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Tech Roundup, Jul. 26, 2019 | Could Brazil ban 5G technology?

Tech Roundup for July 26 | Could Brazil ban 5G technology?

You’re reading The Brazilian Report’s weekly tech roundup, a digest of the main news about technology and innovation in Brazil. This week’s topics: A possible 5G ban in Santa Catarina, facial recognition for law enforcement, hacked authorities, and the cut-throat ride-sharing app market in São Paulo.

Southern state to ban 5G?

A lawmaker in the southern state of Santa Catarina has proposed a statewide ban on the testing and implementation of 5G internet. The term “5G” refers to the fifth generation of the internet, which promises faster connection speeds and opens up the possibility for new technological developments, such as the Internet of Things. The first public demonstration of the new-gen technology was conducted in the state capital Florianópolis last month. The main motivation for the test, cited in the proposal, was a concern for adverse health effects. 

Until now, the World Health Organization has found no link between 5G frequencies emitted by electronic devices and human health, although in their 2017 report on Medical and cosmetic uses of Non-Ionizing Radiation (NIR) devices, it was noted that gathering data on the medical effects of technology takes time; if we are to see effects, it may not be for many years, if not decades. It also stated that while “emissions will be sparse and low … there will be lots of them,” referring to the fact that there could be up to 80 billion objects worldwide connected to the Internet of Things by next year.

While precaution has its merits, similar concerns about health have been raised continuously since the inception of cellular devices. In terms of 5G, Brazil is late to the game, and neighboring countries are already launching their networks. Banning 5G in the state of Santa Catarina is practically guaranteed to slow innovation, ultimately opening the possibility that over 300 startups and 21 incubators located there will move to other locations.

São Paulo Metro plans to use face recognition tech

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