Reuters Technology Report: April 12, 2016

Click to View in Browser Tuesday, April 12, 2016 Facebook's next frontier: chatbots, live video SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Inc said on Tuesday it has opened up its Messenger app to developers to create chatbots, hoping that by simulating one-on-one conversations between users and companies it will expand its reach in customer service and enterprise transactions. Uber says gave U.S. agencies data on more than 12 million users (Reuters) - Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] on Tuesday released its first ever transparency report detailing the information requested by not only U.S. law enforcement agencies, but also by regulators. EU privacy watchdogs could seek U.S. data pact review in two years BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European privacy watchdogs could ask for a review in two years of a new transatlantic data pact designed to help companies such as Microsoft and IBM to shuffle around user data, according to three people familiar with the matter. Ransomware: Extortionist hackers borrow customer-service tactics TEWKSBURY, Mass (Reuters) - When hackers set out to extort the town of Tewksbury, Massachusetts with "ransomware," they followed up with an FAQ explaining the attack and easy instructions for online payment. Billionaire Yuri Milner bids another $100 million to explore the cosmos SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Billionaire Internet investor Yuri Milner announced another $100 million initiative on Tuesday to better understand the cosmos, this time by deploying thousands of tiny spacecraft to travel to our nearest neighboring star system and send back pictures. Pentagon says still not confident about Raytheon GPS control system BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (Reuters) - U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work on Tuesday said he was still not confident about completion of a long-delayed, over-budget ground-based system being developed by Raytheon Co to control new GPS satellites built by Lockheed Martin Corp. China says tech firms pledge to counter online terror activities BEIJING (Reuters) - Twenty-five Chinese technology companies have signed a pledge to counter images and information online that promote terrorism, the internet regulator said on Tuesday, months after China passed a controversial new anti-terrorism law. British quantum dots maker Nanoco may sign new deal in six months (Reuters) - British quantum dots maker Nanoco Group Plc expects to sign a new licensing deal in the next six months with a "big company", which will use its technology in digital displays. IRICO Display Devices aims to raise $3.6 billion to fund LCD projects HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's IRICO Display Devices plans to invest 23 billion yuan ($3.56 billion) in glass substrate and TFT-LCD projects funded through a private placement of shares, it said on Tuesday. Alibaba buys control of Lazada in $1 billion bet on SE Asia ecommerce BEIJING/BENGALURU (Reuters) - Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has agreed to buy a controlling stake in Southeast Asian online retailer Lazada Group for about $1 billion, its biggest deal overseas, as the Chinese ecommerce giant seeks fertile new turf while growth slows at home. Related Video Ransomware grows up AI helps Syrian refugees through trauma Mediafile How about Hightail-ing it? On Twitter, dubious health claims from e-cigarette bots A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today A quick-fix on the day's news delivered when you want it. Register Today » » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2016 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add newsletters@email.reuters.com to your address book. Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook