Jeremy Corbyn is set to propose a tax on technology giants such as Facebook, Google, and Netflix to subsidise the BBC licence fee.
In a speech scheduled for the Edinburgh TV Festival, the Labour leader is expected to call for radical reform of the media landscape. Corbyn will propose a “digital licence fee” to help fund the BBC, arguing that technology giants should contribute due to extracting substantial wealth from our shared digital space.
Corbyn plans to highlight that this digital licence fee could enable a more democratic and pluralistic BBC, capable of competing more effectively with multinational digital entities like Amazon, Netflix, Facebook, and Google.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, researchers at MIT have reportedly created technology that allows submarines to communicate with planes. This breakthrough employs extremely high-frequency radar to detect subtle water ripples created by an ordinary underwater speaker, potentially enabling lost flight recorders and submarines to communicate with aircraft.
Voice technology continues to gain prominence within the tech industry. Code discovered within Facebook’s platform and Messenger apps suggests an upcoming ‘Aloha Voice’ function that might allow users to interact with their accounts similarly to Amazon’s Alexa or Microsoft’s Cortana. This feature, though unconfirmed, could revolutionise how users engage with the platform.
A newly launched platform named Brizzly allows users to draft social media posts without actually posting them. This app aims to reduce social media addiction by providing the endorphins associated with posting without the ensuing responsibility.
The revival of circus entertainment continues, bolstered by the success of ‘The Greatest Showman’. Two Bit Circus, based in Los Angeles, is introducing a VR circus experience featuring a robot bartender, VR-enhanced escape rooms, and a testing space for game developers. Backed by $21 million in funding, the company plans to expand globally.
Additionally, the popular mobile game Monument Valley, developed by London-based UsTwo, is being adapted into a film. Collaborating with Paramount Pictures and Weed Road Pictures, UsTwo intends to produce a hybrid live-action and computer-generated film based on the game. This follows the trend of mobile games transitioning to the big screen, as seen with the Angry Birds movie in 2016.
Corbyn’s proposal marks a significant step towards rethinking the media landscape in the digital age, while technological advancements continue to reshape how we communicate and entertain ourselves.