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Twitter has introduced a new feature to allow users to flag content that could curb the growth in misinformation during the coronavirus pandemic.

It comes after the San Francisco-based social media giant announced its&nbsp;'one-size-fits-all' approach that is facing massive backlash from its users.

"We're testing a feature for you to report Tweets that seem misleading - as you see them," Twitter&nbsp;said from its safety and security account.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-twitters-new-design-is-giving-people-headache-406397/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Starting Tuesday, a button would be visible to some users from the United States, South Korea and Australia to choose "it's misleading" after clicking "report tweet."

Users can then be more specific, flagging the misleading tweet as potentially containing misinformation about "health," "politics" and "other."&nbsp;

"We're assessing if this is an effective approach so we're starting small," the&nbsp;company said.&nbsp;

"We may not take action on and cannot respond to each report in the experiment, but your input will help us identify trends so that we can improve the speed and scale of our broader misinformation work."

Twitter, like Facebook and YouTube, regularly comes under fire from critics who say it does not do enough to fight the spread of misinformation.

But the platform does not have the resources of its Silicon Valley neighbors, and so often relies on experimental techniques that are less expensive than recruiting armies of moderators.&nbsp;

Such efforts have ramped up as Twitter toughened its misinformation rules during the Covid-19 pandemic and during the US presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

For example, Twitter began blocking users in March who have been warned five times about spreading false information about vaccines.&nbsp;

And the network began flagging tweets from Trump with a banner warning of their misleading content during his 2020 re-election campaign, before the then-president was finally banned from the website for posting incitements to violence and messages discrediting the election results.&nbsp;

Moderators are ultimately responsible for determining which content actually violates Twitter's terms of use, but the network has said it hopes to eventually use a system that relies on both human and automated analysis to detect suspicious posts.&nbsp;

Concern around Covid-19 vaccine misinformation has become so rampant that in July Biden said Facebook and other platforms were responsible for "killing" people in allowing false info around the shots to spread. &nbsp;

He walked back the remarks the clarify that the false information itself is what could harm or even kill those who believe it.&nbsp;

Twitter has introduced a new feature to allow users to flag content that could curb the growth in misinformation during the coronavirus pandemic. It comes after the San Francisco-based social media giant announced its 'one-size-fits-all' approach that is facing massive backlash from its users.

Twitter has introduced a new feature to allow users to flag content that could curb the growth in misinformation during the coronavirus pandemic. It comes after the San Francisco-based social media giant announced its 'one-size-fits-all' approach that is facing massive backlash from its users. "We're testing a feature for you to report Tweets that seem misleading - as you see them," Twitter said from its safety and security account. Starting Tuesday, a button would be visible to some users from the United States, South Korea and Australia to choose "it's misleading" after clicking "report tweet." Users can then be more specific, flagging the misleading tweet as potentially containing misinformation about "health," "politics" and "other." "We're assessing if this is an effective approach so we're starting small," the company said. "We may not take action on and cannot respond to each report in the experiment, but your input will help us identify trends so that we can improve the speed and scale of our broader misinformation work." Twitter, like Facebook and YouTube, regularly comes under fire from critics who say it does not do enough to fight the spread of misinformation. But the platform does not have the resources of its Silicon Valley neighbors, and so often relies on experimental techniques that are less expensive than recruiting armies of moderators. Such efforts have ramped up as Twitter toughened its misinformation rules during the Covid-19 pandemic and during the US presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. For example, Twitter began blocking users in March who have been warned five times about spreading false information about vaccines. And the network began flagging tweets from Trump with a banner warning of their misleading content during his 2020 re-election campaign, before the then-president was finally banned from the website for posting incitements to violence and messages discrediting the election results. Moderators are ultimately responsible for determining which content actually violates Twitter's terms of use, but the network has said it hopes to eventually use a system that relies on both human and automated analysis to detect suspicious posts. Concern around Covid-19 vaccine misinformation has become so rampant that in July Biden said Facebook and other platforms were responsible for "killing" people in allowing false info around the shots to spread. He walked back the remarks the clarify that the false information itself is what could harm or even kill those who believe it.

Twitter announces new feature to allow users flag 'misleading' content

&nbsp;

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 200px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Amazon Fire TV Cube: Rs 12,999</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>4K UHD with Dolby vision</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HDR, HDR 10+</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dolby Atmos sound</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alexa voice remote</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Access to thousands of content platforms</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

<img alt="Fire TV stick" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="164e289a-2f0b-445c-95e0-309024c711be" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Fire1.jpg" />

What happens when the Amazon Fire TV Stick marries into one of Amazon's Echo smart speakers? You get a two-in-one gadget which you didn't know you needed!

What happens when the Amazon Fire TV Stick marries into one of Amazon's Echo smart speakers? You get a two-in-one gadget which you didn't know you needed!

It is my personal ambition to have a smart home controlled by a voice assistant. Hear me out before you mock me.

In a Utopian world, Geysers would switch off by themselves without someone yelling at me to remember to turn them off.&nbsp;

In a Utopian world, my son's online classes would be on auto-pilot mode with a voice assistant politely telling him to sit down and focus instead of me barking instructions at him.&nbsp;

In a Utopian world, the lights would turn off promptly at 8 pm and lull my energetic toddler into a slumber so mommy can watch the latest season of Real Housewives (guilty)!

For now, I will have to settle with barking orders at Alexa who can control my entertainment at the very least!

Say hello to the Fire TV Cube.&nbsp;

I am pretty late to this party since I was trying to find a use case for this gadget. I already have the Fire TV Stick and the recent Echo Show 10.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/alexa-can-now-follow-you-around-396170">(Also Read:&nbsp;Alexa can now follow you around)</a>&nbsp;So why do I need another Alexa-enabled device just to watch content?

Well, this is a unique two-in-one offering which has one undeniable selling point. It reduces that dreaded clutter, that ugly spaghetti of cables that you see beneath your television. For a house with children, it is dangerous to say the least. With this little Cube, you can voice-control your TV, Set Top Box and smart home devices.

The Amazon Fire TV Cube combines the features of the Echo speakers with the high functionality of the Fire TV stick. It is priced at Rs 12,999.

You can control your TV through the box and Alexa will play what you want. And yes, I&nbsp;have packed up my Fire TV stick and speaker for now and don't miss them!

How does it work?

Simply plug in the Cube into your TV through the HDMI port. It also can be connected to a wired ethernet cable for great connectivity which already gives it points over the humble yet powerful Fire TV stick. Remember to place the Fire TV Cube at least one to two feet away from the speakers.

The Cube comes with the brilliantly-designed Amazon voice-enabled remote which makes navigation a breeze. You get a separate button for Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video of course. But here's my favourite part, for kids with sticky hands, put the remote aside and let them tell Alexa what they want to watch -- under parental supervision of course!

The voice recognition is quick and smooth and your TV responds within seconds.

The TV&nbsp;interface looks neater

I hate cluttered homescreens and with the Fire TV Cube, you get a great discovery center with your favourite content platforms neatly stacked making your viewing experience enjoyable. The layout is classic, tasteful yet functional.

Voice recognition remains the forte

Gone are the days when Alexa struggled to understand your accent. This one grasps all your commands and delivers the content in seconds giving you a hands-free viewing experience. I enjoyed this on the Echo Show 10 as well but to be able to enjoy it seamlessly on my TV is a whole other ballgame.

Speakers could have been better

I have always thought that every TV needs a soundbar for the ideal viewing experience especially if you love high adrenalin action blockbusters. So I wasn't surprised to be disappointed by the Cube's speakers. The Amazon Echo Show 10 audio quality is far superior. So I wouldn't use this to listen to songs, instead, treat this as the brain behind your television.

For your viewing pleasure

The Fire TV Cube supports 4K UHD, Dolby Atmos Sound and Dolby Vision video along with HDR content right out of the box. Watching content was an absolute delight especially due to the hands-free experience.

Who should buy the Fire TV&nbsp;cube?

If you don't have the Fire TV stick, then I would say, invest in the Amazon Fire TV Cube. It takes the company's star offerings and combines them to make a multi-purpose gadget with great value additions. At nearly Rs 13,000, it is a big hike from the Fire TV Stick (under Rs 3,000) but the uses are far more and the functionality far better.

Think of it as like this, when your kid hides the remote and is throwing a tantrum, you can tell Alexa to play&nbsp;Cocomelon&nbsp;and call it a day!

Amazon Fire TV Cube: Rs 12,999 4K UHD with Dolby vision HDR, HDR 10+ Dolby Atmos sound Alexa voice remote Access to thousands of content platforms What happens when the Amazon Fire TV Stick marries into one of Amazon's Echo smart speakers?

Amazon Fire TV Cube: Rs 12,999 4K UHD with Dolby vision HDR, HDR 10+ Dolby Atmos sound Alexa voice remote Access to thousands of content platforms What happens when the Amazon Fire TV Stick marries into one of Amazon's Echo smart speakers? You get a two-in-one gadget which you didn't know you needed! What happens when the Amazon Fire TV Stick marries into one of Amazon's Echo smart speakers? You get a two-in-one gadget which you didn't know you needed! It is my personal ambition to have a smart home controlled by a voice assistant. Hear me out before you mock me. In a Utopian world, Geysers would switch off by themselves without someone yelling at me to remember to turn them off. In a Utopian world, my son's online classes would be on auto-pilot mode with a voice assistant politely telling him to sit down and focus instead of me barking instructions at him. In a Utopian world, the lights would turn off promptly at 8 pm and lull my energetic toddler into a slumber so mommy can watch the latest season of Real Housewives (guilty)! For now, I will have to settle with barking orders at Alexa who can control my entertainment at the very least! Say hello to the Fire TV Cube. I am pretty late to this party since I was trying to find a use case for this gadget. I already have the Fire TV Stick and the recent Echo Show 10.(Also Read: Alexa can now follow you around) So why do I need another Alexa-enabled device just to watch content? Well, this is a unique two-in-one offering which has one undeniable selling point. It reduces that dreaded clutter, that ugly spaghetti of cables that you see beneath your television. For a house with children, it is dangerous to say the least. With this little Cube, you can voice-control your TV, Set Top Box and smart home devices. The Amazon Fire TV Cube combines the features of the Echo speakers with the high functionality of the Fire TV stick. It is priced at Rs 12,999. You can control your TV through the box and Alexa will play what you want. And yes, I have packed up my Fire TV stick and speaker for now and don't miss them! How does it work? Simply plug in the Cube into your TV through the HDMI port. It also can be connected to a wired ethernet cable for great connectivity which already gives it points over the humble yet powerful Fire TV stick. Remember to place the Fire TV Cube at least one to two feet away from the speakers. The Cube comes with the brilliantly-designed Amazon voice-enabled remote which makes navigation a breeze. You get a separate button for Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video of course. But here's my favourite part, for kids with sticky hands, put the remote aside and let them tell Alexa what they want to watch -- under parental supervision of course! The voice recognition is quick and smooth and your TV responds within seconds. The TV interface looks neater I hate cluttered homescreens and with the Fire TV Cube, you get a great discovery center with your favourite content platforms neatly stacked making your viewing experience enjoyable. The layout is classic, tasteful yet functional. Voice recognition remains the forte Gone are the days when Alexa struggled to understand your accent. This one grasps all your commands and delivers the content in seconds giving you a hands-free viewing experience. I enjoyed this on the Echo Show 10 as well but to be able to enjoy it seamlessly on my TV is a whole other ballgame. Speakers could have been better I have always thought that every TV needs a soundbar for the ideal viewing experience especially if you love high adrenalin action blockbusters. So I wasn't surprised to be disappointed by the Cube's speakers. The Amazon Echo Show 10 audio quality is far superior. So I wouldn't use this to listen to songs, instead, treat this as the brain behind your television. For your viewing pleasure The Fire TV Cube supports 4K UHD, Dolby Atmos Sound and Dolby Vision video along with HDR content right out of the box. Watching content was an absolute delight especially due to the hands-free experience. Who should buy the Fire TV cube? If you don't have the Fire TV stick, then I would say, invest in the Amazon Fire TV Cube. It takes the company's star offerings and combines them to make a multi-purpose gadget with great value additions. At nearly Rs 13,000, it is a big hike from the Fire TV Stick (under Rs 3,000) but the uses are far more and the functionality far better. Think of it as like this, when your kid hides the remote and is throwing a tantrum, you can tell Alexa to play Cocomelon and call it a day!

How many Alexa devices do we need? One more wouldn't hurt

The Taliban's rapid takeover of&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;poses challenges for multiple major social media and messaging platforms on what and who should be allowed on their platforms.

The companies, which have come under fire from global lawmakers and regulators for their outsized political and economic influence, often depend on state designations or official international recognitions to determine who is allowed on their sites.

These also help determine who might be verified, allowed official state accounts or may receive special treatment for rule-breaking speech due to newsworthiness or public interest loopholes.

However, the differences among the tech companies' stances suggest the approach is not uniform.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-7-videos-that-show-life-under-taliban-406402/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Here is what various social media giants are doing after the Taliban&nbsp;seized Kabul, confirming their takeover of power in Afghanistan after a stunningly swift end to the country's 20-year war.

Facebook blocks WhatsApp accounts

WhatsApp accounts linked to the&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;have been banned after the radical Islamic group seized control of Afghanistan and sought to use the messaging service to help it govern.

"The&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;is sanctioned as a terrorist organization under US law and we have banned them from our services under our Dangerous Organization policies," a Facebook spokesperson said.

The Facebook move shut down a WhatsApp hotline the&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;had set up to receive complaints about violence and looting, according to the Financial Times.

Facebook had on Monday said it designates the Taliban a terrorist group and bans it and content supporting it from its platforms.

Twitter

On&nbsp;Twitter&nbsp;Inc, Taliban spokesmen with hundreds of thousands of followers have tweeted updates during the country's takeover.

However, the company has issued&nbsp;a statement saying that the network would review Taliban's content that may violate its rules, specifically against the glorification of violence or platform manipulation.

Youtube

Alphabet Inc’s YouTube said on Tuesday it has a long-held policy of not allowing accounts believed to be operated by the Taliban on its site, as social media companies faced questions about how they would handle the group that fast gained control of&nbsp;Afghanistan.

The video-sharing service relies on governments to define "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" (FTO) to guide the site's enforcement of its rules against violent criminal groups.

The US&nbsp;instead classifies the Taliban as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist," which freezes the US&nbsp;assets of those blacklisted and bars Americans from working with them.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Taliban's rapid takeover of Afghanistan poses challenges for multiple major social media and messaging platforms on what and who should be allowed on their platforms.

The Taliban's rapid takeover of Afghanistan poses challenges for multiple major social media and messaging platforms on what and who should be allowed on their platforms. The companies, which have come under fire from global lawmakers and regulators for their outsized political and economic influence, often depend on state designations or official international recognitions to determine who is allowed on their sites. These also help determine who might be verified, allowed official state accounts or may receive special treatment for rule-breaking speech due to newsworthiness or public interest loopholes. However, the differences among the tech companies' stances suggest the approach is not uniform. Here is what various social media giants are doing after the Taliban seized Kabul, confirming their takeover of power in Afghanistan after a stunningly swift end to the country's 20-year war. Facebook blocks WhatsApp accounts WhatsApp accounts linked to the Taliban have been banned after the radical Islamic group seized control of Afghanistan and sought to use the messaging service to help it govern. "The Taliban is sanctioned as a terrorist organization under US law and we have banned them from our services under our Dangerous Organization policies," a Facebook spokesperson said. The Facebook move shut down a WhatsApp hotline the Taliban had set up to receive complaints about violence and looting, according to the Financial Times. Facebook had on Monday said it designates the Taliban a terrorist group and bans it and content supporting it from its platforms. Twitter On Twitter Inc, Taliban spokesmen with hundreds of thousands of followers have tweeted updates during the country's takeover. However, the company has issued a statement saying that the network would review Taliban's content that may violate its rules, specifically against the glorification of violence or platform manipulation. Youtube Alphabet Inc’s YouTube said on Tuesday it has a long-held policy of not allowing accounts believed to be operated by the Taliban on its site, as social media companies faced questions about how they would handle the group that fast gained control of Afghanistan. The video-sharing service relies on governments to define "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" (FTO) to guide the site's enforcement of its rules against violent criminal groups. The US instead classifies the Taliban as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist," which freezes the US assets of those blacklisted and bars Americans from working with them. (With inputs from agencies)

What are social media giants doing to curb Taliban amid Afghanistan crisis?

Business Efficiency Solutions, a small contractor based in the US, has alleged that Huawei Technologies Co&nbsp;stole trade secrets, and spied on Pakistan using the same.

In a lawsuit filed at a Federal Court in California, the company has said that Huawei had directed it to create a system locally in China as this would allow it to get its hands on sensitive information about governments officials and citizens in Lahore.

This could be done by gaining access to a safe-cities surveillance project.

In the lawsuit, BES said that Huawei's alleged back door was located in a database that consolidated sensitive information. This also included national ID card records, foreigner registrations, tax records and criminal records, for law enforcement.&nbsp;

As per the Wall Street Journal, “Huawei-China uses the proprietary DES (Data Exchange System) system as a back door from

China into Lahore to gain access, manipulate, and extract sensitive data important to Pakistan’s national security."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sex-workers-fighting-for-human-rights-are-worlds-most-at-risk-activists-405755">Also read |&nbsp;Sex workers fighting for human rights are world’s most ‘at risk activists’</a>

The California-based software company said that after it installed the DES in Lahore, Huawei demanded in 2017 that it install a duplicate DES in China’s Suzhou.

BES said it would give Huawei direct access to the data being gathered in Pakistan.

Muhammad Kamran Khan, chief operating officer of the Punjab Safe Cities Authority, which oversees the Lahore project said that they have begun looking into BES’s allegations.

He was quoted by the WSJ as saying, "Our team is examining the accusations and sought an explanation from Huawei. We have also put a data security check on Huawei after this issue. So far, there has been no evidence of any data-stealing by Huawei".

However, a Huawei spokesperson said the company does not comment on ongoing legal cases. As per WSJ, she said, "Huawei respects the intellectual property of others, and there is no evidence Huawei ever implanted any back door in our products".

Business Efficiency Solutions, a small contractor based in the US, has alleged that Huawei Technologies Co stole trade secrets, and spied on Pakistan using the same.

Business Efficiency Solutions, a small contractor based in the US, has alleged that Huawei Technologies Co stole trade secrets, and spied on Pakistan using the same. In a lawsuit filed at a Federal Court in California, the company has said that Huawei had directed it to create a system locally in China as this would allow it to get its hands on sensitive information about governments officials and citizens in Lahore. This could be done by gaining access to a safe-cities surveillance project. In the lawsuit, BES said that Huawei's alleged back door was located in a database that consolidated sensitive information. This also included national ID card records, foreigner registrations, tax records and criminal records, for law enforcement. As per the Wall Street Journal, “Huawei-China uses the proprietary DES (Data Exchange System) system as a back door from China into Lahore to gain access, manipulate, and extract sensitive data important to Pakistan’s national security." Also read | Sex workers fighting for human rights are world’s most ‘at risk activists’ The California-based software company said that after it installed the DES in Lahore, Huawei demanded in 2017 that it install a duplicate DES in China’s Suzhou. BES said it would give Huawei direct access to the data being gathered in Pakistan. Muhammad Kamran Khan, chief operating officer of the Punjab Safe Cities Authority, which oversees the Lahore project said that they have begun looking into BES’s allegations. He was quoted by the WSJ as saying, "Our team is examining the accusations and sought an explanation from Huawei. We have also put a data security check on Huawei after this issue. So far, there has been no evidence of any data-stealing by Huawei". However, a Huawei spokesperson said the company does not comment on ongoing legal cases. As per WSJ, she said, "Huawei respects the intellectual property of others, and there is no evidence Huawei ever implanted any back door in our products".

Huawei has spied, installed data ‘back door’ in Pakistan: Report

Tesla Inc said on Friday, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk's total compensation for 2020 was nil, compared to $23,760 in 2019. 
 
The electric-car maker also said in a regulatory filing that finance chief Zachary Kirkhorn's total compensation was $46.6 million, versus the $21.2 million he got in 2019. 
 
The pay package of Musk, who is also a major shareholder and CEO of rocket maker SpaceX, requires Tesla's market capitalisation and financial growth to hit a series of rising targets. 
 
As of April, Musk had qualified for Tesla options in his 2018 pay package that are now worth over $30 billion. 
 
Tesla added "Technoking of Tesla" to Musk's list of official titles in a regulatory filing in March that also named Kirkhorn "Master of Coin." 
 
Earlier this month, Reuters reported that Musk will be also subject of a biography by Walter Isaacson, the US&nbsp;author, who penned a best-selling tome on Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

Tesla Inc said on Friday, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk's total compensation for 2020 was nil, compared to $23,760 in 2019. The electric-car maker also said in a regulatory filing that finance chief Zachary Kirkhorn's total compensation was $46.

Tesla Inc said on Friday, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk's total compensation for 2020 was nil, compared to $23,760 in 2019. The electric-car maker also said in a regulatory filing that finance chief Zachary Kirkhorn's total compensation was $46.6 million, versus the $21.2 million he got in 2019. The pay package of Musk, who is also a major shareholder and CEO of rocket maker SpaceX, requires Tesla's market capitalisation and financial growth to hit a series of rising targets. As of April, Musk had qualified for Tesla options in his 2018 pay package that are now worth over $30 billion. Tesla added "Technoking of Tesla" to Musk's list of official titles in a regulatory filing in March that also named Kirkhorn "Master of Coin." Earlier this month, Reuters reported that Musk will be also subject of a biography by Walter Isaacson, the US author, who penned a best-selling tome on Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

Tesla says CEO Elon Musk's compensation for 2020 was nil

Parents, educators, child safety and privacy professionals, and policymakers are rightfully concerned about how to keep children and teenagers safe online as they spend more time online. 
 
In order to create a safer online experience for children, Google has announced that anybody under the age of 18 or their parent or guardian will be able to request that their photos be removed from Google search results in the coming weeks.

Removing an image from search doesn't remove it from the web, but "we believe this change will help give young people more control of their images online," Google said in a statement late on Tuesday. 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/apple-to-check-icloud-photo-uploads-for-child-abuse-images-403391">Apple to check iCloud photo uploads for child abuse images</a>

In a post on its blog website, Google said that, "While we already provide a range of removal options for people using Google Search, children are at particular risk when it comes to controlling their imagery on the internet. In the coming weeks, we’ll introduce a new policy that enables anyone under the age of 18, or their parent or guardian, to request the removal of their images from Google Image results. Of course, removing an image from search doesn’t remove it from the web, but we believe this change will help give young people more control of their images online. " 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-kingdom-lodges-more-cases-of-child-sexual-abuse-during-lockdown-311679">United Kingdom lodges more cases of child sexual abuse during lockdown</a>

The changes are similar to those made by Facebook last month, when it announced that Instagram accounts for children under the age of 16 would be turned private by default, requiring users to select whether or not to make their profiles public.

It also prohibited advertisements targeting children based on their hobbies or activities, but it did not prohibit targeting them based on age, gender, or geography.&nbsp;

Children's YouTube uploads will eventually default to the most private option.&nbsp;

"We're going to change the default upload setting to the most private option available (on YouTube) for teens ages 13-17," said the company. 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-east-asia/keyboard-predators-southeast-asias-kids-targeted-by-online-paedophiles-219432">Keyboard predators: Southeast Asia's kids targeted by online paedophiles</a>

Over the next several months, Google will begin rolling out these improvements to all of its products throughout the world.

SafeSearch, which helps filter out explicit results when enabled, is currently available from Google and is turned on by default for any signed-in users under the age of 13 who have accounts managed by Family Link.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Parents, educators, child safety and privacy professionals, and policymakers are rightfully concerned about how to keep children and teenagers safe online as they spend more time online.

Parents, educators, child safety and privacy professionals, and policymakers are rightfully concerned about how to keep children and teenagers safe online as they spend more time online. In order to create a safer online experience for children, Google has announced that anybody under the age of 18 or their parent or guardian will be able to request that their photos be removed from Google search results in the coming weeks. Removing an image from search doesn't remove it from the web, but "we believe this change will help give young people more control of their images online," Google said in a statement late on Tuesday. Also read | Apple to check iCloud photo uploads for child abuse images In a post on its blog website, Google said that, "While we already provide a range of removal options for people using Google Search, children are at particular risk when it comes to controlling their imagery on the internet. In the coming weeks, we’ll introduce a new policy that enables anyone under the age of 18, or their parent or guardian, to request the removal of their images from Google Image results. Of course, removing an image from search doesn’t remove it from the web, but we believe this change will help give young people more control of their images online. " Also read | United Kingdom lodges more cases of child sexual abuse during lockdown The changes are similar to those made by Facebook last month, when it announced that Instagram accounts for children under the age of 16 would be turned private by default, requiring users to select whether or not to make their profiles public. It also prohibited advertisements targeting children based on their hobbies or activities, but it did not prohibit targeting them based on age, gender, or geography. Children's YouTube uploads will eventually default to the most private option. "We're going to change the default upload setting to the most private option available (on YouTube) for teens ages 13-17," said the company. Also read | Keyboard predators: Southeast Asia's kids targeted by online paedophiles Over the next several months, Google will begin rolling out these improvements to all of its products throughout the world. SafeSearch, which helps filter out explicit results when enabled, is currently available from Google and is turned on by default for any signed-in users under the age of 13 who have accounts managed by Family Link. (With inputs from agencies)

Children and minors can now request Google to remove their images from Google Search

Sony's new portable party speaker offers booming sound that may irk the neighbours but those 'raging' at home will love it.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

 
 
SONY SRS-XP500: Rs 26,990

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 200px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Pros&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
			</td>
			<td>
			&nbsp;Cons&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<ul>
				<li>Great battery life</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
			<td>
			<ul>
				<li>Heavy to lug around</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<ul>
				<li>Powerful sound</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
			<td>
			<ul>
				<li>Only&nbsp;front-facing&nbsp;speaker</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<ul>
				<li>Aux in, USB charging</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<ul>
				<li>Karaoke feature</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

&nbsp;

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 200px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Tech Specs: SONY SRS-XP500</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<ul>
				<li>Sound direction:&nbsp;Front-facing speaker</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<ul>
				<li>Battery: 20 hours</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<ul>
				<li>Quick charging: 80 mins playtime on 10 mins charge</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<ul>
				<li>IP rating: ipx4</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<ul>
				<li>Weight: 11.2kg</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

&nbsp;

"Don't play that too loud, you'll wake up other family members!"

"The neighbours are telling us to turn it down!"

"Crank up the volume to max and let's&nbsp;workout!"

"Mama, let's play&nbsp;Floor is Lava&nbsp;at full volume!" 
 
These few exclamatory remarks have dominated my life ever since the Sony SRS-XP500 came home.&nbsp;Meet the new-age boombox, party speaker, giant audio beast. Call it whatever you want, Sony's new speaker offers powerful, immersive sound.

So much so that my humble bedroom was not prepared to be shaken to its core when we played&nbsp;Arena&nbsp;by Fabian Mazur and Snavs, a high-adrenalin track for exercise.

Neither was my home prepared to listen to&nbsp;The Floor is Lava&nbsp;with such enthusiasm because we were all blown away with the beats and couldn't help but join my three-year-old in jumping and squealing with glee.

What I am trying to say is, I am not a "rager" or a "party animal" or any other millennial terms associated with the act of head-banging to loud music. And yet, even I couldn't resist the urge to invite my fully-vaccinated, mask-wearing friends over to enjoy some powerful beats on this speaker.

The speaker is priced at Rs 26,990 which is decent for a speaker this size with a bucket-load of features. Remember, flagship wireless earphones are known to cost more than this. So here is why the Sony SRS-XP500 is the ideal speaker for you if you like to entertain and enjoy music to its full potential. 
 
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Portable only if you exercise

The Sony SRS-XP500 is portable which means you can lug it around to parties and big gatherings in a post-pandemic elusive world. It doesn't need to be connected to a power source at all times though&nbsp;the sound quality is much more impressive when it is tethered to power.&nbsp;

At 11.2 kilograms, it isn't something you can easily move around unless of course, you lift weights! It's a big black beauty if you will, with LED lights for those that like that kind of vibe. For an old soul like me, it was a real pleasure listening to some&nbsp;Nora Jones&nbsp;classics with dimmed lighting and letting the LEDs set the mood.

For those wondering where to park this beast, you can set it up vertically or horizontally. The IPX4 rating guards the XP500 against water so if you're headed to a dinner with the XP500 as your date, don't panic if someone spills their beverage on it. Or in my case, when my son spilled Apple juice while dancing to&nbsp;Cocomelon&nbsp;beats.

Get creative

The market for party speakers, believe you me, is surprisingly large and well-documented with big brands diving into the space. It may be hard to justify spending money on a party speaker when we're mostly stuck at home avoiding a lethal infection.

So make use of the other features that the XP500 offers such as using the mic and guitar input to turn the speaker into a karaoke machine! This can be a great tool if you're calling a few guests over -- who are vaccinated of course -- and can make for great in-house entertainment.

Battery that won't give up

You had me at battery life! The XP500 comes with 20 hours of battery life and after 10 minutes of charge, gives you 80 minutes of uninterrupted play because of its Quick charging feature.

So if you're taking this out camping, on a holiday in the distant future or even enjoying some online workouts through the Bluetooth mode, the speaker won't let you down.

Sound which can wake up the neighbours!

Pro tip: this isn't for small bedrooms or spaces since you're bound to annoy other members and relatives unless you're disciplined with the volume. This is a testament to the powerful sound offered by the speaker. We used it while hosting a dinner with some friends and had plenty asking us about the features.

I used it for a few kickboxing and Zumba workouts and the immersive sound kept my energy levels high.

The tech here is packed in two high-efficiency Tweeters along with two X Balanced Woofers. Every thump, click, crack, yelp and yeah can be heard with pristine clarity!

Imagine what you could do with this speaker in a big party when it's safe to attend one?&nbsp;

The sound quality here leaves very little room for complaints (audio purists, here's looking at you) despite being a front-facing speaker alone.

Should you buy it?

This is a question that's difficult to answer at this point in time. Are we ready to party? Not yet, I think. The country has opened up, people are stepping out, to malls, restaurants, exotic destinations. So the market for such a speaker is ripe even now and if you are looking for one, the Sony SRS-XP500 is the new-age boombox for you priced well at nearly Rs 27,000.

While I recommend the product, I do not endorse disturbing others with loud music. Do not attend crowded parties at this point even as cases decline. So be adventurous, not careless.

Buy this speaker to enjoy amazing sound, be wary of the virus, and host a socially responsible gathering of fully jabbed friends who will enjoy the sound and belt out a few out-of-tune numbers with you!

Sony's new portable party speaker offers booming sound that may irk the neighbours but those 'raging' at home will love it. SONY SRS-XP500: Rs 26,990 Pros Cons Great battery life Heavy to lug around Powerful sound Only front-facing speaker Aux in, USB charging Karaoke feature Tech Specs: SONY SRS-XP500 Sound direction: Front-facing speaker Battery: 20 hours Quick charging: 80 mins playtime on 10 mins charge IP rating: ipx4 Weight: 11.

Sony's new portable party speaker offers booming sound that may irk the neighbours but those 'raging' at home will love it. SONY SRS-XP500: Rs 26,990 Pros Cons Great battery life Heavy to lug around Powerful sound Only front-facing speaker Aux in, USB charging Karaoke feature Tech Specs: SONY SRS-XP500 Sound direction: Front-facing speaker Battery: 20 hours Quick charging: 80 mins playtime on 10 mins charge IP rating: ipx4 Weight: 11.2kg "Don't play that too loud, you'll wake up other family members!" "The neighbours are telling us to turn it down!" "Crank up the volume to max and let's workout!" "Mama, let's play Floor is Lava at full volume!" These few exclamatory remarks have dominated my life ever since the Sony SRS-XP500 came home. Meet the new-age boombox, party speaker, giant audio beast. Call it whatever you want, Sony's new speaker offers powerful, immersive sound. So much so that my humble bedroom was not prepared to be shaken to its core when we played Arena by Fabian Mazur and Snavs, a high-adrenalin track for exercise. Neither was my home prepared to listen to The Floor is Lava with such enthusiasm because we were all blown away with the beats and couldn't help but join my three-year-old in jumping and squealing with glee. What I am trying to say is, I am not a "rager" or a "party animal" or any other millennial terms associated with the act of head-banging to loud music. And yet, even I couldn't resist the urge to invite my fully-vaccinated, mask-wearing friends over to enjoy some powerful beats on this speaker. The speaker is priced at Rs 26,990 which is decent for a speaker this size with a bucket-load of features. Remember, flagship wireless earphones are known to cost more than this. So here is why the Sony SRS-XP500 is the ideal speaker for you if you like to entertain and enjoy music to its full potential. Portable only if you exercise The Sony SRS-XP500 is portable which means you can lug it around to parties and big gatherings in a post-pandemic elusive world. It doesn't need to be connected to a power source at all times though the sound quality is much more impressive when it is tethered to power. At 11.2 kilograms, it isn't something you can easily move around unless of course, you lift weights! It's a big black beauty if you will, with LED lights for those that like that kind of vibe. For an old soul like me, it was a real pleasure listening to some Nora Jones classics with dimmed lighting and letting the LEDs set the mood. For those wondering where to park this beast, you can set it up vertically or horizontally. The IPX4 rating guards the XP500 against water so if you're headed to a dinner with the XP500 as your date, don't panic if someone spills their beverage on it. Or in my case, when my son spilled Apple juice while dancing to Cocomelon beats. Get creative The market for party speakers, believe you me, is surprisingly large and well-documented with big brands diving into the space. It may be hard to justify spending money on a party speaker when we're mostly stuck at home avoiding a lethal infection. So make use of the other features that the XP500 offers such as using the mic and guitar input to turn the speaker into a karaoke machine! This can be a great tool if you're calling a few guests over -- who are vaccinated of course -- and can make for great in-house entertainment. Battery that won't give up You had me at battery life! The XP500 comes with 20 hours of battery life and after 10 minutes of charge, gives you 80 minutes of uninterrupted play because of its Quick charging feature. So if you're taking this out camping, on a holiday in the distant future or even enjoying some online workouts through the Bluetooth mode, the speaker won't let you down. Sound which can wake up the neighbours! Pro tip: this isn't for small bedrooms or spaces since you're bound to annoy other members and relatives unless you're disciplined with the volume. This is a testament to the powerful sound offered by the speaker. We used it while hosting a dinner with some friends and had plenty asking us about the features. I used it for a few kickboxing and Zumba workouts and the immersive sound kept my energy levels high. The tech here is packed in two high-efficiency Tweeters along with two X Balanced Woofers. Every thump, click, crack, yelp and yeah can be heard with pristine clarity! Imagine what you could do with this speaker in a big party when it's safe to attend one? The sound quality here leaves very little room for complaints (audio purists, here's looking at you) despite being a front-facing speaker alone. Should you buy it? This is a question that's difficult to answer at this point in time. Are we ready to party? Not yet, I think. The country has opened up, people are stepping out, to malls, restaurants, exotic destinations. So the market for such a speaker is ripe even now and if you are looking for one, the Sony SRS-XP500 is the new-age boombox for you priced well at nearly Rs 27,000. While I recommend the product, I do not endorse disturbing others with loud music. Do not attend crowded parties at this point even as cases decline. So be adventurous, not careless. Buy this speaker to enjoy amazing sound, be wary of the virus, and host a socially responsible gathering of fully jabbed friends who will enjoy the sound and belt out a few out-of-tune numbers with you!

How loud is too loud?

Apple's announcement that it would scan encrypted messages for evidence of child sexual abuse has revived debate on online encryption and privacy, raising fears the same technology could be used for government surveillance.

The iPhone maker said its initiative&nbsp;would "help protect children from predators who use communication tools to recruit and exploit them, and limit the spread of child sexual abuse material."

The move represents a major shift for Apple, which has until recently resisted efforts to weaken its encryption that prevents third parties from seeing private messages.

Apple argued in a technical paper that the technology developed by cryptographic experts "is secure, and is expressly designed to preserve user privacy."

The company said it will have limited access to the violating images which would be flagged to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a nonprofit organization.

Nonetheless, encryption and private specialists warned the tool could be exploited for other purposes, potentially opening a door to mass surveillance.

"This sort of tool can be a boon for finding child pornography in people's phones. But imagine what it could do in the hands of an authoritarian government?" said a tweet from Matthew Green, a cryptographer at Johns Hopkins University.

Others warned that the move could be a first step toward weakening encryption and opening "back doors" which could be exploited by hackers or governments.

"There's going to be enormous pressure on Apple from governments around the world to expand this capability to detect other kinds of 'bad' content, and significant interest by attackers across the spectrum in finding ways to exploit it," tweeted Matt Blaze, a Georgetown University computer scientist and cryptography researcher.

Blaze said the implementation is "potentially very risky" because Apple has moved from scanning data on services to the phone itself and "has potential access to all your local data."

Tools to protect children 

The new image-monitoring feature is part of a series of tools heading to Apple mobile devices, according to the company.

Apple's texting app, Messages, will use machine learning to recognise and warn children and their parents when receiving or sending sexually explicit photos, the company said in the statement.

"When receiving this type of content, the photo will be blurred and the child will be warned," Apple said.

"Apple's expanded protection for children is a game changer," said John Clark, president of the nonprofit NCMEC.

The move comes following years of standoffs involving technology firms and law enforcement.

Apple notably resisted a legal effort to weaken iPhone encryption to allow authorities to read messages from a suspect in a 2015 bombing in San Bernardino, California.

FBI officials have warned that so-called "end to end encryption," where only the user and recipient can read messages, can protect criminals, terrorists and pornographers even when authorities have a legal warrant for an investigation.

Different tack for&nbsp;WhatsApp&nbsp;

Facebook, which has faced criticism that its encrypted messaging app facilitates crime, has been studying the use of artificial intelligence to analyse the content of messages without decrypting them, according to a recent report by The Information.

But&nbsp;WhatsApp&nbsp;head Will Cathcart said the popular messaging app would not follow Apple's approach.

"I think this is the wrong approach and a setback for people's privacy all over the world," Cathcart tweeted.

Apple's system "can scan all the private photos on your phone -- even photos you haven't shared with anyone. That's not privacy," he said.

"People have asked if we'll adopt this system for&nbsp;WhatsApp. The answer is no."

Backers of encryption argue that authorities already have multiple sources of "digital breadcrumbs" to track nefarious activity and that any tools to break encryption could be exploited by bad actors.

James Lewis, who heads technology and public policy at the Center for Strategic and International&nbsp;Studies, said Apple's latest move appears to be a positive step, noting that the company is identifying offending material while avoiding directly turning over data to law enforcement.

But he said it's unlikely to satisfy the concerns of security agencies investigating extremism and other crimes.

"Apple has done a good job of balancing public safety and privacy but it's not enough for some of the harder security problems," Lewis said.

Apple's announcement that it would scan encrypted messages for evidence of child sexual abuse has revived debate on online encryption and privacy, raising fears the same technology could be used for government surveillance.

Apple's announcement that it would scan encrypted messages for evidence of child sexual abuse has revived debate on online encryption and privacy, raising fears the same technology could be used for government surveillance. The iPhone maker said its initiative would "help protect children from predators who use communication tools to recruit and exploit them, and limit the spread of child sexual abuse material." The move represents a major shift for Apple, which has until recently resisted efforts to weaken its encryption that prevents third parties from seeing private messages. Apple argued in a technical paper that the technology developed by cryptographic experts "is secure, and is expressly designed to preserve user privacy." The company said it will have limited access to the violating images which would be flagged to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a nonprofit organization. Nonetheless, encryption and private specialists warned the tool could be exploited for other purposes, potentially opening a door to mass surveillance. "This sort of tool can be a boon for finding child pornography in people's phones. But imagine what it could do in the hands of an authoritarian government?" said a tweet from Matthew Green, a cryptographer at Johns Hopkins University. Others warned that the move could be a first step toward weakening encryption and opening "back doors" which could be exploited by hackers or governments. "There's going to be enormous pressure on Apple from governments around the world to expand this capability to detect other kinds of 'bad' content, and significant interest by attackers across the spectrum in finding ways to exploit it," tweeted Matt Blaze, a Georgetown University computer scientist and cryptography researcher. Blaze said the implementation is "potentially very risky" because Apple has moved from scanning data on services to the phone itself and "has potential access to all your local data." Tools to protect children The new image-monitoring feature is part of a series of tools heading to Apple mobile devices, according to the company. Apple's texting app, Messages, will use machine learning to recognise and warn children and their parents when receiving or sending sexually explicit photos, the company said in the statement. "When receiving this type of content, the photo will be blurred and the child will be warned," Apple said. "Apple's expanded protection for children is a game changer," said John Clark, president of the nonprofit NCMEC. The move comes following years of standoffs involving technology firms and law enforcement. Apple notably resisted a legal effort to weaken iPhone encryption to allow authorities to read messages from a suspect in a 2015 bombing in San Bernardino, California. FBI officials have warned that so-called "end to end encryption," where only the user and recipient can read messages, can protect criminals, terrorists and pornographers even when authorities have a legal warrant for an investigation. Different tack for WhatsApp Facebook, which has faced criticism that its encrypted messaging app facilitates crime, has been studying the use of artificial intelligence to analyse the content of messages without decrypting them, according to a recent report by The Information. But WhatsApp head Will Cathcart said the popular messaging app would not follow Apple's approach. "I think this is the wrong approach and a setback for people's privacy all over the world," Cathcart tweeted. Apple's system "can scan all the private photos on your phone -- even photos you haven't shared with anyone. That's not privacy," he said. "People have asked if we'll adopt this system for WhatsApp. The answer is no." Backers of encryption argue that authorities already have multiple sources of "digital breadcrumbs" to track nefarious activity and that any tools to break encryption could be exploited by bad actors. James Lewis, who heads technology and public policy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Apple's latest move appears to be a positive step, noting that the company is identifying offending material while avoiding directly turning over data to law enforcement. But he said it's unlikely to satisfy the concerns of security agencies investigating extremism and other crimes. "Apple has done a good job of balancing public safety and privacy but it's not enough for some of the harder security problems," Lewis said.

Apple revives encryption debate with move on child exploitation, WhatsApp disagrees

Apple&nbsp;Inc on Thursday said it will implement a system that checks photos on iPhones in the United States before they are uploaded to its iCloud storage services to ensure the upload does not match known images of child sexual abuse.

Detection of child abuse image uploads sufficient to guard against false positives will trigger a human review of and report of the user to law enforcement,&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;said. It said the system is designed to reduce false positives to one in one trillion.

Apple's new system seeks to address requests from law enforcement to help stem child sexual abuse while also respecting privacy and security practices that are a core tenet of the company's brand. But some privacy advocates said the system could open the door to monitoring of political speech or other content on iPhones.

Most other major technology providers - including Alphabet Inc's Google, Facebook Inc and Microsoft Corp - are already checking images against a database of known child sexual abuse imagery.

"With so many people using&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;products, these new safety measures have lifesaving potential for children who are being enticed online and whose horrific images are being circulated in child sexual abuse material," John Clark, chief executive of the National Center for Missing &amp; Exploited Children, said in a statement. "The reality is that privacy and child protection can co-exist."

Here is how&nbsp;Apple's system works. Law enforcement officials maintain a database of known child sexual abuse images and translate those images into "hashes" - numerical codes that positively identify the image but cannot be used to reconstruct them.

Apple&nbsp;has implemented that database using a technology called "NeuralHash", designed to also catch edited images similar to the originals. That database will be stored on iPhones.

When a user uploads an image to&nbsp;Apple's iCloud storage service, the iPhone will create a hash of the image to be uploaded and compare it against the database.

Photos stored only on the phone are not checked,&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;said, and human review before reporting an account to law enforcement is meant to ensure any matches are genuine before suspending an account.

Apple&nbsp;said users who feel their account was improperly suspended can appeal to have it reinstated.

The Financial Times earlier reported some aspects of the program.

One feature that sets&nbsp;Apple's system apart is that it checks photos stored on phones before they are uploaded, rather than checking the photos after they arrive on the company's servers.

On Twitter, some privacy and security experts expressed concerns the system could eventually be expanded to scan phones more generally for prohibited content or political speech.

Apple&nbsp;has "sent a very clear signal. In their (very influential) opinion, it is safe to build systems that scan users’ phones for prohibited content," Matthew Green, a security researcher at Johns Hopkins University, warned.

"This will break the dam — governments will demand it from everyone."

Other privacy researchers such as India McKinney and Erica Portnoy of the Electronic Frontier Foundation wrote in a blog post that it may be impossible for outside researchers to double check whether&nbsp;Apple&nbsp;keeps its promises to check only a small set of on-device content.

The move is "a shocking about-face for users who have relied on the company’s leadership in privacy and security," the pair wrote.

"At the end of the day, even a thoroughly documented, carefully thought-out, and narrowly-scoped backdoor is still a backdoor," McKinney and Portnoy wrote.

Apple Inc on Thursday said it will implement a system that checks photos on iPhones in the United States before they are uploaded to its iCloud storage services to ensure the upload does not match known images of child sexual abuse.

Apple Inc on Thursday said it will implement a system that checks photos on iPhones in the United States before they are uploaded to its iCloud storage services to ensure the upload does not match known images of child sexual abuse. Detection of child abuse image uploads sufficient to guard against false positives will trigger a human review of and report of the user to law enforcement, Apple said. It said the system is designed to reduce false positives to one in one trillion. Apple's new system seeks to address requests from law enforcement to help stem child sexual abuse while also respecting privacy and security practices that are a core tenet of the company's brand. But some privacy advocates said the system could open the door to monitoring of political speech or other content on iPhones. Most other major technology providers - including Alphabet Inc's Google, Facebook Inc and Microsoft Corp - are already checking images against a database of known child sexual abuse imagery. "With so many people using Apple products, these new safety measures have lifesaving potential for children who are being enticed online and whose horrific images are being circulated in child sexual abuse material," John Clark, chief executive of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, said in a statement. "The reality is that privacy and child protection can co-exist." Here is how Apple's system works. Law enforcement officials maintain a database of known child sexual abuse images and translate those images into "hashes" - numerical codes that positively identify the image but cannot be used to reconstruct them. Apple has implemented that database using a technology called "NeuralHash", designed to also catch edited images similar to the originals. That database will be stored on iPhones. When a user uploads an image to Apple's iCloud storage service, the iPhone will create a hash of the image to be uploaded and compare it against the database. Photos stored only on the phone are not checked, Apple said, and human review before reporting an account to law enforcement is meant to ensure any matches are genuine before suspending an account. Apple said users who feel their account was improperly suspended can appeal to have it reinstated. The Financial Times earlier reported some aspects of the program. One feature that sets Apple's system apart is that it checks photos stored on phones before they are uploaded, rather than checking the photos after they arrive on the company's servers. On Twitter, some privacy and security experts expressed concerns the system could eventually be expanded to scan phones more generally for prohibited content or political speech. Apple has "sent a very clear signal. In their (very influential) opinion, it is safe to build systems that scan users’ phones for prohibited content," Matthew Green, a security researcher at Johns Hopkins University, warned. "This will break the dam — governments will demand it from everyone." Other privacy researchers such as India McKinney and Erica Portnoy of the Electronic Frontier Foundation wrote in a blog post that it may be impossible for outside researchers to double check whether Apple keeps its promises to check only a small set of on-device content. The move is "a shocking about-face for users who have relied on the company’s leadership in privacy and security," the pair wrote. "At the end of the day, even a thoroughly documented, carefully thought-out, and narrowly-scoped backdoor is still a backdoor," McKinney and Portnoy wrote.

Apple to check iCloud photo uploads for child abuse images

&nbsp;The famous short video sharing platform, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/tiktok">TikTok</a>, is testing a new Snapchat-like feature of disappearing videos.

TikTok introduced a new 'stories' feature in which the content creators can post videos and photos that will, unlike other media content on the platform, vanish after some time.

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TikTok Stories 
 
what the… 😳 <a href="https://t.co/PIUpKMhj0k">pic.twitter.com/PIUpKMhj0k</a>
— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattNavarra/status/1422978662169710597?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/urgent-action-required-on-vaping-videos-on-tiktok-study-400972" hreflang="en">Urgent action required on vaping videos on TikTok: Study</a>

Even though this feature is similar to Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook stories, TikTok has added its own twist to this. Before uploading the media content, the users can add text, colour, stickers etc. Users, who see these stories, can react, comment, and like, just like in Instagram and Facebook. However, unlike other apps, the comments of the stories will be available to the author on the story itself, rather than in a personal or direct message.

"We're always thinking about new ways to bring value to our community and enrich the TikTok experience,"&nbsp;a TikTok spokesperson was quoted by BBC. "Currently we're experimenting with ways to give creators additional formats to bring their creative ideas to life for the TikTok community."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/facebook-google-tiktok-twitter-vow-to-stop-online-gender-abuse-395209" hreflang="en">Facebook, Google, TikTok &amp; Twitter vow to stop online gender abuse</a>

This has come almost at the same time when social media platform Twitter took back its feature of fleets, which also allowed users to post disappearing stories. Twitter was not able to make a success from its Fleets, because of which the company decided to close down the feature.

Meanwhile, messaging app, WhatsApp is also trying its hand at a new feature that will allow users to send videos and photos with "view once" option. While Facebook-owned WhatsApp is hoping to provide more privacy to users, ByteDance-owned TikTok is hoping to beat its competing platforms.

The famous short video sharing platform, TikTok, is testing a new Snapchat-like feature of disappearing videos. TikTok introduced a new 'stories' feature in which the content creators can post videos and photos that will, unlike other media content on the platform, vanish after some time.

The famous short video sharing platform, TikTok, is testing a new Snapchat-like feature of disappearing videos. TikTok introduced a new 'stories' feature in which the content creators can post videos and photos that will, unlike other media content on the platform, vanish after some time. TikTok Stories what the… 😳 pic.twitter.com/PIUpKMhj0k — Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) August 4, 2021 × Also read | Urgent action required on vaping videos on TikTok: Study Even though this feature is similar to Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook stories, TikTok has added its own twist to this. Before uploading the media content, the users can add text, colour, stickers etc. Users, who see these stories, can react, comment, and like, just like in Instagram and Facebook. However, unlike other apps, the comments of the stories will be available to the author on the story itself, rather than in a personal or direct message. "We're always thinking about new ways to bring value to our community and enrich the TikTok experience," a TikTok spokesperson was quoted by BBC. "Currently we're experimenting with ways to give creators additional formats to bring their creative ideas to life for the TikTok community." Also read | Facebook, Google, TikTok & Twitter vow to stop online gender abuse This has come almost at the same time when social media platform Twitter took back its feature of fleets, which also allowed users to post disappearing stories. Twitter was not able to make a success from its Fleets, because of which the company decided to close down the feature. Meanwhile, messaging app, WhatsApp is also trying its hand at a new feature that will allow users to send videos and photos with "view once" option. While Facebook-owned WhatsApp is hoping to provide more privacy to users, ByteDance-owned TikTok is hoping to beat its competing platforms.

TikTok tests disappearing videos feature, but with a twist

Facebook sparked a fresh controversy after it&nbsp;cut off some academic researchers for "scraping" data from the platform for investigating&nbsp;the misinformation spread through political ads on the social network.

The California tech giant&nbsp;says the New York University researchers violated its terms of service and were involved in unauthorised data collection from its massive network.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-tech-titans-are-making-billions-during-the-pandemic-402687/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The academics, however, say the company is attempting to exert control on research that paints it in a negative light.

The NYU researchers with the Ad Observatory Project had for several years been looking into Facebook’s Ad Library, where searches can be done on advertisements running across Facebook’s products.

Facebook&nbsp;product management director Mike Clark said the accounts from the project were disabled "to stop unauthorised scraping and protect people's privacy in line with our privacy program."

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/next-great-leap-in-evolution-of-internet-why-is-facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-betting-on-metaverse-401150" hreflang="en">'Next great leap in evolution of internet': Why is Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg betting on metaverse?</a>

The access was used to “uncover systemic flaws in the Facebook Ad Library, to identify misinformation in political ads, including many sowing distrust in our election system, and to study Facebook’s apparent amplification of partisan misinformation,” said Laura Edelson, the lead researcher behind NYU Cybersecurity for Democracy.

The NYU project had been at loggerheads for months with&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;over the program, which used a browser tool to collect data on ads spreading political hoaxes, violence, and COVID-19 misinformation.

"Research cannot be the justification for compromising people's privacy," Clark said in a blog post, arguing that the researchers were collecting user names, ads, and links to user profiles even for people who did not install the browser tool or consent to the collection.

But the&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;move prompted an angry response from researchers and free-speech activists who argued the social network is blocking independent access to its internal tools.

"By suspending our accounts,&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;has tried to shut down all this work.&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;has also effectively cut off access to more than two dozen other researchers and journalists who get access to&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;data through our project, including our work measuring vaccine misinformation," Edelson added.

Facebook says it makes information on political ads available through its Ad Library and provides “privacy-protected data sets” to researchers through other means.

The row marked the latest clash for&nbsp;Facebook, which has sought to clamp down on third parties with access to private user data while at the same seeking to enable outside researchers to study its inner workings.&nbsp;

Facebook&nbsp;claims it took the action in compliance with a 2019 settlement with US regulators on user privacy in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal in which data was scraped for political ad targeting.

But critics said&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;needs more transparency.

"We can't allow&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;to decide what the public gets to know about&nbsp;Facebook. Independent research that respects user privacy is absolutely crucial right now," said Alex Abdo of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University.

"It's essential to figuring out how disinformation spreads on the platform, how advertisers exploit&nbsp;Facebook's micro-targeting tools, and how&nbsp;Facebook's system of amplification may be pushing us further apart."

Matt Bailey of the writers' free expression group PEN America said the action "is part of a larger pattern of&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;seeking to undercut or silence anyone analyzing the platforms' practices from the outside.

(With inputs from agencies)

Facebook sparked a fresh controversy after it cut off some academic researchers for "scraping" data from the platform for investigating the misinformation spread through political ads on the social network.

Facebook sparked a fresh controversy after it cut off some academic researchers for "scraping" data from the platform for investigating the misinformation spread through political ads on the social network. The California tech giant says the New York University researchers violated its terms of service and were involved in unauthorised data collection from its massive network. The academics, however, say the company is attempting to exert control on research that paints it in a negative light. The NYU researchers with the Ad Observatory Project had for several years been looking into Facebook’s Ad Library, where searches can be done on advertisements running across Facebook’s products. Facebook product management director Mike Clark said the accounts from the project were disabled "to stop unauthorised scraping and protect people's privacy in line with our privacy program." Also read| 'Next great leap in evolution of internet': Why is Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg betting on metaverse? The access was used to “uncover systemic flaws in the Facebook Ad Library, to identify misinformation in political ads, including many sowing distrust in our election system, and to study Facebook’s apparent amplification of partisan misinformation,” said Laura Edelson, the lead researcher behind NYU Cybersecurity for Democracy. The NYU project had been at loggerheads for months with Facebook over the program, which used a browser tool to collect data on ads spreading political hoaxes, violence, and COVID-19 misinformation. "Research cannot be the justification for compromising people's privacy," Clark said in a blog post, arguing that the researchers were collecting user names, ads, and links to user profiles even for people who did not install the browser tool or consent to the collection. But the Facebook move prompted an angry response from researchers and free-speech activists who argued the social network is blocking independent access to its internal tools. "By suspending our accounts, Facebook has tried to shut down all this work. Facebook has also effectively cut off access to more than two dozen other researchers and journalists who get access to Facebook data through our project, including our work measuring vaccine misinformation," Edelson added. Facebook says it makes information on political ads available through its Ad Library and provides “privacy-protected data sets” to researchers through other means. The row marked the latest clash for Facebook, which has sought to clamp down on third parties with access to private user data while at the same seeking to enable outside researchers to study its inner workings. Facebook claims it took the action in compliance with a 2019 settlement with US regulators on user privacy in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal in which data was scraped for political ad targeting. But critics said Facebook needs more transparency. "We can't allow Facebook to decide what the public gets to know about Facebook. Independent research that respects user privacy is absolutely crucial right now," said Alex Abdo of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. "It's essential to figuring out how disinformation spreads on the platform, how advertisers exploit Facebook's micro-targeting tools, and how Facebook's system of amplification may be pushing us further apart." Matt Bailey of the writers' free expression group PEN America said the action "is part of a larger pattern of Facebook seeking to undercut or silence anyone analyzing the platforms' practices from the outside. (With inputs from agencies)

Facebook sparks fresh controversy by cutting off research on political ads

Zee Digital continues to reach new landmarks and strengthen its presence in the digital world&nbsp;by ranking second in the News &amp; Information category as per Comscore India Report for June 2021. 
 
As per Comscore India Report, continuing with greater momentum and exhibiting excellence in the digital content space has led to such phenomenal growth for the second time in a row after the May 2021 ranking. 
 
The company reported a noteworthy 1.4 times growth from Jan’21 to June’21 by crossing 229 million unique visitors in June 2021.

Zee Digital has secured sixth position among the top 20 internet websites in India, standing tall amongst Google sites, Facebook, Amazon sites, Flipkart sites etc.

Witnessing a substantial leap, Zee Digital has witnessed the strongest growth among top media publishers in the country.

From the Jan’21 to June’21 period, Zee Digital achieved 1.4x growth, leaving behind its competitors.

Zee Digital assets have also performed exceptionally well and have achieved significant growth in unique monthly visitors. In June 2021, Zee News Hindi crossed the 66 million mark, Zee News English crossed 48 million, India.com crossed 90 million, DNA India crossed 51 million, BGR.in crossed 9 million and BollywoodLife.com crossed 20 million, reporting a Y-o-Y growth ratio of 1.2x, 1.2x, 1.6x, 2.4x, 1.7x and 1.5x respectively.

Commenting on this victory for Zee Digital, Abhishek Nigam, COO– Digital of Zee Media Corporation Limited, said, "The team’s hard work and innovations in our assets have collectively helped Zee Digital become one of the most preferred destinations for content consumption in India and globally. With each new initiative, our endeavour has been to bring about a change that the users are willing to partake in. "

Zee Digital comprises of 31 websites, 20 brands across 12 languages, with viewers across digital replicas of Zee Media’s 14 linear news channels, along with websites such as WIONews.com, India.com, BGR.in, BollywoodLife.com, TheHealthsite.com, and CricketCountry.com.

Zee Digital continues to reach new landmarks and strengthen its presence in the digital world by ranking second in the News & Information category as per Comscore India Report for June 2021.

Zee Digital continues to reach new landmarks and strengthen its presence in the digital world by ranking second in the News & Information category as per Comscore India Report for June 2021. As per Comscore India Report, continuing with greater momentum and exhibiting excellence in the digital content space has led to such phenomenal growth for the second time in a row after the May 2021 ranking. The company reported a noteworthy 1.4 times growth from Jan’21 to June’21 by crossing 229 million unique visitors in June 2021. Zee Digital has secured sixth position among the top 20 internet websites in India, standing tall amongst Google sites, Facebook, Amazon sites, Flipkart sites etc. Witnessing a substantial leap, Zee Digital has witnessed the strongest growth among top media publishers in the country. From the Jan’21 to June’21 period, Zee Digital achieved 1.4x growth, leaving behind its competitors. Zee Digital assets have also performed exceptionally well and have achieved significant growth in unique monthly visitors. In June 2021, Zee News Hindi crossed the 66 million mark, Zee News English crossed 48 million, India.com crossed 90 million, DNA India crossed 51 million, BGR.in crossed 9 million and BollywoodLife.com crossed 20 million, reporting a Y-o-Y growth ratio of 1.2x, 1.2x, 1.6x, 2.4x, 1.7x and 1.5x respectively. Commenting on this victory for Zee Digital, Abhishek Nigam, COO– Digital of Zee Media Corporation Limited, said, "The team’s hard work and innovations in our assets have collectively helped Zee Digital become one of the most preferred destinations for content consumption in India and globally. With each new initiative, our endeavour has been to bring about a change that the users are willing to partake in. " Zee Digital comprises of 31 websites, 20 brands across 12 languages, with viewers across digital replicas of Zee Media’s 14 linear news channels, along with websites such as WIONews.com, India.com, BGR.in, BollywoodLife.com, TheHealthsite.com, and CricketCountry.com.

Zee Digital ranks second in a row among digital media publishers as per Comscore India report June 2021

Facebook-owned messaging service&nbsp;WhatsApp&nbsp;has announced the launch of&nbsp;disappearing photos and videos on its platform starting this week, as it looks to better compete with Snap Inc's photo messaging app&nbsp;Snapchat.

In a blog post,&nbsp;Facebook said the&nbsp;feature, called 'View Once', will let photos and videos disappear from the chat after they have been seen.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-tech-titans-are-making-billions-during-the-pandemic-402687/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

After the media has been viewed, the message will appear as “opened” to avoid any confusion about what was happening in the chat at the time.&nbsp;

Since its launch in 2009 as a smartphone messaging app,&nbsp;WhatsApp&nbsp;has amassed more than two billion users around the world and was acquired by Facebook.

Snapchat, known for its Stories feature that lets users post updates that disappear after 24 hours, has grown in popularity last year as pandemic-induced curbs kept users at home. The company has also been adding new features on its messaging app to attract more users.

Users prefer WhatsApp over Snapchat because it is available on a personal computer, does not have advertisements, can be personalised, and supports more languages.

However,&nbsp;WhatsApp had received backlash after it forced&nbsp;users to accept new terms of sharing data with&nbsp;Facebook.

As a result of the&nbsp;flap over its&nbsp;privacy policy,&nbsp;described by Facebook as a misunderstanding about efforts to bring businesses onto the platform,&nbsp;it had to retreat and delay it.

The update was supposed to allow additional sharing of information from&nbsp;WhatsApp&nbsp;with Facebook and its other applications such as Instagram and Messenger, such as contacts and profile data, but not the content of messages which remain encrypted.

It was among the latest episodes highlighting concerns over the tech giant's privacy and data protection policies.

(With inputs from agencies)

Facebook-owned messaging service WhatsApp has announced the launch of disappearing photos and videos on its platform starting this week, as it looks to better compete with Snap Inc's photo messaging app Snapchat.

Facebook-owned messaging service WhatsApp has announced the launch of disappearing photos and videos on its platform starting this week, as it looks to better compete with Snap Inc's photo messaging app Snapchat. In a blog post, Facebook said the feature, called 'View Once', will let photos and videos disappear from the chat after they have been seen. After the media has been viewed, the message will appear as “opened” to avoid any confusion about what was happening in the chat at the time. Since its launch in 2009 as a smartphone messaging app, WhatsApp has amassed more than two billion users around the world and was acquired by Facebook. Snapchat, known for its Stories feature that lets users post updates that disappear after 24 hours, has grown in popularity last year as pandemic-induced curbs kept users at home. The company has also been adding new features on its messaging app to attract more users. Users prefer WhatsApp over Snapchat because it is available on a personal computer, does not have advertisements, can be personalised, and supports more languages. However, WhatsApp had received backlash after it forced users to accept new terms of sharing data with Facebook. As a result of the flap over its privacy policy, described by Facebook as a misunderstanding about efforts to bring businesses onto the platform, it had to retreat and delay it. The update was supposed to allow additional sharing of information from WhatsApp with Facebook and its other applications such as Instagram and Messenger, such as contacts and profile data, but not the content of messages which remain encrypted. It was among the latest episodes highlighting concerns over the tech giant's privacy and data protection policies. (With inputs from agencies)

WhatsApp is doing a Snapchat: Facebook-owned messaging service rolls out option for disappearing photos, videos

Twitter&nbsp;Inc will partner with the Associated Press and&nbsp;Reuters&nbsp;to more quickly provide credible information on the social networking&nbsp;site&nbsp;as part of an effort to fight the spread of&nbsp;misinformation, it said on Monday.

Like other social media companies, the San Francisco-based firm has been under pressure to remove misleading or false information on&nbsp;its&nbsp;site. Earlier this year&nbsp;Twitter&nbsp;launched a program called Birdwatch, asking&nbsp;its&nbsp;users to help identify and fact-check misleading tweets.

Twitter&nbsp;said it will collaborate with the newswires during breaking news events to add accurate context, which could&nbsp;appear in various places on&nbsp;Twitter, such as a label attached to tweets about the event or as a "Moment," which curates information about trending topics on&nbsp;Twitter.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/twitter-is-working-on-a-three-tier-labelling-mechanism-to-fight-misinformation-heres-how-itll-work-388770">Also read |&nbsp;Twitter is working on a three-tier labelling mechanism to fight misinformation. Here's how it'll work</a>

The&nbsp;partnerships mark the first time&nbsp;Twitter&nbsp;will formally collaborate with news organisations to elevate accurate information on&nbsp;its&nbsp;site, a&nbsp;Twitter&nbsp;spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added&nbsp;Twitter&nbsp;will work separately with both the&nbsp;AP&nbsp;and&nbsp;Reuters, a division of information services company Thomson&nbsp;Reuters&nbsp;Corp, and the newswires will not interact with each other.

“Trust, accuracy and impartiality are at the heart of what&nbsp;Reuters&nbsp;does every day ... those values also drive our commitment to stopping the spread of&nbsp;misinformation," Hazel Baker, global head of UGC (user-generated content) news gathering at&nbsp;Reuters, said in a statement.

Tom Januszewski, vice president of global business development at the&nbsp;AP, said: "We are particularly excited about leveraging&nbsp;AP’s scale and speed to add context to online conversations, which can benefit from easy access to the facts.”

Twitter Inc will partner with the Associated Press and Reuters to more quickly provide credible information on the social networking site as part of an effort to fight the spread of misinformation, it said on Monday.

Twitter Inc will partner with the Associated Press and Reuters to more quickly provide credible information on the social networking site as part of an effort to fight the spread of misinformation, it said on Monday. Like other social media companies, the San Francisco-based firm has been under pressure to remove misleading or false information on its site. Earlier this year Twitter launched a program called Birdwatch, asking its users to help identify and fact-check misleading tweets. Twitter said it will collaborate with the newswires during breaking news events to add accurate context, which could appear in various places on Twitter, such as a label attached to tweets about the event or as a "Moment," which curates information about trending topics on Twitter. Also read | Twitter is working on a three-tier labelling mechanism to fight misinformation. Here's how it'll work The partnerships mark the first time Twitter will formally collaborate with news organisations to elevate accurate information on its site, a Twitter spokesperson said. The spokesperson added Twitter will work separately with both the AP and Reuters, a division of information services company Thomson Reuters Corp, and the newswires will not interact with each other. “Trust, accuracy and impartiality are at the heart of what Reuters does every day ... those values also drive our commitment to stopping the spread of misinformation," Hazel Baker, global head of UGC (user-generated content) news gathering at Reuters, said in a statement. Tom Januszewski, vice president of global business development at the AP, said: "We are particularly excited about leveraging AP’s scale and speed to add context to online conversations, which can benefit from easy access to the facts.”

Twitter partners with AP, Reuters to battle misinformation on its site

Zoom Video Communications Inc agreed to pay $85 million and bolster its security practices to settle a lawsuit claiming it violated users' privacy rights by sharing personal data with Facebook, Google and LinkedIn and letting hackers disrupt Zoom meetings in a practice called Zoombombing.

A preliminary settlement filed on Saturday afternoon requires approval by US District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California.

Subscribers in the proposed class action would be eligible for 15% refunds on their core subscriptions or $25, whichever is larger, while others could receive up to $15.

Zoom agreed to security measures including alerting users when meeting hosts or other participants use third-party apps in meetings and providing specialized training to employees on privacy and data handling.

The San Jose-based company denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle.

In a statement on Sunday, Zoom said: "The privacy and security of our users are top priorities for Zoom, and we take seriously the trust our users place in us."

Saturday's settlement came after Koh on March 11 let the plaintiffs pursue some contract-based claims. 
 
Though Zoom collected about $1.3 billion in Zoom Meetings subscriptions from class members, the plaintiffs' lawyers called the $85 million settlement reasonable given the litigation risks. They intend to seek up to $21.25 million for legal fees.

Zoombombing is where outsiders hijack Zoom meetings and display pornography, use racist language or post other disturbing content.

Koh said Zoom was "mostly" immune for Zoombombing under Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act, which shields online platforms from liability over user content.

Zoom's customer base has grown sixfold since the COVID-19 pandemic forced more people to work from home.

The company had 497,000 customers with more than 10 employees in April 2021, up from 81,900 in January 2020. It has been said user growth could slow or decline as more people get vaccines and return to work or school in person.

The case is In re: Zoom Video Communications Inc Privacy Litigation, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 20-02155.

Zoom Video Communications Inc agreed to pay $85 million and bolster its security practices to settle a lawsuit claiming it violated users' privacy rights by sharing personal data with Facebook, Google and LinkedIn and letting hackers disrupt Zoom meetings in a practice called Zoombombing.

Zoom Video Communications Inc agreed to pay $85 million and bolster its security practices to settle a lawsuit claiming it violated users' privacy rights by sharing personal data with Facebook, Google and LinkedIn and letting hackers disrupt Zoom meetings in a practice called Zoombombing. A preliminary settlement filed on Saturday afternoon requires approval by US District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California. Subscribers in the proposed class action would be eligible for 15% refunds on their core subscriptions or $25, whichever is larger, while others could receive up to $15. Zoom agreed to security measures including alerting users when meeting hosts or other participants use third-party apps in meetings and providing specialized training to employees on privacy and data handling. The San Jose-based company denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle. In a statement on Sunday, Zoom said: "The privacy and security of our users are top priorities for Zoom, and we take seriously the trust our users place in us." Saturday's settlement came after Koh on March 11 let the plaintiffs pursue some contract-based claims. Though Zoom collected about $1.3 billion in Zoom Meetings subscriptions from class members, the plaintiffs' lawyers called the $85 million settlement reasonable given the litigation risks. They intend to seek up to $21.25 million for legal fees. Zoombombing is where outsiders hijack Zoom meetings and display pornography, use racist language or post other disturbing content. Koh said Zoom was "mostly" immune for Zoombombing under Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act, which shields online platforms from liability over user content. Zoom's customer base has grown sixfold since the COVID-19 pandemic forced more people to work from home. The company had 497,000 customers with more than 10 employees in April 2021, up from 81,900 in January 2020. It has been said user growth could slow or decline as more people get vaccines and return to work or school in person. The case is In re: Zoom Video Communications Inc Privacy Litigation, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 20-02155.

Zoom to pay $85 million as fine for sending data to Facebook and Google

Fossil Gen 5E: Rs 18,495&nbsp;

<table aria-rowcount="2" border="1" data-tablelook="1696" data-tablestyle="MsoTableGrid">
	<tbody>
		<tr aria-rowindex="1" role="row">
			<td data-celllook="0" role="rowheader">
			&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Pros&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
			</td>
			<td data-celllook="0" role="columnheader">
			&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Cons&nbsp;
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr aria-rowindex="2" role="row">
			<td data-celllook="0" role="rowheader">
			<ul role="list">
				<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="1" role="listitem">
				Great buy under Rs 20,000&nbsp;
				</li>
				<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="1" role="listitem">
				Looks premium&nbsp;
				</li>
				<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="1" role="listitem">
				Great user interface&nbsp;
				</li>
				<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="4" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="1" role="listitem">
				Smaller size (42mm) available&nbsp;
				</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
			<td data-celllook="0">
			<ul role="list">
				<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-listid="1" role="listitem">
				No SPO2 sensor&nbsp;
				</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

&nbsp;

Have you noticed people's wrists lately? Expensive wristwatches and jewellery have been replaced by trendy, functional smartwatches and fitness bands. Gone are the days when a high-end timepiece or sparkling diamonds were highly coveted. Now, the sparkle has been replaced by the little 'foot' as I call it. Everyone is tracking steps!&nbsp;

In a market brimming with options for all wallets, Fossil offers its Gen 5E smartwatch, the newest addition to its Gen 5 smartwatches. The company says it's more "affordable" at Rs 18,495. While this is more expensive than what plenty of other brands are offering under Rs 10,000, let’s see if this new watch is a bang for your buck.&nbsp;

How does it look?&nbsp;

No one is going to buy a watch that promises the world but looks clunky on the wrist. The Fossil Gen 5E comes in two sizes, 44mm and 42mm. I strapped on the 42mm with the delicate pink strap. The bling encircling the crown will add a nice touch only if you're into bling, else stop reading this review because if you're not a bling-lover, you won't be interested in this watch.&nbsp;

The 1.19-inch AMOLED touchscreen offers plenty of real estate to view notifications and the display leaves no room for complaints, even in bright daylight. What I did miss was the rotating crown found in more expensive Fossil smartwatches. &nbsp;

What I do love are the slim bezels, which give it the looks of a premium watch. It's light and easy to strap on and won't weigh your wrist down.&nbsp;

Pro tip: if you're going to use it during workout, ditch the fancy metal straps and opt for silicone straps which you will have to buy separately. Perhaps, the brand should've thrown in a pair in the box?&nbsp;

How does it perform?&nbsp;

Before I get into a nauseating list of features and specifications, let’s be frank, you'll be using this to track fitness and health metrics along with some notifications because that's what most smartwatch users do. The processor here is a slightly older one from Snapdragon possibly to save costs and that doesn't always have to be a bad thing. The watch is responsive and quick in performing most tasks without any lag. The user interface is easy to get accustomed to ONLY AND ONLY IF you're a Google WearOS user.&nbsp;

As someone, who is hooked to her Apple Watch perpetually, I did face some issues in shifting to Google WearOS but given the huge price difference between iOS and WearOS gadgets, one can't complain.&nbsp;

What I found lacking surprisingly in the age of COVID-19, was the lack of an SPO2 or blood-oxygen sensor. At nearly Rs 19,000, Fossil should have added this feature to its bag of offerings.&nbsp;

Can you track your fitness goals?&nbsp;

Well, if you're particular about hitting that 10K step count, daily activity can be tracked easily. But remember this, no matter which smartwatch you strap on, always underestimate the step count! You will need to sync the watch with the Google Fit app for a curated health analysis featuring sleep metrics, heart rate, cardio health, and step count.&nbsp;

Is the watch independent of the smartphone? Yes and no. You can receive calls on the watch but the sound quality isn't great.&nbsp;

Here's some good news -- this watch is splash-proof so, feel free to go for a run in the rain with it.&nbsp;

How long will it last?&nbsp;

Fossil doesn't say much about the watch's battery life except that it comes with smart battery modes to extend the watch's use. So, like all smartwatches, it will depend on your use. I wear my smartwatch from the moment I wake up to the time I hit the snooze button. So, for me, the watch lasted for around 10 hours, which is in line with expectations at this price point. Of course, it could have been better.&nbsp;

Is the Fossil Gen 5E for you?&nbsp;

If you're a Google WearOS user and are looking for a good-looking smartwatch under Rs 20,000, then the Fossil Gen 5E offers plenty of features without putting an extra burden on your wallet. However, at this price point, the SPO2 sensor is a must and the watch misses out on that. But if that's not something you need, then this watch looks premium and is a great addition on your wrist.&nbsp;

Fossil Gen 5E Specifications&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 processor&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Powered by Google Wearos&nbsp;</li>
	<li>4 GB storage&nbsp;</li>
	<li>1 GB RAM&nbsp;</li>
	<li>300 mAh battery&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Water-resistant up to 3ATM&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Fossil Gen 5E: Rs 18,495 Pros Cons Great buy under Rs 20,000 Looks premium Great user interface Smaller size (42mm) available No SPO2 sensor Have you noticed people's wrists lately?

Fossil Gen 5E: Rs 18,495 Pros Cons Great buy under Rs 20,000 Looks premium Great user interface Smaller size (42mm) available No SPO2 sensor Have you noticed people's wrists lately? Expensive wristwatches and jewellery have been replaced by trendy, functional smartwatches and fitness bands. Gone are the days when a high-end timepiece or sparkling diamonds were highly coveted. Now, the sparkle has been replaced by the little 'foot' as I call it. Everyone is tracking steps! In a market brimming with options for all wallets, Fossil offers its Gen 5E smartwatch, the newest addition to its Gen 5 smartwatches. The company says it's more "affordable" at Rs 18,495. While this is more expensive than what plenty of other brands are offering under Rs 10,000, let’s see if this new watch is a bang for your buck. How does it look? No one is going to buy a watch that promises the world but looks clunky on the wrist. The Fossil Gen 5E comes in two sizes, 44mm and 42mm. I strapped on the 42mm with the delicate pink strap. The bling encircling the crown will add a nice touch only if you're into bling, else stop reading this review because if you're not a bling-lover, you won't be interested in this watch. The 1.19-inch AMOLED touchscreen offers plenty of real estate to view notifications and the display leaves no room for complaints, even in bright daylight. What I did miss was the rotating crown found in more expensive Fossil smartwatches. What I do love are the slim bezels, which give it the looks of a premium watch. It's light and easy to strap on and won't weigh your wrist down. Pro tip: if you're going to use it during workout, ditch the fancy metal straps and opt for silicone straps which you will have to buy separately. Perhaps, the brand should've thrown in a pair in the box? How does it perform? Before I get into a nauseating list of features and specifications, let’s be frank, you'll be using this to track fitness and health metrics along with some notifications because that's what most smartwatch users do. The processor here is a slightly older one from Snapdragon possibly to save costs and that doesn't always have to be a bad thing. The watch is responsive and quick in performing most tasks without any lag. The user interface is easy to get accustomed to ONLY AND ONLY IF you're a Google WearOS user. As someone, who is hooked to her Apple Watch perpetually, I did face some issues in shifting to Google WearOS but given the huge price difference between iOS and WearOS gadgets, one can't complain. What I found lacking surprisingly in the age of COVID-19, was the lack of an SPO2 or blood-oxygen sensor. At nearly Rs 19,000, Fossil should have added this feature to its bag of offerings. Can you track your fitness goals? Well, if you're particular about hitting that 10K step count, daily activity can be tracked easily. But remember this, no matter which smartwatch you strap on, always underestimate the step count! You will need to sync the watch with the Google Fit app for a curated health analysis featuring sleep metrics, heart rate, cardio health, and step count. Is the watch independent of the smartphone? Yes and no. You can receive calls on the watch but the sound quality isn't great. Here's some good news -- this watch is splash-proof so, feel free to go for a run in the rain with it. How long will it last? Fossil doesn't say much about the watch's battery life except that it comes with smart battery modes to extend the watch's use. So, like all smartwatches, it will depend on your use. I wear my smartwatch from the moment I wake up to the time I hit the snooze button. So, for me, the watch lasted for around 10 hours, which is in line with expectations at this price point. Of course, it could have been better. Is the Fossil Gen 5E for you? If you're a Google WearOS user and are looking for a good-looking smartwatch under Rs 20,000, then the Fossil Gen 5E offers plenty of features without putting an extra burden on your wallet. However, at this price point, the SPO2 sensor is a must and the watch misses out on that. But if that's not something you need, then this watch looks premium and is a great addition on your wrist. Fossil Gen 5E Specifications Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 processor Powered by Google Wearos 4 GB storage 1 GB RAM 300 mAh battery Water-resistant up to 3ATM

Fossil's new smartwatch review: Bang for your buck?

As cyberattacks proliferated this year, Sanjay Beri, CEO of Netskope, a cloud security startup, got a phone call. Then an email. Then more messages.

All were from venture capitalists who wanted to invest in his company. Given the ransomware attacks and nation-state hacks that were making headlines, they told him, companies that made security products had a bigger market and mission than before.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/how-have-cyber-attacks-become-strategy-for-hybrid-warfare-399782">How have cyber attacks become strategy for hybrid warfare?</a>

“We weren’t looking for capital,” said Beri, who founded Netskope in 2012, but the cyberattacks “definitely increased their interest.”

After bids from seven investors, Netskope raised $300 million this month at a valuation of $7.5 billion, up from a $2.8 billion valuation last year. It was one of the year’s largest cybersecurity funding rounds, but not the maximum that Netskope could have attained.

“We could have raised $1 billion in capital,” Beri said.

Recent cyberattacks around the world have taken down operations at gasoline pipelines, hospitals and grocery chains and potentially compromised some intelligence agencies. But they have been a bonanza for one group: cybersecurity startups.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-weighs-new-cybersecurity-approach-after-failure-to-detect-hacks-370603">White House weighs new cybersecurity approach after failure to detect hacks</a>

Investors have poured more than $12.2 billion into startups that sell products and services such as cloud security, identify verification and privacy protection so far this year. That exceeds the $10.4 billion that cybersecurity companies raised in all of 2020 and is more than double the $4.8 billion raised in 2016, according to the research firm PitchBook, which tracks funding. Since 2019, the rise in cybersecurity funding has outpaced the increase in overall venture funding.

The surge follows a slew of high-profile ransomware attacks, including against Colonial Pipeline, software maker Kaseya and meat processor JBS. When President Joe Biden met with Russian President Vladimir Putin last month, cyberattacks perpetrated by Russians were high on the diplomatic agenda. This month, the Biden administration and its allies also formally accused China of conducting hacks.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-allies-condemn-china-for-malicious-cyber-activity-399125/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

The breaches have fueled concerns among companies and governments, leading to increased spending on security products. Worldwide spending on information security and related services is expected to reach $150 billion this year, up 12 per cent from a year ago, according to the research company Gartner.

“Before we got to this point, we as security teams were having to go and fight for every penny we could get, and now it’s the exact opposite,” said John Turner, an information security manager at LendingTree, an online lending marketplace. Executives, he said, are asking: “Are we protected? What do you need?”

All of this is set to drive business for cybersecurity companies, creating a potential windfall that has excited investors. The average valuation of cybersecurity companies raising funds this year has more than doubled to $524.1 million from $221.8 million in 2020, according to PitchBook.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/biden-if-us-has-real-shooting-war-it-could-be-result-of-cyber-attacks-401055">Biden: If US has 'real shooting war' it could be result of cyber attacks</a>

“In close to two decades as a VC, I’ve never seen valuations so escalated,” said Asheem Chandna, a venture capitalist at Greylock Partners, who has invested in security companies such as Palo Alto Networks.

The money is flooding into startups that are tackling hackers in new ways. Traditionally, security systems at companies relied on the idea of securing a perimeter. That meant companies installed firewalls and other software to protect access to their corporate network.

But over the past several years, a shift to cloud computing has rendered the perimeter and the reliance on corporate networks obsolete. Employees now get access to applications over the internet, rather than through a data center operated by their employer. That has opened the door to startups that focus on cloud-based security and identity verification.

“Don’t build higher fences — have really good ID cards,” said Jason Crabtree, CEO of Qomplx, a risk-analytics startup that provides identity-verification software and is in the process of going public.

The funding frenzy has built for months. The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">pandemic</a> provided momentum when companies shifted to remote work, which required securing those remote-access systems, investors and executives said.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cyber-attack-disrupts-major-south-african-port-operations-401656/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

n a Friday evening in October, Chandna introduced the CEO of Abnormal Security, an email-security company in which he had invested, to another investor, he said. That investor, Venky Ganesan of Menlo Ventures, who had been pursuing a meeting with the CEO, Evan Reiser, for months, immediately emailed Reiser to invite him to dinner that night.

Reiser drove, he said, from San Francisco to Ganesan’s home in Atherton, California, about 30 miles away. By the end of the weekend, Abnormal had signed a deal to raise $50 million at a $600 million valuation, putting its total funding at $74 million. Menlo’s $40 million check was the firm’s largest investment ever.

“As shotgun weddings go, it’s as shotgun as you can get,” Ganesan said.

Since then, the ransomware attacks have given the funding wave a further boost.

In January, Lacework, a cloud security startup in San Jose, California, garnered $525 million in funding. Investors reached out because of Lacework’s products, which use artificial intelligence to identify threats, said Andy Byron, the company’s chief resource officer. In total, Lacework has raised $625 million since it was founded in 2015.

Mike Speiser, a venture capitalist at Sutter Hill Ventures, which led Lacework’s January financing, had no problem getting other investors to participate, he said.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-how-china-breached-thousands-of-organisations-with-one-hacking-operation-399317/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

I called the five people that I thought were the best investors and asked them if they were interested. They were all interested, and within 48 hours we had a deal,” Speiser said. “One hundred percent of the people I called said they wanted in. We could have raised well over $1 billion.”

Business has boomed for Lacework because of “the combination of all of these ransomware and nation-state attacks, together with people moving to the cloud so aggressively,” said David Hatfield, who joined the startup in February as CEO.

Other security startups have also benefited. Orca, a cloud-security startup, raised $210 million in March. Trulioo, a company that makes sure users are who they say they are when they join a platform, collected $394 million last month.

Security startups are also being acquired for large sums or are going public. Last month, SentinelOne went public with a market capitalization of over $10 billion, the highest-valued cybersecurity public offering. In May, Auth0, an identity-verification company, was bought by Okta, another security company, for $6.5 billion.

Netskope's Beri said that with cybersecurity threats mounting, the funding boom was likely to continue.

“Many investors are not security savvy,” he said. “But when your next-door neighbors go, ‘Hey, what’s up with this ransomware stuff,’ then you know that it’s reached public consciousness. From an investor’s perspective, when something hits the average person’s mind, they realize: ‘Wow. This is here to stay.’”

As cyberattacks proliferated this year, Sanjay Beri, CEO of Netskope, a cloud security startup, got a phone call. Then an email. Then more messages. All were from venture capitalists who wanted to invest in his company.

As cyberattacks proliferated this year, Sanjay Beri, CEO of Netskope, a cloud security startup, got a phone call. Then an email. Then more messages. All were from venture capitalists who wanted to invest in his company. Given the ransomware attacks and nation-state hacks that were making headlines, they told him, companies that made security products had a bigger market and mission than before. Also read | How have cyber attacks become strategy for hybrid warfare? “We weren’t looking for capital,” said Beri, who founded Netskope in 2012, but the cyberattacks “definitely increased their interest.” After bids from seven investors, Netskope raised $300 million this month at a valuation of $7.5 billion, up from a $2.8 billion valuation last year. It was one of the year’s largest cybersecurity funding rounds, but not the maximum that Netskope could have attained. “We could have raised $1 billion in capital,” Beri said. Recent cyberattacks around the world have taken down operations at gasoline pipelines, hospitals and grocery chains and potentially compromised some intelligence agencies. But they have been a bonanza for one group: cybersecurity startups. Also read | White House weighs new cybersecurity approach after failure to detect hacks Investors have poured more than $12.2 billion into startups that sell products and services such as cloud security, identify verification and privacy protection so far this year. That exceeds the $10.4 billion that cybersecurity companies raised in all of 2020 and is more than double the $4.8 billion raised in 2016, according to the research firm PitchBook, which tracks funding. Since 2019, the rise in cybersecurity funding has outpaced the increase in overall venture funding. The surge follows a slew of high-profile ransomware attacks, including against Colonial Pipeline, software maker Kaseya and meat processor JBS. When President Joe Biden met with Russian President Vladimir Putin last month, cyberattacks perpetrated by Russians were high on the diplomatic agenda. This month, the Biden administration and its allies also formally accused China of conducting hacks. The breaches have fueled concerns among companies and governments, leading to increased spending on security products. Worldwide spending on information security and related services is expected to reach $150 billion this year, up 12 per cent from a year ago, according to the research company Gartner. “Before we got to this point, we as security teams were having to go and fight for every penny we could get, and now it’s the exact opposite,” said John Turner, an information security manager at LendingTree, an online lending marketplace. Executives, he said, are asking: “Are we protected? What do you need?” All of this is set to drive business for cybersecurity companies, creating a potential windfall that has excited investors. The average valuation of cybersecurity companies raising funds this year has more than doubled to $524.1 million from $221.8 million in 2020, according to PitchBook. Also read | Biden: If US has 'real shooting war' it could be result of cyber attacks “In close to two decades as a VC, I’ve never seen valuations so escalated,” said Asheem Chandna, a venture capitalist at Greylock Partners, who has invested in security companies such as Palo Alto Networks. The money is flooding into startups that are tackling hackers in new ways. Traditionally, security systems at companies relied on the idea of securing a perimeter. That meant companies installed firewalls and other software to protect access to their corporate network. But over the past several years, a shift to cloud computing has rendered the perimeter and the reliance on corporate networks obsolete. Employees now get access to applications over the internet, rather than through a data center operated by their employer. That has opened the door to startups that focus on cloud-based security and identity verification. “Don’t build higher fences — have really good ID cards,” said Jason Crabtree, CEO of Qomplx, a risk-analytics startup that provides identity-verification software and is in the process of going public. The funding frenzy has built for months. The pandemic provided momentum when companies shifted to remote work, which required securing those remote-access systems, investors and executives said. n a Friday evening in October, Chandna introduced the CEO of Abnormal Security, an email-security company in which he had invested, to another investor, he said. That investor, Venky Ganesan of Menlo Ventures, who had been pursuing a meeting with the CEO, Evan Reiser, for months, immediately emailed Reiser to invite him to dinner that night. Reiser drove, he said, from San Francisco to Ganesan’s home in Atherton, California, about 30 miles away. By the end of the weekend, Abnormal had signed a deal to raise $50 million at a $600 million valuation, putting its total funding at $74 million. Menlo’s $40 million check was the firm’s largest investment ever. “As shotgun weddings go, it’s as shotgun as you can get,” Ganesan said. Since then, the ransomware attacks have given the funding wave a further boost. In January, Lacework, a cloud security startup in San Jose, California, garnered $525 million in funding. Investors reached out because of Lacework’s products, which use artificial intelligence to identify threats, said Andy Byron, the company’s chief resource officer. In total, Lacework has raised $625 million since it was founded in 2015. Mike Speiser, a venture capitalist at Sutter Hill Ventures, which led Lacework’s January financing, had no problem getting other investors to participate, he said. I called the five people that I thought were the best investors and asked them if they were interested. They were all interested, and within 48 hours we had a deal,” Speiser said. “One hundred percent of the people I called said they wanted in. We could have raised well over $1 billion.” Business has boomed for Lacework because of “the combination of all of these ransomware and nation-state attacks, together with people moving to the cloud so aggressively,” said David Hatfield, who joined the startup in February as CEO. Other security startups have also benefited. Orca, a cloud-security startup, raised $210 million in March. Trulioo, a company that makes sure users are who they say they are when they join a platform, collected $394 million last month. Security startups are also being acquired for large sums or are going public. Last month, SentinelOne went public with a market capitalization of over $10 billion, the highest-valued cybersecurity public offering. In May, Auth0, an identity-verification company, was bought by Okta, another security company, for $6.5 billion. Netskope's Beri said that with cybersecurity threats mounting, the funding boom was likely to continue. “Many investors are not security savvy,” he said. “But when your next-door neighbors go, ‘Hey, what’s up with this ransomware stuff,’ then you know that it’s reached public consciousness. From an investor’s perspective, when something hits the average person’s mind, they realize: ‘Wow. This is here to stay.’”

As cyberattacks surge, security startups reap the rewards

Tesla Inc Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk on Friday showed his support for 'Fortnite' maker Epic Games that has challenged Apple Inc's fees on its App Store. 
 
"Apple app store fees are a de facto global tax on the Internet. Epic is right," he said in a tweet.&nbsp; 
 
Apple is battling a lawsuit filed last year by Epic Games, alleging that the iPhone maker has abused its dominance in the market for mobile apps. Epic broke Apple's rules when it introduced its own in-app payment system in 'Fortnite' to circumvent Apple's commissions. 
 
Apple, which has defended its App Store practices both in court and to lawmakers in hearings, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. 
 
Musk late on Friday said that though he likes using Apple products, the iPhone maker is 'overcharging with App Store'. 
 
"I mean 30% fees for doing almost zero incremental work is completely unreasonable. Epic wouldn’t bother processing their own payments if App Store fees were fair," he tweeted. 
 
Separately, Musk denied a report that he once had a chat with Apple boss Tim Cook related to a possible acquisition of the electric carmaker and taking over as the iPhone maker's CEO.&nbsp;

"There was a point where I requested to meet with Cook to talk about Apple buying Tesla. There were no conditions of acquisition proposed whatsoever. He refused to meet," Musk said in another tweet.&nbsp; 
 
On Tesla's call with Wall Street analysts earlier this week, Musk took shots at Apple, criticising the company's "walled garden" or its tightly controlled tech ecosystem and its usage of cobalt, a key mineral for making lithium-ion batteries. 
 
"I don’t want to be CEO of anything," Musk tweeted in response to a comment.

Tesla Inc Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk on Friday showed his support for 'Fortnite' maker Epic Games that has challenged Apple Inc's fees on its App Store. "Apple app store fees are a de facto global tax on the Internet.

Tesla Inc Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk on Friday showed his support for 'Fortnite' maker Epic Games that has challenged Apple Inc's fees on its App Store. "Apple app store fees are a de facto global tax on the Internet. Epic is right," he said in a tweet. Apple is battling a lawsuit filed last year by Epic Games, alleging that the iPhone maker has abused its dominance in the market for mobile apps. Epic broke Apple's rules when it introduced its own in-app payment system in 'Fortnite' to circumvent Apple's commissions. Apple, which has defended its App Store practices both in court and to lawmakers in hearings, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Musk late on Friday said that though he likes using Apple products, the iPhone maker is 'overcharging with App Store'. "I mean 30% fees for doing almost zero incremental work is completely unreasonable. Epic wouldn’t bother processing their own payments if App Store fees were fair," he tweeted. Separately, Musk denied a report that he once had a chat with Apple boss Tim Cook related to a possible acquisition of the electric carmaker and taking over as the iPhone maker's CEO. "There was a point where I requested to meet with Cook to talk about Apple buying Tesla. There were no conditions of acquisition proposed whatsoever. He refused to meet," Musk said in another tweet. On Tesla's call with Wall Street analysts earlier this week, Musk took shots at Apple, criticising the company's "walled garden" or its tightly controlled tech ecosystem and its usage of cobalt, a key mineral for making lithium-ion batteries. "I don’t want to be CEO of anything," Musk tweeted in response to a comment.

Musk says "Epic is right," takes sides in battle with Apple

Sony has now sold over 10 million PS5 consoles. This comes after Sony clocked around 7.8 million units as sold by March-end. Even though PS5 continues to be the hottest selling gaming console by Sony to date, the supply is constrained and it is extremely difficult to purchase a console right now due to a global chip shortage.

Sony has now sold over 10 million PS5 consoles. This comes after Sony clocked around 7.8 million units as sold by March-end. Even though PS5 continues to be the hottest selling gaming console by Sony to date, the supply is constrained and it is extremely difficult to purchase a console right now due to a global chip shortage. Jim Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, was quoted by The Verge saying, "While PS5 has reached more households faster than any of our previous consoles, we still have a lot of work ahead of us as demand for PS5 continues to outstrip supply". He added, "I want gamers to know that while we continue to face unique challenges throughout the world that affect our industry and many others, improving inventory levels remains a top priority for SIE". Also read | Twitter set to test 'shop' feature for select brands The supply constraint is not likely to go away anytime soon. It is because of the periodic sales through online channels that the buyers are unable to get their hands on a PS5 unit. Sony has also shared some milestones around the PS5 launch titles. Spider-Man: Miles Morales has sold more than 6.5 million copies since its launch in November, with Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart selling more than 1.1 million copies since its launch last month. Returnal has also sold more than 560,000 copies since its April launch. As Sony continues to share console hardware figures, Microsoft has stopped sharing Xbox sales numbers in the Xbox One era. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has been quoted by The Verge saying, "We’re all in on games". He added, "The Xbox Series S and X are our fastest selling consoles ever, with more consoles sold life-to-date than any previous generation".

Sony has sold 10 million PS5 consoles while chip shortage continues

Samsung&nbsp;Electronics' net profits surged more than 70 percent in the second quarter thanks to higher memory chip prices fuelled by pandemic-led demand, the South Korean tech giant reported Thursday.

Coronavirus-driven working from home boosted demand for devices and appliances powered by&nbsp;Samsung's memory chips. The company said that "memory shipments exceeded previous guidance and price increases were higher than expected".

The world's biggest smartphone maker saw net profits rise 73.4 percent year-on-year to 9.6 trillion won ($8.4 billion) for April-June, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Operating profit increased 54.3 percent to 12.6 trillion won from 8.1 trillion won a year earlier, more than half of which came from the firm's semiconductor business.

The strong results come despite an on-quarter decline in&nbsp;Samsung's earnings from its smartphone business because of supply chain problems that disrupted global production.

Samsung&nbsp;Electronics is the flagship subsidiary of the giant&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;group, by far the largest of the family-controlled empires that dominate business in South Korea, the world's 12th largest economy.&nbsp;

The conglomerate's overall turnover is equivalent to one-fifth of gross domestic product.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/samsung-may-launch-flagship-phone-early-to-grab-huawei-share-341786">Also read |&nbsp;Samsung may launch flagship phone early to grab Huawei share</a>

Analysts say the chip unit's proportion of the firm's profit is likely to grow in the months ahead.

"Samsung&nbsp;will benefit from memory chip prices that are likely to go higher in the third and fourth quarter," Park Sung-soon, an analyst at Cape Investment &amp; Securities, told AFP.

The firm anticipates favourable market conditions for the rest of the year, with continued demand for memory chips in the server and mobile markets.&nbsp;

But it warned pandemic-fuelled uncertainty would persist in the second half, noting "continued disruptions in component supply".

Shares in&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;Electronics closed down 0.25 percent on Thursday.&nbsp;

Eligible for parole

Samsung&nbsp;is expected to showcase the latest foldable smartphone models of its Galaxy Z and clamshell Galaxy Z Flip next month.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Makers of foldables are increasingly competitive, and include rivals such as China's Huawei and Xiaomi.&nbsp;

The upcoming gadgets will be equipped with "new multitasking capabilities and enhanced durability", said TM Roh, head of&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;Electronics' mobile communications business.&nbsp;

Samsung&nbsp;aims to solidify its position in the smartphone market "with the rollout of its premium mobile lineups as well as cheaper models in the third quarter", said James Kang, senior analyst at Euromonitor International.&nbsp;

But Kang said the company could face headwinds next year, as consumer demand is likely to be weaker than in 2021.&nbsp;

Samsung&nbsp;also faces legal challenges.&nbsp;

Its leader Lee Jae-yong is currently on trial, charged with manipulating a takeover to smooth his succession at the top of the&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;group.

Lee was separately jailed in January over a sprawling corruption scandal that brought down former president Park Geun-hye.

South Korea's corporate leaders and scholars say a leadership vacuum could hamper the firm's decision-making about large-scale investments, previously key to its global rise.

But Lee's absence would not have much of an impact on&nbsp;Samsung's earnings for the second half, said Park of Cape Investment.&nbsp;

Still, his return to management "could accelerate the decision-making process for long term investments", he added. &nbsp;

Lee is eligible for parole next month after completing more than half of his two-and-a-half year jail term.

Meanwhile, LG Electronics, South Korea's second-largest appliance firm after&nbsp;Samsung, posted a 65.5 percent jump in operating profit for the second quarter, to 1.1 trillion won.&nbsp;Its shares rose 1.5 percent.&nbsp;

Samsung Electronics' net profits surged more than 70 percent in the second quarter thanks to higher memory chip prices fuelled by pandemic-led demand, the South Korean tech giant reported Thursday.

Samsung Electronics' net profits surged more than 70 percent in the second quarter thanks to higher memory chip prices fuelled by pandemic-led demand, the South Korean tech giant reported Thursday. Coronavirus-driven working from home boosted demand for devices and appliances powered by Samsung's memory chips. The company said that "memory shipments exceeded previous guidance and price increases were higher than expected". The world's biggest smartphone maker saw net profits rise 73.4 percent year-on-year to 9.6 trillion won ($8.4 billion) for April-June, the company said in a regulatory filing. Operating profit increased 54.3 percent to 12.6 trillion won from 8.1 trillion won a year earlier, more than half of which came from the firm's semiconductor business. The strong results come despite an on-quarter decline in Samsung's earnings from its smartphone business because of supply chain problems that disrupted global production. Samsung Electronics is the flagship subsidiary of the giant Samsung group, by far the largest of the family-controlled empires that dominate business in South Korea, the world's 12th largest economy. The conglomerate's overall turnover is equivalent to one-fifth of gross domestic product. Also read | Samsung may launch flagship phone early to grab Huawei share Analysts say the chip unit's proportion of the firm's profit is likely to grow in the months ahead. "Samsung will benefit from memory chip prices that are likely to go higher in the third and fourth quarter," Park Sung-soon, an analyst at Cape Investment & Securities, told AFP. The firm anticipates favourable market conditions for the rest of the year, with continued demand for memory chips in the server and mobile markets. But it warned pandemic-fuelled uncertainty would persist in the second half, noting "continued disruptions in component supply". Shares in Samsung Electronics closed down 0.25 percent on Thursday. Eligible for parole Samsung is expected to showcase the latest foldable smartphone models of its Galaxy Z and clamshell Galaxy Z Flip next month. Makers of foldables are increasingly competitive, and include rivals such as China's Huawei and Xiaomi. The upcoming gadgets will be equipped with "new multitasking capabilities and enhanced durability", said TM Roh, head of Samsung Electronics' mobile communications business. Samsung aims to solidify its position in the smartphone market "with the rollout of its premium mobile lineups as well as cheaper models in the third quarter", said James Kang, senior analyst at Euromonitor International. But Kang said the company could face headwinds next year, as consumer demand is likely to be weaker than in 2021. Samsung also faces legal challenges. Its leader Lee Jae-yong is currently on trial, charged with manipulating a takeover to smooth his succession at the top of the Samsung group. Lee was separately jailed in January over a sprawling corruption scandal that brought down former president Park Geun-hye. South Korea's corporate leaders and scholars say a leadership vacuum could hamper the firm's decision-making about large-scale investments, previously key to its global rise. But Lee's absence would not have much of an impact on Samsung's earnings for the second half, said Park of Cape Investment. Still, his return to management "could accelerate the decision-making process for long term investments", he added. Lee is eligible for parole next month after completing more than half of his two-and-a-half year jail term. Meanwhile, LG Electronics, South Korea's second-largest appliance firm after Samsung, posted a 65.5 percent jump in operating profit for the second quarter, to 1.1 trillion won. Its shares rose 1.5 percent.

Samsung reports surge in profit on pandemic-led demand for chips

Social media platform Twitter is set to begin testing of shopping feature&nbsp;on profile pages of various brands that will enable brands to showcase their products.

Hoping to enter the online shopping world, Twitter is set to launch "Shops" feature that allowed users to purchase products from companies directly through their profile pages.

This feature will be enabled only for a handful of brands in the United States, and will slowly expand the feature on pages of other brands.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/technology/twitter-fleets-to-be-discontinued-in-august-398193" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/technology/twitter-fleets-to-be-discontinued-in-august-398193&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiVt9bUlYbyAhVi3jgGHavLCfo4MhAWMAd6BAgCEAI&amp;usg=AOvVaw19Ynxw1yPbFbEutZxCltWa" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/twitter-fleets-to-be-discontinued-in-august-398193" target="_blank">Twitter&nbsp;Fleets to be discontinued in August</a>

Now, users will be able to scroll through a range of products on the profile of the selected brands. After a small tap on the product, the customer will be directed to a payment page through the retailer's website. As soon as the payment is done, the product delivery dates will be made available to the customer.

This feature has come a little after Twitter tried a “Buy Now” button and also a 2015 experiment of product pages.

The announcement came a few days after Twitter announced that it will be discontinuing the newly-launched Fleets feature as it has not been able to attract more users to the social media platform.

"We built Fleets as a lower-pressure, ephemeral way for people to share their fleeting thoughts," Brown says at the very start of his blog post. However, he says that Fleets have not been able to increase the number of people joining the conversation.

"...in the time since we introduced Fleets to everyone, we haven’t seen an increase in the number of new people joining the conversation with Fleets like we hoped...," says Brown.

Social media platform Twitter is set to begin testing of shopping feature on profile pages of various brands that will enable brands to showcase their products. Hoping to enter the online shopping world, Twitter is set to launch "Shops" feature that allowed users to purchase products from companies directly through their profile pages.

Social media platform Twitter is set to begin testing of shopping feature on profile pages of various brands that will enable brands to showcase their products. Hoping to enter the online shopping world, Twitter is set to launch "Shops" feature that allowed users to purchase products from companies directly through their profile pages. This feature will be enabled only for a handful of brands in the United States, and will slowly expand the feature on pages of other brands. Also read | Twitter Fleets to be discontinued in August Now, users will be able to scroll through a range of products on the profile of the selected brands. After a small tap on the product, the customer will be directed to a payment page through the retailer's website. As soon as the payment is done, the product delivery dates will be made available to the customer. This feature has come a little after Twitter tried a “Buy Now” button and also a 2015 experiment of product pages. The announcement came a few days after Twitter announced that it will be discontinuing the newly-launched Fleets feature as it has not been able to attract more users to the social media platform. "We built Fleets as a lower-pressure, ephemeral way for people to share their fleeting thoughts," Brown says at the very start of his blog post. However, he says that Fleets have not been able to increase the number of people joining the conversation. "...in the time since we introduced Fleets to everyone, we haven’t seen an increase in the number of new people joining the conversation with Fleets like we hoped...," says Brown.

Twitter set to test 'shop' feature for select brands

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday warned that if the United States ended up in a "real shooting war" with a "major power" it could be the result of a significant cyber attack on the country, highlighting what Washington sees as growing threats posed by Russia and China. 
 
Cybersecurity has risen to the top of the agenda for the Biden administration after a series of high-profile attacks on entities such as network management company SolarWinds, the Colonial Pipeline company, meat processing company JBS and software firm Kaseya hurt the US&nbsp;far beyond just the companies hacked. Some of the attacks affected fuel and food supplies in parts of the United States. 
 
"I think it's more than likely we're going to end up, if we end up in a war - a real shooting war with a major power - it's going to be as a consequence of a cyber breach of great consequence and it's increasing exponentially, the capabilities," Biden said during a half-hour speech while visiting the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). 
 
During a June 16 summit in Geneva between Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden shared a list of critical infrastructure the US&nbsp;considers off-limits to nation-state actors. 
 
Since then, senior members of the Biden administration's national security team have been in constant contact with senior members of the Kremlin over cyber attacks on the United States, the White House has said. 
 
Biden also highlighted the threats posed by China, referring to President Xi Jinping as "deadly earnest about becoming the most powerful military force in the world, as well as the largest and most prominent economy in the world by the mid-40s, the 2040s."

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday warned that if the United States ended up in a "real shooting war" with a "major power" it could be the result of a significant cyber attack on the country, highlighting what Washington sees as growing threats posed by Russia and China.

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday warned that if the United States ended up in a "real shooting war" with a "major power" it could be the result of a significant cyber attack on the country, highlighting what Washington sees as growing threats posed by Russia and China. Cybersecurity has risen to the top of the agenda for the Biden administration after a series of high-profile attacks on entities such as network management company SolarWinds, the Colonial Pipeline company, meat processing company JBS and software firm Kaseya hurt the US far beyond just the companies hacked. Some of the attacks affected fuel and food supplies in parts of the United States. "I think it's more than likely we're going to end up, if we end up in a war - a real shooting war with a major power - it's going to be as a consequence of a cyber breach of great consequence and it's increasing exponentially, the capabilities," Biden said during a half-hour speech while visiting the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). During a June 16 summit in Geneva between Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden shared a list of critical infrastructure the US considers off-limits to nation-state actors. Since then, senior members of the Biden administration's national security team have been in constant contact with senior members of the Kremlin over cyber attacks on the United States, the White House has said. Biden also highlighted the threats posed by China, referring to President Xi Jinping as "deadly earnest about becoming the most powerful military force in the world, as well as the largest and most prominent economy in the world by the mid-40s, the 2040s."

Biden: If US has 'real shooting war' it could be result of cyber attacks

Imagine a world where you could sit on the same couch as a friend who lives thousands of miles away, or conjure up a virtual version of your workplace while at the beach.

Welcome to the&nbsp;metaverse: a vision of the future that sounds fantastical, but which tech titans like Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg are betting on as the next great leap in the evolution of the internet.

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The&nbsp;metaverse&nbsp;is, in fact, the stuff of science-fiction: the term was coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 novel "Snow Crash", in which people don virtual reality headsets to interact inside a game-like digital world.&nbsp;

The book has long enjoyed cult status among Silicon Valley entrepreneurs,&nbsp;but in recent months the&nbsp;metaverse&nbsp;has become one of the tech sector's hottest buzzwords, with companies pouring millions of dollars into its development.&nbsp;

Facebook fuelled the excitement further Monday by announcing the creation of a new team to work on Zuckerberg's vision of the&nbsp;metaverse.

Facebook, the world's largest social network, has invested heavily in virtual reality and augmented reality, developing hardware such as its Oculus VR headsets and working on AR glasses and wristband technologies.

It has also bought a bevy of VR gaming studios, including BigBox VR. It has about 10,000 employees working on virtual reality, The Information reported in March.

Zuckerberg has said he thinks it makes sense to invest deeply to shape what he bets will be the next big computing platform.

"I believe the&nbsp;metaverse&nbsp;will be the successor to the mobile internet, and creating this product group is the next step in our journey to help build it," he said on his Monday Facebook post.

He told The Verge: "If we do this well, I think over the next five years or so ... we will effectively transition from people seeing us as primarily being a social media company to being a&nbsp;metaverse&nbsp;company."

As with many tech buzzwords, the definition of the&nbsp;metaverse&nbsp;depends on whom you ask. But broadly, it involves blending the physical world with the digital one.&nbsp;

With the help of augmented reality glasses, it might allow you to see information whizz before your eyes as you walk around a city, from traffic and pollution updates to local history.

But&nbsp;metaverse&nbsp;enthusiasts are dreaming of a future in which the idea could be extended much further, allowing us to be transported to digital settings that feel real, such as a nightclub or a mountaintop.&nbsp;

As workers have grown weary of video conferences during the pandemic, Zuckerberg is particularly excited about the idea that co-workers could be brought together in a virtual room that feels like they are face-to-face.

Games in which players enter immersive digital worlds offer a glimpse into what the&nbsp;metaverse&nbsp;could eventually look like, blurring virtual entertainment with the real-world economy.

As far back as the early 2000s, the game Second Life allowed people to create digital avatars that could interact and shop with real money.&nbsp;

More recently, plots of land in Decentraland -- a virtual world where visitors can watch concerts, visit art galleries, and gamble in casinos -- have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars in MANA, a cryptocurrency.

The hugely popular video game Fortnite has also expanded into other forms of entertainment, with 12.3 million people logging in to watch rapper Travis Scott perform last year. Fortnite's owners Epic Games said in April that $1 billion of funding raised recently would be used to support its "vision for the&nbsp;metaverse".&nbsp;

And on Roblox, a gaming platform popular with children, a digital version of a Gucci bag sold in May for more than $4,100,&nbsp;more than the physical version would have cost.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Imagine a world where you could sit on the same couch as a friend who lives thousands of miles away, or conjure up a virtual version of your workplace while at the beach.

Imagine a world where you could sit on the same couch as a friend who lives thousands of miles away, or conjure up a virtual version of your workplace while at the beach. Welcome to the metaverse: a vision of the future that sounds fantastical, but which tech titans like Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg are betting on as the next great leap in the evolution of the internet. The metaverse is, in fact, the stuff of science-fiction: the term was coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 novel "Snow Crash", in which people don virtual reality headsets to interact inside a game-like digital world. The book has long enjoyed cult status among Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, but in recent months the metaverse has become one of the tech sector's hottest buzzwords, with companies pouring millions of dollars into its development. Facebook fuelled the excitement further Monday by announcing the creation of a new team to work on Zuckerberg's vision of the metaverse. Facebook, the world's largest social network, has invested heavily in virtual reality and augmented reality, developing hardware such as its Oculus VR headsets and working on AR glasses and wristband technologies. It has also bought a bevy of VR gaming studios, including BigBox VR. It has about 10,000 employees working on virtual reality, The Information reported in March. Zuckerberg has said he thinks it makes sense to invest deeply to shape what he bets will be the next big computing platform. "I believe the metaverse will be the successor to the mobile internet, and creating this product group is the next step in our journey to help build it," he said on his Monday Facebook post. He told The Verge: "If we do this well, I think over the next five years or so ... we will effectively transition from people seeing us as primarily being a social media company to being a metaverse company." As with many tech buzzwords, the definition of the metaverse depends on whom you ask. But broadly, it involves blending the physical world with the digital one. With the help of augmented reality glasses, it might allow you to see information whizz before your eyes as you walk around a city, from traffic and pollution updates to local history. But metaverse enthusiasts are dreaming of a future in which the idea could be extended much further, allowing us to be transported to digital settings that feel real, such as a nightclub or a mountaintop. As workers have grown weary of video conferences during the pandemic, Zuckerberg is particularly excited about the idea that co-workers could be brought together in a virtual room that feels like they are face-to-face. Games in which players enter immersive digital worlds offer a glimpse into what the metaverse could eventually look like, blurring virtual entertainment with the real-world economy. As far back as the early 2000s, the game Second Life allowed people to create digital avatars that could interact and shop with real money. More recently, plots of land in Decentraland -- a virtual world where visitors can watch concerts, visit art galleries, and gamble in casinos -- have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars in MANA, a cryptocurrency. The hugely popular video game Fortnite has also expanded into other forms of entertainment, with 12.3 million people logging in to watch rapper Travis Scott perform last year. Fortnite's owners Epic Games said in April that $1 billion of funding raised recently would be used to support its "vision for the metaverse". And on Roblox, a gaming platform popular with children, a digital version of a Gucci bag sold in May for more than $4,100, more than the physical version would have cost. (With inputs from agencies)

'Next great leap in evolution of internet': Why is Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg betting on metaverse?

To make the social media platform a friendlier yet safer place for children, Instagram has decided to launch some safety changes in the app.

To catch "suspicious behaviour", Instagram is rolling out software updates in Australia, Japan, France, the US and the UK. This update in the software will catch any adult trying to illegally connect with underage children through the platform.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/anti-terror-organisation-set-up-by-tech-firms-to-compile-database-of-right-wing-militias-400817" hreflang="en">Anti-terror organisation set up by tech firms to compile database of right-wing militias</a>

"Wherever we can, we want to stop young people from hearing from adults they don’t know, or that they don’t want to hear from,"&nbsp;Instagram said in a blog post.

This has come after the Facebook-owned platform decided to introduce a similar app tailored for children only.

Now, in the new safety features, all the accounts created for underage children will be set to "private" mode by default instead of being given the option to make it public or private. This will help limit the audience of underage children.

The underage children who already have public accounts will be alerted with notifications and tutorials of&nbsp;making their account private and also the importance of keeping a limited audience.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/what-is-facebooks-1-billion-gamble-to-regain-lost-users-400121" hreflang="en">What is Facebook's $1 billion gamble to regain lost users?</a>

"Encouraging young people to have private accounts is a big step in the right direction when it comes to stopping unwanted contact from adults," Instagram said. "But we're going even further to make young people's accounts difficult to find for certain adults."

In addition to this, Instagram will also keep a look out for all suspicious accounts, mainly those blocked or reported by children. "By 'potentially suspicious behavior,' we mean accounts belonging to adults that may have recently been blocked or reported by a young person for example," Instagram explained.

All the adult accounts that have been blocked or reported even once for such reasons will not be allowed to follow young people and will also not be able to view any content from the accounts of young people.

To make the social media platform a friendlier yet safer place for children, Instagram has decided to launch some safety changes in the app. To catch "suspicious behaviour", Instagram is rolling out software updates in Australia, Japan, France, the US and the UK.

To make the social media platform a friendlier yet safer place for children, Instagram has decided to launch some safety changes in the app. To catch "suspicious behaviour", Instagram is rolling out software updates in Australia, Japan, France, the US and the UK. This update in the software will catch any adult trying to illegally connect with underage children through the platform. Also read | Anti-terror organisation set up by tech firms to compile database of right-wing militias "Wherever we can, we want to stop young people from hearing from adults they don’t know, or that they don’t want to hear from," Instagram said in a blog post. This has come after the Facebook-owned platform decided to introduce a similar app tailored for children only. Now, in the new safety features, all the accounts created for underage children will be set to "private" mode by default instead of being given the option to make it public or private. This will help limit the audience of underage children. The underage children who already have public accounts will be alerted with notifications and tutorials of making their account private and also the importance of keeping a limited audience. Also read | What is Facebook's $1 billion gamble to regain lost users? "Encouraging young people to have private accounts is a big step in the right direction when it comes to stopping unwanted contact from adults," Instagram said. "But we're going even further to make young people's accounts difficult to find for certain adults." In addition to this, Instagram will also keep a look out for all suspicious accounts, mainly those blocked or reported by children. "By 'potentially suspicious behavior,' we mean accounts belonging to adults that may have recently been blocked or reported by a young person for example," Instagram explained. All the adult accounts that have been blocked or reported even once for such reasons will not be allowed to follow young people and will also not be able to view any content from the accounts of young people.

Instagram rolls out new security features for underage children

When people enter Teeth, a bar in San Francisco’s Mission neighborhood, the bouncer gives them options. They can order food and drinks at the bar, he says, or they can order via a QR code.

Each table at Teeth has a card emblazoned with the code, a pixelated black-and-white square. Customers simply scan it with their phone camera to open a website for the online menu. Then they can input their credit card information to pay, all without touching a paper menu or interacting with a server.

A scene like this was a rarity 18 months ago, but not anymore. “In 13 years of bar ownership in San Francisco, I’ve never seen a sea change like this that brought the majority of customers into a new behavior so quickly,” said Ben Bleiman, Teeth’s owner.

QR codes — essentially a kind of bar code that allows transactions to be touchless — have emerged as a permanent tech fixture from the coronavirus pandemic. Restaurants have adopted them en masse, retailers including CVS and Foot Locker have added them to checkout registers, and marketers have splashed them all over retail packaging, direct mail, billboards and TV advertisements.

But the spread of the codes has also let businesses integrate more tools for tracking, targeting and analytics, raising red flags for privacy experts. That’s because QR codes can store digital information such as when, where and how often a scan occurs. They can also open an app or a website that then tracks people’s personal information or requires them to input it.

As a result, QR codes have allowed some restaurants to build a database of their customers’ order histories and contact information. At retail chains, people may soon be confronted by personalized offers and incentives marketed within QR code payment systems.

“People don’t understand that when you use a QR code, it inserts the entire apparatus of online tracking between you and your meal,” said Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst at the American Civil Liberties Union. “Suddenly your offline activity of sitting down for a meal has become part of the online advertising empire.”

QR codes may be new to many American shoppers, but they have been popular internationally for years. Invented in 1994 to streamline car manufacturing at a Japanese company, QR codes became widely used in China in recent years after being integrated into the AliPay and WeChat Pay digital payment apps.

In the United States, the technology was hampered by clumsy marketing, a lack of consumer understanding and the hassle of needing a special app to scan the codes, said Scott Stratten, who wrote the 2013 business book “QR Codes Kill Kittens” with his wife, Alison Stratten.

That has changed for two reasons, Scott Stratten said. In 2017, he said, Apple made it possible for the cameras in iPhones to recognize QR codes, spreading the technology more widely. Then came the “pandemic, and it’s amazing what a pandemic can make us do,” he said.

Half of all full-service restaurant operators in the United States have added QR code menus since the start of the pandemic, according to the National Restaurant Association. In May 2020, PayPal introduced QR code payments and has since added them at CVS, Nike, Foot Locker and around 1 million small businesses. Square, another digital payments firm, rolled out a QR code ordering system for restaurants and retailers in September.

Cheqout and Mr. Yum, two startups that sell technology for creating QR code menus at restaurants, also said the codes had brought advantages to businesses.

Restaurants that use QR code menus can save 30% to 50% on labor costs by reducing or eliminating the need for servers to take orders and collect payments, said Tom Sharon, a co-founder of Cheqout.

Digital menus also make it easier to persuade people to spend more with offers to add fries or substitute more expensive spirits in a cocktail, with photographs of menu items to make them more appealing, said Kim Teo, a Mr. Yum co-founder. Orders placed through the QR code menu also let Mr. Yum inform restaurants what items are selling, so they can add a menu section with the most popular items or highlight dishes they want to sell.

These increased digital abilities are what worry privacy experts. Mr. Yum, for instance, uses cookies in the digital menu to track a customer’s purchase history and gives restaurants access to that information, tied to the customer’s phone number and credit cards. It is piloting software in Australia so restaurants can offer people a “recommended to you” section based on their previous orders, Teo said.

QR codes “are an important first step toward making your experience in physical space outside of your home feel just like being tracked by Google on your screen,” said Lucy Bernholz, director of Stanford University’s Digital Civil Society Lab.

Teo said that each restaurant’s customer data was available only to that establishment and that Mr. Yum did not use the information to reach out to customers. It also does not sell the data to any third-party brokers, she said.

Cheqout collects only customers’ names, phone numbers and protected payment information, which it does not sell to third parties, Sharon said.

On a recent blustery evening at Teeth, customers shared mixed reviews of the QR code ordering system from Cheqout, which the bar had installed in August. Some said it was convenient, but added that they would prefer a traditional menu at a fine dining establishment.

“If you’re on a date and you’re whipping your phone out, it’s a distraction,” Daniela Sernich, 29, said.

Jonathan Brooner-Contreras, 26, said that QR code ordering was convenient but that he feared the technology would put him out of his job as a bartender at a different bar in the neighborhood.

“It’s like if a factory replaced all of its workers with robots,” he said. “People depend on those 40 hours.”

Regardless of customers’ feelings, Bleiman said Cheqout’s data showed that about half of Teeth’s orders — and as much as 65% during televised sports games — were coming through the QR code system.

“They may not like it,” he said in a text message. “But they’re doing it!”

When people enter Teeth, a bar in San Francisco’s Mission neighborhood, the bouncer gives them options. They can order food and drinks at the bar, he says, or they can order via a QR code.

When people enter Teeth, a bar in San Francisco’s Mission neighborhood, the bouncer gives them options. They can order food and drinks at the bar, he says, or they can order via a QR code. Each table at Teeth has a card emblazoned with the code, a pixelated black-and-white square. Customers simply scan it with their phone camera to open a website for the online menu. Then they can input their credit card information to pay, all without touching a paper menu or interacting with a server. A scene like this was a rarity 18 months ago, but not anymore. “In 13 years of bar ownership in San Francisco, I’ve never seen a sea change like this that brought the majority of customers into a new behavior so quickly,” said Ben Bleiman, Teeth’s owner. QR codes — essentially a kind of bar code that allows transactions to be touchless — have emerged as a permanent tech fixture from the coronavirus pandemic. Restaurants have adopted them en masse, retailers including CVS and Foot Locker have added them to checkout registers, and marketers have splashed them all over retail packaging, direct mail, billboards and TV advertisements. But the spread of the codes has also let businesses integrate more tools for tracking, targeting and analytics, raising red flags for privacy experts. That’s because QR codes can store digital information such as when, where and how often a scan occurs. They can also open an app or a website that then tracks people’s personal information or requires them to input it. As a result, QR codes have allowed some restaurants to build a database of their customers’ order histories and contact information. At retail chains, people may soon be confronted by personalized offers and incentives marketed within QR code payment systems. “People don’t understand that when you use a QR code, it inserts the entire apparatus of online tracking between you and your meal,” said Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst at the American Civil Liberties Union. “Suddenly your offline activity of sitting down for a meal has become part of the online advertising empire.” QR codes may be new to many American shoppers, but they have been popular internationally for years. Invented in 1994 to streamline car manufacturing at a Japanese company, QR codes became widely used in China in recent years after being integrated into the AliPay and WeChat Pay digital payment apps. In the United States, the technology was hampered by clumsy marketing, a lack of consumer understanding and the hassle of needing a special app to scan the codes, said Scott Stratten, who wrote the 2013 business book “QR Codes Kill Kittens” with his wife, Alison Stratten. That has changed for two reasons, Scott Stratten said. In 2017, he said, Apple made it possible for the cameras in iPhones to recognize QR codes, spreading the technology more widely. Then came the “pandemic, and it’s amazing what a pandemic can make us do,” he said. Half of all full-service restaurant operators in the United States have added QR code menus since the start of the pandemic, according to the National Restaurant Association. In May 2020, PayPal introduced QR code payments and has since added them at CVS, Nike, Foot Locker and around 1 million small businesses. Square, another digital payments firm, rolled out a QR code ordering system for restaurants and retailers in September. Cheqout and Mr. Yum, two startups that sell technology for creating QR code menus at restaurants, also said the codes had brought advantages to businesses. Restaurants that use QR code menus can save 30% to 50% on labor costs by reducing or eliminating the need for servers to take orders and collect payments, said Tom Sharon, a co-founder of Cheqout. Digital menus also make it easier to persuade people to spend more with offers to add fries or substitute more expensive spirits in a cocktail, with photographs of menu items to make them more appealing, said Kim Teo, a Mr. Yum co-founder. Orders placed through the QR code menu also let Mr. Yum inform restaurants what items are selling, so they can add a menu section with the most popular items or highlight dishes they want to sell. These increased digital abilities are what worry privacy experts. Mr. Yum, for instance, uses cookies in the digital menu to track a customer’s purchase history and gives restaurants access to that information, tied to the customer’s phone number and credit cards. It is piloting software in Australia so restaurants can offer people a “recommended to you” section based on their previous orders, Teo said. QR codes “are an important first step toward making your experience in physical space outside of your home feel just like being tracked by Google on your screen,” said Lucy Bernholz, director of Stanford University’s Digital Civil Society Lab. Teo said that each restaurant’s customer data was available only to that establishment and that Mr. Yum did not use the information to reach out to customers. It also does not sell the data to any third-party brokers, she said. Cheqout collects only customers’ names, phone numbers and protected payment information, which it does not sell to third parties, Sharon said. On a recent blustery evening at Teeth, customers shared mixed reviews of the QR code ordering system from Cheqout, which the bar had installed in August. Some said it was convenient, but added that they would prefer a traditional menu at a fine dining establishment. “If you’re on a date and you’re whipping your phone out, it’s a distraction,” Daniela Sernich, 29, said. Jonathan Brooner-Contreras, 26, said that QR code ordering was convenient but that he feared the technology would put him out of his job as a bartender at a different bar in the neighborhood. “It’s like if a factory replaced all of its workers with robots,” he said. “People depend on those 40 hours.” Regardless of customers’ feelings, Bleiman said Cheqout’s data showed that about half of Teeth’s orders — and as much as 65% during televised sports games — were coming through the QR code system. “They may not like it,” he said in a text message. “But they’re doing it!”

QR codes are here to stay. So is the tracking they allow.

A counterterrorism organisation formed by big tech companies in the US including Facebook and Microsoft is compiling extremist content exchanged among firms in a database, with hopes to quell hate speech.

The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) told Reuters that it aims to limit content from white supremacists and far-right militias.

What does&nbsp;GIFCT intend to do?

Until now, the GIFCT was focused on visuals, largely videos and images from terrorism groups on a United Nations list. It had consisted of content from Islamist extremist organisations like Islamic State, al Qaeda and the Taliban.

Over the coming months, the GIFCT will insert attacker manifestos and other content flagged by UN's "Tech Against Terrorism" initiative. Attacker manifestos are generally shared by terror sympathisers after violence, especially perpetrated by white supremacists. 
 
In addition, the group will make use of lists from intelligence-sharing group "Five Eyes". More content from other groups including Proud Boys, The Three Percenters and will be added to the database.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/what-is-facebooks-1-billion-gamble-to-regain-lost-users-400121" hreflang="en">What is Facebook's $1 billion gamble to regain lost users?</a>

The grouping of firms uses "hashes" which represent a number embodying content which has been removed from their services. Based on this, services compare among themselves whether the same content is being carried on their platforms, which may then be reviewed or removed.

What will this achieve?

The ongoing project will help contain extremist content on major platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube. Even then, violent images and hate speech may be pushed out in different arenas of the internet.

In an interview with Reuters, GIFCT's Executive Director Nicholas Rasmussen claimed that he wants to fight an array of threats. "Anyone looking at the terrorism or extremism landscape has to appreciate that there are other parts...that are demanding attention right now," Rasmussen told Reuters.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/this-is-how-social-media-giants-are-feeding-dangerous-content-to-children-399247" hreflang="en">This is how social media giants are feeding dangerous content to children</a>

Tech companies have faced flak for being ineffective in the face of hate content on their platforms and the role played by these platforms in causing potential real-life damage. But at the same time, the companies are confronted with censorship concerns.

(With inputs from agencies)

A counterterrorism organisation formed by big tech companies in the US including Facebook and Microsoft is compiling extremist content exchanged among firms in a database, with hopes to quell hate speech.

A counterterrorism organisation formed by big tech companies in the US including Facebook and Microsoft is compiling extremist content exchanged among firms in a database, with hopes to quell hate speech. The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) told Reuters that it aims to limit content from white supremacists and far-right militias. What does GIFCT intend to do? Until now, the GIFCT was focused on visuals, largely videos and images from terrorism groups on a United Nations list. It had consisted of content from Islamist extremist organisations like Islamic State, al Qaeda and the Taliban. Over the coming months, the GIFCT will insert attacker manifestos and other content flagged by UN's "Tech Against Terrorism" initiative. Attacker manifestos are generally shared by terror sympathisers after violence, especially perpetrated by white supremacists. In addition, the group will make use of lists from intelligence-sharing group "Five Eyes". More content from other groups including Proud Boys, The Three Percenters and will be added to the database. Also read: What is Facebook's $1 billion gamble to regain lost users? The grouping of firms uses "hashes" which represent a number embodying content which has been removed from their services. Based on this, services compare among themselves whether the same content is being carried on their platforms, which may then be reviewed or removed. What will this achieve? The ongoing project will help contain extremist content on major platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube. Even then, violent images and hate speech may be pushed out in different arenas of the internet. In an interview with Reuters, GIFCT's Executive Director Nicholas Rasmussen claimed that he wants to fight an array of threats. "Anyone looking at the terrorism or extremism landscape has to appreciate that there are other parts...that are demanding attention right now," Rasmussen told Reuters. Also read: This is how social media giants are feeding dangerous content to children Tech companies have faced flak for being ineffective in the face of hate content on their platforms and the role played by these platforms in causing potential real-life damage. But at the same time, the companies are confronted with censorship concerns. (With inputs from agencies)

Anti-terror organisation set up by tech firms to compile database of right-wing militias

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