Yazılar

Google to Label Verified Investment Apps in India

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Alphabet Inc.’s Google will introduce verification labels for investment apps on its app store in India, aiming to help users identify legitimate platforms and avoid scams.

The initiative will allow only brokers and intermediaries registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India to receive a verified badge. This is expected to make it easier for users to distinguish approved financial services from fraudulent apps impersonating them.

The move comes as authorities increase efforts to combat rising online investment scams, particularly those targeting retail users through mobile platforms. By tightening visibility and trust signals within the app ecosystem, regulators hope to reduce financial fraud and improve consumer protection.

The decision highlights growing collaboration between regulators and major technology platforms as digital finance expands and risks associated with unverified services increase.

Instagram Explores AI-Powered “Restyle Text” Feature for Stories and Edits App

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Instagram is expanding the capabilities of its recently launched Restyle feature, which is currently available in Stories and the Edits app. Powered by Meta AI, Restyle allows users to add, remove, or modify elements in images or videos using natural language prompts, similar to Google’s Nano Banana image model. Users can also choose from a variety of preset styles to quickly transform their content. Now, the platform is reportedly testing the ability to customize text within the Restyle feature, offering more creative freedom. Devamını Oku

Russia Publishes List of Local Apps to Function During Internet Blackouts

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Russia’s Digital Development Ministry on Friday released a list of local apps and services that will remain operational during mobile internet shutdowns—blackouts authorities have often imposed to disrupt Ukrainian drone attacks.

The whitelist includes online government services, marketplaces, the Mir electronic payment system, and state-backed messenger MAX, but omits foreign rivals such as WhatsApp and YouTube, despite their massive popularity in Russia. According to Mediascope, WhatsApp had 97.6 million Russian users in July, making it the country’s most widely used app.

The ministry said a “special technical solution” would keep domestic apps running during shutdowns, claiming the move would minimize disruption for citizens while ensuring “security.” While Ukraine was not explicitly mentioned, governors in Russian border regions have repeatedly said temporary outages are needed to block drones from using mobile networks for navigation.

The decision also fits Moscow’s broader push since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine to expand control over its digital ecosystem and promote homegrown alternatives to foreign tech platforms. VK Group, the state-controlled tech company, has played a central role: its MAX messenger, now pre-installed on all phones sold in Russia, reported 30 million users this week, while its VK Messenger ranks third nationwide with 16.7 million users.

Meanwhile, Telegram, created by Russian-born Pavel Durov and used by 90.9 million Russians, was also excluded from the official list. Analysts see the move as a further attempt by the Kremlin to steer users toward domestically controlled services while sidelining foreign platforms that resist state oversight.