Joseph Brookes

ACS opens new Melbourne innovation hub
The Australian Computer Society opened a new innovation hub in Docklands. The ICT industry group says the co-working space will provide a place for professionals, researchers and government to collaborate on technology challenges like cybersecurity, AI, and privacy. Located at 839 Collins St, the purpose built 2,000sqm hub also features

Facebook settles $5B privacy probe as two more antitrust investigations begin
Facebook has settled a long running privacy investigation with the FTC, agreeing to pay a record US$5 billion fine and upgrade its privacy measures. The Australian privacy watchdog has welcomed settlement but says it will continue its own investigation into the social media giant. The FTC settlement was just one

‘Internet of Meat’ is on the rise, says Gartner
Technology installed inside the human body, known as Internet of Meat, has begun its journey through Gartner’s trademark hype cycle. While it’s early days, the analysts say IoM has a high potential benefit for organisations despite the security and privacy risks. Adoption generally remains low, however, with IoM offering end

Microsoft invests $1B in OpenAI
Microsoft today announced it is partnering with OpenAI, an Elon Musk-founded company that develops sophisticated AI technology under a charter mandating it benefits humanity. The tech giant will invest US$1 billion in the partnership which is aimed at improving its own cloud based AI offerings and the sophistication of technology

NEC takes ACIC to court over botched $52m biometric project
NEC Australia is suing the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), seeking costs and expenses regarding a cancelled Biometric Identification Services (BIS) project. The vendor is arguing the system, which was supposed to replace Australia’s existing fingerprint identification system and add facial recognition capabilities, was “substantially built and ready to undergo

Video: A lack of trust in data means analytics programs are going to waste
Advanced analytics has the potential to uncover otherwise unseen insights and outcomes. But more often than not organisations are using the tools to reinforce what they already know, according to SAP VP and chief analytics evangelist, Shailendra Kumar. Kumar, who spoke to Which-50 following an industry roundtable in Sydney, says the

Encryption Bill incompatible with GDPR, US Law, says Law Council of Australia
The Law Council of Australia has told a parliamentary security committee reviewing the government’s controversial encryption busting laws the new powers conflict with privacy regulations in the EU and US. The group has also raised concerns over Minister for Home Affairs’ ability to withhold information from the security ombudsman reviewing

Northern Territory Police Call System provides emergency services in 20 indigenous languages
An automated message system is allowing indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory to engage emergency services in their native language, some for the first time. NEC and Stratum ICT, which created the technology, says the system has greatly reduced the pressure on emergency contact lines. Last year the Joint Emergency

NAB appoints ex-RBS chief Ross McEwan as CEO
National Australia Bank has named Ross McEwan as its new chief executive officer. The current head of Royal Bank of Scotland and former CBA executive will begin the new role no later than April 2020. NAB had spent five months searching for a new CEO following the resignation of former

Amazon’s biggest ever prime day pushed it to the limit, boosted competitors’ sales
Amazon sold more than 175 million products during its global Prime Day sales this year, eclipsing any of its previous sales events. But US customers are reporting the ecommerce giant hasn’t been able to keep up with demand, failing to deliver items within its advertised delivery periods. In Australia, sales