Asia In Brief Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, has struck trouble at home after a user falsely claimed a retailer sold inferior jade products at enormous and unjustified markups.
The retailer is called Pangdonglai, and a Douyin user named ‘Chaiduidui’ accused it of price gouging.
Authorities analyzed the price of jade Pangdonglai sold and could not find unreasonable pricing. The retailer launched lawsuits against Chaiduidui and other social media users it claimed had defamed it.
Pangdonglai founder Yu Donglai weighed in with a threat to leave the business, or shut it down, if bloggers who defame his company aren’t punished. Other retailers supported that stance.
Chaiduidui, meanwhile, reportedly saw sales of products sold from their account surge.
Douyin later suspended Chaiduidui’s account and deleted some of their videos.
The matter has become a minor sensation in China and heated up again last week after Pangdonglai’s website went dark – perhaps due to the founder following through on his threat. At that point even the English language edition of Chinese state media deemed the spat newsworthy.
Chinese authorities constantly call for social media users to only post truthful content, and for digital platforms to ensure rumors and false material don’t make it online.
Douyin’s group vice president Li Liang has now posted a defense of the platform’s ability to detect defamatory content, and announced a streamlined dispute resolution process businesses can use to raise disputes about content posted to the platform. The exec also recommended using China’s courts to address such incidents, and said Douyin will abide by any decision in this case – including any ruling to restore Chaiduidui’s account.
NTT buys NTT Data
Japanese tech conglomerate NTT last week launched a $16 billion bid to acquire NTT Data, its tech services and datacenter operations subsidiary.
NTT already owns over 57 percent of NTT Data but decided to acquire the remaining shares to control NTT Data’s datacenter portfolio and AI expertise.
The company’s goal is to emerge as capable of delivering every stage of an IT project, from planning to construction and operation, delivery of consulting and software development services, and even selling hardware.
Huawei debuts Windows-free PC
Huawei last week reportedly teased a PC running its homegrown HarmonyOS and packing a CPU built on a customized Arm core.
The machine’s UI impressed Chinese reviewers, who also appreciated the availability of hundreds of native apps, support for numerous peripherals, and what appears to be a generic laptop design.
China has encouraged adoption of home-grown tech such as HarmonyOS, which Huawei developed as an alternative to Android and first installed on smartphones. Huawei’s debut of a HarmonyOS laptop means local buyers can now avoid western tech in another major category of consumer tech device.
Microsoft Australia boss bails
Microsoft’s Australian and New Zealand operation has lost its managing director Steven Worrall.
Australia’s largest telco, Telstra, on Monday annouced that Worrall will lead its “InfraCo”, the business that operates fixed networks and submarine cables.
Microsoft’s president for Asia Rodrigo Kede Lima said Worrall “decided it’s time for his next chapter and will be leaving the company at the end of August” and declared himself “incredibly grateful for all he’s built and the strong legacy he leaves behind.”
Worrall held the role for eight years.
Rent-a-robocar reaches China
China’s largest car rental company, CAR Inc, last week announced a deal with Baidu’s Apollo autonomous car unit to launch a robocar rental service.
Baidu sent a statement to The Register that states “The service will allow users to reserve autonomous vehicles in advance for selected time slots” and aims to provide “spontaneous, on-demand mobility while also providing a transportation option for those who are unable or find it inconvenient to drive, including the elderly, unlicensed individuals, international visitors, and people with disabilities.”
It’s too soon to start planning a robocar holiday to China, as the two companies said they’ll start work on “a tailored service offering based on specific scenarios” later this year, and keep working together for three to five years.
European, Indian, space agencies team up
The European Space Agency last week announced new cooperation with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)ISR. The two space agencies signed a joint Statement of Intent that focuses on developing interoperability of rendezvous and docking systems to allow their respective spacecraft to work together in low Earth orbit.
Joint training and mission planning are also on the agenda.
ISRO, meanwhile, last week again delayed its first crewed Gaganyaan mission until early 2027.
Hyundai parks its private cloud at Equinix
South Korean carmaker Hyundai last week chose Equinix to house its private cloud.
Hyundai operates a service called “HCloud” that serves over 10 million connected car subscriptions and which it describes as “developed in response to the growing demand for real-time data processing, seamless connectivity and scalable infrastructure, driven by rapid advancements in connected and autonomous vehicles.”
The carmaker wants to add another 10 million subscribers by 2030, and plans “significant investments in the development and expansion of HCloud to deliver enhanced in-car services, including a personalized driving experience.”
All of which will be served from Equinix bit barns. ®
