On Sunday (May 16), the Kidambi Srikanth-starrer Indian men's badminton team created history as India won the Thomas Cup for the first time ever, beating Indonesia in the final by 3-0. Thus, India became only the sixth country to win the Thomas Cup, which has been dominated by Indonesia&nbsp;so far.

India defeated Malaysia, Denmark and Indonesia in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, respectively, to stun the sporting fraternity and give immense pride and happiness to the countrymen back home. The likes of Srikanth, HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, etc. all played a key role in the memorable triumph, which has given a huge boost to badminton in India.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-created-a-whatsapp-group-titled-well-bring-it-home-kidambi-srikanth-after-india-win-thomas-cup-479355">We created a WhatsApp group titled ‘We’ll Bring It Home': Kidambi Srikanth after India win Thomas Cup</a>

Talking about Prannoy, he was India's saviour in crunch moments during the quarters and semis and won the team big moments to help them proceed ahead. Recalling how a WhatsApp group led to the team's honest bonding and led to their triumph, Prannoy said as per a report in India Today, "We had this WhatsApp group set up just after the Thomas Cup team was decided. I created the group. We thought that we need a group to have open conversations about everything regarding the tournament. It definitely helped us because everybody was open to saying anything in the group, discuss freely. The name was 'it's coming home'. I am glad that the Thomas Cup is actually home now."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-dont-think-anyone-had-dreamt-of-india-beating-indonesia-3-0-in-thomas-cup-kidambi-srikanth-479815">Exclusive! Don't think anyone had dreamt of India beating Indonesia 3-0 in Thomas Cup: Kidambi Srikanth</a>

“It was really important to have a good vibe around us and have open conversations about each day's performance. On tour, 95 percent of the time, we play individually,” the 29-year-old shuttler added.

“Everything started falling in place, once we came here. Everybody wanted this to happen for India. We knew we hadn't done well in the team events. We never had a good history in team events. We wanted to change it. We wanted everyone to be scared of us. I think we wanted everybody to know we are world-beaters. I can't be more happier,” concluded Prannoy.

On Sunday (May 16), the Kidambi Srikanth-starrer Indian men's badminton team created history as India won the Thomas Cup for the first time ever, beating Indonesia in the final by 3-0.

On Sunday (May 16), the Kidambi Srikanth-starrer Indian men's badminton team created history as India won the Thomas Cup for the first time ever, beating Indonesia in the final by 3-0. Thus, India became only the sixth country to win the Thomas Cup, which has been dominated by Indonesia so far. India defeated Malaysia, Denmark and Indonesia in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, respectively, to stun the sporting fraternity and give immense pride and happiness to the countrymen back home. The likes of Srikanth, HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, etc. all played a key role in the memorable triumph, which has given a huge boost to badminton in India. ALSO READ | We created a WhatsApp group titled ‘We’ll Bring It Home': Kidambi Srikanth after India win Thomas Cup Talking about Prannoy, he was India's saviour in crunch moments during the quarters and semis and won the team big moments to help them proceed ahead. Recalling how a WhatsApp group led to the team's honest bonding and led to their triumph, Prannoy said as per a report in India Today, "We had this WhatsApp group set up just after the Thomas Cup team was decided. I created the group. We thought that we need a group to have open conversations about everything regarding the tournament. It definitely helped us because everybody was open to saying anything in the group, discuss freely. The name was 'it's coming home'. I am glad that the Thomas Cup is actually home now." ALSO READ | Exclusive! Don't think anyone had dreamt of India beating Indonesia 3-0 in Thomas Cup: Kidambi Srikanth “It was really important to have a good vibe around us and have open conversations about each day's performance. On tour, 95 percent of the time, we play individually,” the 29-year-old shuttler added. “Everything started falling in place, once we came here. Everybody wanted this to happen for India. We knew we hadn't done well in the team events. We never had a good history in team events. We wanted to change it. We wanted everyone to be scared of us. I think we wanted everybody to know we are world-beaters. I can't be more happier,” concluded Prannoy.

Everybody was open to saying anything: HS Prannoy credits WhatsApp group for India's success at Thomas Cup

With over two billion monthly active users, WhatsApp is world's most popular messaging app. But it provides this service for free. Which raises the question - How does the chat behemoth make money?

How does WhatsApp make money?

WhatsApp seems to have got regulatory approval to increase users by more than double for its payments service to 100 million in India, a Reuters report said citing sources on Wednesday. &nbsp;

On Wednesday, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) seems to have told the Meta Platforms Inc's company that it can hike the users to 100 million, the sources said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Presently, there are 40 million users. In a statement to Reuters, the NPCI has confirmed the development. &nbsp;

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This approval from the NPCI is sure to come as a relief to the company, which has more than 500 million users in India.&nbsp;

In 2020, the NPCI had given approval to WhatsApp for launching the payments service. The company has made concerted efforts to comply with Indian regulations. These include data storage norms requiring all payments-related data to be stored locally. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;WION Exclusive: Fourth consecutive G7 invite for India since 2019

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The firm had started with 20 million users. In November last year, the limit was raised to 40 million. &nbsp;

In India's digital payment market, Paytm, Walmart’s PhonePe and Alphabet Inc's Google Pay are other big players. &nbsp;

India has witnessed a huge rise in the online transactions, e-wallet and lending services in the recent years. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

WhatsApp seems to have got regulatory approval to increase users by more than double for its payments service to 100 million in India, a Reuters report said citing sources on Wednesday.

WhatsApp seems to have got regulatory approval to increase users by more than double for its payments service to 100 million in India, a Reuters report said citing sources on Wednesday. On Wednesday, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) seems to have told the Meta Platforms Inc's company that it can hike the users to 100 million, the sources said. Presently, there are 40 million users. In a statement to Reuters, the NPCI has confirmed the development. Also Read: 600-year-old Hindu deity idols worth millions seized in India’s Puducherry This approval from the NPCI is sure to come as a relief to the company, which has more than 500 million users in India. In 2020, the NPCI had given approval to WhatsApp for launching the payments service. The company has made concerted efforts to comply with Indian regulations. These include data storage norms requiring all payments-related data to be stored locally. Watch: WION Exclusive: Fourth consecutive G7 invite for India since 2019 × The firm had started with 20 million users. In November last year, the limit was raised to 40 million. In India's digital payment market, Paytm, Walmart’s PhonePe and Alphabet Inc's Google Pay are other big players. India has witnessed a huge rise in the online transactions, e-wallet and lending services in the recent years. (With inputs from agencies)

WhatsApp payment service gets nod for 100 mn users in India: Report

WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, is rumoured to be developing on a new feature that will allow users to share larger files and media with others via their platform.

WhatsApp will soon begin testing the "Media File Size" feature in Argentina, according to WABetaInfo, which would let users to transmit media files up to 2GB in size.

Initially, the feature will only be available to Beta testers in Argentina.

The feature will soon be accessible to Beta testers in Argentina on both Android and iOS smartphones.

For those who aren't aware, you can only share files up to 100MB at the moment.

WhatsApp has began bringing out multi-device capability to all users, which has been a long time coming.

Users have had access to the feature through WhatsApp's opt-in beta testing programme up until now.

According to WABetainfo, the update will be available to iOS users this month, with Android users receiving it next month.

With the new upgrade, you won't need to keep your primary device connected to the internet to use the platform.

On linked devices, viewing live location is not possible.

The secondary devices are unable to create and browse broadcast lists or send messages with link previews via WhatsApp Web. 
 
(With inputs&nbsp;from agencies)

WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, is rumoured to be developing on a new feature that will allow users to share larger files and media with others via their platform.

WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, is rumoured to be developing on a new feature that will allow users to share larger files and media with others via their platform. WhatsApp will soon begin testing the "Media File Size" feature in Argentina, according to WABetaInfo, which would let users to transmit media files up to 2GB in size. Initially, the feature will only be available to Beta testers in Argentina. The feature will soon be accessible to Beta testers in Argentina on both Android and iOS smartphones. For those who aren't aware, you can only share files up to 100MB at the moment. WhatsApp has began bringing out multi-device capability to all users, which has been a long time coming. Users have had access to the feature through WhatsApp's opt-in beta testing programme up until now. According to WABetainfo, the update will be available to iOS users this month, with Android users receiving it next month. With the new upgrade, you won't need to keep your primary device connected to the internet to use the platform. On linked devices, viewing live location is not possible. The secondary devices are unable to create and browse broadcast lists or send messages with link previews via WhatsApp Web. (With inputs from agencies)

WhatsApp to increase maximum file transfer size to 2GB: Report

With Facebook and Instagram being banned, Russians are increasingly turning to Telegram messaging app for mass messaging in a way similar to social media.

According to AFP, Telegram app has been downloaded over 150 million times since the beginning of the year, with the official figure of half a billion active users dating back to January last year.

An average of 2.5 million new users joined Telegram daily in the last three weeks, the firm said, about a 25 per cent jump from the weeks prior, the firm said.

Even though Meta-owned WhatsApp has managed duck from the ban list, Telegram’s ability to disseminate information to large groups at a time has made it useful both for independent media and the Kremlin.

The trust on Telegram also stems from the fact that its creators, brothers Pavel and Nikolai Durov, are Russian citizens who left their home country in 2014.

Despite Telegram’s tendonous growth in Russia, concerns over its data security and misinformation still remain.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-russia-conflict-time-for-meaningful-talks-says-president-volodymyr-zelenskiy-463642">Ukraine-Russia conflict: Time for meaningful talks, says President Zelensky</a>

"Telegram's profile has grown enormously in recent weeks, and that has raised the stakes about the impact of misinformation on the platform", Enders Analysis media analyst Jamie MacEwan told AFP.

"Meta employs tens of thousands of moderators and huge problems still slip through the net," said MacEwan.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-pro-invasion-rally-russian-president-vladimir-putin-dons-costly-loro-piana-jacket-463688" hreflang="en">As Russians face financial crisis, President Vladimir Putin dons costly Loro Piana jacket in pro-war rally</a>

"It is unclear how much investment in moderation Telegram can support on its current funding model."

Entirely free, Telegram started advertising last year, but with a reduced, highly regulated offering, and guaranteeing that it would not use users' private data for targeting.

In April last year, the Russian business daily Vedomosti reported that the company was preparing to go public in 2023, and was aiming for a valuation of between US$30 billion and US$50 billion.

(With inputs from agencies)

With Facebook and Instagram being banned, Russians are increasingly turning to Telegram messaging app for mass messaging in a way similar to social media. According to AFP, Telegram app has been downloaded over 150 million times since the beginning of the year, with the official figure of half a billion active users dating back to January last year.

With Facebook and Instagram being banned, Russians are increasingly turning to Telegram messaging app for mass messaging in a way similar to social media. According to AFP, Telegram app has been downloaded over 150 million times since the beginning of the year, with the official figure of half a billion active users dating back to January last year. An average of 2.5 million new users joined Telegram daily in the last three weeks, the firm said, about a 25 per cent jump from the weeks prior, the firm said. Even though Meta-owned WhatsApp has managed duck from the ban list, Telegram’s ability to disseminate information to large groups at a time has made it useful both for independent media and the Kremlin. The trust on Telegram also stems from the fact that its creators, brothers Pavel and Nikolai Durov, are Russian citizens who left their home country in 2014. Despite Telegram’s tendonous growth in Russia, concerns over its data security and misinformation still remain. Also read | Ukraine-Russia conflict: Time for meaningful talks, says President Zelensky "Telegram's profile has grown enormously in recent weeks, and that has raised the stakes about the impact of misinformation on the platform", Enders Analysis media analyst Jamie MacEwan told AFP. "Meta employs tens of thousands of moderators and huge problems still slip through the net," said MacEwan. Also read | As Russians face financial crisis, President Vladimir Putin dons costly Loro Piana jacket in pro-war rally "It is unclear how much investment in moderation Telegram can support on its current funding model." Entirely free, Telegram started advertising last year, but with a reduced, highly regulated offering, and guaranteeing that it would not use users' private data for targeting. In April last year, the Russian business daily Vedomosti reported that the company was preparing to go public in 2023, and was aiming for a valuation of between US$30 billion and US$50 billion. (With inputs from agencies)

Telegram emerges as frontrunner amid Russia’s crackdown on Facebook, Instagram

WhatsApp users have a reason to cheer. The app is looking to come up with a range of new features for its Android, Apple iOS, Windows and web users. &nbsp;

The features have been spotted by WABetaInfo, which tracks upcoming features in WhatsApp. Let’s find out some of the exciting ones. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Now, group admins in WhatsApp will be able to delete messages, which have been sent by other users in the group. It may come up in a future update. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/youtubes-ai-algorithm-adds-explicit-language-in-captions-to-childrens-clips-456700" hreflang="en">YouTube’s AI algorithm adds explicit language in captions to children's clips</a>

There will be two-step verification for WhatsApp web/desktop. &nbsp;

WhatsApp is also looking to bring message reactions, which are similar to the ones available on Instagram and Facebook Messenger. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Not just this, WhatsApp is also working on new animated heart emojis for Android and Apple iOS users. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The communities feature will now provide more control to the Group administrators. It may also provide the option to create groups within groups. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/children-can-easily-get-access-to-metaverse-strip-clubs-investigation-reveals-455944" hreflang="en">Children can easily get access to Metaverse strip clubs, investigation reveals</a>

The app is also adding a new search shortcut to the redesigned contact information section. It will be added next to the video call icon. &nbsp;&nbsp;

WhatsApp will also allow you to manage privacy settings for status. It will let users edit the list of people, who will be able to see their status updates. It is also planning to enable a new preview for documents, which are shared in chats. &nbsp;

The app may also allow users to share media as their WhatApp status and with individual chats or groups in a single window. WhatsApp is also changing the design of the app window seen during group voice calls. &nbsp; &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

WhatsApp users have a reason to cheer. The app is looking to come up with a range of new features for its Android, Apple iOS, Windows and web users. The features have been spotted by WABetaInfo, which tracks upcoming features in WhatsApp.

WhatsApp users have a reason to cheer. The app is looking to come up with a range of new features for its Android, Apple iOS, Windows and web users. The features have been spotted by WABetaInfo, which tracks upcoming features in WhatsApp. Let’s find out some of the exciting ones. Now, group admins in WhatsApp will be able to delete messages, which have been sent by other users in the group. It may come up in a future update. Also Read: YouTube’s AI algorithm adds explicit language in captions to children's clips There will be two-step verification for WhatsApp web/desktop. WhatsApp is also looking to bring message reactions, which are similar to the ones available on Instagram and Facebook Messenger. Not just this, WhatsApp is also working on new animated heart emojis for Android and Apple iOS users. The communities feature will now provide more control to the Group administrators. It may also provide the option to create groups within groups. Also Read: Children can easily get access to Metaverse strip clubs, investigation reveals The app is also adding a new search shortcut to the redesigned contact information section. It will be added next to the video call icon. WhatsApp will also allow you to manage privacy settings for status. It will let users edit the list of people, who will be able to see their status updates. It is also planning to enable a new preview for documents, which are shared in chats. The app may also allow users to share media as their WhatApp status and with individual chats or groups in a single window. WhatsApp is also changing the design of the app window seen during group voice calls. (With inputs from agencies)

WhatsApp to come up with a range of new features for its users

Sending a ‘red heart’ emojis&nbsp;on WhatsApp can land a user in jail in Saudi Arabia, according to reports.

This was revealed when a cybercrime expert in Saudi issued a statement in a local newspaper stating that sending these ‘red hearts’ on WhatsApp amounts to ‘harassment’ in the country, Gulf News reported.

According to the Saudi law, if the sender was found to be guilty, that person could be jailed for two to five years and a fine of SR100,000 (US $26, 649 approx.) would be imposed.

Al Moataz Kutbi, who is a member of the Anti-Fraud Association in Saudi Arabia, said that the use of “some images and expressions during online chats may turn into a crime of harassment if a lawsuit is filed by the injured party.”

He warned users against engaging in a conversation with anyone without their consent, saying that “using explicit expressions or red heart emojis” can be construed as a gesture with sexual intentions.

“According to the anti-harassment system, harassment is defined as every statement, act, or gesture with a sexual connotation made by a person towards any other that touches his/her body or honour or infringes his/her modesty by any means, including modern technology. This includes (emojis) associated with the sexual connotations according to the custom of society, such as red hearts and red roses,” Kutbi said.

The expert said that in case of a repeated violation, the fine could reach SR300,000 (US $79,949 approx.) with five years in jail.

(With inputs from agencies)

Sending a ‘red heart’ emojis on WhatsApp can land a user in jail in Saudi Arabia, according to reports. This was revealed when a cybercrime expert in Saudi issued a statement in a local newspaper stating that sending these ‘red hearts’ on WhatsApp amounts to ‘harassment’ in the country, Gulf News reported.

Sending a ‘red heart’ emojis on WhatsApp can land a user in jail in Saudi Arabia, according to reports. This was revealed when a cybercrime expert in Saudi issued a statement in a local newspaper stating that sending these ‘red hearts’ on WhatsApp amounts to ‘harassment’ in the country, Gulf News reported. According to the Saudi law, if the sender was found to be guilty, that person could be jailed for two to five years and a fine of SR100,000 (US $26, 649 approx.) would be imposed. Al Moataz Kutbi, who is a member of the Anti-Fraud Association in Saudi Arabia, said that the use of “some images and expressions during online chats may turn into a crime of harassment if a lawsuit is filed by the injured party.” He warned users against engaging in a conversation with anyone without their consent, saying that “using explicit expressions or red heart emojis” can be construed as a gesture with sexual intentions. “According to the anti-harassment system, harassment is defined as every statement, act, or gesture with a sexual connotation made by a person towards any other that touches his/her body or honour or infringes his/her modesty by any means, including modern technology. This includes (emojis) associated with the sexual connotations according to the custom of society, such as red hearts and red roses,” Kutbi said. The expert said that in case of a repeated violation, the fine could reach SR300,000 (US $79,949 approx.) with five years in jail. (With inputs from agencies)

In Saudi Arabia, sending ‘red heart’ emojis can attract $26,000 fine, up to 5 years in jail

WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, announced on Tuesday that it had banned 2,079,000 accounts in India in December in accordance with the new IT Rules of 2021.

In the same month, the firm received 528 grievance reports from across the country and responded to 24 of them, according to the corporation.&nbsp;

In accordance with the IT Rules 2021, we have published our seventh monthly report for the month of December, " a WhatsApp spokesperson said in a statement.

"As captured in the latest monthly report, WhatsApp banned over 2 million accounts in the month of December," the spokesperson added.

"WhatsApp is an industry leader in preventing abuse, among end-to-end encrypted messaging services," the spokesperson said. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/did-us-government-agencies-ask-whatsapp-to-help-agencies-spy-on-users-in-secret-445762">Also read | Did US government agencies ask WhatsApp to help agencies spy on users in secret?</a> 
 
The statistics published by WhatsApp emphasise the number of Indian accounts banned between December 1 and December 31 using the aforementioned abuse detection approach, which also includes action taken in response to negative input received from users via our "Report" function, according to the firm.&nbsp;

"We have constantly invested in artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies, data scientists and experts, and processes over the years to keep our users safe on our platform," it continued.

Meanwhile, Meta announced on Monday that in December, it removed over 19.3 million pieces of harmful content from Facebook across 13 categories and over 2.4 million pieces of bad content from Instagram across 12 categories, in accordance with the new IT Rules 2021.

From December 1 to December 31, Meta received 534 allegations against Facebook through the Indian grievance procedure, and replied to all of them, which ranged from bogus profiles to harassment/abusive content and hacked accounts.&nbsp;

Meta took action on 28 of the other 95 reports that required a specialised review on Facebook.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, announced on Tuesday that it had banned 2,079,000 accounts in India in December in accordance with the new IT Rules of 2021. In the same month, the firm received 528 grievance reports from across the country and responded to 24 of them, according to the corporation.

WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, announced on Tuesday that it had banned 2,079,000 accounts in India in December in accordance with the new IT Rules of 2021. In the same month, the firm received 528 grievance reports from across the country and responded to 24 of them, according to the corporation. In accordance with the IT Rules 2021, we have published our seventh monthly report for the month of December, " a WhatsApp spokesperson said in a statement. "As captured in the latest monthly report, WhatsApp banned over 2 million accounts in the month of December," the spokesperson added. "WhatsApp is an industry leader in preventing abuse, among end-to-end encrypted messaging services," the spokesperson said. Also read | Did US government agencies ask WhatsApp to help agencies spy on users in secret? The statistics published by WhatsApp emphasise the number of Indian accounts banned between December 1 and December 31 using the aforementioned abuse detection approach, which also includes action taken in response to negative input received from users via our "Report" function, according to the firm. "We have constantly invested in artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies, data scientists and experts, and processes over the years to keep our users safe on our platform," it continued. Meanwhile, Meta announced on Monday that in December, it removed over 19.3 million pieces of harmful content from Facebook across 13 categories and over 2.4 million pieces of bad content from Instagram across 12 categories, in accordance with the new IT Rules 2021. From December 1 to December 31, Meta received 534 allegations against Facebook through the Indian grievance procedure, and replied to all of them, which ranged from bogus profiles to harassment/abusive content and hacked accounts. Meta took action on 28 of the other 95 reports that required a specialised review on Facebook. (With inputs from agencies)

Whatsapp banned 2 million Indian accounts in December 2021: Compliance report

In the increasingly digital world, anonymity is often a necessary thing in order to safeguard own details. There are many privacy measures to ensure anonymity of smartphone users. But a study has now suggested that the measures that have been used may no longer be suitable for the digital age.

Vast quantities of data are scooped up from smartphone apps by firms looking to develop products, conduct research or target consumers with adverts.

In Europe and many other jurisdictions, companies are legally bound to make this data anonymous, often doing so by removing telltale details like names or phone numbers.&nbsp;

But the study in the Nature Communications journal says this is no longer enough to keep identities private.&nbsp;

The researchers say people can now be identified with just a few details of how they communicate with an app like WhatsApp.&nbsp;

One of the paper's authors, Yves-Alexandre de Montjoye of Imperial College London, told AFP it was time to "reinvent what anonymisation means".

'Rich' data

His team took anonymised data from more than 40,000 mobile phone users, most of which was information from messaging apps and other "interaction" data.&nbsp;

They then "attacked" the data searching for patterns in those interactions -- a technique that could be employed by malicious actors.&nbsp;

With just the direct contacts of the person included in the dataset, they found they could identify the person 15 percent of the time.

When further interactions between those primary contacts were included, they could identify 52 percent of people.&nbsp;

"Our results provide evidence that disconnected and even re-pseudonymised interaction data remain identifiable even across long periods of time," wrote the researchers from the UK, Switzerland and Italy.&nbsp;

"These results strongly suggest that current practices may not satisfy the anonymisation standard set forth by (European regulators) in particular with regard to the linkability criteria."&nbsp;

De Montjoye stressed that the intention was not to criticise any individual company or legal regime.&nbsp;

Rather, he said the algorithm they were using just provided a more robust way of testing what we regard as anonymised data.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In the increasingly digital world, anonymity is often a necessary thing in order to safeguard own details. There are many privacy measures to ensure anonymity of smartphone users.

In the increasingly digital world, anonymity is often a necessary thing in order to safeguard own details. There are many privacy measures to ensure anonymity of smartphone users. But a study has now suggested that the measures that have been used may no longer be suitable for the digital age. Vast quantities of data are scooped up from smartphone apps by firms looking to develop products, conduct research or target consumers with adverts. In Europe and many other jurisdictions, companies are legally bound to make this data anonymous, often doing so by removing telltale details like names or phone numbers. But the study in the Nature Communications journal says this is no longer enough to keep identities private. The researchers say people can now be identified with just a few details of how they communicate with an app like WhatsApp. One of the paper's authors, Yves-Alexandre de Montjoye of Imperial College London, told AFP it was time to "reinvent what anonymisation means". 'Rich' data His team took anonymised data from more than 40,000 mobile phone users, most of which was information from messaging apps and other "interaction" data. They then "attacked" the data searching for patterns in those interactions -- a technique that could be employed by malicious actors. With just the direct contacts of the person included in the dataset, they found they could identify the person 15 percent of the time. When further interactions between those primary contacts were included, they could identify 52 percent of people. "Our results provide evidence that disconnected and even re-pseudonymised interaction data remain identifiable even across long periods of time," wrote the researchers from the UK, Switzerland and Italy. "These results strongly suggest that current practices may not satisfy the anonymisation standard set forth by (European regulators) in particular with regard to the linkability criteria." De Montjoye stressed that the intention was not to criticise any individual company or legal regime. Rather, he said the algorithm they were using just provided a more robust way of testing what we regard as anonymised data. (With inputs from agencies)

Just making smartphone data anonymous no longer enough, says study

India is gearing up to celebrate 73rd Republic Day. A sense of patriotism is palpable across the nation. This is the day on which India's Constitution came into force in the year 1950. This was the birth of Indian republic based firmly on democratic values. Each year, celebration of Republic Day is an ode to the principles Indian democracy holds dear. It is celebration of a national festival.

The day is marked by Republic Day Parade which takes place on Raj Path each year. Dignitaries such as President and Prime Minister of India along with other guests are present. This year, due to Covid-19 India is not hosting any foreign dignitaries.

Like any other Indian festival, Republic Day is a day when countrymen share spirit of patriotism over WhatsApp messages. Some even dedicate Facebook status to mark Republic Day.

Want to know what lines are doing rounds? Read on.

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Let us remember the golden heritage of our country and feel proud to be a part of India. Happy Republic Day 2021.</li>
	<li>A thousand salutes to this great nation of ours. May it become even more prosperous and great. Happy Republic Day</li>
	<li>Be proud that you are an Indian because lucky are those who are born in this great country. Happy Republic Day 2021</li>
	<li>Freedom has not come easy, it is because of the sacrifices of our freedom fighters, so never take it for granted. Happy Republic Day 2021!</li>
	<li>May you have joy to make you sweet, strife to make you strong, sadness to keep you human and hope to bring joy to our nation. Happy Republic Day!</li>
	<li>This Republic Day, let us pledge to keep our neighbourhood clean and tidy. This would, in turn, keep diseases at bay and make India prettier and healthier. Jai Hind</li>
	<li>This Republic Day, let us pledge to keep our neighbourhood clean and tidy. This would, in turn, keep diseases at bay and make India prettier and healthier. Jai Hind</li>
	<li>Republic day is not just about flaunting our patriotic zest or a one-day celebration. We shall understand the true meaning of Independence only if we acknowledge the selfless sacrifices of freedom fighters, the thankless services of our defence forces and the infinite contributions of our farmers. Ignite the undying spirit of nationalism within. Jai Hind. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

India is gearing up to celebrate 73rd Republic Day. A sense of patriotism is palpable across the nation. This is the day on which India's Constitution came into force in the year 1950.

India is gearing up to celebrate 73rd Republic Day. A sense of patriotism is palpable across the nation. This is the day on which India's Constitution came into force in the year 1950. This was the birth of Indian republic based firmly on democratic values. Each year, celebration of Republic Day is an ode to the principles Indian democracy holds dear. It is celebration of a national festival. The day is marked by Republic Day Parade which takes place on Raj Path each year. Dignitaries such as President and Prime Minister of India along with other guests are present. This year, due to Covid-19 India is not hosting any foreign dignitaries. Like any other Indian festival, Republic Day is a day when countrymen share spirit of patriotism over WhatsApp messages. Some even dedicate Facebook status to mark Republic Day. Want to know what lines are doing rounds? Read on. Let us remember the golden heritage of our country and feel proud to be a part of India. Happy Republic Day 2021. A thousand salutes to this great nation of ours. May it become even more prosperous and great. Happy Republic Day Be proud that you are an Indian because lucky are those who are born in this great country. Happy Republic Day 2021 Freedom has not come easy, it is because of the sacrifices of our freedom fighters, so never take it for granted. Happy Republic Day 2021! May you have joy to make you sweet, strife to make you strong, sadness to keep you human and hope to bring joy to our nation. Happy Republic Day! This Republic Day, let us pledge to keep our neighbourhood clean and tidy. This would, in turn, keep diseases at bay and make India prettier and healthier. Jai Hind This Republic Day, let us pledge to keep our neighbourhood clean and tidy. This would, in turn, keep diseases at bay and make India prettier and healthier. Jai Hind Republic day is not just about flaunting our patriotic zest or a one-day celebration. We shall understand the true meaning of Independence only if we acknowledge the selfless sacrifices of freedom fighters, the thankless services of our defence forces and the infinite contributions of our farmers. Ignite the undying spirit of nationalism within. Jai Hind.

Republic Day 2022: WhatsApp, Facebook messages to wear your patriotism on your sleeve

A 26-year-old Muslim woman in Pakistan was sentenced to death over a 'blasphemous' WhatsApp status which had&nbsp;caricatures of Prophet Mohammed. A court issued a summary that said that Aneeqa Ateeq (26) was arrested in May 2020. She was charged&nbsp;with posting 'blasphemous material' as&nbsp;her WhatsApp status.

Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in Muslim-majority Pakistan, and laws prohibitting it can carry a potential death sentence -- although it has never been enforced for the crime.

The court said that when a friend asked the woman to change the status, she instead forwarded the material to him. The woman was also handed a 20-year jail sentence.&nbsp;

Islam forbids caricatures of Prophet Mohammed.

Up to 80 people are known to be jailed in Pakistan on blasphemy charges -- half of whom face life in prison or the death penalty -- according to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

While many cases involve Muslims accusing fellow Muslims, rights activists have warned that religious minorities -- particularly Christians -- are often caught in the crossfire, with blasphemy charges used to settle personal scores.

In December, a Sri Lankan factory manager working in Pakistan was beaten to death and set ablaze by a mob after being accused of blasphemy.

(With inputs from agencies)

A 26-year-old Muslim woman in Pakistan was sentenced to death over a 'blasphemous' WhatsApp status which had caricatures of Prophet Mohammed. A court issued a summary that said that Aneeqa Ateeq (26) was arrested in May 2020.

A 26-year-old Muslim woman in Pakistan was sentenced to death over a 'blasphemous' WhatsApp status which had caricatures of Prophet Mohammed. A court issued a summary that said that Aneeqa Ateeq (26) was arrested in May 2020. She was charged with posting 'blasphemous material' as her WhatsApp status. Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in Muslim-majority Pakistan, and laws prohibitting it can carry a potential death sentence -- although it has never been enforced for the crime. The court said that when a friend asked the woman to change the status, she instead forwarded the material to him. The woman was also handed a 20-year jail sentence. Islam forbids caricatures of Prophet Mohammed. Up to 80 people are known to be jailed in Pakistan on blasphemy charges -- half of whom face life in prison or the death penalty -- according to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. While many cases involve Muslims accusing fellow Muslims, rights activists have warned that religious minorities -- particularly Christians -- are often caught in the crossfire, with blasphemy charges used to settle personal scores. In December, a Sri Lankan factory manager working in Pakistan was beaten to death and set ablaze by a mob after being accused of blasphemy. (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan: 26-year-old woman given death sentence over 'blasphemous' WhatsApp status

The United States is using platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to help the agencies spy on users in secret, Forbes reported citing newly-unsealed court documents show.

The United States is using platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to help the agencies spy on users in secret, Forbes reported citing newly-unsealed court documents show. As per the report, the US federal agencies have been using a 35-year-old American surveillance law in order to track users on WhatsApp. It was mentioned in the report that there was no explanation for why was it done. Also, it was reportedly done without knowing who they are targeting. ALSO READ | One in ten COVID-19 patients could be infectious even after 10 days The report talks about a recently-unsealed government surveillance application that revealed that in November 2021. As per the report, the DEA investigators demanded the Facebook-owned messaging company to track seven users based in China and Macau. The application revealed that the DEA has no idea about the identities of any of the targets. However, they asked WhatsApp to monitor the IP addresses and numbers. The Forbes report mentioned that such surveillance is done using a technology known as a "pen register" - under the 1986 Pen Register Act. ALSO READ | India’s main cities record sharp fall in Covid infections It is understood that the 'pen registers' are surveillance devices that capture the phone numbers dialled on outgoing telephone calls. It traps and traces devices to capture the numbers identifying incoming calls. They are not supposed to reveal the content of communications and as mentioned by the Forbed report, the application doesn't seek any message content. On the other hand, WhatsApp couldn’t provide content, as it is end-to-end encrypted. Spyware Recently, Poland's ruling party leader admitted that the country bought Israeli spyware but dismissed claims it was used against the opposition. Recent allegations about the use of Pegasus software have rocked Poland, drawing comparisons to the Watergate investigation that led to US president Richard Nixon's resignation in 1974. Pegasus can turn smartphones into pocket spying devices, allowing the user to read the target's messages, track their location, and even turn on their camera and microphone without their knowledge.

Did US government agencies ask WhatsApp to help agencies spy on users in secret?

What if a member of your WhatsApp group posts something controversial or inflammatory? Are you, (as admin) liable to face action? In this case, a lawyer himself (as WhatsApp group admin) seems to have landed in trouble over a controversial post in his group and had to approach a high court in India. &nbsp;

The petitioner is Rajendran, a lawyer based out of Karur, Tamil Nadu state in India. He is also the creator and administrator of a WhatsApp group known as 'Karur lawyers'. &nbsp;

Owing to a controversial post that was shared by a group member (that could create enmity between two communities), police took action and filed a case and also included the WhatsApp group admin. &nbsp;

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However, the group admin, who is also an advocate, approached the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court claiming that he removed the said person, (who made the inflammatory post) from the group and hence, the police shouldn't act against him (group admin). &nbsp;

Hearing the case, Justice GR Swaminathan observed that it was the responsibility of the group admin to regulate or monitor what the members post. However, the judge also added that it was not the duty of the admin to edit, audit or change the contents of what the group members post. &nbsp;&nbsp;

He also cited a Bombay High Court judgement, which stated that the admin could not be held responsible for a group member's (controversial or inflammatory) post. &nbsp;

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The judge also said that it would be too early to comment on this specific case, as the forensic report of the digital conversation was yet to be presented. &nbsp;

However, the judge opined that, if the petitioner (group admin) was ascertained to be just the admin (and not connected to the controversial post), his name could be left out of the police case. &nbsp;

The judge also warned that if there was enough evidence of the admin's involvement in the said controversial post, the group admin would also have to face the consequences.&nbsp;

What if a member of your WhatsApp group posts something controversial or inflammatory? Are you, (as admin) liable to face action? In this case, a lawyer himself (as WhatsApp group admin) seems to have landed in trouble over a controversial post in his group and had to approach a high court in India.

What if a member of your WhatsApp group posts something controversial or inflammatory? Are you, (as admin) liable to face action? In this case, a lawyer himself (as WhatsApp group admin) seems to have landed in trouble over a controversial post in his group and had to approach a high court in India. The petitioner is Rajendran, a lawyer based out of Karur, Tamil Nadu state in India. He is also the creator and administrator of a WhatsApp group known as 'Karur lawyers'. Owing to a controversial post that was shared by a group member (that could create enmity between two communities), police took action and filed a case and also included the WhatsApp group admin. Also Read: Central govt dispatches special team to 10 states with high active cases and low vaccination rate However, the group admin, who is also an advocate, approached the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court claiming that he removed the said person, (who made the inflammatory post) from the group and hence, the police shouldn't act against him (group admin). Hearing the case, Justice GR Swaminathan observed that it was the responsibility of the group admin to regulate or monitor what the members post. However, the judge also added that it was not the duty of the admin to edit, audit or change the contents of what the group members post. He also cited a Bombay High Court judgement, which stated that the admin could not be held responsible for a group member's (controversial or inflammatory) post. Also Read: Pilot killed in IAF's MiG-21 plane crash in India's Jaisalmer The judge also said that it would be too early to comment on this specific case, as the forensic report of the digital conversation was yet to be presented. However, the judge opined that, if the petitioner (group admin) was ascertained to be just the admin (and not connected to the controversial post), his name could be left out of the police case. The judge also warned that if there was enough evidence of the admin's involvement in the said controversial post, the group admin would also have to face the consequences.

WhatsApp group admin moves Indian HC over post by member; here's what court said

Ride-hailing company Uber has collaborated with Meta to book rides through WhatsApp in India.

The feature will initially be launched in Lucknow, the capital of India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh, and then expanded to other locations by next year.

According to Nandini Maheshwari, senior director of business development for Uber, "We want to make it as easy as possible for all Indians to take an Uber trip, and to do that we need to meet them on platforms they are comfortable with."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-govt-in-high-court-defends-it-rule-requiring-whatsapp-to-trace-originator-of-message-423152">Also read |&nbsp;Indian govt in high court defends IT rule requiring WhatsApp to trace originator of message</a>

WhatsApp's chat interface will be used by those looking for Uber ride where they will need to register to proceed further.

They can book a ride through either messaging to Uber's business account number, scanning a barcode, or clicking a link directly to open an Uber WhatsApp chat.

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Abhijit Bose, the head of WhatsApp India said, "The Uber experience on WhatsApp is simple, familiar, and relatable for users and has the potential to accelerate adoption of Uber with a new category of riders in India."

The first of its kind integration could help Uber tap into the more than 500 million user base of Meta Platforms-owned WhatsApp in India.

Uber has been operating in the Asian country for the past eight years and is now available in 70 cities. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Ride-hailing company Uber has collaborated with Meta to book rides through WhatsApp in India. The feature will initially be launched in Lucknow, the capital of India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh, and then expanded to other locations by next year.

Ride-hailing company Uber has collaborated with Meta to book rides through WhatsApp in India. The feature will initially be launched in Lucknow, the capital of India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh, and then expanded to other locations by next year. According to Nandini Maheshwari, senior director of business development for Uber, "We want to make it as easy as possible for all Indians to take an Uber trip, and to do that we need to meet them on platforms they are comfortable with." Also read | Indian govt in high court defends IT rule requiring WhatsApp to trace originator of message WhatsApp's chat interface will be used by those looking for Uber ride where they will need to register to proceed further. They can book a ride through either messaging to Uber's business account number, scanning a barcode, or clicking a link directly to open an Uber WhatsApp chat. Also read | Facebook, Instagram stop working yet again; Twitterati open bag of memes Abhijit Bose, the head of WhatsApp India said, "The Uber experience on WhatsApp is simple, familiar, and relatable for users and has the potential to accelerate adoption of Uber with a new category of riders in India." The first of its kind integration could help Uber tap into the more than 500 million user base of Meta Platforms-owned WhatsApp in India. Uber has been operating in the Asian country for the past eight years and is now available in 70 cities. (With inputs from agencies)

Uber collaborates with Meta to book rides through WhatsApp in India

A new scam called 'friend in need' is taking place on Facebook's messaging app WhatsApp.

In this scam, WhatsApp users are receiving messages from their friends saying they need their help.

According to the UK's National Trading Standards, 59 per cent people living in the country have received such scam messages.

Whatsapp has issued a warning saying, ''If you receive a suspicious message... calling or requesting a voice note is the fastest and simplest way to check someone is who they say they are. A friend in need is a friend worth calling.''

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An online campaign called 'Stop. Think. Call.' has been organised to inform people who could be potential victims about the scam.

''Scammers send messages that appear to come from a friend or family member asking for personal information, money or a six-digit pin number,'' said Louise Baxter, the head of the National Trading Standards.

“The messages are sent from the compromised accounts of your friends, so they look as if they’re coming from someone you know, or from an unknown number claiming to be a friend who has lost their phone or been ‘locked out’ of their account.

“These kinds of scams are particularly cruel as they prey on our kindness and desire to help friends and family.”

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In response, the app's policy manager Kathryn Harnett said ''WhatsApp protects our users’ personal messages with end-to-end encryption, but we want to remind people that we all have a role to play in keeping our accounts safe by remaining vigilant to the threat of scammers.''

''We advise all users never to share their six-digit pin code with others, not even friends or family, and recommend that all users set up two-step verification for added security.''

Facebook for the first time on Tuesday disclosed the prevalence of bullying and harassment on its platform, saying such content was seen between 14 and 15 times per every 10,000 views on the site in the third quarter.

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The company, which recently changed its name to Meta, also said in its quarterly content moderation report that bullying and harassment content was seen between 5 and 6 times per 10,000 views of content on Instagram.

The social media giant, long under scrutiny over its handling of abuses on its services, has been in the spotlight after a former employee and whistleblower Frances Haugen leaked internal documents that include research and discussions about Instagram's effects on the mental health of teens and on whether Facebook's platforms stoke divisions.

Haugen has said the documents show the company picked profits over user safety. Facebook disputed this characteriSation, saying the documents were being used to paint a "false picture."

The documents, which were first reported by the Wall Street Journal, have spurred calls for Facebook to be more transparent and have raised questions over whether metrics such as prevalence give the full picture of how the company handles abuses.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

A new scam called 'friend in need' is taking place on Facebook's messaging app WhatsApp. In this scam, WhatsApp users are receiving messages from their friends saying they need their help.

A new scam called 'friend in need' is taking place on Facebook's messaging app WhatsApp. In this scam, WhatsApp users are receiving messages from their friends saying they need their help. According to the UK's National Trading Standards, 59 per cent people living in the country have received such scam messages. Whatsapp has issued a warning saying, ''If you receive a suspicious message... calling or requesting a voice note is the fastest and simplest way to check someone is who they say they are. A friend in need is a friend worth calling.'' Also read | Apple loses bid to stall apps bypassing pay system in Epic Games case An online campaign called 'Stop. Think. Call.' has been organised to inform people who could be potential victims about the scam. ''Scammers send messages that appear to come from a friend or family member asking for personal information, money or a six-digit pin number,'' said Louise Baxter, the head of the National Trading Standards. “The messages are sent from the compromised accounts of your friends, so they look as if they’re coming from someone you know, or from an unknown number claiming to be a friend who has lost their phone or been ‘locked out’ of their account. “These kinds of scams are particularly cruel as they prey on our kindness and desire to help friends and family.” Also read | To build the metaverse, Meta first wants to build stores In response, the app's policy manager Kathryn Harnett said ''WhatsApp protects our users’ personal messages with end-to-end encryption, but we want to remind people that we all have a role to play in keeping our accounts safe by remaining vigilant to the threat of scammers.'' ''We advise all users never to share their six-digit pin code with others, not even friends or family, and recommend that all users set up two-step verification for added security.'' Facebook for the first time on Tuesday disclosed the prevalence of bullying and harassment on its platform, saying such content was seen between 14 and 15 times per every 10,000 views on the site in the third quarter. Also read | 'Requires lot of work': Microsoft President Brad Smith downplays metaverse 'hype' The company, which recently changed its name to Meta, also said in its quarterly content moderation report that bullying and harassment content was seen between 5 and 6 times per 10,000 views of content on Instagram. The social media giant, long under scrutiny over its handling of abuses on its services, has been in the spotlight after a former employee and whistleblower Frances Haugen leaked internal documents that include research and discussions about Instagram's effects on the mental health of teens and on whether Facebook's platforms stoke divisions. Haugen has said the documents show the company picked profits over user safety. Facebook disputed this characteriSation, saying the documents were being used to paint a "false picture." The documents, which were first reported by the Wall Street Journal, have spurred calls for Facebook to be more transparent and have raised questions over whether metrics such as prevalence give the full picture of how the company handles abuses. (With inputs from agencies)

What is 'friend in need' scam being faced by WhatsApp users?

The Indian government has defended in the Delhi High Court the legal validity of its new IT rule requiring messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, to trace&nbsp;the first originator of the information, saying that the law empowers it to expect such entities to create safe cyberspace and counter illegal content either themselves or by assisting the law enforcement agencies.

The government said that Section 87 of the Information Technology Act gave it the power to formulate Rule 4(2) of the Intermediary Rules -- which mandates a significant social media intermediary to enable the identification of the first originator of information in legitimate state interest&nbsp;of curbing the menace of fake news and offences concerning national security and public order as well as women and children.

In its affidavit filed in response to WhatsApp's challenge to the rule on the ground that breaking the encryption invades its users&nbsp;privacy, the Centre has claimed that platforms monetise users&nbsp;information for business/ commercial purposes are not legally entitled to claim that it protects privacy.

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Petitioners (WhatsApp and Facebook), being multi-billion dollar enterprises, almost singularly on the basis of mining, owning and storing the private data of natural persons across the world and thereafter monetizing the same, cannot claim any representative privacy right on behalf of the natural persons using the platform,&nbsp;said the affidavit filed by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

WhatsApp collects users&nbsp;personal information and shares it with Facebook and third-party entities for business/commercial purposes (WhatsApp's privacy policy of 2016 and its 2021 update). In fact, the regulators of various countries dearly hold that Facebook should be fixed with accountability for its services and data management practices,&nbsp;it added.

The government&nbsp;said reasons regarding 'technical difficulties cannot be an excuse to refuse compliance to the law of the land and if a platform does not have the means to trace the first originator&nbsp;without breaking the encryption then it is the platform which ought to develop such mechanism&nbsp;in larger public duty.

The Rule does not contemplate the platforms breaking the end-to-end encryption. The Rule only contemplates the platform to provide the details of the first originator by any means or mechanism available with the platform. If the platform does not have such means, the platform ought to develop such mechanism considering the platforms widespread prevalence and the larger public duty, the affidavit said.

The government said if the intermediary is not able to prevent or detect the criminal activities happening on its platform, then the problem lies in the platform's architecture and the platform must rectify their architecture and not expect the change of legislation. Reasons regarding 'technical difficulties' cannot be an excuse to refuse compliance to the law of the land.

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In August, a bench headed by Chief Justice DN Patel had sought the Centre's stand on WhatsApp petition challenging new rule on the ground it violates the right to privacy and is unconstitutional.

WhatsApp's parent company Facebook has also mounted a similar challenge to the rule.

In its plea, WhatsApp had said that the traceability requirement forced it break end-to-end encryption&nbsp;and thus infringe upon the fundamental rights to privacy and free speech of the hundreds of millions of citizens using its platform to communicate privately and securely.

The Centre, in its response, has said that the petition by WhatsApp is not maintainable as a challenge to the constitutionality of any Indian law is not maintainable at the instance of a foreign commercial entity. 
It further claimed that Rule 4(2) is an embodiment of competing rights of citizens of India&nbsp;and aims to preserve the rights of vulnerable citizens within the cyberspace who can be or are victims of cyber-crime.

The government said there are checks and balances to ensure that the rule is not misused or invoked in cases where other less intrusive means are effective in identifying the originator of the information. 
The identification of the first originator pertains only to viral content relating to heinous crimes, as specified in the rule, and not identifying all users or citizens, it said.

If the IT Rules 2021 are not implemented the law enforcement agencies will have difficulty in tracing the origin of fake messages and such messages will percolate in other platforms thereby disturbing peace and harmony in the society further leading to public order issues,&nbsp;the affidavit said.

The government has also said that in case of any legal proceeding having any message on the platform as evidence, WhatsApp would lose the defence of 'intermediary protection' but it does not mean that WhatsApp will be held guilty and its officials would be legally responsible.

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The courts can include WhatsApp as a respondent and consider 'Contributory Negligence' and 'Vicarious liability on WhatsApp and its executives' (under Section 85). Such liabilities will fructify only when such a case comes up and WhatsApp is named as an entity that it is sufficiently proved that it has contributed to the commission of the crime,&nbsp;it added.

The government also said that the Supreme Court itself had asked the Central government to take all the steps necessary to identify persons who create and circulate electronic information&nbsp;about certain offences such as sexual abuse.&nbsp;

The Indian government has defended in the Delhi High Court the legal validity of its new IT rule requiring messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, to trace the first originator of the information, saying that the law empowers it to expect such entities to create safe cyberspace and counter illegal content either themselves or by assisting the law enforcement agencies.

The Indian government has defended in the Delhi High Court the legal validity of its new IT rule requiring messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, to trace the first originator of the information, saying that the law empowers it to expect such entities to create safe cyberspace and counter illegal content either themselves or by assisting the law enforcement agencies. The government said that Section 87 of the Information Technology Act gave it the power to formulate Rule 4(2) of the Intermediary Rules -- which mandates a significant social media intermediary to enable the identification of the first originator of information in legitimate state interest of curbing the menace of fake news and offences concerning national security and public order as well as women and children. In its affidavit filed in response to WhatsApp's challenge to the rule on the ground that breaking the encryption invades its users privacy, the Centre has claimed that platforms monetise users information for business/ commercial purposes are not legally entitled to claim that it protects privacy. Also Read | Facebook to pay French publishers for news content Petitioners (WhatsApp and Facebook), being multi-billion dollar enterprises, almost singularly on the basis of mining, owning and storing the private data of natural persons across the world and thereafter monetizing the same, cannot claim any representative privacy right on behalf of the natural persons using the platform, said the affidavit filed by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. WhatsApp collects users personal information and shares it with Facebook and third-party entities for business/commercial purposes (WhatsApp's privacy policy of 2016 and its 2021 update). In fact, the regulators of various countries dearly hold that Facebook should be fixed with accountability for its services and data management practices, it added. The government said reasons regarding 'technical difficulties cannot be an excuse to refuse compliance to the law of the land and if a platform does not have the means to trace the first originator without breaking the encryption then it is the platform which ought to develop such mechanism in larger public duty. The Rule does not contemplate the platforms breaking the end-to-end encryption. The Rule only contemplates the platform to provide the details of the first originator by any means or mechanism available with the platform. If the platform does not have such means, the platform ought to develop such mechanism considering the platforms widespread prevalence and the larger public duty, the affidavit said. The government said if the intermediary is not able to prevent or detect the criminal activities happening on its platform, then the problem lies in the platform's architecture and the platform must rectify their architecture and not expect the change of legislation. Reasons regarding 'technical difficulties' cannot be an excuse to refuse compliance to the law of the land. Also read | Facebook planning to change its name, announcement likely in a week: Report In August, a bench headed by Chief Justice DN Patel had sought the Centre's stand on WhatsApp petition challenging new rule on the ground it violates the right to privacy and is unconstitutional. WhatsApp's parent company Facebook has also mounted a similar challenge to the rule. In its plea, WhatsApp had said that the traceability requirement forced it break end-to-end encryption and thus infringe upon the fundamental rights to privacy and free speech of the hundreds of millions of citizens using its platform to communicate privately and securely. The Centre, in its response, has said that the petition by WhatsApp is not maintainable as a challenge to the constitutionality of any Indian law is not maintainable at the instance of a foreign commercial entity. It further claimed that Rule 4(2) is an embodiment of competing rights of citizens of India and aims to preserve the rights of vulnerable citizens within the cyberspace who can be or are victims of cyber-crime. The government said there are checks and balances to ensure that the rule is not misused or invoked in cases where other less intrusive means are effective in identifying the originator of the information. The identification of the first originator pertains only to viral content relating to heinous crimes, as specified in the rule, and not identifying all users or citizens, it said. If the IT Rules 2021 are not implemented the law enforcement agencies will have difficulty in tracing the origin of fake messages and such messages will percolate in other platforms thereby disturbing peace and harmony in the society further leading to public order issues, the affidavit said. The government has also said that in case of any legal proceeding having any message on the platform as evidence, WhatsApp would lose the defence of 'intermediary protection' but it does not mean that WhatsApp will be held guilty and its officials would be legally responsible. Also Read | WhatsApp adds Indian Rupee symbol to chat box for digital payments The courts can include WhatsApp as a respondent and consider 'Contributory Negligence' and 'Vicarious liability on WhatsApp and its executives' (under Section 85). Such liabilities will fructify only when such a case comes up and WhatsApp is named as an entity that it is sufficiently proved that it has contributed to the commission of the crime, it added. The government also said that the Supreme Court itself had asked the Central government to take all the steps necessary to identify persons who create and circulate electronic information about certain offences such as sexual abuse.

Indian govt in high court defends IT rule requiring WhatsApp to trace originator of message

Facebook is planning to rebrand itself with a new name next week to reflect its focus on building the metaverse, according to a report by the Verge,&nbsp;which has cited&nbsp;a source with direct knowledge of the matter.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg plans to talk about the name change at the company’s annual Connect conference on October 28, but it could be unveiled sooner.

According to the report, the name change is meant to signal the tech giant’s ambition to be known for more than social media and all the ills that entail.

The rebrand would likely position the blue Facebook app as one of many products under a parent company overseeing groups like Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus, and more.

Facebook already has more than 10,000 employees building consumer hardware like AR glasses that Zuckerberg believes will eventually be as ubiquitous as smartphones.

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Zuckerberg, who co-founded the social network in 2004, has said that the key to Facebook’s future lies with the metaverse concept —the idea that users will live, work and exercise inside a virtual universe. The company’s Oculus virtual reality headsets and service are an instrumental part of realizing that vision.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/facebook-no-longer-among-glassdoors-top-10-workplaces-267599">Facebook no longer among Glassdoor's top 10 workplaces</a>

“In the coming years, I expect people will transition from seeing us primarily as a social media company to seeing us as a metaverse company," Zuckerberg said in July. “In many ways the metaverse is the ultimate expression of social technology.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/facebook-set-to-label-all-covid-related-posts-to-battle-misinformation-370595">Facebook set to label all COVID-related posts to battle misinformation</a>

Facebook also said in July it was creating a product team to work on the metaverse which would be part of &nbsp;its augmented reality and virtual reality group. "This investment (in new jobs) is a vote of confidence in the strength of the European tech industry and the potential of Facebook Reality Labs, its augmented reality and virtual reality group.”

The term “metaverse” was famously coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 novel Snow Crash, where it referred to a 3D virtual world inhabited by avatars of real people.

Lots of other science fiction media includes metaverse-like systems (some of them predating&nbsp;Snow Crash). But Stephenson’s book remains one of the most common reference points for metaverse enthusiasts, along with Ernest Cline’s 2011 novel&nbsp;Ready Player One.

There’s no universally accepted definition of a real “metaverse,” except maybe that it’s a fancier successor to the internet. Different tech giants have different interpretation to metaverse.

Facebook describes the ‘metaverse’ as “a set of virtual spaces where you can create and explore with other people who aren’t in the same physical space as you.”

(With inputs from agencies)

Facebook is planning to rebrand itself with a new name next week to reflect its focus on building the metaverse, according to a report by the Verge, which has cited a source with direct knowledge of the matter.

Facebook is planning to rebrand itself with a new name next week to reflect its focus on building the metaverse, according to a report by the Verge, which has cited a source with direct knowledge of the matter. CEO Mark Zuckerberg plans to talk about the name change at the company’s annual Connect conference on October 28, but it could be unveiled sooner. According to the report, the name change is meant to signal the tech giant’s ambition to be known for more than social media and all the ills that entail. The rebrand would likely position the blue Facebook app as one of many products under a parent company overseeing groups like Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus, and more. Facebook already has more than 10,000 employees building consumer hardware like AR glasses that Zuckerberg believes will eventually be as ubiquitous as smartphones. Also read | Facebook's topic suggestion labels Black men's videos as 'primates' Zuckerberg, who co-founded the social network in 2004, has said that the key to Facebook’s future lies with the metaverse concept —the idea that users will live, work and exercise inside a virtual universe. The company’s Oculus virtual reality headsets and service are an instrumental part of realizing that vision. Also read | Facebook no longer among Glassdoor's top 10 workplaces “In the coming years, I expect people will transition from seeing us primarily as a social media company to seeing us as a metaverse company," Zuckerberg said in July. “In many ways the metaverse is the ultimate expression of social technology. Also read | Facebook set to label all COVID-related posts to battle misinformation Facebook also said in July it was creating a product team to work on the metaverse which would be part of its augmented reality and virtual reality group. "This investment (in new jobs) is a vote of confidence in the strength of the European tech industry and the potential of Facebook Reality Labs, its augmented reality and virtual reality group.” The term “metaverse” was famously coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 novel Snow Crash, where it referred to a 3D virtual world inhabited by avatars of real people. Lots of other science fiction media includes metaverse-like systems (some of them predating Snow Crash). But Stephenson’s book remains one of the most common reference points for metaverse enthusiasts, along with Ernest Cline’s 2011 novel Ready Player One. There’s no universally accepted definition of a real “metaverse,” except maybe that it’s a fancier successor to the internet. Different tech giants have different interpretation to metaverse. Facebook describes the ‘metaverse’ as “a set of virtual spaces where you can create and explore with other people who aren’t in the same physical space as you.” (With inputs from agencies)

Facebook planning to change its name, announcement likely in a week: Report

Learning from your mistakes is an important part of growth, but what happens when you repeat same mistake twice in a short period of time? You get trolled on the internet. Facebook learnt it the hard way.<o:p></o:p>

In less than four days after the mega global outage of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, the social media platform went offline once again.<o:p></o:p>

Several users of Facebook and Instagram started complaining about not being able to access the social media platforms yet again. First, the problem was reported for Facebook and Instagram, and then users started reporting delay in page loading etc even in the messaging platforms WhatsApp and Messenger.

<o:p></o:p>

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We’re aware that some people are having trouble accessing our apps and products. We’re working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible and we apologize for any inconvenience.
— Facebook (@Facebook) <a href="https://twitter.com/Facebook/status/1446556732977778695?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"Sincere apologies to anyone who wasn’t able to access our products in the last couple of hours," a Facebook spokesperson told AFP about 21:30 GMT. "We fixed the issue, and everything should be back to normal now."<o:p></o:p>

Facebook claimed that the problem occurred due to a configuration change in its computing platform, which resulted in slower network for several users across the globe.<o:p></o:p>

Earlier, on Monday, Facebook and all its owned social media platforms such Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp had stopped working for hundreds of millions of people around the world for nearly six hours.<o:p></o:p>

Santosh Janardhan, Facebook's vice president of infrastructure, had later apologised to users and explained that the outage was caused by “configuration changes”.<o:p></o:p>

This time, much like the last time, Twitter burst into memes and jokes when Facebook went partially offline once again.

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When Instagram and Facebook are down again 🙃 <a href="https://t.co/0r90S4ShqO">pic.twitter.com/0r90S4ShqO</a>
— B/R Football (@brfootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/brfootball/status/1446560406537965599?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Facebook and Instagram is down again? <a href="https://t.co/Lcr6F3WQ8w">pic.twitter.com/Lcr6F3WQ8w</a>
— Reel James (@itsreeljames) <a href="https://twitter.com/itsreeljames/status/1446662795576160256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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They both are never disappointed me🙂<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/instadown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#instadown</a> <a href="https://t.co/GaMFXcH8gu">pic.twitter.com/GaMFXcH8gu</a>
— Roshni Dewangan (@RoshniDewangan6) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoshniDewangan6/status/1446555078396051456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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People coming to Twitter again to check whether insta is down again <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/instagram?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#instagram</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/instadown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#instadown</a> <a href="https://t.co/d9U75ETwqp">pic.twitter.com/d9U75ETwqp</a>
— Khizer (@khiz_7) <a href="https://twitter.com/khiz_7/status/1446549311697915919?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/instadown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#instadown</a> 
 
Instagram Instagram 
Normally this october <a href="https://t.co/3VGpqDpu6Z">pic.twitter.com/3VGpqDpu6Z</a>
— Shibhhuu (@shibhhuu) <a href="https://twitter.com/shibhhuu/status/1446555291324084224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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NOT AGAIN... Instagram is DOWN?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/instadown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#instadown</a> <a href="https://t.co/ssJkx3ZXXO">pic.twitter.com/ssJkx3ZXXO</a>
— Moses Nyagota (@moses_nyagota) <a href="https://twitter.com/moses_nyagota/status/1446558766879674373?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Situation right now when <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/instadown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#instadown</a> 
 
Instagram Twitter <a href="https://t.co/qTT52Ojaar">pic.twitter.com/qTT52Ojaar</a>
— Sakuta🌸 (@Sakutax2) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sakutax2/status/1446557483875635216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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twitter users while instagram goes down <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/instadown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#instadown</a> <a href="https://t.co/oaxHcQvpFL">pic.twitter.com/oaxHcQvpFL</a>
— ً (@raiderstroII) <a href="https://twitter.com/raiderstroII/status/1446553360736276481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Everyone coming to Twitter to confirm that Instagram is down <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/instadown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#instadown</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/instagramdown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#instagramdown</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/instagramdownagain?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#instagramdownagain</a> <a href="https://t.co/q2yEt1D6lr">pic.twitter.com/q2yEt1D6lr</a>
— cesar (@jebaiting) <a href="https://twitter.com/jebaiting/status/1446555076080783363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

<o:p></o:p>

Learning from your mistakes is an important part of growth, but what happens when you repeat same mistake twice in a short period of time? You get trolled on the internet.

Learning from your mistakes is an important part of growth, but what happens when you repeat same mistake twice in a short period of time? You get trolled on the internet. Facebook learnt it the hard way. In less than four days after the mega global outage of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, the social media platform went offline once again. Several users of Facebook and Instagram started complaining about not being able to access the social media platforms yet again. First, the problem was reported for Facebook and Instagram, and then users started reporting delay in page loading etc even in the messaging platforms WhatsApp and Messenger. We’re aware that some people are having trouble accessing our apps and products. We’re working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible and we apologize for any inconvenience. — Facebook (@Facebook) October 8, 2021 × "Sincere apologies to anyone who wasn’t able to access our products in the last couple of hours," a Facebook spokesperson told AFP about 21:30 GMT. "We fixed the issue, and everything should be back to normal now." Facebook claimed that the problem occurred due to a configuration change in its computing platform, which resulted in slower network for several users across the globe. Earlier, on Monday, Facebook and all its owned social media platforms such Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp had stopped working for hundreds of millions of people around the world for nearly six hours. Santosh Janardhan, Facebook's vice president of infrastructure, had later apologised to users and explained that the outage was caused by “configuration changes”. This time, much like the last time, Twitter burst into memes and jokes when Facebook went partially offline once again. When Instagram and Facebook are down again 🙃 pic.twitter.com/0r90S4ShqO — B/R Football (@brfootball) October 8, 2021 × Facebook and Instagram is down again? pic.twitter.com/Lcr6F3WQ8w — Reel James (@itsreeljames) October 9, 2021 × They both are never disappointed me🙂#instadown pic.twitter.com/GaMFXcH8gu — Roshni Dewangan (@RoshniDewangan6) October 8, 2021 × People coming to Twitter again to check whether insta is down again #instagram #instadown pic.twitter.com/d9U75ETwqp — Khizer (@khiz_7) October 8, 2021 × #instadown Instagram Instagram Normally this october pic.twitter.com/3VGpqDpu6Z — Shibhhuu (@shibhhuu) October 8, 2021 × NOT AGAIN... Instagram is DOWN?#instadown pic.twitter.com/ssJkx3ZXXO — Moses Nyagota (@moses_nyagota) October 8, 2021 × Situation right now when #instadown Instagram Twitter pic.twitter.com/qTT52Ojaar — Sakuta🌸 (@Sakutax2) October 8, 2021 × twitter users while instagram goes down #instadown pic.twitter.com/oaxHcQvpFL — ً (@raiderstroII) October 8, 2021 × Everyone coming to Twitter to confirm that Instagram is down #instadown #instagramdown #instagramdownagain pic.twitter.com/q2yEt1D6lr — cesar (@jebaiting) October 8, 2021 ×

Facebook, Instagram stop working yet again; Twitterati open bag of memes

With WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram down at the start of this week, people were left with a lot of free time on their hands.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A&nbsp;lot of us were left wondering what to do. While many flooded Twitter, quite a few people resorted to another popular website.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/mark-zuckerberg-loses-7-billion-in-hours-as-facebook-plunges-418427">Mark Zuckerberg loses $7 billion in hours as Facebook plunges</a>

Popular X-rated website, Pornhub has revealed that their traffic surged by as much as 10.5 per cent, which equates to about half a million extra users per hour during the hours that the Facebook servers were down.

Since the website came out with this information, Twitter has seen quite a few hilarious tweets. Since most of them are NSFW, we can't add them here. But, we do have some hilarious and&nbsp;SFW for you:

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How does it compare to any other Monday? Those % changes seem to be hour to hour, how does 1200 oct 4th compare to 1200 Sep 27th?<a href="https://twitter.com/Pornhub?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pornhub</a> inquiring minds want to know.
— Jake (@JakesMath) <a href="https://twitter.com/JakesMath/status/1446434631327404076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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They were just accessing Pornhub for the articles.
— jimmywahaa (@jimmywahaa) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimmywahaa/status/1446361859678883843?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/why-did-facebook-instagram-and-whatsapp-shut-down-418476">Why did Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp shut down?</a>

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But is Pornhub down? Asking for a friend obviously.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/outage?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#outage</a>
— Simon Rees (@simonreeswales) <a href="https://twitter.com/simonreeswales/status/1445138541139345408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
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the world only survived the FB/Insta/WhatsApp outage yesterday because 
 
twitter and pornhub we're still up :-)
— SaaS Trash 🔥 (@saastrash) <a href="https://twitter.com/saastrash/status/1445448720976211971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
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If pornhub and onlyfans had an outage this would be many users <a href="https://t.co/pC6MwfUcEj">pic.twitter.com/pC6MwfUcEj</a>
— MAD (@Mark_anthonyd) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mark_anthonyd/status/1445152183209562119?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Dear <a href="https://twitter.com/Pornhub?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pornhub</a> I hope you learned from FB mistake and that you will never, never, never experience such an outage. 
Sincirelly thankful for your work
— Bigger Better Wolf 🌈 (@MojoTheGray) <a href="https://twitter.com/MojoTheGray/status/1445375131057065989?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
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I completed <a href="https://twitter.com/Pornhub?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pornhub</a> during the outage!!
— Stanley (@Stanley69450533) <a href="https://twitter.com/Stanley69450533/status/1445159331536715779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&gt;internet died 
 
The world: arright time to crank one <a href="https://t.co/uAuqeLirGX">https://t.co/uAuqeLirGX</a>
— CBM (@Cubanoman) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubanoman/status/1446193772769988613?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Hundreds of millions of people were unable to access&nbsp;Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp for more than six hours on Monday, underscoring the world's reliance on platforms owned by the Silicon Valley giant.&nbsp;

Facebook said that the major outage of its main social media app along with WhatsApp and Instagram was caused due to&nbsp;configuration changes it made to routers that coordinate network traffic between its data centers.

This prevented the company`s 3.5 billion users from accessing its social media and messaging services.

With WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram down at the start of this week, people were left with a lot of free time on their hands. A lot of us were left wondering what to do.

With WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram down at the start of this week, people were left with a lot of free time on their hands. A lot of us were left wondering what to do. While many flooded Twitter, quite a few people resorted to another popular website. Also read | Mark Zuckerberg loses $7 billion in hours as Facebook plunges Popular X-rated website, Pornhub has revealed that their traffic surged by as much as 10.5 per cent, which equates to about half a million extra users per hour during the hours that the Facebook servers were down. Since the website came out with this information, Twitter has seen quite a few hilarious tweets. Since most of them are NSFW, we can't add them here. But, we do have some hilarious and SFW for you: How does it compare to any other Monday? Those % changes seem to be hour to hour, how does 1200 oct 4th compare to 1200 Sep 27th?@Pornhub inquiring minds want to know. — Jake (@JakesMath) October 8, 2021 × They were just accessing Pornhub for the articles. — jimmywahaa (@jimmywahaa) October 8, 2021 × Also read | Why did Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp shut down? But is Pornhub down? Asking for a friend obviously.#outage — Simon Rees (@simonreeswales) October 4, 2021 × the world only survived the FB/Insta/WhatsApp outage yesterday because twitter and pornhub we're still up :-) — SaaS Trash 🔥 (@saastrash) October 5, 2021 × If pornhub and onlyfans had an outage this would be many users pic.twitter.com/pC6MwfUcEj — MAD (@Mark_anthonyd) October 4, 2021 × Dear @Pornhub I hope you learned from FB mistake and that you will never, never, never experience such an outage. Sincirelly thankful for your work — Bigger Better Wolf 🌈 (@MojoTheGray) October 5, 2021 × I completed @Pornhub during the outage!! — Stanley (@Stanley69450533) October 4, 2021 × >internet died The world: arright time to crank one https://t.co/uAuqeLirGX — CBM (@Cubanoman) October 7, 2021 × Hundreds of millions of people were unable to access Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp for more than six hours on Monday, underscoring the world's reliance on platforms owned by the Silicon Valley giant. Facebook said that the major outage of its main social media app along with WhatsApp and Instagram was caused due to configuration changes it made to routers that coordinate network traffic between its data centers. This prevented the company`s 3.5 billion users from accessing its social media and messaging services.

'Here for the articles': Pornhub goes up as Facebook servers were down

When Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp got hit by a global outage, the competitive social media platforms buckled up and welcomed all the new and revived users.<o:p></o:p>

In this technologically advanced world, competition is one of the biggest motivators for a company to do better. However, this competitive market can also bring in huge losses for companies.<o:p></o:p>

One such incident happened when the global outage of Facebook Inc. took place. Telegram, an instant messaging service like WhatsApp, gained nearly 70 million new users on Monday when the social media platforms of Facebook group.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/deeply-illogical-zuckerberg-hits-out-at-facebook-whistleblower-418514">'Deeply illogical': Zuckerberg hits out at Facebook whistleblower</a></o:p>

"The daily growth rate of Telegram exceeded the norm by an order of magnitude, and we welcomed over 70 million refugees from other platforms in one day," Telegram founder Pavel Durov wrote on his Telegram channel. <o:p></o:p>

He also thanked his team for pulling up extra weight during this increased work load, and apologised to existing users for any possible delays in the platforms. "I am proud of how our team handled the unprecedented growth because Telegram continued to work flawlessly for the vast majority of our users. That said, some users in the Americas may have experienced slower speed than usual as millions of users from these continents rushed to sign up for Telegram at the same time."<o:p></o:p>

This growth in the new users took place as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp failed to load and the platforms kept crashing for all users.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/error-during-routine-maintenance-of-data-centers-facebook-418552">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/error-during-routine-maintenance-of-data-centers-facebook-418552/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The global outage continued for nearly six hours and no explanation was provided by the platforms until later. These platforms, however, simply tweeted out apologies for the disruption of services. "We apologize to all those affected, and we're working to understand more about what happened today so we can continue to make our infrastructure more resilient," Facebook Vice President Infrastructure Santosh Janardhan said in a statement on Monday.<o:p></o:p>

However, the company has also assured that there has been no compromise in the user database privacy. The company said there is "no evidence that user data was compromised as a result of this downtime."<o:p></o:p>

When Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp got hit by a global outage, the competitive social media platforms buckled up and welcomed all the new and revived users. In this technologically advanced world, competition is one of the biggest motivators for a company to do better.

When Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp got hit by a global outage, the competitive social media platforms buckled up and welcomed all the new and revived users. In this technologically advanced world, competition is one of the biggest motivators for a company to do better. However, this competitive market can also bring in huge losses for companies. One such incident happened when the global outage of Facebook Inc. took place. Telegram, an instant messaging service like WhatsApp, gained nearly 70 million new users on Monday when the social media platforms of Facebook group. Also read | 'Deeply illogical': Zuckerberg hits out at Facebook whistleblower "The daily growth rate of Telegram exceeded the norm by an order of magnitude, and we welcomed over 70 million refugees from other platforms in one day," Telegram founder Pavel Durov wrote on his Telegram channel. He also thanked his team for pulling up extra weight during this increased work load, and apologised to existing users for any possible delays in the platforms. "I am proud of how our team handled the unprecedented growth because Telegram continued to work flawlessly for the vast majority of our users. That said, some users in the Americas may have experienced slower speed than usual as millions of users from these continents rushed to sign up for Telegram at the same time." This growth in the new users took place as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp failed to load and the platforms kept crashing for all users. WATCH | The global outage continued for nearly six hours and no explanation was provided by the platforms until later. These platforms, however, simply tweeted out apologies for the disruption of services. "We apologize to all those affected, and we're working to understand more about what happened today so we can continue to make our infrastructure more resilient," Facebook Vice President Infrastructure Santosh Janardhan said in a statement on Monday. However, the company has also assured that there has been no compromise in the user database privacy. The company said there is "no evidence that user data was compromised as a result of this downtime."

Telegram gains 70 million new users as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram crash

Facebook said on Tuesday (Indian time) that the major outage of its main social media app along with WhatsApp and Instagram was caused due to&nbsp;configuration changes it made to routers that coordinate network traffic between its data centers.

Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp started working again late on Monday after an outage that lasted nearly six-hours. This prevented the company`s 3.5 billion users from accessing its social media and messaging services.

Facebook apologized but did not immediately explain what caused the failure, the largest ever tracked by web monitoring group Downdetector. Facebook claimed that there was no evidence that user data was compromised.

The outage was a second blow to social media giant Facebook after a whistleblower on Sunday alleged that Facebook had repeatedly prioritise profit over clamping down on hate speech and misinformation.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/facebook-instagram-whatsapp-services-down-for-users-418225">Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp services down for users</a>

As the world flocked to competing apps such as Twitter and TikTok, shares of Facebook fell 4.9%, their biggest daily drop since last November, amid a broader selloff in technology stocks on Monday. Shares rose about half a percent in after-hours trade following resumption of service.

"To every small and large business, family, and individual who depends on us, I`m sorry," Facebook Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer tweeted, adding that it "may take some time to get to 100%."

Several Facebook employees who declined to be named said that they believed that the outage was caused by an internal mistake in how internet traffic is routed to its systems. The failures of internal communication tools and other resources that depend on that same network in order to work compounded the error, the employees said.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hate-speech-for-profit-facebook-whistleblower-reveals-identity-418061">Hate speech for profit: Facebook whistleblower reveals identity</a>

Security experts said an inadvertent mistake or sabotage by an insider were both plausible.

"Facebook basically locked its keys in its car," tweeted Jonathan Zittrain, director of Harvard`s Berkman Klein Center for Internet &amp; Society.

Twitter on Monday reported higher-than-normal usage, which led to some issues in people accessing posts and direct messages.

In one of the day`s most popular tweets, video streaming company Netflix shared a meme from its new hit show "Squid Game" captioned "When Instagram &amp; Facebook are down," that showed a person labeled "Twitter" holding up a character on the verge of falling labeled "everyone."

(With inputs from agencies)

Facebook said on Tuesday (Indian time) that the major outage of its main social media app along with WhatsApp and Instagram was caused due to configuration changes it made to routers that coordinate network traffic between its data centers.

Facebook said on Tuesday (Indian time) that the major outage of its main social media app along with WhatsApp and Instagram was caused due to configuration changes it made to routers that coordinate network traffic between its data centers. Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp started working again late on Monday after an outage that lasted nearly six-hours. This prevented the company`s 3.5 billion users from accessing its social media and messaging services. Facebook apologized but did not immediately explain what caused the failure, the largest ever tracked by web monitoring group Downdetector. Facebook claimed that there was no evidence that user data was compromised. The outage was a second blow to social media giant Facebook after a whistleblower on Sunday alleged that Facebook had repeatedly prioritise profit over clamping down on hate speech and misinformation. Also Read | Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp services down for users As the world flocked to competing apps such as Twitter and TikTok, shares of Facebook fell 4.9%, their biggest daily drop since last November, amid a broader selloff in technology stocks on Monday. Shares rose about half a percent in after-hours trade following resumption of service. "To every small and large business, family, and individual who depends on us, I`m sorry," Facebook Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer tweeted, adding that it "may take some time to get to 100%." Several Facebook employees who declined to be named said that they believed that the outage was caused by an internal mistake in how internet traffic is routed to its systems. The failures of internal communication tools and other resources that depend on that same network in order to work compounded the error, the employees said. Also Read | Hate speech for profit: Facebook whistleblower reveals identity Security experts said an inadvertent mistake or sabotage by an insider were both plausible. "Facebook basically locked its keys in its car," tweeted Jonathan Zittrain, director of Harvard`s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. Twitter on Monday reported higher-than-normal usage, which led to some issues in people accessing posts and direct messages. In one of the day`s most popular tweets, video streaming company Netflix shared a meme from its new hit show "Squid Game" captioned "When Instagram & Facebook are down," that showed a person labeled "Twitter" holding up a character on the verge of falling labeled "everyone." (With inputs from agencies)

Router was bad, says Facebook after FB, Instagram, WhatsApp go down

Hundreds of millions of people were unable to access&nbsp;Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp for more than six hours on Monday, underscoring the world's reliance on platforms owned by the Silicon Valley giant.&nbsp;

But what actually caused the outage? &nbsp;

What does&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;say happened?

In an apologetic blog post, Santosh Janardhan,&nbsp;Facebook's vice president of infrastructure, said that "configuration changes on the backbone routers that coordinate network traffic between our data centres caused issues that interrupted this communication".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/mark-zuckerberg-loses-7-billion-in-hours-as-facebook-plunges-418427">Mark Zuckerberg loses $7 billion in hours as Facebook plunges</a>

Can you explain that in plain English?&nbsp;

Cyber experts think the problem boils down to something called BGP, or Border Gateway Protocol -- the system the internet uses to pick the quickest route to move packets of information around.&nbsp;

Sami Slim of data centre company Telehouse compared BGP to "the internet equivalent of air traffic control".&nbsp;

In the same way that air traffic controllers sometimes make changes to flight schedules, "Facebook&nbsp;did an update of these routes," Slim said.&nbsp;

But this update contained a crucial error.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/facebook-instagram-whatsapp-services-down-for-users-418225">Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp services down for users</a>

It's not yet clear how or why, but&nbsp;Facebook's routers essentially sent a message to the internet announcing that the company's servers no longer existed.&nbsp;

Why did it take so long to fix the problem?

Experts say&nbsp;Facebook's technical infrastructure is unusually reliant on its own systems -- and that proved disastrous on Monday.&nbsp;

After&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;sent the fateful routing update, its engineers got locked out of the system that would allow them to communicate that the update had, in fact, been an error.&nbsp;So they couldn't fix the problem.&nbsp;

"Normally it's good not to put all your eggs in one basket," said Pierre Bonis of AFNIC, the association that manages domain names in France.&nbsp;

"For security reasons,&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;has had to very strongly concentrate its infrastructure," he said.&nbsp;

"That streamlines things on a daily basis -- but because everything is in the same place, when that place has a problem, nothing works."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/router-was-bad-says-facebook-after-fb-instagram-whatsapp-go-down-418265">Router was bad, says Facebook after FB, Instagram, WhatsApp go down</a>

The knock-on effects of the shutdown included some&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;employees being unable to even enter their buildings because their security badges no longer worked, further slowing the response.&nbsp;

Is this unprecedented?

Social media outages are not uncommon: Instagram alone has experienced more than 80 in the past year in the United States, according to website builder ToolTester.&nbsp;

This week's&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;outage was rare in its length and scale, however.&nbsp;

There is also a precedent for BGP meddling being at the root of a social media shutdown.

In 2008, when a Pakistani internet service provider was attempting to block YouTube for domestic users, it inadvertently shut down the global website for several hours.&nbsp;

And the outage's impact?&nbsp;

Between&nbsp;Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;Messenger, "billions of users have been impacted by the services being entirely offline", the Downdetector tracking service said.

Facebook, whose shares fell nearly five per cent over the outage, has stressed there is "no evidence that user data was compromised as a result of this downtime".

Watch |&nbsp;Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp restored after hours-long outage

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/facebook-instagram-and-whatsapp-restored-after-hours-long-outage-418270/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

But even though it lasted just a few hours, the impact of the shutdown ran deep.&nbsp;

Facebook's services are crucial for many businesses around the world, and users complained of being cut off from their livelihoods.&nbsp;

Facebook&nbsp;accounts are also commonly used to log in to other websites, which faced additional problems due to the company's technical meltdown.&nbsp;

Rival instant messaging services meanwhile reported that they had benefited from the fact that WhatsApp and&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;Messenger were down.&nbsp;

Telegram went from the 56th most downloaded free app in the US to the fifth, according to monitoring firm SensorTower, while Signal tweeted that "millions" of new users had joined.

And among the more curious side-effects, several domain name registration companies listed&nbsp;Facebook.com as available for purchase.&nbsp;

"There was never any reason to believe&nbsp;Facebook.com would actually be sold as a result, but it's fun to consider how many billions of dollars it could fetch on the open market," said cyber security expert Brian Krebs.

Hundreds of millions of people were unable to access Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp for more than six hours on Monday, underscoring the world's reliance on platforms owned by the Silicon Valley giant.

Hundreds of millions of people were unable to access Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp for more than six hours on Monday, underscoring the world's reliance on platforms owned by the Silicon Valley giant. But what actually caused the outage? What does Facebook say happened? In an apologetic blog post, Santosh Janardhan, Facebook's vice president of infrastructure, said that "configuration changes on the backbone routers that coordinate network traffic between our data centres caused issues that interrupted this communication". Also read | Mark Zuckerberg loses $7 billion in hours as Facebook plunges Can you explain that in plain English? Cyber experts think the problem boils down to something called BGP, or Border Gateway Protocol -- the system the internet uses to pick the quickest route to move packets of information around. Sami Slim of data centre company Telehouse compared BGP to "the internet equivalent of air traffic control". In the same way that air traffic controllers sometimes make changes to flight schedules, "Facebook did an update of these routes," Slim said. But this update contained a crucial error. Also read | Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp services down for users It's not yet clear how or why, but Facebook's routers essentially sent a message to the internet announcing that the company's servers no longer existed. Why did it take so long to fix the problem? Experts say Facebook's technical infrastructure is unusually reliant on its own systems -- and that proved disastrous on Monday. After Facebook sent the fateful routing update, its engineers got locked out of the system that would allow them to communicate that the update had, in fact, been an error. So they couldn't fix the problem. "Normally it's good not to put all your eggs in one basket," said Pierre Bonis of AFNIC, the association that manages domain names in France. "For security reasons, Facebook has had to very strongly concentrate its infrastructure," he said. "That streamlines things on a daily basis -- but because everything is in the same place, when that place has a problem, nothing works." Also read | Router was bad, says Facebook after FB, Instagram, WhatsApp go down The knock-on effects of the shutdown included some Facebook employees being unable to even enter their buildings because their security badges no longer worked, further slowing the response. Is this unprecedented? Social media outages are not uncommon: Instagram alone has experienced more than 80 in the past year in the United States, according to website builder ToolTester. This week's Facebook outage was rare in its length and scale, however. There is also a precedent for BGP meddling being at the root of a social media shutdown. In 2008, when a Pakistani internet service provider was attempting to block YouTube for domestic users, it inadvertently shut down the global website for several hours. And the outage's impact? Between Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, "billions of users have been impacted by the services being entirely offline", the Downdetector tracking service said. Facebook, whose shares fell nearly five per cent over the outage, has stressed there is "no evidence that user data was compromised as a result of this downtime". Watch | Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp restored after hours-long outage But even though it lasted just a few hours, the impact of the shutdown ran deep. Facebook's services are crucial for many businesses around the world, and users complained of being cut off from their livelihoods. Facebook accounts are also commonly used to log in to other websites, which faced additional problems due to the company's technical meltdown. Rival instant messaging services meanwhile reported that they had benefited from the fact that WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger were down. Telegram went from the 56th most downloaded free app in the US to the fifth, according to monitoring firm SensorTower, while Signal tweeted that "millions" of new users had joined. And among the more curious side-effects, several domain name registration companies listed Facebook.com as available for purchase. "There was never any reason to believe Facebook.com would actually be sold as a result, but it's fun to consider how many billions of dollars it could fetch on the open market," said cyber security expert Brian Krebs.

Why did Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp shut down?

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday apologised for the six-hour outage of social media apps Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram.&nbsp;

In a post on Facebook, Zuckerberg said the social media platforms were coming back to normal. "Sorry for the disruption today -- I know how much you rely on our services to stay connected with the people you care about," he wrote.

Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram went dark around 1600 GMT on Monday (October 4). Website monitoring group Downdetector said that it was largest such failure it had ever seen.

Some users began to regain access around 0045 GMT.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/router-was-bad-says-facebook-after-fb-instagram-whatsapp-go-down-418265">Router was bad, says Facebook after FB, Instagram, WhatsApp go down</a>

Though Zuckerberg's post was met with general sigh of relief. There were many who were not happy about how things went down. And Zuckerberg's post was flooded with comments that were angry as well as humourous.

"I was wondering why I could not use WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram yesterday afternoon. I even went to the extent of taking my phone for repair whereby the ICT guy charged me 500 dollar for repair just to have learn later that all social media’s platforms were shut down the whole world yesterday afternoon for almost five hours.... " wrote a user in comment

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hate-speech-for-profit-facebook-whistleblower-reveals-identity-418061">Hate speech for profit: Facebook whistleblower reveals identity</a>

"I feel sad for those who didn't receive birthday wishes today due to server issue!" wrote another user

Some of them even thanked Mark Zuckerberg as they said they could sleep peacefully with Facebook not working.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-lawmakers-grill-facebook-over-teen-mental-health-417319">US lawmakers grill Facebook over teen mental health</a>

"Last Night I slept peacefully because Facebook was off. Thanks Mark Zuckerberg," wrote GK Tahmid

Some users poured creativity into memes that described the situation aptly.

<img alt="Gollum" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73275b01-6a7e-44c9-8bc5-2acefd1d40ce" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/FB%20meme.JPG" />

Some users had a warning for Mark

<img alt="Facebook" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a042e875-e663-4ce5-aa51-76c4017e8015" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/FB%20MEME%202.JPG" />

&nbsp;

A world without Facebook is a world without modern civilisation

<img alt="Facebook" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="88cfbe80-d0d5-4d28-a292-7775c245d31a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/fb%20meme%203.JPG" />

Several Facebook employees who declined to be named said that they believed that the outage was caused by an internal routing mistake to an internet domain that was compounded by the failures of internal communication tools and other resources that depend on that same domain in order to work.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday apologised for the six-hour outage of social media apps Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram. In a post on Facebook, Zuckerberg said the social media platforms were coming back to normal.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday apologised for the six-hour outage of social media apps Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram. In a post on Facebook, Zuckerberg said the social media platforms were coming back to normal. "Sorry for the disruption today -- I know how much you rely on our services to stay connected with the people you care about," he wrote. Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram went dark around 1600 GMT on Monday (October 4). Website monitoring group Downdetector said that it was largest such failure it had ever seen. Some users began to regain access around 0045 GMT. Also Read | Router was bad, says Facebook after FB, Instagram, WhatsApp go down Though Zuckerberg's post was met with general sigh of relief. There were many who were not happy about how things went down. And Zuckerberg's post was flooded with comments that were angry as well as humourous. "I was wondering why I could not use WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram yesterday afternoon. I even went to the extent of taking my phone for repair whereby the ICT guy charged me 500 dollar for repair just to have learn later that all social media’s platforms were shut down the whole world yesterday afternoon for almost five hours.... " wrote a user in comment Also Read | Hate speech for profit: Facebook whistleblower reveals identity "I feel sad for those who didn't receive birthday wishes today due to server issue!" wrote another user Some of them even thanked Mark Zuckerberg as they said they could sleep peacefully with Facebook not working. Also Read | US lawmakers grill Facebook over teen mental health "Last Night I slept peacefully because Facebook was off. Thanks Mark Zuckerberg," wrote GK Tahmid Some users poured creativity into memes that described the situation aptly. Some users had a warning for Mark A world without Facebook is a world without modern civilisation Several Facebook employees who declined to be named said that they believed that the outage was caused by an internal routing mistake to an internet domain that was compounded by the failures of internal communication tools and other resources that depend on that same domain in order to work.

Facebook outage: Mark Zuckerberg apologises, users have fun commenting

Social media giants Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp were back online after sixh-ours-long outage earlier in the day; no official cause for outage given.

Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp restored after hours-long outage

After a whistleblower came out and outages brought Facebook Inc.'s key programmes down, Mark Zuckerberg's personal worth dropped by over $7 billion in a matter of hours, pushing him down a rung on the list of the world's richest individuals.

The stock of the social media behemoth fell over 5% on Monday, bringing its total loss to nearly 15% since mid-September.

The stock market decline on Monday reduced Zuckerberg's net worth to $120.9 billion, putting him behind Bill Gates on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index at No. 5. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-outage-mark-zuckerberg-apologises-users-have-fun-commenting-418284">Also read | Facebook outage: Mark Zuckerberg apologises, users have fun commenting</a>

According to the index, he has lost over $19 billion in value since September&nbsp;13, when he was worth nearly $140 billion.&nbsp;

The Wall Street Journal began publishing a series of stories on September 13 based on a cache of internal documents.

Revealing that Facebook was aware of a wide range of problems with its products — including Instagram's negative impact on teenage girls' mental health and misinformation about the January 6 Capitol riots — while downplaying the issues in public.

The reports drew the attention of government authorities, and the whistleblower came forward on Monday.&nbsp; 
 
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/router-was-bad-says-facebook-after-fb-instagram-whatsapp-go-down-418265">Router was bad, says Facebook after FB, Instagram, WhatsApp go down</a>

From a revenue standpoint, the downtime will be costly for Facebook.

Advertising revenues are thought to bring in approximately US$330 million every day for the firm, and the blackout has rendered this aspect of the business entirely inoperable.&nbsp;

$50 billion wiped off Facebook's market capitalisation after global outage

As a result of a global outage of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, Facebook's market capitalization dropped by approximately $50 billion.

According to Fortune, Facebook lost $99.75 million in income during the downtime on Monday, which lasted for more than six hours.

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, saw his net worth plummet by more than $6 billion.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

After a whistleblower came out and outages brought Facebook Inc.'s key programmes down, Mark Zuckerberg's personal worth dropped by over $7 billion in a matter of hours, pushing him down a rung on the list of the world's richest individuals.

After a whistleblower came out and outages brought Facebook Inc.'s key programmes down, Mark Zuckerberg's personal worth dropped by over $7 billion in a matter of hours, pushing him down a rung on the list of the world's richest individuals. The stock of the social media behemoth fell over 5% on Monday, bringing its total loss to nearly 15% since mid-September. The stock market decline on Monday reduced Zuckerberg's net worth to $120.9 billion, putting him behind Bill Gates on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index at No. 5. Also read | Facebook outage: Mark Zuckerberg apologises, users have fun commenting According to the index, he has lost over $19 billion in value since September 13, when he was worth nearly $140 billion. The Wall Street Journal began publishing a series of stories on September 13 based on a cache of internal documents. Revealing that Facebook was aware of a wide range of problems with its products — including Instagram's negative impact on teenage girls' mental health and misinformation about the January 6 Capitol riots — while downplaying the issues in public. The reports drew the attention of government authorities, and the whistleblower came forward on Monday. Also Read | Router was bad, says Facebook after FB, Instagram, WhatsApp go down From a revenue standpoint, the downtime will be costly for Facebook. Advertising revenues are thought to bring in approximately US$330 million every day for the firm, and the blackout has rendered this aspect of the business entirely inoperable. $50 billion wiped off Facebook's market capitalisation after global outage As a result of a global outage of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, Facebook's market capitalization dropped by approximately $50 billion. According to Fortune, Facebook lost $99.75 million in income during the downtime on Monday, which lasted for more than six hours. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, saw his net worth plummet by more than $6 billion. (With inputs from agencies)

Mark Zuckerberg loses $7 billion in hours as Facebook plunges

Users claimed that popular social media platforms WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook were down in various regions of the world on Monday evening.

Around 9 pm Indian time, users reported on Twitter that the prominent social networking and communication sites were unreachable.&nbsp; 
 
"We’re aware that some people are experiencing issues with WhatsApp at the moment. We’re working to get things back to normal and will send an update here as soon as possible, " said WhatsApp in an official statement. 
 
Facebook owns all these four most downloaded applications: Facebook, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram.&nbsp; 
 
Facebook confirmed the issue on its Twitter feed, and said it's "working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible."

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We’re aware that some people are having trouble accessing our apps and products. We’re working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible, and we apologize for any inconvenience.
— Facebook (@Facebook) <a href="https://twitter.com/Facebook/status/1445061804636479493?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Instagram and friends are having a little bit of a hard time right now, and you may be having issues using them. Bear with us, we’re on it! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/instagramdown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#instagramdown</a>
— Instagram Comms (@InstagramComms) <a href="https://twitter.com/InstagramComms/status/1445062531932835841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Outage tracking website DownDetector shows complaints of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp not working.

Users have taken to Twitter to complain that they are not able to use the services.

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I wonder how hard Twitter usage spikes when Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp all go down at once
— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) <a href="https://twitter.com/MKBHD/status/1445056411940048897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
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seems like chaos as facebook, whatsapp and instagram go down while twitter is the hottest things to verify this <a href="https://t.co/MD5zgvjqyE">pic.twitter.com/MD5zgvjqyE</a>
— David Borg (@Thraher_o1) <a href="https://twitter.com/Thraher_o1/status/1445056336455249923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Us whenever Instagram WhatsApp or Facebook is down, double checking we’re not alone lmao <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/instagramdown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#instagramdown</a> <a href="https://t.co/qcTx5v1Dy3">pic.twitter.com/qcTx5v1Dy3</a>
— 🥂✨ (@winetilldawn) <a href="https://twitter.com/winetilldawn/status/1445056211444027401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Users claimed that popular social media platforms WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook were down in various regions of the world on Monday evening. Around 9 pm Indian time, users reported on Twitter that the prominent social networking and communication sites were unreachable.

Users claimed that popular social media platforms WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook were down in various regions of the world on Monday evening. Around 9 pm Indian time, users reported on Twitter that the prominent social networking and communication sites were unreachable. "We’re aware that some people are experiencing issues with WhatsApp at the moment. We’re working to get things back to normal and will send an update here as soon as possible, " said WhatsApp in an official statement. Facebook owns all these four most downloaded applications: Facebook, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram. Facebook confirmed the issue on its Twitter feed, and said it's "working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible." We’re aware that some people are having trouble accessing our apps and products. We’re working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible, and we apologize for any inconvenience. — Facebook (@Facebook) October 4, 2021 × Instagram and friends are having a little bit of a hard time right now, and you may be having issues using them. Bear with us, we’re on it! #instagramdown — Instagram Comms (@InstagramComms) October 4, 2021 × Outage tracking website DownDetector shows complaints of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp not working. Users have taken to Twitter to complain that they are not able to use the services. I wonder how hard Twitter usage spikes when Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp all go down at once — Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) October 4, 2021 × seems like chaos as facebook, whatsapp and instagram go down while twitter is the hottest things to verify this pic.twitter.com/MD5zgvjqyE — David Borg (@Thraher_o1) October 4, 2021 × Us whenever Instagram WhatsApp or Facebook is down, double checking we’re not alone lmao #instagramdown pic.twitter.com/qcTx5v1Dy3 — 🥂✨ (@winetilldawn) October 4, 2021 ×

Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp services down for users

WhatsApp added the ₹ (Indian rupee) symbol to its chat composer on Thursday, making it easier for Indian users to transmit payments using the service.

It has also revealed that the composer's camera icon can now scan any QR code to facilitate payment at over 20 million businesses in India.

Payments on WhatsApp should become more inclusive and straightforward as a result of these improvements, as users may now send money using two of the most famous and identifiable symbols inside the WhatsApp conversation composition.

The rollout of the Rupee sign (₹) has commenced and will be available to users across India in the coming weeks.&nbsp;

The most recent improvements aim to make WhatsApp payments more inclusive and straightforward, allowing users to send money using two of the most well recognised symbols, all from inside the WhatsApp conversation composer.

The rollout of the Rupee sign (₹) has commenced and will be available to users across India in the coming weeks.&nbsp;

Speaking at the Global Fintech Festival, Manesh Mahatme, Director Payments, WhatsApp India, said, "We believe true inclusion is when customers don’t have to navigate their way through their phone to make a payment. An arrival point is when payments just "fit" into a customer’s intrinsic behaviour. Hundreds of millions of customers send WhatsApp messages every day. I spent many minutes on WhatsApp. Take a picture and send pictures. We want to make sending money as easy and simplified as sending a message."

"Smartphones, data, and tech advances of the previous decade are key elements that are pushing India towards a fintech revolution," Mahatme stated when asked what it takes to establish "digital payments for Bharat."

"India is only getting started on its digital payments journey," he added.

According to Mahatme, over 80% of consumer purchasing is still done in cash.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WhatsApp added the ₹ (Indian rupee) symbol to its chat composer on Thursday, making it easier for Indian users to transmit payments using the service. It has also revealed that the composer's camera icon can now scan any QR code to facilitate payment at over 20 million businesses in India.

WhatsApp added the ₹ (Indian rupee) symbol to its chat composer on Thursday, making it easier for Indian users to transmit payments using the service. It has also revealed that the composer's camera icon can now scan any QR code to facilitate payment at over 20 million businesses in India. Payments on WhatsApp should become more inclusive and straightforward as a result of these improvements, as users may now send money using two of the most famous and identifiable symbols inside the WhatsApp conversation composition. The rollout of the Rupee sign (₹) has commenced and will be available to users across India in the coming weeks. The most recent improvements aim to make WhatsApp payments more inclusive and straightforward, allowing users to send money using two of the most well recognised symbols, all from inside the WhatsApp conversation composer. The rollout of the Rupee sign (₹) has commenced and will be available to users across India in the coming weeks. Speaking at the Global Fintech Festival, Manesh Mahatme, Director Payments, WhatsApp India, said, "We believe true inclusion is when customers don’t have to navigate their way through their phone to make a payment. An arrival point is when payments just "fit" into a customer’s intrinsic behaviour. Hundreds of millions of customers send WhatsApp messages every day. I spent many minutes on WhatsApp. Take a picture and send pictures. We want to make sending money as easy and simplified as sending a message." "Smartphones, data, and tech advances of the previous decade are key elements that are pushing India towards a fintech revolution," Mahatme stated when asked what it takes to establish "digital payments for Bharat." "India is only getting started on its digital payments journey," he added. According to Mahatme, over 80% of consumer purchasing is still done in cash. (With inputs from agencies)

WhatsApp adds Indian Rupee symbol to chat box for digital payments 

Ireland's privacy watchdog has fined WhatsApp a record $267 million after an investigation found it breached stringent European Union data protection rules on transparency about sharing people's data with other Facebook companies.

World Business Watch: Irish watchdog fines WhatsApp $267 mn after EU privacy probe

Ireland's privacy watchdog has fined WhatsApp a record 225 million euros ($267 million) after an investigation found it breached stringent European Union data protection rules on transparency about sharing people's data with other Facebook companies.

The Data Protection Commission said Thursday that it was also ordering WhatsApp to take "remedial actions” so that its data processing complies with the EU rules.

WhatsApp said the fine was out of proportion and it would appeal the decision.

The watchdog's announcement wraps up an investigation into the Facebook-owned messaging service that opened in December 2018, after the EU rules, known as General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, took effect.

It's the second penalty - and the biggest - issued by the Irish watchdog under GDPR.

Last year it fined Twitter 450,000 euros for a security breach.

"WhatsApp is committed to providing a secure and private service," the company said in a press statement.

"We have worked to ensure the information we provide is transparent and comprehensive and will continue to do so.

We disagree with the decision today regarding the transparency we provided to people in 2018 and the penalties are entirely disproportionate.

” The commission said the case examined whether Facebook followed GDPR requirements to be transparent for both users and those who didn't use its service, including how people's data is processed between WhatsApp and other Facebook companies.

Under GDPR, the Irish watchdog acts as the lead regulator in cross-border data privacy cases for WhatsApp and many other big tech companies that have their European headquarters in Dublin.

Ireland's privacy watchdog has fined WhatsApp a record 225 million euros ($267 million) after an investigation found it breached stringent European Union data protection rules on transparency about sharing people's data with other Facebook companies.

Ireland's privacy watchdog has fined WhatsApp a record 225 million euros ($267 million) after an investigation found it breached stringent European Union data protection rules on transparency about sharing people's data with other Facebook companies. The Data Protection Commission said Thursday that it was also ordering WhatsApp to take "remedial actions” so that its data processing complies with the EU rules. WhatsApp said the fine was out of proportion and it would appeal the decision. The watchdog's announcement wraps up an investigation into the Facebook-owned messaging service that opened in December 2018, after the EU rules, known as General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, took effect. It's the second penalty - and the biggest - issued by the Irish watchdog under GDPR. Last year it fined Twitter 450,000 euros for a security breach. "WhatsApp is committed to providing a secure and private service," the company said in a press statement. "We have worked to ensure the information we provide is transparent and comprehensive and will continue to do so. We disagree with the decision today regarding the transparency we provided to people in 2018 and the penalties are entirely disproportionate. ” The commission said the case examined whether Facebook followed GDPR requirements to be transparent for both users and those who didn't use its service, including how people's data is processed between WhatsApp and other Facebook companies. Under GDPR, the Irish watchdog acts as the lead regulator in cross-border data privacy cases for WhatsApp and many other big tech companies that have their European headquarters in Dublin.

Irish watchdog fines WhatsApp $267 million after European Union privacy probe

In the 46 days between June 16 and July 31, 2021, WhatsApp banned almost 3 million Indian accounts on the messaging service, according to the company's second compliance report under the new Information Technology Rules, 2021.

According to the study, the messaging giant received 137 requests for account help, of which one was handled, and 316 requests to ban accounts, of which 73 were handled. During the reporting period, it banned a total of 3,027,000 accounts.&nbsp;

WhatsApp previously said that over 95% of bans are caused by the unauthorised use of automated or bulk messaging (spam).

WhatsApp disables roughly 8 million accounts each month on average throughout the world to prevent abuse on the network.

During the period of June 16 to July 31, WhatsApp received 594 user reports spanning account support (137), ban appeal (316), other support (45), product support (64), and safety (32).

According to the report, 74 accounts were "actioned" during this time.

"Accounts Actioned" refers to reports for which WhatsApp takes corrective action as a result of the report, according to WhatsApp.&nbsp;

WhatsApp has previously stated that accounts should not be allowed to send automated mass spam at a large scale.

It employs artificial intelligence to detect suspect activity from accounts that send a high or unusual number of messages, and it bans millions of such accounts in India and around the world.

Because WhatsApp is an end-to-end encrypted platform, it has no visibility into the content of any messages.&nbsp;

Instead, it relies on unencrypted data such as user reports, profile photos, group photos, and descriptions, as well as advanced AI tools and resources to detect and prevent abuse on the platform, in addition to behavioural signals from accounts.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In the 46 days between June 16 and July 31, 2021, WhatsApp banned almost 3 million Indian accounts on the messaging service, according to the company's second compliance report under the new Information Technology Rules, 2021.

In the 46 days between June 16 and July 31, 2021, WhatsApp banned almost 3 million Indian accounts on the messaging service, according to the company's second compliance report under the new Information Technology Rules, 2021. According to the study, the messaging giant received 137 requests for account help, of which one was handled, and 316 requests to ban accounts, of which 73 were handled. During the reporting period, it banned a total of 3,027,000 accounts. WhatsApp previously said that over 95% of bans are caused by the unauthorised use of automated or bulk messaging (spam). WhatsApp disables roughly 8 million accounts each month on average throughout the world to prevent abuse on the network. During the period of June 16 to July 31, WhatsApp received 594 user reports spanning account support (137), ban appeal (316), other support (45), product support (64), and safety (32). According to the report, 74 accounts were "actioned" during this time. "Accounts Actioned" refers to reports for which WhatsApp takes corrective action as a result of the report, according to WhatsApp. WhatsApp has previously stated that accounts should not be allowed to send automated mass spam at a large scale. It employs artificial intelligence to detect suspect activity from accounts that send a high or unusual number of messages, and it bans millions of such accounts in India and around the world. Because WhatsApp is an end-to-end encrypted platform, it has no visibility into the content of any messages. Instead, it relies on unencrypted data such as user reports, profile photos, group photos, and descriptions, as well as advanced AI tools and resources to detect and prevent abuse on the platform, in addition to behavioural signals from accounts. (With inputs from agencies)

WhatsApp says it banned 3 million accounts in India in its second compliance report

The Americans called him “Mikey,” and as an interpreter for the Special Forces he did not just bridge language gaps. He did everything from easing negotiations with local Afghans loyal to the Taliban to warning a convoy away from an ambush.

“Mikey wasn’t just a regular interpreter,” recalls Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Torres, a Texan who served in the Special Forces. “He was our lifeline. He went everywhere we went on the most remote and dangerous missions. It was because of him that we returned home alive after deployments.”

But the day after Kabul fell to the Taliban, the 34-year-old Afghan was on his own.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-lawmakers-write-to-joe-biden-demanding-answers-over-afghanistan-china-terrorism-nuclear-weapon-and-more-409006" hreflang="en">US lawmakers write to Biden demanding answers over Afghanistan, China and more</a>

Determined to get out of Afghanistan, he was making a desperate run to the airport with his wife and two young sons when they were caught in gunfire amid the crush of people who had gathered there to escape. His wife and one son, 6, were both shot in the foot.

As he carried the bloodied and screaming child in search of a hospital, Mikey says, he flashed back to his time on the battlefield with US forces.

“I kept thinking, after everything I did for the Americans,” he said. “After all my hard work and risking my life, now this is what happens to my family? They are leaving us to die here.”

Mikey — who is being identified by his American nickname for safety reasons — is one of tens of thousands of Afghans who worked for the United States and have applications pending for expedited visas allowing them to resettle in America. President Joe Biden has pledged that Afghan allies will be welcomed to “their new homes” and called the situation on the ground “heartbreaking.”

But the evacuation of US&nbsp;citizens and green-card holders remains the immediate priority of the military operation underway at the Kabul airport. That means that for many Afghans who worked with the United States, there is little to do but wait — and try to keep out of the sights of the Taliban.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/heart-wrenching-details-of-some-of-the-13-us-troops-killed-in-afghan-bombings-409001">Heart wrenching details of some of the 13 US troops killed in Afghan bombings</a>

Mikey worked as an interpreter for the Special Forces from 2009 to 2012 in Kandahar, and from 2015 to 2017 in Kabul. He was once so badly wounded in an explosion that he had to be airlifted to a field hospital.

The night his wife and son were shot, Mikey got them into a hospital and then went into hiding. Preferring rooms without windows, he switched locations four times in one week.

He was waiting for the US government to give him an evacuation plan. He was waiting for the approval of his visa application.

And he was waiting for the Taliban to find him.

In interviews from his bunkers in Kabul as events unfolded over the past week, Mikey talked about the ordeal of trying to keep himself alive and his family safe in the chaos left behind by the U.S. exit from Afghanistan. With no word from the US&nbsp;government about when or how he might get out, he realized that the bonds he had forged with U.S. soldiers might offer his only hope for safe passage.

That is where Torres, who now lives in Pecos, Texas, came in.

He had worked with Mikey on multiple deployments, and now he had a new battle: leading a global operation to get him out.

To coordinate those efforts, Torres and a group of about 20 former and current members of the military formed a WhatsApp chat group and an email thread. They reached out to military and Department of State contacts, along with members of Congress, to try to get Mikey and his family onto a military evacuation plane.

They say they understand why US citizens are getting priority when it comes to evacuations. The outrage is over the lack of a clear plan for all those Afghans who worked side by side with the Americans, who may have targets on their backs now that the Taliban is in control.

“It’s infuriating,” Torres said. “My heart breaks for everyone who doesn’t have the support Mikey has.”

It was not the case that Mikey tried to get out of Afghanistan only when the danger became clear.

He started his special visa application in 2012, when he was in Kandahar with the military. He had his interview, one of the final steps in the process, in November 2018 when he worked at Camp Duskin in Kabul. He is still waiting for medical tests and approval. Emails he has sent to follow up on his application have gone unanswered.

Across the US, members of the armed forces are leading their own campaigns to pressure the Biden administration to scale up the evacuation of Afghans who worked as their interpreters. They have taken to social media and created fundraising campaigns such as “Help Our Interpreters.”

Military interpreters are among the most vulnerable of Afghan allies. The nature of their work required that they accompany military personnel in the battlefield and be present during interactions with locals. If residents of the areas where they worked were hostile to Americans, the interpreters could be easily identified for the Taliban.

Mikey was a teenager in Kabul when the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001. In high school he worked hard to learn English, and his language teacher suggested he work as an interpreter for the Americans after graduation.

He was dispatched to Kandahar airfield, one of the largest US military bases in Afghanistan, and from there to multiple remote outposts, quickly working his way up to become a lead interpreter.

“Mikey was always fun to be around, very open-minded with a very big heart,” said Sgt. First Class Raymond Steele, an active member of Special Forces who has stayed in regular contact with him over the years.

Mikey listened to communications to intercept threats, talking to local tribal leaders in person and on his phone. On one patrol, he got word of an ambush and of insurgents burying explosive devices in their path.

“I felt proud of my job because it felt like I was helping my country,” Mikey said.

Between stints in Kandahar and Kabul, Mikey got married. He bought a car and worked as a taxi driver in Kabul. He and his wife had children.

But the US era in Afghanistan was ending — and the Taliban’s resuming. That left countless Afghans feeling helpless and adrift, as Mikey was when we spoke by phone last Saturday night.

“We are in the dark,” he told me. “My American friends say just wait, wait to see what happens. Be ready to leave when we tell you.”

Then Monday around 4 p.m. Mikey received an astonishing text from Torres: We are going to get you out, it said. Get ready now. Wait for instructions.

The mission to rescue Mikey, with the help of current and former military contacts on the ground, was in motion — and things were moving quickly. In a space of two hours, Mikey and his family were hidden in a car, their documents stashed, heading for a gate at the Kabul airport where members of the military were expecting him.

They welcomed him, taking his family to a clinic so his wife and son’s bullet wounds could be treated. The children got candy.

When Torres got the call that Mikey was finally in the clear, he broke into sobs. He never cries, he says. Steele called Mikey and shouted, “I love you, man.”

On Tuesday, Mikey and his family flew out of Afghanistan aboard a US military plane, his initial destination withheld for security reasons.

It was his son’s sixth birthday.

“I am extremely relieved and happy,” Mikey said during a call from the tarmac in Kabul as he waited to board the plane. “My infinite gratitude for the help and kindness of my American brothers. You gave us a second chance at life.”

The Americans called him “Mikey,” and as an interpreter for the Special Forces he did not just bridge language gaps. He did everything from easing negotiations with local Afghans loyal to the Taliban to warning a convoy away from an ambush.

The Americans called him “Mikey,” and as an interpreter for the Special Forces he did not just bridge language gaps. He did everything from easing negotiations with local Afghans loyal to the Taliban to warning a convoy away from an ambush. “Mikey wasn’t just a regular interpreter,” recalls Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Torres, a Texan who served in the Special Forces. “He was our lifeline. He went everywhere we went on the most remote and dangerous missions. It was because of him that we returned home alive after deployments.” But the day after Kabul fell to the Taliban, the 34-year-old Afghan was on his own. Also read | US lawmakers write to Biden demanding answers over Afghanistan, China and more Determined to get out of Afghanistan, he was making a desperate run to the airport with his wife and two young sons when they were caught in gunfire amid the crush of people who had gathered there to escape. His wife and one son, 6, were both shot in the foot. As he carried the bloodied and screaming child in search of a hospital, Mikey says, he flashed back to his time on the battlefield with US forces. “I kept thinking, after everything I did for the Americans,” he said. “After all my hard work and risking my life, now this is what happens to my family? They are leaving us to die here.” Mikey — who is being identified by his American nickname for safety reasons — is one of tens of thousands of Afghans who worked for the United States and have applications pending for expedited visas allowing them to resettle in America. President Joe Biden has pledged that Afghan allies will be welcomed to “their new homes” and called the situation on the ground “heartbreaking.” But the evacuation of US citizens and green-card holders remains the immediate priority of the military operation underway at the Kabul airport. That means that for many Afghans who worked with the United States, there is little to do but wait — and try to keep out of the sights of the Taliban. Also read | Heart wrenching details of some of the 13 US troops killed in Afghan bombings Mikey worked as an interpreter for the Special Forces from 2009 to 2012 in Kandahar, and from 2015 to 2017 in Kabul. He was once so badly wounded in an explosion that he had to be airlifted to a field hospital. The night his wife and son were shot, Mikey got them into a hospital and then went into hiding. Preferring rooms without windows, he switched locations four times in one week. He was waiting for the US government to give him an evacuation plan. He was waiting for the approval of his visa application. And he was waiting for the Taliban to find him. In interviews from his bunkers in Kabul as events unfolded over the past week, Mikey talked about the ordeal of trying to keep himself alive and his family safe in the chaos left behind by the U.S. exit from Afghanistan. With no word from the US government about when or how he might get out, he realized that the bonds he had forged with U.S. soldiers might offer his only hope for safe passage. That is where Torres, who now lives in Pecos, Texas, came in. He had worked with Mikey on multiple deployments, and now he had a new battle: leading a global operation to get him out. To coordinate those efforts, Torres and a group of about 20 former and current members of the military formed a WhatsApp chat group and an email thread. They reached out to military and Department of State contacts, along with members of Congress, to try to get Mikey and his family onto a military evacuation plane. They say they understand why US citizens are getting priority when it comes to evacuations. The outrage is over the lack of a clear plan for all those Afghans who worked side by side with the Americans, who may have targets on their backs now that the Taliban is in control. “It’s infuriating,” Torres said. “My heart breaks for everyone who doesn’t have the support Mikey has.” It was not the case that Mikey tried to get out of Afghanistan only when the danger became clear. He started his special visa application in 2012, when he was in Kandahar with the military. He had his interview, one of the final steps in the process, in November 2018 when he worked at Camp Duskin in Kabul. He is still waiting for medical tests and approval. Emails he has sent to follow up on his application have gone unanswered. Across the US, members of the armed forces are leading their own campaigns to pressure the Biden administration to scale up the evacuation of Afghans who worked as their interpreters. They have taken to social media and created fundraising campaigns such as “Help Our Interpreters.” Military interpreters are among the most vulnerable of Afghan allies. The nature of their work required that they accompany military personnel in the battlefield and be present during interactions with locals. If residents of the areas where they worked were hostile to Americans, the interpreters could be easily identified for the Taliban. Mikey was a teenager in Kabul when the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001. In high school he worked hard to learn English, and his language teacher suggested he work as an interpreter for the Americans after graduation. He was dispatched to Kandahar airfield, one of the largest US military bases in Afghanistan, and from there to multiple remote outposts, quickly working his way up to become a lead interpreter. “Mikey was always fun to be around, very open-minded with a very big heart,” said Sgt. First Class Raymond Steele, an active member of Special Forces who has stayed in regular contact with him over the years. Mikey listened to communications to intercept threats, talking to local tribal leaders in person and on his phone. On one patrol, he got word of an ambush and of insurgents burying explosive devices in their path. “I felt proud of my job because it felt like I was helping my country,” Mikey said. Between stints in Kandahar and Kabul, Mikey got married. He bought a car and worked as a taxi driver in Kabul. He and his wife had children. But the US era in Afghanistan was ending — and the Taliban’s resuming. That left countless Afghans feeling helpless and adrift, as Mikey was when we spoke by phone last Saturday night. “We are in the dark,” he told me. “My American friends say just wait, wait to see what happens. Be ready to leave when we tell you.” Then Monday around 4 p.m. Mikey received an astonishing text from Torres: We are going to get you out, it said. Get ready now. Wait for instructions. The mission to rescue Mikey, with the help of current and former military contacts on the ground, was in motion — and things were moving quickly. In a space of two hours, Mikey and his family were hidden in a car, their documents stashed, heading for a gate at the Kabul airport where members of the military were expecting him. They welcomed him, taking his family to a clinic so his wife and son’s bullet wounds could be treated. The children got candy. When Torres got the call that Mikey was finally in the clear, he broke into sobs. He never cries, he says. Steele called Mikey and shouted, “I love you, man.” On Tuesday, Mikey and his family flew out of Afghanistan aboard a US military plane, his initial destination withheld for security reasons. It was his son’s sixth birthday. “I am extremely relieved and happy,” Mikey said during a call from the tarmac in Kabul as he waited to board the plane. “My infinite gratitude for the help and kindness of my American brothers. You gave us a second chance at life.”

A stranded interpreter, and the soldiers who would not let go

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