APPS BAN
Offshore betting and real estate top ad violations in ASCI’s 2024-25 report
Offshore betting and real estate led advertising violations in 2024-25, according to ASCI's report, accounting for 68% of total breaches. Digital media, especially Meta platforms, saw the most violations, while television and print showed high compliance. ASCI improved complaint resolution, addressing misleading claims and prohibited categories like offshore betting, with a focus on influencer accountability.
Shark Tank's Anupam Mittal's warning to parents: Scroll culture, not America, is India's biggest brain drain threat
Anupam Mittal of Shark Tank India has voiced concerns about India's 'brain drain' to social media, not Silicon Valley. He warns that constant scrolling through reels and AI content is hindering creativity and critical thinking among the youth. Mittal highlights the need to encourage real-world interaction and thoughtful engagement over quick dopamine hits from digital content.
Texas governor signs law to enforce age verification on Apple, Google app stores
Age limits and parental consent for social media apps are among the few areas of wide US consensus, with a Pew Research poll in 2023 finding that 81% of Americans support requiring parental consent for children to create social media accounts and 71% support age verification before using social media.
Is Trump targeting Harvard because the elite university rejected his youngest son Barron? What you need to know
Social media posts allege Donald Trump has been targeting Ivy League schools after Barron's rejection. Tensions have escalated between the Trump administration and universities like Harvard. Trump has threatened to cut federal funding due to DEI disputes and pro-Palestinian protests. He criticized Harvard's international student percentage. Harvard has resisted, leading to lawsuits over academic autonomy.
This US state poised to enforce age verification on Apple, Google app stores for users under 18
Texas is considering a law for age checks on app stores. Parental approval is needed for users under 18 to download apps. Apple and Google are against the bill. They worry about data privacy. Texas also plans to ban social media for teens. This move aims to protect children online. Governor Greg Abbott will review the legislation.
Fake finfluencers misleading common man: What is SEBI doing to rein in the menace and is it enough?
SEBI is actively working to curb the menace of misleading financial advice from unregulated influencers by restricting partnerships between registered entities and unregistered individuals. These measures include banning associations with those providing stock recommendations without permission and disallowing the use of live stock prices in educational content. However, a lot still needs to be done.
For fake's sake, get real: The grand industrial complex of digital deception
The proliferation of AI-driven bot networks poses a significant threat to businesses, manipulating online sentiment and distorting market information. This digital deception leads to reputational damage and financial losses for companies. India, with its Aadhaar system, is uniquely positioned to pioneer universal digital identity verification, fostering authenticity and accountability in the online realm.
Trump’s Apple tariff threat; Zepto Cafe’s roadblock
US President Donald Trump has warned Apple to produce iPhones sold in the US domestically or face consequences. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Apple plans glasses for 2026 as part of AI push, nixes watch with camera
Apple is accelerating development of AI-powered smart glasses, targeting a 2026 release, while cancelling plans for a camera-equipped Apple Watch. The glasses will rival Meta’s Ray-Bans, featuring cameras, microphones, and Siri integration. Concerns remain over Apple’s AI capabilities, which currently lag behind competitors like Meta and Google.
UP ATS arrests 2 for suspected espionage, links with Pakistan
Uttar Pradesh ATS has arrested two individuals, Mohd Haroon and Tufail, for their alleged involvement in activities threatening national security. Haroon is accused of illegally facilitating Pakistani visas and sharing sensitive information with a Pakistan High Commission employee. Tufail is suspected of promoting extremist ideologies, sharing sensitive details with Pakistani contacts, and attempting to undermine India's sovereignty.
Vietnam acts to block messaging app Telegram, government document shows
The document said the ministry was acting on behalf of the country's cyber-security department after police reported that 68% of the 9,600 Telegram channels and groups in the country violated the law, citing fraud, drug trafficking and "cases suspected of being related to terrorism" among the illegal activities carried out through the app.
SC issues notice to centre on plea to ban betting apps
The petitioner, claiming himself "a prominent social activist, humanitarian, and President of Global Peace Initiative, which is dedicated to promoting peace and justice globally", said the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the interest of millions of people and to protect the sanity and democracy in India by banning "illegal" betting apps.
Broadband internet outage affects thousands in New Zealand; causes and explained
Contact Energy broadband users faced a major internet disruption. The outage impacted users in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Devoli, the network provider, traced the problem to a route reflector in Sydney. Devices in Auckland and Wellington were restarted to fix the issue. Contact Energy confirmed that services are now restored. The company is investigating the cause of the outage.
Epic Games says Fortnite back on Apple's US App Store
Last week, "Fortnite" became unavailable on the App Store around the world, apparently as the result of an updated version of the game being rejected by Apple. While Fortnite with its millions of daily players had already been unavailable to iPhone users in the United States, the block on downloads of the cartoonish multiplayer shooter affected the entire globe.
Fortnite returns to Apple's App Store after nearly five-year ban
Fortnite has officially returned to Apple's App Store in the United States, ending a nearly five-year ban triggered by a legal clash over in-app payment commissions. Epic Games, the studio behind Fortnite, announced the game's comeback after a recent US court ruling found Apple in breach of earlier orders to allow competition. Though Fortnite had already relaunched in the EU, this US return marks a pivotal shift in app store regulation. Analysts warn, however, the win may have come too late for Fortnite’s popularity to rebound.
Russia fines Apple $93,000 over 'LGBTQ Propaganda' violations
A Moscow court fined Apple's subsidiary for violating Russia's anti-LGBTQ laws. The fine is 7.5 million rubles. Apple is accused of distributing content promoting non-traditional relationships. This is Apple's first penalty under this law. Russia has been criticized internationally for its stance on LGBTQ issues. The government introduced an AI program to scan for illegal content.
Indian boycott of Turkish coffee, chocolates and fashion grows
Indian retailers and online platforms are boycotting Turkish goods, including food and apparel, due to Turkey's support for Pakistan in its conflict with India. The All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation has initiated a total boycott of Turkish-origin food products, while fashion websites like Myntra and AJIO have removed Turkish apparel brands.
Telegram founder says he rejected a Western request to silence conservative voices in Romania
Romanians were voting on Sunday in a run-off that pits a hard-right eurosceptic against a centrist independent. The outcome of the contest will have significant implications for both Romania's struggling economy and European Union unity. The vote takes place nearly six months after the initial ballot was cancelled because of alleged Russian interference - denied by Moscow - in favour of far-right frontrunner Calin Georgescu, who was banned from standing again.
Epic Games' Fortnite not available on iPhones in EU and the US
Epic Games did not give a reason why Fortnite was blocked, but Apple said it had asked Epic Sweden to resubmit the app update without including the U.S. storefront so as not to impact Fortnite in other geographies. "We did not take any action to remove the live version of Fortnite from alternative distribution marketplaces," an Apple spokesperson said.
Load More
