#meta

AI

AI spending spree: Big tech’s quarterly results draws scrutiny

The heightened scrutiny surrounding Big Tech’s AI investments highlights the need for transparency and ethical considerations in AI development

META startbootcamp partner to empower mena startups with AI powered LAMA design drive Image GettyImages

Meta, Startupbootcamp partner to empower MENA startups

The initiative, Llama Design Drive, aims to address the region’s specific needs by launching a series of intensive programmes

Google

Google has an illegal monopoly on search, US judge finds

Google paid $26.3bn in 2021 to maintain search engine dominance, the judge noted

Instagram

Instagram blocked: Turkey’s response to Meta’s ‘censorship’?

There are more than 50 million Instagram users in the country

tech outages

6 of the biggest tech outages in recent years

Even as the world reels from the Microsoft outage, here’s a look at some outages that have taken down major systems, in recent years

Dubai Future Foundation, Meta launch business incubator programme

Dubai Future Foundation, Meta launch business incubator programme

The business incubator programme will foster collaboration and help exchange knowledge and expertise in AI product development

WhatsApp

Apple pulls plug on WhatsApp, Threads in China

Telegram and Signal — two other foreign messaging apps — were also removed from the store on Friday

Instagram , Facebook - META -AI

Meta to start labelling all AI-generated content on Facebook, Instagram

The new labeling approach would apply to content posted on Meta’s Facebook, Instagram and Threads services

Google - Big Tech

Why is the EU probing Big Tech under the Digital Markets Act?

The law requires platforms to gain explicit consent from users when they intend to combine a person’s data across different sources, such as Meta’s Facebook and Instagram

LEAP

Tech investments approach $13bn on Day 2 at LEAP 2024

The Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre in Malham witnessed the unveiling of investments aimed at supporting local start-up ecosystems

Instagram , Facebook - META -AI

Facebook, Instagram down for thousands in the UAE

The tracker’s UAE website showed over three thousand reports for Instagram and over six thousand reports for Facebook

APPLE VISION PRO

Apple’s Vision Pro headset gets a release date, bookings start January 19

The headset starts at $3,499 and marks the company’s biggest product launch since the original iPhone went on sale in 2007

WhatsApp to allow Multiple-Accounts image Meta

WhatsApp to allow access to multiple accounts, users can log in on same device

Users will be able to easily switch between accounts – such as their work and personal ones – without having to log out each time or carry two phones

Instagram , Facebook - META -AI

Meta’s Instagram, Facebook to charge EU users for ad-free service: Report

The proposal is an attempt by Meta to comply with European Union regulations that threaten to curb its ability to personalise ads for users

WhatsApp Channels Global Launch_Image Meta

WhatsApp Channels sees global rollout, includes UAE and Saudi Arabia

Channels is a one-way broadcast feature that allows admins to send text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls to their followers

Facebook News

Meta to remove Facebook News from UK, Germany, and France

Facebook News, a dedicated tab on Facebook’s platform spotlighting news content, is set to be phased out in early December

digital tax

Meta, Google face digital tax in New Zealand beginning in 2025

The proposed tax would be payable by multinational businesses that make over $810m a year from global digital services

Messenger Lite

Messenger Lite for Android to shutdown in September

The app has been removed from Google Play Store for new users and will no longer be available for existing users after September 18

Threads desktop version

Threads desktop version may be launching soon

It is reported that the update could come as soon as this week

Instagram , Facebook - META -AI

Meta begins blocking news in Canada in response to new law

The move came after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government passed the Online News Act, expected to come into effect before the end of this year

threads

Threads surpasses 100 million users: Here’s how it is different from Twitter

The Threads app which was launched under the Instagram umbrella is fast catching up to its competitor Twitter

Threads by Instagram

Threads by Instagram: Here’s how to use it

Threads provides a fresh platform for real-time updates and public discussions, catering to both creators and casual users

Musk and Zuckerberg cage fight

Clash of the tech titans: Elon Musk challenges Mark Zuckerberg to ‘cage match’

The tech bosses have agreed to a ‘cage match’ after an exchange on their respective social media platforms

META cyber threat and hacker attack

Here’s why the META region is prone to mobile financial scam

Cyberthreats for Android users remain prevalent in the META region as the operating system holds a dominant market share

Meta Quest 3

This is how much the new Meta Quest 3 headset costs

The headset combines a top-tier resolution display with advanced pancake optics, resulting in an unparalleled visual experience

Meta

Meta unloads Giphy to Shutterstock at a loss of more than $260m

Facebook’s parent company Meta announced the sale of Giphy after its purchase of the GIF maker was blocked by competition regulators in the UK

Cold storage in Meta data center. Image Credit: META

Meta fined record $1.3bn in EU over US data transfers

The Meta fine coincides with the fifth anniversary of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, widely seen as the world’s benchmark for privacy

WhatsApp

Say goodbye to typos: WhatsApp launches edit message feature

The edit history will not be displayed, ensuring that the original content remains private

Meta

Meta touts metaverse’s potential for job training and education

While there’s more commitment by employers in the industries to use VR, adopting the technology remains a hurdle

Meta

Meta prepares more layoffs across Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram

The move is part of a cost-cutting push that will eventually whittle away 10,000 positions at the company