Norway forbids the use of behavioural advertising on Meta's apps

Norway has prohibited Meta, founded by Mark Zuckerberg, from running behavioural advertising on Facebook and Instagram. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority enforced the restriction in reaction to user monitoring and profiling, which infringes their right to privacy.

The Prohibition and Its Effects

The behavioural advertising prohibition will go into force on August 4 and last for three months, or until Meta proves it is in conformity with the law. If Meta disobeys the ruling, a coercive punishment of up to one million NOK ($100,000) per day may be imposed. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority has said that this restriction only applies to users in Norway.

Meta's Unlawful Behaviour

The implementation of a temporary ban on behavioural advertising for Facebook and Instagram resulted from the Norwegian Data Protection Authority's determination that Meta's practises were unlawful. The Irish Data Protection Commission ruled in December that Meta was engaging in unlawful behavioural advertising on behalf of all data protection authorities in the European Economic Area (EEA). This decision was taken in response to that decision. Despite certain adjustments made by Meta in response to earlier judgements, the Court of Justice of the European Union has found that Meta's behavioural advertising continues to violat

User Rights and Privacy Protection

It's important to understand that Norway's restriction on behavioural advertising does not entail an outright ban on Facebook or Instagram within the nation. The ban's objective is to guarantee that Norwegian users may access these services in a secure manner while upholding their legal rights. The importance of privacy as a basic human right is emphasised by the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, which also stipulates that business models must uphold it.

On iPhone, Android, and PC, how to turn on Chrome's dark mode for all websites

When using Google Chrome in the dark, do you have eye fatigue? Here's how to activate Chrome's dark mode on Windows, iOS, and Android devices.

One of the most popular programmes on Android, iOS, and Windows is Google Chrome. If you use Chrome to explore the internet for hours on end like most people do, the stark white light may irritate and strain your eyes.

Even though dark mode is supported by Chrome on all devices, certain websites do not. The procedures listed below can be used to enable dark mode on Windows, Android, and iPhone devices:

How to make Chrome for Windows work in dark mode

It's really simple to enable dark mode in Chrome on Windows. On websites that do not support it, the desktop software can also display inverted white text on a black backdrop.

Microsoft and Activision are in discussions to prolong their agreement.

The contract's expiration would not necessarily result in the deal's demise; rather, it would give each business the option to end the relationship.

A source with knowledge of the situation said on Monday that Microsoft Corp. is in discussions to extend the purchase agreement it has with video game developer Activision Blizzard, which is due to expire on Tuesday, so the parties can clear the last regulatory obstacles in their $69 billion merger.

The contract's expiration would not necessarily result in the deal's demise; rather, it would give each business the option to end the relationship.

However, the Xbox game console's manufacturer, Microsoft, has been requesting the contract extension to make sure that Activision is not courted by another prospective purchaser or changes its mind, the source claimed.

Soon, Android smartphones could be able to tell if you're on a flight.

According to a recent patent filed by Google, the company is developing a new function dubbed "Connected Flight Mode" that would automatically switch mobile devices into aeroplane mode.

According to reports, Google is developing a new function dubbed "Connected Flight Mode" that would instantly switch Android devices into Aeroplane Mode.

In accordance with a recent patent application by Google, "Connected Flight Mode" will activate "Aeroplane mode" once it determines that you are travelling by plane and turn it off after you have landed. The new capability can instantly toggle Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, in contrast to the present Aeroplane mode implementation, which automatically turns off all radios. 

According to the patent, the functionality may be able to modify Wi-Fi settings to correspond to the kind of connection that the airline will permit. Additionally, if it notices that the device battery is running low or that the network connection is unstable, it may disengage from the network. Another thing to keep in mind is that when your smartphone goes into "Connected Flight Mode," updates and background app refresh will not be possible.

GST Council Implements a 28% Tax on Online Gaming, Raising Industry Concerns

Regardless of whether the games entail talent or are dependent on chance, tax would be applied to the total value.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently announced that the GST Council has agreed to levy a 28% tax on the revenue from online gambling, horse racing, and casinos. The decision is applicable to the entire face value of these activities and was made by a group of ministers (GoM) made up of representatives from all 50 states and the union territories.

The Debate Over Tax Calculation

The panel debated whether the tax should be based only on platform fees, the overall gaming income, or the face value of wagers. Sitharaman underlined that regardless of whether the games entail talent or are based on chance, the tax will be assessed on the whole value.

Industry worries about online gaming

This move comes after three proposals for the creation of Self-Regulatory Organisations (SROs) in the online gaming industry were submitted to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). These SROs seek to control and distinguish between gambling applications and skill-based online gaming.

The Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), a self-regulatory organisation that represents business partners including Dream11, Fantasy Akhada, and Guru11, expressed dismay and issued a warning about potential "irreversible damage" to the gaming sector. They suggested that the tax rise may result in a decrease in income, have an effect on job possibilities, and push consumers onto illicit sites.

A recent Esports Players Welfare Association (EPWA) survey revealed that 61 out of 100 online gamers may discontinue playing due to the anticipated tax hike. The proposed changes place additional strain on the gaming industry, potentially affecting foreign investments, career prospects, and related sectors.

Industry stakeholders, including the FIFS and Games24x7, raised concerns that the GST imposition on Contest Entry Amount (CEA) would render the legitimate online gaming industry financially unviable. They cautioned that consumers may shift towards offshore and illegal platforms, resulting in tax losses, outflows of foreign exchange, and job cuts.