A decision to allocate satellite spectrum administratively rather than through an auction aims to increase competition in India’s vast telecom market. Telecoms Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia emphasised the government’s commitment to providing consumers with greater choice, despite concerns from Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio over losing ground to Elon Musk’s Starlink. Reliance had pushed for auctions, arguing they ensure a level playing field after the company invested $19 billion in airwave rights.
Analysts suggest administrative allocation aligns with global norms and reduces investment barriers for foreign companies. Scindia noted that current satellite technology is limited to outdoor use, which distinguishes it from indoor services offered by terrestrial networks. Applications from Starlink and Amazon Kuiper to enter India’s satellite broadband market, projected to reach $1.9 billion by 2030, are under review.
India’s competitive telecom sector, with 942 million users and low data costs, is attracting significant global interest. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a state-run operator with 99 million users, is expanding its 4G offerings to regain market share. Meanwhile, the government remains tight-lipped about plans to assist Vodafone Idea, which faces $24 billion in dues.
Musk’s disruptive approach, evident in markets like Kenya where Starlink’s pricing undercut local rivals, signals potential shifts in India’s broadband landscape. The new satellite policy could bring more innovation, fostering a dynamic environment for global and domestic players.
Educators are embracing AI to tackle academic dishonesty, which is increasingly prevalent in digital learning environments. Tools like ChatGPT have made it easier for students to generate entire assignments using AI. To counter this, teachers are employing AI detection tools and innovative strategies to maintain academic integrity.
Understanding AI’s capabilities is crucial in detecting misuse. Educators are advised to familiarise themselves with tools like ChatGPT by testing it with sample assignments. Collecting genuine writing samples from students early in the semester provides a baseline for comparison, helping identify potential AI-generated work. Tools designed specifically to detect AI writing further assist in verifying authenticity.
Requesting rewrites is another effective approach when AI usage is suspected. By asking an AI tool to rewrite a suspected piece, teachers can highlight the telltale signs of machine-generated text, such as a lack of personal style and overuse of synonyms. Strong evidence of AI misuse strengthens cases when addressing cheating with students and school administrators.
The rise of AI in education underscores the need for vigilance. Teachers must balance scepticism with evidence-based methods to ensure fairness. Maintaining a collaborative and transparent approach can help foster a culture of learning over shortcuts.
Social media security firm Spikerz has raised $7 million in a seed funding round led by Disruptive AI, with contributions from Horizon Capital, Wix Ventures, Storytime Capital, and BDMI. The funding highlights the growing demand for innovative solutions to combat cyber threats on social platforms.
The startup specialises in protecting social media accounts from phishing attacks, scams, and other risks posed by increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals. Its platform also helps users detect and remove fake accounts, malicious bots, and visibility restrictions like shadowbans. These features are particularly valuable for businesses, influencers, and brands relying on social platforms for growth.
Spikerz plans to use the investment to enhance its AI-driven platform, expand its global reach, and bolster its team. CEO Naveh Ben Dror emphasised the importance of staying ahead of malicious actors who are now leveraging advanced technologies like generative AI. He described the funding as a strong vote of confidence in the company’s mission to secure social media accounts worldwide.
The firm’s efforts come at a critical time when social media platforms play a central role in the success of businesses and creators. With the latest backing, Spikerz aims to provide cutting-edge tools to safeguard these digital livelihoods.
Major tech companies, including Meta’s Facebook, Elon Musk’s X, YouTube, and TikTok, have committed to tackling online hate speech through a revised code of conduct now linked to the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Announced Monday by the European Commission, the updated agreement also includes platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitch, expanding the coalition originally formed in 2016. The move reinforces the EU’s stance against illegal hate speech, both online and offline, according to EU tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen.
Under the revised code, platforms must allow not-for-profit organisations or public entities to monitor how they handle hate speech reports and ensure at least 66% of flagged cases are reviewed within 24 hours. Companies have also pledged to use automated tools to detect and reduce hateful content while disclosing how recommendation algorithms influence the spread of such material.
Additionally, participating platforms will provide detailed, country-specific data on hate speech incidents categorised by factors like race, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Compliance with these measures will play a critical role in regulators’ enforcement of the DSA, a cornerstone of the EU’s strategy to combat illegal and harmful content online.
Russian state-linked hackers, operating under the unit Star Blizzard, have launched a new phishing campaign targeting the WhatsApp accounts of government ministers and officials worldwide. According to Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Star Blizzard, linked to Russia’s FSB spy agency, aims to undermine political trust in the UK and other similar nations.
Victims receive an email impersonating a US government official, inviting them to join a WhatsApp group. The email contains a QR code that, when scanned, links the victim’s WhatsApp account to an attacker-controlled device or WhatsApp Web, granting the hacker access to sensitive messages. Microsoft confirmed that this tactic allows hackers to exfiltrate data but did not specify whether data was successfully stolen.
The campaign has targeted individuals involved in diplomacy, defence, and Ukraine-related initiatives. This marks the latest attempt by Star Blizzard, which had previously targeted British MPs, universities, and journalists. Microsoft noted that while the campaign seemed to have wound down by November, the use of QR codes in phishing attacks, or ‘quishing,’ shows the hackers’ continued efforts to gain access to sensitive information.
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, emphasised that users should avoid scanning suspicious QR codes and should only link their accounts through official services. Experts also recommend verifying suspicious emails by contacting the sender directly through a known, trusted email address.
Progress on the EU Cybersecurity Certification Scheme (EUCS), stuck in a deadlock since 2019, remains uncertain as discussions are unlikely to advance in the first half of 2025. Despite efforts by Poland, which is leading the EU ministerial meetings until July, disagreements over sovereignty requirements continue to stall the process. The EUCS aims to help companies demonstrate that their ICT solutions meet cybersecurity standards for the EU market but has faced resistance, particularly from France, which wants to preserve its certification system, SecNum Cloud.
The European Cybersecurity Certification Group (ECCG) from ENISA has yet to provide an opinion on the scheme, with its next meeting possibly taking place in February. Poland plans to prioritise cybersecurity during its presidency, hosting key events like an informal telecom minister meeting in March and a conference on ENISA standardisation, though industry groups remain sceptical about a breakthrough.
Lobbyists, including the global software industry group BSA, have criticised the delays. They argue that cybersecurity standards should focus on technical protections rather than political considerations and have urged the Commission to adopt the scheme quickly to strengthen Europe’s cybersecurity resilience.
Further complicating matters, the EU Cybersecurity Act (CSA), which underpins ENISA’s authority to create certification schemes, is under evaluation but has not yet been revised. Of the three certification schemes proposed since 2019, only one has been adopted, with another for 5G still in progress. New EU Commissioner Henna Virkkunen has pledged to improve the adoption process for cybersecurity certification schemes as part of her mission to bolster Europe’s technological sovereignty and security.
The Chinese government “has never and will never” require companies or individuals to collect or transfer data in ways that violate the law, China’s foreign ministry declared on Friday. The statement was issued in response to a privacy complaint filed by Austrian advocacy group Noyb, which accuses six Chinese companies, including TikTok, Shein, and Xiaomi, of unlawfully sending European Union user data to China.
Noyb, an organisation focused on data protection and privacy rights, alleges that the companies breached the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by transferring user data without proper safeguards. The complaint has sparked concerns in Europe about how personal information is handled by Chinese firms operating within the EU. If proven, the violations could result in significant fines and further scrutiny of these companies.
In defending the nation’s stance, a foreign ministry spokesperson emphasised that China operates within the bounds of international laws and rejects any claims of illegal data practices. “China strictly upholds its legal and regulatory framework and will never engage in or endorse actions that violate laws regarding data collection or transfer,” the spokesperson said. The spokesperson also criticised what they described as “unfounded accusations” aimed at tarnishing Chinese businesses.
This case is the latest in a series of global concerns about data privacy and the practices of technology firms. It underscores the growing tension between nations over data security, cross-border data flows, and regulatory compliance, particularly as Chinese companies expand their presence in foreign markets. The outcome of Noyb’s complaint could have far-reaching implications for data governance and corporate practices in both Europe and China.
US authorities, including the Commerce Department and the FBI, are investigating Baicells Technologies, a telecom hardware company with ties to China, over potential security risks. Founded by former Huawei executives, Baicells has supplied telecom equipment to 700 networks across the US since opening its North American branch in 2015. The investigations focus on national security concerns, particularly around the company’s Chinese origins and its equipment’s potential vulnerability to espionage. The FBI’s interest in Baicells goes back to 2019, and recent reports suggest that the Pentagon has added the company to a list of entities connected to China’s military.
While Baicells has denied any wrongdoing and pledged full cooperation with US authorities, the company faces mounting scrutiny amid fears that Chinese-made telecom equipment could be used for surveillance or cyber attacks. In particular, base stations and routers provided by Baicells have been flagged for vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to compromise sensitive networks. The FBI has already contacted local US entities, such as the city of Las Vegas, to raise security concerns regarding Baicells’ technology.
Despite Baicells’ claims that it no longer has ties to its Chinese parent company, its history and ownership structure continue to raise doubts. Many of its top executives and a significant portion of its staff have links to Huawei, further fueling suspicions about the company’s operations. In recent years, Baicells has attempted to distance itself from its Chinese roots, stating that its infrastructure is increasingly built in Taiwan, though much of its equipment still originates from China. The ongoing investigations highlight the broader concerns in Washington about the risks posed by Chinese-linked technology in critical infrastructure.
Reports of an Instagram outage in the United Statesdropped significantly on Wednesday morning, indicating that the issue has been mostly resolved. According to Downdetector.com, which tracks service disruptions, the number of reported incidents fell from over 11,000 earlier in the day to just 619 by 9:32 a.m. ET.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram, did not respond to requests for comment regarding the cause of the disruption. Last year, Meta’s platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, experienced multiple outages, including a widespread global disruption in March.
Downdetector compiles outage data based on user-submitted reports, meaning the actual number of affected users may vary. Despite the initial surge in reports, the swift decline suggests that normal service has been restored for most Instagram users.
President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering an executive order that would postpone the enforcement of the TikTok sale-or-ban law for up to 90 days. According to sources cited by the Washington Post, the order would temporarily halt the requirement for TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to divest its US operations or face a ban.
The delay could provide more time for negotiations and potential deals to resolve security concerns raised by United States lawmakers. The law, passed under the Biden administration, aimed to address fears over TikTok’s links to China, but Trump has taken a more open stance towards the platform during his campaign.
A suspension of enforcement would offer relief to TikTok’s 170 million American users and businesses that rely on the app for advertising and engagement. The move, however, is likely to spark debate in Washington, where concerns over data security and Chinese influence remain key political issues.
