Russian MPs said that WhatsApp is likely to be blocked for refusing to cooperate with security forces. The messenger was included in the OPI register, which allows the FSB to demand encryption keys.
YouTube traffic in Russia has dropped to 20% of normal levels due to deliberate restrictions by the authorities. Google shows a drop from 40 to 8.5 points.
SoundCloud has introduced a new Artist plan worth $39 per year for musicians. The plan includes monetization, distribution, and AI mastering options with certain limitations.
The Iranian president vetoed a new law on the compulsory wearing of the hijab, referring the issue to the Supreme National Security Council. The law provided for harsh penalties for violations, including fines and confiscation of property.
Adam Mosseri urged users not to trust images due to the proliferation of AI content. Meta plans to improve the labeling of AI-generated content and provide more context about the sources.
Parasta Ahmadi was arrested after a video of her concert was published, where she performed without a hijab. The artist was detained in the city of Sari, and two musicians from her band were also arrested in Tehran.
Google has announced the end of cooperation with developers from russia on the Google Play platform as of December 26. russian developers will lose the opportunity to receive revenue from the sale of applications and subscriptions.
Kyiv University of culture has published a three-volume publication "Mikhail Poplavsky: life in photographs". The photo album reflects the rector's life path from childhood to the present through unique photos.
The president of Ukraine agreed to an interview with Lex Friedman, whose conversations on YouTube have more than 800 million views. The meeting will take place in Ukraine with a podcaster who interviewed Trump and Musk.
The Australian Senate has approved a law prohibiting children under 16 from using social networks. Companies face fines of up to $32.5 million for violations, and the law will come into force in 12 months.
A Gradus Research study has shown that 90% of Ukrainians use Telegram, but entertainment content is ahead of news in popularity. Ukrainians are increasingly consuming content through streaming services and social networks.
The American Psychological Association has released the first guidelines for controlling teen online video viewing. Parents are advised to view content together, know their children's preferences, and set reasonable restrictions.
Kyiv has launched an information and psychological campaign against North Korean soldiers preparing to join the war. South Korea sends military observers to Ukraine to monitor the DPRK's actions, and its observers can join these efforts.
A Russian court imposed a fine of two undecillion rubles on Google for restricting state channels on YouTube. The amount exceeds the world's GDP and is doubling every day due to non-payment.
Mykhailo Poplavsky has reached 8. 2 million followers on Instagram and 1.5 million on TikTok thanks to his unique content. His videos about Ukrainian cuisine have gained over 34 million views on YouTube.
According to the survey, 47% of Ukrainians receive news via Telegram. Social networks and messengers are recognized as the main sources of fake news.
Social media deleted the accounts of a company in Tatarstan that recruited foreign women to produce drones. The accounts had more than 158,000 followers and promised women jobs, but in reality they were forced to assemble drones for attacks on Ukraine.
Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first footballer to score in 600 different top-level games. The 39-year-old Portuguese reached the milestone in a match against Saudi Arabia, scoring his 905th career goal.
YouTube is expanding the Shorts format from 60 seconds to 3 minutes starting October 15. The platform is also adding a “Show fewer short videos” option and updating the player for a better user experience.
The CIA has launched a new campaign to recruit informants in China, Iran, and North Korea through social media. The agency seeks to contact disgruntled citizens of these countries to obtain intelligence.
Russian video hosting service Rutube has become unavailable for download from Google Play in Russia. Rutube representatives confirmed that the app can now be installed only in the US, calling it a “funny mix-up.
The pre-trial investigation against the FSB director, 19 officers and former heads of the SBU for high treason and other crimes is completed. The indictment was sent to court.
Meta is introducing new privacy and parental control settings for Instagram accounts of users under the age of 18. The changes include automatic private accounts, interaction restrictions, and time limits.
Google AdSense is completely shutting down its operations in Russia and disconnecting user accounts from Russia. Website owners and video bloggers will lose access to the service and the ability to monetize through these accounts.
YouTube is integrating Google Gemini to help creators generate ideas, titles and thumbnails for videos. The new 'Brainstorming' feature is designed to gauge the preferences of content creators and give the platform an edge over competitors.
The Romanian Ministry of Defense denied the information spread by Russian sources about the arson of a fuel depot by Ukrainian refugees. The ministry emphasized that there had been no fires at fuel depots in the country.
The Kremlin has launched hundreds of Telegram channels in 30 languages to spread propaganda after blocking Russian media in the West. The audience of these channels can reach 15.7 million users.
The edited video with Kamala Harris' voice, distributed by Elon Musk, raises concerns about the impact of AI on the US elections. Experts confirmed that most of the audio was created using AI technology.
Alphabet shares are down 5% after the publication of its Q2 financial results. Despite the decline, Goldman Sachs remains optimistic about the company's capabilities in artificial intelligence.
Law enforcement officers exposed a group that worked to disrupt mobilization and disclose data on the Ukrainian military. Among the organizers was a former TV host who recruited seven accomplices to spread pro-Kremlin narratives.