One Thing Today in Tech

Leading today’s tech briefing is an open letter from America’s state attorneys general to Facebook to abandon its plan to build a version of Instagram targeting children below the age of 13. In the letter, they wrote: “It appears that Facebook is not responding to a need, but instead creating one, as this platform appeals primarily to children who otherwise do not or would not have an Instagram account. The attorneys general urge Facebook to abandon its plans to launch this new platform.” Also in the briefing, Google provides an update on Covid-19 information on search and maps in India; Apple suppliers linked to forced labour; Flipkart may raise as much as $2 billion ahead of its IPO

Top of the news in today’s tech briefing starts with a reminder that WhatsApp’s updated privacy policy is set to become effective this weekend. Users who are yet to accept the policy will not have their accounts deleted come May 15, however, over a period of several weeks, users will get persistent prompts, lose app functionality and eventually won’t be able to use it anymore. Also in today’s briefing, Netflix is considering an online portal called N-Plus to boost audience engagement; Apple’s 14.5 iOS update which allows users to bar apps from tracking them is very popular; a cyberattack on America’s largest oil pipeline; and ClubHouse is finally rolling out to Android.

Leading today’s tech briefing is news from Google that the search giant will add a new safety section in its Play app store to make developers provide more information on the data collected and shared by their apps. Users will start seeing this section early next year, Google said Thursday. Also in this briefing, IBM’s chip design breakthrough with a two-nanometre process, Brave, a cool browser alternative to Chrome gets a playlist feature, and India’s Apna platform for blue collar workers opens up to businesses looking for frontline staff

Leading today’s tech briefing is news that the US has reversed its stance on intellectual property protection for Covid-19 vaccines. It will now back negotiations proposed by India and South Africa to waive the protections in an effort to boost production of the vaccines worldwide. Also in the briefing, former US President Donald Trump remains banned on Facebook, a look at Wipro’s tech moves, India’s 5G approvals exclude China, and a Silicon Valley startup increases R&D in India