WhatsApp is officially getting ads. There are going to be ads in the the status sort of story screens that I sincerely believe no one ever looks at. There are going to be promoted channels in the channels interface.So, notably, the place that ads are not is in your chats. But this feels to me like maybe not the beginning of the end of WhatsApp, but the beginning of a very different WhatsApp. The founders famously never wanted ads in the app.Like they had just watched Fight Club. They were like kind of like ...

recently the NYT asked a court to force us to not delete any user chats. we think this was an inappropriate request that sets a bad precedent.we are appealing the decision.we will fight any demand that compromises our users' privacy; this is a core principle. ...

Core Viewpoint - Apple has successfully prevented the UK government from keeping the details of its legal challenge regarding privacy features on iPhones confidential, highlighting a significant conflict between the tech giant and the UK government over user data privacy [1][2][3] Group 1: Legal Context - The Investigatory Powers Tribunal ruled against the UK government's request to keep the case details private, emphasizing the principle of "open justice" [2][3] - The UK government had issued Apple a "technical capability notice" in January, citing the Investigatory Powers Act of 2016 to justify access to encrypted user data [2] Group 2: Implications for Apple - Following the government's request, Apple announced in February that it could no longer provide its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) security system to UK customers [4] - The ruling intensifies the ongoing standoff between Apple, the world's most valuable company, and the UK government [3] Group 3: Public and Advocacy Response - Rebecca Vincent, interim director of Big Brother Watch, praised the tribunal's decision, framing the Home Office's order as a significant threat to the privacy rights of British Apple users [5]

💡 KYC vs. decentralization: where should #crypto draw the line between compliance and privacy? 🤔 ...

Core Points - France's antitrust authority fined Apple €150 million ($162 million) for abusing competition law related to its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature [3][5] - The French Competition Authority criticized the implementation of ATT, stating it was not necessary or proportionate to its goal of protecting personal data [4][6] - The fine covers the period from April 2021 to July 2023, which is relatively small compared to Apple's revenue of $124 billion in the last quarter of the previous year [5] Implementation Issues - The rollout of ATT led to an overwhelming number of consent pop-ups from third-party apps, complicating the user experience on iOS [6] - The authority noted that the system disproportionately affected smaller app publishers who rely on third-party data for financing [6] Company Response - Apple defended ATT, stating it enhances user privacy control with a clear and consistent prompt for tracking consent [7] - The company expressed disappointment with the decision but noted that the French Competition Authority did not mandate any specific changes to ATT [8]

Group 1: Legislation Overview - Utah has enacted a law requiring Apple and Google to verify user ages and obtain parental permission for users under 18 to access certain apps, marking a significant shift in online age verification responsibilities [1][2] - The App Store Accountability Act, or S.B. 142, is the first of its kind in the U.S. and may inspire similar legislation in other states like South Carolina and California [2][4] Group 2: Implementation Details - The law mandates that Apple and Google request age verification checks when new accounts are created, likely using credit cards, and link accounts of users under 18 to a parent's account [3][4] - Parents will need to consent to in-app purchases, enhancing parental control over app usage [3] Group 3: Industry Reactions - Meta supports the bill, arguing that app stores are better suited for age verification than individual apps, while Apple contends that apps should handle their own age verification due to privacy concerns [5][6] - Google has expressed concerns that the law raises privacy and safety risks for minors and suggests that it shifts responsibility from companies to app stores without addressing the underlying issues [7][8] Group 4: Context and Background - The law follows a history of scrutiny over social media companies regarding child safety, particularly after a congressional hearing where CEOs faced criticism for failing to protect children online [9][10] - Meta has faced multiple lawsuits related to child well-being on its platforms, indicating ongoing legal challenges in this area [10]

Core Viewpoint - Elon Musk appears to support Apple in its stance against a UK government order for access to iPhone cloud data, praising the company's potential legal action [1][6]. Group 1: Government Order and Response - Allegations have surfaced regarding a "secret" order from the UK government demanding access to iPhone cloud content, which Apple has not confirmed [2][6]. - Letters from U.S. congressmen to the Director of National Intelligence have condemned the alleged order, suggesting it includes a gag order preventing Apple from acknowledging it [2]. Group 2: Apple's Privacy Practices - Apple has stated it will remove its highest level of security, Advanced Data Protection, from UK iPhones, following the allegations [2]. - The company has consistently emphasized its commitment to user privacy, asserting it has never created a backdoor or master key for its products [4][5]. Group 3: Musk's Position - Musk has previously criticized Apple's privacy practices, particularly after its partnership with OpenAI, but has now expressed support for Apple's legal stance against the UK [3][6]. - He described the idea of handing data over to a digital superintelligence as "insane," highlighting the importance of privacy in Apple's products [4].

Core Insights - Oppo is launching a private cloud computing system to enhance user privacy, similar to Apple's approach [1][4] - The new system, called Private Computing Cloud, will utilize Google's Confidential Computing software to protect user data from third-party access [2][3] - This initiative aims to prevent sensitive user data from being used to train Oppo's AI software, addressing privacy concerns in the AI-enabled smartphone market [5] Company Developments - Oppo is currently the sixth-largest smartphone maker in China, with a 14% market share as of the three months ending 2024 [5] - The integration of the Private Computing Cloud will include features such as call summarization, search, and image generation [4] - The move is seen as a strategic effort to establish a presence in the AI-enabled smartphone sector amidst rising privacy concerns [5] Industry Context - The privacy initiative by Oppo mirrors Apple's previous efforts to safeguard user data through its own cloud intelligence system [4] - The collaboration with Google highlights a trend among smartphone manufacturers to prioritize user privacy in the development of AI technologies [2][6] - Competitors like Honor are also forming partnerships with Google, indicating a broader industry shift towards privacy-preserving solutions [6]