Page 3 - Metaverse

Meta team meets IT Ministry over username feature, to reply within 3 days

The Centre directed WhatsApp to keep the rollout on hold until consultations are completed "to the satisfaction of the Government"

Vaishnaw asks Meity to summon Meta over Instagram child abuse content

IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has asked MeitY officials to summon Meta over allegations that Instagram carried advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material

AI agent tech progressing slower than expected, says Mark Zuckerberg

Zuckerberg added that a company reorganization ‌that included major job cuts was not as "clean" as it could ​have been and that executives had miscalculated on the ​timing of the changes

WhatsApp issues FAQs on username feature amid government scrutiny

Meta-owned WhatsApp has come out with a detailed set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the controversial username feature, outlining details on how it plans to address concerns around impersonation, scams and unwanted contact as users begin reserving usernames. The FAQs come amid the Centre's notice to Meta flagging concerns over potential fraud and impersonation risks, and warning against a roll out of the feature till consultations on the issue are completed "to the satisfaction of the government". Put simply, the new feature will allow users to create unique usernames that can be used for connecting on WhatsApp without sharing phone numbers. The FAQs say usernames will be optional, cannot be searched by strangers, and that users can add an additional 'username key' requiring both the username and the key before someone can contact them. WhatsApp said well-known names, including those of public figures, celebrities, government entities and Meta-verified accounts, have been

Businesses not kicked about WhatsApp's username move despite user interest

Businesses say phone numbers will remain central to customer interactions despite WhatsApp's username feature, while cybersecurity experts expect improved privacy and lower spam

Govt reviews WhatsApp username feature amid fraud, impersonation fears

The government is reviewing WhatsApp's upcoming username feature over concerns it could enable impersonation, fraud and pose risks to public safety

Meta loses bid to dismiss US states' lawsuit over child addiction claims

US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, denied ‌Meta's motion to dismiss claims based on deception, unfair practices ​and violations of the federal act

WhatsApp begins username reservations, feature to roll out later this year

The messaging platform will let users reserve unique usernames that can be shared instead of phone numbers, with the feature becoming available later this year

Zuckerberg eyeing prediction markets, Meta to create Polymarket-like app

Meta is developing a prediction-market app modelled on Polymarket and Kalshi as Zuckerberg seeks new avenues for growth beyond Facebook and Instagram

Meta's $900 mn Cred bet fuels hopes of turning WhatsApp into a super-app

The global tech firm announced this week that it will own 20% of Bengaluru-based Cred, which rewards people who pay their credit-card bills on time

Meta's Cox sought Kunal Shah's advice on WhatsApp, then made him leader

Meta Chief Product Officer Chris Cox reached out to Shah directly in the spring, seeking advice on picking the future leader of WhatsApp

Will Kunal Shah be able to deliver on Meta's goal to monetise WhatsApp?

Shah has a portfolio of about 298 companies, focusing primarily on sectors such as consumer tech, fintech, SaaS, climate tech, AI and edtech

WhatsApp's journey: From status app to world's default messaging service

With Cred founder Kunal Shah set to lead WhatsApp globally, here's a look at the evolution of the app that transformed digital communication and largely replaced SMS across the world

Meet Kunal Shah, the CRED founder set to become WhatsApp's global head

Shah will succeed Will Cathcart, who has led WhatsApp since 2019. Cathcart will move to a newly created division within Meta focused on building next-generation products

Meta invests $900 mn in Cred, Kunal Shah to head WhatsApp globally

Meta acquires a minority stake in Cred through a $900 million investment and appoints founder Kunal Shah as global head of WhatsApp

Meta taps Kunal Shah to head WhatsApp as part of $900 mn Cred investment

The investment gives Meta a roughly 20 per cent stake in Cred, which operates an app that rewards customers for paying their credit card bills on time

We want to be part of India's growth story: Meta's Santosh Janardhan

Meta sees India as a key hub for AI-driven infrastructure growth, with its upcoming Jamnagar data centre reflecting a long-term investment strategy

Meta made 'mistakes' in AI workforce shift, says CEO Mark Zuckerberg

Zuckerberg is pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into AI as he seeks to reshape his company's inner workings around technology, reflecting a broader pattern ‌among major US companies this year

Reliance Industries to build Meta's first AI-enabled data centre in India

Reliance Industries will develop a 168 MW AI-enabled data centre in Jamnagar for Meta, strengthening a long-standing partnership spanning connectivity, commerce and artificial intelligence

Meta partners with Fourth Partner Energy for 88 MW RE projects in India

Fourth Partner Energy (FPEL) said on Wednesday it has partnered with Meta Platforms Inc. on 88 megawatts alternating current (MWac) of renewable energy projects across India, as the technology company seeks to advance its clean energy and emissions reduction goals in the country. Under the agreement, FPEL will own and operate a portfolio of solar and wind projects across the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Meta will purchase 100 per cent of the environmental attributes associated with the projects, FPEL said in a statement. The deal supports the addition of renewable energy capacity to India's power grid and forms part of Meta's broader strategy to align its operations with clean energy sources. "These projects with Fourth Partner Energy represent a commitment to India's clean energy ecosystem, helping to bring new renewable energy capacity onto the grid and address Meta's value chain emissions in the region. This is consistent with our broader goal