Two-thirds of World Now on Mobile; US Election Hack Hit 39 States

Posted June 13th, 2017 at 12:46 pm (UTC-4)
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Today’s Tech Sightings:

Passengers use their mobile phones as they ride a train in Bangkok, Thailand, June 12, 2017. (Reuters)

Passengers use their mobile phones as they ride a train in Bangkok, Thailand, June 12, 2017. (Reuters)

5 Billion People Now Have a Mobile Phone Connection

Two-thirds of the world’s population is now connected on mobile phones, according to GSMA Intelligence, a research group operated by GSMA, which represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide. GSMA Intelligence’s real-time tracker shows just a bit over 5 billion mobile users globally – a milestone by any measure.

Russia Hacked US Electoral System in 39 States

Investigators in Illinois say Russian hackers reached far deeper into the U.S. electoral system during the 2016 presidential election than previously thought. Evidence was found that shows the hackers penetrated voter databases and software systems in at least 39 states and tried to delete or alter voter data. Writers Michael Riley and Jordan Robertson say the hackers accessed software designed for poll workers on Election Day. Their intrusions were of such scope and sophistication that the Obama administration complained directly to Moscow on back channels.

We’re All Going to Be Crazy Data Hogs by 2022

A new report from Ericsson projects that 15 percent of the global population will have 5G connectivity, the next generation of wireless technology, by 2022. North America will lay claim to about 25 percent of 5G subscriptions. But while the percentages are up by 10 percent, compared to previous predictions, don’t expect 5G technology to be widely available any time soon.

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Aida Akl
Aida Akl is a journalist working on VOA's English Webdesk. She has written on a wide range of topics, although her more recent contributions have focused on technology. She has covered both domestic and international events since the mid-1980s as a VOA reporter and international broadcaster.

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