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Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
If the U.S. Doesn't Set Global Tech Standards, China Will
Imagine an internet where your identity is automatically attached to everything you do—every website you visit, every click you make. That was the vision behind New IP, a proposal Chinese engineers introduced at a United Nations telecom forum in 2019. New IP would have replaced the current open internet with a government-controlled system designed for surveillance and censorship. China shelved the proposal in the face of fierce opposition from Western governments, but it served as a wake-up call. China wants to dominate the technical standards that shape our digital future, filling a void that the U.S. has created as it has gradually withdrawn from this arena over the past decade. For too long, Washington has remained on the sidelines while Beijing has set the rules for new technologies. President Trump aims to change that. His administration's recent AI Action Plan and executive orders direct the State and Commerce departments to foster tech standards that reflect democratic values and resist authoritarian influence. These specifications determine how our devices communicate, how networks operate, and how much freedom we have online. From 5G telecommunications to artificial intelligence protocols, tech standards have shaped the digital landscape for decades. Without them, innovation runs into incompatible systems. Historically, international standards organizations operated with significant influence from Western countries. The process for developing standards was generally consensus-driven and based on merit. But as America pulled back from setting tech standards, China stepped in. Chinese officials now flood key technical meetings, submit many proposals, and vote as a bloc to promote Beijing's agenda. Today, Chinese experts chair many of the committees setting the rules for next-generation technologies. America has itself to blame for China's growing power in the tech sphere. For years, U.S. policymakers and companies grew complacent, assuming that our technological dominance would naturally ensure that standards would follow our lead. Western participation in standards organizations declined after 2008 as companies cut back travel budgets during the recession. Beijing capitalized on this, updating laws in 2018 to encourage participation in international standards organizations and processes. By 2021, China held more than 30% of the leadership positions in the United Nations' International Telecommunication Union technical committees, while the U.S. held less than 8%. The same year, the Chinese tech powerhouse Huawei sent more engineers than Google and Apple combined to a meeting of the Internet Engineering Task Force, which develops core internet protocols. This is all part of Beijing's strategy to embed its authoritarian values into the global technology sector. China's 'cyber sovereignty' doctrine, the principle that governments should control and monitor their digital infrastructure, is increasingly influencing global standards. Chinese firms have promoted facial recognition and 'smart city' surveillance standards through U.N. channels, legitimizing technologies that enable real-time population tracking. Meanwhile, China's Belt and Road Initiative exports these technologies to developing countries, often tied to predatory loans. Once enough nations adopt Chinese tech, Beijing's standards automatically gain worldwide influence. If the technical underpinnings of AI, telecommunications and the internet enable government control, international freedom and privacy will decline. We face a potential 'splinternet'—a divided digital world filled with government checkpoints that block the free exchange of information and innovation. America doesn't, and shouldn't, control its tech companies the way China does. But the White House can encourage and empower American tech experts to be more engaged in shaping global technology standards. When American engineers and delegates make strong proposals built on democratic values, they can effectively challenge dangerous Chinese alternatives. The federal government and the U.S. tech sector can work together to take steps in this direction: Fund American engineers' involvement in standards organizations. Form coalitions with allies to share information and strategies. Promote industry-led forums such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, in which China's influence is reduced by transparency. Finally, stand firm on principles of security, human rights and interoperability between devices made by different manufacturers. Technical standards matter in the struggle between open societies and authoritarian regimes. By re-engaging in standards development, America would send a clear message: We're back, not to dictate to the world but to ensure that free societies set the pace. It's up to the U.S. to define tomorrow's digital rules before China writes them for us. Ms. Tews is a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Mr. Hogg is director of tech policy at the Foundation for American Innovation.
RNZ News
12-08-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Hospital radiology services suffering surging demand, lack of investment report shows
The report was produced by APEX which is the union representing over 1500 Medical Imaging Technologists and 350 sonographers. Photo: 123RF A new report has slammed the state of the country's hospital radiology services saying inadequate staff numbers and a lack of investment is 'unravelling' the sector. The report from APEX - the union representing over 1500 Medical Imaging Technologists (MIT) and 350 sonographers - showed 102,446 patients on radiology waiting lists nationwide (as of March 2026) with over half of the country's departments reporting inadequate staffing levels. The report based on a national survey of APEX members and data obtained through Official Information Act requests said more than 44 percent of MIT staff surveyed said they were working with broken, outdated, or unsafe equipment. APEX national secretary Dr Deborah Powell told RNZ the report outlined how deeply the sector "had fallen into disarray". "Understaffed and exhausted teams, working with broken equipment are finding it impossible to provide safe and timely services as demand for medical imaging surges," Powell said. She said waiting lists were growing "across the board" - even for people with conditions requiring urgent attention. "In Auckland... acute or urgent scans people are on the waiting list - which is pretty much unheard of really. If you're acute or urgent you get straight in but we're now seeing a waiting list growing for those sorts of patients," Powell said. She said the revelation the health system had spent over $100 million outsourcing radiology services to private providers in the last year was at the core of the problem. "It seems to be easier to pay the cost of outsourcing than get our staffing and machinery fixed in-house. If that money had been reinvested in sufficient staff and sufficient equipment then we believe we would've achieved far more than that and in a far more cost effective way," Powell said. Five hospitals - Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, Auckland, Capital & Coast and Hutt - reported MIT staffing level as approaching crisis point. "Our people are exhausted, they're burnt out. Patients are not getting the service they want. They're getting frustrated [and] sometimes they take it out on staff. So we are seeing our people leaving the public sector and going and working for the private sector. That's a double whammy. "We are getting to the point where our guys are just so tired they can't keep doing this - the risk of mistakes goes up - and the only option is to outsource which in actual fact exacerbates our problem," Powell said. She said Te Whatu Ora needed to lift the current hiring freeze, implement a national plan for the replacement of technology and redirect funding diverted to outsourcing back into the public system. Te Whatu Ora has been approached for comment. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
New Indian Express
04-08-2025
- New Indian Express
Families await dues as Telangana's accident insurance scheme lapses; workers, journalists demand reforms
HYDERABAD: For over three years, the family of cab driver Singapuram Little has been awaiting a Rs 5 lakh compensation under the Telangana government's now-defunct Accident Insurance Scheme. Introduced in 2015 for transport drivers, Home Guards and journalists, the scheme expired on October 8, 2024, leaving more than 13.5 lakh beneficiaries without coverage. Little, 30, from Station Ghanpur in Jangaon district, died in a road accident in 2022. He is survived by his wife and two children. His cousin S Praveen, also a cab driver, said the family has repeatedly approached various departments for the payout, but has received no response. 'The money could have helped with the children's schooling and daily expenses,' he said. Little's case is one of 558 pending claims filed between 2015 and 2024, together amounting to Rs 27.90 crore. Another such case is that of 28-year-old driver Kaveti Praveen, who died in 2023. Jangaon Transport Stand president Prabhakar said delays in disbursing compensation point to poor coordination between the Labour and Transport departments and insurance companies. According to the Labour Department, 1,496 claims were filed over the nine-year period, of which 938 were cleared. Gig workers left out The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) has also flagged lapses in compensation disbursal for gig workers. Founder-president Shaik Salauddin said three delivery executives who died in the last six months have not received any compensation. One such case is that of Ahmed Bin Abdul Qadar, 27, who died while on duty in January. His brother-in-law Syed Junaid said the family submitted all necessary documents but has yet to hear back from the authorities. 'His son is now three years old, and we are struggling even to pay school fees,' Junaid said.
Mail & Guardian
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
ANC, DA square off over budget
(Graphic: John McCann/M&G) The Democratic Alliance won't back the budgets for the departments of higher education, human settlements and police This content is restricted to subscribers only . Join the M&G Community Our commitment at the Mail & Guardian is to ensure every reader enjoys the finest experience. Join the M&G community and support us in delivering in-depth news to you consistently. Subscription enables: - M&G community membership - independent journalism - access to all premium articles & features - a digital version of the weekly newspaper - invites to subscriber-only events - the opportunity to test new online features first Already a subscriber?
CTV News
14-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
113th Eastern Ontario Firefighter Games held in Merrickville, Ont.
Twelve departments from eastern Ontario sent their best to complete in a series of challenges, a decades-long tradition for many. CTV's Jack Richardson reports.
