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Facebook on Wednesday extended its dating service to 32 European countries after the plan was delayed earlier due to regulatory issues.&nbsp;

After concerns were raised by Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner (DPC), European Union's main regulator for many of the world's technology giant organisations, Facebook had postponed its rollout of Facebook Dating in Europe in February.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/european-union-is-investigating-instagrams-usage-of-childrens-data-336457">European Union is investigating Instagram's usage of children's data</a>

The regulator had said it was informed about Facebook's February 13 launch on February 3, which bothered DPC due to a short period of notice.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/whatsapp-to-get-new-exciting-features-like-video-calling-on-whatsapp-web-heres-what-to-expect-336664">WhatsApp to get new exciting features like video calling on WhatsApp Web. Here's what to expect</a>

It further said the social media giant did not provide earlier the documentation related to data protection impact assessments or decision-making processes.&nbsp;

Facebook Dating, a feature available within the Facebook app, was launched in the US last year in September. The service is currently available in 20 other nations,&nbsp;

Users can opt to create a dating profile which can be deleted anytime without deleting their Facebook accounts, said Kate Orseth, Facebook Dating's product manager, in a blog post on Wednesday.

The first names and ages of people using the services will be taken from their respective Facebook profiles, which cannot be edited, the blog said.

It also said users' last name will not be shown and they can decide whether their personal information should be displayed in the dating service or not.&nbsp;

Facebook on Wednesday extended its dating service to 32 European countries after the plan was delayed earlier due to regulatory issues. After concerns were raised by Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner (DPC), European Union's main regulator for many of the world's technology giant organisations, Facebook had postponed its rollout of Facebook Dating in Europe in February.

Facebook on Wednesday extended its dating service to 32 European countries after the plan was delayed earlier due to regulatory issues. After concerns were raised by Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner (DPC), European Union's main regulator for many of the world's technology giant organisations, Facebook had postponed its rollout of Facebook Dating in Europe in February. Also read | European Union is investigating Instagram's usage of children's data The regulator had said it was informed about Facebook's February 13 launch on February 3, which bothered DPC due to a short period of notice. Also read | WhatsApp to get new exciting features like video calling on WhatsApp Web. Here's what to expect It further said the social media giant did not provide earlier the documentation related to data protection impact assessments or decision-making processes. Facebook Dating, a feature available within the Facebook app, was launched in the US last year in September. The service is currently available in 20 other nations, Users can opt to create a dating profile which can be deleted anytime without deleting their Facebook accounts, said Kate Orseth, Facebook Dating's product manager, in a blog post on Wednesday. The first names and ages of people using the services will be taken from their respective Facebook profiles, which cannot be edited, the blog said. It also said users' last name will not be shown and they can decide whether their personal information should be displayed in the dating service or not.

Facebook's dating service launched in Europe

How social media companies will handle post-US election scenarios

The United States on Tuesday pledged a&nbsp;$1 billion deal to Brazil to sway it away from China's Huawei to develop its 5G network.

Earlier, Sweden had announced that it is banning the Chinese telecommunication company from manufacturing any equipment in the country.&nbsp;It was the latest US ally to do so, amid a pressure campaign from the Trump administration to ostracize China from the world telecoms market.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/after-united-kingdom-sweden-bans-huawei-from-upcoming-5g-networks-336623">After United Kingdom, Sweden bans Huawei from upcoming 5G networks</a>

According to&nbsp;US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien,&nbsp;who presided over the signing during a visit to Brazil,&nbsp;the deal includes loans, guarantees, and insurance to fund Brazilian imports of US goods and services,&nbsp;"especially in the telecommunications area and the important 5G modern telecommunications network."&nbsp;

Speaking after the deal was signed, President Jair Bolsonaro reiterated his support for the re-election of his US counterpart Donald Trump, the latest shout-out from the far-right leader sometimes called the "Tropical Trump."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-convinced-many-countries-not-to-use-huawei-its-a-big-security-risk-trump-313340">US convinced many countries not to use Huawei, it's a big security risk: Trump</a>

"God willing, I hope to attend the inauguration of the&nbsp;soon-to-be re-elected president of the United States," Bolsonaro said.

The United States and Brazil have cozied up under Trump and Bolsonaro, whose shared penchant for hardline policies, vitriolic rhetoric, and social media have drawn comparisons.

But the 5G issue has become a potential source of strain as Brazil plans a tender next year to upgrade the mobile network in Latin America's biggest economy.

China is Brazil's top trading partner, and Huawei has emerged as the leading supplier of fast and cheap next-generation telecoms infrastructure.

The Trump administration warns that the firm is a security threat, accusing it of passing data and intelligence to the Chinese government.

The Chinese embassy in Brasilia lashed out angrily at comments to that effect by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and O'Brien during his visit.

"They spread lies about China in bad faith, fabricating a so-called 'Chinese threat' and attacking China's 5G technology," a spokesman said in an interview posted on the embassy's website.

Previously, Britain banned mobile providers in July from using Huawei equipment in their new 5G networks and ordered them to remove existing equipment made by the company.

France has also placed heavy restrictions on the use of Huawei equipment.

The United States on Tuesday pledged a $1 billion deal to Brazil to sway it away from China's Huawei to develop its 5G network. Earlier, Sweden had announced that it is banning the Chinese telecommunication company from manufacturing any equipment in the country.

The United States on Tuesday pledged a $1 billion deal to Brazil to sway it away from China's Huawei to develop its 5G network. Earlier, Sweden had announced that it is banning the Chinese telecommunication company from manufacturing any equipment in the country. It was the latest US ally to do so, amid a pressure campaign from the Trump administration to ostracize China from the world telecoms market. Also read: After United Kingdom, Sweden bans Huawei from upcoming 5G networks According to US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, who presided over the signing during a visit to Brazil, the deal includes loans, guarantees, and insurance to fund Brazilian imports of US goods and services, "especially in the telecommunications area and the important 5G modern telecommunications network." Speaking after the deal was signed, President Jair Bolsonaro reiterated his support for the re-election of his US counterpart Donald Trump, the latest shout-out from the far-right leader sometimes called the "Tropical Trump." Also read: US convinced many countries not to use Huawei, it's a big security risk: Trump "God willing, I hope to attend the inauguration of the soon-to-be re-elected president of the United States," Bolsonaro said. The United States and Brazil have cozied up under Trump and Bolsonaro, whose shared penchant for hardline policies, vitriolic rhetoric, and social media have drawn comparisons. But the 5G issue has become a potential source of strain as Brazil plans a tender next year to upgrade the mobile network in Latin America's biggest economy. China is Brazil's top trading partner, and Huawei has emerged as the leading supplier of fast and cheap next-generation telecoms infrastructure. The Trump administration warns that the firm is a security threat, accusing it of passing data and intelligence to the Chinese government. The Chinese embassy in Brasilia lashed out angrily at comments to that effect by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and O'Brien during his visit. "They spread lies about China in bad faith, fabricating a so-called 'Chinese threat' and attacking China's 5G technology," a spokesman said in an interview posted on the embassy's website. Previously, Britain banned mobile providers in July from using Huawei equipment in their new 5G networks and ordered them to remove existing equipment made by the company. France has also placed heavy restrictions on the use of Huawei equipment.

US offers $1 billion deal to Brazil to sway it away from China's Huawei 5G network

New features on Whatsapp | WhatsApp - the messaging platform is at the helm of social media applications. Run by Facebook - one of the four Big Tech companies, its features complement those of its sister platforms like Instagram and Facebook.&nbsp; So if any feature exists on one of these platforms, expect it to show up on all eventually. For instance - “Stories”. By imitating the Snapchat model of quick short lived stories, Instagram mastered it, further emulating it on Facebook and WhatsApp.

In a bid to keep the app updated and fresh, new features are introduced every once in a while. Take a look at what to expect!

WhatsApp Web calling

Do you use WhatsApp web more often than the mobile app, especially while working? Worry not! Now you may not need to use your phone for video and audio calls.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/whatsapp-update-top-5-new-features-in-the-messenger-app-333999" hreflang="en">WhatsApp Update: Top 5 new features in the messenger app</a>

According to WABetaInfo, the WhatsApp web client is getting the calling feature very soon, and are being tested right now.

Expiring media

Instagram already has it, and now WhatsApp is going to get it. Expiring media implies images, gifs, and videos, and perhaps even messages with a shelf life. Once the stipulated period (probably to be decided by users) ends, the media will disappear from the chat, and without saying “this message was deleted”.

History sync&nbsp;

Do you switch your OS platforms often? And never get to retrieve your chats from the previous OS? Worry not! WhatsApp is solving that once and for all, by allowing users to copy chats from divide to another, regardless of the OS they run on.

Multi-device support

Do you use more than one smartphone, but feel restricted to using WhatsApp on one? The company may be working out something for you. With support for multi-device usage, Whatsapp will allow users to access the same account from different devices.

Wallpaper

WhatsApp already lets users decide what image they want to use as the application wallpaper, which appears as the background in chats. This feature is being expanded. According to WABetaInfor, the app will introduce more generic wallpapers from the company, with more personalisation options.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/whatsapp-business-now-has-over-15-million-users-in-india-introduces-new-features-312199" hreflang="en">WhatsApp Business now has over 15 million users in India; introduces new features</a>

For all tech news, follow www.wionews.com/technology&nbsp;

New features on Whatsapp | WhatsApp - the messaging platform is at the helm of social media applications. Run by Facebook - one of the four Big Tech companies, its features complement those of its sister platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

New features on Whatsapp | WhatsApp - the messaging platform is at the helm of social media applications. Run by Facebook - one of the four Big Tech companies, its features complement those of its sister platforms like Instagram and Facebook. So if any feature exists on one of these platforms, expect it to show up on all eventually. For instance - “Stories”. By imitating the Snapchat model of quick short lived stories, Instagram mastered it, further emulating it on Facebook and WhatsApp. In a bid to keep the app updated and fresh, new features are introduced every once in a while. Take a look at what to expect! WhatsApp Web calling Do you use WhatsApp web more often than the mobile app, especially while working? Worry not! Now you may not need to use your phone for video and audio calls. Also read: WhatsApp Update: Top 5 new features in the messenger app According to WABetaInfo, the WhatsApp web client is getting the calling feature very soon, and are being tested right now. Expiring media Instagram already has it, and now WhatsApp is going to get it. Expiring media implies images, gifs, and videos, and perhaps even messages with a shelf life. Once the stipulated period (probably to be decided by users) ends, the media will disappear from the chat, and without saying “this message was deleted”. History sync Do you switch your OS platforms often? And never get to retrieve your chats from the previous OS? Worry not! WhatsApp is solving that once and for all, by allowing users to copy chats from divide to another, regardless of the OS they run on. Multi-device support Do you use more than one smartphone, but feel restricted to using WhatsApp on one? The company may be working out something for you. With support for multi-device usage, Whatsapp will allow users to access the same account from different devices. Wallpaper WhatsApp already lets users decide what image they want to use as the application wallpaper, which appears as the background in chats. This feature is being expanded. According to WABetaInfor, the app will introduce more generic wallpapers from the company, with more personalisation options. Also read: WhatsApp Business now has over 15 million users in India; introduces new features For all tech news, follow www.wionews.com/technology

WhatsApp to get new exciting features like video calling on WhatsApp Web. Here's what to expect

The future is near, they say? In one of the most uncanny sights of 2020, a rickshaw could be seen getting pulled by a robot!&nbsp;

The video, which has gone viral online is nothing like you have ever seen. In the footage, one can see American television personality and special effects designer Adam Savage toying with a robo-dog. The robot is pulling a three-wheel passenger carriage.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/insect-inspired-robots-are-almost-here-they-can-jump-and-fly-330428" hreflang="en">Insect-inspired robots are almost here. They can jump and fly</a>

The timestamp on the video is not recent, meaning it was filmed in February 2020. But all good things in life, this one took its own time to surface as well.

After being posted by an IAS officer - Surpiya Sahu, the video has gained major traction online, and has bamboozled thousands alike.

The three-wheel passenger carriage, or what it is more commonly known as - a rickshaw in India, being pulled by a robot is not what one ever expected to see.&nbsp;

Watch the video below:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Future Rickshaws 😳! See this amazing prototype of a robot-driven Rickshaw carriage 
 
Credits - Adam Savage- Boston Dynamics <a href="https://t.co/YAN3YAjQoJ">pic.twitter.com/YAN3YAjQoJ</a>
— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) <a href="https://twitter.com/supriyasahuias/status/1318048694881538048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Adam Savage climbed onto the carriage, after which the robo-dog called “Spot” began pulling it down a pathway.&nbsp;

Boston Dynamics, an American engineering and robotics design company is behind Spot - an agile and mobile robot. Their website claims that the robot can navigate terrain with “unprecedented mobility”.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/india-news/meet-mitra-the-friendly-robot-connecting-coronavirus-patients-with-loved-ones-in-india-327937" hreflang="en">Meet Mitra, the friendly robot connecting coronavirus patients with loved ones in India</a>

The clip was shared by Sahu saying “Future Rickshaws!”, which does not sound too far fetched. In many areas of India, where rickshaws are still pulled manually, the robots may provide relief to humans, and also make the mode of transport more humane.

Twitter went wild after the video went public. While many went along the general lines of appreciating the robot, many wished the robot could be repurposed to achieve other human goals in life - like going to office.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
waiting for someone to design a Robot who will go to office on bahalf of me...!!
— #FarmersWithModi (@Shree263534) <a href="https://twitter.com/Shree263534/status/1318136297362317313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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According to The Verge, Spot was loaned to Savage by Boston Dynamics in February.

The future is near, they say? In one of the most uncanny sights of 2020, a rickshaw could be seen getting pulled by a robot! The video, which has gone viral online is nothing like you have ever seen.

The future is near, they say? In one of the most uncanny sights of 2020, a rickshaw could be seen getting pulled by a robot! The video, which has gone viral online is nothing like you have ever seen. In the footage, one can see American television personality and special effects designer Adam Savage toying with a robo-dog. The robot is pulling a three-wheel passenger carriage. Also read: Insect-inspired robots are almost here. They can jump and fly The timestamp on the video is not recent, meaning it was filmed in February 2020. But all good things in life, this one took its own time to surface as well. After being posted by an IAS officer - Surpiya Sahu, the video has gained major traction online, and has bamboozled thousands alike. The three-wheel passenger carriage, or what it is more commonly known as - a rickshaw in India, being pulled by a robot is not what one ever expected to see. Watch the video below: Future Rickshaws 😳! See this amazing prototype of a robot-driven Rickshaw carriage Credits - Adam Savage- Boston Dynamics pic.twitter.com/YAN3YAjQoJ — Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) October 19, 2020 × Adam Savage climbed onto the carriage, after which the robo-dog called “Spot” began pulling it down a pathway. Boston Dynamics, an American engineering and robotics design company is behind Spot - an agile and mobile robot. Their website claims that the robot can navigate terrain with “unprecedented mobility”. Also read: Meet Mitra, the friendly robot connecting coronavirus patients with loved ones in India The clip was shared by Sahu saying “Future Rickshaws!”, which does not sound too far fetched. In many areas of India, where rickshaws are still pulled manually, the robots may provide relief to humans, and also make the mode of transport more humane. Twitter went wild after the video went public. While many went along the general lines of appreciating the robot, many wished the robot could be repurposed to achieve other human goals in life - like going to office. waiting for someone to design a Robot who will go to office on bahalf of me...!! — #FarmersWithModi (@Shree263534) October 19, 2020 × According to The Verge, Spot was loaned to Savage by Boston Dynamics in February.

Watch a robot dog 'Spot' pulling a rickshaw effortlessly in this viral video

A smartwatch saves man’s life. Are you sceptical of technology and how deeply embedded it is in our lives? This might change your mind.

Apple’s signature smartwatch - Apple Watch has a feature called electrocardiogram (ECG), which reportedly saved a 61-year-old Indian man’s life. In fact, Apple CEO Tim Cook reached out to him to wish speed a speedy recovery.

R Rajhans, a retired pharmaceutical professional from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and a user of Apple Watch Series 5, had checked his ECG on the smart watch after feeling ill earlier this year in March.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science-technology/smartwatch-to-soundbar-your-complete-diwali-gift-guide-suiting-all-kinds-of-budget-range-257049" hreflang="en">Smartwatch to soundbar: Your complete Diwali gift guide suiting all kinds of budget ranges</a>

As reported by news agency IANS, the watch was a present from his son, Siddharth, a Harvard University student, and who has worked with multiple tech companies in Silicon Valley.

Siddharth explained how the watch helped his father. "Since Apple Watch allows the ECG function, one can check it on a more regular basis. Twice or thrice, in the middle of the night, my father was getting arrhythmia signals or irregular heartbeats. It’s a critical indicator," Siddharth told IANS.

After noticing irregularities, the family went to se aa doctor. Rajhans did not suffer any heart conditions and hypertension.

He found that he had a low ejection fraction and was in need of immediate heart surgery. Even though the surgery was delayed due to COVID-19, Rajhans monitored his ECG on the watch.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science-tech/swatch-to-launch-swiss-smartwatch-operating-system-by-2018-13489" hreflang="en">Swatch to launch Swiss smartwatch operating system by 2018</a>

"My dad underwent a Mitral Valve replacement surgery and it was his Apple Watch that helped detect the irregular heart rhythm prior to the Valve failure Echo-cardiograph," Siddharth told IANS.

After the surgery, Siddharth reached out to Tim Cook, who then responded. Take a look!

"Siddharth, thank you for sharing this. I am happy to note that your father received medical attention in time and I hope he’s feeling better now. Our team will connect with you," Cook wrote in an email.

A smartwatch saves man’s life. Are you sceptical of technology and how deeply embedded it is in our lives? This might change your mind. Apple’s signature smartwatch - Apple Watch has a feature called electrocardiogram (ECG), which reportedly saved a 61-year-old Indian man’s life.

A smartwatch saves man’s life. Are you sceptical of technology and how deeply embedded it is in our lives? This might change your mind. Apple’s signature smartwatch - Apple Watch has a feature called electrocardiogram (ECG), which reportedly saved a 61-year-old Indian man’s life. In fact, Apple CEO Tim Cook reached out to him to wish speed a speedy recovery. R Rajhans, a retired pharmaceutical professional from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and a user of Apple Watch Series 5, had checked his ECG on the smart watch after feeling ill earlier this year in March. Also read: Smartwatch to soundbar: Your complete Diwali gift guide suiting all kinds of budget ranges As reported by news agency IANS, the watch was a present from his son, Siddharth, a Harvard University student, and who has worked with multiple tech companies in Silicon Valley. Siddharth explained how the watch helped his father. "Since Apple Watch allows the ECG function, one can check it on a more regular basis. Twice or thrice, in the middle of the night, my father was getting arrhythmia signals or irregular heartbeats. It’s a critical indicator," Siddharth told IANS. After noticing irregularities, the family went to se aa doctor. Rajhans did not suffer any heart conditions and hypertension. He found that he had a low ejection fraction and was in need of immediate heart surgery. Even though the surgery was delayed due to COVID-19, Rajhans monitored his ECG on the watch. Also read: Swatch to launch Swiss smartwatch operating system by 2018 "My dad underwent a Mitral Valve replacement surgery and it was his Apple Watch that helped detect the irregular heart rhythm prior to the Valve failure Echo-cardiograph," Siddharth told IANS. After the surgery, Siddharth reached out to Tim Cook, who then responded. Take a look! "Siddharth, thank you for sharing this. I am happy to note that your father received medical attention in time and I hope he’s feeling better now. Our team will connect with you," Cook wrote in an email.

Smartwatch's ECG feature saves a 61-year-old Indian man's life, eliciting a response from Tim Cook

Sweden on Tuesday announced that it has banned&nbsp;the use of telecom equipment from China's Huawei&nbsp;from upcoming 5G networks.

The announcement comes as a major setback for the company that was banned in the United Kingdom earlier in July.

The ban is in line with new legislation that entered into force in January 2020, following an examination by the Swedish armed forces and security service "to ensure that the use of radio equipment in these bands does not cause harm to Sweden's security," the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority said in a statement.

European governments have been reviewing the role of Chinese companies in building their networks following pressure from the United States, which says they pose a security threat because, among other concerns, Chinese companies and citizens must by law aid the state in intelligence gathering.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/huawei-in-talks-to-sell-parts-of-its-honor-smartphone-business-sources-335255">Huawei in talks to sell parts of its Honor smartphone business: Sources</a>

The United Kingdom in July ordered Huawei equipment to be purged completely from Britain’s 5G network by 2027, becoming one of the first European countries to do so.

Huawei and ZTE did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the decision by Sweden.

PTS said companies taking part in the auction must remove Huawei and ZTE gear from existing central functions by Jan. 1 2025.

The regulator defined central functions as equipment used to build the radio access network, the transmission network, the core network and the service and maintenance of the network.

PTS said the licence conditions were decided to address the assessments made by the armed forces and security service.

Sweden on Tuesday announced that it has banned the use of telecom equipment from China's Huawei from upcoming 5G networks. The announcement comes as a major setback for the company that was banned in the United Kingdom earlier in July.

Sweden on Tuesday announced that it has banned the use of telecom equipment from China's Huawei from upcoming 5G networks. The announcement comes as a major setback for the company that was banned in the United Kingdom earlier in July. The ban is in line with new legislation that entered into force in January 2020, following an examination by the Swedish armed forces and security service "to ensure that the use of radio equipment in these bands does not cause harm to Sweden's security," the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority said in a statement. European governments have been reviewing the role of Chinese companies in building their networks following pressure from the United States, which says they pose a security threat because, among other concerns, Chinese companies and citizens must by law aid the state in intelligence gathering. Also read| Huawei in talks to sell parts of its Honor smartphone business: Sources The United Kingdom in July ordered Huawei equipment to be purged completely from Britain’s 5G network by 2027, becoming one of the first European countries to do so. Huawei and ZTE did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the decision by Sweden. PTS said companies taking part in the auction must remove Huawei and ZTE gear from existing central functions by Jan. 1 2025. The regulator defined central functions as equipment used to build the radio access network, the transmission network, the core network and the service and maintenance of the network. PTS said the licence conditions were decided to address the assessments made by the armed forces and security service.

After United Kingdom, Sweden bans Huawei from upcoming 5G networks

Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner is investigating Instagram over how the platform handles personal data of kids. If the company has broken any privacy laws, Facebook, the parent company could be liable to pay a huge fine.

Recently, reports highlighting Instagram’s inability to protect data gained traction online. According the reports, Instagram allowed email address and phone numbers of minors, or those aged below 18, to become public.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/how-influencers-are-making-mega-bucks-promoting-products-on-instagram-335856" hreflang="en">How influencers are making mega bucks promoting products on Instagram</a>

Facebook has rejected the claims so far, but says it is&nbsp;cooperating with Ireland’s DPC.

DPC is the European Union’s lead regulator as part of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which was implemented in 2018.

The responsibilities of the DPC include protecting one’s right to online privacy, and can levy huge fines on companies for misdemeanour.&nbsp;

The regulator is also taking into account whether Facebook does enough to protect the data of children that use Instagram. One has to be at least 13-years-old to make an Instagram account.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/instagram-agrees-curbs-on-paid-influencers-335719" hreflang="en">Instagram agrees curbs on paid influencers</a>

The DPC will also look at whether the company follows the guidelines in pace for “vulnerable people”.

Multiple media reports claim that the investigations began after a complaint from a US-based data scientist - David Stier, who spent the last year analysing at least 200,000 profiles on Instagram.

In the process of his research, Stier found how 60 million minor users on Instagram had been granted the option to convert their account into a business account.

Once an account is registered for business, they are required to display their email addresses and phone numbers publicly, thereby compromising the privacy of minors who had switched to a business account.

"We've made several updates to business accounts since the time of Mr Stier's mischaracterisation in 2019, and people can now opt out of including their contact information entirely”, a Facebook representative told BBC on Monday.

Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner is investigating Instagram over how the platform handles personal data of kids. If the company has broken any privacy laws, Facebook, the parent company could be liable to pay a huge fine.

Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner is investigating Instagram over how the platform handles personal data of kids. If the company has broken any privacy laws, Facebook, the parent company could be liable to pay a huge fine. Recently, reports highlighting Instagram’s inability to protect data gained traction online. According the reports, Instagram allowed email address and phone numbers of minors, or those aged below 18, to become public. Also read: How influencers are making mega bucks promoting products on Instagram Facebook has rejected the claims so far, but says it is cooperating with Ireland’s DPC. DPC is the European Union’s lead regulator as part of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which was implemented in 2018. The responsibilities of the DPC include protecting one’s right to online privacy, and can levy huge fines on companies for misdemeanour. The regulator is also taking into account whether Facebook does enough to protect the data of children that use Instagram. One has to be at least 13-years-old to make an Instagram account. Also read: Instagram agrees curbs on paid influencers The DPC will also look at whether the company follows the guidelines in pace for “vulnerable people”. Multiple media reports claim that the investigations began after a complaint from a US-based data scientist - David Stier, who spent the last year analysing at least 200,000 profiles on Instagram. In the process of his research, Stier found how 60 million minor users on Instagram had been granted the option to convert their account into a business account. Once an account is registered for business, they are required to display their email addresses and phone numbers publicly, thereby compromising the privacy of minors who had switched to a business account. "We've made several updates to business accounts since the time of Mr Stier's mischaracterisation in 2019, and people can now opt out of including their contact information entirely”, a Facebook representative told BBC on Monday.

European Union is investigating Instagram's usage of children's data

To keep kids at bay from digital content which could addiction among youngsters, China is now enforcing strict measures.&nbsp;

According to Xinhua, a China-backed news agency, China will revamp a law to effectively ban internet products, and services that are capable of inducing addiction among kids.

Additionally, social networks are required to set and follow time and consumption limits. This includes game content, and livestream services, according to Reuters.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/china-imprisons-several-men-for-confining-children-in-internet-de-addiction-centres-311764" hreflang="en">China imprisons several men for confining children in internet de-addiction centres</a>

As part of China’s move to reform internet consumption, people can now raise complaints with internet providers to set in motion “necessary measures” in case of cyberbullying. People can now also ask internet providers to block and/or delete certain content.

The law will take effect next year starting June 1.

This is not the first time China has attempted to limit internet usage, especially in terms of gaming. Due to their efforts, companies like Tencent have started reforming their own mechanisms.

What does a ban mean?

Internet content creators on websites and portals will be required to put measures in place, to avoid production of “addictive” content.

Even though the law will only formally be enforced in China, this could impact the games and services made directly in China.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/business-economy/smartphone-addiction-digital-dependency-could-doom-the-youth-265243" hreflang="en">Smartphone addiction: Digital dependency could doom the youth</a>

The revised laws were&nbsp;voted for adoption by the National People's Congress Standing Committee on October 17, Saturday. The laws&nbsp;state that internet product and service providers "shall not offer minors products and services that induce&nbsp;addiction", as reported by Xinhua&nbsp;

Companies will be required to provide "corresponding functions" to limit consumption for minors.

Additionally, as per the new law, schools will now be required to report harassment and sexual assault of minors to the authorities.

To keep kids at bay from digital content which could addiction among youngsters, China is now enforcing strict measures. According to Xinhua, a China-backed news agency, China will revamp a law to effectively ban internet products, and services that are capable of inducing addiction among kids.

To keep kids at bay from digital content which could addiction among youngsters, China is now enforcing strict measures. According to Xinhua, a China-backed news agency, China will revamp a law to effectively ban internet products, and services that are capable of inducing addiction among kids. Additionally, social networks are required to set and follow time and consumption limits. This includes game content, and livestream services, according to Reuters. Also read: China imprisons several men for confining children in internet de-addiction centres As part of China’s move to reform internet consumption, people can now raise complaints with internet providers to set in motion “necessary measures” in case of cyberbullying. People can now also ask internet providers to block and/or delete certain content. The law will take effect next year starting June 1. This is not the first time China has attempted to limit internet usage, especially in terms of gaming. Due to their efforts, companies like Tencent have started reforming their own mechanisms. What does a ban mean? Internet content creators on websites and portals will be required to put measures in place, to avoid production of “addictive” content. Even though the law will only formally be enforced in China, this could impact the games and services made directly in China. Also read: Smartphone addiction: Digital dependency could doom the youth The revised laws were voted for adoption by the National People's Congress Standing Committee on October 17, Saturday. The laws state that internet product and service providers "shall not offer minors products and services that induce addiction", as reported by Xinhua Companies will be required to provide "corresponding functions" to limit consumption for minors. Additionally, as per the new law, schools will now be required to report harassment and sexual assault of minors to the authorities.

China's new law bans content deemed 'addictive' for kids

Social networking plaform Instagram is misuing its goodwill to trick people into purchasing products.

Influencers with thousands of followers are earning hefty remuneration&nbsp;from companies to promote&nbsp;products on Instagram.

Insta fans are being sold labels, over-priced hair products, useless skin serums, unessential luxury goods, over-hyped restaurants and&nbsp;scientifically unproven&nbsp;diets in a very, very discreet manner.

The business of Instagram marketing is massive.&nbsp;It is worth nearly $2 billion.

Here is a list of celebrities along with how much they are earning from sponsored advertisements per post:

Dwayne Johnson top the list with $1 million, followed by Kylie Jenner and Cristiano Ronaldo who earn&nbsp;$986,000 and&nbsp;$889,000 respectively.

They are accompanied by Kim Kardashian,&nbsp;Ariana Grande,&nbsp;Selena Gomez,&nbsp;Virat Kohli and&nbsp;Priyanka Chopra who get&nbsp;$858,000,&nbsp;$853,000,&nbsp;$848,000,&nbsp;$848,000, and&nbsp;$289,000 per post.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/instagram-agrees-curbs-on-paid-influencers-335719">Instagram agrees curbs on paid influencers</a>

Now, Instagram&nbsp;has agreed measures to crack down on hidden advertising by so-called influencers on its photo and video platform, Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Friday.

In what the CMA described as an important behaviour shift by a major social media platform, Facebook Ireland, which operates Instagram in Britain, has committed to a package of changes.

“This will make it much harder for people to post an advert on Instagram without labelling it as such,” the CMA said in a statement.

Facebook said the company was pleased to be working with the CMA on its continued efforts to increase transparency on when people are paid to post content on Instagram.

“We are also proud to be launching a programme with MediaSmart to help educate young people about branded content and how to identify it,” Facebook added.

The CMA said it has been investigating concerns that too many influencers are posting content about businesses without making it clear they have been paid or received other incentives to do so.

Influencers will have to confirm and disclose if they have received any incentives to promote a product or service.

Instagram will also use technology to spot when users might not have disclosed clearly that a post is an advertisement, the CMA said.

Social networking plaform Instagram is misuing its goodwill to trick people into purchasing products. Influencers with thousands of followers are earning hefty remuneration from companies to promote products on Instagram.

Social networking plaform Instagram is misuing its goodwill to trick people into purchasing products. Influencers with thousands of followers are earning hefty remuneration from companies to promote products on Instagram. Insta fans are being sold labels, over-priced hair products, useless skin serums, unessential luxury goods, over-hyped restaurants and scientifically unproven diets in a very, very discreet manner. The business of Instagram marketing is massive. It is worth nearly $2 billion. Here is a list of celebrities along with how much they are earning from sponsored advertisements per post: Dwayne Johnson top the list with $1 million, followed by Kylie Jenner and Cristiano Ronaldo who earn $986,000 and $889,000 respectively. They are accompanied by Kim Kardashian, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Virat Kohli and Priyanka Chopra who get $858,000, $853,000, $848,000, $848,000, and $289,000 per post. Also read: Instagram agrees curbs on paid influencers Now, Instagram has agreed measures to crack down on hidden advertising by so-called influencers on its photo and video platform, Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Friday. In what the CMA described as an important behaviour shift by a major social media platform, Facebook Ireland, which operates Instagram in Britain, has committed to a package of changes. “This will make it much harder for people to post an advert on Instagram without labelling it as such,” the CMA said in a statement. Facebook said the company was pleased to be working with the CMA on its continued efforts to increase transparency on when people are paid to post content on Instagram. “We are also proud to be launching a programme with MediaSmart to help educate young people about branded content and how to identify it,” Facebook added. The CMA said it has been investigating concerns that too many influencers are posting content about businesses without making it clear they have been paid or received other incentives to do so. Influencers will have to confirm and disclose if they have received any incentives to promote a product or service. Instagram will also use technology to spot when users might not have disclosed clearly that a post is an advertisement, the CMA said.

How influencers are making mega bucks promoting products on Instagram

Tech giant&nbsp;Twitter has annouced&nbsp;changes in its&nbsp;hacking policy after trying to bury&nbsp;a controversial story about US presidential Democratic candidate Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden.

Twitter&nbsp;policy chief Vijaya Gadde tweeted that the company has made the decision after receiving&nbsp;feedback on its enforcement earlier.

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So, what’s changing? 
 
1. We will no longer remove hacked content unless it is directly shared by hackers or those acting in concert with them 
 
2. We will label Tweets to provide context instead of blocking links from being shared on Twitter
— Vijaya Gadde (@vijaya) <a href="https://twitter.com/vijaya/status/1316923557268652033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Twitter and&nbsp;Facebook had&nbsp;limited the online distribution of a New York Post article on Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-fumes-as-facebook-twitter-limit-reach-of-smoking-gun-article-on-biden-and-his-son-335344">Trump fumes as Facebook, Twitter limit reach of 'smoking gun' article on Biden and his son</a>

Facebook reduced how often the story shows up in users' news feeds and elsewhere on the platform, an action spokesman Andy Stone said the company takes temporarily pending fact checker review "if we have signals that a piece of content is false."

The New York Post story stated&nbsp;that Hunter Biden tried introducing a top executive of a Ukrainian firm to his father Joe Biden. Hunter Biden worked for this firm.

Spokesperson for Biden campaign defended Joe Biden and Hunter Biden by saying that there was "no wrongdoing" on part of Joe Biden. He added that New York Post never reached out to Biden campaign for their response on this.

US President Donald Trump had congratulated The New York post and condemned the social media titans for the step.

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Congratulations to the <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nypost</a> for having exposed the massive corruption surrounding Sleepy Joe Biden and our Country. He’s always been a corrupt politician. Disgraceful!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1316580278568022016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"So terrible that Facebook and Twitter took down the story of “Smoking Gun” emails related to Sleepy Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, in the&nbsp;@NYPost. It is only the beginning for them. There is nothing worse than a corrupt politician. REPEAL SECTION 230!!!" tweeted Trump.

However, despite the changes in the 'hacking materials' policy,&nbsp;the New York Post story would still be blocked.

A company spokesman said the stories would still be blocked for "violating the rules on private personal information."

Twitter's Chief Executive&nbsp;Jack Dorsey said&nbsp;blocking New York Post article without context was wrong.

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Straight blocking of URLs was wrong, and we updated our policy and enforcement to fix. Our goal is to attempt to add context, and now we have capabilities to do that. <a href="https://t.co/ZLUw3YD887">https://t.co/ZLUw3YD887</a>
— jack (@jack) <a href="https://twitter.com/jack/status/1317081843443912706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Tech giant Twitter has annouced changes in its hacking policy after trying to bury a controversial story about US presidential Democratic candidate Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden.

Tech giant Twitter has annouced changes in its hacking policy after trying to bury a controversial story about US presidential Democratic candidate Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden. Twitter policy chief Vijaya Gadde tweeted that the company has made the decision after receiving feedback on its enforcement earlier. So, what’s changing? 1. We will no longer remove hacked content unless it is directly shared by hackers or those acting in concert with them 2. We will label Tweets to provide context instead of blocking links from being shared on Twitter — Vijaya Gadde (@vijaya) October 16, 2020 × Twitter and Facebook had limited the online distribution of a New York Post article on Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Also read: Trump fumes as Facebook, Twitter limit reach of 'smoking gun' article on Biden and his son Facebook reduced how often the story shows up in users' news feeds and elsewhere on the platform, an action spokesman Andy Stone said the company takes temporarily pending fact checker review "if we have signals that a piece of content is false." The New York Post story stated that Hunter Biden tried introducing a top executive of a Ukrainian firm to his father Joe Biden. Hunter Biden worked for this firm. Spokesperson for Biden campaign defended Joe Biden and Hunter Biden by saying that there was "no wrongdoing" on part of Joe Biden. He added that New York Post never reached out to Biden campaign for their response on this. US President Donald Trump had congratulated The New York post and condemned the social media titans for the step. Congratulations to the @nypost for having exposed the massive corruption surrounding Sleepy Joe Biden and our Country. He’s always been a corrupt politician. Disgraceful! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 15, 2020 × "So terrible that Facebook and Twitter took down the story of “Smoking Gun” emails related to Sleepy Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, in the @NYPost. It is only the beginning for them. There is nothing worse than a corrupt politician. REPEAL SECTION 230!!!" tweeted Trump. However, despite the changes in the 'hacking materials' policy, the New York Post story would still be blocked. A company spokesman said the stories would still be blocked for "violating the rules on private personal information." Twitter's Chief Executive Jack Dorsey said blocking New York Post article without context was wrong. Straight blocking of URLs was wrong, and we updated our policy and enforcement to fix. Our goal is to attempt to add context, and now we have capabilities to do that. https://t.co/ZLUw3YD887 — jack (@jack) October 16, 2020 ×

Twitter changes policy on hacking after Biden censorship expose fiasco

Ever been stuck in a situation where you cannot recall a song and cannot get it out of your mind too; where you simply cannot work out the name of the song or any of the lyrics?

Google Assistant is here to your rescue.

The tech giant has launched a feature called ‘hum to search’, which lets one hum to search for songs.

One can now request Google Assistant (or tap the mic icon on the Google Search widget) and ask “what’s this song?” then start humming.&nbsp;

The user needs to hum for around 10-15 seconds and Google Assistant will then use machine learning to try and identify the song.

Google will then give a selection of likely matches, so even if you don’t hum it perfectly there’s a good chance one of the options will be right.

Ever been stuck in a situation where you cannot recall a song and cannot get it out of your mind too; where you simply cannot work out the name of the song or any of the lyrics?

Ever been stuck in a situation where you cannot recall a song and cannot get it out of your mind too; where you simply cannot work out the name of the song or any of the lyrics? Google Assistant is here to your rescue. The tech giant has launched a feature called ‘hum to search’, which lets one hum to search for songs. One can now request Google Assistant (or tap the mic icon on the Google Search widget) and ask “what’s this song?” then start humming. The user needs to hum for around 10-15 seconds and Google Assistant will then use machine learning to try and identify the song. Google will then give a selection of likely matches, so even if you don’t hum it perfectly there’s a good chance one of the options will be right.

If you can hum a song, Google Assistant can now play it for you

Facebook’s Instagram has agreed measures to crack down on hidden advertising by so-called influencers on its photo and video platform, Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Friday.

Influencers with thousands of followers can earn large fees from companies to promotes a product on Instagram.

In what the CMA described as an important behaviour shift by a major social media platform, Facebook Ireland, which operates Instagram in Britain, has committed to a package of changes.

“This will make it much harder for people to post an advert on Instagram without labelling it as such,” the CMA said in a statement.

Facebook said the company was pleased to be working with the CMA on its continued efforts to increase transparency on when people are paid to post content on Instagram.

“We are also proud to be launching a programme with MediaSmart to help educate young people about branded content and how to identify it,” Facebook added.

The CMA said it has been investigating concerns that too many influencers are posting content about businesses without making it clear they have been paid or received other incentives to do so.

Influencers will have to confirm and disclose if they have received any incentives to promote a product or service.

Instagram will also use technology to spot when users might not have disclosed clearly that a post is an advertisement, the CMA said.

Last year 16 celebrities pledged to clean up their act on social media after CMA action, the watchdog added.

Facebook’s Instagram has agreed measures to crack down on hidden advertising by so-called influencers on its photo and video platform, Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Friday.

Facebook’s Instagram has agreed measures to crack down on hidden advertising by so-called influencers on its photo and video platform, Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Friday. Influencers with thousands of followers can earn large fees from companies to promotes a product on Instagram. In what the CMA described as an important behaviour shift by a major social media platform, Facebook Ireland, which operates Instagram in Britain, has committed to a package of changes. “This will make it much harder for people to post an advert on Instagram without labelling it as such,” the CMA said in a statement. Facebook said the company was pleased to be working with the CMA on its continued efforts to increase transparency on when people are paid to post content on Instagram. “We are also proud to be launching a programme with MediaSmart to help educate young people about branded content and how to identify it,” Facebook added. The CMA said it has been investigating concerns that too many influencers are posting content about businesses without making it clear they have been paid or received other incentives to do so. Influencers will have to confirm and disclose if they have received any incentives to promote a product or service. Instagram will also use technology to spot when users might not have disclosed clearly that a post is an advertisement, the CMA said. Last year 16 celebrities pledged to clean up their act on social media after CMA action, the watchdog added.

Instagram agrees curbs on paid influencers

Would you ever buy a Ferrari, if you lived in a place that didn't have good roads? The answer, I think, would be a resounding no, because you won't be able to drive it and experience the thrill of high speed. Simply because, the roads cannot handle those speeds. So, what’s the whole point of getting one, right?

The 5G-powered iPhone 12 is a bit like that Ferrari. It comes with the power of 5G, a technology that theoretically offers speeds 10 to 20 times faster than the current 4G wireless networks. But can you actually experience these blazing speeds on the new iPhone? No, you can’t. Because we don’t have the infrastructure that can facilitate these super-fast speeds.

This may sound harsh, but in India, buying a 5G phone is a waste because we don’t have 5G networks yet. And I don’t expect them to be in place before the mid of 2021.

If you talk about the US, several telecom operators have deployed 5G networks on lower spectrum bands, which offer slightly higher speeds than 4G. In fact, a noticeably faster variant of "mid-band" 5G is also being rolled out in America, but it will take around 5 years to reach 75 percent of the country's population. The fact is that, currently, 5G phones in the United States are seeing only a small bump up from 4G speeds. So, there's going to be relatively very little you can do on a 5G iPhone that you can't with a 4G iPhone.

In South Korea, 5G networks are better and faster, but local players such as Samsung are in a stronger position to woo users. Apple is likely to struggle there with its 5G proposition.

Another important thing to note is that we don’t even have many apps that can tap into the potential of 5G. Remember how the interest in 4G was fuelled by Facebook and YouTube mobile apps?

So, perhaps, we first need applications that can use higher speeds to deliver something new and kindle our interest in the next-gen mobile network.

The point I am trying to make here is that don’t buy the new iPhone just because it has 5G. Pick it only if you think it has everything else that you are looking for in your phone. The same holds true for 5G-enabled Android phones as well.

In short, 5G is still evolving. So, don’t fall for the 5G marketing gimmick that many phone makers are now banking on. It's simply a sales ploy.

Would you ever buy a Ferrari, if you lived in a place that didn't have good roads? The answer, I think, would be a resounding no, because you won't be able to drive it and experience the thrill of high speed.

Would you ever buy a Ferrari, if you lived in a place that didn't have good roads? The answer, I think, would be a resounding no, because you won't be able to drive it and experience the thrill of high speed. Simply because, the roads cannot handle those speeds. So, what’s the whole point of getting one, right? The 5G-powered iPhone 12 is a bit like that Ferrari. It comes with the power of 5G, a technology that theoretically offers speeds 10 to 20 times faster than the current 4G wireless networks. But can you actually experience these blazing speeds on the new iPhone? No, you can’t. Because we don’t have the infrastructure that can facilitate these super-fast speeds. This may sound harsh, but in India, buying a 5G phone is a waste because we don’t have 5G networks yet. And I don’t expect them to be in place before the mid of 2021. If you talk about the US, several telecom operators have deployed 5G networks on lower spectrum bands, which offer slightly higher speeds than 4G. In fact, a noticeably faster variant of "mid-band" 5G is also being rolled out in America, but it will take around 5 years to reach 75 percent of the country's population. The fact is that, currently, 5G phones in the United States are seeing only a small bump up from 4G speeds. So, there's going to be relatively very little you can do on a 5G iPhone that you can't with a 4G iPhone. In South Korea, 5G networks are better and faster, but local players such as Samsung are in a stronger position to woo users. Apple is likely to struggle there with its 5G proposition. Another important thing to note is that we don’t even have many apps that can tap into the potential of 5G. Remember how the interest in 4G was fuelled by Facebook and YouTube mobile apps? So, perhaps, we first need applications that can use higher speeds to deliver something new and kindle our interest in the next-gen mobile network. The point I am trying to make here is that don’t buy the new iPhone just because it has 5G. Pick it only if you think it has everything else that you are looking for in your phone. The same holds true for 5G-enabled Android phones as well. In short, 5G is still evolving. So, don’t fall for the 5G marketing gimmick that many phone makers are now banking on. It's simply a sales ploy.

Apple iPhone 12: Don't get tricked by the 5G gimmick

A Japanese computer has shed light on the spread of coronavirus and the role played by local conditions.

According tot he supercomputer, humidity can have a huge impact on the spread of COVID-19, and can potentially cause particles of virus to spread. This is owing to the dry conditions indoors during winter.

The findings add that humidifiers may assist in limiting the rate of infections during winter, when window ventilation is not viable. The study was released by Riken, a research giant, in collaboration with Kobe University.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/face-shields-ineffective-against-covid-19-rules-worlds-fastest-supercomputer-329398" hreflang="en">Face shields ineffective against COVID-19, rules world's fastest supercomputer</a>

Using the Fugaku supercomputer, the researchers modelled the emission and potential flow of COVID-19 like particles in indoor environments.

The researchers discovered that twice as much as aerosolised particles were released when the air humidity was lower than 30 per cent, when compared to humidity levels of 60 per cent and higher.

Additionally, the study added that masks are more effective than face shields when it comes to protecting oneself from COVID-19 aerosols.

The supercomputer also found that while dining, people are at more risk of contracting COVID-19 from others on the side, not to their front. It also added that the number of singers in choruses should be limited.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/worlds-fastest-supercomputer-deployed-to-find-cure-for-coronavirus-307948" hreflang="en">World's fastest supercomputer deployed to find 'cure' for coronavirus</a>

The scientific community is increasingly accepting that the virus can spread through air. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its guidelines earlier this month, claiming the pathogen can linger in the air for hours.

The research team for Riken was spearheaded by Makoto Tsubokura. The same team has led other studies which modelled spread of COVID-19 in work spaces, trains, and class rooms.

The computer simulations showed that opening windows on trains can help improve ventilation by three times, which in turn lowers the concentration of ambient microbes.

"People's blind fear or unfounded confidence against the infection of COVID-19 is simply because it is invisible," Tsubokura told Reuters.

A Japanese computer has shed light on the spread of coronavirus and the role played by local conditions. According tot he supercomputer, humidity can have a huge impact on the spread of COVID-19, and can potentially cause particles of virus to spread.

A Japanese computer has shed light on the spread of coronavirus and the role played by local conditions. According tot he supercomputer, humidity can have a huge impact on the spread of COVID-19, and can potentially cause particles of virus to spread. This is owing to the dry conditions indoors during winter. The findings add that humidifiers may assist in limiting the rate of infections during winter, when window ventilation is not viable. The study was released by Riken, a research giant, in collaboration with Kobe University. Also read: Face shields ineffective against COVID-19, rules world's fastest supercomputer Using the Fugaku supercomputer, the researchers modelled the emission and potential flow of COVID-19 like particles in indoor environments. The researchers discovered that twice as much as aerosolised particles were released when the air humidity was lower than 30 per cent, when compared to humidity levels of 60 per cent and higher. Additionally, the study added that masks are more effective than face shields when it comes to protecting oneself from COVID-19 aerosols. The supercomputer also found that while dining, people are at more risk of contracting COVID-19 from others on the side, not to their front. It also added that the number of singers in choruses should be limited. Also read: World's fastest supercomputer deployed to find 'cure' for coronavirus The scientific community is increasingly accepting that the virus can spread through air. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its guidelines earlier this month, claiming the pathogen can linger in the air for hours. The research team for Riken was spearheaded by Makoto Tsubokura. The same team has led other studies which modelled spread of COVID-19 in work spaces, trains, and class rooms. The computer simulations showed that opening windows on trains can help improve ventilation by three times, which in turn lowers the concentration of ambient microbes. "People's blind fear or unfounded confidence against the infection of COVID-19 is simply because it is invisible," Tsubokura told Reuters.

Japanese supercomputer Fugaku shows how humidity affects aerosol spread of COVID-19

Huawei&nbsp;Technologies Co Ltd is in talks with Digital China Group Co Ltd and other suitors to sell parts of its Honor smartphone unit in a deal that could fetch up to 25 billion yuan ($3.7 billion), people with knowledge of the matter said.

Embattled&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;is resetting its priorities due to US&nbsp;sanctions and will focus on its higher-end&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;phones rather than the Honor brand which is aimed at young people and the budget conscious, they said.

The assets to be sold have yet to be finalised but could include Honor's brand, research &amp; development capabilities and related supply chain management business, two of the people said.

The deal may be an all-cash sale and could end up smaller, worth somewhere between 15 billion yuan and 25 billion yuan, one of the people said.

Digital China, the main distributor for Honor phones, has emerged as the frontrunner but other prospective buyers include Chinese electronics maker TCL and rival smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp, the people said, declining to be identified as the talks were confidential.

Huawei, the world's biggest telecoms equipment vendor and No.2 smartphone maker, declined to comment as did TCL. Digital China and Xiaomi did not respond to requests for comment.

The Honor brand was established by&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;in 2013 but the business mostly operates independently from its parent.

'A WIN-WIN SITUATION'

Kuo Ming-chi, an analyst at TF International Securities, has said that any sale by&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;of the Honor smartphone business would be a win-win situation for the Honor brand, its suppliers and China's electronics industry.

"If Honor is independent from&nbsp;Huawei, its purchase of components will no longer be subject to the US&nbsp;ban on&nbsp;Huawei. This will help Honor's smartphone business and the suppliers," he wrote in a research note last week.

The US&nbsp;government last year moved to prevent most US&nbsp;companies from conducting business with&nbsp;Huawei, saying the tech giant was ultimately answerable to the Chinese government.&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;has repeatedly denied being a national security risk.

In May, Washington announced new rules aimed at constricting&nbsp;Huawei's ability to procure crucial chips that it designs for 5G networking gear and smartphones.

The Honor brand, which sells its phones online through its own sites and via third-party retailers, competes with Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo in the market for lower-end phones in China. Its phones are also sold in Southeast Asia and Europe.

Honor brand smartphones accounted for 14.6 million, or 26 per cent of the 55.8 million smartphones&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;shipped in the second quarter of this year, according to estimates from research firm Canalys.

But margins for lower-end phones can be razor thin, and Honor booked less than 5 billion yuan in net profit on revenue of about 70-80 billion yuan last year, said one of the people.

If successful in its bid, Digital China, which also partners with&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;in cloud computing and other businesses, plans to finance the bulk of deal with bank loans and is set to secure the financing in the coming weeks, the people said.

Shares in Digital China initially rose by their maximum daily limit of 10% but later pared gains to stand 3 per cent&nbsp;higher on Wednesday afternoon, giving the Shenzhen-listed company a market value of around $2.9 billion.

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd is in talks with Digital China Group Co Ltd and other suitors to sell parts of its Honor smartphone unit in a deal that could fetch up to 25 billion yuan ($3.

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd is in talks with Digital China Group Co Ltd and other suitors to sell parts of its Honor smartphone unit in a deal that could fetch up to 25 billion yuan ($3.7 billion), people with knowledge of the matter said. Embattled Huawei is resetting its priorities due to US sanctions and will focus on its higher-end Huawei phones rather than the Honor brand which is aimed at young people and the budget conscious, they said. The assets to be sold have yet to be finalised but could include Honor's brand, research & development capabilities and related supply chain management business, two of the people said. The deal may be an all-cash sale and could end up smaller, worth somewhere between 15 billion yuan and 25 billion yuan, one of the people said. Digital China, the main distributor for Honor phones, has emerged as the frontrunner but other prospective buyers include Chinese electronics maker TCL and rival smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp, the people said, declining to be identified as the talks were confidential. Huawei, the world's biggest telecoms equipment vendor and No.2 smartphone maker, declined to comment as did TCL. Digital China and Xiaomi did not respond to requests for comment. The Honor brand was established by Huawei in 2013 but the business mostly operates independently from its parent. 'A WIN-WIN SITUATION' Kuo Ming-chi, an analyst at TF International Securities, has said that any sale by Huawei of the Honor smartphone business would be a win-win situation for the Honor brand, its suppliers and China's electronics industry. "If Honor is independent from Huawei, its purchase of components will no longer be subject to the US ban on Huawei. This will help Honor's smartphone business and the suppliers," he wrote in a research note last week. The US government last year moved to prevent most US companies from conducting business with Huawei, saying the tech giant was ultimately answerable to the Chinese government. Huawei has repeatedly denied being a national security risk. In May, Washington announced new rules aimed at constricting Huawei's ability to procure crucial chips that it designs for 5G networking gear and smartphones. The Honor brand, which sells its phones online through its own sites and via third-party retailers, competes with Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo in the market for lower-end phones in China. Its phones are also sold in Southeast Asia and Europe. Honor brand smartphones accounted for 14.6 million, or 26 per cent of the 55.8 million smartphones Huawei shipped in the second quarter of this year, according to estimates from research firm Canalys. But margins for lower-end phones can be razor thin, and Honor booked less than 5 billion yuan in net profit on revenue of about 70-80 billion yuan last year, said one of the people. If successful in its bid, Digital China, which also partners with Huawei in cloud computing and other businesses, plans to finance the bulk of deal with bank loans and is set to secure the financing in the coming weeks, the people said. Shares in Digital China initially rose by their maximum daily limit of 10% but later pared gains to stand 3 per cent higher on Wednesday afternoon, giving the Shenzhen-listed company a market value of around $2.9 billion.

Huawei in talks to sell parts of its Honor smartphone business: Sources

Journalists covering COVID-19 pandemic claim that Facebook is the biggest spreader of disinformation, followed by elected officials. &nbsp;

An international survey of journalism and COVID-19 conducted by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University shed light on false information.

Facebook recently updated its hate speech policy, effectively banning all content which denies or distorts the Holocaust. Earlier, Zuckerberg had denied appeals to do the same.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/dr-li-meng-yan-virologist-who-claims-covid-19-manufactured-in-china-lab-challenges-facebook-335158" hreflang="en">Dr Li-Meng Yan, virologist who claims COVID-19 manufactured in China lab challenges Facebook</a>

The researchers found that 66 per cent journalists&nbsp; associated Facebook with fake news, and called it the primary source of “prolific disinformation”.

82 per cent journalists part of the study claimed to have reported misinformation to Facebook, and its corollary platforms WhatsApp and Instagram. Out of these, almost half claimed that they were dissatisfied with the company’s response.

The survey also looked at disinformation spread on Twitter, Youtube, and Google search. The project began in April 2020 to ascertain the correlation between coronavirus and journalism.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/facebook-will-ban-ads-discouraging-people-from-getting-vaccines-335075" hreflang="en">Facebook will ban ads discouraging people from getting vaccines</a>

Half of the journalists from the US, UK, India, Nigeria, and Brazil claimed politicians and elected officials remained the second top source of false information regarding COVID-19, after social media.

In August, findings claimed that websites spreading misinformation about COVID-19 garnered half a billion views on Facebook in the month of April, when COVID-19 was spreading ferociously throughout the world.

Journalists covering COVID-19 pandemic claim that Facebook is the biggest spreader of disinformation, followed by elected officials. An international survey of journalism and COVID-19 conducted by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University shed light on false information.

Journalists covering COVID-19 pandemic claim that Facebook is the biggest spreader of disinformation, followed by elected officials. An international survey of journalism and COVID-19 conducted by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University shed light on false information. Facebook recently updated its hate speech policy, effectively banning all content which denies or distorts the Holocaust. Earlier, Zuckerberg had denied appeals to do the same. Also read: Dr Li-Meng Yan, virologist who claims COVID-19 manufactured in China lab challenges Facebook The researchers found that 66 per cent journalists associated Facebook with fake news, and called it the primary source of “prolific disinformation”. 82 per cent journalists part of the study claimed to have reported misinformation to Facebook, and its corollary platforms WhatsApp and Instagram. Out of these, almost half claimed that they were dissatisfied with the company’s response. The survey also looked at disinformation spread on Twitter, Youtube, and Google search. The project began in April 2020 to ascertain the correlation between coronavirus and journalism. Also read: Facebook will ban ads discouraging people from getting vaccines Half of the journalists from the US, UK, India, Nigeria, and Brazil claimed politicians and elected officials remained the second top source of false information regarding COVID-19, after social media. In August, findings claimed that websites spreading misinformation about COVID-19 garnered half a billion views on Facebook in the month of April, when COVID-19 was spreading ferociously throughout the world.

Facebook and elected officials biggest sources of coronavirus disinformation, journalists claim

Tech giant&nbsp;Twitter has been fined $100,000 for ''multiple campaign finance violations'' for failing to keep records of&nbsp; advertisements public.

It has been asked to pay Washington state's Public Disclosure Transparency Account&nbsp;the state's Attorney General Bob Ferguson said on Tuesday.

It comes with less than a month to go for the United States election 2020 on November 3.

Interestingly, Twitter&nbsp;earned nearly $200,000 for campaign ads from 2012 through 2019 but failed to follow Washington state disclosure laws, the attorney general's office said in a statement.

According to papers filed at the King County Superior Court, the company failed to maintain the required records for at least 38 Washington candidates and committees that reported paying $194,550 for political advertising on&nbsp;Twitter's platform since 2012.

"Transparency in political advertising is critical to a free and informed electorate," Ferguson said. "Whether you are a local newspaper or a multinational social media platform, you must follow our campaign finance laws."

Tech giant Twitter has been fined $100,000 for ''multiple campaign finance violations'' for failing to keep records of advertisements public. It has been asked to pay Washington state's Public Disclosure Transparency Account the state's Attorney General Bob Ferguson said on Tuesday.

Tech giant Twitter has been fined $100,000 for ''multiple campaign finance violations'' for failing to keep records of advertisements public. It has been asked to pay Washington state's Public Disclosure Transparency Account the state's Attorney General Bob Ferguson said on Tuesday. It comes with less than a month to go for the United States election 2020 on November 3. Interestingly, Twitter earned nearly $200,000 for campaign ads from 2012 through 2019 but failed to follow Washington state disclosure laws, the attorney general's office said in a statement. According to papers filed at the King County Superior Court, the company failed to maintain the required records for at least 38 Washington candidates and committees that reported paying $194,550 for political advertising on Twitter's platform since 2012. "Transparency in political advertising is critical to a free and informed electorate," Ferguson said. "Whether you are a local newspaper or a multinational social media platform, you must follow our campaign finance laws."

US election 2020: Twitter fined $100,000 for campaign violations; earned twice during process

NEW YORK — Facebook has just leased enough new office space in Manhattan to nearly triple its current local workforce, including at one of the city’s most iconic buildings, the 107-year-old former main post office complex near Pennsylvania Station.

Apple, which set up its first office in New York a decade ago, is expanding to another building in Manhattan. And Google and Amazon are stitching together corporate campuses in the city more quickly than anywhere else in the world. Amazon paid roughly $1 billion in March for the iconic Lord &amp; Taylor building on Fifth Avenue.

Despite a pandemic that has ravaged New York, hollowed out many of its office buildings and raised fundamental questions about its future, the four companies collectively known as Big Tech are all significantly expanding their footprint in the city, giving it a badly needed vote of confidence.

With fears that the virus could spike again in the colder months, many companies are grappling with how, when and even if office workers will come back to buildings in Manhattan. And the tech giants have not brought their workers back yet, either.

Even so, the giants have not only moved forward with previous growth plans, but have also increased their pace of hiring and office acquisition during the pandemic.

The industry’s embrace of New York City comes despite the tumultuous reception that Amazon received last year when it proposed building a sprawling headquarters in Queens. Amazon abandoned the plans in the face of political and community opposition, but now has acquired more than 2 million square feet of office space for corporate workers, as well as warehouses from Staten Island to Queens to the Bronx.

After Amazon bought the Lord &amp; Taylor building, it announced in August that 2,000 employees would eventually work there, increasing by half its current tech workforce of 4,000.

Amazon now has eight office properties in New York, most of which are clustered in Midtown. The company recently expanded outside Manhattan, leasing space on the Brooklyn waterfront for its Amazon Music team.

“We know that talent attracts talent, and we believe that the creative energy of cities like New York will continue to attract diverse professionals from around the world,” said Ardine Williams, Amazon’s vice president of workforce development.

Even with Big Tech’s expansion, the city continues to face a fundamental challenge: Most offices have been deserted since March, devastating the local economy and the ecosystem of transit, stores, restaurants and other business that depend on workers. Only about 12% of workers have returned to Manhattan offices managed by CBRE, a commercial real estate firm that manages 20 million square feet of office space in the city.

Many people do not want to go back to offices until there is a vaccine. Even after that, there are mounting questions about whether the pandemic has fundamentally tarnished the allure of the office towers of Midtown and Lower Manhattan.

What’s more, a recent uptick in new cases in parts of Brooklyn and Queens has raised fears that a second wave looms and that restrictions on daily life could be reimposed.

Collectively, Amazon, Google, Facebook and Apple have hired more than 2,600 employees in the city so far this year, bringing their total employment to over 22,000 people. Facebook alone has added 1,100 workers to bring its current workforce up to 4,000.

Apple, Amazon and Facebook have gobbled up more than 1.6 million square feet of office space since the start of the year, most of which was leased or bought during the pandemic. Before the pandemic, Google added about 1.7 million square feet of office space as part of a corporate campus rising along the Hudson River in Manhattan.

The companies now have enough new office space to hire another 15,000 employees. When those workers will arrive at the new offices remains uncertain; all four companies have allowed their employees to work remotely and some, including Facebook, foresee a future in which up to half its employees work from home.

Executives at the companies said their investments even during one of the city’s darkest periods reflect their belief that the features that set New York apart — its diversity, culture, regional transportation network and numerous colleges and universities — will keep luring people after the pandemic.

To a large extent, the companies are also wagering that current and future employees will be eager to return to shared workplaces that promote spontaneity and collaboration.

“The big takeaway here is that New York will always be a tech hub,” said William Floyd, director of external affairs for Google’s New York offices, which has about 9,000 workers, more than half of whom are engineers.

Google is on target to employ 14,000 people in the city in the coming years, fulfilling a 2018 pledge to double its New York City workforce. The company has pieced together a sizable corporate campus in and around the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan, including several properties that are under construction.

The tech sector first settled in New York more than two decades ago, a tiny player in the shadows of the city’s traditional powerhouse industries like finance, media, real estate and health care. Google opened its first outpost outside California, a sales office in Manhattan with a lone employee, in 2000.

But in recent years, New York has blossomed into a bona fide tech hub, an East Coast rival to Silicon Valley that has become a second home to tech behemoths but has also given rise to thousands of startups.

The larger companies have established a tech corridor on Manhattan’s West Side, stretching from West 34th Street in Midtown south to the World Trade Center area in Lower Manhattan.

The focus of the tech companies in New York has shifted from marketing and sales departments to teams that mirror those in Silicon Valley. They have recruited engineers and developers from local and regional universities and filled some roles with West Coast employees who want to decamp to New York City.

For every Big Tech company in the city, there are numerous smaller but still sizable firms, including Salesforce, LinkedIn, Spotify and ZocDoc. Microsoft, another tech giant, has a modest presence in offices near Times Square.

Before the pandemic, the city’s tech sector employed 150,100 people, and had added a total of 15,700 jobs in 2018 and 2019, according to the New York state comptroller’s office. Most of the new jobs were in fields like software, data processing and internet publishing.

The pace of hiring is expected to keep climbing.

In August, when Facebook grabbed all the office space at the James A. Farley Building near Pennsylvania Station, it cemented Manhattan’s West Side as its East Coast campus.

The company said it leased 730,000 square feet at the old post office in part because of its cavernous layout — a rarity among New York City buildings — which mimics the large open areas at its headquarters in Menlo Park, California. When a renovation is completed next year, the building will be filled with engineers.

“The floor plan will allow for multiple teams to be housed on those floors,” said Jamila Reeves, a company spokeswoman, “and we don’t necessarily have to break folks up.”

Around the corner from the Farley Building, Apple signed a lease for 220,000 square feet at 11 Penn Plaza, a 1923 art deco tower near Madison Square Garden.

Before the deal, Apple, which has said very little about its plans in the city, had not expanded beyond an office building on Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron neighborhood that it moved into in 2011.

Smaller tech companies have also kept adding to their payrolls right through the outbreak.

MongoDB, a cloud database platform whose headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, has hired 97 employees since the beginning of the pandemic, bringing its total workforce in the city to 551.

The company, whose products are used by Verizon, eBay and Adobe among other companies, has more than 2,100 employees worldwide and is creating a hybrid work model to have employees work remotely some days and in the office on others.

“While there are questions about what the future of work post-COVID will look like, we plan to maintain office spaces in New York,” said Dev Ittycheria, the company’s chief executive. “We believe that being physically present with colleagues in an office can offer important opportunities for in-person interaction, collaboration, and connection that are important for the success of our company.”

One of the company’s newest hires, Farah Wahab, started in August as a product marketing manager after working for five years at tech companies in San Francisco.

Though San Francisco has a far larger tech scene, she said the city felt more insular compared with New York.

“I love S.F. but it can feel a bit like a tech-centric bubble isolated from the real world,” Wahab, 32, said. “Being around different industries and types of people, as well as greater access to the market, was important to me both personally and professionally.”

Kia D. Floyd, Facebook’s head of public policy for the east and Midwest regions, pointed out that the company set up shop in New York shortly before the 2008 Great Recession, another challenging period of uncertainty in the city.

“People fled the city then and didn’t think it would come back,” Floyd said. “But the city has grit and resilience and diversity, and it was always going to be inspirational for businesses like ours.” 
&nbsp;

NEW YORK — Facebook has just leased enough new office space in Manhattan to nearly triple its current local workforce, including at one of the city’s most iconic buildings, the 107-year-old former main post office complex near Pennsylvania Station.

NEW YORK — Facebook has just leased enough new office space in Manhattan to nearly triple its current local workforce, including at one of the city’s most iconic buildings, the 107-year-old former main post office complex near Pennsylvania Station. Apple, which set up its first office in New York a decade ago, is expanding to another building in Manhattan. And Google and Amazon are stitching together corporate campuses in the city more quickly than anywhere else in the world. Amazon paid roughly $1 billion in March for the iconic Lord & Taylor building on Fifth Avenue. Despite a pandemic that has ravaged New York, hollowed out many of its office buildings and raised fundamental questions about its future, the four companies collectively known as Big Tech are all significantly expanding their footprint in the city, giving it a badly needed vote of confidence. With fears that the virus could spike again in the colder months, many companies are grappling with how, when and even if office workers will come back to buildings in Manhattan. And the tech giants have not brought their workers back yet, either. Even so, the giants have not only moved forward with previous growth plans, but have also increased their pace of hiring and office acquisition during the pandemic. The industry’s embrace of New York City comes despite the tumultuous reception that Amazon received last year when it proposed building a sprawling headquarters in Queens. Amazon abandoned the plans in the face of political and community opposition, but now has acquired more than 2 million square feet of office space for corporate workers, as well as warehouses from Staten Island to Queens to the Bronx. After Amazon bought the Lord & Taylor building, it announced in August that 2,000 employees would eventually work there, increasing by half its current tech workforce of 4,000. Amazon now has eight office properties in New York, most of which are clustered in Midtown. The company recently expanded outside Manhattan, leasing space on the Brooklyn waterfront for its Amazon Music team. “We know that talent attracts talent, and we believe that the creative energy of cities like New York will continue to attract diverse professionals from around the world,” said Ardine Williams, Amazon’s vice president of workforce development. Even with Big Tech’s expansion, the city continues to face a fundamental challenge: Most offices have been deserted since March, devastating the local economy and the ecosystem of transit, stores, restaurants and other business that depend on workers. Only about 12% of workers have returned to Manhattan offices managed by CBRE, a commercial real estate firm that manages 20 million square feet of office space in the city. Many people do not want to go back to offices until there is a vaccine. Even after that, there are mounting questions about whether the pandemic has fundamentally tarnished the allure of the office towers of Midtown and Lower Manhattan. What’s more, a recent uptick in new cases in parts of Brooklyn and Queens has raised fears that a second wave looms and that restrictions on daily life could be reimposed. Collectively, Amazon, Google, Facebook and Apple have hired more than 2,600 employees in the city so far this year, bringing their total employment to over 22,000 people. Facebook alone has added 1,100 workers to bring its current workforce up to 4,000. Apple, Amazon and Facebook have gobbled up more than 1.6 million square feet of office space since the start of the year, most of which was leased or bought during the pandemic. Before the pandemic, Google added about 1.7 million square feet of office space as part of a corporate campus rising along the Hudson River in Manhattan. The companies now have enough new office space to hire another 15,000 employees. When those workers will arrive at the new offices remains uncertain; all four companies have allowed their employees to work remotely and some, including Facebook, foresee a future in which up to half its employees work from home. Executives at the companies said their investments even during one of the city’s darkest periods reflect their belief that the features that set New York apart — its diversity, culture, regional transportation network and numerous colleges and universities — will keep luring people after the pandemic. To a large extent, the companies are also wagering that current and future employees will be eager to return to shared workplaces that promote spontaneity and collaboration. “The big takeaway here is that New York will always be a tech hub,” said William Floyd, director of external affairs for Google’s New York offices, which has about 9,000 workers, more than half of whom are engineers. Google is on target to employ 14,000 people in the city in the coming years, fulfilling a 2018 pledge to double its New York City workforce. The company has pieced together a sizable corporate campus in and around the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan, including several properties that are under construction. The tech sector first settled in New York more than two decades ago, a tiny player in the shadows of the city’s traditional powerhouse industries like finance, media, real estate and health care. Google opened its first outpost outside California, a sales office in Manhattan with a lone employee, in 2000. But in recent years, New York has blossomed into a bona fide tech hub, an East Coast rival to Silicon Valley that has become a second home to tech behemoths but has also given rise to thousands of startups. The larger companies have established a tech corridor on Manhattan’s West Side, stretching from West 34th Street in Midtown south to the World Trade Center area in Lower Manhattan. The focus of the tech companies in New York has shifted from marketing and sales departments to teams that mirror those in Silicon Valley. They have recruited engineers and developers from local and regional universities and filled some roles with West Coast employees who want to decamp to New York City. For every Big Tech company in the city, there are numerous smaller but still sizable firms, including Salesforce, LinkedIn, Spotify and ZocDoc. Microsoft, another tech giant, has a modest presence in offices near Times Square. Before the pandemic, the city’s tech sector employed 150,100 people, and had added a total of 15,700 jobs in 2018 and 2019, according to the New York state comptroller’s office. Most of the new jobs were in fields like software, data processing and internet publishing. The pace of hiring is expected to keep climbing. In August, when Facebook grabbed all the office space at the James A. Farley Building near Pennsylvania Station, it cemented Manhattan’s West Side as its East Coast campus. The company said it leased 730,000 square feet at the old post office in part because of its cavernous layout — a rarity among New York City buildings — which mimics the large open areas at its headquarters in Menlo Park, California. When a renovation is completed next year, the building will be filled with engineers. “The floor plan will allow for multiple teams to be housed on those floors,” said Jamila Reeves, a company spokeswoman, “and we don’t necessarily have to break folks up.” Around the corner from the Farley Building, Apple signed a lease for 220,000 square feet at 11 Penn Plaza, a 1923 art deco tower near Madison Square Garden. Before the deal, Apple, which has said very little about its plans in the city, had not expanded beyond an office building on Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron neighborhood that it moved into in 2011. Smaller tech companies have also kept adding to their payrolls right through the outbreak. MongoDB, a cloud database platform whose headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, has hired 97 employees since the beginning of the pandemic, bringing its total workforce in the city to 551. The company, whose products are used by Verizon, eBay and Adobe among other companies, has more than 2,100 employees worldwide and is creating a hybrid work model to have employees work remotely some days and in the office on others. “While there are questions about what the future of work post-COVID will look like, we plan to maintain office spaces in New York,” said Dev Ittycheria, the company’s chief executive. “We believe that being physically present with colleagues in an office can offer important opportunities for in-person interaction, collaboration, and connection that are important for the success of our company.” One of the company’s newest hires, Farah Wahab, started in August as a product marketing manager after working for five years at tech companies in San Francisco. Though San Francisco has a far larger tech scene, she said the city felt more insular compared with New York. “I love S.F. but it can feel a bit like a tech-centric bubble isolated from the real world,” Wahab, 32, said. “Being around different industries and types of people, as well as greater access to the market, was important to me both personally and professionally.” Kia D. Floyd, Facebook’s head of public policy for the east and Midwest regions, pointed out that the company set up shop in New York shortly before the 2008 Great Recession, another challenging period of uncertainty in the city. “People fled the city then and didn’t think it would come back,” Floyd said. “But the city has grit and resilience and diversity, and it was always going to be inspirational for businesses like ours.”

Manhattan emptied out during the pandemic. But Big Tech is moving in

An app launched by China's Tuber by a cybersecurity firm Qihoo 360 disappeared after it gave the country’s internet users access to Facebook and Google which are banned in the Communist country.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/quantum-leap-united-states-unveils-blueprint-for-virtually-unhackable-internet-315799">Also Read:&nbsp;'Quantum' leap: United States unveils blueprint for virtually 'unhackable internet'</a>

The App also allowed Chinese citizens to legally access Youtube and Instagram photos without resorting to the illegal virtual private network(VPN). However, it disappeared from &nbsp;Huawei's app store.

China controls all access to the Internet in the country with users allowed to access only government sanctioned sites. Tuber was reportedly dowloaded five million times on Huawei’s App store.

The new app had allowed millions of Chinese to bypass the state-controlled Great Firewall. After it was launched, it required personal information from users namely names and identity card numbers even as some users complained it too slow.

Qihoo 360 is owned by China's tech tycoon Zhou Hongyi who had delisted his company from the New York stock exchange four years ago and aligned itself to China's policies. The US had earlier this year sanctioned Zhou’s two companies over national security concerns.

The US government had earlier clamped down on China's popular video-sharing app TikTok over security concerns. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said following the Trump administration's line had said that TikTok must become a "US-based company controlled by US investors".

However, China's Xi Jinping regime accused Trump of "bullying" and "abusing national power" in its bid to take over TikTok.

An app launched by China's Tuber by a cybersecurity firm Qihoo 360 disappeared after it gave the country’s internet users access to Facebook and Google which are banned in the Communist country.

An app launched by China's Tuber by a cybersecurity firm Qihoo 360 disappeared after it gave the country’s internet users access to Facebook and Google which are banned in the Communist country. Also Read: 'Quantum' leap: United States unveils blueprint for virtually 'unhackable internet' The App also allowed Chinese citizens to legally access Youtube and Instagram photos without resorting to the illegal virtual private network(VPN). However, it disappeared from Huawei's app store. China controls all access to the Internet in the country with users allowed to access only government sanctioned sites. Tuber was reportedly dowloaded five million times on Huawei’s App store. The new app had allowed millions of Chinese to bypass the state-controlled Great Firewall. After it was launched, it required personal information from users namely names and identity card numbers even as some users complained it too slow. Qihoo 360 is owned by China's tech tycoon Zhou Hongyi who had delisted his company from the New York stock exchange four years ago and aligned itself to China's policies. The US had earlier this year sanctioned Zhou’s two companies over national security concerns. The US government had earlier clamped down on China's popular video-sharing app TikTok over security concerns. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said following the Trump administration's line had said that TikTok must become a "US-based company controlled by US investors". However, China's Xi Jinping regime accused Trump of "bullying" and "abusing national power" in its bid to take over TikTok.

China's Tuber app bypasses Great Firewall, then disappears

Apple iPhone 12 series - Apple Inc on Tuesday (October 13) launched its next-generation iPhone 12, with faster 5G connectivity that the Cupertino-based&nbsp;company hopes will&nbsp;keep its sales booming through the end of the year. During the launch event, Apple unveiled four iPhone 12 devices. iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12&nbsp;Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.&nbsp;All are equipped with 5G technology.

The core of the line-up, the iPhone 12 has a 6.1-inch display, while a 'Mini' version has 5.4-inch and is slightly cheaper. A 'Pro' version comes with three cameras and a new 3-D 'lidar' sensor. The largest in the series is the 'Pro Max'.&nbsp;

iPhone 12 will be available in India October 30 onwards. Dates for other devices have&nbsp;not been specified.

&nbsp;

<h2>Apple iPhone 12 series - Specifications</h2>

The iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max run on iOS 14 out of the box.

All of these phones come with Super Retina XDR OLED displays.&nbsp;

These smartphones are powered by the A14 Bionic SoC, which is designed to handle talks including 4K video editing.

iPhone 12 mini has a 5.4-inch screen while iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro have 6.1-inch form-factor&nbsp;

iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch screen.

The iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 feature 12-megapixel dual rear cameras with an f/1.6 aperture and f/2.4 aperture respectively.

iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max have 12-mexapixel triple rear cameras that have wide (f/1.6), ultra-wide (f/2.4) and additional telephoto (f/2.0 on Pro and f/2.2 on Pro Max) lens. They also include a LiDAR (a portmanteau of light and radar) scanne&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<h2>The price:&nbsp;Apple iPhone 12 series</h2>

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini will be available in 64GB, 128GB and 256 GB variants.

If you want a choice of colours, it's available as well.

You can choose between Black, White, Blue, Green and Red.

64 GB variant of iPhone 12 mini has been priced at Rs 69,900.

iPhone mini 12 with 128GB storage will cost you Rs 74,900

Its 256GB storage variant will set you back by Rs 84,900.

&nbsp;

<h2>iPhone 12</h2>

64 GB iPhone 12 has been priced at Rs 79,900.

128GB variant will cost you Rs 84,900

And Finally, 256GB variant wil be yours if you pay 94,900.

iPhone 12 has been designed by Apple to be a successor of iPhone 11.

&nbsp;

<h2>iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max</h2>

These are larger iPhones in this series unveiled by Apple. Both feature 512 GB variant.

iPhone 12 Pro starts selling at Rs 1,19,900 &nbsp;for 128GB model.

256 GB model will be yours if you pay 1,29,900

512 GB iPhone 12 Pro will be your neighbour's envy if you shell out a cool Rs 1,49,900

iPhone 12 Pro is intended to be a successor for iPhone 11 Pro

&nbsp;

<h2>Let's talk about iPhone Pro Max</h2>

iPhone Pro Max is the top-of-the-line for this series.

Its 128GB variant has been priced at Rs 1,29,900

The model with 256GB internal memory will cost you 1,39,900

512GB variant will be yours if you pay Rs 1,59,900

iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max will be available in Gold, Graphite, Pacific Blue, and Silver colours. 
&nbsp;

Apple iPhone 12 series - Apple Inc on Tuesday (October 13) launched its next-generation iPhone 12, with faster 5G connectivity that the Cupertino-based company hopes will keep its sales booming through the end of the year.

Apple iPhone 12 series - Apple Inc on Tuesday (October 13) launched its next-generation iPhone 12, with faster 5G connectivity that the Cupertino-based company hopes will keep its sales booming through the end of the year. During the launch event, Apple unveiled four iPhone 12 devices. iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. All are equipped with 5G technology. The core of the line-up, the iPhone 12 has a 6.1-inch display, while a 'Mini' version has 5.4-inch and is slightly cheaper. A 'Pro' version comes with three cameras and a new 3-D 'lidar' sensor. The largest in the series is the 'Pro Max'. iPhone 12 will be available in India October 30 onwards. Dates for other devices have not been specified. Apple iPhone 12 series - Specifications The iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max run on iOS 14 out of the box. All of these phones come with Super Retina XDR OLED displays. These smartphones are powered by the A14 Bionic SoC, which is designed to handle talks including 4K video editing. iPhone 12 mini has a 5.4-inch screen while iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro have 6.1-inch form-factor iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch screen. The iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 feature 12-megapixel dual rear cameras with an f/1.6 aperture and f/2.4 aperture respectively. iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max have 12-mexapixel triple rear cameras that have wide (f/1.6), ultra-wide (f/2.4) and additional telephoto (f/2.0 on Pro and f/2.2 on Pro Max) lens. They also include a LiDAR (a portmanteau of light and radar) scanne The price: Apple iPhone 12 series iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini will be available in 64GB, 128GB and 256 GB variants. If you want a choice of colours, it's available as well. You can choose between Black, White, Blue, Green and Red. 64 GB variant of iPhone 12 mini has been priced at Rs 69,900. iPhone mini 12 with 128GB storage will cost you Rs 74,900 Its 256GB storage variant will set you back by Rs 84,900. iPhone 12 64 GB iPhone 12 has been priced at Rs 79,900. 128GB variant will cost you Rs 84,900 And Finally, 256GB variant wil be yours if you pay 94,900. iPhone 12 has been designed by Apple to be a successor of iPhone 11. iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max These are larger iPhones in this series unveiled by Apple. Both feature 512 GB variant. iPhone 12 Pro starts selling at Rs 1,19,900 for 128GB model. 256 GB model will be yours if you pay 1,29,900 512 GB iPhone 12 Pro will be your neighbour's envy if you shell out a cool Rs 1,49,900 iPhone 12 Pro is intended to be a successor for iPhone 11 Pro Let's talk about iPhone Pro Max iPhone Pro Max is the top-of-the-line for this series. Its 128GB variant has been priced at Rs 1,29,900 The model with 256GB internal memory will cost you 1,39,900 512GB variant will be yours if you pay Rs 1,59,900 iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max will be available in Gold, Graphite, Pacific Blue, and Silver colours.

Apple iPhone 12 series: Check out prices, availability, specs and more

Facebook Inc will start banning ads that explicitly discourage people from getting vaccinated, the world's largest social media company said on Tuesday, as it also announced a new flu vaccine information campaign.

Ads advocating for or against legislation or government policies around vaccines, including a COVID-19 vaccine, will still be allowed, the company said in a blog post. It will begin to enforce the new global policy in the next few days.

Facebook, with 2.7 billion monthly active users, has been under pressure from lawmakers and public health groups to crack down on anti-vaccine content and misinformation on its platform. The company said that although a COVID-19 vaccine would not be available for some time, the pandemic had highlighted the importance of preventative health behaviors.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/facebook-censors-wion-after-interview-with-chinese-virologist-dr-li-meng-yan-who-claimed-covid-19-is-lab-manufactured-334832" hreflang="en">Facebook censors WION after interview with Chinese virologist Dr Li-Meng Yan, who claimed COVID-19 is lab manufactured</a>

Facebook's previous rules prohibited ads containing vaccine misinformation or hoaxes identified by leading health organizations, but allowed ads opposing vaccines if they did not contain false claims.

This summer, Facebook Public Policy Manager Jason Hirsch told Reuters the company believed users should be able to express personal anti-vaccine views and that more aggressive censorship could push people hesitant about vaccines towards the anti-vaccine camp.

Facebook will also start directing U.S. users this week to information about the flu vaccine and how to get it, according to the company's Head of Health Kang-Xing Jin and Director of Product Management Rob Leathern in the blog post.

Facebook is working with public health partners like the World Health Organization and UNICEF on messaging campaigns to increase immunization rates, they added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/facebook-to-ban-content-which-denies-and-distorts-the-holocaust-334797" hreflang="en">Facebook to ban content which denies and distorts the Holocaust</a>

Anti-vaccine content and misinformation about the new COVID-19 vaccines have flourished on social media platforms including Facebook during the coronavirus pandemic, researchers told Reuters earlier this year.

In September, the company also said it would stop recommending health-related Facebook groups, saying it was crucial that people get health information from "authoritative sources."

Facebook Inc will start banning ads that explicitly discourage people from getting vaccinated, the world's largest social media company said on Tuesday, as it also announced a new flu vaccine information campaign.

Facebook Inc will start banning ads that explicitly discourage people from getting vaccinated, the world's largest social media company said on Tuesday, as it also announced a new flu vaccine information campaign. Ads advocating for or against legislation or government policies around vaccines, including a COVID-19 vaccine, will still be allowed, the company said in a blog post. It will begin to enforce the new global policy in the next few days. Facebook, with 2.7 billion monthly active users, has been under pressure from lawmakers and public health groups to crack down on anti-vaccine content and misinformation on its platform. The company said that although a COVID-19 vaccine would not be available for some time, the pandemic had highlighted the importance of preventative health behaviors. Also read: Facebook censors WION after interview with Chinese virologist Dr Li-Meng Yan, who claimed COVID-19 is lab manufactured Facebook's previous rules prohibited ads containing vaccine misinformation or hoaxes identified by leading health organizations, but allowed ads opposing vaccines if they did not contain false claims. This summer, Facebook Public Policy Manager Jason Hirsch told Reuters the company believed users should be able to express personal anti-vaccine views and that more aggressive censorship could push people hesitant about vaccines towards the anti-vaccine camp. Facebook will also start directing U.S. users this week to information about the flu vaccine and how to get it, according to the company's Head of Health Kang-Xing Jin and Director of Product Management Rob Leathern in the blog post. Facebook is working with public health partners like the World Health Organization and UNICEF on messaging campaigns to increase immunization rates, they added. Also read: Facebook to ban content which denies and distorts the Holocaust Anti-vaccine content and misinformation about the new COVID-19 vaccines have flourished on social media platforms including Facebook during the coronavirus pandemic, researchers told Reuters earlier this year. In September, the company also said it would stop recommending health-related Facebook groups, saying it was crucial that people get health information from "authoritative sources."

Facebook will ban ads discouraging people from getting vaccines

Big technology monopoly is facing the heat in the United States after two significant reports on diverse issues highlighted how uniquely powerful they are.

A US&nbsp;House of Representatives panel looking into abuses of market power by four big&nbsp;technology companies found they used "killer acquisitions" to smite rivals, charged exorbitant fees and forced small businesses into "oppressive" contracts in the name of profit.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/key-moments-of-antitrust-hearing-bezos-snack-put-your-mask-on-316939">Key moments of antitrust hearing: Bezos' snack, 'Put your mask on'</a>

The antitrust subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee recommended that Alphabet Inc's&nbsp;Google, Apple Inc, Amazon.com&nbsp;and Facebook,&nbsp;with a combined market value of over $5 trillion, should not both control and compete in related businesses.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-why-the-monopoly-of-big-tech-needs-to-be-broken-334838/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The panel's report revealed that the tech giants have maintained their monopoly position&nbsp;by using the vast amounts of data they have&nbsp;gathered on consumers and other businesses in order to muscle out rivals, gain an advantage in new product markets and reduce innovation by others.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/ceos-of-apple-amazon-facebook-and-google-to-testify-in-congress-over-antitrust-issues-310090">CEOs of Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google to testify in Congress over antitrust issues</a>

The scathing 449-page report, the result of the first such congressional review of the&nbsp;tech&nbsp;industry - suggested expansive changes to antitrust law and described dozens of instances where the companies misused their power, revealing corporate cultures apparently bent on doing what they could to maintain dominance over large portions of the internet.

"To put it simply, companies that once were scrappy, underdog startups that challenged the status quo have become the kinds of&nbsp;monopolies&nbsp;we last saw in the era of oil barons and railroad tycoons," the report said.

In anticipation of the report, Amazon warned in a blog post Tuesday against "fringe notions of antitrust" and market interventions that "would kill off independent retailers and punish consumers by forcing small businesses out of popular online stores, raising prices and reducing consumer choice."

Google said in a statement that it competes "fairly in a fast-moving and highly competitive industry. We disagree with today’s reports, which feature outdated and inaccurate allegations from commercial rivals about Search and other services."

Facebook called itself "an American success story" in response to the report. "We compete with a wide variety of services with millions, even billions, of people using them. Acquisitions are part of every industry, and just one way we innovate new&nbsp;technologies to deliver more value to people," the social network said.

Apple said, "Scrutiny is reasonable and appropriate but we vehemently disagree with the conclusions." The company also defended its commission rates and said it would issue a more extensive response in the coming days.

After more than a year of investigation involving 1.3 million documents and more than 300 interviews, the committee led by Democratic Congressman David Cicilline found companies were running marketplaces where they also competed, creating "a position that enables them to write one set of rules for others, while they play by another."

Coming just weeks before the November&nbsp;3 presidential election, the content of the report became increasingly political, an opportunity for Republicans and Democrats to boost their credibility in the fight against market domination by big&nbsp;tech&nbsp;companies.

That said, Congress is unlikely to act on the findings this year. Since the report reflects the views of the Democratic majority in the House, it sends a clear signal that should Joe Biden win the White House, the pressure on the companies could well continue.

Also, the report is likely to inform existing antitrust probes against the companies. Counsels for the committee, who did not wish to be identified, said they have been speaking to the Federal Trade Commission, which is investigating Facebook and Amazon. Also, Chairman Cicilline has been in contact with state attorneys general, who are investigating Facebook and Google, they said.

Separately, the US&nbsp;Justice Department is investigating large&nbsp;technology companies and is expected to bring a lawsuit against Google soon.

US lawmakers believe that&nbsp;tech platforms have used data to perpetuate a cycle of dominance that accrues to them more and more power. To keep their power in check punitive actions need to be taken.

Recommendations

The panel recommended companies be prohibited from operating in closely aligned businesses. While they did not name any one company, this recommendation would suggest that Google, which runs the auctions for online ad space and participates in those auctions, should potentially be required to separate clearly, or not even operate, the two businesses. For a factbox, click

Facebook's acquisition of Instagram in 2012 is another example of this. Instagram at the time was small and insignificant, but Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg saw its potential and noted that it was "building networks that are competitive with our own" and "could be very disruptive to us," the report said.

As part of the report, the committee staff drew up a menu of potential changes in antitrust law. The suggestions ranged from the aggressive, such as potentially barring companies like Amazon.com from operating the markets in which they also compete, to the less controversial, like increasing the budgets of the agencies that enforce antitrust law: the Justice Department's Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission.

The report also urged Congress to allow antitrust enforcers more leeway in stopping companies from purchasing potential rivals, something that is now difficult.

The antitrust panel will take up the majority report after the October recess for formal adoption and will have a vote on it, the counsels for the committee said.

Big technology monopoly is facing the heat in the United States after two significant reports on diverse issues highlighted how uniquely powerful they are. A US House of Representatives panel looking into abuses of market power by four big technology companies found they used "killer acquisitions" to smite rivals, charged exorbitant fees and forced small businesses into "oppressive" contracts in the name of profit.

Big technology monopoly is facing the heat in the United States after two significant reports on diverse issues highlighted how uniquely powerful they are. A US House of Representatives panel looking into abuses of market power by four big technology companies found they used "killer acquisitions" to smite rivals, charged exorbitant fees and forced small businesses into "oppressive" contracts in the name of profit. Also see: Key moments of antitrust hearing: Bezos' snack, 'Put your mask on' The antitrust subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee recommended that Alphabet Inc's Google, Apple Inc, Amazon.com and Facebook, with a combined market value of over $5 trillion, should not both control and compete in related businesses. The panel's report revealed that the tech giants have maintained their monopoly position by using the vast amounts of data they have gathered on consumers and other businesses in order to muscle out rivals, gain an advantage in new product markets and reduce innovation by others. Also read: CEOs of Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google to testify in Congress over antitrust issues The scathing 449-page report, the result of the first such congressional review of the tech industry - suggested expansive changes to antitrust law and described dozens of instances where the companies misused their power, revealing corporate cultures apparently bent on doing what they could to maintain dominance over large portions of the internet. "To put it simply, companies that once were scrappy, underdog startups that challenged the status quo have become the kinds of monopolies we last saw in the era of oil barons and railroad tycoons," the report said. In anticipation of the report, Amazon warned in a blog post Tuesday against "fringe notions of antitrust" and market interventions that "would kill off independent retailers and punish consumers by forcing small businesses out of popular online stores, raising prices and reducing consumer choice." Google said in a statement that it competes "fairly in a fast-moving and highly competitive industry. We disagree with today’s reports, which feature outdated and inaccurate allegations from commercial rivals about Search and other services." Facebook called itself "an American success story" in response to the report. "We compete with a wide variety of services with millions, even billions, of people using them. Acquisitions are part of every industry, and just one way we innovate new technologies to deliver more value to people," the social network said. Apple said, "Scrutiny is reasonable and appropriate but we vehemently disagree with the conclusions." The company also defended its commission rates and said it would issue a more extensive response in the coming days. After more than a year of investigation involving 1.3 million documents and more than 300 interviews, the committee led by Democratic Congressman David Cicilline found companies were running marketplaces where they also competed, creating "a position that enables them to write one set of rules for others, while they play by another." Coming just weeks before the November 3 presidential election, the content of the report became increasingly political, an opportunity for Republicans and Democrats to boost their credibility in the fight against market domination by big tech companies. That said, Congress is unlikely to act on the findings this year. Since the report reflects the views of the Democratic majority in the House, it sends a clear signal that should Joe Biden win the White House, the pressure on the companies could well continue. Also, the report is likely to inform existing antitrust probes against the companies. Counsels for the committee, who did not wish to be identified, said they have been speaking to the Federal Trade Commission, which is investigating Facebook and Amazon. Also, Chairman Cicilline has been in contact with state attorneys general, who are investigating Facebook and Google, they said. Separately, the US Justice Department is investigating large technology companies and is expected to bring a lawsuit against Google soon. US lawmakers believe that tech platforms have used data to perpetuate a cycle of dominance that accrues to them more and more power. To keep their power in check punitive actions need to be taken. Recommendations The panel recommended companies be prohibited from operating in closely aligned businesses. While they did not name any one company, this recommendation would suggest that Google, which runs the auctions for online ad space and participates in those auctions, should potentially be required to separate clearly, or not even operate, the two businesses. For a factbox, click Facebook's acquisition of Instagram in 2012 is another example of this. Instagram at the time was small and insignificant, but Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg saw its potential and noted that it was "building networks that are competitive with our own" and "could be very disruptive to us," the report said. As part of the report, the committee staff drew up a menu of potential changes in antitrust law. The suggestions ranged from the aggressive, such as potentially barring companies like Amazon.com from operating the markets in which they also compete, to the less controversial, like increasing the budgets of the agencies that enforce antitrust law: the Justice Department's Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission. The report also urged Congress to allow antitrust enforcers more leeway in stopping companies from purchasing potential rivals, something that is now difficult. The antitrust panel will take up the majority report after the October recess for formal adoption and will have a vote on it, the counsels for the committee said.

Why United States wants to break apart tech monopoly

Facebook announced Monday that it will ban content that denies or distorts the Holocaust, describing the move as its latest effort to free the platform of hate.

The social media giant, which has long been criticized for not doing enough to disempower Holocaust deniers and other hate groups, said it would redirect users who search for terms about the Holocaust or its denial "to credible information off Facebook," according to a company statement.

"Our decision is supported by the well-documented rise in anti-Semitism globally and the alarming level of ignorance about the Holocaust, especially among young people," said a statement by Facebook vice president of content policy Monika Bickert.

Bickert cited a survey that showed almost a quarter of young adults in the United States saying the Holocaust was a myth or had been exaggerated.

Bickert described the steps on Holocaust denial content as part of its stepped-up effort to address hate after the company earlier banned more than 250 white supremacist groups, took down 22.5 million pieces of hate speech in the second quarter and banned anti-Semitic stereotypes.

She cautioned that the change will take time.

"Enforcement of these policies cannot happen overnight," Bickert said. "There is a range of content that can violate these policies, and it will take some time to train our reviewers and systems on enforcement."

Facebook's move was applauded by Anti-Defamation League Chief Executive Jonathan Greenblatt, who called the action "a big deal."

"This has been years in the making," Greenblatt said on Twitter. "Glad it finally happened."

Facebook announced Monday that it will ban content that denies or distorts the Holocaust, describing the move as its latest effort to free the platform of hate. The social media giant, which has long been criticized for not doing enough to disempower Holocaust deniers and other hate groups, said it would redirect users who search for terms about the Holocaust or its denial "to credible information off Facebook," according to a company statement.

Facebook announced Monday that it will ban content that denies or distorts the Holocaust, describing the move as its latest effort to free the platform of hate. The social media giant, which has long been criticized for not doing enough to disempower Holocaust deniers and other hate groups, said it would redirect users who search for terms about the Holocaust or its denial "to credible information off Facebook," according to a company statement. "Our decision is supported by the well-documented rise in anti-Semitism globally and the alarming level of ignorance about the Holocaust, especially among young people," said a statement by Facebook vice president of content policy Monika Bickert. Bickert cited a survey that showed almost a quarter of young adults in the United States saying the Holocaust was a myth or had been exaggerated. Bickert described the steps on Holocaust denial content as part of its stepped-up effort to address hate after the company earlier banned more than 250 white supremacist groups, took down 22.5 million pieces of hate speech in the second quarter and banned anti-Semitic stereotypes. She cautioned that the change will take time. "Enforcement of these policies cannot happen overnight," Bickert said. "There is a range of content that can violate these policies, and it will take some time to train our reviewers and systems on enforcement." Facebook's move was applauded by Anti-Defamation League Chief Executive Jonathan Greenblatt, who called the action "a big deal." "This has been years in the making," Greenblatt said on Twitter. "Glad it finally happened."

Facebook to ban Holocaust denial content

Apple iPhone 12 launch event: What to expect!

The US giant Apple is expected to release new iPhones later today - October 13. The launch event is set to begin at 10 AM California time (10.30 PM IST). The tag line for today’s event is “Hi, Speed”.

Even though the company hasn’t revealed official details of any anticipated releases yet, the features and specs of the upcoming iPhones have been making the rounds on portals for a while now.

4 new iPhones?

If leaks and rumours are to be believed, Apple is launching not 3, but 4 phones this year!

The devices slated for release are as follows: iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and a new spin to the device - iPhone 12 Mini, which will boast a 5.4 inch screen.

To cater to varying user needs, the company is releasing phones with different sizes, ranging from 5.4 inches to 6.7 inches. The devices will come with OLED displays, and will also support 5G technology, paving way for it to become the standard in new phones now.

Apple is going to equip the new devices with its high-performance A14 chipset, and an improved camera.

How much will iPhone 12 cost?

In terms of pricing, the iPhone 12 series is set to begin pricing at $699 and go up to $1099 for the iPhone 12 Pro.

The launch event will take place in Apple Park, California at 10 AM local time. To stream the event live, one may go to the Apple website, or their official YouTube channel.&nbsp; Apple TV users can stream the event live!

According to reports, the company could also release “Air Tags” - a bluetooth tracker, a new HomePod smart speaker, a brand new Apple TV box, and new headphones that go over one’s head!

Apple iPhone 12 launch event: What to expect! The US giant Apple is expected to release new iPhones later today - October 13. The launch event is set to begin at 10 AM California time (10.

Apple iPhone 12 launch event: What to expect! The US giant Apple is expected to release new iPhones later today - October 13. The launch event is set to begin at 10 AM California time (10.30 PM IST). The tag line for today’s event is “Hi, Speed”. Even though the company hasn’t revealed official details of any anticipated releases yet, the features and specs of the upcoming iPhones have been making the rounds on portals for a while now. 4 new iPhones? If leaks and rumours are to be believed, Apple is launching not 3, but 4 phones this year! The devices slated for release are as follows: iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and a new spin to the device - iPhone 12 Mini, which will boast a 5.4 inch screen. To cater to varying user needs, the company is releasing phones with different sizes, ranging from 5.4 inches to 6.7 inches. The devices will come with OLED displays, and will also support 5G technology, paving way for it to become the standard in new phones now. Apple is going to equip the new devices with its high-performance A14 chipset, and an improved camera. How much will iPhone 12 cost? In terms of pricing, the iPhone 12 series is set to begin pricing at $699 and go up to $1099 for the iPhone 12 Pro. The launch event will take place in Apple Park, California at 10 AM local time. To stream the event live, one may go to the Apple website, or their official YouTube channel. Apple TV users can stream the event live! According to reports, the company could also release “Air Tags” - a bluetooth tracker, a new HomePod smart speaker, a brand new Apple TV box, and new headphones that go over one’s head!

Apple iPhone 12 launch event today: What to expect, when to watch, and more!

Apple is expected on Tuesday to unveil a keenly anticipated iPhone 12 line-up starring models tuned to super-fast new 5G telecom networks in an update considered vital to the company's fortunes.

A streamed event was cryptically teased with the message "Hi, Speed" in an apparent reference to the faster wireless networks being introduced in many parts of the world.

Analysts expect Apple to&nbsp;introduce a selection of iPhone 12 models in multiple sizes, with some shipping earlier than others due to the toll the pandemic has taken on the company's supply chain.

"We believe iPhone 12 represents the most significant product cycle for Cook &amp; Co. since iPhone 6 in 2014 and will be another defining chapter in the Apple growth story," Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said in a note to investors, referring to chief executive Tim Cook.

The time is ripe, analysts said, for Apple to hit the market with an iPhone tailored to the super-fast 5G telecom networks taking root around the world.

"Apple absolutely needs 5G right now," said Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart, "not for the US, but for China, where 5G is driving purchase decisions."

Some Apple rivals have already produced 5G models, and China is far ahead of the US when it comes to the new-generation networks.

5G networks are touted as promising an exponential leap in the amount and speed of wireless data, enabling advances in self-driving vehicles, virtual reality, connected health and more as sensors and servers communicate instantly.&nbsp;

"5G is happening in China with or without Apple; in fact, more 5G phones than non-5G phones are selling in China," said analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights &amp; Strategy.

New-generation 5G networks have also taken shape in South Korea and in parts of Europe.

Meanwhile, US telecom firms are looking at a 5G iPhone as a catalyst for consumer interest that will justify the big investments needed for those networks, according to analysts.

"US carriers are waiting for Apple to announce a 5G iPhone to put the pedal to the metal in the US," said Moorhead.

- Powering the 'ecosystem' -

Apple also needs a 5G-capable iPhone to maintain its premium image, analysts added.

Powerhouses Samsung and Huawei already have 5G smartphones on the market.

Google recently unveiled two new smartphones with 5G wireless capability under its Pixel brand, which showcases the Android mobile system but has limited market share.

"Apple got away with not releasing a 5G device last year because the 5G use-cases and network coverage simply wasn’t there," said Futuresource Consulting research analyst Stephen Mears.

"Apple won’t want to be perceived as being two generations behind on 5G handsets."

The streamed event comes a month after Apple unveiled new service bundles and smartwatch models tied to the iPhone, which remains at the heart of its money-making ecosystem.

Adding 5G iPhones to its line-up should help Apple "drive forward" with that lucrative blend of hardware, software, services and digital content, Mears said. From the health-centric Apple Watch to subscriptions to music and television services, the iPhone is at the center of the user experience.

Apple remains the most expensive company on Wall Street, where it ended the formal trading session Friday with a value of $2.03 billion, based on its share price.

- Pandemic slows sales -

Rumors swirling ahead of the event include that Apple will unveil new iPhones in an array of sizes, from a small model with a 5.4-inch (13.7-centimeter) screen to one with a 6.7-inch screen, measured diagonally.

Overall, it has been a tough year for the smartphone industry, with the pandemic disrupting economies and supply chains.

"Recovery will be slow, with tough market conditions expected to continue through 2021," Mears said.

Total smartphone sales were down 16 percent in the second quarter, according to research firm IDC.

Its survey showed Huawei leading the market, ahead of Samsung, Apple and Chinese firms Xiaomi and Oppo.

Apple is expected on Tuesday to unveil a keenly anticipated iPhone 12 line-up starring models tuned to super-fast new 5G telecom networks in an update considered vital to the company's fortunes.

Apple is expected on Tuesday to unveil a keenly anticipated iPhone 12 line-up starring models tuned to super-fast new 5G telecom networks in an update considered vital to the company's fortunes. A streamed event was cryptically teased with the message "Hi, Speed" in an apparent reference to the faster wireless networks being introduced in many parts of the world. Analysts expect Apple to introduce a selection of iPhone 12 models in multiple sizes, with some shipping earlier than others due to the toll the pandemic has taken on the company's supply chain. "We believe iPhone 12 represents the most significant product cycle for Cook & Co. since iPhone 6 in 2014 and will be another defining chapter in the Apple growth story," Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said in a note to investors, referring to chief executive Tim Cook. The time is ripe, analysts said, for Apple to hit the market with an iPhone tailored to the super-fast 5G telecom networks taking root around the world. "Apple absolutely needs 5G right now," said Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart, "not for the US, but for China, where 5G is driving purchase decisions." Some Apple rivals have already produced 5G models, and China is far ahead of the US when it comes to the new-generation networks. 5G networks are touted as promising an exponential leap in the amount and speed of wireless data, enabling advances in self-driving vehicles, virtual reality, connected health and more as sensors and servers communicate instantly. "5G is happening in China with or without Apple; in fact, more 5G phones than non-5G phones are selling in China," said analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy. New-generation 5G networks have also taken shape in South Korea and in parts of Europe. Meanwhile, US telecom firms are looking at a 5G iPhone as a catalyst for consumer interest that will justify the big investments needed for those networks, according to analysts. "US carriers are waiting for Apple to announce a 5G iPhone to put the pedal to the metal in the US," said Moorhead. - Powering the 'ecosystem' - Apple also needs a 5G-capable iPhone to maintain its premium image, analysts added. Powerhouses Samsung and Huawei already have 5G smartphones on the market. Google recently unveiled two new smartphones with 5G wireless capability under its Pixel brand, which showcases the Android mobile system but has limited market share. "Apple got away with not releasing a 5G device last year because the 5G use-cases and network coverage simply wasn’t there," said Futuresource Consulting research analyst Stephen Mears. "Apple won’t want to be perceived as being two generations behind on 5G handsets." The streamed event comes a month after Apple unveiled new service bundles and smartwatch models tied to the iPhone, which remains at the heart of its money-making ecosystem. Adding 5G iPhones to its line-up should help Apple "drive forward" with that lucrative blend of hardware, software, services and digital content, Mears said. From the health-centric Apple Watch to subscriptions to music and television services, the iPhone is at the center of the user experience. Apple remains the most expensive company on Wall Street, where it ended the formal trading session Friday with a value of $2.03 billion, based on its share price. - Pandemic slows sales - Rumors swirling ahead of the event include that Apple will unveil new iPhones in an array of sizes, from a small model with a 5.4-inch (13.7-centimeter) screen to one with a 6.7-inch screen, measured diagonally. Overall, it has been a tough year for the smartphone industry, with the pandemic disrupting economies and supply chains. "Recovery will be slow, with tough market conditions expected to continue through 2021," Mears said. Total smartphone sales were down 16 percent in the second quarter, according to research firm IDC. Its survey showed Huawei leading the market, ahead of Samsung, Apple and Chinese firms Xiaomi and Oppo.

5G iPhone expected to star at Apple event

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