State media reports the Iranian regime has lifted the ban on WhatsApp and Google Play, amid widespread VPN use
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Telegram Joins Child Safety Scheme
Internet Watch Foundation confirms Telegram messaging app has joined child abuse imagery crackdown, after years of refusal
Telegram To Provide Law Enforcement With Suspect Data, If Requested
After arrest, CEO Pavel Durov confirms Telegram will hand over IP addresses and phone numbers of users who violate rules, but not content
Ukraine Bans Telegram On State-Issued Devices
National security move. Ukraine reportedly bans Telegram on state-issued devices due to Russian security threat
Telegram’s Pavel Durov Speaks Out Against French Charges
First public response made by Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, after arrest in France over alleged criminal behaviour on his app
Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Arrested At French Airport – Report
Telegram CEO and founder Pavel Durov arrested, over alleged lack of in-app moderation, and lack of police co-operation
EU Eyes Telegram User Numbers As It Nears Regulatory Threshold
European Commission says in contact with Telegram as platform nears 45 million user threshold for stringent DSA rules
Telegram To Reach One Billion Users Within Year
Catching WhatsApp? Billionaire founder of Telegram claims encrypted platform will reach one billion users within a year
Apple To Bring RCS To iPhones Autumn 2024, Says Google
Finally on the way? Google webpage briefly indicates that Apple will bring RCS to the iPhone by Autumn this year
Microsoft Unbundles Teams From Office Suite
Redmond's collaboration tool Teams is decoupled from Office Suite, under new licensing terms announced on Monday
US Government, US States Sue Apple For Smartphone Monopoly
Apple accused of making it harder to switch phones, hampering innovation, and imposing costs on developers
Telegram Reaches 900m Users, Nears Profitability
Encrypted messaging app Telegram reaches 900 million users, nears profitability as secretive company considers IPO
Apple To Add RCS To Improve Texting Between Android, iPhone
Cross platform texting improvement on the way, as Apple says it will add support for RCS messaging in 2024
SEC Probe ‘Collects Thousands Of Wall Street App Messages’
SEC reportedly reviewing thousands of private messages from apps such as WhatsApp and Signal in Wall Street record-keeping probe
Government Abandons Plan To Scan Encrypted Messages
Online Safety Bill climbdown? After tech platforms threaten to quit UK, government abandons plan to scan encrypted messages
Apple Objects To Spy Clause In UK Online Safety Bill
Apple adds to criticism of spy powers in Online Safety Bill that could force messaging firms to scan encrypted messages
WhatsApp Lets Users Edit Sent Messages – For 15 Minutes
Meta encrypted messaging platform WhatsApp introduces editing of sent messages, but only for 15 minutes after original post
WhatsApp Adds ‘Chat Lock’ To Secure ‘Intimate’ Messages
Extra layer of security has been added for WhatsApp messages, with ability to lock and hide sensitive conversations
Twitter To Launch Encrypted Direct Messaging
Elon Musk reveals Twitter is to launch encrypted direct messages on Wednesday, and voice and video chat are to follow
WhatsApp, Other Messaging Firms Urge Online Safety Bill ‘Rethink’
WhatsApp, six other encrypted messaging firms call for 'urgent rethink' of Online Safety Bill that they say woud weaken user security
WhatsApp To Bypass Regime Internet Shutdowns
Iran, China blow? Internet shutdowns by authoritarian regimes will not prevent WhatsApp users from messaging, Meta confirms
WhatsApp To Stop Working On Older Mobile Phones
Millions of users of older iPhones and Android handsets are to lose access to WhatsApp, after support ends 31 December
Tim Cook Dismisses Google Pressure To Adopt RCS
Apple CEO Tim Cook suggests 'buy your mom an iPhone,' in response to question about no RCS support or integration in iMessage
WhatsApp Reactions Expanded To Allow Full Use Of Every Emoji
New update for WhatsApp users will allow the use of any emoji as a reaction, greatly expanding choice for user chats
Google To Shut Down Hangouts Later This Year
Another app closure. Google Hangouts will be shut down in November this year, as conversations are moved onto Google Chat
WhatsApp Gains Approval To Double Indian Payment Service – Report
Regulatory approval for Meta's WhatsApp, to more than double the number of users of its payments service in India to 100 million
Signal Dismisses Hack Rumour As ‘Misinformation Campaign’
Messaging app Signal denies rumours its platform was hacked, saying it is part of a “co-ordinated misinformation campaign”
WeChat Account Of Australian Prime Minister Removed
China strikes back? Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's WeChat account has vanished, with some alleging Chinese interference
Germany May Close Down Telegram, Minister Warns
Shutting down popular messaging service Telegram in Germany cannot be ruled out, Interior Minister warns, amid battle over pandemic restrictions
WhatsApp Tests Message Sending Without Smartphone
Look mum, no smartphone. For the first time WhatsApp to test a feature to allow users to send messages without a smartphone