Tech Roundup: South American cities become more digital

You’re reading The Brazilian Report’s weekly tech roundup, a digest of the most important news on technology and innovation in Brazil. This week’s topics: South America’s digital cities; esports investment spikes, and how brands are avoiding the term ‘Black Friday’.

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South American cities become more digital

Five South American cities joined the list of 36 pioneers that will test the policy roadmap for smart cities designed by the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance on Technology Governance. The initiative, captained by the World Economic Forum, unites governments, private-sector partners, and residents around a shared set of principles for the responsible and ethical use of smart city technologies. 

Which cities are included? In South America, the pioneers include Brazilian capital Brasília, Bogotá and Medellín in Colombia, and Buenos Aires and Córdoba in Argentina. 

• Brasília Secretary of Science and Technology Gilvan Máximo said the Alliance “will provide us with a global partnership to accelerate the adoption of technologies in a responsible manner and for the benefit of the citizen, debating complex issues and seeking joint solutions.”

Goals. Over 50 policy experts are drafting rules to help cities adopt best digital practices, mitigate potential risks, and foster greater openness and public trust in areas such as privacy protection, better broadband coverage, accountability for cybersecurity, increased openness of city data, and better accessibility to digital city services for people with disabilities and senior citizens. The roadmap should serve as a foundation for cities to develop their own policies based on their local reality. 

• WEF representatives told The Brazilian Report that more information on the cities’ specific plans to adopt the roadmap will be released in the next months.

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Esports: the next frontier for Brazilian advertising

Major Brazilian companies are starting to invest in sponsorship deals and initiatives linked to esports in a move to attract a younger, more connected customer base.

• This week, state-owned bank Banco do Brasil