GACA, Microsoft Sign MoU on Digital Transformation

GACA, Microsoft Sign MoU on Digital Transformation
TT

GACA, Microsoft Sign MoU on Digital Transformation

GACA, Microsoft Sign MoU on Digital Transformation

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft Arabia Ltd. on the sidelines of the International Technology Conference held at the Riyadh Front Expo.

The memorandum was signed on behalf of GACA by the Director General of Technology and Digital Transformation, Eng. Abdullah bin Fahd Al-Shaya, while it was signed on behalf of Microsoft by its general manager, Thamer Al-Harbi.

The MoU aims to enhance joint cooperation between the two sides in the areas of digital transformation, innovation and capacity building.

It comes within the objectives of the civil aviation sector strategy to enhance the scope of cooperation in the field of technology and digital transformation, which GACA is keen to activate with international institutions and companies specialized in advanced technical fields. This in order to keep pace with the latest developments in the field of digital transformation, and in line with the directions of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.



Russian Fines Google $78 mln for Ignoring Previous Penalties

The logo for Google is seen at a Google store in Manhattan, New York City, US, November 17, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
The logo for Google is seen at a Google store in Manhattan, New York City, US, November 17, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
TT

Russian Fines Google $78 mln for Ignoring Previous Penalties

The logo for Google is seen at a Google store in Manhattan, New York City, US, November 17, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
The logo for Google is seen at a Google store in Manhattan, New York City, US, November 17, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

A Russian court fined Alphabet's Google 8 billion roubles ($77.9 million) on Tuesday for not complying with previous penalty orders, the Moscow courts press service said on Telegram.

Russia has for several years ordered foreign technology platforms to remove content it deems illegal, issuing small but persistent fines when it sees failures to comply. Tuesday's fine marked a significant increase on fines of around 4 million roubles that are usually levied.

The Chertanovo District Court in Moscow said Tuesday's fine had been issued for Google's failure to comply with an administrative punishment. It did not specify which administrative offence the fine was in relation too, Reuters reported.

YouTube has drawn particular ire for hosting content Moscow objects to. The video platform used to attract around 50 million daily users in Russia, but those numbers have dropped to around 12 million, according to Google data.

Critics accuse the Russian authorities of

deliberately disrupting

YouTube's download speeds to prevent Russians from viewing content there that is opposed to President Vladimir Putin and his government.

Russia denies that, saying the issues are caused by Google's failure to upgrade equipment - a charge disputed by the company and technology experts.

Putin in December accused Google of being a tool used by the US government to score political points.