Some links I think worth reading today.

• ICANN struggles with the GDPR for the WHOIS database, and has now run out of time:
  EFF: GDPR forces ICANN to improve WHOIS and
  EFF: Privacy as afterthought at ICANN
• Facebook removes 1.5 billion users from EU jurisdiction while maintaining they’re totally committed to applying the ‘spirit’ of the GDPR globally. Which seems unconvincing in reality, because as before it merely emphasizes the illusion of choice for users.
• Bloomberg nicely explains China’s investments in Europe. US / Australia already have limitations in place. MEP Marietje Schaake calls for similar steps in EU.
• Fintech in Africa, and financial inclusion for the unbanked. Noting that China is actively investing in this space in Africa. By Niti Bhan, follow her blog at the Emerging Futures Lab.
• A Skinner box for software to find out what algorithms do (e.g. to target adverts), and the need for transparency and accountability for algorithms that are used. Algorithms need to be ‘smaller’ than me, not commodotise me at the back-end I think.
• Pedro Domingos on the global geopolitical race to lead on AI, “AI lowers the cost of knowledge by orders of magnitude. One good, effective machine learning system can do the work of a million people, whether it’s for commercial purposes or for cyberespionage. Imagine a country that produces a thousand times more knowledge than another.”
• Autonomous taxi start-up says safety testing of autonomous vehicles should be open sourced to increase speed and reliability, as now all stakeholders are re-inventing the autonomous wheel so to speak.