ChatGPT Creator OpenAI Releases 'Imperfect' Software to Identify AI-Generated Text

ChatGPT creator OpenAI on Wednesday released a tool designed to detect AI-generated text. While the tool is in public beta, OpenAI says it is very "unreliable" on texts under 1,000 characters, adding that the AI-written text can also be edited to trick the detection tool.

TikTok CEO to Testify Before US Congress in March Amid Increased Scrutiny Over Security Concerns

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to testify before the US Energy and Commerce Committee in March, the company confirmed on Monday. The US House Foreign Affairs Committee plans to hold a vote next month on a bill aimed at blocking TikTok in the US over national security concerns.

Twitter Working to Introduce Payments Feature Amid Drop in Advertising Income: Report

Twitter could soon introduce support for a payments feature, and the microblogging service has reportedly begun applying for regulatory licenses. According to a report, Elon Musk is pushing Twitter to create new streams of revenue as it faces a drop in advertising income, following his takeover of the platform last October.

WhatsApp Working on Ability to React to Messages in Community Announcement Groups on iOS: Report

WhatsApp is reportedly working on the ability to react to messages in community announcement groups. The app is tipped to be working on a feature to allow users to react with emoji without revealing their phone numbers.

Twitter Direct Messages Button Disappears From Some Users’ Profiles on Android, iOS: Report

The DM button on Twitter has reportedly disappeared for many users on both Android and iOS. This means there is no option to send DMs via a profile page. Many users have reported the same via the microblogging site. The “DM” icon usually appears in between Follow and Notification buttons on a user profile.

Apple Adjusts App Store Pricing for Apps, In-App Purchases in Several Countries

Apple has announced a change in prices for apps listed on the Apple App Store and for in-app purchases. The changes have been made to reflect fluctuating foreign exchange rates and updated tax policies in certain countries. The Cupertino, California-based tech giant confirmed that the changes made in pricing will be reflected from February 10, 2023.

Facebook Intentionally Drains Users’ Phone Batteries, Former Employee Claims in Lawsuit: Report

Former Facebook employee George Hayward has reportedly claimed that the app intentionally drains users’ phone batteries in a practice called negative testing. In a lawsuit filed against Facebook parent firm Meta at a Manhattan Federal Court, Hayward, a data scientist, claims that he was fired from his role for refusing to participate in the aforementioned “harmful...

Reliance Jio, Airtel Mobile Users Tally Increased in November, While Vodafone Idea Faces Loss: TRAI

Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel cumulatively gained nearly 25 lakh mobile subscribers in November, while Vodafone Idea lost nearly 18.3 lakh customers, according to TRAI data. Reliance Jio cemented its lead in the market adding 14.26 lakh net subscribers in November, whereas Airtel added 10.56 lakh users. The top five service providers constituted over 98 per cent market ...

US Panel to Vote on TikTok Ban Over National Security Concerns in February

The US panel will hold a vote on TikTok ban bill next month. The measure would aim to give the White House the legal tools to ban TikTok over US national security concerns. A ban on TikTok, owned by ByteDance and is popular among teens, would face significant hurdles in Congress to pass, and would need 60 votes in the Senate.

Twitter to Let Users Appeal Account Suspension Starting February 1

Twitter users can appeal account suspension starting February 2023 under the new criteria for account suspension and reinstatement announced by the company. Under the new criteria, Twitter will take less severe action, in comparison to account suspension. Elon Musk came under fire for suspending the accounts of several journalists in December.

Tiger Global, Accel Mulling $1.5 Billion Stake Sale in Flipkart to Walmart: Report

Tiger Global and Accel are reportedly in talks to sell their remaining stake in Flipkart to Walmart for about $1.5 billion (roughly Rs. 12,235 crore). Meanwhile, the stake collectively amounts to about 5 percent and would raise Walmart's ownership in Flipkart, according to a report.

DCPCR to Launch WhatsApp Chatbot for Public Interaction, Complaints Registration

The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) is set to launch a WhatsApp chatbot to interact with people and help them register their complaints. The DCPCR is the apex statutory authority of Delhi government to protect, promote and monitor the implementation of rights and policies related to children such as education, immunisation, protection against a...

Google Chrome Updated With Fingerprint Lock for Incognito Tabs on Android: How It Works

Google Chrome is rolling out a new privacy feature for its Incognito tab that will let users lock it with biometric authentication. The incognito tab for Google Chrome will get locked when exited, however, users will be able to unlock it by using fingerprints. The feature is currently rolling out for Android users, however, not everyone can access it.

Twitter Teams Up With Ad Verification Firms to Show Advertisers Tweet-Level Analytics, Verified Views

Twitter has teamed up with Integral Ad Science and DoubleVerify to provide advertisers with tweet-level analytics on content that appears next to their ads, according to the firms. Both firms use technology to independently verify that digital ads are viewed by real people on the platform.

Twitter for Web Will Now Stay on the Last Timeline Tab You Visited, iOS and Android Update to Follow Soon

Twitter has announced that the Web version of the social media platform will now remember the timeline a user was last on. This feature will soon be available on the iOS and Android versions of Twitter as well.

ChatGPT Writes Essays on Constitutional Law, Taxation, Passes Exams at US Law School

ChatGPT, the chatbot from OpenAI that has taken the internet by storm, has written essays on topics ranging from constitutional law to taxation and torts and passed exams at a US law school. A professor at Minnesota University Law School, gave ChatGPT the same test faced by students, consisting of 95 multiple-choice questions and 12 essay questions.

Google Messages Is Rolling Out WhatsApp-Like Delivery Indicators for More Beta Testers: Report

Google has expanded the beta testing of WhatsApp like delivery indicator feature for its Messages app. The tech giant started beta testing of the Google Messages delivery indicator in October 2022. The feature is currently rolling out to the phones enrolled in the Google Messages beta program.

AI Will Create Powerful Tools That Need Legal Regulation, Social Norms, Nvidia CEO Says

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on Tuesday said artificial intelligence (AI) would need legal regulation and social norms that will need to be worked out, as it would create powerful tools. He also said that engineering standards bodies would need to establish standards for building safe AI systems, similar to how medical bodies set rules for the safe practice of medicine.

WhatsApp Native Beta App for macOS Is Now Rolling Out: Report

WhatsApp is rolling out the beta version of its new native app for macOS. The app is available for download on the official website. The native WhatsApp app for macOS offers all the features available on WhatsApp for iOS app. Users will be required to download the new WhatsApp native app for macOS as a dmg file from the official website.

Zomato Instant Not Shutting Down, Will Rebrand 10-Minute Food Delivery Service, Company Says

Zomato denied reports that the company is shutting down Instant, its ten-minute food delivery service, and said it will rebrand the service in India. The food delivery firm said it is working on a new menu with partners and rebranding its Instant business, adding that all the firm's finishing stations remain intact, and no people were impacted by the decision.

Meta Brings Support for Emoji Reactions, Backgrounds to End-to-End Encrypted Messenger Chats: All Details

Meta has announced that new features are coming to the Messenger app for encrypted conversations. The list of new features includes personalised chat themes, customised chat emojis and reactions, group profile photos, and more for end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) chats. Chats with E2EE enabled by default is a feature that is currently under testing and will be rolled out w...

Amazon Pharmacy Launches RxPass Prescription Drug Subscription Service for US Prime Members

Amazon Pharmacy on Tuesday announced the launch of its RxPass monthly subscription plan for US Prime members that will cover a range of generic drugs and their doorstep delivery, according to the e-commerce giant. However, customers enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid or any other government healthcare program will not be able to enrol in Amazon Pharmacy's RxPass service.

Microsoft Announces Further Multibillion Dollar Investment in OpenAI as Competition Heats Up

Microsoft on Monday announced that it would make a further multibillion dollar investment in OpenAI, the startup behind ChatGPT, and building on a bet it made on ther firm nearly four years ago, when it dedicated $1 billion (roughly Rs. 8,200 crore) to OpenAI.

WhatsApp Working on Feature That Will Allow Users to Send Original Quality Images on Android: Report

WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that will let users send images in their original quality on Android for a future update. It will allow users to choose an option to share images in their original quality without compressing them. Currently, WhatsApp compresses shared image quality, which leads to images losing their details.

Elon Musk Says Higher Priced Twitter Subscription Will Not Carry Advertisements

Twitter CEO Elon Musk tweeted on Saturday that a higher priced subscription of the social media platform will not carry advertisements. Twitter earns nearly 90 percent of its revenue from selling digital ads and Musk recently attributed a "massive drop in revenue" to rights organizations that have pressured brands to pause their Twitter ads.

Twitter App Update to Stop Displaying the 'For You' Tab by Default, Elon Musk Says

Twitter will be updated with the ability to remember the last feed a user was viewing instead of automatically showing them the "For You" section by default, Elon Musk tweeted on Saturday. The iOS app has also been updated with the ability to bookmark tweets with a single tap. Twitter will also add support for translating and recommending tweets in the coming months, ...

YouTube Music Invites Entries for Its Early Access Listening Room Program to Test New Features

YouTube Music has announced the launch of a Listening Room Program, that will allow users to get early access to new features and updates. The company has released a Google Form inviting signups for the program. Selected users will get a free year of YouTube Premium access, and get added to an exclusive Discord group, where they will be required to maintain confidenti...

Swiggy Lays Off 380 Employees, CEO Calls Overhiring Case of 'Poor Judgement'

Swiggy on Friday announced that it had laid off 380 employees, as Co-Founder and CEO Sriharsha Majety said the growth rate for food delivery has slowed down versus the company's projections. The firm has offered a cash payout ranging from three to six months based on the affected employees' tenure and grade.

Samsung Wallet App Rolling Out in Eight More Countries Including India: All Details

Samsung Wallet, the company's all-in-one payment app, is set to expand to more countries by the end of this month. The Korean tech company has announced it to roll out the Samsung Wallet app in 8 more countries by the end of January. The expansion will include countries like Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan.

CCI's Google Order Will Bring ‘Cataclysmic Change’: Indian Internet Firms Hopeful as SC Backs Antitrust Ruling

Indian Internet firms have expressed hope about finding space for their apps on Android devices as Google failed to find relief in the Supreme Court on an NCLAT and CCI order against the internet giant. A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud granted a week’s time to the US firm to deposit 10 per cent of Rs. 1,337 crore penalty imposed on it by the CCI.

Twitter Updates Developer Terms to Ban Third-Party Clients Like Tweetbot, Twitterific

Twitter has introduced new developer terms that prohibit all third-party clients on the platform. The company's 5,000-word developer agreement was quietly modified with a provision that disallows the "use or access the Licensed Materials to create or attempt to create a substitute or similar service or product to the Twitter Applications." Even before the terms were u...

Netflix Co-Founder Reed Hastings Steps Down as CEO, Streaming Service Adds Over 7 Million Subscribers in Q4 2022

Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder, announced he will step down as CEO. His longtime partner and co-CEO, Ted Sarandos, and COO Greg Peters will be taking over. Hastings will serve as executive chairman. His decision came after Netflix added 7.66 million subscribers in December.

Google Loses Bid to Block CCI's Ruling in Supreme Court, Vows to Cooperate With Antitrust Authority

Google said it would cooperate with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) after the US tech giant lost its bid to halt a recent order by the antitrust body. The firm's setback will force Google to change the business model of its popular Android operating system in India, a key growth market for the company.

PhonePe Raises $350 Million in Funding at $12 Billion Valuation, Becomes India's Most Valuable Payments Firm

PhonePe said on Thursday it raised $350 million from private equity firm General Atlantic at a $12 billion valuation, making it India's most valuable payments firm. A second tranche of investments from marquee global and Indian investors is expected to close next month, a PhonePe spokesperson said, declining to give further details.

Twitter Blue Android Pricing Announced, Cheaper Annual Plan for Web Users Introduced: All Details

Twitter on Wednesday announced that Android users can now sign up for Twitter Blue in select regions. The higher pricing for Android users is likely to offset fees charged by Android's Google Play Store, like Apple's App Store. Customers can also sign up for an annual plan via the web interface.

Elon Musk Auctions Off Neon Twitter Bird Sign for $35,000, Puts Office Furniture, Twitter Memorabilia on Sale

Twitter CEO Elon Musk is now auctioning off company memorabilia, office furniture, and other assets. A neon Twitter Bird sign fetched $35,000, while a plain Twitter bird statue sold at over $30,000.

Amazon to Cut Jobs in US, Canada, Costa Rica as Part of Mass Layoffs

As part of its plan to cut 18,000 jobs company-wide, Amazon will be laying off employees in the US, Canada, and Costa Rica by the end of Wednesday. The layoffs are the latest in the U.S. technology sector, with companies cutting their bloated workforce and slashing costs to reverse pandemic-era excesses and prepare for a worsening global economy.

Spotify and Other Media Firms Ask EU to Take Action Against Apple's 'Unfair' App Store Practices

Spotify and other media firms like Deezer on Wednesday urged action against Apple in a joint letter to the European Commission. The letter asks the bloc's antitrust regulator's Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager to take action against Apple for anticompetitive and unfair practices. Spotify has for years accused Apple of using its App Store rules to stifle com...

Twitter Blue Annual Subscription With Blue Check Mark at Discounted Price Rolled Out in Select Countries

Twitter Blue, the company's paid blue check verification is now available to users in select countries as an annual subscription, according to the microblogging service. last year, Twitter rolled out blue check marks to all paying subscribers last year as part of efforts to grow revenue as Elon Musk fights to retain advertisers.

WhatsApp Rolling Out Feature to Share Voice Messages as Status Updates to Android Beta Testers: Report

WhatsApp has reportedly released a new feature to beta testers on Android that enables them to send voice notes as status updates with a certain audience configured within their privacy settings.

GoMechanic to Lay Off 70 Percent Employees After Co-Founder Admits to Financial Misreporting

GoMechanic, the automobile after-sales service startup that raised $42 million (roughly Rs. 340 crore) in funding, said that it was cutting 70 percent of its workforce as part of a business restructuring. The move came after co-founder Amit Bhasin admitted to misreporting financial reports. A forensic audit has been ordered to gauge the magnitude of the financial misr...

Spotify Needs to Profit From a Music Revolution

Spotify has never turned an annual profit; it seems to be in “perennial start-up mode,” as music royalties expert Phil Bird recently put it. The firm seems to be pursuing an alternative course, disrupting its own core product by folding into a new kind of tech offering pitched as the “Spotify machine” to investors. Here's why Spotify needs to profit from a mus...

Twitter Confirms It Intentionally Blocked Access for Third-Party Apps Like Tweetbot, Twitterrific

Twitter has finally confirmed that its move to block third-party apps like Tweetbot and Twitterrific was intentional. In a tweet, Twitter Dev account said that the Website was enforcing its “long-standing API rules,” which may lead to some apps not working.

WhatsApp Working on Notification Shortcut to Block Senders With a Single Tap on Android: Report

WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new block shortcut feature for Android for a future update. It will enable users to block an unwanted or unknown contact from sending text messages directly from the notification bar. WhatsApp currently lets users reply to a chat or mark it as read from the notification bar.

Netflix App for iPhone Gets a Refreshed User Interface With Added Animations and Haptics: All Details

Netflix has released a revamped user interface for its app on iPhones. The update, which is already available for download from the App Store, adds numerous transitions and animations making the app appear fluid, along with new UI elements. The new UI features a large card of a featured show, referred to as the “billboard” layout, on the main screen.

Davos 2023: What Silicon Valley CEO's Are Saying About ChatGPT-Style AI at the World Economic Forum

ChatGPT has taken the internet by storm ever since developer OpenAI decided to allow users to try out the service. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, the chatbot is set to receive a lot of attention, especially from CEOs of firms including Microsoft, Sony, Cloudflare, Palantir, and CarMax.

Microsoft Expands ChatGPT Access to Azure Cloud Customers Amid Rumours of Planned Investment

Microsoft said on Monday that it was expanding access to OpenAI's chatbot ChatGPT, allowing its cloud customers to access the futuristic chatbot. The firm had previewed the service its cloud-computing customers in a program it called the Azure OpenAI Service, said that the startup's technology was now generally available to customers.

Google vs CCI: Supreme Court Asks Whether Firm Will Institute European Regime for Pre-Installed Apps in India

Google was asked by the Supreme Court on Monday whether the company would put in place the same regime in India as it has in Europe with respect to the pre-installed apps in Android-based mobile phones. The apex court is hearing Google's appeal against an NCLAT order refusing to stay an antitrust order by the CCI against the company, and the matter will now be heard o...

Paytm Payments Bank Wins Final RBI Nod, Can Operate as Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit

Paytm Payments Bank said on Monday that the company had received final approval from the Reserve Bank of India to offer bill payment services in the country. The service can now function as a Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit (BBPOU) in India, with support for bill payment services of electricity, phone, DTH, water, gas insurance, loan repayments, FASTag recharge, ed...

ShareChat Cuts 20 Percent of Workforce Amid Pressure From Investors to Cut Costs

ShareChat on Monday said it has laid off 20 percent of its workforce amid growing pressure from investors to cut costs. The company has joined other startups in the country that have laid off employees in recent months to cut costs and become profitable.

Twitter’s Suspension of Third-Party Apps Intentional, Tweetbot Taken Down Again: Report

Twitter reportedly suspended third-party clients on purpose, including Tweetbot. According to a report citing Twitter’s internal Slack communication, the suspension was intentional and not because of a bug. Tweetbot's co-creator also claimed the same after the app briefly came back on after changing API keys, only to lose access again.

Amazon Tests Prime Lite Membership in India, Available to Select Prime Members

Amazon is reportedly testing a new subscription service for users in India. Dubbed as Prime Lite, the new subscription is currently available as Beta version to limited Prime members in the country. Prime Lite will be slightly different from Amazon Prime in terms of benefits and services offered.

Google Says CCI Orders Strike Blow at Digital Adoption in India, Will Lead to Higher Prices

Google on Friday hit out at the competition regulator for slapping penalties for alleged abuse of its dominant position, saying the orders strike a blow at the effort to accelerate digital adoption in India and will lead to higher prices. Failing to secure an interim relief on more than Rs. 2,200 crore fine imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), the US ...

Tencent Is Bringing Content Creators to WeChat to Challenge TikTok's Dominance

WeChat Pay became the second-biggest player in China's mobile payment market within a year of its 2013 launch, behind Alipay which is owned by Jack Ma-founded Ant Group. Two sources familiar with Tencent said the importance of Channels has been repeatedly communicated within the company.

Twitter Third-Party Clients Appear to Have Stopped Working on Android, iOS: All Details

Third-party Twitter apps on iOS and Android are currently unable to access the microblogging service, according to reports from users online. The company's official apps appear to be working normally on both platforms.

TikTok Banned From Government Devices in Two US States Over Security Concerns; Huawei, Tencent Also Barred

Two US states, Wisconsin and North Carolina, on Thursday signed orders banning TikTok on government devices due to cyber security concerns. The move comes after the app was banned on federal devices last month. More than 20 US states have followed suit.

Six YouTube Channels Exposed for Spreading False Information, PIB Tweets

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) on Thursday exposed six YouTube channels for "working in a coordinated manner and spreading false information" about the government, elections, proceedings in the Supreme Court and Parliament of India, the president and the prime minister. Last December, the Centre flagged three channels peddling fake news.

Apple to Soon Disclose More Details About App Removals From the App Store: Report

Following allegations that Apple's covert decision-making process jeopardises free expression in countries such as China and Russia, the firm has reportedly promised to enhance disclosures about why it removes certain apps from its App Store. According to reports, activist investors obtained the pledge from Apple earlier this month.

Google Chrome Tipped to Bring a Toggle to Disable All Unwanted Extensions on a Website

Google Chrome is reportedly working on redesigned menu that will have a new toggle to block all unwanted extensions on a website at once. The new toggle will reportedly disable extensions and block potentially malicious extensions. Microsoft Edge too has a similar feature called "pause extensions on this site."

Google Meet to Support 360-Degree Backgrounds on Android and iOS, Emoji Reactions Rolling Out: Report

Google Meet will reportedly get immersive 360-degree backgrounds on Android and iOS. It will be launched in the near future with selected background options like a beach, oasis, sky city, and mountain temple, according to a report. The company has said it will also roll out new emoji reactions to the in-meeting experience.

Google Refused to Be Given Interim Stay on CCI Fine by NCLAT

Google on Wednesday was refused to be given an interim stay on the competition regulator imposing a Rs. 936-crore penalty on the US tech giant for abusing its dominant position in the market. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal directed Google to deposit 10 percent of the fine that was slapped by the Competition Commission of India in a case related to its Pla...

NRIs From 10 Countries Will Soon Be Able to Do UPI Fund Transactions Using International Numbers

The NPCI has permitted non-residents from 10 countries, including the US, Canada and UAE, to digitally transfer funds using the UPI platform from NRE/NRO accounts. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in a circular said it has been receiving requests for allowing non-residents to use international mobile numbers for transacting in Unified Payments Interf...

YouTube Music Updated With Redesigned Library Interface on Android, iOS: Report

YouTube Music has received a redesigned library interface on Android and iOS giving easy access to playlists, songs, albums, and more. The new UI has also removed the Recent activity tab and category list.

Meta to Block Ads Targeted at Teenagers Based on Gender From February

Meta will block the targeting of teenagers based on gender from February, the company announced on Tuesday. The firm also said that a teenager's previous activity on Meta-owned apps will no longer inform the ads they see on the platform, and that the changes were made following feedback received from parents and experts, and that it complied with new rules in various ...

EU Wants Details of Investment Plans Ahead of Legislation to Make Big Tech Pay for Telcos Network Costs

Big tech firms and EU telecom operators could face questions from the European Commission about their investment outlays and cloud infrastructure plans before legislation to make the former pay telcos for their network costs. Firms like Google, Netflix, Amazon, and Meta say the idea of paying telcos for network costs amounts to an Internet traffic tax.

Unofficial ChatGPT App With $7.99 Subscription Fee Trends on Apple’s App Store: Report

An unofficial app version of ChatGPT is trending on Apple's App Store. The unofficial app, which is named “ChatGPT Chat GPT AI With GPT-3,” has no affiliation with OpenAI’s ChatGPT or GPT-3 technology developed by the company. The app is also charging users $7.99 (roughly Rs. 650) for using the service. OpenAI’s ChatGPT, meanwhile, is free to use on the web.

WhatsApp Working on New Feature That Would Let Beta Testers on Android Flag Status Updates: Report

WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new report status update feature for Android. It will also enable users to report an unwanted status update that appears to violate the company’s Terms of Service. WhatsApp is also reported to bring this ability to report suspicious status update on WhatsApp for Desktop beta.

Instagram to Roll Out UI Changes in February, Shop Tab to Be Removed From App: All Details

Instagram is all set to introduce changes to its app navigation by removing the Shop tab and placing the button to create a new post on Instagram at the center of the tab bar. The Reels button will be moved to the right side of the navigation bar. The Meta-owned photo-sharing app will also bring a few more changes to make it easier for people to connect with their fri...

Apple Maps Will Now Help Users Find Parking Spaces, Charging Spots for EVs: Report

Apple Maps has collaborated with SpotHero to help users with parking information in a popular location. The feature will let users in the US and Canada find the availability of parking as well as make a booking from their phones. It will offer several other useful functions, including finding charging spots for electric vehicles. The app was launched in 2016 and has k...

WhatsApp Parent Meta Allowed to Pursue Lawsuit Against NSO Group for Installing Pegasus Malware

The US Supreme Court on Monday let Meta Platforms's WhatsApp pursue a lawsuit accusing Israel's NSO Group of exploiting a bug in the WhatsApp messaging app to install spy software allowing the surveillance of 1,400 people, including journalists, human rights activists and dissidents.

Twitter to Have Easy Swipe, Bookmark Button as Part of UI Overhaul, Elon Musk Says

Elon Musk has revealed a number of updates to the Twitter interface. According to Musk, users will be able to swipe right or left to scroll between recommended and followed tweets. This feature, according to Musk, is the "first part of a much larger UI overhaul." Musk also confirmed that the microblogging platform will launch the "long-form" tweet feature in February ...

Google Messages End-to-End Encryption for Group Chats Rolled Out to Open Beta Testers, Company Says

Google has completed the rollout of its end-to-end encryption for group chats on its Messages app to beta testers within a month. The rollout of the feature was announced for Messages users enrolled in the open beta program in December. Google first announced plans to introduce E2EE for its group chats at its I/O event in 2022.

WhatsApp Will Soon Let Users Save Disappearing Chats as 'Kept Messages': Report

WhatsApp users may soon be able to save disappearing messages. The Meta-owned instant messaging platform is said to be working on a feature called kept messages, which will allow users to save a disappearing chat for perusal at a later date, even if the message has expired. A message that has been saved appears to have its own visual cue that distinguishes it from oth...

US Public Schools Blame Big Tech Firms for Social Media Harm, Mental Health Crisis in Lawsuit: All Details

Facebook parent Meta, Alphabet, Snap, and TikTok were sued by US public schools in Seattle last week, claiming that companies purposefully designed products to hook younger users, while creating a mental health crisis. The firms have previously stated that they aim to create an enjoyable experience on their platforms for users, while removing harmful content, while in...

Twitter Said to Make Deeper Cuts Into Teams Handling Global Content Moderation and Misinformation

Twitter is said to have made deeper cuts across the company's content moderation and misinformation policy teams, including workers in the firm's Dublin and Singapore offices. The microblogging service that was acquired by Elon Musk last year eliminated roles in areas of the company that didn’t get enough “volume” to justify continued support, according to a sen...

Elon Musk Calls Hiring Law Firm Perkins Coie an Error by Twitter’s Team

Twitter CEO Elon Musk said in an email to Reuters that hiring law firm Perkins Coie to defend the company in a California federal lawsuit this week was a mistake it would not make again. It was earlier reported that lawyers from Perkins Coie entered court appearances for Twitter even though Musk has denounced the firm on the social media platform.

Aisle’s Jalebi Dating App With Selfie Verification, Audio Prompts Launched in India: All You Need to Know

Jalebi, a new dating app "imagined for young India to build valuable connections and relationships," has been released by Aisle. It enables users to share their diverse interests while learning more about potential matches via text and audio prompts. It also includes features like selfie-verified profiles to boost trust, according to the company.

CES 2023: Google Showcases Updated Android Auto App With Material You Redesign

Android Auto app is finally receiving the new Material You design. The new update brings in a redesigned UI and exciting features like Coolwalk UI for all car head units, sharing digital car keys, and more. First previewed at Google I/O, Android Auto was showcased at the ongoing CES 2023.

Google to Mentor 1 Million Indian Women Entrepreneurs; Working With Partners to Increase Numbers, Antony Blinken Says

Google has committed to mentoring 1 million Indian women entrepreneurs, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday. Blinken also stated that the US will address challenges holding women back, such as a lack of mentorship and training opportunities, adding that women's full economic participation was needed to "actually lead an inclusive recovery from the C...

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Highlights Role of Developer Community, Indian Innovation in Transforming Lives

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Thursday highlighted the crucial role of the developer community in creating products and solutions to transform organisations, stating that Indian innovation was transforming the lives of people around the world. Nadella, who is visiting India after three years, also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S ...

Twitter Hack: Email Addresses of 200 Million Users Leaked on Hacking Forum, Security Researcher Says

Twitter users' data, including their email addresses, was leaked after the company was breached by hackers, according to security researcher Alon Gal, co-founder of Israeli cybersecurity-monitoring firm Hudson Rock. The email addresses of over 200 million users were posted to a hacking forum, and could lead to hacking, targeted phishing, and doxxing of Twitter users, ...

Google Said to Be Preparing to Approach Supreme Court to Block CCI's Android Antitrust Ruling

Google is said to be preparing to challenge an order by the Competition Commission of India's (CCI) in the Supreme Court, days after the NCLAT turned down its request to block the ruling by the antitrust watchdog. The firm has also alleged in its filings that the CCI's investigation unit copied parts of a European 2018 ruling against the company.

Walmart Confirms It Paid Most of $1 Billion Tax to Move PhonePe Headquarters to India

Walmart said on Wednesday that it had paid the Indian government most of the $1 billion (roughly Rs. 8,300 crore) tax after it shifted the headquarters for PhonePe from Singapore to India. The US retail giant said last month it had completed the separation of PhonePe from Flipkart, adding that it would remain a majority stakeholder in both firms.

Apple Hit With EUR 8 Million Fine by French Privacy Watchdog Over Personalised App Store Ads

Apple on Wednesday was directed to pay a fine of EUR 8 million by France's privacy watchdog CNIL. The case, which dates back to 2021, concerned an old version of the phone's iOS operating software. A lobby group had argued that Apple failed to ask users clearly enough for consent before allowing apps to gather a key identifier used for targeted ads.

Meta Fined EUR 390 Million by EU Regulator, Told to Reassess Legal Basis for Personalised Ads

Meta on Wednesday was fined EUR 390 million by the lead privacy regulator for the European Union and directed to reassess the legal basis on how Facebook and Instagram use personal data to target advertising in the bloc. The company said it plans to appeal the substance of the rulings and the fines imposed by the EU's lead privacy regulator.

Samsung to Offer Higher Quality Photo Uploads on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok: Report

Samsung Galaxy S23 phones are likely to get better quality uploads on social media as Samsung has reportedly partnered with Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. The South-Korean smartphone manufacturer will supposedly let users access Samsung’s native Camera app within these social media apps. This will improve the photography experience of users as people use social me...

Golden Globes 2023 to Stream in India on Lionsgate Play on January 11: All Details

The Golden Globes 2023 will stream in India on January 11 via Lionsgate Play, the streaming service announced on Wednesday. The 80th version of the annual awards ceremony will begin at 6:30am IST, while the red carpet coverage of the event will begin an hour before the event starts.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Says Technology Should Drive Inclusivity, Empowerment

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the company is "very committed to India" while highlighting the importance of driving inclusivity and empowerment through technology and economic growth. The company's chairman is on a four-day visit to India, his first visit to the country in three years.

Google Directed to Pay 10 Percent of Rs 1,337.76 Crore CCI Penalty by NCLAT

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Wednesday refused to grant immediate relief to Google and directed the US firm to pay 10 percent of the Rs 1,337.76-crore penalty imposed on the tech giant by fair trade regulator CCI. The apellate tribunal has issued notices to the Competition Commission of India and the matter will be listed on February 13, for ...

Twitter to Expand Types of Political Ads Permitted on Platform After 2019 Global Ban

Twitter on Tuesday announced the company would expand the kinds of political ads that were allowed on the microblogging platform, months after it was taken over by billionaire Elon Musk. The move appears to be a reversal of the service's 2019 global ban on political ads as the firm and rivals like Facebook faced widespread criticism for allowing election misinformati...

Google Alleges CCI Copied Parts of EU Ruling Against Firm on Android Abuse

Google has asked a tribunal in India to quash an order of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) that fined the company in October for abusing its dominant position in markets such as online search and the Android app store. The company alleges that the CCI's investigation unit "copy-pasted extensively from an EU decision using evidence from Europe that wasn't exam...

BharatPe CEO Suhail Sameer Steps Down, CFO Nalin Negi to Be Interim CEO as Firm Looks for Successor

BharatPe CEO Suhail Sameer has stepped down from his role of chief executive at the company, paving the way for current CFO Nalin Negi who will be interim CEO while the company looks for a successor. Sequoia-backed BharatPe has seen a series of top-level exits in recent months. The company did not reveal why Sameer, who previously had a falling out with ousted Co-Foun...

UPI Reaches Record High of Payments Worth Rs. 12.82 Lakh Crore in December 2022

Payments through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) touched a record high of Rs. 12.82 lakh crore in December. During the month, 782 crore transactions in volume terms were done on the platform, which was launched in 2016.

GitHub Users Report Content Domain Blocked in India; May Restrict Access to Open Source Projects, More

A GitHub URL that is used to serve files and content from GitHub repositories to users all over the world has been blocked in India for users on some internet service providers (ISPs). Over the weekend, developers and users on Twitter reported that the URL was inaccessible. Heading to the blocked URL tells users that it has been blocked under the instructions in compl...

Government Moots Self-Regulatory Mechanism, Mandatory Verification for Online Gaming Firms

The government on Monday proposed a self-regulatory mechanism for online gaming firms in India as part of the draft online gaming rules. The upcoming rules will also require mandatory verification of players while firms will have to provide a physical Indian address. Meanwhile, the proposed amendments envisage that an online gaming intermediary will observe the due di...

YouTube Tests Redesigned Progress Bar on Android App to Improve Viewing Experience: Report

YouTube is reportedly working on a redesigned progress bar or seek bar for its Android app. According to a report, the new progress bar is white or grey in colour when a video is playing on YouTube for Android with the dark theme enabled. Outside of the YouTube video player, the red colour still appears in the main feed, hence confirming that it is still the platform'...

Meta Preparing to Announce Decision on Donald Trump's Return to Facebook, Instagram: Report

Facebook parent Meta is reportedly preparing to announce its decision on allowing former US President Donald Trump back on Instagram and Facebook. The company is said to have set up a working group including staffers from its public policy, communications, and content policy teams.