Apps

China slams tech companies for violating user’s privacy

Xiaomi and Tencent found guilty

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China forces tech companies to give up user data as part of its surveillance program. In an ironic twist, the Chinese government slammed tech companies that supposedly violated users’ privacy.

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information recently found problematic issues in Tencent’s messaging service QQ and Xiaomi’s finance app stemming from privacy violations.

The ministry found that QQ forced its users to let it track device usage for showing targeted ads. If a user denies this permission, the app closes. The service’s owner is Tencent, which also owns the massive hit League of Legends.

As for Xiaomi, its financial app makes it hard to delete a user’s account. Apparently, the ministry wanted apps to have an easy way to control and delete a user’s account.

These two are just the tip of the iceberg, with 41 apps and services having privacy issues. This year alone, the ministry reprimanded more than 8,000 apps as part of “protecting” users’ digital privacy rights.

A warning of “punishment” will be given if Tencent fails to address this by December 31. It is unknown if Xiaomi also received a warning from the Chinese ministry.

Face scans remain controversial

The recent reprimand is an ironic twist in China, where mass surveillance is legal.

This December, Chinese lawmakers passed a bill requiring face scans of customers signing up for new mobile plans. The guidelines require telecom companies to deploy “artificial intelligence and other technical methods” to check people’s identities.

China also ranks the lowest on the annual Freedom of the Net report. The report zeroed in on the continuous censorship of the Chinese government. Combined with mass surveillance through facial recognition, the country just showed that it effectively controls its user’s digital lives and privacy.

SOURCE: Rappler/AFP

Apps

Meta adds subscriptions for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp

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Is your wallet buckling from the weight of so many subscription services? Well, Meta has a trio of new subscriptions for you to sink your hard-earned cash towards. If you have a few dollars, here’s Facebook Plus, Instagram Plus, and WhatsApp Plus.

All three subscriptions are designed to add new features which can enhance the experience for those who practically live on these apps. Among the three, Instagram Plus is the meatiest. It offers users the ability to view other people’s Stories without showing up as a viewer, create more tailored audiences outside of Close Friends, and extend the duration of a Story beyond 24 hours, among others.

Since it shares similarities with Instagram, Facebook Plus offers much of the same features. WhatsApp Plus, however, offers more customization options including new themes, ringtones, and stickers.

If that’s not enough, Meta has also released a new subscription system for Meta AI. Though the basic use of the AI is still free, the new Meta One Plus and Meta One Premium plans offer more capacity and performance for power users. The company is also testing new creator-focused plans, Meta One Essential and Meta One Advanced.

Of course, the new AI-based plans are more focused on those who actually use the AI software. Meanwhile, the three app plans are more for regular users. Facebook Plus and Instagram Plus will cost US$ 3.99 per month. Meanwhile, WhatsApp Plus will cost US$ 2.99 per month.

SEE ALSO: Instagram takes on Snapchat yet again with new Instants feature

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Apps

Meta quietly launches Forum app for Facebook Groups

The app highlights discussions from Facebook Groups.

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Since the rise of other platforms, Facebook Groups haven’t enjoyed as much popularity anymore. Despite this (or maybe even to help with this), Meta has unleashed an all-new app called Forum.

Designed specifically with Facebook Groups in mind, Forum collates discussions from Groups that the user might be interested in. Much like the websites of the same name from the 2000s, the app wants to feature conversations, rather than canned content that the algorithm shoves towards users on the main Facebook feed.

Users can also ask questions. Forum will sift through real discussions to find an answer. The closest analog today is searching Reddit for troubleshooting questions to get answers based on human experience. The main feed of the new app, however, feels more in tune with Quora’s concept.

That said, it’s a refreshing way to bring social media back to human-made feeds. It’s also a stark admission that the main Facebook feed (and, frankly, Instagram too) is just too inundated with content that users are not interested in.

Lately, Instagram also made the same admission by launching its own “lightweight” app called Instants. Like Forum, Instants was made to recapture the essence of Instagram before the rise of the almighty algorithm.

Forum, however, was launched with much less fanfare than Instants. There was no announcement. Rather, it’s just a casual drop from out of nowhere. The app is available now on the App Store and the Play Store.

SEE ALSO: Instagram takes on Snapchat yet again with new Instants feature

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Apps

Apple Sports: Free app expands globally ahead of World Cup

Personalized, intuitive experience to get fans ready for the World Cup

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Apple has expanded the availability of its free Apple Sports iPhone app to more than 90 new countries and regions.

This brings the app’s total global footprint to over 170 markets. The massive expansion comes just weeks before the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup this June.

It only means the standalone app is positioned as the primary real-time tracking fan for millions of football fans worldwide.

The rollout shifts Apple’s strategy toward global sports integration by providing the utility completely free of charge on the App Store.

A massive influx of international users are expected to use the app, as it provides a more direct experience — eliminating the need for third-party score tracking platforms.

As part of the personalized, real-time FIFA World Cup coverage, the app is introducing dedicated tournament features.

This includes allowing users to explore group stage standings, follow specific national teams, and view the current bracket through tournament bracket view.

In addition, visual formations for each team’s starting lineup will be provided ahead of every match.

Apple Sports is also tailored for those who have an entire ecosystem of Apple devices. The app can deliver real-time updates directly to a user’s iPhone Lock Screen and Apple Watch.

Fans can further add widgets to their iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Home Screens, and jump easily into the Apple TV app with a single tap to find live matches.

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