Tech Brew Ride Home Thu. 11/03 – How About Some Non-Twitter News?
Nov 3, 2022
TikTok faces scrutiny over privacy policies that may expose European user data to Chinese staff. WhatsApp introduces a new Communities feature for larger group chats. Gmail adds package tracking just in time for the holiday season. Instagram dives into NFTs with new minting and trading tools. Patreon gears up to support video creators with a new hosting feature. Meanwhile, Twitter sees significant layoffs and shifts towards a subscription model for verification, while concerns arise over Adobe's $20 billion acquisition of Figma.
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TikTok Data Access and Potential Ban
- TikTok will update its privacy policy on December 2nd, confirming staff outside Europe (including China) can access European user data.
- This happens amid political and regulatory pressure and ongoing discussions about a potential TikTok ban in the U.S.
WhatsApp Communities Launch
- WhatsApp introduces 'Communities,' a group messaging feature for up to 1,024 people, rolling out globally.
- Unlike Facebook groups, WhatsApp Communities are designed for pre-existing real-world connections and prioritize user privacy by hiding phone numbers.
Gmail Package Tracking
- Gmail will soon display live package tracking information directly in your inbox.
- This feature uses tracking numbers in order confirmation emails to provide delivery updates without opening emails.