Australian university used Wi-Fi location data to identify student protestors
Asia In Brief Australia’s University of Melbourne last year used Wi-Fi location data to identify student protestors.
The University used Wi-Fi to identify students who participated in July 2024 sit-in protest. As described in a report [PDF] into the matter 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 be suspended, disciplined, or reported to police.
The report says 22 chose to remain, and that the University used CCTV and WiFi location data to identify them.
The Information Commissioner found that use of CCTV to identify protestors did not breach privacy, but felt using Wi-Fi location data did because the University’s policies lacked detail.
“Given that individuals would not have been aware of why their Wi-Fi location data was collected and how it may be used, they could not exercise an informed choice as to whether to use the Wi-Fi network during the sit-in, and be aware of the possible consequences for doing so,” the report found.
As the investigation into use of location data unfolded, the University changed its policies regarding use of location data. The Office of the Information Commissioner therefore decided not to issue a formal compliance notice, and will monitor the University to ensure it complies with its undertakings.
Fastly ponders CDN designs for Asia
Content delivery network (CDN) service provider Fastly is researching how to extend its services into Asia.
Like all CDN providers, Fastly deploys its infrastructure close to the network edge to bring data closer to consumers. Unlike its rivals, Fastly prefers a smaller number of substantial infrastructure deployments.
CEO Kip Compton last week told The Register that’s hard to do in Asia, because in nations like India and Indonesia populations are large but infrastructure is scarce.
Compton also observed that many Indian netizens still use phones with small screens, meaning streaming video requires less network capacity than is the case in nations where HD feature phones are ubiquitous. The CEO predicted it won’t be long before more capable phones see more data flood networks across Asia.
Fastly is therefore researching how to adapt its CDN to this new challenge.
SK Hynix takes QLC NAND past 300 layers
South Korean memory-maker SK Hynix on Monday announced it has begun mass production of 321-layer QLC NAND chips.
The company claims it’s the first to make QLC NAND with more than 300 layers, and that its new memory improves write performance by up to 56 percent, and speeds reads by 18 percent, while improving energy efficiency.
The tech will first appear in 2TB SSDs for PCs, before SK Hynix uses it in enterprise SSDs and smartphone memory.
The company expects the memory to go on sale in the first half of 2026, after customers validate the product.
Grab glitch saw rides cost a Grand
Singapore-based rideshare outfit Grab last week experienced glitches that saw the quoted price of even short rides in its app exceed S$1,000 ($780).
Singapore’s area is smaller than that occupied by Chicago or greater London, so the fares were beyond ridiculously expensive. The company reportedly blamed the massive fares on a “misconfigured fee” and fixed the issue within 20 minutes.
India bans ‘online money games’ – aka gambling
India’s parliament last week banned all games and online services that involve the chance to win – or lose – real money.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill bans “online money games”, a term that covers some online card games and fantasy sports platforms.
“Online money gaming platforms have caused widespread harm,” states a government press release. “Families have lost their savings. Young people have fallen into addiction. In some heartbreaking cases, financial distress linked to these games has even led to suicides.”
India’s government said the ban “clearly separates constructive digital recreation from betting, gambling and fantasy money games that exploit users with false promises of profit.”
Japanese game devs ditch Big Tech’s payment prisons
Japanese mobile games developers are ditching Big Tech’s payment systems. Research by Japanese outlet Kyodo News considered the top 30 games on local app store charts, identified 16 Japanese developers whose products make that list, then checked if those games companies operate their own payment systems.
The outlet found 11 of 16 developers now operate their own payment service, evading the commissions charged by the likes of Apple and Google.
Japan has passed a law that will weaken Big Tech’s dominance of app stores, but it comes into effect in December. Kyodo News’s research suggests developers were in a hurry to adopt cheaper payment platforms. ®
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