WhatsApp: News

05 Mar 2021

Zoom

WhatsApp releases voice and video calling feature for desktop client

WhatsApp has released the long-awaited voice and video calling feature for the app's desktop version. The feature doesn't yet support group calls, but it is optimized to work in both portrait and landscape orientations.

04 Mar 2021

Netflix

NewsBytes Briefing: WhatsApp gets desktop voice calling, and more

Nothing drives innovation more than your consumer base waking up and saying no to the abuse. At least, that seems to be why Facebook has been adding new and shiny features at an impressive rate.

04 Mar 2021

X

NewsBytes Briefing: Twitter brings Clubhouse to the masses, and more

Even as Clubhouse tries to be a hipster and keep Android users from experiencing its new take on social media, Twitter has cloned the experience for them with Spaces.

03 Mar 2021

Disappearing Messages

Leaked screenshots suggest WhatsApp might roll out self-destructing images

In an upcoming update, Facebook-owned instant messaging service WhatsApp could add a feature which automatically destroys images once viewed, or after a predefined time. The new feature will add to disappearing messages introduced in November 2020.

20 Feb 2021

MeitY

Sandes messaging app is the government's alternative to WhatsApp

The Indian government's National Informatics Centre (NIC) has developed an instant messaging app called Sandes, which translates into "message" in Hindi. The application was intended for use by government officials but it allows individuals to sign up as well.

20 Feb 2021

Facebook

WhatsApp will implement updated policy despite global outrage

WhatsApp has reiterated that it will implement its privacy policy despite user backlash and government scrutiny. WhatsApp recently published a blog post reminding its dwindling user base that the privacy policy will come into effect on May 15.

Supreme Court slaps Facebook, WhatsApp with notice over privacy policy

The Supreme Court of India has issued a notice to Facebook and WhatsApp over the ongoing privacy policy concerns. The move comes after the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had issued a notice to the social media giant on the issue.

01 Feb 2021

Reddit

NewsBytes Briefing: Musk's army of gamer cyborg monkeys, and more

There is never a dull moment with Elon Musk. At a recent Clubhouse interaction, the world's richest man revealed that his Neuralink start-up has monkeys with brain implants that allow them to play video games with one another.

31 Jan 2021

Facebook

WFH special: Tips to reduce fatigue from excessive screen time

Excessive use of your phone and/or laptop in these times of WFH leads to a number of discomforts, like migraine, eye pain, and muscle fatigue, among others.

28 Jan 2021

Elon Musk

Telegram lures away WhatsApp users with new chat migration tool

Telegram is trying its best to capture users moving away from WhatsApp. Its latest effort involves a tool letting users import chats from WhatsApp, among other messaging services.

25 Jan 2021

Delhi High Court

WhatsApp isn't mandatory, users can opt out: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court (HC) remarked that accepting WhatsApp's updated privacy policy isn't mandatory, and users have the choice of using a competing app if they don't like its Terms of Service (ToS).

24 Jan 2021

Elon Musk

Signal beta update adds new features targeted at ex-WhatsAppers

Signal's latest beta (5.3.1) release contains features designed to give the former WhatsApp users a reassuringly familiar experience.

22 Jan 2021

X

IT Parliamentary panel discusses WhatsApp privacy policy, Trump ban

The standing committee of the Parliament on Information Technology grilled officials of Facebook and Twitter at a meeting on Thursday over their views on the prevention of misuse of online platforms.

21 Jan 2021

X

WhatsApp responds to Indian government's letter regarding privacy policy update

On Tuesday, the Indian government's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) sent a strongly worded letter to WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart, asking him to withdraw the recent update to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy for Indian users.

19 Jan 2021

Indian Government

India demands WhatsApp to withdraw new privacy policy

The Indian government has demanded WhatsApp to withdraw its updated privacy policy. It has deemed the messaging service's unilateral changes to be unfair and unacceptable while issuing the ultimatum.

19 Jan 2021

Facebook

Only 18 percent of surveyed Indians might continue using WhatsApp

In a recent survey conducted by social media platform LocalCircles, it was found that only 18 out of every 100 Indian users surveyed were willing to accept WhatsApp's updated policies and continue using the platform.

18 Jan 2021

X

Hike messaging service shuts down, leaves app stores

Indian messaging app Hike StickerChat has been shut down. The platform officially closed down today following a Twitter announcement by founder and CEO Kavin Bharti Mittal on January 6.

18 Jan 2021

Android

Signal users report encryption errors; Company claims chat security unaffected

Signal, the privacy-centric messaging service, spent long hours battling a global outage last weekend. The disruption is reported to have been caused by a high influx of new users.

18 Jan 2021

Reliance Industries

Soon, Reliance may let you order groceries from WhatsApp

Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Retail Ltd. is reportedly working toward embedding JioMart into WhatsApp within the next six months. The move will allow 400-million Indian WhatsApp users to address their grocery needs from neighboring outlets through Ambani's hyperlocal e-commerce platform.

16 Jan 2021

Delhi High Court

WhatsApp capitulates: Won't implement controversial privacy policy for 3 months

With WhatsApp's clarifications being received with skepticism, the chat app has pushed the deadline for accepting its new Terms of Service (ToS) forward by three months.

16 Jan 2021

Facebook

WhatsApp's policies under government scrutiny following global outrage

The Terms of Service (ToS) and privacy policy of Facebook-owned messaging service WhatsApp were recently updated. And, the revised documentation is now being scrutinized by the IT Ministry of the Government of India.

15 Jan 2021

Arnab Goswami

TRP scam: WhatsApp chats between Arnab Goswami, ex-BARC CEO leaked

The Mumbai Police, which is probing the alleged TRP (Television Rating Points) scam, has reportedly released alleged WhatsApp chats between Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami and ex-CEO of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), Partho Dasgupta.

12 Jan 2021

Facebook

WhatsApp highlights key points in a tweet busting recent rumors

In light of the recent hullabaloo surrounding WhatsApp's disregard for confidentiality of user data, users have flocked to alternative messaging services such as Signal, which reported a sharp increase in new user sign-ups.

11 Jan 2021

Google

WhatsApp group invite links, user profiles accessible via Google search

In a disturbing development, several WhatsApp private groups and user profiles are showing up on Google search, compromising the privacy of users.

10 Jan 2021

Facebook

WhatsApp claims Terms of Service change only affects business accounts

WhatsApp recently pushed a notification directing users to accept the revised Terms of Service by February 8.

09 Jan 2021

Facebook

WhatsApp issues ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or lose account

WhatsApp has updated its privacy policy and requires users' consent to share their data with Facebook and associated companies. Failure to agree to the new terms of service will cause your WhatsApp account to become inoperable.

08 Jan 2021

Facebook

Signal's user count surges after Musk recommends it over WhatsApp

Signal, the privacy-centric messaging service, took to Twitter to thank new users for their support. It also took the opportunity to apologize for delays in delivery of verification codes preventing registration for many new users.

07 Jan 2021

Facebook

WhatsApp inches closer to launching multi-device support: Details here

WhatsApp has been partially rolling out a new UI for the WhatsApp Web component. The update was a part of the latest 2.21.1.3 beta build available through the Google Play Beta program.

02 Jan 2021

Android

WhatsApp ends support for these smartphones: Details here

Facebook-owned messaging platform WhatsApp has withdrawn support for a number of dated smartphones.

23 Nov 2020

Android

How to use WhatsApp's 'Disappearing Messages' feature on Android, iOS

Earlier this month, WhatsApp introduced a new 'Disappearing Messages' feature that allows users to send self-deleting messages in individual chats as well as group conversations.

13 Nov 2020

Facebook

After WhatsApp, Facebook brings disappearing messages to Messenger and Instagram

Facebook has introduced a new feature that lets you send disappearing messages on Messenger and Instagram platforms.

06 Nov 2020

iOS

WhatsApp's payments service is finally here: How to use it

WhatsApp has launched its payments service in India after receiving a nod from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

05 Nov 2020

Telegram

WhatsApp introduces new disappearing messages feature: How to use it

WhatsApp is constantly evolving its platform with new features, enhancing the messaging experience for billions of its active users.

27 Oct 2020

Facebook

Facebook India policy head Ankhi Das quits after hate-speech row

On Tuesday, Ankhi Das stepped down as the head of Facebook's public policy in India, South Asia, and Central Asia.

23 Oct 2020

Android

Here's how to mute a WhatsApp chat forever

WhatsApp has finally introduced a new feature that lets you mute a chat forever. So, if you are a part of an annoying group on the messaging app, chances are you are going to love this new option.

07 Oct 2020

Suzuki

Suzuki Access 125 and Burgman Street, with Bluetooth connectivity, launched

Japanese automaker Suzuki has launched the new Access 125 and Burgman Street scooters in India.

01 Oct 2020

Android

WhatsApp testing new features for Android users: Details here

WhatsApp, the biggest messaging platform in the world, has given a glimpse of a few new features it is developing for Android users.

26 Sep 2020

Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone leaves NCB office after six hours of questioning

Actor Deepika Padukone was today questioned for nearly six hours in an ongoing drugs probe linked to fellow actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case.

23 Sep 2020

Deepika Padukone

NCB summons Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara in drug probe

In a major development in the drug probe linked to actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, fellow actors Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh have been summoned by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

22 Sep 2020

Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone's manager summoned by NCB in drugs probe

In a fresh development in the ongoing drugs probe related to actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, actor Deepika Padukone's manager Karishma Prakash has been summoned.