The European Union reached a provisional deal Wednesday to overhaul the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/european-parliament-rejects-controversial-eu-copyright-law-149273">bloc's online copyright law,</a> a top official said, after a tense battle that has pitted media firms against internet giants like Google.

The European Parliament and the European Council, which represents the 28 member states, struck the agreement after three days of intense negotiations led by the European Commission, the EU's executive arm.

"Agreement reached on #copyright! Europeans will finally have modern copyright rules fit for digital age with real benefits for everyone: guaranteed rights for users, fair remuneration for creators, clarity of rules for platforms," European Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip tweeted.

He said the rules would give people "more possibilities to use and access copyrighted material with full legal certainty. Freedom of expression is guaranteed, and users will have the power to swiftly contest any unjustified removal of their content by platform."

EU Parliament president Antonio Tajani added on Twitter that "the agreement just reached on the #copyright directive protects European creativity".&nbsp;

"Musicians, actors, writers, journalists, audiovisual, will be entitled to fair remuneration from web giants too."

The deal must still be formally approved by the European Council and European lawmakers ahead of European parliamentary elections in May.

The commission proposed reforms in September 2016 designed to modernise copyright for the digital age, sparking a major debate between member states.

Under the deal, online platforms will be required to pay "neighbouring rights" fees to media for links to, and short excerpts of, news stories.

News organisations, including AFP, have pushed for the move, arguing that giants like Facebook and Google make billions in revenue from advertising tied to news stories, while publishers suffer.

This sparked a fight between media and creators seeking payment for online content on the one hand, and lobbyists defending the business model of the Silicon Valley giants backed by internet freedom activists on the other.

Another part of the agreement intends to ensure that platforms such as YouTube pay more to those who provide its content.

The European Parliament backed a draft law of the copyright reform in September last year, but it was held up in negotiations with EU member states, notably because of a disagreement between France and Germany in the text.

The European Union reached a provisional deal Wednesday to overhaul the bloc's online copyright law, a top official said, after a tense battle that has pitted media firms against internet giants like Google.

The European Union reached a provisional deal Wednesday to overhaul the bloc's online copyright law, a top official said, after a tense battle that has pitted media firms against internet giants like Google. The European Parliament and the European Council, which represents the 28 member states, struck the agreement after three days of intense negotiations led by the European Commission, the EU's executive arm. "Agreement reached on #copyright! Europeans will finally have modern copyright rules fit for digital age with real benefits for everyone: guaranteed rights for users, fair remuneration for creators, clarity of rules for platforms," European Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip tweeted. He said the rules would give people "more possibilities to use and access copyrighted material with full legal certainty. Freedom of expression is guaranteed, and users will have the power to swiftly contest any unjustified removal of their content by platform." EU Parliament president Antonio Tajani added on Twitter that "the agreement just reached on the #copyright directive protects European creativity". "Musicians, actors, writers, journalists, audiovisual, will be entitled to fair remuneration from web giants too." The deal must still be formally approved by the European Council and European lawmakers ahead of European parliamentary elections in May. The commission proposed reforms in September 2016 designed to modernise copyright for the digital age, sparking a major debate between member states. Under the deal, online platforms will be required to pay "neighbouring rights" fees to media for links to, and short excerpts of, news stories. News organisations, including AFP, have pushed for the move, arguing that giants like Facebook and Google make billions in revenue from advertising tied to news stories, while publishers suffer. This sparked a fight between media and creators seeking payment for online content on the one hand, and lobbyists defending the business model of the Silicon Valley giants backed by internet freedom activists on the other. Another part of the agreement intends to ensure that platforms such as YouTube pay more to those who provide its content. The European Parliament backed a draft law of the copyright reform in September last year, but it was held up in negotiations with EU member states, notably because of a disagreement between France and Germany in the text.

After battle with Google, European Union reaches provisional deal on online copyright law

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/competition-commission-probes-accusations-that-google-abused-android-to-block-its-rivals-sources-196940">India probing if Google used its Android operating system to block rivals: Sources</a>

India's antitrust commission is looking into accusations that Alphabet Inc's unit Google abuses its popular Android mobile operating system to block its rivals, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-hotel-fire-people-jumped-to-save-themselves-but-to-their-deaths-196943">Delhi hotel fire: People jumped to save themselves, but fell to their deaths</a>

People jumped from the top floors of the Hotel Arpit Palace in Delhi's Karol Bagh after it caught fire early Tuesday morning, but to their deaths.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/samajwadi-party-chief-akhilesh-yadav-stopped-at-lucknow-airport-alleges-govt-preventing-him-from-visiting-allahabad-196923">Akhilesh Yadav stopped at Lucknow airport, alleges govt preventing him from visiting Allahabad</a> 
 
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday claimed he was stopped at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in a bid to prevent him from visiting Allahabad to attend an oath-taking ceremony at Allahabad University.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/contempt-of-court-ex-cbi-chief-nageswara-rao-leaves-courtroom-after-serving-day-long-sentence-of-confinement-196949">SC allows ex-CBI chief M Nageswara Rao to leave </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/contempt-of-court-ex-cbi-chief-nageswara-rao-leaves-courtroom-after-serving-day-long-sentence-of-confinement-196949">court</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/contempt-of-court-ex-cbi-chief-nageswara-rao-leaves-courtroom-after-serving-day-long-sentence-of-confinement-196949"> after day-long detention</a> 
 
The Supreme Court has finally allowed former interim CBI director M Nageswara Rao to leave the court after his day-long detention.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-denies-telling-banks-to-stop-working-with-palestinians-196947">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-denies-telling-banks-to-stop-working-with-palestinians-196947"> says it did not tell banks to stop working with Palestinians</a>

The United States has denied accusations it is pressuring banks to stop dealing with the Palestinian government, whose relations with Washington have been plummeting.

India probing if Google used its Android operating system to block rivals: Sources India's antitrust commission is looking into accusations that Alphabet Inc's unit Google abuses its popular Android mobile operating system to block its rivals, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

India probing if Google used its Android operating system to block rivals: Sources India's antitrust commission is looking into accusations that Alphabet Inc's unit Google abuses its popular Android mobile operating system to block its rivals, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Delhi hotel fire: People jumped to save themselves, but fell to their deaths People jumped from the top floors of the Hotel Arpit Palace in Delhi's Karol Bagh after it caught fire early Tuesday morning, but to their deaths. Akhilesh Yadav stopped at Lucknow airport, alleges govt preventing him from visiting Allahabad Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday claimed he was stopped at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in a bid to prevent him from visiting Allahabad to attend an oath-taking ceremony at Allahabad University. SC allows ex-CBI chief M Nageswara Rao to leave court after day-long detention The Supreme Court has finally allowed former interim CBI director M Nageswara Rao to leave the court after his day-long detention. US says it did not tell banks to stop working with Palestinians The United States has denied accusations it is pressuring banks to stop dealing with the Palestinian government, whose relations with Washington have been plummeting.

News brief: Big stories of the day

India's antitrust commission is looking into accusations that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/google-facebook-twitter-must-do-more-against-fake-news-eu-193737">Alphabet Inc's unit Google</a> abuses its popular <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/google-shifted-23-billion-to-tax-haven-bermuda-in-2017-report-188166">Android mobile operating system</a> to block its rivals, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has for the past six months been reviewing a case similar to one Google faced in Europe that led to a fine of 4.34 billion euro ($5 billion) by antitrust regulators last year, three of the sources said. Google has challenged that order.

The European Commission found Google had abused its market dominance since 2011 with practices such as forcing manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and its Chrome browser, together with its Google Play app store on Android devices.

"It is on the lines of the EU case, but at a preliminary stage," said one of the sources, who is aware of the CCI investigation.

Google declined to comment. The CCI did not respond to Reuters' queries.

The watchdog's enquiry into allegations against Google over its Android platform has not previously been reported.

Google executives have in recent months met Indian antitrust officials at least once to discuss the complaint, which was filed by a group of individuals, one of the sources said.

The Indian watchdog could ask its investigations unit to further investigate the accusations against Google, or throw out the complaint if it lacks merit. The watchdog's investigations have historically taken years to complete.

Android, used by device makers for free, features on about 85 per cent of the world's smartphones. In India, about 98 per cent of the smartphones sold in 2018 used the platform, Counterpoint Research estimates.

In October, Google said it would charge smartphone makers a fee for using its popular Google Play app store and also allow them to use rival versions of Android to comply with the EU order.

The change, however, covered only the European Economic Area, which comprises the 28 EU countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

"The CCI will have a tough time not initiating a formal investigation into Google given the EU case unless they can show the problem has been addressed (by remedies)," one of the sources said.

The Indian complaint presents the latest regulatory headache for the Mountain View, California-based company in a key growth market.

Last year, the Indian antitrust watchdog imposed a fine of 1.36 billion rupees ($19 million) on Google for "search bias" and abuse of its dominant position. It also found Google had put its commercial flight search function in a prominent position on the search results page.

Google appealed against that order, saying the ruling could cause it "irreparable" harm and reputational loss, Reuters reported.

India's antitrust commission is looking into accusations that Alphabet Inc's unit Google abuses its popular Android mobile operating system to block its rivals, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

India's antitrust commission is looking into accusations that Alphabet Inc's unit Google abuses its popular Android mobile operating system to block its rivals, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has for the past six months been reviewing a case similar to one Google faced in Europe that led to a fine of 4.34 billion euro ($5 billion) by antitrust regulators last year, three of the sources said. Google has challenged that order. The European Commission found Google had abused its market dominance since 2011 with practices such as forcing manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and its Chrome browser, together with its Google Play app store on Android devices. "It is on the lines of the EU case, but at a preliminary stage," said one of the sources, who is aware of the CCI investigation. Google declined to comment. The CCI did not respond to Reuters' queries. The watchdog's enquiry into allegations against Google over its Android platform has not previously been reported. Google executives have in recent months met Indian antitrust officials at least once to discuss the complaint, which was filed by a group of individuals, one of the sources said. The Indian watchdog could ask its investigations unit to further investigate the accusations against Google, or throw out the complaint if it lacks merit. The watchdog's investigations have historically taken years to complete. Android, used by device makers for free, features on about 85 per cent of the world's smartphones. In India, about 98 per cent of the smartphones sold in 2018 used the platform, Counterpoint Research estimates. In October, Google said it would charge smartphone makers a fee for using its popular Google Play app store and also allow them to use rival versions of Android to comply with the EU order. The change, however, covered only the European Economic Area, which comprises the 28 EU countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. "The CCI will have a tough time not initiating a formal investigation into Google given the EU case unless they can show the problem has been addressed (by remedies)," one of the sources said. The Indian complaint presents the latest regulatory headache for the Mountain View, California-based company in a key growth market. Last year, the Indian antitrust watchdog imposed a fine of 1.36 billion rupees ($19 million) on Google for "search bias" and abuse of its dominant position. It also found Google had put its commercial flight search function in a prominent position on the search results page. Google appealed against that order, saying the ruling could cause it "irreparable" harm and reputational loss, Reuters reported.

India's Competition Commission probing if Google used its Android operating system to block rivals: Sources

Union Minister for Law and Justice and Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that Narendra Modi government has planned to enact a data protection law to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ravi-shankar-prasad-warn-facebooks-mark-zuckerberg-of-strict-actions-36622">protect sensitive personal and professional data</a> of individuals so that it cannot be misused in foreign countries by Google.

"We are planning to bring data protect law to protect personal and professional sensitive data of the individuals of India. So that it cannot be misused in foreign countries by Google. And if someone does it then we can take stringent action against the person," he said.

Addressing the ongoing Indian Science Congress, 2019, Science Communicators` Meet in Jalandhar on Saturday, he said, "India is now the third most attractive investment destination for technology transactions and it is the best time to do science in India."

The Union Minister further said that India`s ranking in global innovation index has jumped from 81st in 2015 to 60th in 2017 and that it is now at the sixth position in scientific publications and 10th in the patent filing.

A souvenir book on Science Communicators` Meet was also released by Prasad during the event.

While applauding the role of innovations in communication technology, the Minister informed that digital payments have surged to eight folds in the last five years to Rs 2,070 crore.&nbsp;

"There have been 2048 per cent growth in Aadhar Enabled Payment System transactions while transactions in UPI grew 1500 times in the last 24 months," he added.&nbsp;

Union Minister for Law and Justice and Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that Narendra Modi government has planned to enact a data protection law to protect sensitive personal and professional data of individuals so that it cannot be misused in foreign countries by Google.

Union Minister for Law and Justice and Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that Narendra Modi government has planned to enact a data protection law to protect sensitive personal and professional data of individuals so that it cannot be misused in foreign countries by Google. "We are planning to bring data protect law to protect personal and professional sensitive data of the individuals of India. So that it cannot be misused in foreign countries by Google. And if someone does it then we can take stringent action against the person," he said. Addressing the ongoing Indian Science Congress, 2019, Science Communicators` Meet in Jalandhar on Saturday, he said, "India is now the third most attractive investment destination for technology transactions and it is the best time to do science in India." The Union Minister further said that India`s ranking in global innovation index has jumped from 81st in 2015 to 60th in 2017 and that it is now at the sixth position in scientific publications and 10th in the patent filing. A souvenir book on Science Communicators` Meet was also released by Prasad during the event. While applauding the role of innovations in communication technology, the Minister informed that digital payments have surged to eight folds in the last five years to Rs 2,070 crore. "There have been 2048 per cent growth in Aadhar Enabled Payment System transactions while transactions in UPI grew 1500 times in the last 24 months," he added.

Government planning law to prevent misuse of data by Google: Law minister

A lawsuit filed against <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/google-launches-artificial-intelligence-programme-in-thailand-to-screen-for-diabetic-eye-disease-183888">Google by consumers </a>who claimed the search engine's photo sharing and storage service violated their privacy was dismissed on Saturday by a US judge who cited a lack of "concrete injuries."

US District Judge Edmond Chang in Chicago granted a Google motion for summary judgment, saying the court lacked "subject matter jurisdiction because plaintiffs have not suffered concrete injuries."

The suit, filed in March 2016, alleged Alphabet Inc's Google violated Illinois state law by collecting and storing biometric data from people's photographs using facial recognition software without their permission through its Google Photos service.

Plaintiffs had sought more than $5 million collectively for the "hundreds of thousands" of state residents affected, according to court documents. Plaintiffs had asked the court for $5,000 for each intentional violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, or $1,000 for every negligent violation, court documents said.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs as well as officials with Google could not immediately be reached to comment. Google had argued in court documents that the plaintiffs were not entitled to money or injunctive relief because they had suffered no harm.

A lawsuit filed against Google by consumers who claimed the search engine's photo sharing and storage service violated their privacy was dismissed on Saturday by a US judge who cited a lack of "concrete injuries.

A lawsuit filed against Google by consumers who claimed the search engine's photo sharing and storage service violated their privacy was dismissed on Saturday by a US judge who cited a lack of "concrete injuries." US District Judge Edmond Chang in Chicago granted a Google motion for summary judgment, saying the court lacked "subject matter jurisdiction because plaintiffs have not suffered concrete injuries." The suit, filed in March 2016, alleged Alphabet Inc's Google violated Illinois state law by collecting and storing biometric data from people's photographs using facial recognition software without their permission through its Google Photos service. Plaintiffs had sought more than $5 million collectively for the "hundreds of thousands" of state residents affected, according to court documents. Plaintiffs had asked the court for $5,000 for each intentional violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, or $1,000 for every negligent violation, court documents said. Attorneys for the plaintiffs as well as officials with Google could not immediately be reached to comment. Google had argued in court documents that the plaintiffs were not entitled to money or injunctive relief because they had suffered no harm.

US judge dismisses suit vs Google over facial recognition software

Google's top India trends throw up some interesting information about the way the country consumes internet and what concerns Indian netizens the most.

A look at Google's 'Year in Search' for India shows that Indians grappled with how to send stickers to other&nbsp;contacts on WhatsApp, making it the top 'How to' query on Google search in India.&nbsp;

Scroll further down the list and one learns that Indian netizens also googled how to link Aadhaar with mobile number, how to make a rangoli, how to port a mobile number and how to invest in bitcoin.&nbsp;
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://ssl.gstatic.com/trends_nrtr/1671_RC04/embed_loader.js"></script><script type="text/javascript"> trends.embed.renderTopChartsWidget("ca04a2e6-c862-40e1-807f-9decaa69640b", {"geo":"IN","guestPath":"https://trends.google.com:443/trends/embed/"}, 2018); </script>

Last year, a look at the same list cracked us up as the top 'How to' query on Google India was '<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/google-trends-2017-indians-grappled-with-how-to-take-a-screenshot-26665">how to take a screenshot</a>.'

The previous year, Prabhas starer Bahubali-2 dominated the search list in India. 7 out of top 10 overall searches in the country were movie-based, reinstating India's love for masala cinema.

Ironically, this year, just one movie-based search made to the top Google searches in India -- superstar Rajini and Akshay Kumar starrer 'Robot 2.0'.&nbsp;

Interestingly, five out of ten top overall Google searches &nbsp;in India were sports-related. While FIFA World Cup 2018 topped the list, IPL was the third top searched topic in India. Karnataka election results made to the list, five-state Assembly polls did not. &nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/googles-most-popular-search-list-for-2018-fifa-world-cup-hurricane-michael-and-more-185164">Google's global 'Year in Search</a>' list for 2018 included&nbsp;FIFA World Cup, natural disasters, a royal wedding and many more.

&nbsp;

Google's top India trends throw up some interesting information about the way the country consumes internet and what concerns Indian netizens the most. A look at Google's 'Year in Search' for India shows that Indians grappled with how to send stickers to other contacts on WhatsApp, making it the top 'How to' query on Google search in India.

Google's top India trends throw up some interesting information about the way the country consumes internet and what concerns Indian netizens the most. A look at Google's 'Year in Search' for India shows that Indians grappled with how to send stickers to other contacts on WhatsApp, making it the top 'How to' query on Google search in India. Scroll further down the list and one learns that Indian netizens also googled how to link Aadhaar with mobile number, how to make a rangoli, how to port a mobile number and how to invest in bitcoin. Last year, a look at the same list cracked us up as the top 'How to' query on Google India was 'how to take a screenshot.' The previous year, Prabhas starer Bahubali-2 dominated the search list in India. 7 out of top 10 overall searches in the country were movie-based, reinstating India's love for masala cinema. Ironically, this year, just one movie-based search made to the top Google searches in India -- superstar Rajini and Akshay Kumar starrer 'Robot 2.0'. Interestingly, five out of ten top overall Google searches in India were sports-related. While FIFA World Cup 2018 topped the list, IPL was the third top searched topic in India. Karnataka election results made to the list, five-state Assembly polls did not. Google's global 'Year in Search' list for 2018 included FIFA World Cup, natural disasters, a royal wedding and many more.

This was the most Googled 'how to' query of 2018 in India

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-launches-experimental-satellite-in-project-to-boost-broadband-communication-185819">China on Saturday launched</a> its first communication satellite to provide broadband internet services worldwide in an apparent bid to rival Google and other international firms.

The satellite was launched from a Long March 11 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in north-western China and is the first in the Hongyun project planned by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp (CASIC).

The Hongyun project started in September 2016, aims to build a space-based communications network to provide broadband internet connectivity to users around the world, especially those in the underserved regions.

The spacecraft is tasked with verifying basic designs of Hongyun satellite and demonstrating low-orbit broadband communications technologies, state-run China Daily reported.

The satellite is expected to work beyond its design life of one year.

"Weighing 247 kilograms, the satellite works in a sun-synchronous orbit about 1,100 kilometres above the earth. It is powered by solar arrays and has a design life of one year, but is expected to operate longer, Xiang Kaiheng, Hongyun's chief designer at CASIC Space Engineering Development Co Ltd here said.&nbsp;

CASIC plans to launch four mass-production Hongyun satellites in future.&nbsp;

"After a yearlong in-orbit technological demonstration by the satellite, CASIC plans to launch four mass-production Hongyun satellites before the end of 2020 to form a small network for Hongyun's trial run, the Daily quoted Xiang as saying.

Stating that CASIC currently intends to place more than 150 Hongyun satellites on orbits about 1,000 km above the ground around 2023, he said that the constellation is likely to be further expanded in response to market demands.

The concept of running a low-cost, high-performance satellite network to provide space-based communications and internet services has become popular globally among industry players.

Currently, many foreign tech companies, including Google, SpaceX, OneWeb and Telesat, have already launched plans to use satellites to provide free internet access.

The US' SpaceX launched two experimental satellites last month to test technologies for its Starlink project, in which tech tycoon Elon Musk proposes to put a total of nearly 12,000 satellites into orbit by the mid-2020s.

Similarly, US firm, OneWeb, plans to launch a satellite constellation of 648 low-Earth orbit microsatellites by the end of 2019, though few developments have been reported.

Last month, a Chinese internet technology firm unveiled the first satellite in a constellation plan comprising of 272 satellites to provide free WiFi service worldwide.&nbsp;

China on Saturday launched its first communication satellite to provide broadband internet services worldwide in an apparent bid to rival Google and other international firms.

China on Saturday launched its first communication satellite to provide broadband internet services worldwide in an apparent bid to rival Google and other international firms. The satellite was launched from a Long March 11 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in north-western China and is the first in the Hongyun project planned by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp (CASIC). The Hongyun project started in September 2016, aims to build a space-based communications network to provide broadband internet connectivity to users around the world, especially those in the underserved regions. The spacecraft is tasked with verifying basic designs of Hongyun satellite and demonstrating low-orbit broadband communications technologies, state-run China Daily reported. The satellite is expected to work beyond its design life of one year. "Weighing 247 kilograms, the satellite works in a sun-synchronous orbit about 1,100 kilometres above the earth. It is powered by solar arrays and has a design life of one year, but is expected to operate longer, Xiang Kaiheng, Hongyun's chief designer at CASIC Space Engineering Development Co Ltd here said. CASIC plans to launch four mass-production Hongyun satellites in future. "After a yearlong in-orbit technological demonstration by the satellite, CASIC plans to launch four mass-production Hongyun satellites before the end of 2020 to form a small network for Hongyun's trial run, the Daily quoted Xiang as saying. Stating that CASIC currently intends to place more than 150 Hongyun satellites on orbits about 1,000 km above the ground around 2023, he said that the constellation is likely to be further expanded in response to market demands. The concept of running a low-cost, high-performance satellite network to provide space-based communications and internet services has become popular globally among industry players. Currently, many foreign tech companies, including Google, SpaceX, OneWeb and Telesat, have already launched plans to use satellites to provide free internet access. The US' SpaceX launched two experimental satellites last month to test technologies for its Starlink project, in which tech tycoon Elon Musk proposes to put a total of nearly 12,000 satellites into orbit by the mid-2020s. Similarly, US firm, OneWeb, plans to launch a satellite constellation of 648 low-Earth orbit microsatellites by the end of 2019, though few developments have been reported. Last month, a Chinese internet technology firm unveiled the first satellite in a constellation plan comprising of 272 satellites to provide free WiFi service worldwide.

China launches first satellite to provide broadband internet services worldwide

Google has released its annual year search list for 2018 listing what and who remained the hot topic of the year. The list includes FIFA World Cup, natural disasters, a royal wedding and many more.

Here are the top-trending Google searches of 2018:

1. FIFA World Cup

The 21st edition of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/top-18-moments-of-fifa-world-cup-2018-152369">FIFA World Cup</a>, the biggest sporting event on earth was played from June 14 to July 15 in multiple cities of Russia. It was keenly followed by thousands of fans around the world. France won the World Cup and clinched the most coveted - the hand and ball - trophy after defeating Croatia. FIFA tops the google search list due to its popularity and crazy fan following.

2. Hurricane Florence

Hurricane Florence made <a href="http://wionews.com/world/hurricane-florence-makes-landfall-in-wrightsville-beach-in-north-carolina-165660">landfall in Wrightsville beach</a> in North Carolina on September 14. Heavy rain and wind lashed several areas in Carolinas. Around 1,88,000 people were without power during that period.

3. Royal wedding&nbsp;

Prince Harry and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/entertainment-royal-couple-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-attend-their-first-official-event-after-wedding--139077">Meghan Markle got married</a> in front of six hundred people at the St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018. It was likely the most talked-about wedding of the year. In October, Kenningston palace confirmed the pregnancy of Meghan Markle and due to give birth in spring 2019.

4. US Midterm election results

Americans cast their votes in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/us-midterm-elections-what-do-the-results-mean-for-the-countrys-uncertain-future-176138">midterm election on November 6</a>. For the first time in eight years, Democrats took over control from the Republicans to hold House majority. The results were a bitter outcome for Trump after a divisive campaign marked by fierce clashes over race, immigration and other cultural issues became a referendum on his leadership.

5. Hurricane Michael

Hurricane Michael was the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/monstrous-hurricane-michael-tears-into-florida-kills-one-170766">most powerful storm</a> to hit the state's northern area in more than a century. An estimated 375,000 people in more than 20 counties were ordered or advised to evacuate. Over 17 people lost their lives.

6. Stephen Hawking

British scientist Professor <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/family-friends-bid-farewell-to-stephen-hawking-127431">Stephen Hawking died at the age of 76 in March</a>. A genius who dedicated his life to unlocking the secrets of the Universe. Hawking was diagnosed with an early-onset of a slow-progressing form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The disease is known to damage motor system in the body and is alternatively known as motor neurone disease or Lou Gehrig's disease.

7. Kate Spade

Kate Spade, who with her husband built a fashion empire on the popularity of her colorful handbags, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-fashion-designer-kate-spade-found-dead-committed-suicide--142464">was found dead in her New York City apartment</a> in June, an apparent suicide. She was 55. Andy Spade, husband of Kate said she suffered from depression for years and that the couple had been living separately for 10 months.

8. Stan Lee

Stan Lee, the co-creator of Marvel comics <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/marvel-comic-book-legend-stan-lees-death-certificate-reveals-reason-for-death-179962">passed away in Los Angeles</a> at the age of 95. The world mourned his death and fan paid tributes on Stan Lee's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Lee will be seen in upcoming movies ''Avengers 4'', ''Captain Marvel'' and ''Ralph breaks the Internet'' for the last time.

9. Black Panther

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/african-american-film-critics-association-names-black-panther-as-best-film-of-2018-183444">Black Panther</a>, starring Chadwick Boseman and directed by Ryan Coogler made its way to Google top search list. The movie earned over $400 million. 
The movie made its debut this year in Marvel collections and was loved by many and thus making it a huge success.

10. Avicii

Avicii, whose real name was Tim Bergling, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/entertainment-swedish-dj-avicii-found-dead-in-a-hotel-room-in-muscat-oman-131746">passed away at the age of 28</a>, on April 20. The artist, known for songs such as 'Wake Me Up', 'Lonely Together', and 'Levels' had retired from tours in 2016 due to health issues. His family said that famed DJ Avicii could not go any longer and wanted to found peace. 
&nbsp;

Google has released its annual year search list for 2018 listing what and who remained the hot topic of the year. The list includes FIFA World Cup, natural disasters, a royal wedding and many more.

Google has released its annual year search list for 2018 listing what and who remained the hot topic of the year. The list includes FIFA World Cup, natural disasters, a royal wedding and many more. Here are the top-trending Google searches of 2018: 1. FIFA World Cup The 21st edition of FIFA World Cup, the biggest sporting event on earth was played from June 14 to July 15 in multiple cities of Russia. It was keenly followed by thousands of fans around the world. France won the World Cup and clinched the most coveted - the hand and ball - trophy after defeating Croatia. FIFA tops the google search list due to its popularity and crazy fan following. 2. Hurricane Florence Hurricane Florence made landfall in Wrightsville beach in North Carolina on September 14. Heavy rain and wind lashed several areas in Carolinas. Around 1,88,000 people were without power during that period. 3. Royal wedding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married in front of six hundred people at the St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018. It was likely the most talked-about wedding of the year. In October, Kenningston palace confirmed the pregnancy of Meghan Markle and due to give birth in spring 2019. 4. US Midterm election results Americans cast their votes in midterm election on November 6. For the first time in eight years, Democrats took over control from the Republicans to hold House majority. The results were a bitter outcome for Trump after a divisive campaign marked by fierce clashes over race, immigration and other cultural issues became a referendum on his leadership. 5. Hurricane Michael Hurricane Michael was the most powerful storm to hit the state's northern area in more than a century. An estimated 375,000 people in more than 20 counties were ordered or advised to evacuate. Over 17 people lost their lives. 6. Stephen Hawking British scientist Professor Stephen Hawking died at the age of 76 in March. A genius who dedicated his life to unlocking the secrets of the Universe. Hawking was diagnosed with an early-onset of a slow-progressing form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The disease is known to damage motor system in the body and is alternatively known as motor neurone disease or Lou Gehrig's disease. 7. Kate Spade Kate Spade, who with her husband built a fashion empire on the popularity of her colorful handbags, was found dead in her New York City apartment in June, an apparent suicide. She was 55. Andy Spade, husband of Kate said she suffered from depression for years and that the couple had been living separately for 10 months. 8. Stan Lee Stan Lee, the co-creator of Marvel comics passed away in Los Angeles at the age of 95. The world mourned his death and fan paid tributes on Stan Lee's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Lee will be seen in upcoming movies ''Avengers 4'', ''Captain Marvel'' and ''Ralph breaks the Internet'' for the last time. 9. Black Panther Black Panther, starring Chadwick Boseman and directed by Ryan Coogler made its way to Google top search list. The movie earned over $400 million. The movie made its debut this year in Marvel collections and was loved by many and thus making it a huge success. 10. Avicii Avicii, whose real name was Tim Bergling, passed away at the age of 28, on April 20. The artist, known for songs such as 'Wake Me Up', 'Lonely Together', and 'Levels' had retired from tours in 2016 due to health issues. His family said that famed DJ Avicii could not go any longer and wanted to found peace.

Google's most popular search list for 2018: FIFA World Cup, Hurricane Michael and more

Google's CEO faces a grilling from US lawmakers on how the web search giant handled an alarming data breach and whether it may bend to Chinese government censorship demands.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/google-walkout-effect-ceo-sundar-pichai-announces-revamped-sexual-harassment-policies-176406">CEO Sundar Pichai</a>'s appearance Tuesday before the House Judiciary Committee comes after he angered members of a Senate panel in September by declining their invitation to testify about foreign governments' manipulation of online services to sway US elections.&nbsp;

Pichai's no-show at that hearing was marked by an empty chair for Google alongside the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/australian-watchdog-calls-for-more-scrutiny-of-google-facebook-182777">Facebook</a> and Twitter executives.

Pichai went to Washington later in September to mend fences, meeting with some two dozen Republicans and indicating he also planned to meet with Democrats.&nbsp;

He took part last week in a White House meeting with other tech industry executives that focused mainly on getting government and businesses working more closely on accelerating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

In October, Google announced it was shutting down its long-shunned Plus social network following its disclosure of a flaw discovered in March that could have exposed some personal information of as many as 500,000 people.&nbsp;

The company deliberately avoided disclosing the privacy lapse at the time, in part to avoid drawing regulators' scrutiny and damaging its reputation, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing anonymous individuals and documents. Lawmakers want Google to explain its failure to reveal the breach.

On Monday, the company said it was accelerating its plans to shutter Plus after discovering a privacy flaw that inadvertently exposed the names, email addresses, ages and other personal information of 52.5 million users last month. The service will now go dark in April instead of August, as previously announced.

"We work hard to ensure the integrity of our products, and we've put a number of checks and balances in place to ensure they continue to live up to our standards," Pichai said in his opening statement prepared for Tuesday's hearing.

Lawmakers are also concerned by recent reports that Google is poised to re-enter China with a search engine generating censored results to comply with the demands of that country's Communist government.

President Donald Trump has accused Google of rigging the results of its dominant search engine to suppress conservative viewpoints and highlight coverage from media that he says distribute "fake news." That's another area of potential questions to Pichai by committee members.

The company has denied any political bias, and there's no evidence of an anti-conservative tilt. Pichai said in his written testimony that "I lead this company without political bias and work to ensure that our products continue to operate that way. To do otherwise would go against our core principles and our business interests."&nbsp;

Google has good reason to communicate with lawmakers and policymakers and to seek to weigh in on thorny issues. Trump and some lawmakers have raised the possibility of asking regulators to investigate whether Google&nbsp;which handles nearly two of every three online searches in the US&nbsp;has abused its clout as a major gateway to the internet to stifle competition.

And momentum is building in Congress for legislation to put stricter limits and privacy protections around the big tech companies' collection of data. With the Democrats having captured control of the House in the midterm elections and poised to take over as the majority running the Judiciary Committee next month, tougher legislation could be in the offing.

Pichai, a former engineer, took the helm of Google in 2015 in a major restructuring that made Google a division of conglomerate Alphabet Inc.&nbsp;whose businesses include Waymo, a self-driving technology development company. Bolstering the dominance of its search engine, Google's Android operating system runs most of the world's smartphones and its other services including Gmail, YouTube, online ads and the Chrome web browser&nbsp;are widely used.

Google's CEO faces a grilling from US lawmakers on how the web search giant handled an alarming data breach and whether it may bend to Chinese government censorship demands.

Google's CEO faces a grilling from US lawmakers on how the web search giant handled an alarming data breach and whether it may bend to Chinese government censorship demands. CEO Sundar Pichai's appearance Tuesday before the House Judiciary Committee comes after he angered members of a Senate panel in September by declining their invitation to testify about foreign governments' manipulation of online services to sway US elections. Pichai's no-show at that hearing was marked by an empty chair for Google alongside the Facebook and Twitter executives. Pichai went to Washington later in September to mend fences, meeting with some two dozen Republicans and indicating he also planned to meet with Democrats. He took part last week in a White House meeting with other tech industry executives that focused mainly on getting government and businesses working more closely on accelerating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. In October, Google announced it was shutting down its long-shunned Plus social network following its disclosure of a flaw discovered in March that could have exposed some personal information of as many as 500,000 people. The company deliberately avoided disclosing the privacy lapse at the time, in part to avoid drawing regulators' scrutiny and damaging its reputation, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing anonymous individuals and documents. Lawmakers want Google to explain its failure to reveal the breach. On Monday, the company said it was accelerating its plans to shutter Plus after discovering a privacy flaw that inadvertently exposed the names, email addresses, ages and other personal information of 52.5 million users last month. The service will now go dark in April instead of August, as previously announced. "We work hard to ensure the integrity of our products, and we've put a number of checks and balances in place to ensure they continue to live up to our standards," Pichai said in his opening statement prepared for Tuesday's hearing. Lawmakers are also concerned by recent reports that Google is poised to re-enter China with a search engine generating censored results to comply with the demands of that country's Communist government. President Donald Trump has accused Google of rigging the results of its dominant search engine to suppress conservative viewpoints and highlight coverage from media that he says distribute "fake news." That's another area of potential questions to Pichai by committee members. The company has denied any political bias, and there's no evidence of an anti-conservative tilt. Pichai said in his written testimony that "I lead this company without political bias and work to ensure that our products continue to operate that way. To do otherwise would go against our core principles and our business interests." Google has good reason to communicate with lawmakers and policymakers and to seek to weigh in on thorny issues. Trump and some lawmakers have raised the possibility of asking regulators to investigate whether Google which handles nearly two of every three online searches in the US has abused its clout as a major gateway to the internet to stifle competition. And momentum is building in Congress for legislation to put stricter limits and privacy protections around the big tech companies' collection of data. With the Democrats having captured control of the House in the midterm elections and poised to take over as the majority running the Judiciary Committee next month, tougher legislation could be in the offing. Pichai, a former engineer, took the helm of Google in 2015 in a major restructuring that made Google a division of conglomerate Alphabet Inc. whose businesses include Waymo, a self-driving technology development company. Bolstering the dominance of its search engine, Google's Android operating system runs most of the world's smartphones and its other services including Gmail, YouTube, online ads and the Chrome web browser are widely used.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai faces House grilling on breach, China censorship

Hundreds of employees at Google offices around the world, including in India, Thursday staged an unprecedented series of walkouts in protest at the company’s treatment of women and lenient treatment of senior executives accused of sexual misconduct. The demonstrations, dubbed “Google Walkout,” follow an outcry over a New York Times investigation that detailed years of sexual harassment allegations, multimillion-dollar severance packages for accused executives, and a lack of transparency over the cases.

The employees are demanding several key changes in how sexual misconduct allegations are dealt with at the technology giant, including a call to end forced arbitration – a move which would make it possible for victims to sue. Forced arbitration, a common contract clause for Silicon Valley employees, demands any disputes are dealt with internally rather than through other methods such as the courts.

Unequal pay and a lack of gender representation were also said to be among employees’ concerns as they staged the action. Google chief executive Sundar Pichai has told staff he supports their right to protest. “Yesterday, we let Googlers know that we are aware of the activities planned for Thursday and that employees will have the support they need if they wish to participate,” the Indian-American top executive said. Demonstrations at the company’s offices around the world began at 11:10 am in Tokyo and took place at the same time in other time zones.

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A photo from the Singapore hub showed at least 100 staff protesting. When contacted a Google spokesperson confirmed to PTI that 150 employees participated in the walkout in India. The employees were from Hyderabad, Gurgaon and Mumbai offices. Overall, Google has about 2,000 people across four offices in India (Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Mumbai and Bangalore).

A Google spokesman in Singapore said he could not provide details on how many people took part in the walkouts at those two offices, which each have more than 1,000 employees. In Europe, a small group of Google employees walk out at the company’s London headquarters.

A larger protest was reported in Zurich, Switzerland. Hoi Lam, a staff developer advocate at one of Google’s London offices, posted a photo on Twitter of workers gathered together. He wrote: “The stories shared at Google London Walkout are heartbreaking.” In the United States, there are hundreds of posts on social media using the hashtag #googlewalkout. Google’s management has been struggling to deal with the backlash from The New York Times investigation.

Top executives have assured employees that the company is “dead serious about making sure we provide a safe and inclusive workplace” in an e-mail sent shortly after the Times investigation was published last week. At least 48 other employees have been sacked for sexual harassment without receiving a payout, Pichai has informed Google staff. He admitted the New York Times’ report had been “difficult to read”.

“Employees have raised constructive ideas for how we can improve our policies and our processes going forward,” said Pichai in his latest statement. “We are taking in all their feedback so we can turn these ideas into action,” the Google CEO said. In a press release, organisers of the global walkout said: “As Google workers, we were disgusted by the details of the recent New York Times article, which provided the latest example of a culture of complicity, dismissiveness, and support for perpetrators in the face of sexual harassment, misconduct, and abuse of power.

According to the Times report, the company stayed silent about sexual misconduct allegations against three executives over the past decade, including Android creator Andy Rubin, who exited the company in 2014. Tech news site The Information previously reported that Google had investigated Rubin for an inappropriate relationship while at the company. But the Times uncovered new details, including a reported USD 90 million exit package that Rubin is said to have been granted when he departed the company. He was allowed to go despite what Google considered a “credible” allegation of sexual misconduct made against him, according to the report.

Sam Singer, a lawyer for Rubin, disputed the allegations in the Times report. “None of the allegations made about Mr. Rubin are true,” he said in a statement, calling them “demonstrably false.” Earlier this week, Richard DeVaul, a director of Google X, resigned from his position.

The Times report claimed he had sexually harassed a job applicant. DeVaul is leaving without any exit package, CNN reported, quoting a person familiar with the matter as saying. In a statement to the Times, DeVaul said he was sorry for the “error of judgement.” They employees are also making formal demands to Google’s management, including a commitment to end pay and opportunity inequality, a clear, uniform, globally inclusive process for reporting sexual misconduct safely and anonymously, the appointment of an employee representative to the board and an end to forced arbitration in cases of harassment and discrimination for all current and future employees.

Hundreds of employees at Google offices around the world, including in India, Thursday staged an unprecedented series of walkouts in protest at the company’s treatment of women and lenient treatment of senior executives accused of sexual misconduct.

Hundreds of employees at Google offices around the world, including in India, Thursday staged an unprecedented series of walkouts in protest at the company’s treatment of women and lenient treatment of senior executives accused of sexual misconduct. The demonstrations, dubbed “Google Walkout,” follow an outcry over a New York Times investigation that detailed years of sexual harassment allegations, multimillion-dollar severance packages for accused executives, and a lack of transparency over the cases. The employees are demanding several key changes in how sexual misconduct allegations are dealt with at the technology giant, including a call to end forced arbitration – a move which would make it possible for victims to sue. Forced arbitration, a common contract clause for Silicon Valley employees, demands any disputes are dealt with internally rather than through other methods such as the courts. Unequal pay and a lack of gender representation were also said to be among employees’ concerns as they staged the action. Google chief executive Sundar Pichai has told staff he supports their right to protest. “Yesterday, we let Googlers know that we are aware of the activities planned for Thursday and that employees will have the support they need if they wish to participate,” the Indian-American top executive said. Demonstrations at the company’s offices around the world began at 11:10 am in Tokyo and took place at the same time in other time zones. × A photo from the Singapore hub showed at least 100 staff protesting. When contacted a Google spokesperson confirmed to PTI that 150 employees participated in the walkout in India. The employees were from Hyderabad, Gurgaon and Mumbai offices. Overall, Google has about 2,000 people across four offices in India (Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Mumbai and Bangalore). A Google spokesman in Singapore said he could not provide details on how many people took part in the walkouts at those two offices, which each have more than 1,000 employees. In Europe, a small group of Google employees walk out at the company’s London headquarters. A larger protest was reported in Zurich, Switzerland. Hoi Lam, a staff developer advocate at one of Google’s London offices, posted a photo on Twitter of workers gathered together. He wrote: “The stories shared at Google London Walkout are heartbreaking.” In the United States, there are hundreds of posts on social media using the hashtag #googlewalkout. Google’s management has been struggling to deal with the backlash from The New York Times investigation. Top executives have assured employees that the company is “dead serious about making sure we provide a safe and inclusive workplace” in an e-mail sent shortly after the Times investigation was published last week. At least 48 other employees have been sacked for sexual harassment without receiving a payout, Pichai has informed Google staff. He admitted the New York Times’ report had been “difficult to read”. “Employees have raised constructive ideas for how we can improve our policies and our processes going forward,” said Pichai in his latest statement. “We are taking in all their feedback so we can turn these ideas into action,” the Google CEO said. In a press release, organisers of the global walkout said: “As Google workers, we were disgusted by the details of the recent New York Times article, which provided the latest example of a culture of complicity, dismissiveness, and support for perpetrators in the face of sexual harassment, misconduct, and abuse of power. According to the Times report, the company stayed silent about sexual misconduct allegations against three executives over the past decade, including Android creator Andy Rubin, who exited the company in 2014. Tech news site The Information previously reported that Google had investigated Rubin for an inappropriate relationship while at the company. But the Times uncovered new details, including a reported USD 90 million exit package that Rubin is said to have been granted when he departed the company. He was allowed to go despite what Google considered a “credible” allegation of sexual misconduct made against him, according to the report. Sam Singer, a lawyer for Rubin, disputed the allegations in the Times report. “None of the allegations made about Mr. Rubin are true,” he said in a statement, calling them “demonstrably false.” Earlier this week, Richard DeVaul, a director of Google X, resigned from his position. The Times report claimed he had sexually harassed a job applicant. DeVaul is leaving without any exit package, CNN reported, quoting a person familiar with the matter as saying. In a statement to the Times, DeVaul said he was sorry for the “error of judgement.” They employees are also making formal demands to Google’s management, including a commitment to end pay and opportunity inequality, a clear, uniform, globally inclusive process for reporting sexual misconduct safely and anonymously, the appointment of an employee representative to the board and an end to forced arbitration in cases of harassment and discrimination for all current and future employees.

Google workers, including in India, walk out amid sexual misconduct scandals

Google Inc Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said on Thursday the company had fired 48 employees for sexual harassment over the past two years.&nbsp;

Pichai sent an email to Google employees in response to a New York Times story that was published earlier in the day.

The report said the search engine giant protected three senior executives from allegations of sexual misconduct by offering them payouts.

The email, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, said of the 48 that were fired, 13 were senior managers or held more senior posts.

However, Pichai said none of those employees received an exit package.&nbsp;

The email, which was also signed by Google's vice president of people operations Eileen Naughton, said that company employees could use internal tools to report cases of inappropriate behaviour anonymously.&nbsp;

It also said that Google has updated its policy to require all vice presidents and senior vice presidents to disclose any relationship with a co-worker regardless of reporting line or presence of conflict.

"We are committed to ensuring that Google is a workplace where you can feel safe to do your best work, and where there are serious consequences for anyone who behaves inappropriately," the email said.&nbsp;

Google Inc Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said on Thursday the company had fired 48 employees for sexual harassment over the past two years. Pichai sent an email to Google employees in response to a New York Times story that was published earlier in the day.

Google Inc Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said on Thursday the company had fired 48 employees for sexual harassment over the past two years. Pichai sent an email to Google employees in response to a New York Times story that was published earlier in the day. The report said the search engine giant protected three senior executives from allegations of sexual misconduct by offering them payouts. The email, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, said of the 48 that were fired, 13 were senior managers or held more senior posts. However, Pichai said none of those employees received an exit package. The email, which was also signed by Google's vice president of people operations Eileen Naughton, said that company employees could use internal tools to report cases of inappropriate behaviour anonymously. It also said that Google has updated its policy to require all vice presidents and senior vice presidents to disclose any relationship with a co-worker regardless of reporting line or presence of conflict. "We are committed to ensuring that Google is a workplace where you can feel safe to do your best work, and where there are serious consequences for anyone who behaves inappropriately," the email said.

Google's Sundar Pichai says 48 employees were fired for sexual harassment

Alphabet Inc's Google will charge hardware firms up to $40 per device to use its apps under a new licensing system to replace one that the European Union this year deemed anti-competitive, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday.

The new fee goes into effect on October&nbsp;29 for any new smartphone or tablet models launched in the European Economic Area and running Google's Android operating system, the company announced on Tuesday.

The fee can be as low as $2.50 and rises depending on the country and device size, the person said. It is standard across manufacturers, with the majority likely to pay around $20, the person added.

Companies can offset the charge, which applies to a suite of apps including the Google Play app store, Gmail and Google Maps, by placing Google's search and Chrome internet browser in a prominent position. Under that arrangement, Google would give the device maker a portion of ad revenue it generates through search and Chrome.

Tech news outlet the Verge reported the pricing earlier on Friday, citing confidential documents.

The European Commission in July found Google abused its market dominance in mobile software to essentially force Android partners to pre-install search and Chrome on their gadgets. It levied a record $5-billion fine, which Google has appealed, and threatened additional penalties unless the company ended its illegal practices.

The new system should give Google's rivals such as Microsoft Corp more room to partner with hardware makers to become the default apps for search and browsing, analysts said.

Qwant, a small French search company that has been critical of Google, said in a statement on Friday that it was "satisfied that the European Commission's action pushed Google to finally give manufacturers the possibility to offer such choices to consumers."

Alphabet Inc's Google will charge hardware firms up to $40 per device to use its apps under a new licensing system to replace one that the European Union this year deemed anti-competitive, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday.

Alphabet Inc's Google will charge hardware firms up to $40 per device to use its apps under a new licensing system to replace one that the European Union this year deemed anti-competitive, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday. The new fee goes into effect on October 29 for any new smartphone or tablet models launched in the European Economic Area and running Google's Android operating system, the company announced on Tuesday. The fee can be as low as $2.50 and rises depending on the country and device size, the person said. It is standard across manufacturers, with the majority likely to pay around $20, the person added. Companies can offset the charge, which applies to a suite of apps including the Google Play app store, Gmail and Google Maps, by placing Google's search and Chrome internet browser in a prominent position. Under that arrangement, Google would give the device maker a portion of ad revenue it generates through search and Chrome. Tech news outlet the Verge reported the pricing earlier on Friday, citing confidential documents. The European Commission in July found Google abused its market dominance in mobile software to essentially force Android partners to pre-install search and Chrome on their gadgets. It levied a record $5-billion fine, which Google has appealed, and threatened additional penalties unless the company ended its illegal practices. The new system should give Google's rivals such as Microsoft Corp more room to partner with hardware makers to become the default apps for search and browsing, analysts said. Qwant, a small French search company that has been critical of Google, said in a statement on Friday that it was "satisfied that the European Commission's action pushed Google to finally give manufacturers the possibility to offer such choices to consumers."

Google to charge Android partners up to $40 per device for apps

Dragonfly: Sundar Pichai gives Google's China project green flag

As many as 80 per cent players in the payment industry, including Amazon, Paytm and WhatsApp, have complied with the norms for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-senators-writes-to-modi-to-soften-data-localisation-stance-171380">local storage of data</a>, with RBI's deadline coming to close on Monday, sources said.

However, they said some debit/credit companies are yet to comply with data storage norms and have reportedly sought more time.

The Reserve Bank is not contemplating review of its notification on data localisation norms, the sources said.

In April, the central bank had given six months to global payment companies to store transaction data of Indian customers within India.

Although 80 per cent of the players operating in India have complied with the Reserve Bank directive, some global financial technology companies have reportedly sought an extension to the October 15 timeline.

"The RBI will look at things on a case-to-case basis from tomorrow while handling the subject," one of the sources said, without mentioning if the central bank would take action or impose penalties for non-compliance.

Digital payments platform PhonePe said it has informed the Reserve Bank of India of its full compliance with the data localisation mandate to ensure payments data of Indian users is stored within the country.

The central bank's data localisation policy had elicited mixed response from the payment services industry. While some of the prominent domestic payment companies like Paytm and PhonePe have been supportive of the dictum, global players like Google (that offers Google Pay) had argued for free movement of data.

Some international players have appealed for more time for compliance and also asked that they be allowed to mirror the data.

Paytm, which had vociferously supported data localisation, said critical data must not be allowed to go out of the country, not even for processing.

"We have complied to this mandate since day one and have welcomed this initiative right from the beginning. It is important that we do not become mere internet colonies for global companies, and make every organisation accountable towards the security and privacy of data of our fellow countrymen," a Paytm spokesperson said.

US-based messaging platform WhatsApp has already said it has developed a system to store payments-related data in India.

An Amazon spokesperson said "compliance with local laws and regulation is a top priority for us in all the countries we operate in. We continue to work closely with the regulators towards this".

Google is learnt to have agreed to follow the RBI's local data storage norm for payment services but has asked for time until December to ensure compliance, a government source had indicated recently.

Critics of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-wants-to-prohibit-data-localisation-top-trade-official-says-amid-looming-rbi-directive-171256">data localisation</a> argue that the move would have negative effects on the ability of companies to do business in India.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley recently held a meeting with RBI Deputy Governor BP Kanungo and others to discuss the data localisation norm for global financial technology companies.

IT industry body Nasscom said access to information can be ensured irrespective of location of the data.

"Access can be provided even if the data is stored outside India. It is not clear how this (data localisation mandate) ties in with the overall objective of ensuring enforcement," Nasscom Senior Director and Head Public Policy Ashish Aggarwal said.

Moreover, the instances of problems being faced in accessing data need to be seen in the larger perspective of total number of transactions.

Nasscom has favoured free flow of data, Aggarwal said adding that imposition of conditions that are "onerous and unnecessary" may trigger a retaliatory measures from other countries.

In its April monetary policy review, the RBI had said that in order to ensure better monitoring of payment service operators it was important to have "unfettered supervisory access to data stored with these system providers as also with their service providers/ intermediaries/third party vendors and other entities in the payment ecosystem".

"All system providers shall ensure that the entire data relating to payment systems operated by them are stored in a system only in India," it had said.

The RBI had further said that data should include the full end-to-end transaction details, information collected, carried, processed as part of the message, payment instruction.

As many as 80 per cent players in the payment industry, including Amazon, Paytm and WhatsApp, have complied with the norms for local storage of data, with RBI's deadline coming to close on Monday, sources said.

As many as 80 per cent players in the payment industry, including Amazon, Paytm and WhatsApp, have complied with the norms for local storage of data, with RBI's deadline coming to close on Monday, sources said. However, they said some debit/credit companies are yet to comply with data storage norms and have reportedly sought more time. The Reserve Bank is not contemplating review of its notification on data localisation norms, the sources said. In April, the central bank had given six months to global payment companies to store transaction data of Indian customers within India. Although 80 per cent of the players operating in India have complied with the Reserve Bank directive, some global financial technology companies have reportedly sought an extension to the October 15 timeline. "The RBI will look at things on a case-to-case basis from tomorrow while handling the subject," one of the sources said, without mentioning if the central bank would take action or impose penalties for non-compliance. Digital payments platform PhonePe said it has informed the Reserve Bank of India of its full compliance with the data localisation mandate to ensure payments data of Indian users is stored within the country. The central bank's data localisation policy had elicited mixed response from the payment services industry. While some of the prominent domestic payment companies like Paytm and PhonePe have been supportive of the dictum, global players like Google (that offers Google Pay) had argued for free movement of data. Some international players have appealed for more time for compliance and also asked that they be allowed to mirror the data. Paytm, which had vociferously supported data localisation, said critical data must not be allowed to go out of the country, not even for processing. "We have complied to this mandate since day one and have welcomed this initiative right from the beginning. It is important that we do not become mere internet colonies for global companies, and make every organisation accountable towards the security and privacy of data of our fellow countrymen," a Paytm spokesperson said. US-based messaging platform WhatsApp has already said it has developed a system to store payments-related data in India. An Amazon spokesperson said "compliance with local laws and regulation is a top priority for us in all the countries we operate in. We continue to work closely with the regulators towards this". Google is learnt to have agreed to follow the RBI's local data storage norm for payment services but has asked for time until December to ensure compliance, a government source had indicated recently. Critics of data localisation argue that the move would have negative effects on the ability of companies to do business in India. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley recently held a meeting with RBI Deputy Governor BP Kanungo and others to discuss the data localisation norm for global financial technology companies. IT industry body Nasscom said access to information can be ensured irrespective of location of the data. "Access can be provided even if the data is stored outside India. It is not clear how this (data localisation mandate) ties in with the overall objective of ensuring enforcement," Nasscom Senior Director and Head Public Policy Ashish Aggarwal said. Moreover, the instances of problems being faced in accessing data need to be seen in the larger perspective of total number of transactions. Nasscom has favoured free flow of data, Aggarwal said adding that imposition of conditions that are "onerous and unnecessary" may trigger a retaliatory measures from other countries. In its April monetary policy review, the RBI had said that in order to ensure better monitoring of payment service operators it was important to have "unfettered supervisory access to data stored with these system providers as also with their service providers/ intermediaries/third party vendors and other entities in the payment ecosystem". "All system providers shall ensure that the entire data relating to payment systems operated by them are stored in a system only in India," it had said. The RBI had further said that data should include the full end-to-end transaction details, information collected, carried, processed as part of the message, payment instruction.

Google, WhatsApp must comply with India's data localisation policy, says RBI as deadline ends

Alphabet Inc's Google will shut down the consumer version of its failed social network Google+ and tighten its data sharing policies after announcing on Monday that private profile data of at least 500,000 users may have been exposed to hundreds of external developers.

The issue was discovered and patched in March as part of a review of how Google shares data with other applications, Google said in a blog post. No developer exploited the vulnerability or misused data, the review found.

Shares of its parent company Alphabet closed down 1 per cent at $1155.92 following the latest in a run of privacy issues to hit big US&nbsp;tech companies.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that Google opted not to disclose the security issue due to fears of regulatory scrutiny, citing unnamed sources and a memo prepared by Google's legal and policy staff for senior executives.

Google feared disclosure would invite comparison to Facebook Inc's leak of user information to data firm Cambridge Analytica, the Journal reported, adding that Chief Executive Sundar Pichai had been briefed on the issue. Google declined to comment beyond its blog post.

Google said on Monday none of the thresholds it requires to disclose a breach were met after reviewing the type of data involved, whether it could identify the users to inform, establish any evidence of misuse, and whether there were any actions a developer or user could take to protect themselves.

Security and privacy experts and financial analysts questioned the decision.

"Users have the right to be notified if their information could have been compromised," said Jacob Lehmann, managing director at legal firm Friedman CyZen. "This is a direct result of the scrutiny that Facebook dealt with regarding the Cambridge Analytica scandal."

Facebook challenger

Google+ launched in 2011 as the advertising giant grew more concerned about competition from Facebook, which could pinpoint ads to users based on data they had shared about their friends, likes and online activity.

Google+ copied Facebook with status updates and news feeds and let people organise their groups of friends into what it calls "circles."

But Google+ and the company's other experiments with social media struggled to win over users because of complicated features and privacy mishaps.

Facebook introduced a feature that allowed users to connect their accounts with their profiles on dating, music and other apps.

Google followed suit, letting outside developers access some Google+ data with users' permission. The bug disclosed on Monday, introduced in a software update, exposed private data including name, email address, occupation, gender and age, Google said. It could not definitely say how many users were affected because it said it keeps only two weeks of such records.

Google+ will remain an internal networking option for organizations that buy Google's G Suite, a bundle of apps for creating documents, spreadsheets and presentations.

Google's plan to withdraw the free version of Google+, scheduled for August, could help strengthen its case to US&nbsp;policymakers and regulators that it is different from Facebook, which has faced political heat over allegations that data belonging to 87 million of its users was improperly shared with political consultancy Cambridge Analytica.

Google refused to send Pichai to a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Sept. 5, where Facebook's chief operating officer and Twitter Inc's chief executive testified. An empty chair was left for Google after the committee rejected Google’s top lawyer as a witness.

Several policies Google introduced on Monday are designed to curb the data accessible to developers offering mobile apps on the Google Play store or add-on apps for sending and organising Gmail messages.

Play Store apps will no longer be allowed to access text message and call logs unless they are the default calling or texting app on a user's device or have an exception from Google.

Gmail add-ons available to consumers starting next year will be barred from selling user data and be subject to a third-party security assessment that will cost them about $15,000 to $75,000, Google said.

Such moves could strengthen Google by making it harder for competing services to grow off its data, said Chris Messina, a designer who worked on Google+ before leaving in 2013. "In 2011, you wanted casual, scrappy developers creating apps, and now it is going to require a professional class that is serious. The walls are going up."

Alphabet Inc's Google will shut down the consumer version of its failed social network Google+ and tighten its data sharing policies after announcing on Monday that private profile data of at least 500,000 users may have been exposed to hundreds of external developers.

Alphabet Inc's Google will shut down the consumer version of its failed social network Google+ and tighten its data sharing policies after announcing on Monday that private profile data of at least 500,000 users may have been exposed to hundreds of external developers. The issue was discovered and patched in March as part of a review of how Google shares data with other applications, Google said in a blog post. No developer exploited the vulnerability or misused data, the review found. Shares of its parent company Alphabet closed down 1 per cent at $1155.92 following the latest in a run of privacy issues to hit big US tech companies. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that Google opted not to disclose the security issue due to fears of regulatory scrutiny, citing unnamed sources and a memo prepared by Google's legal and policy staff for senior executives. Google feared disclosure would invite comparison to Facebook Inc's leak of user information to data firm Cambridge Analytica, the Journal reported, adding that Chief Executive Sundar Pichai had been briefed on the issue. Google declined to comment beyond its blog post. Google said on Monday none of the thresholds it requires to disclose a breach were met after reviewing the type of data involved, whether it could identify the users to inform, establish any evidence of misuse, and whether there were any actions a developer or user could take to protect themselves. Security and privacy experts and financial analysts questioned the decision. "Users have the right to be notified if their information could have been compromised," said Jacob Lehmann, managing director at legal firm Friedman CyZen. "This is a direct result of the scrutiny that Facebook dealt with regarding the Cambridge Analytica scandal." Facebook challenger Google+ launched in 2011 as the advertising giant grew more concerned about competition from Facebook, which could pinpoint ads to users based on data they had shared about their friends, likes and online activity. Google+ copied Facebook with status updates and news feeds and let people organise their groups of friends into what it calls "circles." But Google+ and the company's other experiments with social media struggled to win over users because of complicated features and privacy mishaps. Facebook introduced a feature that allowed users to connect their accounts with their profiles on dating, music and other apps. Google followed suit, letting outside developers access some Google+ data with users' permission. The bug disclosed on Monday, introduced in a software update, exposed private data including name, email address, occupation, gender and age, Google said. It could not definitely say how many users were affected because it said it keeps only two weeks of such records. Google+ will remain an internal networking option for organizations that buy Google's G Suite, a bundle of apps for creating documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Google's plan to withdraw the free version of Google+, scheduled for August, could help strengthen its case to US policymakers and regulators that it is different from Facebook, which has faced political heat over allegations that data belonging to 87 million of its users was improperly shared with political consultancy Cambridge Analytica. Google refused to send Pichai to a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Sept. 5, where Facebook's chief operating officer and Twitter Inc's chief executive testified. An empty chair was left for Google after the committee rejected Google’s top lawyer as a witness. Several policies Google introduced on Monday are designed to curb the data accessible to developers offering mobile apps on the Google Play store or add-on apps for sending and organising Gmail messages. Play Store apps will no longer be allowed to access text message and call logs unless they are the default calling or texting app on a user's device or have an exception from Google. Gmail add-ons available to consumers starting next year will be barred from selling user data and be subject to a third-party security assessment that will cost them about $15,000 to $75,000, Google said. Such moves could strengthen Google by making it harder for competing services to grow off its data, said Chris Messina, a designer who worked on Google+ before leaving in 2013. "In 2011, you wanted casual, scrappy developers creating apps, and now it is going to require a professional class that is serious. The walls are going up."

Google+ to shut down after data of at least 500,000 users exposed

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Google+ to shut down after data of at least 500,000 users exposed