Yazılar

India’s top court questions WhatsApp data sharing with Meta

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India’s Supreme Court has warned it could reinstate restrictions on WhatsApp sharing user data with other Meta entities, raising fresh concerns over privacy and consent. During a hearing on Tuesday, the chief justice said WhatsApp’s privacy policy appeared to be designed in a way that could mislead users, particularly those with limited digital literacy.

The case stems from a 2024 ruling by India’s antitrust authority, which fined WhatsApp $25.4 million and barred data sharing for advertising purposes for five years. An appeals court later lifted the data-sharing ban while keeping the fine, prompting both sides to approach the Supreme Court.

India is Meta’s largest market by users, and WhatsApp has argued that restrictions could force it to roll back features. The Supreme Court did not issue a final decision and is expected to continue hearings next week.

Indian tourist state of Goa weighs social media ban for children

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India’s top tourist state of Goa is considering a potential ban on social media use for children, drawing inspiration from Australia’s recent restrictions amid growing concerns over the impact of online platforms on young users’ mental health. The proposal comes as India remains one of the world’s largest markets for social media, with millions of users estimated to be under 18.

Goa’s information technology minister said state authorities are studying Australia’s law, which restricts social media access for children under 16, to assess whether a similar approach could be adopted locally. Officials said details of any proposal would follow after further review.

The discussion highlights the absence of nationwide rules in India governing minors’ access to social media, despite increasing debate over screen time, online safety and psychological well-being. Another Indian state, Andhra Pradesh, has also indicated it is exploring comparable measures after reviewing global regulatory efforts.

Australia last year became the first country to implement a nationwide social media ban for children under 16, a move that deactivated millions of teen accounts within weeks. Other countries, including France and several in Southeast Asia, are closely watching the outcome as they consider similar policies.

L’Oréal to Invest $383 Million in Indian Beauty Tech Hub

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French cosmetics group L’Oréal said it will invest more than $383 million to establish a beauty technology hub in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, strengthening its push into AI-driven innovation.

The company said the hub will serve as a global base for developing artificial intelligence-powered beauty solutions and is expected to create around 2,000 technology jobs by 2030. The investment, amounting to over 35 billion rupees, aims to accelerate the rollout of advanced digital tools across L’Oréal’s global portfolio.

The partnership was formalized at the World Economic Forum in Davos by L’Oréal CEO Nicolas Hieronimus and the government of Telangana, a state that has rapidly positioned itself as a major technology and investment hub in southern India.

The move reflects growing economic ties between India and France, whose bilateral trade reached $15 billion in 2024. Leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have been working to deepen cooperation, including efforts to modernize tax agreements in line with global transparency standards.