Twitter co-founder alleging pressure from Centre, AI on the verge of seeing global regulations, Amazon finally launching ad-supported Prime Lite subscriptions in India — the world of tech was dominated by these headlines over the past week. Let’s take a closer look.
Dorsey Vs Centre
According to statements made by Jack Dorsey, the co-founder and ex-CEO of Twitter, he revealed that the Indian government exerted pressure on the micro-blogging platform to restrict numerous accounts during the farmer protests. Dorsey claimed that if Twitter did not comply, the Indian government threatened to take drastic actions such as closing Twitter's offices and conducting raids on employees' residences. In an interview with political podcast Breaking Points, he mentioned that Twitter received numerous requests to block accounts related to the farmers' protests and journalists who expressed criticism towards the government.
The Centre’s response came swiftly. Union Minister of State for Electronics & Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar dismissed Dorsey's allegations as baseless and characterised them as an “outright lie”. He clarified that no individuals were incarcerated, and Twitter was not subjected to any shutdowns. Chandrasekhar further highlighted that under Dorsey's leadership, Twitter demonstrated reluctance in acknowledging the authority of Indian law. He tweeted that the company, under Dorsey and his team, repeatedly violated Indian law, and their non-compliance persisted from 2020 to 2022. Only in June 2022 did they finally adhere to the regulations, Chandrasekhar claimed. He emphasised that no one was imprisoned, and Twitter did not face any shutdowns during this period.
'Appoint Indian Executives'
In another development, the Centre reportedly urged Chinese mobile phone manufacturers operating in India to incorporate Indian partners into their local operations. This directive was communicated during meetings attended by three executives. The government's request includes the inclusion of Indian executives in crucial roles like CEO, COO, CFO, and CTO. Additionally, manufacturers have been instructed to collaborate with Indian contract manufacturers, enhance local manufacturing capabilities by forming joint ventures with Indian companies at the component level, and involve local distributors in their operations.
AI Under Scanner
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed support for a proposal made by AI industry leaders regarding the creation of an international organisation for overseeing artificial intelligence (AI). This proposed organisation would be similar in structure to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The emergence of generative AI technology, which has gained immense public attention since the launch of ChatGPT six months ago, has become the fastest-growing application in history. Guterres, speaking to journalists, highlighted the pressing need to address concerns related to this new form of AI, particularly generative AI. He stressed the importance of taking these concerns seriously and announced plans to establish a high-level advisory body on AI by the end of the year. The main objective of this body would be to regularly assess existing AI governance frameworks and provide recommendations to ensure their alignment with human rights, the rule of law, and the collective welfare.
Additionally, European Union (EU) legislators have come to a consensus on proposed revisions to regulations governing artificial intelligence (AI). The updated regulations now encompass a ban on the utilisation of AI technology for biometric surveillance and mandate that generative AI system, like ChatGPT, disclose AI-generated content. These amendments are integral to the EU Commission's significant legislation aimed at protecting individuals from potential risks linked to AI. Nevertheless, the introduction of these changes may create a conflict with EU member nations that hold reservations about a complete prohibition on AI use in biometric surveillance.
Video Messages On WhatsApp
WhatsApp users might soon gain the ability to send video messages to their contacts. This feature is currently undergoing testing and would enable users to share brief videos lasting up to 60 seconds through the messaging platform. Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has initiated beta testing for both iOS and Android users to assess message-sending functionality.
According to WABetaInfo, this feature is being tested on version 23.12.0.71 for iOS and version 2.23.13.4 of WhatsApp beta for Android. Users can find the option to send video messages conveniently located on the chat bar at the bottom of the screen, alongside the attachments, camera, and WhatsApp Pay icons. It's important to note that this feature is currently available only in specific regions. To determine if your WhatsApp account has access to the video message recording capability, simply tap the microphone button within the chat bar during any conversation.
Prime Lite In India
Amazon has introduced a new membership tier called Amazon Prime Lite specifically for users in India. This alternative subscription is priced lower than the original Amazon Prime membership and offers a reduced set of benefits. Initially, it was only accessible to a limited number of users, but now it has been made available to all users across the country.
The cost of Amazon Prime Lite is set at Rs 999 for a 12-month subscription. In contrast, the standard Amazon Prime membership in India is priced at Rs 1,499 for one year. Users in India can now sign up for the Amazon Prime Lite plan, which is accessible on Android, iOS, and the web client, providing a convenient option for a wider range of users.
Help During Biparjoy
In the wake of Cyclone Biparjoy hitting Gujarat, photographic evidence has surfaced showcasing the destructive impact of the cyclone. The government has responded promptly to the situation by implementing proactive measures to ensure uninterrupted mobile communication. To address potential service unavailability or temporary disruptions in the subscribed network, mobile service portability has been enabled. This feature allows users to manually switch to any available telecom operator's network, thereby maintaining connectivity.
The Licensed Service Areas (LSA) for Gujarat, operating under the Department of Telecommunications, shared this information on Twitter, stating, "In the event of your subscribed Telecom services being unavailable, you now have the option to utilise any Telecom operator's network."
Click here to find out how to connect to alternate networks.
That’s it from the world of tech headlines this week. Stay tuned to this space for more top stories next week.
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