Weekly Tech Wrap: Apple Faces Probe Over 'Hacking' Alert, Meta Faces EU Ban On Data Collection, More Top Technology News

From Musk looking to make Twitter a dating platform to iPhone alerts landing Apple in trouble, here are the biggest tech news stories from the week that was.

According to Apple, these attacks typically target specific individuals based on their unique identities or professional roles.

Source : Getty

Apple came under Govt scanner over ‘state-sponsored’ hack notification. Meta faced an EU ban on the collection of personal data. Lumikai released its annual State Of India Gaming report. The world of technology news was dominated by these headlines, and more, over the past week. Here’s a deeper look. 

Apple Faces Govt Probe 

On Tuesday morning, several Members of Parliament, including Mahua Moitra, Shashi Tharoor, Priyanka Chaturvedi, and Asaduddin Owaisi, shared on Twitter that they had received official notifications on their iPhone devices, suggesting potential targeting by "state-sponsored attackers." It's worth noting that Apple has a dedicated notification system aimed at safeguarding and assisting users who might be at risk from state-sponsored attacks.

Apple clarified in a statement that it does not attribute these threat notifications to any specific state-sponsored attacker. However, the company has a support page dedicated to explaining its approach to dealing with such threats.

According to Apple, these attacks typically target specific individuals based on their unique identities or professional roles. Unlike ordinary cyberattacks, "state-sponsored attackers" allocate significant resources to pursue a very small group of specific targets and their associated devices. This high level of precision makes it more challenging to both detect and mitigate these attacks.

IT Secretary S Krishnan disclosed on Thursday that CERT-In has initiated an investigation into the Apple threat notification matter, which had been raised by opposition MPs. As per PTI news agency, a formal notice has been dispatched to Apple, and he expressed the hope that Apple would collaborate with CERT-In during the investigation.

During an event associated with the MeitY-NSF research collaboration, Krishnan mentioned, "CERT-In has commenced its inquiry, and they (Apple) are expected to cooperate with this investigation," as reported by PTI. CERT-In, which stands for the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, serves as the country's primary authority for addressing computer security incidents as they arise.

When asked about the issuance of a notice to Apple, the IT Secretary confirmed that such a notice had indeed been sent.

iQoo 12 Launch Date Now Official

The official release date for the iQoo 12 5G in India has been officially announced. This smartphone, which is the first in India to feature the latest high-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, is scheduled to be launched on December 12. The iQoo 12, a successor to the iQoo 11, will soon be revealed and will be accessible on the e-commerce platform Amazon India, according to the company's statement. While there have been speculations regarding an iQoo 12 Pro model, its availability in India appears to be uncertain.

According to a poster image shared by iQoo, the iQoo 12 5G is slated to launch in India on December 12. The image provides a sneak peek at the rear camera design, consistent with previous leaks and live images. Additionally, the poster introduces a special edition model in collaboration with BMW Motorsport, reminiscent of the iQoo 11 Legend model. Following the official launch, the iQoo 12 will be up for purchase on Amazon.in.

X To Become A Dating Platform?

X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk has expressed his aspiration to transform the micro-blogging platform into a leading dating and job recruitment site, emphasising increased video live-streaming for sports as well as political events. In a recent meeting with X employees and CEO Linda Yaccarino, Musk highlighted a focus on evaluating individuals based on their past posts on the platform.

Musk and Yaccarino hosted their first all-hands meeting with X staffers last week, the media has reported. Musk mentioned that he wants X to compete with various apps like LinkedIn, FaceTime and even dating apps.

Musk noted: "Have they posted interesting material? That would likely be the most crucial factor in determining their excellence and desirability as a potential hire."

Meta Won’t Be Able To Collect EU User Data Anymore

In a significant development, the European data regulator has approved an expansion of the ban initially enforced by Norway, a non-European Union (EU) member, on the practice of "behavioural advertising" on Facebook and Instagram. This ban, which involves targeting users through the collection of their personal data, will now be extended to cover all 30 countries within the European Union and the European Economic Area, according to a report by Reuters on Wednesday.

This decision represents a significant setback for Meta Platforms, a prominent US technology company and the parent company of the social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. Meta Platforms has consistently opposed attempts to limit the use of behavioural advertising.

The Norwegian data regulator has underlined that Meta Platforms could potentially face substantial fines, which could amount to as much as 4 per cent of its global revenue, as a consequence of this expansion.

India Gaming Market To Reach $7.5 Billion In 5 Years

Lumikai, the pioneer venture capital firm dedicated to games and interactive media, has released its highly anticipated third annual "State of India Gaming" report in collaboration with Google. This report, presented at the 15th India Game Developers Conference (IGDC), offers valuable insights into the gaming landscape in India. It indicates that the Indian gaming industry is well on its way to achieving a valuation of $7.5 billion by the fiscal year 2028, having reached $3.1 billion in FY23. This transformation marks a substantial shift from being an emerging market to becoming a prominent global player, fueled by improved download speeds, widespread smartphone adoption, and affordable data plans.

The increasing demand for compact entertainment and active participation in gaming communities has also played a significant role in the industry's remarkable growth.

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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