Roundup – Vietnam cracks down on data storage and Google stops IoT Core service

Vietnam forces tech firms to store user data onshore

To tighten cyber security rules, Vietnam’s government ruled on Wednesday that tech firms must store their users’ data locally. This includes financial records and biometric data, or any created by users whilst surfing the internet. Authorities will have the power to issues data collection requests and ask providers to remove content if deemed a violation of the government’s guidelines. The decree applies to social media companies and telecommunications operators, and will come into force on 1 October. Foreign firms will have 12 months to set up local data storage and will have to store data onshore for a minimum of 24 months.

https://www.userwalls.news/n/vietnam-orders-tech-firms-store-user-data-onshore-3696775/

Google Cloud to discontinue its IoT Core service in 2023

Google Cloud is ceasing its IoT Core service for managing connected devices on 16 August 2023. A spokesperson from the search platform told TechCrunch “since launching IoT Core, it has become clear that our customers’ needs could be better served by our network of partners that specialise in IoT applications and services.” Google reassures that is has worked “extensively” to provide customers with migration options and solution alternatives, and it is providing a year-long runway before IoT Core is discontinued. Organisations can also still use numerous cloud services from Google to process logs collected by IoT sensors.

https://siliconangle.com/2022/08/17/google-cloud-discontinue-iot-core-service-2023/

South Korea to attend meeting of US-led chipmaker group Chip 4

South Korea is expected to attend a preliminary meeting for a US-led group of major microchip manufacturers including Taiwan and Japan. According to a survey of 300 exporters in South Korea, there is desire for the country to join the group, Chip 4, yet in doing so it could heighten the stakes for South Korea as it seeks to navigate the contest between the United States and China over semiconductor and micro processing technology. In his comments to reporters, South Korean’s minister of foreign affairs Park Jin didn’t discuss the itinerary of the meeting, other than to say the country would attend.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/technology/south-korea-to-attend-preliminary-meeting-of-us-led-chipmaker-group

Apple tells employees to return to office for three-day working week

Apple has said that all employees must return to office for a minimum of three days per week from 5 September. The tech giant has been working on getting employees to return to the office since June 2021, and according to Fortune, it has been one of the most “stringent” tech companies when it comes to pushing a physical presence, unlike Amazon and Google who have been more lenient. The new policy will first take effect in Silicon Valley and then spread to other offices. Employees will work from office Tuesdays and Thursdays and a day which will be determined by individual teams.

https://fortune.com/2022/08/15/apple-return-to-office-policy-remote-hybrid-work/