The European Commission on Monday formally designated WhatsApp as a very large online platform under the European Union’s Digital Services Act, a move that places tougher obligations on the messaging service to tackle illegal and harmful content. The decision means WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta Platforms, will face stricter oversight and enhanced compliance requirements under the bloc’s landmark digital regulation. The designation reflects the platform’s growing reach within the EU and the increasing role of messaging services in content distribution. User numbers trigger designation The European Commission said earlier this month that it was considering whether WhatsApp should fall…
Author: Aishwarya Parikh
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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday agreed to dismiss its enforcement case against a cryptocurrency exchange founded by billionaire twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss. The decision followed the full recovery of investor assets tied to the company’s crypto lending programme. The regulator and the exchange, now known as Gemini Space Station, filed a joint stipulation in federal court in Manhattan seeking dismissal of the lawsuit. The filing cited the complete return of crypto assets to Gemini Earn investors through the bankruptcy process of Genesis Global Capital between May and June 2024. The SEC had already decided last year…
Elon Musk’s Starlink Sparks Feud with Ryanair over In-Flight WiFi Costs A public spat between Elon Musk and Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has reignited debate across the aviation industry about the real value of in-flight WiFi. The disagreement centres on whether high-speed satellite internet, such as Musk’s Starlink service, is an essential feature for airlines or an unnecessary expense. A Clash of Business Models Musk branded O’Leary an “utter idiot” on X after the Irish executive dismissed Starlink’s installation on Ryanair’s 600-plus aircraft as too costly and unnecessary. O’Leary, known for his frugal management style, argued that passengers on…
Microsoft Restores Access to 365 Services After Major Outage Microsoft announced on Friday that it has restored access to its suite of productivity tools following a widespread outage that disrupted several key Microsoft 365 services. The company confirmed that systems were now “in a healthy state,” and user access had been fully restored. Outage Impact and Recovery According to data from the outage tracking platform Downdetector.com, reports of service disruptions fell sharply to around 113 early on Friday morning, down from more than 15,800 at the peak a day earlier. The issue had affected a range of services including Outlook,…
Lemonade Offers 50% Insurance Discount for Tesla Drivers Using Full Self-Driving U.S. insurer Lemonade announced on Wednesday that it will offer a 50% rate reduction for Tesla drivers when the automaker’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software is in operation. The decision follows data showing that the use of Tesla’s driver assistance system significantly reduces the risk of accidents. Endorsement of Tesla’s Safety Claims The move represents a notable endorsement of Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s long-standing assertion that the company’s autonomous driving technology is safer than human drivers. This comes despite ongoing concerns raised by regulators and safety experts about the system’s…
Britain Mulls Tougher Social Media Rules for Children, Says Starmer Britain may soon tighten rules on children’s use of social media, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer warning that no option is “off the table.” He said the Labour government is ready to take firm action to protect young users from the harms of excessive online engagement. The announcement follows the government’s pledge to review whether features like infinite scrolling should be limited and whether age restrictions on access to social media platforms should be raised. Officials said they would study global evidence to assess whether a social media ban for…
As India advances toward its Viksit Bharat 2047 goals, 2026 is emerging as a pivotal year for the country’s artificial intelligence strategy. With the AI Impact Summit 2026 set to be hosted in less than a month, policymakers and technologists are mapping a transition from the broad promise of “AI for All” to a more focused push toward “AI for Science.” That shift was on display last week in New Delhi, where the policy paper India AI Gambit: Navigating the Global Race was released by the Strategic Foresight Group, in collaboration with NatStrat and Founding Fuel. The paper argues that India’s AI agenda in 2026 should concentrate on…
Viettel Begins Construction of Vietnam’s First Semiconductor Fabrication Plant Vietnam’s military-owned telecom giant Viettel has broken ground on the country’s first semiconductor fabrication plant, marking a significant step in its ambition to build a self-sufficient chip manufacturing ecosystem. Trial production at the facility is expected to begin by late 2027, according to a company statement issued on Friday. Building Vietnam’s Chipmaking Capability The 27-hectare plant is being built in the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park, on the outskirts of Hanoi. Viettel said the site will complete construction and technology transfer by the end of next year, followed by a trial operation…
Trump Faces Backlash over Decision Allowing Nvidia to Sell Advanced AI Chips to China U.S. lawmakers and former officials voiced strong opposition on Wednesday to President Donald Trump’s decision permitting Nvidia to sell its advanced H200 artificial intelligence chips to China. Critics argue that the move undermines America’s technological advantage and risks bolstering Beijing’s military capabilities. The Trump administration formally authorised the exports on Tuesday, allowing shipments of the H200 — Nvidia’s second most powerful AI processor — under a new rule designed to regulate such sales. The decision has alarmed national security experts who say it runs counter to…
Trump Imposes 25% Tariff on Advanced AI Chips to Boost U.S. Semiconductor Production U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on specific high-performance AI chips, including Nvidia’s H200 processor and AMD’s MI325X semiconductor. The move, announced on Wednesday under a new national security order, forms part of a wider strategy to strengthen domestic semiconductor production and reduce dependence on overseas suppliers, particularly in Taiwan. The decision follows a nine-month investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. It targets a defined group of advanced semiconductors that meet strict performance standards, as well as devices containing…