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☆ China online platforms scrap lucky draw features amid gambling crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Analysts say online content platforms pulled the plug on features such as virtual lucky draws after the government in June started cracking down on live streaming, as part of a wider clampdown on online gambling. While the platforms say they ban gambling, analysts say the extremely popular lucky draws are often manipulated by live streamers colluding with viewers to share the prize. None of these companies mentioned the gambling crackdown when they reported their earnings, and they did not respond to request for further comment. However, the co-founder of a popular live streaming platform in Guangzhou, who declined to be named citing the sensitivity of the topic, told Reuters that several popular live streaming and live chat apps had to suspend services after police probes. Online gambling remains a concern, with the authorities saying in 2020 that the cross-border flow of funds for gambling posed a national security risk.

Persons: Florence Lo, HONG KONG, Analysys, Ivan Su, Huya, Charlie Chai, Tencent, Chai, Josh Ye, Farah, Brenda Goh Organizations: Entertainment, QQ, REUTERS, Tencent, HK, Morningstar, Cloud, NetEase, Reuters, Thomson Locations: HONG, Guangzhou, Beijing

Analysts see this more than 7 percent increase in the number of drivers as a manifestation of the subdued job market. At least four others have issued warnings of overcapacity, with some saying drivers get fewer than 10 orders a day as a result. Cai said he earns 200-300 yuan a day, driving for Didi Global - China's answer to Uber - from 8.00 am until close to midnight. Up until recently, he made 400 yuan a day plus bonuses, going home before 8.00 pm. Shanghai driver Li Weimin's rationale for working underscores the shrinking job market.

Persons: Zhu Zhimin, Zhu, Wang Ke, James Cai, Cai, Didi, Wang, Nanxun Li, It's, Li, Casey Hall, Xihao Jiang, Marius Zaharia Organizations: Transport, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, Shanghai, China, Cities, Sanya, Changsha, Haikou, Hainan, Analysys, Beijing

☆ Chinese digital currency stocks surge amid new efforts to promote e-CNY
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE, April 24 (Reuters) - Chinese digital currency-related stocks jumped on Monday in a weak broader market, amid the latest measures that China is taking to promote the use of its own central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital yuan. "The development marks the latest trial China is doing to promote its e-CNY," said Dan Wang, chief economist at Hang Seng Bank China, referring to the digital yuan. Shares in Global Infotech Co (300465.SZ) soared 13% by midday, Chutian Dragon Co (003040.SZ) surged 8%, while Newland Digital Technology Co (000997.SZ) and Northking Information Technology Co (002987.SZ) also rose. However, the three people all said they don't find adequate scenarios to spend the digital yuan in their daily life. "I don't know how to use it, to be honest, no merchant around me receives digital yuan," Yang told Reuters, only giving her surname as she is not authorised to speak to the media.

☆ Exclusive: EU may miss gigabit target, more investments needed, telecoms group says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Total telecom investment in Europe peaked at 56.3 billion euros in 2021, the highest since 2016, but still lagged behind other regions, the report said. "Europe continues to trail its peers worldwide in terms of telecoms investment. The study also noted the large gap between the returns on investment for telecoms operators and those for Big Tech. "There is an acute discrepancy between the returns on investment in European telecoms infrastructure and the returns on investment of the largest services that run over this infrastructure," it said. "When it comes to internet access, it is telecoms operators that shoulder the investment burden, while in terms of new value creation it is tech companies that benefit the most."

☆ Analysis: Tencent bets big on WeChat Channels in push to build its own TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

"Tencent hopes it can turn Channels into the next WeChat Pay. Two sources familiar with Tencent said the importance of Channels has been repeatedly communicated within the company. In November, Tencent President Martin Lau said Channels' advertising revenue was on track to reach 1 billion yuan in the fourth quarter of 2022. "For example, in Douyin or Kuaishou, you won't be able to ask your viewers to add you on WeChat. But on Channels, you can quickly add somebody on WeChat," Yang said.

☆ U.S. tech giants face pressure from Europe's telcos to pay for building the internet
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Michael Bocchieri | Getty ImagesIn Europe, the battle between U.S. Big Tech companies and telecommunications firms has reached fever pitch. In May 2022, EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager said she would look into requiring Big Tech firms to pay for network costs. In South Korea, companies have similarly lobbied politicians to force "over-the-top" players like YouTube and Netflix to pay for network access. Tech companies, naturally, don't think they should pay for the privilege of sending their traffic to consumers. There's also the matter of why internet users pay their providers in the first place.

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