Big tech surveillance could damage democracy

Jun 07, 2019 16:13 pm UTC| Insights & Views Technology

Data is often called the oil of the 21st century. The more tech companies know about their users, the more effectively they can direct them to goods and services that they are likely to buy. The more companies know...

Facebook is now cleaner, faster and group-focused, but still all about your data

Jun 07, 2019 16:12 pm UTC| Insights & Views Technology

Have you noticed your Facebook feed looks different lately? Its a bit more zen, uncluttered and faster. Instagram-like story posts are displayed first, and a separate feed allows you to keep up with the latest activity...

The Reserve Bank will cut rates again and again, until we lift spending and push up prices

Jun 07, 2019 16:11 pm UTC| Insights & Views Central Banks

The Reserve Bank cut interest rates on Tuesday because we arent spending or pushing up prices at anything like the rate it would like. And things are even worse than it might have realised. As the board met in Martin...

The South African government's thinking on surveillance law is regressive

Jun 07, 2019 16:11 pm UTC| Insights & Views Law

A case before the High Court in Pretoria, South Africas capital city, is set to have important implications for citizens privacy and the ability of journalists to do their work without hindrance. At the heart of the...

Cheaper versions of the most expensive drugs may be coming, but monopolies will likely remain

Jun 07, 2019 16:10 pm UTC| Insights & Views

In May, the Food and Drug Administration issued much-anticipated guidance that could revolutionize the pricing of some of the most expensive drugs on the market in the U.S. and, possibly, globally. In this document, the...

Iran nuclear deal is hanging by a thread – so will Islamic Republic now develop a bomb?

Jun 07, 2019 16:10 pm UTC| Insights & Views

The most ambitious effort to peacefully constrain the nuclear aspirations of a nation hangs by a thread. Eight years of patient and difficult negotiations to reach an agreement on Irans nuclear programme were cast aside...

Can social media help anti-corruption drives? A Nigerian case study

Jun 07, 2019 16:10 pm UTC| Insights & Views Technology

Corruption can have a crippling effect on a countrys economy. This is why African businesses have described ending corruption as priority number one. Take Nigeria, where the basic infrastructure deficit is huge but...