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A bill to reform Colombia's labour law to recognise gig workers as employees with access to social security benefits has been presented to Congress, spurring opposition from digital platforms.

Last year, food delivery workers for Rappi app - known as Rappitenderos – filed two complaints against the company with the Labor Ministry, demanding better pay and conditions. Rappitenderos are categorised as self-employed independent contractors, which excludes them from social security measures like health insurance the right to collective bargaining.

The lobby group of digital platforms in Colombia, Alianza In, said that the reform will leave 80,000 people out of work as it will force platforms to provide all workers with a fixed income and work schedule. Matías Laks, chief executive of Rappi Colombia, said the reform "goes back in time 15 years," and will impact incomes of gig workers by limiting their flexibility.

A similar debate is ongoing in Mexico, where officials are pushing to recognise up to 500,000 gig workers. So far, Chile is the only Latin American country that has regulated digital platforms by establishing access to social security measures and contracts that protect app workers.

The attempt to regulate digital platforms in Colombia comes as the country's consumer watchdog ruled in favour of fining Rappi 1.245 billion Colombian pesos ($260,000) for charging consumers double, for failed deliveries, and for allowing alcohol to be delivered to minors.

United States

David Sherfinski, U.S. correspondent

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy vowed this week to press forward with legislation addressing TikTok after the company CEO faced hours of grilling from skeptical lawmakers. In his first appearance before the U.S. Congress, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew struggled to quell concerns over ties between ByteDance,

TikTok's China-based parent company, and the Chinese government amid broader worries over data and national security.

Lawmakers in Washington are increasingly pushing bills to curb the use of TikTok, including outright bans, while others have cast such efforts as misguided restrictions on free speech.

Europe

Joanna Gill, Europe correspondent

The European Union's landmark legislation on artificial intelligence (AI) is on track to become law this year, but lawmakers are divided on the definition of AI, and which systems should be considered high risk.

If general purpose AI systems (GPAIS) like ChatGPT are classified as high risk, companies using them would have to complete risk assessments, log activities and make data available to authorities, which could mean higher compliance costs.

Digital rights campaigners want to see stricter controls on the use of AI in law enforcement, migration and justice - with bans on predictive policing and collection of biometric data such as facial recognition.

Africa

Bukola Adebayo, West Africa correspondent

Google has pulled several loan apps in Kenya from its Play Store in compliance with its policy requiring digital lending firms to submit their licence to operate in the East African country.

Online lending apps providing short-term loans to individuals and businesses became popular in many African countries during the pandemic, but regulators in Kenya and Nigeria have accused them of violating consumers' data privacy.

Google removed more than 2,000 India-focused loan apps following pressure from the government last September.

Asia

Rina Chandran, tech correspondent

Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has launched Ijazat Aap Ki - your permission - that allows people to give, or refuse, consent for transactions requiring verification with their national ID.

"Your data is your personal property, and just like your physical property, citizens are from now onwards empowered to control access and protect against misuse or unwarranted use," NADRA chairman Tariq Malik said earlier this month.

NADRA has issued some 120 million Computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC) to 96% of adults in Pakistan. The CNIC database is accessed by about 300 public and private service providers, and there have been several data breaches.