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Indian users have expressed concern over the planned updates in the privacy policy of WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook. The deadline for the update and policy implementation has gone, yet the question&nbsp;remains: “What is a good WhatsApp alternative?”

Netizens are posing this question after WhatsApp revised its privacy conditions on January 6, reserving the ability to share user data, including location and phone number, with its partners.

There is a variety of social messaging apps to choose from, such as Google Hangouts, Google Chats, Telegram and Signal.&nbsp;

Telegram and Signal are the two most popular solutions that many people are considering, with online searches for them on the rise in the past few days.&nbsp;

Here is what you should know about the top three alternatives of Whatsapp:&nbsp;

Telegram:&nbsp;

Telegram began as a messaging application in 2013, but the platform has evolved significantly since then. There are currently a variety of functions and channels available in the app. Telegram is gaining a large number of new users, who can send up to 1.5GB of files.&nbsp;They can add up to 200,000 users in a group. &nbsp;It is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, Windows NT, macOS and Linux-based operating systems.

Signal

Signal is compatible with both Android and iOS devices. The Signal Private Messenger app, unlike WhatsApp, is also accessible on the iPad. Users can download it on Windows, Linux and Mac, much like WhatsApp.

Signal has seen a jump in worldwide downloads in recent weeks.&nbsp;

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has also advised people to "use Signal." Thanks to his recommendation, Signal has surpassed WhatsApp as the most popular free app on the App Store in India, Germany, France, Austria, Finland, Hong Kong and Switzerland.&nbsp;

Viber

Users of Viber, which is nearly as old as WhatsApp,&nbsp;will get unlimited calls, unlimited texting, and high-quality video chat.

Viber Messenger's group video call function now accommodates even more people.&nbsp;

However, the shift isn't limited to mobile. Viber now allows up to 30 people to participate in a single video conversation, regardless of the platform they are using.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian users have expressed concern over the planned updates in the privacy policy of WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook. The deadline for the update and policy implementation has gone, yet the question remains: “What is a good WhatsApp alternative?

Indian users have expressed concern over the planned updates in the privacy policy of WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook. The deadline for the update and policy implementation has gone, yet the question remains: “What is a good WhatsApp alternative?” Netizens are posing this question after WhatsApp revised its privacy conditions on January 6, reserving the ability to share user data, including location and phone number, with its partners. There is a variety of social messaging apps to choose from, such as Google Hangouts, Google Chats, Telegram and Signal. Telegram and Signal are the two most popular solutions that many people are considering, with online searches for them on the rise in the past few days. Here is what you should know about the top three alternatives of Whatsapp: Telegram: Telegram began as a messaging application in 2013, but the platform has evolved significantly since then. There are currently a variety of functions and channels available in the app. Telegram is gaining a large number of new users, who can send up to 1.5GB of files. They can add up to 200,000 users in a group. It is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, Windows NT, macOS and Linux-based operating systems. Signal Signal is compatible with both Android and iOS devices. The Signal Private Messenger app, unlike WhatsApp, is also accessible on the iPad. Users can download it on Windows, Linux and Mac, much like WhatsApp. Signal has seen a jump in worldwide downloads in recent weeks. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has also advised people to "use Signal." Thanks to his recommendation, Signal has surpassed WhatsApp as the most popular free app on the App Store in India, Germany, France, Austria, Finland, Hong Kong and Switzerland. Viber Users of Viber, which is nearly as old as WhatsApp, will get unlimited calls, unlimited texting, and high-quality video chat. Viber Messenger's group video call function now accommodates even more people. However, the shift isn't limited to mobile. Viber now allows up to 30 people to participate in a single video conversation, regardless of the platform they are using. (With inputs from agencies)

Considering leaving WhatsApp? Here are a few apps that can be used as substitutes

Twitter Inc said Tuesday it will begin testing ads on its disappearing posts feature called Fleets, as it works to offer more options for advertisers. 
 
The social media company previously said it set a goal of doubling its annual revenue by 2023 from last year`s levels, which it plans to achieve in part by selling ads on more parts of its site and mobile app. 
 
Fleet ads will be the first on Twitter that appear full screen on phones, the company said. Advertisers generally like full-screen ads because they capture the user`s attention. 
 
The new offering is part of Twitter`s aim to catch up to larger social media platforms like Facebook Inc and Snap Inc , which have long offered a "Stories" posts feature that disappears after 24 hours and is monetised with ads. 
 
Brands that create Fleet ads can also use a feature that would direct a user to the company`s website or other web destination if they swipe up on the ad. 
&nbsp;

Twitter Inc said Tuesday it will begin testing ads on its disappearing posts feature called Fleets, as it works to offer more options for advertisers. The social media company previously said it set a goal of doubling its annual revenue by 2023 from last year`s levels, which it plans to achieve in part by selling ads on more parts of its site and mobile app.

Twitter Inc said Tuesday it will begin testing ads on its disappearing posts feature called Fleets, as it works to offer more options for advertisers. The social media company previously said it set a goal of doubling its annual revenue by 2023 from last year`s levels, which it plans to achieve in part by selling ads on more parts of its site and mobile app. Fleet ads will be the first on Twitter that appear full screen on phones, the company said. Advertisers generally like full-screen ads because they capture the user`s attention. The new offering is part of Twitter`s aim to catch up to larger social media platforms like Facebook Inc and Snap Inc , which have long offered a "Stories" posts feature that disappears after 24 hours and is monetised with ads. Brands that create Fleet ads can also use a feature that would direct a user to the company`s website or other web destination if they swipe up on the ad.

Twitter testing ads on Fleets to catch up to Snap, Facebook

Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd said on Tuesday, it had signed multi-year content-supply deals with Google and Facebook under Australia's news media bargaining code. 
 
The agreement, terms of which were not disclosed, comes after rival Seven West Media Ltd and News Corp signed similar deals following the enactment of tough laws to make US&nbsp;tech giants pay for displaying news on their platforms. 
 
The multi-media firm said it would supply content for Google's News Showcase platform for five years and to a similar Facebook product for three. 
 
Google would also expand its marketing ventures across Nine's platforms, the publisher of the Australian Financial Review, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald newspapers added. 
 
After considering these new deals and ongoing subscription revenue for Nine's mastheads, the Sydney-based company said it expected growth of A$30 million to A$40 million ($23.2 million to $31 million) in its publishing unit's fiscal 2022 core earnings.

(With inputs from agencies)

Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd said on Tuesday, it had signed multi-year content-supply deals with Google and Facebook under Australia's news media bargaining code.

Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd said on Tuesday, it had signed multi-year content-supply deals with Google and Facebook under Australia's news media bargaining code. The agreement, terms of which were not disclosed, comes after rival Seven West Media Ltd and News Corp signed similar deals following the enactment of tough laws to make US tech giants pay for displaying news on their platforms. The multi-media firm said it would supply content for Google's News Showcase platform for five years and to a similar Facebook product for three. Google would also expand its marketing ventures across Nine's platforms, the publisher of the Australian Financial Review, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald newspapers added. After considering these new deals and ongoing subscription revenue for Nine's mastheads, the Sydney-based company said it expected growth of A$30 million to A$40 million ($23.2 million to $31 million) in its publishing unit's fiscal 2022 core earnings. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia's Nine Entertainment signs content deal with Facebook, Google

After offering unlimited free photo backups for years, Google Photos is now ending its free unlimited storage on June 1. 
 
From then on, any photo users upload -- including compressed "storage saver" pics -- counts toward their Google Drive storage limit unless it comes from a Pixel phone, Engadget reported. 
 
If users need more space, they will have to pay for Google One plans that start at $2 per month for 100GB of Drive space and scale to 2TB for $10 per month. 
 
Any photos they upload before June 1 won`t count toward the cap. 
 
Google has also made it easier to delete unwanted photos through a tool that finds blurry snapshots, screenshots and other items users can usually remove, the report said. 
 
The company explained the move last November as a necessary step to "keep pace" with the demand for storage, it added. 
 
Those users still looking for a free service can use the no-cost tiers for services like Dropbox or Flickr if you have a modest collection. 
 
Recently, Google rolled out a new feature that will help Gmail users transfer emailed photos from their accounts directly to Google Photos. 
 
The new `Save to Photos` button, currently available only for images in JPEG format, will arrive for personal Gmail users, Google Workspace, G Suite Basic and G Suite Business customers in the next couple of weeks.

After offering unlimited free photo backups for years, Google Photos is now ending its free unlimited storage on June 1. From then on, any photo users upload -- including compressed "storage saver" pics -- counts toward their Google Drive storage limit unless it comes from a Pixel phone, Engadget reported.

After offering unlimited free photo backups for years, Google Photos is now ending its free unlimited storage on June 1. From then on, any photo users upload -- including compressed "storage saver" pics -- counts toward their Google Drive storage limit unless it comes from a Pixel phone, Engadget reported. If users need more space, they will have to pay for Google One plans that start at $2 per month for 100GB of Drive space and scale to 2TB for $10 per month. Any photos they upload before June 1 won`t count toward the cap. Google has also made it easier to delete unwanted photos through a tool that finds blurry snapshots, screenshots and other items users can usually remove, the report said. The company explained the move last November as a necessary step to "keep pace" with the demand for storage, it added. Those users still looking for a free service can use the no-cost tiers for services like Dropbox or Flickr if you have a modest collection. Recently, Google rolled out a new feature that will help Gmail users transfer emailed photos from their accounts directly to Google Photos. The new `Save to Photos` button, currently available only for images in JPEG format, will arrive for personal Gmail users, Google Workspace, G Suite Basic and G Suite Business customers in the next couple of weeks.

Google Photos is ending its free unlimited storage today

In the post-truth era, misinformation dictates content on social media platforms. Mega-companies like Twitter and Facebook have largely been unable to keep up with the circulation of manipulated information. Now, Twitter will mark user tweets based on the accuracy of information it claims to represent.&nbsp;

Part of this initiative will include a three-tiered labelling mechanism whereby the veracity of one’s claims will reflect in those labels. The labels are not arbitrary and are expected to change essentially based on how wrong one is.

Application researcher Jane Manchun Wong, who is known for unveiling upcoming features before they go live recently shared a glimpse of how the labelling system will operate.

Based on Wong’s revelations, it appears that the three-tier system will have the following labels “Get the latest,” “Stay Informed,” and “Misleading”, with these subject to change as the information is updated.

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Twitter is working on three levels of misinformation warning labels: 
 
“Get the latest”, “Stay Informed” and “Misleading” <a href="https://t.co/0RdmMsRAEk">pic.twitter.com/0RdmMsRAEk</a>
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) <a href="https://twitter.com/wongmjane/status/1399311420794105862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2021</a></blockquote>
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“Get the latest” will basically imply that the information in a particular Tweet appears to be correct and the link will direct the user to further information.&nbsp;“Stay informed” would suggest some sort of factual inconsistency, with a label redirecting people to verified sources or to Twitter’s own&nbsp;resources.

The third label “Misleading” will warn users against misinformation and factually incorrect claims on the website marred with rampant fake news.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/russia-fines-twitter-19-million-roubles-for-failing-to-delete-content-387876" hreflang="en">Russia fines Twitter 19 million roubles for failing to delete content</a>

Even then, this brings to fore the question of censorship and whether Twitter can accurately differentiate misinformation from factually correct information.&nbsp;

It is unclear when the feature will be rolled out and whether it will even see the light of day. But Wong's claims have proven to be right in the recent weeks, with the reintroduction of the verification programme and its Tip Jar feature to assist with content monetisation.

In the recent weeks, social media companies have been accused of stifling pro-Palestine voices amid the fatal conflict with Israel and the role played by social media companies in amplifying and stifling certain narratives is becoming increasingly questionable.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/india-news/india-slams-twitters-concerns-over-threat-to-free-speech-387864" hreflang="en">India slams Twitter's concerns over threat to free speech</a>

In the post-truth era, misinformation dictates content on social media platforms. Mega-companies like Twitter and Facebook have largely been unable to keep up with the circulation of manipulated information.

In the post-truth era, misinformation dictates content on social media platforms. Mega-companies like Twitter and Facebook have largely been unable to keep up with the circulation of manipulated information. Now, Twitter will mark user tweets based on the accuracy of information it claims to represent. Part of this initiative will include a three-tiered labelling mechanism whereby the veracity of one’s claims will reflect in those labels. The labels are not arbitrary and are expected to change essentially based on how wrong one is. Application researcher Jane Manchun Wong, who is known for unveiling upcoming features before they go live recently shared a glimpse of how the labelling system will operate. Based on Wong’s revelations, it appears that the three-tier system will have the following labels “Get the latest,” “Stay Informed,” and “Misleading”, with these subject to change as the information is updated. Twitter is working on three levels of misinformation warning labels: “Get the latest”, “Stay Informed” and “Misleading” pic.twitter.com/0RdmMsRAEk — Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) May 31, 2021 × “Get the latest” will basically imply that the information in a particular Tweet appears to be correct and the link will direct the user to further information. “Stay informed” would suggest some sort of factual inconsistency, with a label redirecting people to verified sources or to Twitter’s own resources. The third label “Misleading” will warn users against misinformation and factually incorrect claims on the website marred with rampant fake news. Also read: Russia fines Twitter 19 million roubles for failing to delete content Even then, this brings to fore the question of censorship and whether Twitter can accurately differentiate misinformation from factually correct information. It is unclear when the feature will be rolled out and whether it will even see the light of day. But Wong's claims have proven to be right in the recent weeks, with the reintroduction of the verification programme and its Tip Jar feature to assist with content monetisation. In the recent weeks, social media companies have been accused of stifling pro-Palestine voices amid the fatal conflict with Israel and the role played by social media companies in amplifying and stifling certain narratives is becoming increasingly questionable. Also read: India slams Twitter's concerns over threat to free speech

Twitter is working on a three-tier labelling mechanism to fight misinformation. Here's how it'll work

The merits of robot technology in space are multi-faceted. Besides limiting the danger to human life, sophisticated technology has been largely instrumental in making space exploration a reality.&nbsp;And now, Japan aims to turn up the heat! The country’s space agency - Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is sending a shapeshifting robot, first of its kind to the Moon.

According to The Byte, JAXA has collaborated with Sony, Doshisha University and toymaker Tomy to create a ball-shaped robot capable of transformation.&nbsp;The goal of this quirky robot will be to study the lunar soil before a crewed rover takes the stage in 2029.

The robot will weigh&nbsp;249 grams (8.8 ounce) and be encased in a ball which will facilitate its movement to a lunar lander. Ispace, a private robotics company will assist the development of the robot.

The robot’s toy-like sensibilities are reflected in how it’s expected to operate on the Moon. JAXA claims that the robot will expand and open up after landing on the lunar surface.&nbsp;

Once on the surface, it’ll drive itself to its full configuration mode and capture picture of the Moon’s surface. Due to its transforming&nbsp;nature, JAXA believes the robot will come in handy in many missions that follow.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/first-instance-of-killer-robot-attacking-human-without-orders-recorded-in-libya-un-report-388344" hreflang="en">First instance of 'killer robot' attacking human without orders recorded in Libya: UN report</a>

According to Engadget, the control tech for the robot was provided by Sony. To make the device more compact and movable, Tomy and Doshisha were employed.

Till 2016, the work on the robot had remained limited to paper as the rough idea&nbsp;was pitched in a study.&nbsp; But after Sony entered the scene in 2019, the mission to create robo-ball took off. In 2021, Doshisha also joined the efforts.

Reports suggest that the robot and its lander will be launched by Ispace in 2022. The design of the robot could change the route space exploration firms take in terms of product development.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/robot-soldiers-are-the-new-combat-weapons-in-age-of-technology-377618" hreflang="en">Robot soldiers are the new combat weapons in age of technology</a>

The merits of robot technology in space are multi-faceted. Besides limiting the danger to human life, sophisticated technology has been largely instrumental in making space exploration a reality.

The merits of robot technology in space are multi-faceted. Besides limiting the danger to human life, sophisticated technology has been largely instrumental in making space exploration a reality. And now, Japan aims to turn up the heat! The country’s space agency - Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is sending a shapeshifting robot, first of its kind to the Moon. According to The Byte, JAXA has collaborated with Sony, Doshisha University and toymaker Tomy to create a ball-shaped robot capable of transformation. The goal of this quirky robot will be to study the lunar soil before a crewed rover takes the stage in 2029. The robot will weigh 249 grams (8.8 ounce) and be encased in a ball which will facilitate its movement to a lunar lander. Ispace, a private robotics company will assist the development of the robot. The robot’s toy-like sensibilities are reflected in how it’s expected to operate on the Moon. JAXA claims that the robot will expand and open up after landing on the lunar surface. Once on the surface, it’ll drive itself to its full configuration mode and capture picture of the Moon’s surface. Due to its transforming nature, JAXA believes the robot will come in handy in many missions that follow. Also read: First instance of 'killer robot' attacking human without orders recorded in Libya: UN report According to Engadget, the control tech for the robot was provided by Sony. To make the device more compact and movable, Tomy and Doshisha were employed. Till 2016, the work on the robot had remained limited to paper as the rough idea was pitched in a study. But after Sony entered the scene in 2019, the mission to create robo-ball took off. In 2021, Doshisha also joined the efforts. Reports suggest that the robot and its lander will be launched by Ispace in 2022. The design of the robot could change the route space exploration firms take in terms of product development. Also read: Robot soldiers are the new combat weapons in age of technology

Japan is sending a shape-shifting miniature robot to the Moon

Intel Corp's CEO said on Monday it could take several years for a global shortage of semiconductors to be resolved, a problem that has shuttered some auto production lines and is also being felt in other areas, including consumer electronics. 
 
Pat Gelsinger told a virtual session of the Computex trade show in Taipei that the work-and-study-from-home trend during the COVID-19 pandemic had led to a "cycle of explosive growth in semiconductors" that has placed huge strain on global supply chains. 
 
"But while the industry has taken steps to address near term constraints it could still take a couple of years for the ecosystem to address shortages of foundry capacity, substrates and components." 
 
Gelsinger had told The Washington Post in an interview in mid-April the shortage was going to take "a couple of years" to abate, and that it planned to start producing chips within six to nine months to address shortages at U.S. car plants. 
 
Intel announced a $20 billion plan in March to expand its advanced chip manufacturing capacity, building two factories in Arizona and opening its plants to outside customers. 
 
"We plan to expand to other locations in the U.S. and Europe, ensuring a sustainable and secure semiconductor supply chain for the world," Gelsinger said, without elaborating. 
 
Intel`s plans could directly challenge the two other companies in the world that can make the most advanced chips - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) and South Korea`s Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. 
 
The two have come to dominate the semiconductor manufacturing business, moving its centre of gravity from the United States, where much of the technology was once invented, to Asia, where more than two-thirds of advanced chips are now manufactured.

Intel Corp's CEO said on Monday it could take several years for a global shortage of semiconductors to be resolved, a problem that has shuttered some auto production lines and is also being felt in other areas, including consumer electronics.

Intel Corp's CEO said on Monday it could take several years for a global shortage of semiconductors to be resolved, a problem that has shuttered some auto production lines and is also being felt in other areas, including consumer electronics. Pat Gelsinger told a virtual session of the Computex trade show in Taipei that the work-and-study-from-home trend during the COVID-19 pandemic had led to a "cycle of explosive growth in semiconductors" that has placed huge strain on global supply chains. "But while the industry has taken steps to address near term constraints it could still take a couple of years for the ecosystem to address shortages of foundry capacity, substrates and components." Gelsinger had told The Washington Post in an interview in mid-April the shortage was going to take "a couple of years" to abate, and that it planned to start producing chips within six to nine months to address shortages at U.S. car plants. Intel announced a $20 billion plan in March to expand its advanced chip manufacturing capacity, building two factories in Arizona and opening its plants to outside customers. "We plan to expand to other locations in the U.S. and Europe, ensuring a sustainable and secure semiconductor supply chain for the world," Gelsinger said, without elaborating. Intel`s plans could directly challenge the two other companies in the world that can make the most advanced chips - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) and South Korea`s Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. The two have come to dominate the semiconductor manufacturing business, moving its centre of gravity from the United States, where much of the technology was once invented, to Asia, where more than two-thirds of advanced chips are now manufactured.

Intel reiterates chip supply shortages could last several years

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Intel Corp`s CEO said on Monday it could take several years for a global shortage of semiconductors to be resolved, a problem that has shuttered some auto production lines and is also being felt in other areas, including consumer electronics. Pat Gelsinger told a virtual session of the Computex trade show in Taipei that the work-and-study-from-home trend during the COVID-19 pandemic had led to a "cycle of explosive growth in semiconductors" that has placed huge strain on global supply chains. "But while the industry has taken steps to address near term constraints it could still take a couple of years for the ecosystem to address shortages of foundry capacity, substrates and components." Gelsinger had told The Washington Post in an interview in mid-April the shortage was going to take "a couple of years" to abate, and that it planned to start producing chips within six to nine months to address shortages at U.S. car plants. Intel announced a $20 billion plan in March to expand its advanced chip manufacturing capacity, building two factories in Arizona and opening its plants to outside customers. "We plan to expand to other locations in the U.S. and Europe, ensuring a sustainable and secure semiconductor supply chain for the world," Gelsinger said, without elaborating. Intel`s plans could directly challenge the two other companies in the world that can make the most advanced chips - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) and South Korea`s Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. The two have come to dominate the semiconductor manufacturing business, moving its centre of gravity from the United States, where much of the technology was once invented, to Asia, where more than two-thirds of advanced chips are now manufactured. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Intel Corp`s CEO said on Monday it could take several years for a global shortage of semiconductors to be resolved, a problem that has shuttered some auto production lines and is also being felt in other areas, including consumer electronics.

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Intel Corp`s CEO said on Monday it could take several years for a global shortage of semiconductors to be resolved, a problem that has shuttered some auto production lines and is also being felt in other areas, including consumer electronics. Pat Gelsinger told a virtual session of the Computex trade show in Taipei that the work-and-study-from-home trend during the COVID-19 pandemic had led to a "cycle of explosive growth in semiconductors" that has placed huge strain on global supply chains. "But while the industry has taken steps to address near term constraints it could still take a couple of years for the ecosystem to address shortages of foundry capacity, substrates and components." Gelsinger had told The Washington Post in an interview in mid-April the shortage was going to take "a couple of years" to abate, and that it planned to start producing chips within six to nine months to address shortages at U.S. car plants. Intel announced a $20 billion plan in March to expand its advanced chip manufacturing capacity, building two factories in Arizona and opening its plants to outside customers. "We plan to expand to other locations in the U.S. and Europe, ensuring a sustainable and secure semiconductor supply chain for the world," Gelsinger said, without elaborating. Intel`s plans could directly challenge the two other companies in the world that can make the most advanced chips - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) and South Korea`s Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. The two have come to dominate the semiconductor manufacturing business, moving its centre of gravity from the United States, where much of the technology was once invented, to Asia, where more than two-thirds of advanced chips are now manufactured. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi’s new “HyperCharge” fast-charging technology has been piquing the curiosity of tech enthusiasts&nbsp;on social media, but it was unclear just how fast it was going to be… until now!

Turns out, the company’s new groundbreaking technology can charge a smartphone from 0 to 100 per cent in less than 8 minutes. Yes, you read that right!

In a YouTube video, the company claims that its 200W wired adaptor was able to get a modified Xiaomi MI 11 Pro from 0 to 10 per cent in less than 44 seconds. To attain a 50 per cent charge, the phone took 3 minutes. In less than 8 minutes, (7:57 to be exact) the phone was charged fully!

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The company has improved its charging speeds year after year. In the YouTube video, the company also showed off its 120W wireless charging technology which got a smartphone with a 4,000 mAH battery to 100 per cent in less than 15 minutes.

Currently, the company holds the record for the fastest wireless charging tech in the world. In addition, Xiaomi is one of the very few manufactures that support 120W wired fast charging.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/chinas-xiaomi-says-us-has-formally-lifted-securities-ban-387383" hreflang="en">China's Xiaomi says US has formally lifted securities ban&nbsp;</a>

On Sunday, GizmoChina had reported that the company was trying to set a new record with its HyperCharge tech. And if the video is to be trusted, it may very well be true.

Although this may not seem like a big leap for everyone, a trip down memory lane will serve us right. Phones have come a long way in the last decade. Yes, there was a time when you’d have to keep your phone plugged in for hours to reach a full charge.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/smartphone-giant-xiaomi-files-lawsuit-to-reverse-us-blacklisting-360477" hreflang="en">Smartphone giant Xiaomi files lawsuit to reverse US blacklisting</a>

It is still unclear when the technology will be available in a smartphone. But the time could come soon!&nbsp; Equipping a phone with such fast charging technology comes with its own worries which need to be resolved before it is used on a massive scale. The battery heats up quickly while charging and with a charge so fast, it could cause phone batteries to degrade.

For now, it seems that the company will officially reveal its HyperCharge technology in the second half of 2021.

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi’s new “HyperCharge” fast-charging technology has been piquing the curiosity of tech enthusiasts on social media, but it was unclear just how fast it was going to be… until now!

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi’s new “HyperCharge” fast-charging technology has been piquing the curiosity of tech enthusiasts on social media, but it was unclear just how fast it was going to be… until now! Turns out, the company’s new groundbreaking technology can charge a smartphone from 0 to 100 per cent in less than 8 minutes. Yes, you read that right! In a YouTube video, the company claims that its 200W wired adaptor was able to get a modified Xiaomi MI 11 Pro from 0 to 10 per cent in less than 44 seconds. To attain a 50 per cent charge, the phone took 3 minutes. In less than 8 minutes, (7:57 to be exact) the phone was charged fully! × The company has improved its charging speeds year after year. In the YouTube video, the company also showed off its 120W wireless charging technology which got a smartphone with a 4,000 mAH battery to 100 per cent in less than 15 minutes. Currently, the company holds the record for the fastest wireless charging tech in the world. In addition, Xiaomi is one of the very few manufactures that support 120W wired fast charging. Also read: China's Xiaomi says US has formally lifted securities ban On Sunday, GizmoChina had reported that the company was trying to set a new record with its HyperCharge tech. And if the video is to be trusted, it may very well be true. Although this may not seem like a big leap for everyone, a trip down memory lane will serve us right. Phones have come a long way in the last decade. Yes, there was a time when you’d have to keep your phone plugged in for hours to reach a full charge. Also read: Smartphone giant Xiaomi files lawsuit to reverse US blacklisting It is still unclear when the technology will be available in a smartphone. But the time could come soon! Equipping a phone with such fast charging technology comes with its own worries which need to be resolved before it is used on a massive scale. The battery heats up quickly while charging and with a charge so fast, it could cause phone batteries to degrade. For now, it seems that the company will officially reveal its HyperCharge technology in the second half of 2021.

Xiaomi claims 'HyperCharge' can juice up a phone to 100% in under 8 minutes

Are killer robots the next threat faced by humanity? A United Nations report claims that a killer drone trailed and attacked&nbsp;a human being without directives to do the same.

In 2018, the United Nations had urged countries to ban killer robots. But the plea was shot down. &nbsp;The recent&nbsp;report by UN Security Council’s Panel of Experts on Libya claims that “an autonomous weaponized drone&nbsp;hunted down a human target last year”.

The report was published in March 2021 in the&nbsp;New Scientist and foretells the dangers posed by militarised technology capable of making autonomous decisions. The attack in question was perpetrated by "Kargu-2", a quadcopter drone made by STM, a Turkish military technology company.

How did the robot attack humans?

The mishap occurred during a conflict between the government forces of Libya and a faction led by Khalifa Haftar, the commander of Libyan National Army, The Star reported.

Reportedly, the Kargu-2 is in-built with an explosive charge and can be used for kamikaze attacks.

The drones were running on an autonomous mode which required no human moderation, for such weapons system do not require data connectivity between the “operator&nbsp;and the munition”. This essentially implies that the killer robots made the decision to attack independently.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/30-countries-support-explicit-ban-on-killer-robots-report-319636" hreflang="en">30 countries support explicit ban on 'killer robots': Report</a>

What does the world say?

But many experts believe that the drone’s ability to attack humans points to the dangers posed by such autonomous weapon technology. In 2020, Human Rights Watch urged caution with such technology and implored countries to legislate against killer robots.&nbsp;30 countries backed the plan to fully ban autonomous weapons, or as they’re more commonly called - “killer robots”, a report by Human Rights Watch released in August 2020 revealed.

According to the report titled "Stopping Killer Robots: Country Positions on Banning Fully Autonomous Weapons and Retaining Human Control”, more and more countries are acknowledging the need to stop “killer robots”, formally categorised as lethal autonomous weapon system.

A coalition of 161 non-governmental organisations including the HRW has been pleading for a complete ban on such weapons since 2013.

"Weapons&nbsp;systems that select and engage targets without meaningful human control are unacceptable and need to be prevented," HRW said.

Are killer robots the next threat faced by humanity? A United Nations report claims that a killer drone trailed and attacked a human being without directives to do the same.

Are killer robots the next threat faced by humanity? A United Nations report claims that a killer drone trailed and attacked a human being without directives to do the same. In 2018, the United Nations had urged countries to ban killer robots. But the plea was shot down. The recent report by UN Security Council’s Panel of Experts on Libya claims that “an autonomous weaponized drone hunted down a human target last year”. The report was published in March 2021 in the New Scientist and foretells the dangers posed by militarised technology capable of making autonomous decisions. The attack in question was perpetrated by "Kargu-2", a quadcopter drone made by STM, a Turkish military technology company. How did the robot attack humans? The mishap occurred during a conflict between the government forces of Libya and a faction led by Khalifa Haftar, the commander of Libyan National Army, The Star reported. Reportedly, the Kargu-2 is in-built with an explosive charge and can be used for kamikaze attacks. The drones were running on an autonomous mode which required no human moderation, for such weapons system do not require data connectivity between the “operator and the munition”. This essentially implies that the killer robots made the decision to attack independently. Also read: 30 countries support explicit ban on 'killer robots': Report What does the world say? But many experts believe that the drone’s ability to attack humans points to the dangers posed by such autonomous weapon technology. In 2020, Human Rights Watch urged caution with such technology and implored countries to legislate against killer robots. 30 countries backed the plan to fully ban autonomous weapons, or as they’re more commonly called - “killer robots”, a report by Human Rights Watch released in August 2020 revealed. According to the report titled "Stopping Killer Robots: Country Positions on Banning Fully Autonomous Weapons and Retaining Human Control”, more and more countries are acknowledging the need to stop “killer robots”, formally categorised as lethal autonomous weapon system. A coalition of 161 non-governmental organisations including the HRW has been pleading for a complete ban on such weapons since 2013. "Weapons systems that select and engage targets without meaningful human control are unacceptable and need to be prevented," HRW said.

First instance of 'killer robot' attacking human without orders recorded in Libya: UN report

Seven&nbsp;social media platforms have complied with some of the rules under the new IT rules that came into effect earlier this week.&nbsp;

Koo, Sharechat, Telegram, LinkedIn, Google, Facebook, WhatsApp&nbsp;have shared the list of&nbsp;their Chief Compliance Officer, Nodal Contact Person, and Grievance Officer as envisaged under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 with India's&nbsp;Information Technology(IT)&nbsp;ministry. IT ministry is the main nodal ministry that deals with the matter.&nbsp;

The rules were notified in February and three-month time period was given to social media platforms to implement them. Other key issues like traceability remain, that is the first origin of any message, the details of which have to be shared with the authorities under the new rules.

Whatsapp has gone to the Delhi High Court over that rule, saying that it will mean a breach of the fundamental right to privacy and violates its end-to-end encryption. The Indian government has dismissed that saying no fundamental right is absolute and the rules are "reasonable restrictions"&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Twitter is yet to follow the rule and told the Indian government that it is nominating a lawyer as its&nbsp;Nodal Contact Person and Grievance Officer. According to the rules, the officers should be&nbsp;employees of the company and residents in India. Interestingly, Twitter sent the communication to the Indian govt late last night, a day which saw the Indian govt slamming twitter over non-implementation of new IT rules.&nbsp;

The Indian govt statement said, "Twitter needs to stop beating around the bush and comply with the laws of the land" and reminded it that". The statement added, "&nbsp;Law making and policy formulations is the sole prerogative of the sovereign and Twitter is just a social media platform and it has no locus in dictating what India’s legal policy framework should be."

Also, Twitter is yet to send out the&nbsp;details of the Chief Compliance Officer to the government as mentioned in the IT rules.&nbsp;

Seven social media platforms have complied with some of the rules under the new IT rules that came into effect earlier this week. Koo, Sharechat, Telegram, LinkedIn, Google, Facebook, WhatsApp have shared the list of their Chief Compliance Officer, Nodal Contact Person, and Grievance Officer as envisaged under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 with India's Information Technology(IT) ministry.

Seven social media platforms have complied with some of the rules under the new IT rules that came into effect earlier this week. Koo, Sharechat, Telegram, LinkedIn, Google, Facebook, WhatsApp have shared the list of their Chief Compliance Officer, Nodal Contact Person, and Grievance Officer as envisaged under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 with India's Information Technology(IT) ministry. IT ministry is the main nodal ministry that deals with the matter. The rules were notified in February and three-month time period was given to social media platforms to implement them. Other key issues like traceability remain, that is the first origin of any message, the details of which have to be shared with the authorities under the new rules. Whatsapp has gone to the Delhi High Court over that rule, saying that it will mean a breach of the fundamental right to privacy and violates its end-to-end encryption. The Indian government has dismissed that saying no fundamental right is absolute and the rules are "reasonable restrictions" Meanwhile, Twitter is yet to follow the rule and told the Indian government that it is nominating a lawyer as its Nodal Contact Person and Grievance Officer. According to the rules, the officers should be employees of the company and residents in India. Interestingly, Twitter sent the communication to the Indian govt late last night, a day which saw the Indian govt slamming twitter over non-implementation of new IT rules. The Indian govt statement said, "Twitter needs to stop beating around the bush and comply with the laws of the land" and reminded it that". The statement added, " Law making and policy formulations is the sole prerogative of the sovereign and Twitter is just a social media platform and it has no locus in dictating what India’s legal policy framework should be." Also, Twitter is yet to send out the details of the Chief Compliance Officer to the government as mentioned in the IT rules.

Seven social media platforms comply with some IT rules; Twitter drags feet

Amazon.com Inc should review how it is addressing racial justice and equity after a shareholder proposal on the topic won strong backing, New York state`s top pension official said on Friday. 
 
A filing on Friday showed 44 per cent&nbsp;of votes cast supported a call for a review of the company`s impact on equity, diversity and other areas proposed by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli at Amazon`s annual meeting on May 26, a high total for such a measure. 
 
DiNapoli said the measure would have received a majority but for the 14 per cent&nbsp;stake held by CEO Jeff Bezos, a sign of investor dissatisfaction at the leading online retailer. 
 
"Shareholders sent a loud message to Amazon that they want the company to do more to address racial diversity, equity and inclusion. It`s time for Amazon to listen to its investors," DiNapoli said in an emailed-statement. 
 
Amazon had previously said the measure did not win a majority but it did not give the voting breakdown. 
 
An Amazon representative said the company has "initiated numerous programs to assess and address racial justice considerations across key aspects of our operations that we believe fully address the objectives of this proposal.” 
 
The call for the racial equity audit received the highest level of support among 11 shareholder proposals at Wednesday`s meeting. 
 
Another, calling for Amazon to consider adding an hourly worker to its board of directors received support from 17 per cent&nbsp;of votes cast, the filing showed. 
 
Proposals with such low levels of support are rarely adopted, although the figure was about twice what similar calls for workers-on-boards have received at other companies in recent years. 
 
The measure, which received a rare endorsement from Institutional Shareholder Services, was closely watched at the annual meeting after a union organising effort at the company failed in April.

Amazon.com Inc should review how it is addressing racial justice and equity after a shareholder proposal on the topic won strong backing, New York state`s top pension official said on Friday.

Amazon.com Inc should review how it is addressing racial justice and equity after a shareholder proposal on the topic won strong backing, New York state`s top pension official said on Friday. A filing on Friday showed 44 per cent of votes cast supported a call for a review of the company`s impact on equity, diversity and other areas proposed by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli at Amazon`s annual meeting on May 26, a high total for such a measure. DiNapoli said the measure would have received a majority but for the 14 per cent stake held by CEO Jeff Bezos, a sign of investor dissatisfaction at the leading online retailer. "Shareholders sent a loud message to Amazon that they want the company to do more to address racial diversity, equity and inclusion. It`s time for Amazon to listen to its investors," DiNapoli said in an emailed-statement. Amazon had previously said the measure did not win a majority but it did not give the voting breakdown. An Amazon representative said the company has "initiated numerous programs to assess and address racial justice considerations across key aspects of our operations that we believe fully address the objectives of this proposal.” The call for the racial equity audit received the highest level of support among 11 shareholder proposals at Wednesday`s meeting. Another, calling for Amazon to consider adding an hourly worker to its board of directors received support from 17 per cent of votes cast, the filing showed. Proposals with such low levels of support are rarely adopted, although the figure was about twice what similar calls for workers-on-boards have received at other companies in recent years. The measure, which received a rare endorsement from Institutional Shareholder Services, was closely watched at the annual meeting after a union organising effort at the company failed in April.

Amazon pressed for racial equity review after strong vote tally

An uncanny bust recently happened in England. A sign of the times, British police set out to find a cannabis farm but instead found a Bitcoin mining centre.

Computer systems&nbsp;were found by the police, who claim that users were illegally siphoning electricity to mine Bitcoin. 100 computer units were seized by police officers in West Midlands, England. According to the police, the computers were attempting to bypass the local power grid.

The warehouse was discovered using a drone after the device detected a heat source and followed its trail.

Bitcoin mining is a lengthy and energy-consuming process. Miners usually get extremely high power bills. The process requires computers to solve complicated mathematics problems to create new coins. In a Citigroup report, it was revealed that mining bitcoin now takes 66 times more electricity than the same process needed in 2015.

According to the Centre for Alternative Finance at the University of Cambridge, mining bitcoin uses more power ever year than all of the Netherlands.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/here-is-why-elon-musk-decried-bitcoins-insane-energy-use-after-tesla-payment-u-turn-384954" hreflang="en">Here is why Elon Musk decried bitcoin's 'insane' energy use after Tesla payment U-turn</a>

“It’s certainly not what we were expecting. It had all the hallmarks of a cannabis cultivation set-up” Police Sergeant Jennifer Griffin said in a statement on Friday.&nbsp;

The police added that mining bitcoin is not illegal, but siphoning&nbsp;electricity for the same is illegal. No arrests have been so far, but police believe that electricity worth thousands of dollars was illegally taken off the grid.

This is the second such illegal mining operation to be uncovered in the region by police forces.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/bitcoin-can-be-chinese-financial-weapon-against-us-warns-cryptocurrency-investor-peter-thiel-376034" hreflang="en">Bitcoin can be 'Chinese financial weapon' against US, warns cryptocurrency investor Peter Thiel</a>

An uncanny bust recently happened in England. A sign of the times, British police set out to find a cannabis farm but instead found a Bitcoin mining centre. Computer systems were found by the police, who claim that users were illegally siphoning electricity to mine Bitcoin.

An uncanny bust recently happened in England. A sign of the times, British police set out to find a cannabis farm but instead found a Bitcoin mining centre. Computer systems were found by the police, who claim that users were illegally siphoning electricity to mine Bitcoin. 100 computer units were seized by police officers in West Midlands, England. According to the police, the computers were attempting to bypass the local power grid. The warehouse was discovered using a drone after the device detected a heat source and followed its trail. Bitcoin mining is a lengthy and energy-consuming process. Miners usually get extremely high power bills. The process requires computers to solve complicated mathematics problems to create new coins. In a Citigroup report, it was revealed that mining bitcoin now takes 66 times more electricity than the same process needed in 2015. According to the Centre for Alternative Finance at the University of Cambridge, mining bitcoin uses more power ever year than all of the Netherlands. Also read: Here is why Elon Musk decried bitcoin's 'insane' energy use after Tesla payment U-turn “It’s certainly not what we were expecting. It had all the hallmarks of a cannabis cultivation set-up” Police Sergeant Jennifer Griffin said in a statement on Friday. The police added that mining bitcoin is not illegal, but siphoning electricity for the same is illegal. No arrests have been so far, but police believe that electricity worth thousands of dollars was illegally taken off the grid. This is the second such illegal mining operation to be uncovered in the region by police forces. Also read: Bitcoin can be 'Chinese financial weapon' against US, warns cryptocurrency investor Peter Thiel

UK police accidentally discover Bitcoin mine while searching for cannabis warehouse

In light of the ongoing investigation into the origin of the deadly coronavirus, social media giant <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/facebook">Facebook</a> has decided to lift the ban on posts that claim COVID-19 was man-made and/or a result of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-lab-leak-row-us-intelligence-has-a-notorious-track-record-says-china-387784">"lab leak".</a>

"Following consultations with leading health organisations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), we are expanding the list of false claims we will remove to include additional debunked claims about the coronavirus and vaccines," Facebook said in a&nbsp; statement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/optional-feature-to-hide-likes-on-instagram-facebook-is-coming-sooner-than-you-think-387563" hreflang="en">Optional feature to hide likes on Instagram, Facebook is coming sooner than you think</a>

This comes months after Facebook had started to block and ban the posts that claimed COVID-19 was made-made or manufactured in a lab. Such posts were being restricted or removed, and not complying with the guidelines was leading to a complete ban of the erring accounts from the platform itself. Facebook claims this step was earlier aimed at "removing more false claims about COVID-19 and vaccines".

However, things seem to be changing now due to the ongoing investigation into the origins of coronavirus now.

This has come after a US-based newspaper, Wall Street Journal, published an investigative story that claimed the US intelligence believes there is a possibility that this virus was created due to a "lab leak" in China’s Wuhan.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-lawmakers-urge-facebook-to-drop-plans-for-instagram-for-kids-385900" hreflang="en">US lawmakers urge Facebook to drop plans for Instagram for kids</a>

The newspaper claims in November 2019, three people from the Wuhan Institute of Virology had been admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment for flu-like symptoms.

While it has not yet been concluded whether or not coronavirus was a lab leak, Facebook is making sure it fights misinformation against the disease, without imposing a ban on irrelevant information.

Facebook has now tightened its rules against sharing and spreading misinformation related to coronavirus, elections, and more.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/facebook-allow-posts-suggesting-covid-19-lab-origin-as-us-probes-virus-origin-387906">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/facebook-allow-posts-suggesting-covid-19-lab-origin-as-us-probes-virus-origin-387906/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Whether it's false or misleading content about COVID-19 and vaccines, climate change, elections or other topics, we're making sure fewer people see misinformation on our apps," Facebook said in the statement.

The social media giant has also come up with a way of warning people against following any page that actively indulges in spreading fake news.

Facebook will, now, give a pop-up notice with a warning of the page's sharing history, for the pages that actively share false information.

In light of the ongoing investigation into the origin of the deadly coronavirus, social media giant Facebook has decided to lift the ban on posts that claim COVID-19 was man-made and/or a result of a "lab leak".

In light of the ongoing investigation into the origin of the deadly coronavirus, social media giant Facebook has decided to lift the ban on posts that claim COVID-19 was man-made and/or a result of a "lab leak". "Following consultations with leading health organisations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), we are expanding the list of false claims we will remove to include additional debunked claims about the coronavirus and vaccines," Facebook said in a statement. Also read | Optional feature to hide likes on Instagram, Facebook is coming sooner than you think This comes months after Facebook had started to block and ban the posts that claimed COVID-19 was made-made or manufactured in a lab. Such posts were being restricted or removed, and not complying with the guidelines was leading to a complete ban of the erring accounts from the platform itself. Facebook claims this step was earlier aimed at "removing more false claims about COVID-19 and vaccines". However, things seem to be changing now due to the ongoing investigation into the origins of coronavirus now. This has come after a US-based newspaper, Wall Street Journal, published an investigative story that claimed the US intelligence believes there is a possibility that this virus was created due to a "lab leak" in China’s Wuhan. Also read | US lawmakers urge Facebook to drop plans for Instagram for kids The newspaper claims in November 2019, three people from the Wuhan Institute of Virology had been admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment for flu-like symptoms. While it has not yet been concluded whether or not coronavirus was a lab leak, Facebook is making sure it fights misinformation against the disease, without imposing a ban on irrelevant information. Facebook has now tightened its rules against sharing and spreading misinformation related to coronavirus, elections, and more. WATCH | "Whether it's false or misleading content about COVID-19 and vaccines, climate change, elections or other topics, we're making sure fewer people see misinformation on our apps," Facebook said in the statement. The social media giant has also come up with a way of warning people against following any page that actively indulges in spreading fake news. Facebook will, now, give a pop-up notice with a warning of the page's sharing history, for the pages that actively share false information.

Facebook lifts ban on 'lab leak' posts as US investigates origin of coronavirus

Alphabet Inc's Google is nearing a settlement of an antitrust investigation in France over allegations it abused its power in online advertising, and will likely pay a fine and institute operational changes, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. 
 
The French Competition Authority has said that Google`s tool to help websites and apps sell ads gave Google`s online ad auction system an advantage over rival exchanges, the people told the newspaper. 
 
Google offered to settle the matter by removing obstacles that it puts up against competitors, the newspaper reported. 
 
The settlement could be among the first resolutions in a wave of new investigations or lawsuits targeting Google`s ads business, which generated $147 billion in revenue last year, more than any other internet company in the world. 
 
Most of Google`s sales come from search and YouTube ads. But about $23 billion last year was tied to helping publishers sell ads and the connections between Google`s duelling businesses is drawing antitrust scrutiny, including calls from critics for a break-up. 
 
The French case also alleged other forms of self-preferencing in the advertising side of Google`s business, the people told the newspaper. 
 
Google spokeswoman Leslie Pitterson did not comment on the reported settlement but said that the company`s third-party ad tech products work with both Google`s partners` and competitors` products. 
 
"We continue to take in feedback and make updates to better serve users and the wider ecosystem," she said in a statement. 
 
If approved by the Competition Authority`s board, the deal could be announced in weeks and would be binding only in France, the newspaper said. 
 
Texas, backed by other U.S. states, filed a lawsuit against Google in December accusing it of breaking antitrust law in how it runs its online advertising business in a case that appears to be similar to the French allegations. 
 
Google also is fighting lawsuits in the United States from several advertisers, rivals and publishers around the same issues.

Alphabet Inc's Google is nearing a settlement of an antitrust investigation in France over allegations it abused its power in online advertising, and will likely pay a fine and institute operational changes, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Alphabet Inc's Google is nearing a settlement of an antitrust investigation in France over allegations it abused its power in online advertising, and will likely pay a fine and institute operational changes, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The French Competition Authority has said that Google`s tool to help websites and apps sell ads gave Google`s online ad auction system an advantage over rival exchanges, the people told the newspaper. Google offered to settle the matter by removing obstacles that it puts up against competitors, the newspaper reported. The settlement could be among the first resolutions in a wave of new investigations or lawsuits targeting Google`s ads business, which generated $147 billion in revenue last year, more than any other internet company in the world. Most of Google`s sales come from search and YouTube ads. But about $23 billion last year was tied to helping publishers sell ads and the connections between Google`s duelling businesses is drawing antitrust scrutiny, including calls from critics for a break-up. The French case also alleged other forms of self-preferencing in the advertising side of Google`s business, the people told the newspaper. Google spokeswoman Leslie Pitterson did not comment on the reported settlement but said that the company`s third-party ad tech products work with both Google`s partners` and competitors` products. "We continue to take in feedback and make updates to better serve users and the wider ecosystem," she said in a statement. If approved by the Competition Authority`s board, the deal could be announced in weeks and would be binding only in France, the newspaper said. Texas, backed by other U.S. states, filed a lawsuit against Google in December accusing it of breaking antitrust law in how it runs its online advertising business in a case that appears to be similar to the French allegations. Google also is fighting lawsuits in the United States from several advertisers, rivals and publishers around the same issues.

Google nears settlement of French antitrust case: Report

A Russian court on Thursday fined&nbsp;Twitter&nbsp;19 million roubles ($259,000) for failing to delete content considered illegal by Moscow, in the latest episode of a long-running dispute between Russia and the social network operator.

Twitter&nbsp;has been subjected to a punitive slowdown in Russia since March, part of a broader stand-off between Moscow and big tech companies to beef up what it calls internet sovereignty.

State communications regulator Roskomnadzor earlier this month partially halted the slowdown after&nbsp;Twitter&nbsp;deleted more than 90 per cent&nbsp;of illegal content, which Roskomnadzor says includes posts containing child pornography, drug abuse information or calls for minors to commit suicide.

Twitter&nbsp;denies allowing its platform to be used to promote illegal behaviour and says it has a zero-tolerance policy for child sexual exploitation and prohibits the promotion of suicide or self-harm.

On Thursday, Moscow's Tagansky District Court said it issued&nbsp;Twitter&nbsp;with fines for six different administrative offences, totalling 19 million roubles.

Twitter, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, was also fined 8.9 million roubles in April.

TikTok and Google received smaller fines on Thursday worth 1.5 million roubles&nbsp;and 3.5 million roubles for similar offences .

Repeat offences can be punishable by a fine of up to 10 per cent&nbsp;of the company's total annual revenue, Roskomnadzor has said, but it is unclear whether it would take such a step.

Roskomnadzor earlier on Thursday said it was not yet planning to slow down the speed of Google or Facebook, as it has done with&nbsp;Twitter, but warned it could take more radical steps.

(With inputs from agencies)

A Russian court on Thursday fined Twitter 19 million roubles ($259,000) for failing to delete content considered illegal by Moscow, in the latest episode of a long-running dispute between Russia and the social network operator.

A Russian court on Thursday fined Twitter 19 million roubles ($259,000) for failing to delete content considered illegal by Moscow, in the latest episode of a long-running dispute between Russia and the social network operator. Twitter has been subjected to a punitive slowdown in Russia since March, part of a broader stand-off between Moscow and big tech companies to beef up what it calls internet sovereignty. State communications regulator Roskomnadzor earlier this month partially halted the slowdown after Twitter deleted more than 90 per cent of illegal content, which Roskomnadzor says includes posts containing child pornography, drug abuse information or calls for minors to commit suicide. Twitter denies allowing its platform to be used to promote illegal behaviour and says it has a zero-tolerance policy for child sexual exploitation and prohibits the promotion of suicide or self-harm. On Thursday, Moscow's Tagansky District Court said it issued Twitter with fines for six different administrative offences, totalling 19 million roubles. Twitter, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, was also fined 8.9 million roubles in April. TikTok and Google received smaller fines on Thursday worth 1.5 million roubles and 3.5 million roubles for similar offences . Repeat offences can be punishable by a fine of up to 10 per cent of the company's total annual revenue, Roskomnadzor has said, but it is unclear whether it would take such a step. Roskomnadzor earlier on Thursday said it was not yet planning to slow down the speed of Google or Facebook, as it has done with Twitter, but warned it could take more radical steps. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia fines Twitter 19 million roubles for failing to delete content

Facebook has reversed its policy banning posts suggesting COVID-19 emerged from a laboratory amid renewed debate over the origins of the virus, raising fresh questions about social media's role in policing misinformation.

The latest move by Facebook highlights the challenge for the world's largest social network of rooting out false and potentially harmful content while remaining open for discourse.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-joe-biden-orders-to-redouble-efforts-in-covid-19-origin-probe-387649/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"In light of ongoing investigations into the origin of COVID-19 and in consultation with public health experts, we will no longer remove the claim that Covid-19 is man-made or manufactured from our apps," the statement said.

"We're continuing to work with health experts to keep pace with the evolving nature of the pandemic and regularly update our policies as new facts and trends emerge."

The new statement updates guidance from Facebook in February when it said it would remove false or debunked claims about the novel coronavirus which created a global pandemic killing more than three million.

The move followed President Joe Biden's directive to US intelligence agencies to investigate competing theories on how the virus first emerged -- through animal contact at a market in Wuhan, China, or through accidental release from a research laboratory in the same city.

Biden's order signals an escalation in mounting controversy over the origins of the virus which emerged in Wuhan.

A recent Wall Street Journal report, citing a US intelligence report, said three researchers from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology became sick in November 2019, ahead of the wider outbreak of the disease.

Facebook uses independent third-party fact checkers, to debunk misinformation. Although the origins of the virus remain unproven, the lab leak theory has been subject to fact-checking.&nbsp;

One fact checking organization, PolitiFact, reported last September that public health authorities had "repeatedly said the coronavirus was not derived from a lab" but earlier this month revised its guidance, noting: "that assertion is now more widely disputed," and saying it would continue to review the matter.

But the abrupt Facebook reversal prompted angry responses from conservatives and supporters of former president Donald Trump who argued their assertions had been dismissed as hoaxes.

"Wow! But they did suppress the story for a year, defaming Trump and Republicans for a 'conspiracy theory' blacklisting conservative press and banning us," tweeted Kelly Sadler, a blogger and former Trump aide.

Facebook in a separate statement said it was stepping up its efforts to curb misinformation by limiting the reach of users who "repeatedly" share false content.

Until now, Facebook had only taken this action on individual posts, but now will clamp down on the users who are the largest spreaders of false content.

(With inputs from agencies)

Facebook has reversed its policy banning posts suggesting COVID-19 emerged from a laboratory amid renewed debate over the origins of the virus, raising fresh questions about social media's role in policing misinformation.

Facebook has reversed its policy banning posts suggesting COVID-19 emerged from a laboratory amid renewed debate over the origins of the virus, raising fresh questions about social media's role in policing misinformation. The latest move by Facebook highlights the challenge for the world's largest social network of rooting out false and potentially harmful content while remaining open for discourse. "In light of ongoing investigations into the origin of COVID-19 and in consultation with public health experts, we will no longer remove the claim that Covid-19 is man-made or manufactured from our apps," the statement said. "We're continuing to work with health experts to keep pace with the evolving nature of the pandemic and regularly update our policies as new facts and trends emerge." The new statement updates guidance from Facebook in February when it said it would remove false or debunked claims about the novel coronavirus which created a global pandemic killing more than three million. The move followed President Joe Biden's directive to US intelligence agencies to investigate competing theories on how the virus first emerged -- through animal contact at a market in Wuhan, China, or through accidental release from a research laboratory in the same city. Biden's order signals an escalation in mounting controversy over the origins of the virus which emerged in Wuhan. A recent Wall Street Journal report, citing a US intelligence report, said three researchers from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology became sick in November 2019, ahead of the wider outbreak of the disease. Facebook uses independent third-party fact checkers, to debunk misinformation. Although the origins of the virus remain unproven, the lab leak theory has been subject to fact-checking. One fact checking organization, PolitiFact, reported last September that public health authorities had "repeatedly said the coronavirus was not derived from a lab" but earlier this month revised its guidance, noting: "that assertion is now more widely disputed," and saying it would continue to review the matter. But the abrupt Facebook reversal prompted angry responses from conservatives and supporters of former president Donald Trump who argued their assertions had been dismissed as hoaxes. "Wow! But they did suppress the story for a year, defaming Trump and Republicans for a 'conspiracy theory' blacklisting conservative press and banning us," tweeted Kelly Sadler, a blogger and former Trump aide. Facebook in a separate statement said it was stepping up its efforts to curb misinformation by limiting the reach of users who "repeatedly" share false content. Until now, Facebook had only taken this action on individual posts, but now will clamp down on the users who are the largest spreaders of false content. (With inputs from agencies)

Facebook lifts ban on posts claiming COVID-19 was man-made, amid revitalised origins debate

SberAutoTech, a subsidiary of Russia's largest lender Sberbank, has developed a fully self-driving vehicle, FLIP, which the company on Thursday described as a "taxi of the future".

Sberbank is diversifying in areas ranging from food delivery and taxi services to cloud computing and cyber-security and has made technological strides. Last year it unveiled a new virtual assistant, smart speaker, and other gadgets.

FLIP is the size of a conventional passenger car but with space for six passengers, SberAutoTech said.

It has met the maximum requirement of international automated driving standards, but so far has only been tested on closed tracks.

SberAutoTech did not disclose how much it had invested in the project or any details about prices, suppliers or its expected production timeline.

Replaceable batteries power the vehicle's electric motor, but it can also harness the power of alternative fuels like natural gas and hydrogen, SberAutoTech said.

"The company's know-how is the battery layout, which allows for all modules to be replaced in no more than five minutes, comparable to refilling a standard car with traditional fuel," the company said in a statement.

"The flexible architecture of SberAutoTech's self-driving&nbsp;technology&nbsp;will enable us to roll out solutions across a variety of verticals, like freight transport, last mile, and taxis," said Sberbank Chief&nbsp;Technology&nbsp;Officer David Rafalovksy.

The curved design, with no obvious front or rear, resembles the flying vehicles from the 1985 Soviet TV series 'Guest from the Future', which were also called 'Flip'. SberAutoTech did not say whether the film had inspired the design.

Russian market leader Yandex has already tested thousands of driverless hours in Russian cities and abroad, while its driverless robot buggies have started delivering restaurant meals in Moscow.

(With inputs from agencies)

SberAutoTech, a subsidiary of Russia's largest lender Sberbank, has developed a fully self-driving vehicle, FLIP, which the company on Thursday described as a "taxi of the future".

SberAutoTech, a subsidiary of Russia's largest lender Sberbank, has developed a fully self-driving vehicle, FLIP, which the company on Thursday described as a "taxi of the future". Sberbank is diversifying in areas ranging from food delivery and taxi services to cloud computing and cyber-security and has made technological strides. Last year it unveiled a new virtual assistant, smart speaker, and other gadgets. FLIP is the size of a conventional passenger car but with space for six passengers, SberAutoTech said. It has met the maximum requirement of international automated driving standards, but so far has only been tested on closed tracks. SberAutoTech did not disclose how much it had invested in the project or any details about prices, suppliers or its expected production timeline. Replaceable batteries power the vehicle's electric motor, but it can also harness the power of alternative fuels like natural gas and hydrogen, SberAutoTech said. "The company's know-how is the battery layout, which allows for all modules to be replaced in no more than five minutes, comparable to refilling a standard car with traditional fuel," the company said in a statement. "The flexible architecture of SberAutoTech's self-driving technology will enable us to roll out solutions across a variety of verticals, like freight transport, last mile, and taxis," said Sberbank Chief Technology Officer David Rafalovksy. The curved design, with no obvious front or rear, resembles the flying vehicles from the 1985 Soviet TV series 'Guest from the Future', which were also called 'Flip'. SberAutoTech did not say whether the film had inspired the design. Russian market leader Yandex has already tested thousands of driverless hours in Russian cities and abroad, while its driverless robot buggies have started delivering restaurant meals in Moscow. (With inputs from agencies)

'Taxi of future': Russia's SberAutoTech unveils fully autonomous vehicle FLIP

Tesla Inc said on Tuesday that&nbsp;it will drop a radar sensor in favour of a camera-focused Autopilot system for its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in North America starting this month.&nbsp;

The move came amid growing scrutiny by regulators and media about the safety of what Tesla dubs 'Autopilot' and 'Full Self-Driving (FSD)' features, following a series of crashes.&nbsp;

"Pure vision Autopilot is now rolling out in North America," CEO Elon Musk said in a tweet.&nbsp;

He said it plans to release an improved 'FSD beta V9.0' based on the pure vision system about three weeks later.&nbsp;

"FSD subscription will be enabled around the same time," he said.&nbsp;

In October, Tesla rolled out the test version of its new FSD system to a limited number of people, enabling cars to navigate on city streets in semi-autonomous mode as well as highways. A wider launch has been delayed.&nbsp;

While most companies like Waymo equip autonomous cars with cameras paired with sensors like lidars and radars, Tesla relied on cameras and one radar to detect and analyse objects.&nbsp;

Tesla's approach helped reduce costs and commercialise its driver assistant features, but experts and other companies have raised safety concerns.&nbsp;

Tesla said the transition to a camera-focused system may result in limitations of some features, such as lane-centering and parking assistance, saying those functions will be restored via software updates 'in the weeks ahead’.&nbsp;

All new Model S and Model X cars, as well as all vehicles built for markets outside North America, will still be equipped with a radar, Tesla said.&nbsp;

A radar sensor uses radio waves and sensors to detect objects.&nbsp;

In March, Tesla told California regulators, it might not achieve full self-driving technology by the end of 2021.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

Tesla Inc said on Tuesday that it will drop a radar sensor in favour of a camera-focused Autopilot system for its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in North America starting this month.

Tesla Inc said on Tuesday that it will drop a radar sensor in favour of a camera-focused Autopilot system for its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in North America starting this month. The move came amid growing scrutiny by regulators and media about the safety of what Tesla dubs 'Autopilot' and 'Full Self-Driving (FSD)' features, following a series of crashes. "Pure vision Autopilot is now rolling out in North America," CEO Elon Musk said in a tweet. He said it plans to release an improved 'FSD beta V9.0' based on the pure vision system about three weeks later. "FSD subscription will be enabled around the same time," he said. In October, Tesla rolled out the test version of its new FSD system to a limited number of people, enabling cars to navigate on city streets in semi-autonomous mode as well as highways. A wider launch has been delayed. While most companies like Waymo equip autonomous cars with cameras paired with sensors like lidars and radars, Tesla relied on cameras and one radar to detect and analyse objects. Tesla's approach helped reduce costs and commercialise its driver assistant features, but experts and other companies have raised safety concerns. Tesla said the transition to a camera-focused system may result in limitations of some features, such as lane-centering and parking assistance, saying those functions will be restored via software updates 'in the weeks ahead’. All new Model S and Model X cars, as well as all vehicles built for markets outside North America, will still be equipped with a radar, Tesla said. A radar sensor uses radio waves and sensors to detect objects. In March, Tesla told California regulators, it might not achieve full self-driving technology by the end of 2021. (With inputs from agencies)

Tesla doubles down on camera-based Autopilot amid growing scrutiny 

Twitch, the world’s largest game streaming portal on Wednesday said that it was enabling multiple new labels to videos. Now, users will be able to add a transgender label to their videos among many. The gaming company hopes this move would aid inclusion among its gamers.

Daily, 30 million gamers log on to Amazon-owned Twitch, which allows people to broadcast themselves playing video games.

Among the 350 new tags are "transgender", "bisexual", "Black" and "disabled”, Reuters reported. These tags are essentially labels which gamers can add to their clips.

"This has been one of the most popular requests we've heard, and the simple truth is that we should have done this sooner," Twitch said in a blog post last week. The news was made official to users on Wednesday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/lifestyle/news-miss-south-africa-pageant-opens-to-transgender-entrants-387603" hreflang="en">Miss South Africa pageant opens to transgender entrants</a>

Recently, tech firms are facing increased scrutiny to make their products more inclusive to represent the transgender community. Instagram and LinkedIn recently allowed users to add their pronouns to their profiles.

Data from Twitch Tracker says that 70 per cent of its users are aged between 13-34. Collectively, they watch 68-73 million hours of gameplay everyday.

But there’s still a long way to go. In the United States alone, 18 anti-LGBTQIA+ state bills were signed in 2021 which would bar trans youth from playing sports or seeking medical help.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/arkansas-becomes-first-us-state-to-ban-transgender-treatment-for-minors-375853" hreflang="en">Arkansas becomes first US state to ban transgender treatment for minors</a>

Twitch, the world’s largest game streaming portal on Wednesday said that it was enabling multiple new labels to videos. Now, users will be able to add a transgender label to their videos among many.

Twitch, the world’s largest game streaming portal on Wednesday said that it was enabling multiple new labels to videos. Now, users will be able to add a transgender label to their videos among many. The gaming company hopes this move would aid inclusion among its gamers. Daily, 30 million gamers log on to Amazon-owned Twitch, which allows people to broadcast themselves playing video games. Among the 350 new tags are "transgender", "bisexual", "Black" and "disabled”, Reuters reported. These tags are essentially labels which gamers can add to their clips. "This has been one of the most popular requests we've heard, and the simple truth is that we should have done this sooner," Twitch said in a blog post last week. The news was made official to users on Wednesday. Also read: Miss South Africa pageant opens to transgender entrants Recently, tech firms are facing increased scrutiny to make their products more inclusive to represent the transgender community. Instagram and LinkedIn recently allowed users to add their pronouns to their profiles. Data from Twitch Tracker says that 70 per cent of its users are aged between 13-34. Collectively, they watch 68-73 million hours of gameplay everyday. But there’s still a long way to go. In the United States alone, 18 anti-LGBTQIA+ state bills were signed in 2021 which would bar trans youth from playing sports or seeking medical help. Also read: Arkansas becomes first US state to ban transgender treatment for minors

Game streaming service Twitch adds 350 new 'tags' including transgender, bisexual

Foreign hackers compromised Russian federal agencies in a digital espionage campaign that Russian officials described as unprecedented in scope and sophistication. 
 
The little-noticed report – published this month by Russia`s FSB security service and Rostelecom-Solar, the cybersecurity arm of telecoms company Rostelecom – provides an unusually detailed look at a purportedly state-backed cyber spying operation aimed at the Russian state. 
 
But while the investigation describes the 2020 hacking campaign as "unprecedented", it provides no indication of who might be behind it. 
 
"Assessing the attackers` level of preparedness and qualification ... we are inclined to refer to this group as cyber mercenaries, pursuing the interests of a foreign state," the report said, citing the hackers` "thorough preparation" and their intimate knowledge of Russian antivirus firm Kaspersky Lab`s software. 
 
Kaspersky told Reuters it was aware of the report, but had no information to suggest that the hackers had exploited any vulnerabilities in its products. 
 
Government-backed reports about foreign hackers often serve as we-see-you messages to foreign intelligence services, but Stefan Soesanto, a researcher at the Center for Security Studies at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, said he was struck by how little attention the report seems to have garnered in the Russian press. 
 
The Solar-FSB report was published on May 13 with little fanfare and only began attracting notice in information security circles after it was picked up by cybersecurity company Recorded Future`s publication, The Record, more than a week later. 
 
"If this report was a signalling effort by the Russian government to a Western intelligence service – as many have claimed - then it was a very subtle signal," Soesanto told Reuters on Wednesday. 
 
He said the report appeared to be aimed at a Russian audience, perhaps with the aim of burnishing Solar`s business credentials. 
 
The announcement came as the Kremlin is increasingly coming under scrutiny in the United States and elsewhere – not just over the SolarWinds hack, which Moscow denies carrying out – but also over allegations that Russia knowingly harbours ransom-seeking cybercriminals. 
 
The report also mentioned that hackers had used the cloud storage facilities of Russia`s leading technology firms, Yandex and Mail.ru, to help exfiltrate data. Mail.ru said its cloud service was neither compromised nor used to distribute malware during the hacks. Yandex declined to comment.

Foreign hackers compromised Russian federal agencies in a digital espionage campaign that Russian officials described as unprecedented in scope and sophistication.

Foreign hackers compromised Russian federal agencies in a digital espionage campaign that Russian officials described as unprecedented in scope and sophistication. The little-noticed report – published this month by Russia`s FSB security service and Rostelecom-Solar, the cybersecurity arm of telecoms company Rostelecom – provides an unusually detailed look at a purportedly state-backed cyber spying operation aimed at the Russian state. But while the investigation describes the 2020 hacking campaign as "unprecedented", it provides no indication of who might be behind it. "Assessing the attackers` level of preparedness and qualification ... we are inclined to refer to this group as cyber mercenaries, pursuing the interests of a foreign state," the report said, citing the hackers` "thorough preparation" and their intimate knowledge of Russian antivirus firm Kaspersky Lab`s software. Kaspersky told Reuters it was aware of the report, but had no information to suggest that the hackers had exploited any vulnerabilities in its products. Government-backed reports about foreign hackers often serve as we-see-you messages to foreign intelligence services, but Stefan Soesanto, a researcher at the Center for Security Studies at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, said he was struck by how little attention the report seems to have garnered in the Russian press. The Solar-FSB report was published on May 13 with little fanfare and only began attracting notice in information security circles after it was picked up by cybersecurity company Recorded Future`s publication, The Record, more than a week later. "If this report was a signalling effort by the Russian government to a Western intelligence service – as many have claimed - then it was a very subtle signal," Soesanto told Reuters on Wednesday. He said the report appeared to be aimed at a Russian audience, perhaps with the aim of burnishing Solar`s business credentials. The announcement came as the Kremlin is increasingly coming under scrutiny in the United States and elsewhere – not just over the SolarWinds hack, which Moscow denies carrying out – but also over allegations that Russia knowingly harbours ransom-seeking cybercriminals. The report also mentioned that hackers had used the cloud storage facilities of Russia`s leading technology firms, Yandex and Mail.ru, to help exfiltrate data. Mail.ru said its cloud service was neither compromised nor used to distribute malware during the hacks. Yandex declined to comment.

Russia's FSB reports 'unprecedented' hacking campaign aimed at government agencies

China's Xiaomi Corp said on Wednesday a US court has removed the company's designation as a Communist Chinese Military Company (CCMC) and lifted all restrictions on US persons buying or holding its stock.&nbsp;

"The US District Court for the District of Columbia issued a final order vacating the US Department of Defense's designation of the company as a CCMC," the smartphone maker said in a filing to the Hong Kong bourse. It said the order was made on Tuesday.&nbsp;

"The company reiterates that it is an open, transparent, publicly traded, independently operated and managed corporation," Xiaomi chairman Lei Jun said in the statement.&nbsp;

A court filing showed earlier in May that the US&nbsp;Defence&nbsp;Department would remove Xiaomi from a government blacklist, marking a reversal by the Biden administration of one of Donald Trump's last jabs at Beijing before exiting office.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;&nbsp;

China's Xiaomi Corp said on Wednesday a US court has removed the company's designation as a Communist Chinese Military Company (CCMC) and lifted all restrictions on US persons buying or holding its stock.

China's Xiaomi Corp said on Wednesday a US court has removed the company's designation as a Communist Chinese Military Company (CCMC) and lifted all restrictions on US persons buying or holding its stock. "The US District Court for the District of Columbia issued a final order vacating the US Department of Defense's designation of the company as a CCMC," the smartphone maker said in a filing to the Hong Kong bourse. It said the order was made on Tuesday. "The company reiterates that it is an open, transparent, publicly traded, independently operated and managed corporation," Xiaomi chairman Lei Jun said in the statement. A court filing showed earlier in May that the US Defence Department would remove Xiaomi from a government blacklist, marking a reversal by the Biden administration of one of Donald Trump's last jabs at Beijing before exiting office. (With inputs from agencies)

China's Xiaomi says US has formally lifted securities ban 

Facebook and Instagram will soon allow people to hide likes on posts. The option will be first rolled out on Instagram, Facebook’s picture-based application. Larer, the feature will also be rolled out for Facebook users.

The measure is part of company’s plans to check the pressure of using services among its customers. According to a blog post by Instagram, the feature will be available to users in “the next few weeks”. Once it is up, users will be able to choose whether they want likes to be displayed on their feeds as well on their posts.

According to the test results, hiding likes&nbsp;did not necessarily show much change in people’s well-being. Currently, public opinion on the move remains divided.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri reportedly said that such moves constitute company plans to offer companies more control over their experiences on the application.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/us-lawmakers-urge-facebook-to-drop-plans-for-instagram-for-kids-385900" hreflang="en">US lawmakers urge Facebook to drop plans for Instagram for kids</a>

Based on the limited testing of the feature among people, Instagram found that some users found it beneficial, while many were not pleased with the scope of losing the metric. Mosseri believes user engagement on the application will not be affected by the move.

Instagram has been facing flak recently for its plans to create a version of the application catering to children aged 14 and below. Attorney generals from 44 US states have urged Facebook to shelve the plan altogether.

Likes are denoted by heart shapes on Instagram and with a thumbs-up on Facebook. These features display the popularity of posts made on the platforms.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/instagram-to-let-users-add-pronouns-in-profiles-in-nod-to-alternate-gender-identities-384754" hreflang="en">Instagram to let users add pronouns in profiles, in nod to alternate gender identities</a>

Facebook and Instagram will soon allow people to hide likes on posts. The option will be first rolled out on Instagram, Facebook’s picture-based application. Larer, the feature will also be rolled out for Facebook users.

Facebook and Instagram will soon allow people to hide likes on posts. The option will be first rolled out on Instagram, Facebook’s picture-based application. Larer, the feature will also be rolled out for Facebook users. The measure is part of company’s plans to check the pressure of using services among its customers. According to a blog post by Instagram, the feature will be available to users in “the next few weeks”. Once it is up, users will be able to choose whether they want likes to be displayed on their feeds as well on their posts. According to the test results, hiding likes did not necessarily show much change in people’s well-being. Currently, public opinion on the move remains divided. Instagram head Adam Mosseri reportedly said that such moves constitute company plans to offer companies more control over their experiences on the application. Also read: US lawmakers urge Facebook to drop plans for Instagram for kids Based on the limited testing of the feature among people, Instagram found that some users found it beneficial, while many were not pleased with the scope of losing the metric. Mosseri believes user engagement on the application will not be affected by the move. Instagram has been facing flak recently for its plans to create a version of the application catering to children aged 14 and below. Attorney generals from 44 US states have urged Facebook to shelve the plan altogether. Likes are denoted by heart shapes on Instagram and with a thumbs-up on Facebook. These features display the popularity of posts made on the platforms. Also read: Instagram to let users add pronouns in profiles, in nod to alternate gender identities

Optional feature to hide likes on Instagram, Facebook is coming sooner than you think

The United States topped a list of the countries most frequently targeted by deceptive foreign influence operations using Facebook between 2017 and 2020, the social media company said in a new report released on Wednesday. 
 
It also came second on a list of countries targeted by domestic influence operations in that same time period. Facebook Inc said one of the top sources of coordinated inauthentic behaviour networks targeting the United States in the year leading up to the 2020 presidential election was domestic campaigns originating in the United States itself, as well as foreign operations from Russia and Iran. 
 
The tallies were based on the number of "coordinated inauthentic behavior" networks removed by Facebook, a term it uses for a type of influence operations that relies on fake accounts to mislead users and manipulate the public debate for strategic ends. 
 
Facebook began cracking down on these influence operations after 2016, when US&nbsp;intelligence concluded that Russia used the platform as part of a cyber-influence campaign that aimed to help former President Donald Trump win the White House, a claim Moscow has denied. 
 
The company said Russia, followed by Iran, topped the list for sources of coordinated inauthentic behaviour and that this was mostly rooted in foreign interference. Top targets of foreign operations included Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Libya and Sudan. 
 
But the company also said that about half of the influence operations it has removed since 2017 around the world were conducted by domestic, not foreign, networks. 
 
"IO [influence operations] really started out as an elite sport. We had a small group of nation states in particular that were using these techniques. But more and more we`re seeing more people getting into the game," Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook`s head of security policy, told reporters on a conference call. 
 
Facebook said the domestic influence operations that targeted the United States were operated by conspiratorial or fringe political actors, PR or consulting firms and media websites. 
 
Myanmar was the country targeted by the most domestic inauthentic networks, according to Facebook`s count, though these networks were relatively small in size. 
 
Gleicher said threat actors had pivoted from large, high-volume campaigns to smaller and more targeted ones, and that the platform was also seeing a rise in commercial influence operations. 
 
"I actually think the majority of what we`re seeing here, these aren`t actors that are motivated by politics. In terms of volume, a lot of this is actors that are motivated by money," he said. "They`re scammers, they`re fraudsters, they`re PR or marketing firms that are looking to make a business around deception." 
 
Facebook investigators also said they expected it would get harder to discern what was part of a deceptive influence campaign as threat actors increasingly use "witting and unwitting people to blur the lines between authentic domestic discourse and manipulation." 
 
The report included more than 150 coordinated inauthentic networks identified and removed by Facebook since 2017.

The United States topped a list of the countries most frequently targeted by deceptive foreign influence operations using Facebook between 2017 and 2020, the social media company said in a new report released on Wednesday.

The United States topped a list of the countries most frequently targeted by deceptive foreign influence operations using Facebook between 2017 and 2020, the social media company said in a new report released on Wednesday. It also came second on a list of countries targeted by domestic influence operations in that same time period. Facebook Inc said one of the top sources of coordinated inauthentic behaviour networks targeting the United States in the year leading up to the 2020 presidential election was domestic campaigns originating in the United States itself, as well as foreign operations from Russia and Iran. The tallies were based on the number of "coordinated inauthentic behavior" networks removed by Facebook, a term it uses for a type of influence operations that relies on fake accounts to mislead users and manipulate the public debate for strategic ends. Facebook began cracking down on these influence operations after 2016, when US intelligence concluded that Russia used the platform as part of a cyber-influence campaign that aimed to help former President Donald Trump win the White House, a claim Moscow has denied. The company said Russia, followed by Iran, topped the list for sources of coordinated inauthentic behaviour and that this was mostly rooted in foreign interference. Top targets of foreign operations included Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Libya and Sudan. But the company also said that about half of the influence operations it has removed since 2017 around the world were conducted by domestic, not foreign, networks. "IO [influence operations] really started out as an elite sport. We had a small group of nation states in particular that were using these techniques. But more and more we`re seeing more people getting into the game," Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook`s head of security policy, told reporters on a conference call. Facebook said the domestic influence operations that targeted the United States were operated by conspiratorial or fringe political actors, PR or consulting firms and media websites. Myanmar was the country targeted by the most domestic inauthentic networks, according to Facebook`s count, though these networks were relatively small in size. Gleicher said threat actors had pivoted from large, high-volume campaigns to smaller and more targeted ones, and that the platform was also seeing a rise in commercial influence operations. "I actually think the majority of what we`re seeing here, these aren`t actors that are motivated by politics. In terms of volume, a lot of this is actors that are motivated by money," he said. "They`re scammers, they`re fraudsters, they`re PR or marketing firms that are looking to make a business around deception." Facebook investigators also said they expected it would get harder to discern what was part of a deceptive influence campaign as threat actors increasingly use "witting and unwitting people to blur the lines between authentic domestic discourse and manipulation." The report included more than 150 coordinated inauthentic networks identified and removed by Facebook since 2017.

US a top target for foreign and domestic influence operations, says new Facebook report

Google has announced that from June 1, any new high-quality photos and videos you back up will count toward the free 15GB of free storage that comes with every Google account, or the additional storage you've purchased as a Google One member. 
 
The company said that your existing high-quality photos and videos are exempt from this change. 
 
"Any photos or videos backed up in high quality before June 1, 2021, will not count toward your Google Account storage. These photos and videos will remain free and exempt from the storage limit," Andy Abramson, Director, Product Management, Google Photos, said in a statement late on Monday. 
 
The company estimates that more than 80 per cent of the users should still be able to store roughly three more years of memories in high quality with your free 15GB of storage. 
 
As your storage nears 15GB, Google will notify you in the app and follow up by email. 
 
"If you don`t see an estimate, you may not have uploaded many photos and videos to Google Photos, you may be close to your storage limit (making it difficult to predict how many months your remaining storage will last) or your account is provided through work, school, family or another group," Google informed. 
 
Google said that it is also rolling out a storage management tool in the Photos app to help you easily manage photos and videos you`ve backed up that count toward your storage quota. 
 
"The storage management tool surfaces photos or videos you might want to delete? like blurry photos, screenshots and large videos? so you can get the most out of your storage. You can also purchase more storage through Google One where available," the company said. 
 
Google said it is also renaming its high-quality storage tier to Storage saver.

Google has announced that from June 1, any new high-quality photos and videos you back up will count toward the free 15GB of free storage that comes with every Google account, or the additional storage you've purchased as a Google One member.

Google has announced that from June 1, any new high-quality photos and videos you back up will count toward the free 15GB of free storage that comes with every Google account, or the additional storage you've purchased as a Google One member. The company said that your existing high-quality photos and videos are exempt from this change. "Any photos or videos backed up in high quality before June 1, 2021, will not count toward your Google Account storage. These photos and videos will remain free and exempt from the storage limit," Andy Abramson, Director, Product Management, Google Photos, said in a statement late on Monday. The company estimates that more than 80 per cent of the users should still be able to store roughly three more years of memories in high quality with your free 15GB of storage. As your storage nears 15GB, Google will notify you in the app and follow up by email. "If you don`t see an estimate, you may not have uploaded many photos and videos to Google Photos, you may be close to your storage limit (making it difficult to predict how many months your remaining storage will last) or your account is provided through work, school, family or another group," Google informed. Google said that it is also rolling out a storage management tool in the Photos app to help you easily manage photos and videos you`ve backed up that count toward your storage quota. "The storage management tool surfaces photos or videos you might want to delete? like blurry photos, screenshots and large videos? so you can get the most out of your storage. You can also purchase more storage through Google One where available," the company said. Google said it is also renaming its high-quality storage tier to Storage saver.

Google to count high-quality photos, videos in free 15GB quota

A Russian court on Tuesday said it had handed US&nbsp;technology giant&nbsp;Google&nbsp;three separate fines totalling 6 million roubles ($81,810) over a failure to delete content that Moscow deems illegal.

The fines come amid a wider spat between Moscow and&nbsp;Google. Russia's communications watchdog on Monday warned that Moscow could eventually slow down the company's traffic in the country if it failed to delete prohibited content.

Russia has already placed a punitive slowdown on US&nbsp;social network Twitter for not deleting banned content, part of a push by Moscow to rein in Western tech giants and beef up what it calls its internet "sovereignty".

Google&nbsp;was found guilty of administrative offences, Moscow's Tagansky District court said in a statement, and was ordered to pay 2 million roubles for each offence.

Google&nbsp;Russia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The charges concern posts that Russia says encouraged minors to join unsanctioned protests in January, when people across Russia took to the streets to support Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny after he was detained.

Later on Tuesday, the court will also consider eight reports concerning Facebook, which could lead to a total fine of up to 32 million roubles, the Interfax news agency said.

In April, a court issued three separate fines against Twitter totalling 8.9 million roubles, over accusations it had failed to delete banned content. TikTok has also been fined for similar offences this year.

A Russian court on Tuesday said it had handed US technology giant Google three separate fines totalling 6 million roubles ($81,810) over a failure to delete content that Moscow deems illegal.

A Russian court on Tuesday said it had handed US technology giant Google three separate fines totalling 6 million roubles ($81,810) over a failure to delete content that Moscow deems illegal. The fines come amid a wider spat between Moscow and Google. Russia's communications watchdog on Monday warned that Moscow could eventually slow down the company's traffic in the country if it failed to delete prohibited content. Russia has already placed a punitive slowdown on US social network Twitter for not deleting banned content, part of a push by Moscow to rein in Western tech giants and beef up what it calls its internet "sovereignty". Google was found guilty of administrative offences, Moscow's Tagansky District court said in a statement, and was ordered to pay 2 million roubles for each offence. Google Russia did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The charges concern posts that Russia says encouraged minors to join unsanctioned protests in January, when people across Russia took to the streets to support Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny after he was detained. Later on Tuesday, the court will also consider eight reports concerning Facebook, which could lead to a total fine of up to 32 million roubles, the Interfax news agency said. In April, a court issued three separate fines against Twitter totalling 8.9 million roubles, over accusations it had failed to delete banned content. TikTok has also been fined for similar offences this year.

Russian court fines Google $81,810 for failing to delete banned content

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