Hong Kong government moves against two prominent Western tech platforms and bans them on government devices
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Meta Axes Staff At WhatsApp, Instagram, Reality Labs – Report
Meta has reportedly begun laying off staff across various departments, but as of yet there is no word on actual numbers being let go
Meta AI Chatbot Launches In UK On Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp
Meta's AI chatbot now available for users in UK, Brazil, but not EU due to “unpredictable” regulatory environment
Meta Bans Russian State Media Networks
Russian state media networks including RT, Rossiya Segodnya etc banned by Meta Platforms for “foreign interference activity”
Meta Says Iranian Hackers Targeted Biden, Trump WhatsApp Accounts
Iranian hacking group APT42 was behind possible hacking attempt of senior US administration officials of Joe Biden, Donald Trump
Nigeria Fines Meta $220m Over Privacy Infringements
Nigerian competition and consumer agency fines Meta $220m over violations of privacy law, after probe spurred by WhatsApp user agreement
Apple Pulls WhatsApp, Threads From China App Store
Beijing orders Apple to pull Meta's WhatsApp and Threads from its Chinese App Store over national security concerns
Telegram To Reach One Billion Users Within Year
Catching WhatsApp? Billionaire founder of Telegram claims encrypted platform will reach one billion users within a year
Meta Adds Messaging Interoperability For Whatsapp, Messenger
Meta turns on interoperability for Messenger and WhatsApp, to comply with EU digital markets act (DMA), but only if Signal protocol is used
NSO Ordered To Hand Over Spyware Code To WhatsApp
US Judge orders spyware firm NSO Group to hand over Pegasus code to Meta's WhatsApp as part of the ongoing lawsuit
Russian Court Orders Arrest Of Meta Spokesman
Empty threat? Court in Moscow orders arrest in absentia of Meta spokesman Andy Stone, over terrorism-related charges
Meta To Deploy Broadcast Channels For Facebook, Messenger
Because social media really needs more ways to spread information. Broadcast channels are coming soon to Facebook and Messenger
Russia To Try Block VPN Access In 2024, Lawmaker Claims
Access to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in Russia will be blocked from March 2024, Russian lawmaker claims
SEC Probe ‘Collects Thousands Of Wall Street App Messages’
SEC reportedly reviewing thousands of private messages from apps such as WhatsApp and Signal in Wall Street record-keeping probe
UK Urges Meta Not To Add End-To-End Encryption
Government minister urges Meta not deploy end-to-end encryption on Instagram and Facebook Messenger, after passing of Online Safety Bill
WhatsApp Boss Denies Chat App Is Exploring Ads
Head of WhatsApp at Meta Platforms firmly denies media report the service is exploring adverts to bolster revenues
Government Abandons Plan To Scan Encrypted Messages
Online Safety Bill climbdown? After tech platforms threaten to quit UK, government abandons plan to scan encrypted messages
WhatsApp Adds Support For HD Photos
Upgrade to messaging giant WhatsApp will allow users to send high definition (HD) photos, and soon even HD videos
Apple Objects To Spy Clause In UK Online Safety Bill
Apple adds to criticism of spy powers in Online Safety Bill that could force messaging firms to scan encrypted messages
Meta Looks To Private Broadcasting With WhatsApp Channels
New Channels feature for WhatsApp offers creators and organisations the ability to 'broadcast' content to wide audience of followers
WhatsApp Lets Users Edit Sent Messages – For 15 Minutes
Meta encrypted messaging platform WhatsApp introduces editing of sent messages, but only for 15 minutes after original post
WhatsApp Adds ‘Chat Lock’ To Secure ‘Intimate’ Messages
Extra layer of security has been added for WhatsApp messages, with ability to lock and hide sensitive conversations
Silicon UK Pulse: Your Tech News Update: Episode 2
Welcome to Silicon UK Pulse – your roundup of the latest tech news and developments impacting your business for the week ending 12/05/2023.
Twitter To Launch Encrypted Direct Messaging
Elon Musk reveals Twitter is to launch encrypted direct messages on Wednesday, and voice and video chat are to follow
Truecaller To Offer WhatsApp Caller ID As Scams Surge
Caller ID app Truecaller to offer service on WhatsApp, other messaging services as telemarketers, scammers switch to internet calls
Appeals Court Dismisses Lawsuit To Break Up Meta
US Federal Appeals court dismisses antitrust attempt by US states to breakup Facebook parent Meta Platforms
Meta Pleases Investors After Sales Rise, As Profits Dive
Plunge in profits at Facebook parent, but Meta pleases Wall Street after sales rose for first time after three quarters of decline
WhatsApp, Other Messaging Firms Urge Online Safety Bill ‘Rethink’
WhatsApp, six other encrypted messaging firms call for 'urgent rethink' of Online Safety Bill that they say woud weaken user security
WhatsApp Will Not Comply With UK Online Safety Bill
WhatApp becomes second major platform to indicate it will not comply with the UK's revised Online Safety Bill
Meta Prepping Fresh Round Of Layoffs – Report
Facebook parent Meta is reportedly planning a fresh round of job cuts, after axing more than 11,000 staff last year