Tech Digest: Coronavirus-Related Issues and TikTok Banning

Alibaba detects coronavirus with an accuracy of 96%

Alibaba, a Chinese e-commerce giant, has taught its AI to detect coronavirus in tomographic images in only twenty seconds with an accuracy of 96%. A database of 5 thousand images of patients with confirmed diagnoses helps Alibaba with the whole process. The data of the AI system are actively being used in hundreds of hospitals throughout China.

WeChat is censoring messages about coronavirus

WeChat – a popular and perhaps the only messenger in China – filters messages where coronavirus is mentioned. The messenger got under control on January 1st this year, precisely 24 hours after a doctor from Wuhan Central Hospital warned fellow colleagues about a possible outbreak of COVID-19. Now, WeChat is censoring all messages mentioning Dr. Li Wenliang, who died of coronavirus. In general, a threat to the health of users of online platforms is one of the main excuses in those rare cases when social networks nevertheless get to the moderation of content.

Mark Zuckerberg is fighting coronavirus in ways usual for him – he changes the behavior of his users based on data received from third parties

The head of Facebook not only provided the World Health Organization (WHO) with free advertising on the social network but also made sure that all search queries with the word “coronavirus” would redirect users to the WHO sources. Also, Facebook will remove unverified information and conspiracy theories about coronavirus. It will also notify people who are in a country where there’s an outbreak in the news feed. A simple notification and reminder of the danger can affect users’ travels and save lives. This way, Mark will show critics that the lack of digital privacy is a good thing sometimes.

Apple exploited Uyghurs to produce the iPhone X front camera

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute published a report on forced labor among Uyghurs – the Muslim minority in China. Since 2017, 1 million Uyghurs have been held in “vocational training centers.” This is the pure deradicalization of Chinese Muslims. People get into these centers because of the ardent expression of religious views, long beards, and prayers. From 2017 to 2019, more than 80 thousand Uyghurs from the camps located in Xinjiang were taken out to work in factories located throughout China. A lot of factories where Uyghurs were “re-educated” took part in production chains of notable brands like Apple or Nike. The front cameras of iPhone X were produced in factories where Uyghurs were sent for re-education. The Chinese government calls this disgrace a “help to the Muslim minority.”

China without negative content

From now on, it is illegal to write negative comments and posts criticizing the country in China. On the other hand, good, glorifying, and inspiring content is encouraged in every way. The following topics belong to encouraged content: Party doctrine, spreading China’s economic achievements, and, of course, stories about how the grass is greener in China.

The new law divides online content into three groups:

• Encouraged
• Negative ("sensationalizing headlines" and any "other content with a negative impact to the online information ecosystem")
• Illegal ("dissemination of rumors" and "destroying national unity")

In China, civilian censorship is also encouraged in every way. Last December, China’s cybercitizens handed over information about 12 million pieces of obscene content to the authorities.

TikTok is a threat to US officials

Senator Josh Hawley is preparing legislation prohibiting US officials from using the Chinese social network called TikTok.

The Senator explained in a Tweet:

26.5 million Americans use the TikTok app; 60% of them are from 16 to 25 years old. Social networks are fighting for this age category, therefore, we can assume a struggle with the Chinese competitor in Josh Hawley’s proposal.