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☆ Micron invests another $600 million in China despite partial sales ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Micron said Friday it was committed to China and would invest 4.3 billion yuan ($603 million) over the next few years in its chip packaging facility in the city of Xian. Micron, the biggest US memory chipmaker, was last month targeted by China’s cyberspace regulator, which said the firm had failed a network security review. “This investment project demonstrates Micron’s unwavering commitment to its China business and team,” it quoted CEO Sanjay Mehrotra as saying. Micron, China’s commerce ministry and the Cyberspace Administration of China did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In May, Micron forecast a hit to revenue in the low-single to high-single digit percentages after the China ban.

Persons: Sanjay Mehrotra, Powertech Organizations: Micron, Technology Inc, Cyberspace Administration, China Locations: China, Xian

☆ China to clamp down on AirDrop and Bluetooth file sharing for national security reasons
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s cyberspace regulator plans to issue new rules clamping down on the use of wireless file sharing functions such as Bluetooth and Apple’s AirDrop on national security grounds. The move comes after protesters in China used AirDrop during anti-government protests in October 2022 to share content, bypassing strict internet censorship. Weeks later, Apple moved to limit the use of the AirDrop function on devices in China. The aim of the regulation is to “maintain national security and social public interests” by regulating the use of close-range wireless communication tools such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other technologies, it said. Other than AirDrop, Google’s Nearby Share allows users to transfer data between Android and Chrome OS devices via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Persons: Weeks, Apple, Xi Jinping, Oppo, Xi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Bluetooth, Cyberspace Administration, The New York Times Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing

☆ China deletes 1.4 million social media posts in crackdown on 'self-media' accounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( Eduardo Baptista | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING, May 27 (Reuters) - China's cyberspace regulator said 1.4 million social media posts have been deleted following a two-month probe into alleged misinformation, illegal profiteering, and impersonation of state officials, among other "pronounced problems". The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said in a statement on Friday it had closed 67,000 social media accounts and deleted hundreds of thousands of posts between March 10 and May 22 as part of a broader "rectification" campaign. Since 2021, China has targeted billions of social media accounts in a bid to "clean" its cyberspace and make it easier for authorities to control. The latest crackdown targeted accounts on popular Chinese social media apps including WeChat, Douyin, and Weibo that fall under the category of "self media," a term that broadly refers to accounts that publish news and information but are not government-run or state-approved. Some 25,000 other accounts were targeted for impersonating public institutions, such as disease and prevention control centers and state-run research institutes.

☆ Stocks making the biggest premarket moves: Apple, Meta, Micron, PacWest and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Check out the companies making the biggest moves in premarket trading:Apple — Shares of the iPhone maker fell about 1% premarket after Loop Capital downgraded Apple's stock to hold from buy. Nike , Foot Locker — Shares of Nike and Foot Locker declined 1.5% and 2.4%, respectively, in premarket trading. Foot Locker missed on the top and bottom lines in its first fiscal quarter, and lowered its guidance. UBS upgraded shares to a buy from neutral rating, saying that expansion into new markets should fuel growth. Norfolk Southern , CSX — Shares of the railroads added 1.8% and 1.5%, respectively, in premarket trading.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: PacWest, DraftKings, Pfizer, Foot Locker and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading. DraftKings — Shares of the sports gambling platform soared 8% in midday trading. Earlier on Monday, UBS upgraded the stock to buy from neutral on strong growth in new states. Zions Bancorporation — The bank stock jumped 6.7% after Hovde Group initiated coverage of Zions at outperform, with a $40 price target, according to FactSet. Norfolk Southern — Norfolk Southern gained less than 1% during midday trading.

China's chip stocks rallied on Monday morning following Beijing's announcement to bar some purchases of products from U.S. memory chipmaker Micron . China's Cyberspace Administration barred operators of "critical information infrastructure" in China from buying products from the U.S. chip giant following a security review conducted by the Cyberspace Administration of China. Chinese authorities said Micron products have failed its network security review, and cited "serious potential network security issues." The firm poses a "major security risk" to China's critical information infrastructure supply chain and affects [its] national security," a statement said. Shares of Chinese chipmakers largely rose on Monday following the move: Hong Kong-listed Hua Hong Semiconductor rose as much as 3.14% on Monday, while SMIC rose 2.64%.

☆ Micron Technology: China bans companies working in key infrastructure projects from buying US chips
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —China has banned Chinese companies working on key infrastructure projects from buying products from US semiconductor manufacturer Micron, in a major escalation of an ongoing battle between the world’s top two economies over access to crucial technology. The Cyberspace Administration of China announced the decision on Sunday, saying the US chip maker had failed to pass a cybersecurity review. As a result, operators involved in domestic critical information infrastructure projects should stop purchasing products from Micron, it said. Since October 2022, Washington has imposed sweeping export curbs on advanced chips and chip-making equipment to China, in an attempt to cut off China’s access to critical technology for military purposes. In March, Japan and the Netherlands, both key US allies, also announced restrictions on overseas sales of chip-making technology to countries including China.

☆ China fails Micron's products in security review, bars some purchases
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

According to China's broad definition of critical information infrastructure, this could include sectors ranging from transport to finance. "The review found that Micron's products have serious network security risks, which pose significant security risks to China's critical information infrastructure supply chain, affecting China's national security," the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said in a statement. China announced its review of Micron's products in late March. The larger chunk of Micron's products flowing into China are being purchased by non-Chinese firms for use in products manufactured there, according to analysts. China in September 2021 imposed rules aimed at protecting critical information infrastructure, which require their operators to comply with stricter requirements around areas such as data security.

☆ China says Micron's products fail security review, bars some purchases
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"The review found that Micron's products have serious network security risks, which pose significant security risks to China's critical information infrastructure supply chain, affecting China's national security," the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said in a statement. Operators of critical information infrastructure will be required to stop procuring from Micron, the CAC added. According to China's broad definition of critical information infrastructure, this could include sectors ranging from transport to finance. The CAC did not detail what risks it had found nor what Micron products this would impact. China in September 2021 imposed rules aimed at protecting critical information infrastructure, which require their operators to comply with stricter requirements around areas such as data security.

☆ China Bans Some Sales of Chips From U.S. Company Micron
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Chang Che | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Beijing on Sunday told Chinese companies that deal with critical information to stop purchasing products from Micron Technology, the U.S.-based manufacturer of memory chips used in phones, computers and other electronics. Many analysts viewed the move as retaliation for Washington’s efforts to cut off China’s access to high-end chips. The decision to bar Micron from selling its chips to key companies could have a ripple effect through China’s supply chains as Micron’s Chinese customers seek to replace the U.S. memory chips with homegrown or Korean versions. South Korean chip makers like Samsung and SK Hynix are Micron’s competitors and already do significant business with China. Micron said at the time that it was “cooperating fully” with the investigation and that its China business was operating as normal.

☆ China's tech feud with the US is heating up
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Joe Mcdonald | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

China is clamping down on the use of computer chips from US tech giant Micron Technologies. China's government claims Micron products have unspecified "serious network security risks." It's the latest development in the United States' tech feud with China. They import more than $300 billion worth of foreign chips every year. Beijing is pouring billions of dollars into trying to accelerate chip development and reduce the need for foreign technology.

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) launched a special campaign to clean up online information, focusing on social media accounts that disseminate "fake news" and impersonate state-controlled media. The regulator said it had wiped 107,000 accounts of counterfeit news units and news anchors and 835,000 pieces of fake news information since April 6. The cleanup comes as China and countries across the globe grapple with an onslaught of fake news coverage online, with many implementing laws to punish culprits. News dissemination on Chinese social media, however, is already heavily controlled, with platforms like the Twitter-like Weibo favouring topic hashtags produced by state media, while censoring hashtags on issues or incidents considered sensitive by Beijing, even if they go viral. China recently arrested a man in Gansu province for allegedly using ChatGPT to generate a fake story about a train crash.

☆ ChatGPT: Chinese police detain man for allegedly using it to spread rumors online
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

According to a statement from police in the northwest province of Gansu, the suspect allegedly used ChatGPT to generate a bogus report about a train crash, which he then posted online for profit. ChatGPT, developed by Microsoft (MSFT)-backed OpenAI, is banned in China, though internet users can use virtual private networks (VPN) to access it. State broadcaster CGTN says it was the country’s first arrest of a person accused of using ChatGPT to fabricate and spread fake news. Formally known as deep synthesis, deep fake refers to highly realistic textual and visual content generated by artificial intelligence. The new legislation bars users from generating deep fake content on topics already prohibited by existing laws on China’s heavily censored internet.

☆ It's riskier than ever to be a foreign business in China, as evidenced by a series of recent sanctions, detentions, and an updated anti-espionage law that has watchdogs on edge
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The updated law doesn't clearly define what constitutes China's national security or interests. The new law follows a recent spate of sanctions, probes, and detentions into foreign firms in China. Even now, the terms relating to national security and interest are still "not explicitly defined," the Eurasia Group wrote. The updated law is also particularly concerning because of the recent developments surrounding foreign firms in China. China's recent crackdown on foreign businesses is spurring concernsIn April, Chinese police questioned staff at American consultancy Bain in Shanghai.

☆ New rules compel leading China financial data provider to limit offshore access, sources tell Reuters
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

China's leading financial data provider Wind Information Co is limiting offshore access to some business and economic data, in response to new rules from the country's cybersecurity regulator finalized last September. China's biggest financial data provider Wind Information told some customers late last year that it was restricting offshore users from accessing certain business and economic data as a result of the cybersecurity regulator's new data rules, two sources said. Restricted access to Wind by offshore users comes as China sharpens its focus on data usage and security amid rising geopolitical tensions and concerns about privacy in the world's second-largest economy. A Wind salesperson told the source in September the company had made the changes as per instructions from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), which asked it to stop providing offshore users with certain data. The second source was also told by another Wind salesperson that the restrictions were put in place after the CAC unveiled new data rules last year.

HONG KONG, May 4 (Reuters) - China's biggest financial data provider Wind Information Co told some customers late last year that it was restricting offshore users from accessing certain business and economic data as a result of the cybersecurity regulator's new data rules, two sources said. Restricted access to Wind by offshore users comes as China sharpens its focus on data usage and security amid rising geopolitical tensions and concerns about privacy in the world's second-largest economy. A Wind salesperson told the source in September the company had made the changes as per instructions from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), which asked it to stop providing offshore users with certain data. The restrictions on offshore users' access to certain Wind data have expanded since last September, said the first source. Reuters has reported, citing sources that Chinese data providers including company databases Qichacha, partially owned by Wind, and TianYanCha have stopped opening to offshore users for at least months.

☆ China Says Chatbots Must Toe the Party Line
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Chang Che | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Five months after ChatGPT set off an investment frenzy over artificial intelligence, Beijing is moving to rein in China’s chatbots, a show of the government’s resolve to keep tight regulatory control over technology that could define an era. The Cyberspace Administration of China unveiled draft rules this month for so-called generative artificial intelligence — the software systems, like the one behind ChatGPT, that can formulate text and pictures in response to a user’s questions and prompts. According to the regulations, companies must heed the Chinese Communist Party’s strict censorship rules, just as websites and apps have to avoid publishing material that besmirches China’s leaders or rehashes forbidden history. systems will need to reflect “socialist core values” and avoid information that undermines “state power” or national unity. Companies will also have to make sure their chatbots create words and pictures that are truthful and respect intellectual property, and will be required to register their algorithms, the software brains behind chatbots, with regulators.

☆ China wants its AI to only say nice things about the communist party. Good luck with that.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Alistair Barr | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AI systems must reflect China's "socialist core values," according to new rules reported by The New York Times. Proposed regulations could make it harder for Alibaba, Baidu and other Chinese tech companies to chase OpenAI. Bytedance and Tencent are also competing in the new AI race against Google and Facebook. A new wave of AI models is already beginning to disrupt Western business and society by automating some tasks and convincingly lying about important topics. Tencent, Bytedance, Baidu, Alibaba, Sensetime, and other big Chinese tech companies have the technical prowess to develop their own generative AI models.

☆ US urges South Korea not to fill China shortfalls if Beijing bans Micron chips, Financial Times reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 23 (Reuters) - The United States asked South Korea to urge its chipmakers not to fill any market gap in China if Beijing bans memory chipmaker Micron (MU.O) from selling chips, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. The United States made the request as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol prepares to travel to Washington on Monday, the newspaper reported, according to four people familiar with the talks. China's cyberspace regulator Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said in March that it would conduct a cybersecurity review of products sold in the country by Micron. In a response, Micron said that it is cooperating with the Chinese government and that its operations in China are normal. It has blacklisted a number of China's largest chip firms, including Micron rival Yangtze Memory Technologies Co Ltd.

☆ Senate leader Schumer pushes for AI regulatory regime after China action
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday he had launched an effort to win bipartisan agreement for a new regulatory regime to address concerns about artificial intelligence. Schumer's office said "given the AI industry’s consequential and fast-moving impact on our society and global economy" he believes it is a matter of high urgency to act. The Biden administration on Tuesday said it is seeking public comments on potential accountability measures for artificial intelligence systems that have raised national security and education concerns. Schumer's office said he has for months been "discussing and circulating a high-level framework that outlines a new regulatory regime for artificial intelligence, engaging leading artificial intelligence experts to help inform the proposal." Schumer wants to create a "flexible and resilient AI policy framework across the federal government that can adapt as the technology continues to advance."

☆ China reluctantly keeps sanctions powder dry
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Pete Sweeney | Thomson Reuters | Asia Economics Editor Pete Sweeney Joined Reuters Breakingviews In Hong Kong In September Previously He Served As Reuters' Chief Correspondent For China Economy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Yet most trade measures Xi has taken so far are best seen as defensive tactics to protect market share from aspirant rivals in the West and India. The easiest option is picking on America’s $120-billion-plus of direct investment stock in China. Of course, that is no way for China to revive the decaying quantity and quality of the investment it receives. Chinese officials consistently say they welcome U.S. trade and investment and there is no reason to doubt them. The move comes after the United States implemented multiple restrictions on sales of chipmaking tools and components to China.

☆ China releases rules for generative AI like ChatGPT after Alibaba, Baidu launch services
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

These are AI services that are able to generate images or text after user queries. The powerful Cyberspace Administration of China released draft rules governing how generative AI products should be developed. Chinese regulators on Tuesday released draft rules designed to manage how companies develop generative artificial intelligence products like ChatGPT. So-called generative AI refers to algorithms trained with huge amounts of data that are able to generate content such as images and texts. On Tuesday, Alibaba unveiled Tongyi Qianwen, its generative AI product, that the e-commerce giant plans to integrate across various services.

☆ China proposes measures to manage generative AI services
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, April 11 (Reuters) - China's cyberspace regulator unveiled draft measures on Tuesday for managing generative artificial intelligence services, saying it wants firms to submit security assessments to authorities before they launch their offerings to the public. The CAC said that China supports AI innovation and application and encourages use of safe and reliable software, tools and data resources, but content generated by generative AI had to be in line with the country's core socialist values. Providers will be responsible for the legitimacy of data used to train generative AI products and measures should be taken to prevent discrimination when designing algorithms and training data, it said. Providers will be fined, have their services suspended, or even face criminal investigations if they fail to comply with the rules. The public can comment on the proposals until May 10, and the measures are expected to come into effect sometime this year, according to the draft rules.

☆ China's cyberspace regulator releases rules on generative AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailChina's cyberspace regulator releases rules on generative AIThe Cyberspace Administration of China launched draft designed to manage how companies develop generative artificial intelligence products like ChatGPT. It comes after Alibaba unveiled its ChatGPT rival, CNBC's Arjun Kharpal reports.

☆ Micron says operations normal in China amid government review
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Stephen Nellis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 3 (Reuters) - Micron Technology Inc (MU.O) on Monday said that its business operations in China are normal while it is cooperating with a Chinese government cybersecurity review of its products. Last week, the Cyberspace Administration of China said it would conduct a security review of Micron's products sold in the country. The move comes amid a deepening rift between the United States and China over chip technology that has left companies caught in the crossfire. Micron is the only U.S.-based player in the global market for memory chips and is building a new $15 billion factory in upstate New York. Chinese companies have also been working to break into the memory market, but the U.S. last year restricted export of chipmaking tools to the country.

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