Technology

India revokes order to preload cybersecurity app on smartphones after outcry

NEW DELHI, Dec 3 (Reuters) - India's government scrapped an order to smartphone makers on Wednesday to preload a state-run cybersecurity app on all new devices after an outcry from politicians, privacy advocates and global tech companies over surveillance fears.

Smartphones

Chile bans non-emergency smartphone use by children while at school

Chile's parliament on Dec 2 approved a law banning the use of smartphones by pupils on school premises, the latest country to restrict such access over concerns for children's mental and physical health.

Social media

Australia says social media ban to protect young from 'purgatory'

Australia's looming social media ban will protect the young from an online "purgatory" created by algorithms sending them harmful content, the government said on Dec 3.

Mobile apps

India says mandatory phone app can be deleted after backlash

India sought to address concerns that its mandate to pre-install a cybersecurity app on mobile phones could invade privacy or enable surveillance, saying individuals can remove the software from devices.

Cybersecurity

120,000 home cameras were hacked for sexual videos, South Korean police say

The authorities arrested four people this week in the latest turn in the country's effort to stop exploitative recordings.

Social media

MCMC: Online Safety Act 2025 to strengthen child protection online

In a statement today (Dec 3), MCMC said it is now focusing on developing subsidiary instruments to reinforce the commitment of licensed service providers under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 in line with ONSA 2025 implementation.

Technology

ASX outage deepens investors' doubts over tech overhaul

SYDNEY, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The Australian Securities Exchange's technology turnaround plan, touted by the firm's chair as being too important to fail, is facing questions from investors and market participants after it was hit by a fresh outage this week, the latest in a string of failures.

AI

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declares 'code red' to improve ChatGPT amid rising competition

WSJ reported that Altman sent an internal memo to staff Monday saying more work was needed to enhance the artificial intelligence chatbot's speed, reliability and personalisation features.

AI

AI may be scoring your college essay. Welcome to the new era of admissions

AI tools are now being incorporated into how student applications are screened and analysed, admissions directors say.

Technology

Netflix, Warner Bros Discovery combo seen lowering costs for consumers, sources say

(Changes order of companies in paragraph 10)

Technology

Elon Musk is building out his next company town with science centre, gym

Elon Musk, the richest person in the world, has already shown that when a city's rules won't bend to his will, he'll create a new city and new rules.

Technology

YouTube says it will comply with Australia's teen social media ban

SYDNEY, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Google's YouTube shared a "disappointing update" to millions of Australian users and content creators on Wednesday, saying it will comply with a world-first teen social media ban by locking out users aged under 16 from their accounts within days.

Smartphones

Samsung debuts first trifold phone ahead of folding iPhone

To preempt concerns about potential breakage, Samsung said it has refined the phone's hinges, aluminum frame and display technology to improve long-term durability.

Technology

Anthropic plans an IPO as early as 2026, FT reports

Dec 2 (Reuters) - Anthropic, the artificial intelligence startup backed by Alphabet's Google and Amazon.com, has hired the law firm Wilson Sonsini to prepare for an initial public offering that could take place as early as 2026, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.

Technology

Microchip Technology raises profit, revenue expectations for third quarter

Dec 2 (Reuters) - Chipmaker Microchip Technology on Tuesday raised its expectations for third-quarter net sales and earnings per share, driven by strong bookings, sending its shares up 2.3% in extended trading.

Technology

CrowdStrike forecasts upbeat quarterly revenue as AI adoption fuels growth

Dec 2 (Reuters) - CrowdStrike forecast fourth-quarter revenue above analysts' estimates on Tuesday, as the cybersecurity firm benefits from growing adoption of AI across its product suite.

Technology

EMJ's Jackson aims to take volatility out of crypto

Dec 2 (Reuters) - With bitcoin trading well below its recent highs, hedge fund manager and activist investor Eric Jackson is betting that investors will still want exposure to crypto — just with less pain on the way down.

Technology

Marvell to buy chip startup Celestial AI for $3.25 billion, bullish on growth next year

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Chipmaker Marvell Technology said on Tuesday it will buy semiconductor startup Celestial AI in a deal worth $3.25 billion and gave a bullish forecast for its next fiscal year.

Technology

AT&T commits to ending DEI programs

WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - U.S. wireless carrier AT&T said in a letter to the U.S. telecoms regulator that it had committed to ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs, a move that comes as it seeks approval from the Trump administration to buy wireless spectrum assets.

Technology

Vultr to invest $1 billion in Ohio AI cluster using AMD chips

Dec 2 (Reuters) - Cloud infrastructure company Vultr said on Tuesday it would invest more than $1 billion to launch a new artificial intelligence cluster powered by Advanced Micro Devices' processors at a new data center in Springfield, Ohio.