The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) narrative may often be framed around security breaches, but this headline-grabbing angle perhaps overlooks the new legislation’s broader role as a catalyst to support the digital transformation agenda at many organisations.

If a digital or mobile wallet is about turning a mobile phone into a payment card, then the technology giants have already won. The harsh reality is that the banks, in collaboration with mobile operators, had their chance and blew it. Banks actively encouraged consumers to use Apple and Android; this issuer effect has been compounded by merchants, PSPs and acquirers, all of whom proactively included Apple Pay and Android Pay in their marketing as part of a short-term, gimmick fuelled race to attract early adopters.

Hong Kong will host its second annual Hong Kong Fintech Week from 23 to 27 October 2017 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to accommodate an expanded programme of events and activities that will highlight the distinctive and dynamic qualities the city offers the global Fintech community. 

This year, Hong Kong Fintech Week will be the first of a series of three consecutive weeks of Fintech activities in Hong Kong to be attended by regulators, entrepreneurs, investors, start-ups, academics and service providers from Hong Kong and around the world. 

HCL Technologies (HCL), a leading global IT services provider, announces the launch of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) services to help organizations comply with EU GDPR regulation. The new GDPR Regulation which is mandated to be adopted by May 2018, extends the data rights of individuals and requires organizations to develop clear policies and procedures to protect personal data and adopt appropriate technical and organizational measures.

SafeCharge, the leading payments technology company, today announced that it is partnering with Tencent Holdings, the leading provider of internet value added services in China, to add WeChat Pay, the booming payment service of the Chinese messaging giant and China’s most popular social media on its global payments platform.

 Finastra and IBM (NYSE: IBM) have reached an agreement to explore how the two companies can help customers transform their banking operations with IBM Cloud and Cognitive technologies. Finastra and IBM plan to bring IBM technology into the Finastra open architecture to enrich the digital retail banking experience and bring new innovations to market.

Avaloq, an international fintech company and a leader in integrated and comprehensive banking solutions, announces that it has completed its transaction whereby global private equity firm Warburg Pincus acquires a 35% stake in the group.Under the partnership announced on 22 March 2017, Avaloq will be able to capitalise on Warburg Pincus’ expertise and network in the financial services and fintech sectors to accelerate the company’s long-term growth and value creation strategy. 

Sepaga EMI, licenced by the central bank of Cyprus to provide financial services for liquidity and foreign exchange, has integrated AU10TIX 2^nd generation ID authentication and onboarding cloud services. The AU10TIX BOS platform which already powers global majors will help Sepaga streamline customer acquisition, while strengthening fraud protection and KYC compliance and improve operating efficiency. 

What does it mean to be included? It’s a word we use a lot, but perhaps don’t often stop to break down to consider the real meaning behind it. And there it is – consider. To include someone is to consider them, to involve them, to allow them to share in an activity or privilege, without restriction or limitation. To be included is to feel that you belong, that you are connected, and that you are listened to.