Signal remains the go-to encrypted messaging app, prioritizing privacy and open-source security amid broader debates on digital rights and platform surveillance.
The government has proposed a midnight curfew and automatic disabling of addictive features for 16- and 17-year-olds on major platforms. The move follows a plan to ban under-16s and aims to improve sleep and focus, with provisions allowing users to switch off defaults. Public debate centers on effectiveness and enforcement as the policy awaits formal legislation and a potential successor to prime minister Keir Starmer.
Federal prosecutors have charged five men over an alleged plot to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn, with drones, snipers and a plan to trigger mass panic. The plot was disrupted by the FBI after encrypted messages and online chatter surfaced. The event coincided with President Trump’s 80th birthday and drew high-profile attendees. Investigators say the group discussed tearing down the United States to rebuild it.
Google has released a stand-alone Google Finance app for Android, bringing the AI-powered web facelift to mobile. The app mirrors the updated Finance web experience, including AI-generated key moments, an AI research tool, and chat-based insights tied to users’ portfolios and watchlists. An iOS version is planned for later, with more features rolling out over time.
WhatsApp has begun reserving usernames to replace phone numbers for contact, a move the company frames as a privacy feature. Several countries are scrutinising the plan as regulators warn of potential rises in fraud and impersonation. The rollout is to be gradual this year, with high-profile handles reserved to prevent abuse.
Eight men across multiple states have been charged in two conspiracies related to plans to provide material support to terrorists and to murder a federal official during a UFC event on the White House lawn. Investigators say they planned explosive drones and sniper attacks, targeting high-profile figures; arrests span Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, Washington, California and West Virginia.
The European Commission has found that Meta breached the Digital Services Act by failing to assess the risks of Instagram and Facebook's 'addictive design'. Brussels has told Meta to disable autoplay and infinite scroll by default, add effective screen-time breaks and make recommendations less engagement-driven. Meta has disagreed and will respond before a final decision and possible fines.