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WhatsApp Bans 85 Lakh Accounts in India Amid Misinformation Concerns

WhatsApp has banned over 85 lakh accounts in India in September 2021. The accounts were found to be in violation of WhatsApp’s policies, leading to their suspension. The ban was implemented between September 1 and September 30, as per the social media platform’s monthly compliance report under the new IT Rules 2021.

WhatsApp, with over 600 million users in India, has been proactive in its approach to maintain the integrity of its platform. Out of the total banned accounts, 1,658,000 were proactively banned before any reports from users. This indicates the company’s commitment to ensuring a safe and secure environment for its users.

The company received 8,161 grievances from India during this period, and the records actioned were 97. The term actioned refers to complaints where WhatsApp took remedial action. The platform also complied with two orders from the Grievance Appellate Committee in the country.

WhatsApp’s efforts to maintain transparency and integrity are not limited to banning accounts. The company employs a team of engineers, data scientists, analysts, researchers, and experts in law enforcement, online safety, and technology developments to oversee these efforts. The abuse detection operates at three stages of an account’s lifecycle: at registration, during messaging, and in response to negative feedback, which is received in the form of user reports and blocks.

IANS

The company has also made it possible for users to block contacts and report problematic content from within the app. This is part of WhatsApp’s broader strategy to stem misinformation, promote cybersecurity, and preserve election integrity.

In August 2024, WhatsApp banned 8,458,000 accounts, with 1,661,000 of these accounts being proactively banned before any reports from users. The company received 10,707 grievances from India in August, and the records actioned were 93.

The move by WhatsApp to ban accounts violating its policies is a significant step in the fight against misinformation and harmful content. It is a part of a broader trend where tech companies are taking proactive measures to ensure the safety and security of their users.

However, the challenge of misinformation is not limited to WhatsApp or social media platforms. It is a global issue that requires a multi-faceted approach, involving not just tech companies, but also governments, civil society, and individuals.

In the era of post-truth, where objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief, the fight against misinformation becomes even more critical. The spread of fake news and misinformation can have severe consequences, from influencing elections to causing panic and confusion in society.

November 3, 2024
Govt to launch 4,740 digital service centres to boost inclusive growth in rural areas

Govt to launch 4,740 digital service centres to boost inclusive growth in rural areasIANS

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on Friday launched the Digital India Common Service Center (DICSC) project to bridge the digital divide in rural India and ensure that digital services reach every citizen.

Starting with Pilibhit and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, this project will establish one model DICSC centre in nearly all gram panchayats across 10 districts, totaling 4,740 centres nationwide. These centres will offer a variety of services including Aadhaar registration, banking, financial planning, tele-law, telemedicine, education, and e-commerce support.

Pilibhit will see the establishment of 720 DICSC centres, while Gorakhpur will have 1,273 centres.

In addition Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Maharashtra) will have 870 centres, Chamba (Himachal Pradesh) 309, Khammam (Telangana) 589, Gandhinagar (Gujarat) 288, Mamit (Mizoram) 100, Jodhpur (Rajasthan) 415, Leh (Ladakh) 95, and Puducherry state 81 DICSC centres.

The project, with a budget of Rs 31.6088 crore, is set to run initially for six months, with the possibility of extending it to nine months.

Partnering in vital e-Governance schemesIANS

The centres will primarily create an integrated platform that provides essential e-governance services along with financial and commercial services to rural citizens.

CSC e-Governance Services India will manage and implement the centralised technical monitoring of these centres, opening job opportunities and enhancing digital literacy, the ministry said.

“Each CSC will be equipped with high-speed broadband connectivity and modern infrastructure to function as a multi-functional service centre. This project aims to empower Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs), fostering local economic growth and creating job opportunities,” the ministry said.

It noted that with centralised technical monitoring, transparent and sustainable service delivery of the initiative will be ensured. Further, GPS-enabled mobile vans will be deployed to promote government schemes, and also deliver essential services directly to remote areas, the ministry said.
(With inputs from IANS)

November 1, 2024
Apple Hits An All-Time Record Revenue in India, Plans Expansion

Apple sets all-time revenue record in India, to open 4 new retail stores: Tim CookIANS

CEO of Apple Inc Tim Cook announced that Apple has set an all-time revenue record in the country during the September quarter. The company reported a revenue of $94.9 billion during the July-September period, marking a September quarter record and a 6% increase from the previous year. This achievement is a testament to Apple’s growing presence and success in emerging markets.

Apple’s flagship product, the iPhone, has played a great role in this success. The iPhone has grown in every geographic segment, setting a new September quarter revenue record. Additionally, the company’s services have also set an all-time revenue record, up 12% year over year. Cook expressed his excitement over the enthusiasm they’re seeing in India, where they set an all-time revenue record. He stated, This has been an extraordinary year of innovation at Apple.

Apple sets all-time revenue record in India, to open 4 new retail stores: Tim CookIANS

The company also witnessed strong performance in many emerging markets with double-digit growth in Mexico, Brazil, the Middle East, India, and South Asia. Apple currently has two retail stores in India — in New Delhi (Saket) and Mumbai (BKC). However, the company is set to open four more own-branded retail stores in the country, further expanding its footprint. Despite the success, Apple faces challenges.

The App Store, a significant part of Apple’s services business, is under fire in various parts of the world, including the EU, where new regulations have forced policy changes. Apple now allows third-party app stores and payment methods in the region, which could potentially impact revenue.

However, Apple’s commitment to driving India’s mobile manufacturing growth story is evident. The country’s semiconductor market is set to cross $100 billion in revenues by 2030, driven by government initiatives like the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme amid robust demand to build digital infrastructure across industries.

Apple’s record-breaking revenue in India and its plans to open new retail stores in the country demonstrate the company’s commitment to expanding its presence in emerging markets. The tech giant’s focus on innovation, education, and technology’s role in learning further underscores its mission to create products that enrich people’s lives. Despite facing challenges, Apple continues to navigate its path, maintaining its position as a global leader in the tech industry.

November 1, 2024
Micro Frontends: Revolutionizing Web Development with Scalable Solutions

As web applications grow more complex, innovative architectural approaches are essential. Micro frontends, a transformative concept, address the challenges of scaling frontend applications. This article explores the key benefits of this architecture, especially in Angular applications. Nikhil Kodali, an expert in scalable solutions, highlights how micro frontends enhance modularity, scalability, and concurrent development, reshaping modern web development for more efficient, flexible solutions.

Redefining Modularity in Frontend Development

Micro frontends break down large applications into smaller, independent components, each responsible for specific features. This modular approach enables teams to develop, test, and deploy different parts of the application separately, improving flexibility and collaboration. By dividing responsibilities, teams can focus on individual components without the complexity of the entire system. For example, one micro frontend can handle user authentication while another manages data visualization, reducing the risk of system-wide failure and accelerating development.

Scalability: An Answer to Growing Application Demands

As web applications expand, traditional frontend architectures often face challenges in handling growing demand. Micro frontends solve this by allowing individual components to scale independently, which is vital in high-traffic environments where specific features, like user registration or payments, experience spikes. By isolating the scaling process, micro frontends prevent bottlenecks, ensuring that high-traffic components can scale without impacting other features. This approach is especially useful for businesses with fluctuating user demand, maintaining smooth performance across the entire application under varying loads.

Driving Concurrent Development for Faster Feature Delivery

A key advantage of micro frontends is enabling concurrent development. By breaking the frontend into smaller units, multiple teams can work simultaneously on different components, shortening development cycles and speeding up feature delivery. This allows businesses to respond faster to customer feedback, boosting satisfaction and maintaining a competitive edge. With teams working independently, organizations avoid delays, empowering developers to innovate and deploy features quickly, fostering a dynamic and flexible development environment.

Improved Maintainability Through Isolation

Managing large-scale applications often involves ensuring consistency and preventing updates from affecting unrelated areas. Micro frontends simplify this by isolating each component’s codebase, ensuring that changes in one part do not impact the entire system. This isolation reduces the risk of bugs and inconsistencies, making maintenance and updates more efficient. As a result, teams can confidently introduce new features or improvements, knowing that the isolation inherent in micro frontends minimizes potential issues in the broader application.

A Flexible Future with Technology Agnostic Solutions

Micro frontends enable organizations to adopt a technology-agnostic approach, allowing different components of the same application to be built using various frameworks or technologies. This flexibility empowers teams to choose the best tools for their specific needs, promoting innovation and avoiding dependence on a single tech stack. By leveraging diverse technologies, companies can optimize performance, boost development efficiency, and enhance user experience. This approach ensures that each task uses the most suitable technology, leading to a more scalable and robust application.

Challenges and Solutions for Consistency and Complexity

While micro frontend architecture offers many advantages, it presents challenges in maintaining consistency across components. Ensuring a seamless user experience requires cohesive design and functionality, which can be difficult when separate teams work independently. To address this, shared component libraries and strict design systems can be implemented to maintain uniformity. Efficient state management and build optimization techniques further help mitigate the complexity, ensuring smoother development and consistent user interfaces across the application. These solutions enhance overall cohesion and functionality.

As Nikhil Kodali concludes, the adoption of micro frontends is set to rise as more organizations recognize their potential to revolutionize web application development. The combination of faster feature delivery, improved scalability, and enhanced maintainability positions micro frontends as a game-changing solution for the evolving demands of modern web development.

October 31, 2024
Hyundai reveals new Hydrogen-Powered EV concept

IANS

Hyundai Motor has unveiled the concept of its forthcoming passenger hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) named Initium. The announcement was made on October 31, in Seoul, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to a hydrogen-based society. The Initium, a name derived from the Latin word for ‘beginning’, symbolises Hyundai’s pioneering role in the transition to a hydrogen-based society. The concept reflects the product and design direction of a passenger FCEV set for release in the first half of the next year.

Hyundai Motor President and CEO Chang Jae-hoon, at a media event in Goyang, north of Seoul, underscored the importance of hydrogen as an energy source. He emphasized that hydrogen is not only an energy source for future generations but also one that is accessible and equitable to everyone. Hyundai’s steadfast commitment to hydrogen over the past 27 years stems from a strong belief in its value, Chang said. This statement reflects the company’s long-standing dedication to the development and promotion of hydrogen-based technologies.

The design of Initium is a witness to Hyundai’s innovative approach. It incorporates an aesthetic that highlights the strength and resilience of steel while also underscoring the pure nature of hydrogen. The vehicle offers a spacious interior along with distinct features, including an increased hydrogen tank capacity and aerodynamic wheels. These features enable a driving range of over 650 kilometres, a significant improvement over previous models.

IANS

The enhancements in the fuel cell system and battery allow a maximum motor output of 150 kilowatts. The model also includes expanded seat recline angles and rear door openings to ensure a roomy second row, enhancing the overall passenger experience. Hyundai Motor plans to showcase Initium to the public at the Los Angeles Auto Show and Auto Guangzhou motor show in China, both set to be held next month. This will provide an opportunity for the public to witness first-hand the company’s commitment to a hydrogen-based society.

Hyundai’s journey in the field of hydrogen began in 1998 when it established a dedicated hydrogen research organisation. In 2000, the company introduced its first hydrogen vehicle in collaboration with US fuel cell company UTC Power. In 2013, Hyundai Motor became the first company to mass-produce hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, launching the Tucson ix Fuel Cell. In 2018, it introduced its dedicated hydrogen fuel cell model, the Nexo.

Chang later expressed his belief that the adoption of hydrogen energy by the automotive industry was a matter of time and a path we must take despite growing business uncertainties surrounding electric and other eco-friendly vehicles. Hydrogen-based vehicles may not be profitable now, but they represent a milestone in realising a hydrogen society, making it a mission (of Hyundai Motor), Chang told reporters. He also hinted at carrying forward the legacy of the Nexo, implying that the upcoming mass-produced model will likely retain the name Nexo.

Continuing to advance necessary technologies is crucial, and I believe we can secure global leadership, Chang added, highlighting Hyundai’s commitment to technological advancement in the field of hydrogen energy.

October 31, 2024
Apple launches High-Performance MacBook Pro with M4 Chips

IANS

Apple has once again made headlines with the launch of its new MacBook Pro. This latest offering is powered by the M4 family of chips, which includes the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max. These chips promise to deliver faster performance and enhanced capabilities, setting a new benchmark in the tech industry.

The new MacBook Pro is designed for Apple Intelligence a personal intelligence system that revolutionizes how users work, communicate, and express themselves. This system is designed with a strong focus on user privacy, ensuring that personal data remains secure while users enjoy the enhanced capabilities of their device.

The new MacBook Pro is available in space black and silver finishes. The 14-inch model includes the high-speed performance of the M4 chip and three Thunderbolt 4 ports. It starts with 16GB of memory and is priced at Rs 169,900. The 14 and 16-inch models with M4 Pro and M4 Max offer Thunderbolt 5 for faster transfer speeds and advanced connectivity.

REUTERS/Stephen Lam

The M4 family of chips, built using second-generation 3-nanometer technology, is the most advanced lineup of chips for a personal computer. They offer phenomenal single-threaded CPU performance with the world’s fastest CPU core, along with outstanding multithreaded CPU performance for the most demanding workloads.

Combined with machine learning accelerators in the CPU, an advanced GPU, and a faster and more efficient Neural Engine, Apple silicon is built from the ground up to deliver incredible performance for AI. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 is the ideal choice for entrepreneurs, students, creators, or anyone doing what they love. For those who need even faster performance for more demanding workflows, the MacBook Pro with M4 Pro offers a tremendous performance boost.

The MacBook Pro’s Liquid Retina XDR display gets an upgrade with a new nano-texture option that significantly reduces glare, making it ideal for outdoor use. Additionally, a new 12MP Center Stage camera ensures video calls are more engaging by automatically keeping users centred in the frame.

Apple continues its commitment to the environment by using 100% recycled aluminum in the MacBook Pro’s enclosure and eliminating plastic from its packaging. The company aims to be carbon neutral across its entire carbon footprint by 2030. The new chips not only offer power but also efficiency with industry-leading performance per watt which means users can enjoy up to 24 hours of battery life.

October 31, 2024
Jomla Announces to Launch a Podcast to Empower Tech and Podcasting Fans

Jomla’s newly announced podcast discusses tech trends, expert advice, and product insights to support content creators and podcast enthusiasts in the GCC region.

Fastest-growing e-commerce platform in the GCC region, Jomla, has just added a really exciting venture to its portfolio- a podcast that promises to reach tech-fancy youngsters and aspiring podcasters.

The Jomla app was founded in 2019 and has become one of the top 20 popular and shopping apps. It is very popular for offering a variety of electronics and podcasting gear. Now, the company is taking its knowledge-it has about tech and audio gear directly to its audience in an entertaining and instructive podcast episode.

A variety of topics include the latest trends in technology, practical advice on creating professional-quality audio content, along with high-end equipment such as the Shure MV7X Podcast Microphone and the Zoom PodTrak P4 Recorder. Listeners of the podcast should expect product reviews, in-depth tutorials, and interviews with industry experts, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in podcasting.

This initiative reflects Jomla’s broader mission to support creators. By offering easy-to-understand tips and expert advice, Jomla aims to help everyone from beginners to experienced podcasters improve their skills and achieve better results. Whether you’re just starting your podcast journey or looking to enhance your current setup, Jomla’s podcast promises to provide valuable insights tailored to all experience levels.

As of now, the innovative application of artificial intelligence transforms the e-commerce landscape, and this platform delivers a very personalized and fast shopping experience to users. Through an AI-powered search engine, results return in as short a time as 20 milliseconds. It is seven times faster than the typical search engines so that the user can easily find everything he or she needs to find-even when it is misspelled.

Additionally, the AI on Jomla monitors more than 100,000 products every day to offer their customers the most competitive price. In short, this attention to customers’ needs and this new podcast aims at how well Jomla will bring fantastic products to the table while helping the community grow and be great at both tech and podcasting. The introduction of the podcast makes Jomla more than a marketplace and stays continuously on course in the fields of technology, fast searches, and content related to education. For the latest technology and podcasting tips, tune into Jomla’s podcast and explore all their wide ranges of products by downloading the Jomla app.

For more information, download the Jomla App today.

October 31, 2024
Optimizing Serverless Computing: Techniques for Enhanced Performance

Serverless computing has revolutionized cloud infrastructure with its promises of scalability and cost-effectiveness. This emerging paradigm, which enables automatic scaling and pay-per-use pricing, presents several challenges that need to be addressed to fully realize its benefits. In this article, Anshul Sharma explores the key innovations driving the optimization of serverless platforms, focusing on reducing latency, improving resource utilization, and balancing cost-performance trade-offs.

The Latency Challenge: Tackling Cold Starts

Cold start latency is a major challenge in serverless computing, occurring when a function, after inactivity, requires the system to initialize the environment, causing response delays. Cold start times can range from 100 milliseconds for Node.js to two seconds for Java, depending on configuration. To address this, techniques like provisioned concurrency, which keeps function instances ready, can cut latency by up to 80%. Function warming, periodically invoking functions, also helps reduce cold start occurrences.

Managing Multi-Tenancy Effects for Consistent Performance

Serverless platforms often operate on shared infrastructure, where multiple functions from different users run concurrently. This multi-tenancy can lead to performance variability, commonly known as the “noisy neighbor” effect. Research indicates that function execution times can fluctuate by as much as 20% due to resource contention. Techniques such as intelligent load balancing and resource isolation can help mitigate these effects. For instance, using separate virtual private cloud environments or dedicated tenancy options can significantly reduce performance variability and improve consistency.

Balancing Statelessness with Performance Needs

Serverless functions are inherently stateless, which can introduce performance overheads for applications that require persistent connections or shared data. Each function invocation may need to establish new connections or retrieve state from external storage, adding latency. Caching strategies and optimized data handling can alleviate some of this overhead. By incorporating intelligent caching mechanisms, latency can be reduced by up to 80%, although maintaining cache coherence presents its own set of challenges.

Fine-Tuning Resource Allocation for Cost-Effective Scalability

Balancing performance and cost in serverless computing is essential, with memory allocation being a key factor. Serverless platforms link computational power to memory settings, and increasing memory from 128MB to 1024MB can significantly reduce execution time for compute-intensive tasks, albeit at a higher cost. To optimize costs, memory settings should be fine-tuned based on workload types. Predictive scaling with machine learning can also anticipate traffic surges, pre-warm functions, and improve response times by up to 40%.

Enhancing Serverless Performance with Cutting-Edge Techniques

Optimizing execution time is essential for elevating serverless application performance. This can be achieved through efficient algorithms, code optimization, and minimizing dependencies. Techniques such as using lightweight frameworks or asynchronous programming, like asynchronous I/O in Python, can significantly improve throughput, sometimes by fivefold. Additionally, reducing network latency through connection pooling and database optimization can enhance response times by up to 90%. Looking ahead, advancements in AI and machine learning will drive serverless innovation, with AI-powered resource allocation and code optimization potentially cutting execution times by 45%. Predictive scaling further reduces costs, while edge computing emerges as a key player in decreasing latency by 50-80% for geographically dispersed applications. These evolving techniques promise to not only enhance performance but also expand the capabilities of serverless platforms, paving the way for more efficient, cost-effective cloud solutions.

Anshul Sharma concludes that serverless computing is progressing toward more granular resource control, enabling developers to tailor environments to specific needs. Future innovations, like GPU and FPGA acceleration for intensive tasks, promise substantial speed improvements, while enhanced support for stateful applications, including durable function orchestration and optimized databases, aims for near-instant access times. Continued research and refinement are essential to overcome performance bottlenecks and fully realize the potential of serverless platforms, shaping the future of cloud computing.

October 31, 2024
Govt launches WAFX WAVES VFX Challenge to promote visual effects artists

(Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics), is part of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit 2025 (WAVES)IANS

In a bid to promote the visual effects (VFX) ecosystem in India, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has launched the WAFX WAVES VFX Challenge, which will not only boost professional growth but also offer a chance to join a robust network of the country’s top VFX studios and mentors.

The initiative, in collaboration with ABAI- India’s leading AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics), is part of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit 2025 (WAVES).

It is also a part of the ‘Create in India’ challenge, aimed at nurturing local talent and promoting India as a one-stop destination for content creation.

“With India’s film and media industry witnessing unprecedented growth in Visual Effects, this national competition aims to prepare a generation of VFX professionals to meet industry demands and advance India’s competitiveness and prowess on the global stage,” the ministry said.

The ministry noted that the challenge launched by “ABAI-the Karnataka-based trade association for the AVGC-XR industry” aims to “call to action to all budding Visual Effects artists to create stunning VFX masterpieces”.

It added that registration has been opened for emerging VFX artists across India to join the WAFX Waves VFX Challenge.

The first stage will feature an online qualifier round where a ‘pre-selection’ jury will shortlist 10 students and 10 professional contestants to move to the second phase and compete at the zonal-level in-person competitions.

Govt launches WAFX WAVES VFX Challenge to promote visual effects artistsIANS

Further, the zonal winners will advance to the grand finale which will be held in a 24-hour VFX marathon format in front of a grand jury that is constituted of national award-winning famed VFX supervisors.

The online qualifiers winners will progress to the zonal finals scheduled in Chandigarh, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata, where they will showcase their work before a panel of esteemed industry experts. The top finalists will compete in the grand finale at the WAVES Summit in Delhi, scheduled from February 5-9, 2025.

“The creative sector is undergoing a remarkable transformation, with technological advancements and increasingly cutting-edge immersive content augmenting consumer experiences,” said Biren Ghose, President- ABAI and Managing Director- Asia Pacific, Technicolor Group.

“As we enter this new economy, imagery and storytelling are moving beyond TV and film into museums, airports, and across public spaces. This will foster innovation and encourage new skills, talent, and diverse employment opportunities to create in and from India,” he added.

(With inputs from IANS)

October 31, 2024
Debit card-based transactions drop 8 pc in Sep as UPI payments surge: RBI data

IANS

As UPI-based digital payments surge, debit card-based transactions dropped almost 8 per cent from nearly Rs 43,350 crore in August to about Rs 39,920 crore in September, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s monthly data.

On the other hand, credit card transactions grew in the country, which saw a nearly 5 per cent increase in the month of September at Rs 1.76 lakh crore, from Rs 1.68 lakh crore in August, according to the latest data from the central bank.

As per market experts, the growth in credit card spending is driven by a lower base in the previous year and the festival season as there has been an uptick in promotional schemes like equated monthly instalments during the festival season.

IANS

According to the latest paper by economist Pradip Bhuyan from the Reserve Bank’s Department of Currency Management, digital transactions have surged in such a fashion in India that cash usage, which still accounts for 60 per cent of consumer expenditure (as of March 2024) is rapidly declining.

The share of digital payments more than doubled from 14-19 per cent in March 2021 to 40-48 per cent in March 2024, with unified payments interface (UPI) playing a key role.

According to the RBI paper, in recent years, significant growth has been observed in retail digital payments (RDP), which is the total digital payments except for payments through real-time gross settlement.

Launched in 2016, UPI accounted for the highest share of RDP in volume in the last five years. UPIbased transaction volume surged 52 per cent to 78.97 billion in the first half of this year (H1 2024), from 51.9 billion in the same period last year. Similarly, the value of transactions grew by 40 per cent, increasing from Rs 83.16 lakh crore to Rs 116.63 lakh crore in the first six months of this year.

(With inputs from IANS)

October 30, 2024