Microsoft is scaling back or delaying data centre developments in several countries, including Indonesia, the UK, Australia, and in certain US states, as it reassesses strategy.

According to individuals familiar with the matter, ongoing talks and planned builds have been paused in North Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, the UK midlands and Jakarta, Indonesia. The pullback comes amid questions about whether expected demand for AI services can support the pace and cost of Microsoft’s global data centre expansion.

Microsoft has acknowledged changing its strategy but declined to provide details about specific projects. “We plan our data centre capacity needs years in advance to ensure we have sufficient infrastructure in the right places,” a Microsoft spokesperson said. “As AI demand continues to grow, and our data centre presence continues to expand, the changes we have made demonstrates the flexibility of our strategy.”

Some of the shelved plans include a site near Chicago, and a proposed lease near Cambridge in the UK for a facility to host Nvidia hardware. Microsoft has also paused work at a site in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, where development has already cost US$262 million, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg.

In Jakarta, parts of a data centre campus have been placed on hold. Elsewhere, Microsoft has walked away from a proposal to acquire more capacity from cloud infrastructure company CoreWeave. CoreWeave’s CEO Michael Intrator confirmed the decision, but did not specify which locations were affected.

In other cases, negotiations have slowed rather than stopped. At a server farm in North Dakota originally earmarked for Microsoft, discussions stalled until an exclusivity clause lapsed. Applied Digital, the data centre operator, has since found other tenants and secured funding to proceed with development.

At Ada Infrastructure’s Docklands site in London, Microsoft was in talks for about leasing 210-megawatt of capacity, but has is holding off on committing. The site is now being shown to other potential tenants, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Microsoft says it remains committed to key projects, which include a US$3.3 billion facility in Wisconsin and the launch of the Indonesia Central cloud region in mid-2025. It has maintained that it will spend roughly US$80 billion on data centre buildouts in its current fiscal year but signalled a shift in its next fiscal year toward equipping existing sites rather than construction of new data centres.

While Microsoft is re-evaluating, other firms are pressing on with large-scale infrastructure. OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank have announced joint venture Stargate, which aims to invest up to US$500 billion in AI infrastructure in the US. Stargate’s first phase includes a US$100 billion deployment in Texas, intended to support large-scale AI development.

The contrast in strategy between competing hyperscalers has drawn attention from investors and analysts. TD Cowen reported that Microsoft has abandoned projects amounting to two gigawatts of electricity capacity across the US and Europe. The firm suggested this may indicate a mismatch between expected demand and Microsoft’s existing capacity. Analysts also speculated that OpenAI may be shifting workloads from Microsoft to Oracle.

The change in infrastructure strategy is also being influenced by developments in the technology. Chinese AI firm DeepSeek claims it can deliver competitive AI performance using fewer resources, raising the possibility that future AI systems may require less computing power than originally anticipated.

At the same time, Microsoft’s adjustments may reflect external constraints. In cities like Dublin and Amsterdam, data centre growth has been met with tighter regulation due to concerns over electricity consumption and environmental sustainability. Dublin has limited new grid connections for data centres, while Amsterdam previously paused all new development to address strain on local resources.

Industry observers say hyperscalers are increasingly shifting focus to projects that can deliver results more quickly and cost-effectively. “You may have initially thought one data centre project would be the fastest speed to market, but then you realise that the labour, supply chain and power delivery wasn’t as quick as you thought,” said Ed Socia, director at datacentreHawk. “Then you would have to shift in the short term to focus on other markets.”

CoreWeave’s Michael Intrator said that Microsoft’s retreat appears to be specific to its situation. “It’s pretty localised, and their relationship with OpenAI has just changed,” he said.

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A growing number of North Korean IT workers are posing as remote freelancers from other countries in an effort to gain access to companies in Europe, raising concerns about potential espionage, data theft, and operational disruption.

According to Google’s Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG), these workers—who refer to themselves as “warriors”—are securing remote roles with foreign organisations to generate revenue for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The activity, previously concentrated in the United States, is now increasingly being observed in European countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and Portugal.

Since GTIG’s last report on DPRK IT worker activity, recent crackdowns in the US have made it more difficult for these individuals to secure and maintain employment there. According to a blog post by Jamie Collier, lead adviser for Europe at Google’s Threat Intelligence Group, GTIG has observed a rise in operations globally, with particular growth in Europe over the past few months. Countries targeted include Germany, the UK, and Portugal.

The workers often misrepresent their nationalities, claiming to be from countries such as Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Ukraine, the United States, and Vietnam. They find jobs through freelance platforms like Upwork and Freelancer, as well as communication channels such as Telegram. Payments are typically made in cryptocurrency or through digital payment platforms including Wise and Payoneer.

Upwork provided a statement following publication, clarifying it did not receive the initial request for comment. The company said:

“Fraud prevention and compliance with US and international sanctions are critical priorities for Upwork. The tactics outlined in this report represent a challenge that affects the entire online work industry, and Upwork is at the forefront of combating these threats. Any attempt to use a false identity, misrepresent location, or take advantage of Upwork customers is a strict violation of our terms of use, and we take aggressive action to detect, block, and remove bad actors from our platform.

Upwork has long invested in industry-leading security and identity verification measures, deploying advanced technology alongside a dedicated team of global professionals across legal, investigations, intelligence, identity risk management, compliance, anti-money laundering, and machine learning detection. These experts work relentlessly to prevent fraudulent activity before it reaches our customers, and quickly respond to new methodologies and trends.

As fraud tactics evolve, Upwork continuously enhances its proactive screening for attempts to bypass geographic restrictions, monitoring for signs of misrepresentation both before and after contracts begin. Our sophisticated detection tools, paired with strong partnerships with law enforcement and regulatory bodies, enable us to take swift and decisive action when fraudulent behaviour is identified.

While no online platform is immune to fraud, Upwork is setting the standard for trust and safety in the industry. We will continue to invest in cutting-edge fraud prevention measures and vendor solutions, collaborate with industry stakeholders, and innovate to protect our customers and uphold the integrity of our marketplace.”

Freelancer, Telegram, Wise, and Payoneer did not respond to requests for comment.

GTIG reports that since October, there has been an uptick in cases where previously terminated workers attempt to extort their former employers by threatening to leak sensitive company information to competitors. Collier suggested that mounting pressure on these workers may be pushing them toward more aggressive tactics to maintain income.

One case in late 2024 involved a North Korean individual operating under at least 12 separate identities while applying to organisations in the defence and public sectors, reportedly using false references. In the UK, North Korean IT workers have been linked to work ranging from standard web development to more advanced projects in blockchain and artificial intelligence.

Google’s research points to risks associated with bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, where employees use personal devices to access internal systems. These setups often lack proper security oversight, making it more difficult to detect unauthorised access.

Authorities in the US and UK have issued multiple warnings about these activities. The FBI has advised firms to improve identity verification practices, while the US Treasury in January sanctioned two individuals and four entities accused of generating revenue for the North Korean government. Officials allege the regime withholds up to 90% of wages earned by these workers.

In a separate legal action, a US federal court in Missouri indicted 14 North Korean nationals in December for allegedly participating in an employment scheme that generated US$88 million over six years. Some of these individuals were reportedly employed by US firms for extended periods, earning hundreds of thousands of dollars without detection.

The UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation has also responded. In September, it recommended employers implement stricter identity checks, including video interviews, and advised against using cryptocurrency for payments.

Collier noted that North Korea has a long history of engaging in cyber operations to fund its regime. “A decade of diverse cyberattacks (encompassing SWIFT targeting, ransomware, cryptocurrency theft, and supply chain compromise), precedes North Korea’s latest surge,” he wrote.

“This relentless innovation demonstrates a longstanding commitment to fund the regime through cyber operations. Given DPRK IT workers’ operational success, North Korea will likely broaden its global reach. With APAC already impacted by these operations, this problem is set to escalate. These campaigns thrive on ignorance and will likely enjoy particular success in areas of APAC with less awareness of the threat.”

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Chinese Alibaba affiliate company, Ant Group, is exploring new ways to train LLMs and reduce dependency on advanced foreign semiconductors.

According to people familiar with the matter, the company has been using domestically-made chips – including those supplied by Alibaba and Huawei – to support the development of cost-efficient AI models through a method known as Mixture of Experts (MoE).

The results have reportedly been on par with models trained using Nvidia’s H800 GPUs, which are among the more powerful chips currently restricted from export to China. While Ant continues to use Nvidia hardware for certain AI tasks, sources said the company is shifting toward other options, like processors from AMD and Chinese alternatives, for its latest development work.

The strategy reflects a broader trend among Chinese firms looking to adapt to ongoing export controls by optimising performance with locally available technology.

The MoE approach has grown in popularity in the industry, particularly for its ability to scale AI models more efficiently. Rather than processing all data through a single large model, MoE structures divide tasks into smaller segments handled by different specialised “experts.” The division helps reduce the computing load and allows for better resource management.

Google and China-based startup DeepSeek have also applied the method, seeing similar gains in training speed and cost-efficiency.

Ant’s latest research paper, published this month, outlines how the company has been working to lower training expenses by not relying on high-end GPUs. The paper claims the optimised method can reduce the cost of training 1 trillion tokens from around 6.35 million yuan (approximately $880,000) using high-performance chips to 5.1 million yuan, using less advanced, more readily-available hardware. Tokens represent pieces of information that AI models process during training to learn patterns, in order to generate text, or complete tasks.

According to the paper, Ant has developed two new models – Ling-Plus and Ling-Lite – which it now plans to offer in various industrial sectors, including finance and healthcare. The company recently acquired Haodf.com, an online medical services platform, as part of its broader push for AI-driven healthcare services. It also runs the AI life assistant app Zhixiaobao and a financial advisory platform known as Maxiaocai.

Ling-Plus and Ling-Lite have been open-sourced, with the former consisting of 290 billion parameters and the latter 16.8 billion. Parameters in AI are tunable elements that influence a model’s performance and output. While these numbers are smaller than the parameter count anticipated for advanced models like OpenAI’s GPT-4.5 (around 1.8 trillion), Ant’s offerings are nonetheless regarded as sizeable by industry standards.

For comparison, DeepSeek-R1, a competing model also developed in China, contains 671 billion parameters.

In benchmark tests, Ant’s models were said to perform competitively. Ling-Lite outpaced a version of Meta’s Llama model in English-language understanding, while both Ling models outperformed DeepSeek’s offerings on Chinese-language evaluations. The claims, however, have not been independently verified.

The paper also highlighted some technical challenges the organisation faced during model training. Even minor adjustments to the hardware or model architecture resulted in instability, including sharp increases in error rates. These issues illustrate the difficulty of maintaining model performance while shifting away from high-end GPUs that have become the standard in large-scale AI development.

Ant’s research indicates a rise in effort among Chinese companies to achieve more technological self-reliance. With US export limitations limiting access to Nvidia’s most advanced chips, companies like Ant are seeking ways to build competitive AI tools using alternative resources.

Although Nvidia’s H800 chip is not the most powerful in its lineup, it remains one of the most capable processors available to Chinese buyers. Ant’s ability to train models of comparable quality without such hardware signals a potential path forward for companies affected by trade controls.

At the same time, the broader industry dynamics continue to evolve. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has said that increasing computational needs will drive demand for more powerful chips, even as efficiency-focused models gain traction. Despite alternative strategies like those explored by Ant, his view suggests that advanced GPU development will continue to be prioritised.

Ant’s effort to reduce costs and rely on domestic chips could influence how other firms approach AI training – especially in markets facing similar constraints. As China accelerates its push toward AI independence, developments like these are likely to draw attention across both the tech and financial landscapes.

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According to a person familiar with the matter, Microsoft is working on in-house AI models that could compete with those from industry leaders like its partner, OpenAI.
Microsoft has tested a family of models it calls MAI, which reportedly produced results on a par with state-of-the-art AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic. Redmond is looking at how these models might support products like its Copilot-branded AI assistants, which handle user queries and provide suggestions for tasks like document editing and conference calls.

In addition to MAI, Microsoft is working on reasoning models designed to tackle complex problems and simulate human-like decision-making. OpenAI, Anthropic, and Alphabet are also developing similar models.

Microsoft incorporated OpenAI’s o1 reasoning model into its Copilot products last month. A Microsoft spokesperson stated that the company continues to use a mix of models from OpenAI, Microsoft AI, and open-source sources to support its products.

Reducing dependence on OpenAI

The development of MAI models reflects Microsoft’s broader effort to reduce reliance on OpenAI. It has invested around $13 billion in OpenAI since forming a partnership in 2019, which gave OpenAI access to Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform to power its AI research and development. The partnership between the two companies was renegotiated in January, allowing OpenAI to use cloud services from competitors unless Microsoft claims the business for itself. The updated agreement runs until 2030.

Amy Hood, Microsoft’s Chief Financial Officer, recently spoke about the partnership at a Morgan Stanley conference. “We’re both successful when each of us are successful,” Hood said. “So as you go through that process, I do think everybody’s planning for what happens for a decade, or two decades. And that’s important for both of us to do.”

OpenAI’s role in Microsoft’s products

>Since the partnership began, OpenAI’s models have been integrated into Microsoft products, including Office, GitHub Copilot, and Bing Search. Microsoft’s AI infrastructure is primarily hosted on Azure, and the company also collaborates with OpenAI on AI supercomputing and large language models (LLMs). “We feel great about having leading models from OpenAI, we’re still incredibly proud of that,” Hood previously said. “But we also have other models, including ones we build, to make sure that there’s choice.”

Expanding AI model options

Alongside OpenAI’s models, Microsoft has developed a set of smaller in-house models called Phi, and tested AI models from other providers, including Anthropic, DeepSeek, Meta, and Elon Musk’s xAI, to evaluate their performance in the Copilot framework.

Anthropic’s Claude is known for its focus on safety and alignment with human values. The company has secured significant investment, raising its valuation to $61.5 billion. Google’s Gemini, developed by DeepMind, is a multimodal model capable of processing text, images, audio, and video simultaneously. Google has positioned it as a competitor to OpenAI’s GPT-4, with multiple versions like Gemini Ultra, Pro, and Nano tailored to different use cases.

Meta’s LLaMA series is an open-source model designed to foster transparency and accessibility for developers. Meta’s focus has been on creating conversational AI with natural interactions. xAI’s Grok, integrated into the X platform, focuses on real-time information and conversational AI. It is positioned as a direct competitor to ChatGPT and other conversational models.

Microsoft’s decision to develop its own models reflects the growing demand for diversified AI capabilities. By expanding its model portfolio, the company aims to offer more flexibility and reduce its dependence on a single partner. The development of MAI models positions Microsoft alongside other major players in the AI market, increasing its ability to respond to shifting industry demands and technological advances.

A balanced approach to AI development

Microsoft’s strategy to combine in-house models with external solutions highlights its effort to balance independence with strategic partnerships. OpenAI remains an important partner, but the development of MAI models positions Microsoft to adapt to shifts in the AI market and meet increasing demand for more versatile AI solutions.

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The experiences of building developers Adarsh Developers at the hands of cloud provider AWS is a cautionary tale for those organisations entrusting their most valuable assets to the cloud.

In May 2023, the company was persuaded to opt for a system upgrade by AWS to increase the security of its cloud-hosted assets. Adarsh Developers hosted its ERP platform, SAP S/4HANA, on AWS. Given that AWS and SAP held data vital to the company (including detailed financial records), the proposed update seemed like a sensible idea.

Fast forward to January 9th this year, and the company discovered that as of 10:48am, the entire SAP S/4HANA platform had been wiped from AWS disks, thus bringing the business to a complete halt. With no customer data, supplier details, financial information – everything, in fact – it was as if Adarsh Developers no longer existed on AWS. According to The Hindu, the company has since estimated its losses at ₹5 crores (around US$576,500) per day since Jan 9.

The Indian police have raised an FIR (first information report) against AWS under the IT Act, citing fraud and impersonation. Adarsh Developers states its financial losses due to the data outage are in excess of ₹100 crores (US$11.5 million), quoting this figure in the filing.

The company’s SAP integration and consultancy partner, SAVIC, has investigated the massive data loss, and placed the blame at the doors of AWS, and/or its reseller, the Redington Group. The company claims in the FIR that the deletion of Adarsh Developers’ data was invoked “at root level” (meaning by an account with superuser privileges) by Redington personnel.

AWS India, via a spokesperson to The Hindu, stated: “The claims against AWS are false. AWS operated as designed and is not responsible for the deletion […].” All the parties involved (SAVIC, Redington, AWS, and Adarsh Developers) have to submit technical data to back their stories.

The case and the issues surrounding massive data loss from cloud providers throw into relief several issues that are continuing concerns of data professional, operations managers, cybersecurity personnel, and systems providers.

• Any complexity in an IT supply chain increases the chances of data loss, and delays the identification of the root causes of critical issues (and therefore, their remediation),
• Service centralisation in terms of computing platforms (using an ERP as opposed to multiple point-products) comes with inherent risk,
• Provisioning a single cloud provider can create another point of failure.

If there is one lesson to be learned from the experience of Adarsh Developers, it is that cloud providers are not responsible for maintaining the integrity nor even continuing existence of data stored with them, and, therefore, are not responsible any client’s business continuity. Although companies like AWS, Microsoft, and Google are household names, there is no guarantee that a business’s assets kept by them are inviolable. Even such ‘givens’ as Office 365 email continuing reliably have to be questioned, and companies should take steps to ensure their own data is quickly recoverable, regardless of hosting and platform(s).

Whatever the eventual outcome of the Indian court proceedings, the victim in this case can’t hope to achieve enough compensation for its loss of business, reputation, and time. Cloud services are merely ‘someone else’s computer’. The realisation of the implications of centralisation, and in some cases, the high cost of cloud services is leading many organisations to adopt multi-cloud strategies, or take at least some of their critical systems back on-premise.

Human error is the most likely cause of the disaster that has befallen Adarsh Developers, and the culprit being established is moot, apart from giving Adarsh a possible source of compensation. Mistakes, misconfiguration, or security lapses will happen, and investment in appropriate recovery processes is (or should be) as central to modern businesses as email and internet access.

The most-publicised data losses stem from the activities of bad actors, either externally or in the guise of insider threats such as disgruntled employees. Simple human error gets little coverage.

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TikTok is gradually making its way back online in the US after briefly going dark to comply with the divest-or-ban law that went into effect on January 19th. However, users hoping for a smooth return to their favourite ByteDance apps might have to wait a little longer.

While TikTok’s restoration is underway, Google and Apple have yet to reintroduce it – or any other ByteDance-owned apps – on their app stores. Currently, a search for TikTok on the App Store greets US users with a disappointing message: “TikTok and other ByteDance apps are not available in the country or region you’re in.” Over on Google Play, the notice is just as definitive: “Downloads for this app are paused due to current US legal requirements.”

TikTok acknowledged the disruption in a recent statement, saying it is “in the process of restoring service” and thanking President-elect Donald Trump for providing clarity to its service providers. The company expressed gratitude for assurances that supporting the app – like hosting it through Oracle or distributing content via CDN partner Akamai – wouldn’t result in penalties.

The restoration of TikTok highlights how complicated the situation remains. Trump, who has repeatedly promised to “save” the app, has yet to provide a fully detailed plan. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has indicated that enforcing the ban will fall to the incoming leadership. So far, none of the involved parties – Google, Apple, Oracle, Akamai, or TikTok – have commented further, leaving users and developers in a state of uncertainty.

What about other ByteDance apps?

While TikTok’s return offers some hope, ByteDance’s other apps remain inaccessible to US users. Popular tools like CapCut, Lemon8, and the digital card game Marvel Snap are still unavailable, with no clear timeline for their return. The widespread ban surprised many, particularly fans of Marvel Snap, a game with little connection to TikTok-style social media. Even its own developer, Second Dinner, seemed blindsided, posting on X: “The outage is a surprise to us and wasn’t planned. MARVEL SNAP isn’t going anywhere.”

American users trying to access these apps encounter messages similar to the one displayed by TikTok during its outage. For instance, CapCut shows a pop-up reading: “A law banning CapCut has been enacted in the US. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use CapCut for now. Rest assured, we’re working to restore our service in the US. Please stay tuned!” The bans extend beyond these high-profile apps. ByteDance’s less prominent tools, like TikTok Shop Seller Center, Hypic, and Lark, have also been affected. Both Google and Apple continue to display warnings for users attempting to download ByteDance apps, emphasising that current legal requirements prevent access.

Mixed reactions and uncertain outcomes

The legal situation has drawn mixed reactions from US lawmakers and companies. While TikTok’s hosting partners are reportedly relying on Trump’s promises of immunity, not everyone is convinced. Republican Senator Tom Cotton praised app stores for removing ByteDance apps and issued a stark warning. He suggested that any company facilitating TikTok’s operations could face severe legal and financial repercussions, including shareholder lawsuits and action from the Department of Justice.

The debate over TikTok and ByteDance apps is far from over. The divest-or-ban law has created a new level of uncertainty, not only for ByteDance but also for the developers, hosting providers, and millions of users caught in the crossfire.

Instagram steps into the spotlight

Instagram appears ready to take advantage of the chaos. Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri just introduced Edits, a new video editing app developed to compete with ByteDance’s CapCut. In an Instagram video, Mosseri classified Edits as more than just another editing tool. “Edits is more than a video editing app; it’s a full suite of creative tools,” Mosseri explained, emphasising features like a tab for inspiration, tools for organising creative ideas, and a camera. He also teased editing options that include green screens and video overlays – common features on TikTok and CapCut.

For creators who post directly to Instagram, Edits offers engagement metrics, including a live insights dashboard and breakdowns of follower versus non-follower activity.

Although Mosseri did not specifically mention ByteDance, the timing of his announcement seems strategic. As ByteDance apps struggle to overcome legal difficulties, Instagram is presenting itself as the go-to platform for creators seeking alternatives. Edits is set to launch on March 13th, 2025, and is already available for preorder on the iOS App Store.

What’s next for ByteDance?

The future of ByteDance apps in the US remains uncertain. TikTok’s slow return marks a step forward, but there is no word on when other apps like Marvel Snap, Lemon8, or CapCut might come back online. For US users, the uncertainty is frustrating, but for competitors like Instagram, it represents an opportunity to win over disheartened fans.

The situation raises questions about the role of government intervention in technology. ByteDance’s struggles are a reminder of how politics can disrupt innovation and reshape the digital landscape. Whether TikTok and its sibling apps can navigate this storm will depend on ByteDance’s ability to adapt to the challenges of the months ahead. In the meantime, creators and users are left wondering: Will ByteDance regain its footing, or is this the beginning of a new era where only US-based platforms like Instagram are allowed to dominate the creative space on American soil?

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Being an indie developer is often portrayed as a dream—a mix of freedom, creativity, and the satisfaction of building something from scratch. For one Android developer, it was all of that until disaster struck, as shared by a Reddit user, in r/androiddev.

After publishing their app a few years ago, the developer managed to turn it into a full-time livelihood. Life was comfortable—not luxurious, but fulfilling. That is, until a major Chinese phone manufacturer mistakenly flagged their app as malware. The accusation? That it was stealing payment information and leaking data. The impacts were quick and severe.

Every time a user opened the app, a warning popped up, pushing them to uninstall it. And they did— by their thousands, every day. The developer, astonished and helpless, saw their user base disappear, one negative review at a time. In just eight days, over 30,000 users were gone, and their app’s reputation lay in ruins.

The risks of centralised power in app distribution

The developer’s ordeal highlights a growing concern in the tech world: the risks posed by centralised app store ecosystems. When a single manufacturer or app store decides to flag an app as dangerous, justly or not, the consequences can be devastating. For indie developers, who frequently rely on app stores as their primary distribution channels, the lack of transparency and accountability can feel like navigating a minefield.

In this case, the decision to label the app as malware was not based on credible proof, and resulted in an immediate and global user exodus. Worse, there was no direct communication nor opportunity for the developer to address the issue quickly. Such unilateral actions by powerful corporations leave developers vulnerable, even when they’ve done everything right.

The incident underscores the potential effects of a single decision—whether due to error or oversight—that can devastate a developer’s livelihood. For indie developers, these platforms are essential yet precarious, offering access to global audiences while exposing them to unilateral actions with little recourse. The inherent imbalance of power raises pressing questions about the need for greater accountability and transparency from app distribution system owners. Until meaningful reforms are introduced, developers must remain vigilant, leveraging every tool and support system available to navigate their challenges with the providers oversight, or lack of judgement.

The search for help

Faced with what to most would be an overwhelming challenge, the developer sprang into action. They used every feasible route to contact the phone manufacturer and app store owner, including emails to security and developer support teams, phone calls to local service centres, and social media posts. But the silence from the firm was deafening. Days passed without a fix, and the app kept losing users.

At their wits’ end, the developer sought advice from their own country’s chamber of commerce. Despite their lack of experience dealing with technology-specific crises, the staff working there suggested an unexpected solution: contact the chamber of commerce’s counterpart in Beijing. What appeared to be a wild guess turned out to be a lifeline.

Unbeknownst to the developer, they had essentially contacted their country’s embassy and got an immediate response. In hours, the embassy’s local consul emailed the manufacturer and even personally called the company’s vice president. The result was the warning label removed from the app store listing, and user losses stopped almost instantly.

The aftermath

Although the immediate crisis was resolved, the scars remained. The app’s review area continues to be filled with accusations of being a virus, tarnishing its reputation. Worse, the manufacturer didn’t reach out to acknowledge nor explain their conduct. Although the developer considered pursuing damages, they ultimately decided against the near-impossible task of dealing with such a large, globally recognised company.

Despite the hardship, the developer emerged with a new point of view. They were impressed by their country’s representatives’ unwavering support for a small company. For other indie developers, they offered this advice:

“Even when you do everything right, bad things will happen. So be persistent, explore every option, and ask for help wherever you can. If you ever find yourself being treated unfairly by large corporations, reach out to involve local authorities or business organisations. Even as a small business, you’re a valuable part of your country’s economy, and they will stand with you,” the Reddit user shared.

Lessons learned

The experience was a stark reminder that being an indie developer isn’t just about building apps—it’s about resilience. Challenges may arise, often from unexpected places, but persistence will pay off. There is always a way forward, whether it’s through tapping into old-school resources like a country’s embassy or leveraging community support.

And for those wondering if life as an indie developer might be too mundane, this developer’s parting thought is loud and clear:

“Is your life too boring? Become an indie developer!”

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The term enshittification was first coined by Corey Doctorow in 2022 in an essay on Amazon, and has spread to all corners of the internet as a term usually coming up in the context of conversations along the lines of ‘the internet isn’t what it used to be.’

Enshittification was explained at greater length a few months later by Doctorow. It means a three-phrase process that digital platforms go through over time, from initial launch to maturity.

Phase I: Platforms are developed and appeal to users, offering them something they want and find useful. Focus is on users.

Phase II: Platforms change so that they appeal to business customers. The experiences of their initial users deteriorate. Focus is on businesses.

Phase III: Business customers are forced to pay higher prices for a deteriorating service. Focus is on the platform’s profits and its shareholders.

Phase III usually takes place after the business users of a platform are committed financially to using it as part of their workflow. In some cases, companies have built their entire operating model on the platform, and so are utterly committed to it and would find it difficult to extract themselves. The initial users have either left for an alternative platform, or rarely use it.

As an example, the subject at the centre of the first attribution of the word, Amazon, began selling books, CDs, and DVDs online. It had an attractive delivery system in place to make the experience for users easy and cheap.

Since then, its online stores have long since lost any semblance of objectivity in its recommendations for users, preferring instead to present options from suppliers that offer Amazon the best deal to show highlight their goods, like paying for ‘sponsored’ positions in search results – an example of phase II. Users have reported difficulty in discerning what are clearly inferior products presented ahead of better articles in recommendations and searches. In either case, individual users’ needs are ignored in favour of business users (resellers and third-party vendors, in this case).

Some of Amazon’s policies moved early into the final stages of enshittification, phase III (abusing the business users of a platform). As far back as 2012, the company announced that items sold via affiliate links would pay less per sale, a trend that continues to this day. And despite damning evidence presented at national government level in the US [PDF] and elsewhere, independent retailers using Amazon claim its dominance even poses “a threat to [their] survival,” and only 11% of sellers describe their experiences using Amazon as successful [PDF].

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Microsoft recently unveiled its Windows Resiliency Initiative, aiming to step up security, boost reliability, and keep system integrity solid. Essentially, it’s about avoiding mishaps like the CrowdStrike incident earlier this year, while giving users and apps more flexibility without needing admin privileges. Plus, it’s rolling out tighter controls for managing risky apps and drivers, and adding new ways to safeguard personal data through encryption.

At its core, this initiative introduces significant updates to Windows to make life easier for customers. Think faster recovery for Windows-based devices if something like the CrowdStrike scenario happens again. There are also platform improvements that give IT teams more say in what apps and drivers can run, along with moving antivirus processing outside of the kernel space—a smart move for system security.

One of the headline features is Quick Machine Recovery. It’s a new tool designed to let IT admins fix machines remotely, even when hardware is having trouble booting up. The feature builds on enhancements to the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE).

“In a future event, hopefully that never happens, we could push out [an update] from Windows Update to this Recovery Environment that says delete this file for everyone,” explained David Weston, Microsoft’s vice president of enterprise and OS security, during an interview with The Verge. It gives Microsoft the ability to quickly address widespread issues by deploying targeted fixes directly to machines, even when traditional methods don’t work.

Since the CrowdStrike hiccup, Weston’s been in constant talks with customers. Clients’ message? “We need better recovery tools, smarter deployment practices from vendors, and a stronger, more resilient Windows.” Weston put it succinctly: “Every one of them is saying I owe my board a response on how this doesn’t happen again.”

Microsoft has responded by tightening the reins on security vendors in its Microsoft Virus Initiative (MVI). Now, vendors need to follow stricter protocols, including better testing, safer update rollouts, and robust monitoring and recovery processes.

A big part of the plan involves shifting antivirus processing outside of the kernel, as CrowdStrike software operated at the kernel level, and therefore had deep system access—enough to trigger those infamous Blue Screens of Death. Moving AV outside the kernel should help prevent similar issues.

“We’re developing a framework that [security vendors] want to use and they’re incentivised to use,” Weston said, hinting at Microsoft’s ongoing work to create a solution that balances technical challenges with vendor needs. A preview of the new framework is set to roll out to security partners in July 2025.

The stakes are high, but Microsoft is confident. “We sort of control physics here,” Weston said. “We can change the memory manager or the driver framework, and we don’t have to abide by the rules that a third-party developer would. That’s why I’m bullish on our ability to execute here.”

Microsoft isn’t stopping there. Coming soon to Windows 11 is Administrator Protection, a handy feature for users who want the security of a standard account but need admin rights for specific tasks. It works by temporarily granting admin privileges for a task once a user authenticates with Windows Hello. When the task is done, the privileges are automatically revoked. “Windows creates a temporary isolated admin token to get the job done,” Weston explained. “This temporary token is immediately destroyed once the task is complete, ensuring that admin privileges do not persist.”

And let’s not forget Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to memory-safe programming languages like Rust. Following guidance from the White House, Microsoft is gradually replacing parts of Windows written in C++ with Rust, further improving the OS’s security foundation.

In short, Microsoft is doubling down on security, resilience, and smarter tools for its customers. With initiatives like these, they’re tackling the challenges head-on and building a safer, more reliable Windows for everyone.

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Taiwan needs to double down on advancing its chip technology and expanding its supply chain to keep its top spot in the global market, according to a leading trade group. The call came just hours after Donald Trump secured his second term as US president.

“I am confident that the long-standing Taiwan-US partnership, built on shared values and interests, will continue to be a pillar of regional stability and prosperity for all,” said Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te in a congratulatory note to Trump.

Taiwan has long been a semiconductor powerhouse, with its chips powering everything from everyday electronics to advanced wind turbines and military equipment.

“We need to ramp up R&D to keep our critical position in the global semiconductor supply chain,” said Cliff Hou, Chairman of the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association and senior vice president at TSMC. He also said that talks with the Taiwanese government are underway to bring in foreign partners to establish design and materials hubs in Taiwan.

Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is set to see its output rise by 22% this year, reaching over US$164 billion, driven by booming AI technology and a rebounding economy, according to a top TSMC executive.

While Taiwan enjoys its status as a global chipmaking leader, it faces the threat of physical invasion by China, which views it as a breakaway province. Trump’s re-election could shift how Taiwan fits into international relations. President Joe Biden had consistently backed Taiwan with clear support, while Trump has signalled that the island should pay for its own defence. In a Bloomberg interview, he commented on his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying, “He was a very good friend of mine until Covid.”

Hou, a 27-year TSMC veteran with a US doctorate, stressed that Taiwan should also develop expertise in equipment and materials—areas still dominated by international companies. He told reporters at an event in Hsinchu that Taiwan’s strong bond with the US won’t waver, regardless of the political landscape.

Beyond TSMC, smaller Taiwanese suppliers are making big strides in AI-related tech, securing significant orders for data centre servers, cooling systems, and power solutions.

Despite his tough stance on Beijing during his previous presidency, Trump’s recent comments have been less favourable for Taiwan. He suggested that Taiwan’s defence budget should jump to 10% of its GDP and openly questioned the US’s role in defending the country. In October, he told podcast host Joe Rogan, “These chip companies, they stole 95% of our business. It’s in Taiwan right now. They do a great job, but that’s only because we have stupid politicians.”

John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, previously noted that another Trump presidency could be dire for Taiwan, warning that “Taiwan is potentially toast.”

The day before the election, Cho Jung-tai, who heads Taiwan’s cabinet, was candid about defence spending, pointing out that the budget couldn’t be expanded “overnight.” Han Kuo-yu, a key legislator, echoed those concerns, saying that Taiwan’s political and economic challenges are likely to grow during a Trump presidency. He emphasised the importance of balancing ties with Washington while maintaining peace with Beijing.

Lai Shyh-bao, another legislator, added that Trump’s potential influence on Taiwan’s chip industry “should not be underestimated.”

Kuo Yu-jen, a professor from the Institute of China and Asia-Pacific Studies, advised that Taiwan should “watch Trump’s policies closely” to prepare for any shifts.

The president-elect hinted that tariffs could be his tool of choice to incentivise companies like TSMC to build chip facilities in the US. Hou, however, said Taiwan’s industry hasn’t been notified of any upcoming tariffs.

TSMC, which supplies Apple and Nvidia, has committed over US$65 billion for chip plants in Arizona, contingent on strong governmental support. Nonetheless, Taiwan aims to keep its most advanced tech within its borders. Recently, Economic Affairs Minister J.W. Kuo confirmed that local laws prevent TSMC from exporting its cutting-edge technologies abroad.

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