minister in the Commons, said the ban was “with immediate effect.”

    The decision is a marked change of tune for the UK government, which had previously said it would not follow other governments in banning the app.

  • UK Looks to Revamp Privacy Policy Post-Brexit

    UK Looks to Revamp Privacy Policy Post-Brexit

    The United Kingdom is looking to revamp its privacy policy in the wake of Brexit, making a break from the EU’s GDPR.

    The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is one of the most comprehensive privacy legislation to ever be passed into law. As long as the UK was part of the EU, it was subject to the GDPR, the same as any other European country. With Brexit, however, UK regulators are looking to chart their own path.

    Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, spoke of the work John Edwards, New Zealand’s Privacy Commissioner and the likely next Information Commissioner, would undertake.

    “Now that we have left the EU I’m determined to seize the opportunity by developing a world-leading data policy that will deliver a Brexit dividend for individuals and businesses across the UK,” said Dowden, according to The Guardian.

    “It means reforming our own data laws so that they’re based on common sense, not box-ticking. And it means having the leadership in place at the Information Commissioner’s Office to pursue a new era of data-driven growth and innovation. John Edwards’ vast experience makes him the ideal candidate to ensure data is used responsibly to achieve those goals.”

    Edwards will have his work cut out for him, as any legislation will need to maintain the same level of protection as the GDPR. If it doesn’t, the EU would e forced to stop data-sharing with the UK, a move that would impact companies on both sides of the Channel.

  • UK May Block NVIDIA/Arm Deal

    UK May Block NVIDIA/Arm Deal

    The UK may prevent NVIDIA from buying Arm Holdings, over national security concerns.

    Arm is one of the UK’s biggest tech success stories. Arm creates chip designs which it then licenses to other companies for use in their products. Apple, Qualcomm, Samsung and others use the company’s designs. In Apple’s case, its license is so broad that it can customize the designs, creating truly custom silicon.

    NVIDIA made headlines in September 2020 when it announced it had reached a deal to acquire Arm. Almost immediately the deal was met with scrutiny and condemnation by many in the industry. Arm had a reputation of being neutral, selling its designs to any company wanting to license them. Many critics feared NVIDIA would reserve Arm’s greatest inventions for itself, giving it a major advantage over competitors.

    And even bigger issue has come to the fore, and may ultimately sink the deal: national security. As the COVID-19 pandemic showed, relying on semiconductor makers around the world can be a critical flaw when global supply lines are impacted by a major event. In addition, some British lawmakers are concerned about the implications of having Arm under the control of a US company, one that would be at the mercy of the US surveillance apparatus.

    All of these concerns are combining to potentially scuttle the deal, according to Bloomberg. UK Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden authorized a report on the deal to determine if it was anti-competitive, as well as what national security implications there might be.

    Based on that report, Bloomberg’s sources say UK officials are currently leaning toward rejecting the deal, although nothing final has been decided.

  • UK Probing NVIDIA/Arm Deal Over National Security Concerns

    UK Probing NVIDIA/Arm Deal Over National Security Concerns

    The UK is probing NVIDIA’s purchase of Arm Holding, citing concerns over national security.

    NVIDIA announced last September it had entered an agreement to purchase Arm. Arm’s chip designs are used by companies around the world, including Apple, Qualcomm, Samsung and more. Almost immediately, critics decried the deal as an effort by NVIDIA to reduce competition, with concerns the company would save Arm’s best work for itself. In contrast, Arm has built its business by being strictly neutral, licensing its designs to anyone that wanted them.

    There have also been major concerns regarding the UK semiconductor industry, with Arm being the most successful example. Given the increasing nationalization of the semiconductor industry, many critics worried about the UK losing its most prominent chipmaker to acquisition by a US firm.

    It appears the UK government shares those concerns, and has filed an “intervention notice” to investigate the deal based on national security concerns, according to Reuters.

    “As a next step and to help me gather the relevant information, the UK’s independent competition authority will now prepare a report on the implications of the transaction, which will help inform any further decisions,” said digital minister Oliver Dowden.

    NVIDIA has downplayed the issues, saying its deal does not pose a threat.

    “We will continue to work closely with the British authorities, as we have done since the announcement of this deal,” said NVIDIA.

  • British Government May Be Moving Closer to Huawei U-Turn

    British Government May Be Moving Closer to Huawei U-Turn

    The British government may be moving closer to reversing its decision to include Huawei in its 5G rollout.

    Huawei has been under increasing pressure globally amid accusations that it helps the Chinese government spy on governments and organizations around the world. While all Chinese corporations are required to cooperate with the government, Huawei has been accused of having far closer ties with the Chinese intelligence community than most companies.

    Despite ongoing US pressure to exclude Huawei, the British government initially opted to include the Chinese firm in a limited capacity. Recent events, however, have forced the UK to reconsider. US officials have repeatedly warned that including Huawei would force the US to revisit sharing intelligence and military assets with the UK. The US has also taken efforts to restrict Huawei’s supply of semiconductors.

    It appears the increased pressure is having an impact. According to The Guardian, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told a defense committee that an emergency review was nearly finished and would likely result in a change of policy.

    “Given that those sanctions are targeted at 5G and extensive, it is likely to have an impact on the viability of Huawei as a provider for the 5G network,” Dowden told the MPs.

    If the UK does reverse course, it will be a significant blow to Huawei, while providing US official with a major win.