In homage to the communist addage "the masses have sharp eyes," China has launched Operation Sharp Eyes – a programme that enlists citizens to self-surveil. While tech fosters collective participation the world over, China is testing how comfortable people are with state co-opting collectivism.

Imagine a future where adverts are created just for you or you can buy products with a simple nod of your head. In China, that future is near as AI and facial recognition software shake up shopping nationwide. How are companies utilising this tech and how are consumers embracing it?

Germany’s telecommunication agency has issued a ban on children’s smartwatches, and has even asked parents to destroy any existing ones. As younger Germans become more inclined to adopt technology, older generations are pulling focus back towards privacy concerns.

User confidence in social media giants has been plummeting in the wake of data privacy scandals and the rise of ‘fake news’. As a result, many are choosing to connect with like-minded individuals in micro-spaces that they believe can offer better security and a sense of community.