Experts say misinformation from “verified” pseudo-OSINT accounts on X, driven by profit and engagement, is destroying the Israel-Hamas war information ecosystem
Chainalysis says recent media reports about the supposed use of crypto by terrorist organizations might be overstating metrics and using “flawed analyses”
- Chainalysis said some recent reports about the supposed use of crypto by terrorist organizations might be overstating metrics and using “flawed analyses.”
“Religious” chatbots, based on the Bhagavad Gita, emerge in India, with millions using them, some answering ~50K questions per day and others condoning violence
Claiming wisdom based on the Bhagavad Gita, the bots frequently go way off script. — • NEW DELHI, INDIA Tweets: @cengizyar , @hare_brain , and @karan_singhs Tweets: Cengiz / @cen...
TikTok Shop is thriving in Indonesia, TikTok's second-biggest market with an estimated 110M users; Data.ai: the Shop seller app has ~5.5M Indonesian downloads
TikTok Shop, the controversial app's ambitious next phase, has caught fire in Indonesia. “This is truly the year of TikTok,” says one seller. Tweets: @juokaz , @shiraovide , and @...
After India's legal orders this week, Twitter blocked the tweets of 122 users, including reporters and politicians, from Indian users; it used to push back more
https://restofworld.org/... Lauren Weinstein / @lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org : Instead of pushing back as #Twitter used to do, Elon now bends over for India's requests to bl...
How, in two years, JioMart grew to fulfill 600K grocery deliveries per day in 260 Indian cities, via WhatsApp integration and using Dunzo for last-mile delivery
Cambodia's online gambling and scam industries keep recruiting “cyber slave” workers via trafficking and misleading ads despite police raids and global pressure
long workdays with punishments like tasings and beatings when they miss goals https://restofworld.org/... @charlesmok : A “best kept secret” — well-known in Asia, very little in th...
Didi, Kuaishou, Huawei, TikTok, and other Chinese tech companies are expanding in Latin America and poaching talent from each other, as competition intensifies
then Snapchat started poaching people from Kwai.” @dandiba & @megatobin1 for @restofworld https://restofworld.org/... Daniela Dib / @dandiba : As specialized tech talent is scarce ...
Experts: India's TikTok clones like Moj and Josh have failed to replicate TikTok's success, and Instagram and YouTube will take over India's short-video segment
Creators are instead gravitating toward Instagram and YouTube, which may eventually be the winners in the Indian short-video segment. Tweets: @glenngabe , @restofworld , @restofwor...
Inside China's $16B virtual influencer industry, as motion capture actors complain of hard working conditions powering their avatars four to five hours per day
It's really about the Pacific, but Taiwan stands in the way. Art: Mark Corry. Tweets: Ross Dawson / @rossdawson : Virtual influencers are becoming massive, especially in China, wh...
Instagram-based thrift stores in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal are making used clothes popular, even desirable, among young shoppers
Rest of World : Tweets: @fogginsophie , @cengizyar , and @itikaspunit Tweets: Sophie Foggin / @fogginsophie : Years ago, running a successful thrift store would have been unthinka...
China's crackdown and economic downturn have led to massive layoffs in its tech sector, but some workers are relieved to exit the industry's “996” work schedule
Viola Zhou / Rest of World : Tweets: @vickiturk , @cengizyar , and @alvinfoo Tweets: Vicki Turk / @vickiturk : A highly-paid tech job was the dream for China's young workers. Now,...
Despite rocketing inflation and a cratering crypto market, many Latin American traders still see crypto as a way to circumvent unstable or stagnant economies
After suspending withdrawals on Friday, Babel Finance says it has reached “preliminary agreements” on repayments of “some debts”, helping ease its liquidity
- Babel Finance says it has reached “preliminary agreements” with major counterparties “on the repayment period of some debts.”
Despite a cratering crypto market, many traders in Latin America still see crypto as a way to circumvent unstable or stagnant economies where they live
Caught between rocketing inflation and a cratering crypto market, many stick with Bitcoin. — • MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
A look at “migrant TikTok”, content by and for migrants journeying to Europe, as platforms struggle to moderate videos referring to illegal smuggling
Videos on the harrowing journey between Africa and Europe offer valuable information — and tease a brighter future for migrants Tweets: @cengizyar Tweets: Cengiz / @cengizyar : An ...
Koo, an app touted as India's answer to Twitter, has self-verification features that Elon Musk may want but shows risks of handing over data to the government
Nilesh Christopher / Rest of World : Tweets: @restofworld , @restofworld , and @cengizyar Tweets: @restofworld : Koo, India's homegrown alternative to Twitter, is letting users “s...
Survey of 1,800 households in El Salvador shows 61% have abandoned the Chivo bitcoin wallet after withdrawing a free $30 sign-up bonus
Those who stayed are not on the Chivo app for what was intended, using it to keep their dollars safe rather than for crypto. — • BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA Tweets: @antoniocasilli , @cengi...
A look at Zenly, a Snap-owned social mapping app still operating in Russia amid bans and exits of other Western apps; Zenly had 51M+ downloads in Russia in 2021
Andrew Deck / Rest of World : Tweets: @martinsfp , @mvzelenks , @cengizyar , @restofworld , and @restofworld Tweets: Martin Sfp Bryant / @martinsfp : I tried this yesterday and th...
Twitter agrees to be acquired “by an entity wholly owned by Elon Musk” for $54.20 per share in cash; the ~$44B deal requires shareholder and regulatory approval
- Twitter's board accepted billionaire Elon Musk's offer to buy the social media company and take it private, the company confirmed.