Facebook cancels F8 developer conference over coronavirus fears

Facebook
(Image credit: Facebook)

Facebook has announced it is cancelling this year's F8 Developers conference due to growing global concerns over COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

The annual conference was scheduled for May 5th and 6th in San Jose, California, and last year was attended by over 5,000 developers, creators and entrepreneurs from all over the globe.

Facebook says it may now instead plan alternate ways, like local events, live-streams and more  to connect with the developer community.

Coronavirus threat

"This was a tough call to make," Facebook's director of developer platforms and programs, Konstantinos Papamiltiadis said in a statement. "F8 is an incredibly important event for Facebook and it's one of our favourite ways to celebrate all of you from around the world -- but we need to prioritize the health and safety of our developer partners, employees and everyone who helps put F8 on." 

Coronavirus has had a major impact on the tech industry by jeopardizing the entire production and supply chain in China, and has been the main reason behind the cancellation of many marquee tech events this year. 

Prior to F8, the high-profile telecom event Mobile World Congress had to be called of due to the outbreak of this deadly new virus.

Recently, several companies have also pulled out of the annual RSA security conference while a lot of companies like Sony and Microsoft have announced that they will not attend the Game Developers Conference, slated to be held next month.

It is yet to be seen if companies like Google and Microsoft decide to go ahead with their annual developers’ conference scheduled in coming months, and there are reports that even the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo might get called off.

Via: Engadget

Jitendra Soni

Jitendra has been working in the Internet Industry for the last 7 years now and has written about a wide range of topics including gadgets, smartphones, reviews, games, software, apps, deep tech, AI, and consumer electronics.  

Latest in Pro
Hands typing on a keyboard surrounded by security icons
The psychology of scams: how cybercriminals are exploiting the human brain
The TikTok logo appears on a smartphone screen with the United States flag in the background
Oracle could still end up running TikTok
Abstract image of cyber security in action.
MassJacker malware targets those looking for pirated software
Stress
Complexity of IT systems could be increasing security risks for businesses
Ai tech, businessman show virtual graphic Global Internet connect Chatgpt Chat with AI, Artificial Intelligence.
CEOs think they might lose their jobs if they can't deliver on AI
A person using a desktop computer.
The role of automation in achieving sustainability goals
Latest in News
Rainbow Six Siege X promotional art.
The Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege X 6v6 mode might finally pull me away from Black Ops 6
Silent Hill f
Silent Hill f will present players with 'a beautiful yet terrifying choice', and I can't wait to see what it is
Google Chromecast 2
Google is finally rolling out a fix for broken Chromecasts – just as new bugs appear on the Chromecast with Google TV
Garmin Instinct 3 in Neotropic Green
"I'm an idiot": Garmin user reveals how fixing one setting completely changed their training after months of making no progress
The main battle pass characters in Fortnite Lawless, including Midas, Sub Zero and a large wolf-man
You'll finally be able to play Fortnite on Windows 11 Arm-powered laptops as Epic Games partners with Qualcomm
DeepSeek on an iPhone
OpenAI calls on US government to ban DeepSeek, calling it ‘state-subsidized’ and ‘state-controlled’