Tobias

India is exploring age-based restrictions on social media platforms to protect minors, following a global trend. Discussions are underway with platforms regarding deepfakes and age verification, potentially impacting major tech companies. This initiative aligns with similar measures in Australia, Denmark, and Spain, as governments worldwide grapple with balancing digital access and child online safety amidst evolving technologies.

Snap Inc. is launching “Creator Subscriptions,” a new feature allowing creators to offer exclusive content for recurring revenue from fans. This initiative aims to diversify Snap’s income beyond advertising, especially as user growth slows. Creators can set prices from $4.99 to $19.99 monthly, retaining about 60% of the revenue. The feature, initially for US creators on iOS, will expand to other countries, facing competition from platforms like Patreon and YouTube.

U.S. stock futures suggest a lower open as investors digest soft inflation data and await key economic reports. The market also mourns the passing of civil rights icon Jesse Jackson. Meanwhile, tech leaders convene in India for an AI summit, and Apple expands into video podcasting. The ongoing Epstein scandal leads to more executive departures, highlighting increased scrutiny on corporate ethics.

Figma partners with Anthropic to launch “Code to Canvas,” allowing AI-generated code to be imported and collaboratively refined within Figma. This move emphasizes human design’s continued value alongside AI advancements. The partnership occurs amidst a significant downturn in the SaaS market, with Figma’s stock also experiencing a substantial decline. Investors await Figma’s earnings report for insights into its performance and future strategy.

Render has secured $100 million in funding, reaching a $1.5 billion valuation. This investment highlights the company’s strong position in the booming cloud infrastructure market, fueled by the rise of generative AI. Render is experiencing over 100% revenue growth, with millions of developers actively using its platform. The company plans to expand its team and accelerate feature development, while also exploring dedicated servers for greater control and cost efficiency.

This spring, Apple Podcasts will introduce video, allowing seamless viewing and listening within a single feed. Leveraging HLS protocol, it enables adaptive streaming and dynamic video ad insertion for creators. This move competes directly with Spotify and YouTube, as major infrastructure partners like Acast and ART19 align with the new video format, reflecting a broader industry shift towards visual podcasting.

The UK is expanding its Online Safety Act to cover AI chatbots, holding platforms like ChatGPT accountable for illegal content. This move, spurred by issues with Elon Musk’s Grok, aims to close regulatory gaps and protect children. The government also plans to introduce age limits for social media, restrict addictive features, and mandate data retention following a child’s death. This aligns with global trends, as other countries like Australia and Spain are also implementing stricter online child protection measures.

China’s rapid AI advancements are challenging US technological dominance, creating a “China tech shock.” Fueled by cost efficiencies, a strong supply chain, and government investment, China is moving up the value chain in AI and other sectors. Domestically produced chips and abundant energy empower its AI development, potentially leading to a “China tech sphere” favored by developing economies due to lower costs. This shift raises questions about US hyperscalers’ substantial AI investments and their return.

ByteDance’s new AI video tool, Seedance 2.0, is facing intense backlash from Hollywood. Major studios, including Disney and Paramount, have issued cease-and-desist letters, alleging the platform infringes on copyrighted characters and celebrity likenesses. The Motion Picture Association has demanded ByteDance halt “infringing activity,” citing massive unauthorized use of intellectual property. ByteDance has pledged to enhance safeguards to prevent misuse and respect creators’ rights amidst growing AI and copyright tensions.

Cryptocurrency payments to human trafficking syndicates surged 85% in 2025, with Southeast Asia as a criminal hub. The report details crypto use in escort services, scam compound recruitment, and CSAM distribution. Criminals are shifting to messaging apps like Telegram for operations. Public blockchains offer visibility into these global illicit flows, which amount to hundreds of millions of dollars, though the human cost is far greater.