Tag: online safety

Musk will no longer let users block accounts on X

Social media giant X, formerly recognised as Twitter, is set to eliminate a significant protective aspect that empowers users to block other accounts, according to a statement by owner Elon Musk on Friday. This decision has sparked controversy, adding to a series of noteworthy actions taken by Musk since acquiring the company last year.

The functionality in question, termed the “block” function, enables users to restrict particular accounts from making contact, viewing their posts, or following their activities. In a recent platform post, Musk disclosed that the “block” feature would be phased out as a prominent component, excluding its usage for direct messages (DMs).

Musk confirmed that the “mute” feature will remain intact. This feature allows users to screen out specific accounts, preventing their content from appearing in the user’s feed. Unlike the “block” feature, the “mute” function does not send a notification to the other account about the action taken.

Elon Musk, a billionaire entrepreneur, has positioned himself as a staunch advocate of unrestricted freedom of speech. However, some critics argue that this stance has led to irresponsible consequences. Researchers have identified an uptick in hate speech and content with antisemitic undertones on the platform following Musk’s acquisition. Governments have accused the company of inadequate content moderation efforts.

The removal or restriction of the “block” feature could potentially lead to clashes with the guidelines enforced by Apple’s App Store and Google Play, a subsidiary of Alphabet. Both platforms stipulate that apps featuring user-generated content must incorporate mechanisms to counter abusive users. The Google Play Store specifically mandates that apps provide an in-app system for blocking both user-generated content and users themselves.

As of now, X, Google, and Apple have not issued formal responses to inquiries seeking comments on this matter.

In response to a plea from anti-bullying advocate Monica Lewinsky to retain the “critical tool for online safety,” Chief Executive Linda Yaccarino defended Musk’s decision. Yaccarino reaffirmed the company’s commitment to user safety and indicated ongoing efforts to develop an improved alternative to the current “block” and “mute” functions. She encouraged continued feedback from users to aid in refining these measures.

Within the organisational structure, it has been communicated that Elon Musk will lead the product and engineering teams, while Linda Yaccarino will oversee all other divisions, including legal and sales.

August 19, 2023
New laws to fight cybercrime in Pakistan: Cabinet passes e-safety and data protection bills

In a significant development, the federal cabinet of Pakistan granted principle approval to two crucial pieces of legislation on Wednesday, which are expected to have a far-reaching impact on digital rights, e-commerce, and the digital economy of the country.

The first bill, named the E-Safety Bill 2023, aims to tackle and prevent online crimes such as cyberbullying, online harassment, and blackmailing. To enforce the provisions of this bill, the cabinet also greenlit the establishment of a regulatory authority known as ‘The E-Safety Authority.’ This authority will be responsible for registering and monitoring websites, web channels, YouTube channels, and existing media houses’ websites. The main objective behind this initiative is to safeguard the rights of citizens, businesses, as well as public and private institutions from online harassment and blackmail.

Presently, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has the authority to monitor content and enforce relevant laws online, while the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) handles cybercrime-related cases. However, the proposed E-Safety Authority will take charge of the front-end monitoring of all websites, promptly addressing violations and imposing penalties. This measure is deemed necessary due to the rapid pace at which cybercrime incidents occur, often exceeding the FIA’s investigative capacity, while the PTA’s role is primarily limited to regulatory functions for internet and telecom service providers.

According to Dawn, the second bill, titled the Personal Data Protection Bill 2023, focuses on protecting user data and preventing the unauthorised use of information systems. The bill will apply to all types of online services, including online shopping platforms, various companies, and social networking websites operating in Pakistan. It aims to safeguard consumers’ data and ensure that it is not misused or illegally accessed.

As per the official statement, “personal data” under the proposed legislation refers to any information directly or indirectly related to an identifiable individual, encompassing sensitive or critical personal data. The bill mandates all entities collecting or maintaining data, digitally or non-digitally operational in Pakistan, to register themselves locally and appoint a data protection officer. The National Commission for Personal Data Protection (NCPDP) will oversee the registration process and will establish sub-offices in provincial capitals and other necessary locations within six months of the bill’s passage.

However, the approval of the Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 has raised concerns among international bodies representing internet-based platforms. The Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), through its Managing Director Jeff Paine, highlighted that the bill’s current form falls short of international data protection standards and imposes unnecessary complexities that may increase the cost of doing business and hinder foreign investment. The requirement for “critical” data to be stored locally and the restriction on cross-border transfer of other personal data could potentially limit access to global digital services for Pakistanis.

In response to these concerns, the AIC has called for more transparent stakeholder consultations by the government. Digital rights campaigner and Meta board member, Nighat Dad, expressed similar sentiments, stating that while the bill addresses important issues, the lack of consultations is undemocratic.

Despite concerns from international bodies, an official from the IT ministry defended the legislation, emphasising that the government’s primary responsibility is to protect Pakistan’s interests and its citizens. He asserted that commercial entities’ apprehensions are primarily driven by their business concerns.

The approval of these significant bills marks a crucial step towards enhancing digital rights and data protection in Pakistan. As the nation progresses into a more digitally interconnected era, finding a balanced approach that addresses concerns from both local and international stakeholders will be crucial for the country’s digital economy and growth.

July 27, 2023
WhatsApp will soon let you edit sent messages and lock chats

The popular messaging app owned by Meta has commenced the phased rollout of its highly anticipated function, which will soon be accessible to all users in the forthcoming weeks.

Under this innovative update, edited messages will bear a conspicuous label, indicating that modifications have been made, while preserving the confidentiality of the specific changes made. To initiate the editing process, users simply need to press and hold a message, then select the “edit” option from the convenient drop-down menu. However, it’s important to note that this edit feature remains available for a limited duration of 15 minutes after the message has been sent.

According to a blog post by the company, this new functionality aims to address instances when users make inadvertent errors or alter their thoughts, providing them with a seamless means of rectifying mistakes or supplementing additional context within their conversations. WhatsApp is truly excited to offer enhanced control over chats, empowering users to correct typographical errors or refine their message content.

WhatsApp now joins the league of other prominent messaging services like Telegram and Signal, which have already integrated the edit function into their platforms. Moreover, Twitter introduced its exclusive Edit Tweet feature for paying subscribers last year, while Facebook has allowed users to edit posts and comments for nearly a decade, albeit without extending the capability to messages until now.

Notably, WhatsApp’s latest update coincides with Meta’s recent announcement that it will introduce the ability for users to lock and conceal conversations. Through the Chat Lock feature, a specific chat thread can be discreetly removed from the app’s standard onscreen inbox and relocated to a secure folder, safeguarded by a password or advanced biometric measures such as facial recognition or fingerprint authentication. Meta emphasizes that this offers an additional layer of security, although it may potentially raise concerns in relation to the UK government’s online safety bill.

Prepare to experience an enhanced messaging experience as WhatsApp’s groundbreaking updates redefine the boundaries of user control. Stay tuned as the platform ushers in a new era of communication, offering unparalleled flexibility and security.

May 23, 2023
Foodpanda users beware: Woman claims Rs11,000 deducted from bank account

Online scams are a recurring issue that we hear about time and again. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to hear of fraudsters using apps to debit money from unsuspecting victims. The latest incident involves the popular food delivery app, Foodpanda, which has been accused of scamming its users.

A Twitter user with the handle ‘nahin ho paa raha ab’ recently shared a disturbing incident involving her friend and the Foodpanda app. Her friend received three notifications of Rs11,000 being deducted from her bank account by Foodpanda, all within the span of five minutes. To add insult to injury, the app appeared to evade responsibility for the issue.

The user claimed that her friend had three linked accounts, with two of them having insufficient funds. When both failed, Foodpanda allegedly debited the third account without her friend’s knowledge or consent. Upon attempting to remove her bank details, her friend was reportedly logged out and her login credentials were changed.

The Twitter user accused the app of a data breach, and shockingly, Foodpanda has reportedly asked her to file a police report. It’s a worrying incident that highlights the need for greater vigilance and caution when using online services.

She also shared screenshots of the transaction. Here is the viral Twitter thread:

https://twitter.com/palesummery/status/1653718607128297474

Screenshots shared by the Twitter user indicate that the food delivery app has pledged to assist the relevant authorities in investigating the matter at hand.

The user who previously reported the fraudulent activity, known as ‘nahin ho paa raha ab’, has since spoken with The Current and shared that Meezan Bank has promised assistance due to the lack of two-factor authentication.

Despite this, Foodpanda’s help center has not confirmed whether the user will receive a refund and has requested additional information regarding the incident. The user has already provided a detailed explanation and shared their experience on social media.

According to her, this is not the first time such a scam has occurred. She mentioned that another girl was also deprived of Rs20,000 in a similar manner in the past.

Despite our best efforts, we were unable to receive a response from Foodpanda regarding this matter at the time of publishing this news story.

May 4, 2023