GOOGLE BILLING POLICY
Bill Gates, alarmed by AI, has policy ideas he wants to discuss with China's Xi Jinping
The Microsoft cofounder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates told Reuters in an interview that he believes China might agree to restricting potentially dangerous AI model releases if the US took initiative on that first.
Texas woman shocked as Amazon drone drops her package straight into swimming pool in wild delivery fail, she says 'I don’t think I’ll be wanting more deliveries'
A Texas woman was left stunned when an Amazon Prime Air drone dropped her package directly into her swimming pool. The bizarre delivery was caught on video and went viral just as Amazon announced plans to expand its ultrafast drone delivery service to 500 US cities by the end of the year.
Microsoft retreats in China, but AI boom helps it keep a window open
The year was 2010 and Google was about to exit due to concerns over censorship and cyberattacks. That decision was lauded by democracy activists, but not Bill Gates and Microsoft's then-CEO Steve Ballmer, who suggested Google was overreacting. In the past five years, however, at least 15 Microsoft branch offices and joint ventures in China have been shut, corporate filings show, and Microsoft is pursuing what five company sources described as a strategy of retreat.
Yulu, Bounce chase fresh funds; MPs target social media
Happy Tuesday! Yulu and Bounce Infinity are back in the funding market as rising delivery demand gives them a fresh boost. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
MPs across party lines push bills to limit social media access for minors
Although private members’ Bills have rarely been cleared by both Houses in the past, their introduction reflects the growing urgency among lawmakers in India to create safeguards to protect children from online exploitation. They also align with the increasing global movement to regulate social media access.
Meta launches new AI model as Zuckerberg champions open-weight push
The new model, Muse Glimmer, is much smaller than leading AI models from rivals and is instead designed for agentic tasks and can run on a Mac or PC with a single graphics card, aiming to tap demand for AI systems that run directly on people's devices.
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'Dubious claims': Congress' Jairam Ramesh hits back at Nirmala Sitharaman on taxation bill
Jairam Ramesh countered Nirmala Sitharaman's claims regarding a new taxation bill. He stated government assurances do not replace statutory safeguards for UPI. Ramesh argued that MDR charges would inevitably affect consumers and small businesses. He questioned why RBI's capacity to support UPI without charges is ignored. The bill removes zero-MDR guarantees, raising concerns about foreign platform dominance.
Mark Zuckerberg's Meta has no business taking down PM's post: MeitY Secretary S Krishnan
India's government has criticized Meta for removing Prime Minister Modi's authorized content. A top official stated Meta's explanation for the removal was inadequate. Meta removed a video message from Prime Minister Modi regarding student exam irregularities. The government summoned Meta's global head of public policy for discussions. Parliamentary committees will also meet to discuss social and digital platform regulations.
Apple says UK App Store proposal amounts to price regulation
In a submission to Britain's Competition and Markets Authority, the iPhone maker said proposed "steering" requirements would go beyond promoting competition and give the regulator a "highly intrusive" role in managing its business.
Parliamentary panel calls Google, Meta, X, Snapchat for discussion on digital platforms regulation
A parliamentary committee will examine social media platform regulation on August 3. Senior officials and tech company representatives will brief the panel on digital content rules. Meta restored a prime minister's video after its mistaken removal, which caused a summons. The government has requested removals of posts targeting the prime minister. These actions occur under IT Act sections concerning content blocking and intermediary liability.
US Senate panel advances bill tightening ban on Chinese automakers
A US Senate committee approved legislation to ban Chinese automakers from the American market. This bill could affect German automaker Mercedes-Benz due to its Chinese investment. The proposed rules aim to protect American manufacturing and industrial bases from foreign competition. Some automakers are shifting production to the United States to comply with new regulations. These measures also address national security concerns related to vehicle data collection.
Bill Gates heir’s shopping app claimed sales it didn’t drive
Phia, co-founded by Phoebe Gates, faces accusations of violating affiliate marketing policies. The browser extension allegedly claimed sales it did not drive by injecting its own referral codes. Independent researchers and competitors like Capital One Shopping highlighted these concerning practices. Phia acknowledged the issue, stating it has been fixed and resolved. The company has previously faced allegations regarding user data logging practices.
India's richer middle class is living a more dollar-linked life while earning in rupees
Dollar spending India: The country's expanding middle class now spends more on foreign goods and services. International travel and overseas education are becoming regular annual expenses for many families. Digital subscriptions, AI tools, and imported electronics also contribute to this growing dollar demand. While oil imports remain the largest driver, household spending is a significant factor. This trend reflects India's deeper integration with the global economy.
How global scammers use US tech to fleece people
Indian scammer Safeer Koorimannil reveals how AI from American tech giants fuels global fraud rings in Myanmar. Trafficked to a scam center, he used sophisticated software to target thousands daily. The investigation highlights how U.S. technology, from AI models to internet infrastructure, enables these operations, raising questions about company accountability and regulatory oversight.
Australia to give regulator more power to pursue Big Tech over under-16 ban
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there were still too many children on social media and tech firms were not doing enough to comply with the law.
Why Meta’s Cred investment matters for WhatsApp Pay in India
Meta's substantial investment in Cred and appointing its founder Kunal Shah as global head of WhatsApp signals a major push into India's fintech landscape. For Meta, with Shah at the helm, there is a chance that WhatsApp's position in India, its largest market, will go beyond messaging into payments, commerce, and business services.
Startups appeal against Google's billing policy in SC
Several startups, including Arha Media and Broadcasting and Mebigo Labs, are challenging Google's billing policy for apps on its platform before the Supreme Court. They allege Google abused its dominant market position by imposing excessively high fees.
CCI orders probe in to Google’s Play Store billing policies
In a 21-page order, antitrust regulator Competition Commission of India said that prima facie, Google has violated provisions of the Competition Act, which warrants a detailed probe into the matter.
ETtech Explainer: Why are Indian startups up in arms against Google Billing?
On Friday, Apps like Shaadi.com and BharatMatrimony.com were delisted by Google since they did not adhere to the tech giant’s billing policies. However, ahead of a meeting with the IT ministry, these apps were restored on Google Play Store, but without their in-app payment options.
ETtech Explainer: Why did Google delist popular Indian apps like Naukri, Shaadi, others?
Indian internet founders are calling for government intervention in reaction to Google's move to delist several of these apps without warning.
Indian startups urge Google to not delist any app developers from Play Store till March 19
In the letter which has been reviewed by ET, the companies said any precipitative step taken by Google would be "extremely detrimental" to all the participants of the ecosystem comprising of start-ups and app developers.
Supreme Court declines to restrain Google from delisting apps over billing policy; agrees to hear appeals
The Supreme Court declined to restrain Google from removing apps from its Play Store if they don't comply with its billing policy. However, it agreed to hear appeals challenging Google's billing policy. The petitioners argued that Google's policy violates laws and could lead to their apps being delisted, forcing them out of business.
Madras HC dismisses appeals of Indian startups against Google's billing policy
The Madras High Court had in August 2023 dismissed petitions by the companies which included the likes of Bharat Matrimony, Shaadi.com, Unacademy as well as seeveral others against Google’s in-app billing policy.
Streaming and ePublishing companies join fight against Google’s billing policy
Several companies including Matrimony.com, Shaadi.com, Unacademy, Kuku FM and TrulyMadly had earlier approached the high court, challenging Google’s notice asking them to either adopt the company’s mandated billing route or risk being removed from its Play Store.
More startups move Madras HC for Google Billing Policy relief
Unacademy, Kuku FM, TrulyMadly and QuackQuack join the likes of Matrimony.com and Shaadi.com which have already approached the high court challenging Google’s billing policies and seeking relief.
Startups collective eye legal action to challenge Google
Representatives from matrimony, dating, fintech, edtech and gaming sectors discussed the implications of the billing system, where Google said it would reduce the fee only by 4% if a user pays through an alternative billing system.
South Korean users file police complaint against Google CEO Sundar Pichai
A coalition of consumers on Friday filed a police case against Google's top executives, including CEO Sundar Pichai, for the tech giant's in-app billing system that forces domestic app developers to pay hefty commissions.
CCI to complete probe into Google Play Store policy within 60 days
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has informed the Karnataka High Court that it would complete within the next 60 days an ongoing investigation into Google’s upcoming Play Store and in-app payments policy.
Google extends timeline for Indian developers till March 2022 to integrate with Play billing
The development comes days after many Indian developers and startups had raised concerns around Google's Play billing system, saying the tech giant cannot force Indian app developers/owners to sell digital services by compulsorily using its billing system.
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