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☆ Apple pulls Meta's WhatsApp, Threads from China App Store
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Apple on Friday said it pulled several messaging apps like Meta 's WhatsApp and Threads from the App Store in China after the nation's government ordered the removal, citing security concerns. In recent days, Congress has been looking to fast-track legislation to push TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest the social media app. "We are obligated to follow the laws in the countries where we operate, even when we disagree," Apple said in a statement. "The Cyberspace Administration of China ordered the removal of these apps from the China storefront based on their national security concerns." Other messaging platforms like Signal and Telegram were also removed from China's App Store.

Persons: Tim Cook, Joe Biden, Apple Organizations: Apple, Economic Cooperation, APEC, U.S, Administration of China Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, China

☆ Apple and Microsoft clinch key win as iMessage, Bing exempted from tough EU competition rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The decision is a win for Apple, whose iMessage service has long faced complaints from Android users due to incompatibilities. The EU's competition restrictions also won't apply to Microsoft's Bing and Edge browsers, as well as the Redmond tech giant's online advertising service, Microsoft Advertising. The Tuesday pronouncement does not mean that Apple and Microsoft themselves won't still be treated as gatekeepers under the EU rules. Late last year, the EU unveiled six designated gatekeeper that would be subject to its rules: Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok owner ByteDance. Apple recently opened up its App Store for third-party developers in Europe, which could threaten the iPhone giant's lucrative fees.

Persons: Microsoft's Bing, Meta's WhatsApp, ByteDance Organizations: European Commission, Apple, Facebook, Users, Redmond, Microsoft, CNBC, EU, EU Digital Markets, Meta Locations: Europe

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne attends the questions to the government session at the National Assembly in Paris, France, November 22, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Nov 29 (Reuters) - France's prime minister asked her cabinet to stop using widespread instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram and install widely unknown Olvid, a product of Paris's start-up scene presenting itself as a more secure alternative. In a ministerial circular, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne urged ministers and their top staff to deploy the Olvid app on phones and computers, her office told Reuters on Wednesday, confirming French media reports. Messaging apps like Meta's WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal have increasingly become the go-to tool of communication in the inner circles of French politics, and government officials also use the apps when talking to journalists. President Emmanuel Macron is said to be an avid user of messaging apps himself.

Persons: Elisabeth Borne, Sarah Meyssonnier, Emmanuel Macron, Olvid, Tassilo Hummel, Josie Kao Organizations: French, National Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, French

☆ UK has not backed down in tech encryption row, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Britain's Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan walks on Downing Street in London, Britain March 15, 2023. Junior minister Stephen Parkinson appeared to concede ground to the tech companies' arguments on Wednesday, saying in parliament's upper chamber that the Ofcom communications regulator would only require them to scan content where "technically feasible". Tech companies have said scanning messages and end-to-end encryption are fundamentally incompatible. Donelan, however, denied on Thursday that the bill had been watered down in the final stages before it becomes law. She said further work to develop the technology was needed, but added that government-funded research had shown it was possible.

Persons: Technology Michelle Donelan, Peter Nicholls, Michelle Donelan, Stephen Parkinson, Paul Sandle, Helen Popper Our Organizations: State for Science, Innovation, Technology, REUTERS, Junior, Ofcom, Tech, Times Radio, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

The companies now have six months to start complying with the Digital Markets Act's requirements, which are spurring changes in how Big Tech companies operate. “So that’s the endgame.”For example, under the DMA tech companies can't stop consumers from connecting with businesses outside their platforms. That means Telegram or Signal users could exchange texts or video files with WhatsApp users. That means Meta can't mix together a user's data from Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp services without clear consent. Google noted that it's already doing this and said it would remind European users of their choices.

Persons: Thierry Breton, who's, ”, Alexandre de Streel, ” de Streel, it's Organizations: Apple, Microsoft, Google, Meta, Big Tech, Digital Services, EU, Digital, University of Namur, Epic, Spotify, Facebook Locations: Europe, Brussels, EU

☆ Meta's WhatsApp is chasing big businesses in effort to finally capitalize on app's popularity
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

Newton-Rex joined WhatsApp four years ago, leaving her high-level position at London-based financial firm WorldRemit for the new gig. Newton-Rex said Zuckerberg has been "a big part of the team," adding that he regularly speaks with Will Cathcart, the current head of WhatsApp. What's up with WhatsApp's business? In June, Meta said the WhatsApp Business app had quadrupled in the past three years to 200 million monthly active users. The Pew Research Center has previously detailed that WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app used by Hispanic Americans.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, WhatsApp, it's, It's, sidelining WhatsApp, Rather, Zuckerberg, Jim Cramer, Alice Newton, Rex, Uber, Newton, WorldRemit, Will Cathcart, Nick Lane, Debra Aho Williamson, Williamson, Jan Koum, Brian Acton, Jan Koum David Ramos, Acton, Koum, Meta, Meta's, that's, Mobilesquared's Lane, Lane Organizations: Facebook, Meta, CNBC, Consumers, Netflix, Insider Intelligence, Getty, Reuters It's, Intelligence, Pew Research Center, Twitter, Cambridge, SMS Locations: WhatsApp, India, Brazil, London, Indonesia, Colombia, Singapore, Newton, U.S, Canada, Spain, Italy, Argentina, North

☆ The rise and fall of Skype
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The voice, video and messaging app became a hit in the 2000s by letting people talk with friends and family members without paying long-distance fees. Microsoft has promoted Skype in Outlook and Windows and even enriched the app with its Bing generative artificial intelligence chatbot. In March 2020, Microsoft said Skype had 40 million daily active users, a number that's since slipped to 36 million, according to a spokesperson. "Skype will remain a great option for people who love it and want to connect via messaging, audio and video calling, and Bing Chat," a Microsoft spokesperson wrote in an email. Watch CNBC's digital video above to learn more about the growth and struggles of 20-year-old Skype.

Persons: Jim Gaynor, Jaan Tallinn, it's, It's, Bing Organizations: Skype, eBay, Silver Lake, Microsoft, CNBC

☆ Meta's WhatsApp rolls out business payment tool in Brazil
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Andre Romani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAO PAULO, April 11 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms (META.O) on Tuesday began rolling out its payments tool to small and medium-sized firms through its WhatsApp messaging platform in Brazil, part of Meta's strategy to use the Brazilian market as a key test space for business messaging. The development of business messaging has become all the more urgent as Meta's core advertising business has stalled. The tool will initially be available for some merchants that use WhatsApp Business. While Brazil is the first country to have the service launched for small businesses using the free version of WhatsApp Business, in India, WhatsApp's largest market, users can make payments to businesses that use the application's paid API. WhatsApp users in Brazil have been able to make payments between users through the app since 2021, and last year, Meta launched a commercial directory for WhatsApp in Brazil, allowing users find companies with business messaging accounts.

☆ Senior Meta ads exec departs amid efficiency drive
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Katie Paul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"I made this decision slowly (over the last 2+ years) and then all of a sudden," he wrote. A Meta spokesperson confirmed Levy's departure and said business messaging would remain a strategic priority and area of investment for the company this year. The business messaging project he heads has been flagged by Zuckerberg for growth potential, although he was replaced last year as overall head of ad and business products. Previously, Levy ran Meta's ads and business products division, now called Monetization. Another ads VP on the sales side, Michelle Klein, also announced this week that she was leaving.

☆ Brazil central bank greenlights Meta's WhatsApp merchant payment system
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A smartphone with a displayed Meta logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken February 23, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File PhotoSAO PAULO, March 2 (Reuters) - Brazil's central bank on Thursday approved Meta Platforms' (META.O) payments launch for small and medium-sized business in Brazil via its messaging application WhatsApp, building on the app's existing local peer-to-peer payment system. WhatsApp users in Brazil have been able to make payments between users through the application since 2021, but the new development clears the way for merchants to receive payments. "Soon, WhatsApp users will be able to pay for products and services directly in a conversation with Mastercard and Visa debit and credit cards," Guilherme Horn, head of WhatsApp Latin America, said in a Linkedin post. Shortly after the central bank's greenlight, Meta's chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said on his Instagram broadcast channel that "people will be able to pay small businesses right on WhatsApp".

☆ Meta's WhatsApp fined 5.5 mln euro by lead EU privacy regulator
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBLIN, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Meta's (META.O) WhatsApp subsidiary was fined 5.5 million euros ($5.95 million) on Thursday by Ireland's Data Privacy Commissioner (DPC), its lead EU privacy regulator, for an additional breach of the bloc's privacy laws. The DPC fined WhatsApp 225 million euros in September 2021 for breaches that occurred in May 2018, the same period of time as the complaint dealt with on Thursday. WhatsApp is in the process of appealing that fine through the Irish courts. The regulator has fined Meta 1.3 billion euros to date and has 10 other inquiries open into its services. ($1 = 0.9246 euros)Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Jason Neely and Jan HarveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

NSO had argued that it is immune from being sued because it was acting as an agent for unidentified foreign governments when it installed the "Pegasus" spyware. "NSO's spyware has enabled cyberattacks targeting human rights activists, journalists and government officials," Meta said. In one notorious case, NSO spyware was used - allegedly by the Saudi government - to target the inner circle of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi shortly before he was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. According to court papers, the accounts of 1,400 WhatsApp users were accessed using the Pegasus tracking software, secretly using their smartphones as surveillance devices. The U.S. government in November 2021 blacklisted NSO and Israel's Candiru, accusing them of providing spyware to governments that used it to "maliciously target" journalists, activists and others.

☆ Meta considered building a Twitter competitor to capitalize on Elon Musk's 'crisis' at company, report says: 'LET'S GO FOR THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Meta brainstormed how to build a Twitter competitor as Elon Musk took over the platform, NYT reports. Since, Elon Musk took over Twitter the company has lost advertisers and around half its staff. "Twitter is in crisis and Meta needs its mojo back," one Meta employee wrote in a post, per The Times. Since the richest man in the world took Twitter private in October there's been a large amount of uncertainty regarding the company's future. Without major advertisers, Twitter could flounder as ads accounted for about 90% of Twitter's revenue last year.

☆ Meta's WhatsApp makes Brazil a key test market for business messaging
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Katie Paul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 17 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms (META.O) said on Thursday its WhatsApp messaging service will introduce a commercial directory and test a payments tool in Brazil, as it bets on business messaging as a potential fresh source of revenue. The directory will allow users to find companies with business messaging accounts on WhatsApp, enabling easier access to customer service chats, Meta said in a blog post. loadingThe directory service will be introduced in Indonesia, Mexico and the United Kingdom as well via WhatsApp's API, which mainly serves large businesses. Partnering with local companies, Whatsapp will also test a payments tool that would make in-app transactions possible with credit or debit cards. Boosting business messaging has assumed greater urgency this year as Meta's core advertising business has stalled.

☆ Meta misses deadline to pursue appeals against Facebook, Instagram ban in Russia - RIA
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 9 (Reuters) - U.S. social media giant Meta (META.O) has missed the deadline to launch a fresh appeal against Russia's block of Facebook and Instagram in the country, the RIA Novosti news agency reported on Wednesday, citing a court official. RIA reported Meta did not file an cassation appeal, meaning the company has now lost the opportunity to launch further judicial challenges, including in Russia's supreme court, against Russia's decision to ban the social media platforms. Russia banned Facebook and Instagram as "extremist" in March as Moscow imposed sweeping restrictions on freedom of speech at home following its invasion of Ukraine. Meta lost an initial appeal in June against it being labelled "extremist" in a court system which almost always sides with state prosecutors. Russia has said there will be no punishments for Russians accessing the platforms, for instance through a virtual private network (VPN), and Meta's WhatsApp messenger service is not affected by the ban.

☆ Meta ratchets up Apple rivalry with ads targeting iMessage
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Meta is targeting Apple 's iMessage in a new advertisement that ratchets up the rivalry between the two companies. SMS messages are stored by wireless cellular carriers. "Our biggest competitor by far is iMessage," Zuckerberg said in a 2018 earnings call. Google wants Apple to adopt RCS, a next-generation text messaging system that replaces SMS messages with new features and improved encryption. Users who text regularly with Android users say that "green bubbles," as SMS messages appear on iPhones, is an inferior texting experience.

☆ Amazon, Microsoft and Google face UK probe over dominance in cloud computing
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Chesnot | Getty ImagesBritish media regulator Ofcom is investigating Amazon, Microsoft and Google's tight grip on the cloud computing industry. Amazon, Microsoft and Google were not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC. It also plans to investigate other digital markets, including personal messaging and virtual assistants like Amazon's Alexa, over the next year. "The way we live, work, play and do business has been transformed by digital services," Ofcom's Chadha said in a statement Thursday. Cloud competition

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