The Internet’s Archives Are Being Deleted as Users Scramble to Save What They Can

A common adage that people often refer to is that anything that you put on the internet is likely going to stay there forever. In spite of the fact that this is the case, it seems that the internet is being purged, which means that all of the memories that people were hoping to hold on to suddenly seem less safe than might have been the case otherwise.

A recent tweet that was put out by outgoing Twitter CEO Elon Musk stated that his company will be purging so called inactive user accounts. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that only accounts that have remained unused for a period of several years will end up being purged, but this still raises the question of how safe your data will be in the long run.

However, this is not the only thing that is prompting internet historians and archivers alike to attempt to save whatever they can. Imgur recently stated that it will be deleting all content that is pornographic in nature, but it will also be removing content that is unused, excessively old or belongs to accounts that have lain dormant for an extended period of time.

Some are comparing these events to the burning of the Library of Alexandria or the Baghdad House of Wisdom because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up removing important information and cherished memories.

Content that was posted a long time ago might not be as obsolete as these companies are assuming. Many are pointing to old pictures posted on Imgur that still get interacted with, and that is just one of the many examples of content that people might want to preserve with all things having been considered and taken into account.

One thing to note here is that this is by no means a new issue. Link rot has been a problem for quite some time now, with old websites that could no longer afford to pay server rates ending up on the chopping block. Saved tabs and the like have become obsolete so frequently that storing the data however you can might be a useful thing to try to do.

There are many ways in which users can elect to preserve content that means a lot to them. Saving images on their own devices is a great way to make sure that you can access this content in the future, and you should also back your devices up just in case you lose that data due to unforeseen accidents.

While cloud storage can help you in these situations, it is essential that you don’t rely solely on it. It’s best to diversify the cloud storage options that you end up using, since even though the companies that own these platforms are not in danger of closing up shop, you never know when things might go sideways.

All in all, the internet’s status as an archive of history is quickly starting to come under threat. Twitter and Imgur’s recent announcements are just the tip of the iceberg and point to greater deletions down the line.



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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

WhatsApp Gets Heavily Fined By Russian Authorities For Failing To Remove Banned Content

Meta is not going to be happy with the recent reports of its leading global texting platform getting a massive fine by Russian officials.

WhatsApp is being punished heavily with the imposition of a huge fine that comprises RUB 4 million after authorities in the country accused the firm of not removing content that was banned. This was confirmed by the Russian top media outlet RIA which cited documents from a court filing in Moscow.

This past year, Meta was called out by Russian authorities as a firm that was banned because it felt the company supported extremist behavior and activities. But despite those harsh calls, we never saw any form of ban or threats come forward with legal activity as it failed to get rid of data that had been prohibited.

This particular RIA report failed to specify which data was being collected by the app and it also failed to outline which form of banned data was being deleted as well.

All we do know is that it’s an administrative case that had been filed by a leading regulator in Russia.

When the war against Ukraine broke out, we saw Russia setting forth some very severe strategies in the world of media and publishing that included harsh regulations for the likes of censorship. And so many firms like Google, Wikipedia, and more had been involved.

Then during the month’s start, we saw how the court in Russia was filing Google for not removing video posts on YouTube that it felt were strongly promoting the concept of LGBT and fake data related to Russia’s military campaign.

Then in the month of April, we saw Russian officials target Wikimedia who happened to be the owner of various kinds of encyclopedias that it failed at removing content that was extremist in nature as Moscow tried to crack down against links that were putting out new data sources.

While some feel the various fines set forward might be overturned, we’re not quite sure that would be the case against WhatsApp. As days go by, the figure of cases continues to increase, and provided the huge number of articles seen on platforms like Wikipedia about the war Russia began, it’s not going to stop anytime soon.

In the month of July 2022, another court in the country’s capital was seen putting out a major fine of RUB 18 million regarding chat services and another RUB 1 million for a feature that Snapchat allowed where messages would disappear.

The fines arose when we heard so many complaints about Russian state communications and how the regulators were not happy with the way things were taking place in the country.

These reports are definitely shocking to some who feel the worst kind of propaganda that comes from all over the world is usually through the likes of Russia and especially the way the Kremlin portrays reports in the country to its own citizens.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Meta Gears Up To Launch Its New Twitter Competitor With Selected Creators

Meta is making sure it gives Twitter plenty of chances to remain at the tip of its toes after previously announcing the launch of a new app that would seemingly compete with it.

And now, we’re hearing more about Twitter’s competitor inching closer to a launch with several leading creators. Right now, they’re being briefed about how this text-based app from Instagram would be called Barcelona and how exactly it hopes to function.

As can be seen in such pictures that were published by Lia Haberman, such an app is basically another simplified version of this Twitter platform and it’s getting aligned with a feed that’s based on chat.

This change is not something that was done by accident. It was very deliberate and in the recent past, we’ve seen how the chats on this app continue to alter toward the likes of Direct Messages. The main newsfeed is slowly but surely turning into this platform for discovering new things and exploring new endeavors. Moreover, people are trying to move away from the usual posts of the public for something like this.

With something like this launching, such a platform is created to be like huge group chats that nearly anyone can take on and it’s actually quite similar in functioning to Twitter in terms of concept. However, we see how this has a more specific tilt based on the Instagram platform including things such as the username.

Users can even sync followers from their accounts on the Instagram platform and even add updates that based on the text that is nearly 500 characters. Similarly, this will include the addition of images, links, and even videos that last for a good five minutes.

As can be seen in pictures for the main feed, there will be posts seen in-stream where you can reply, react, and even repost as per your liking.

This new platform is getting designed on the likes of a decentralized end and this happens to be Meta’s first-ever solo decentralized project. It confirmed how it would be making users’ profiles more compatible than other rivals in the tech world.

So many people on rival platforms including Mastodon can look for, interact with, and even follow a profile and the content if you happen to be in the public eye. Even if you are private, you can similarly approve those as followers. And this is what allows users to reach some new audiences without the addition of work. Moreover, you can even find creators that are eligible and could be recommended to those that aren’t following them yet.

So as you can probably tell by now, this won’t only be a competitor of Twitter but it would also pave the way to attain Meta’s attempt at aligning with all the various types of usage trends. It can even experiment so well with things such as decentralization and the ability to make use of systems that are more open and work at serving users of the app on so many different fronts.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Twitter’s Decision To Replace Musk With New CEO Causes World’s Biggest Ad Agency To Remove The Firm's High-Risk Label

Twitter has a new CEO and she’s none other than Linda Yaccarino from NBC.

The chief of NBCUniversal’s advertising unit is all set to take charge by early next month and so far, it’s proving to be a great decision.

Thanks to sources who recently spoke to the Financial Times, we now know how the world’s biggest advertising agency is no longer calling the platform a high-risk firm. The news comes as sources reported to the Financial Times how GroupM did not hesitate in removing that classification and is now referring to it as a cautiously optimistic company.

The dubious and infamous label of Twitter being high risk came last year in November and that’s when a warning was sent out against purchasing ads across the platform after Musk took on the decision to purchase Twitter.

During that time, the advertising agency spoke about how it had a lot of concerns regarding the long list of verified users seen pretending to be someone else on the app. Let’s not forget how the long list of Twitter executives ended up leaving or getting fired from the firm.

Meanwhile, a host of other leading ad agencies even told their clients to take a break or a pause from spending a lot of money across the app for advertisements during this moment.

As reported by The Financial Times, we’ve been seeing GroupM express a lot of concern on this front for a while now. They’ve been reportedly waiting for a long time under the leadership of Musk to get things back to normal.

For now, we know more about how GroupM is working closely with Twitter to enhance things like brand safety to stop ads from popping up along with content that’s deemed to be problematic.

As of this moment in time, there are no comments being made by the leading advertising agency but we’ll keep you updated on that front.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

WhatsApp users will soon be able react to messages with just a double tap

WhatsApp, the popular messaging platform used by millions of people worldwide, is constantly evolving to enhance user experience and introduce new features. Among its latest developments is the "Double Tap Action for Reactions" feature, which promises to add a new layer of interaction and expression to conversations. While the sound of feature may sound new, but Meta owned Instagram already introduced it a while back.

As spotted by WBI, the Double Tap Action for Reactions feature aims to provide users with a quicker and more intuitive way to react to messages within chats. Currently under development, this feature allows users to express their emotions by simply double-tapping on a specific message. Instead of typing out a response or selecting from a limited set of default reactions, this feature introduces a fluid and instantaneous reaction mechanism.

This new feature is designed to enhance the expressiveness of conversations by enabling users to react swiftly and effortlessly. Whether it's a funny joke, heartwarming message, or thought-provoking statement, a double-tap reaction allows users to instantly convey their feelings without interrupting the flow of conversation. This can be particularly useful in busy group chats or during times when users want to respond quickly but don't have the time to compose a written response. Initially only the thumbs up reaction will be available as a default reaction just like the heart emoji is for Instagram. However, it can be expected that soon users will be able to change the default setting and setup their own personalized emoji reaction.

WhatsApp has always prioritized accessibility and privacy, and the double tap reactions feature is no exception. Users can rest assured that their reactions remain private and visible only to the participants in the conversation. Furthermore, this feature will not affect the existing privacy settings or compromise any sensitive information shared within chats.

So far the pilot version has not been released and it is believed that soon testing audience will be able try it. And while the exact release date of the feature is yet to be confirmed, its development showcases WhatsApp's commitment to continuously improving user experience. Once released, the feature is expected to be available for both iOS and Android users.



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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

OpenAI’s CEO Will Use Innovative Iris-Scanning Technology For His New Global Cryptocurrency

Sam Altman is shedding light on some exciting plans regarding his use of groundbreaking iris-scan technology.

The billionaire was quick to reveal how he would be using this form of verification for his crypto project of Worldcoin. He added how there were plenty of plans in terms of going mainstream with the technology and while it’s going to be a major online challenge, he’s so ready to take it on.

Altman co-founded the famous Worldcoin in the year 2019 and since then, he’s been on the mission to build the world’s biggest identity and financial network.

Today, he is keen on being close to securing some $100 million in funds to start up his next endeavor. This would entail scanning users’ eyes to give them access for free to the new venture.

Some people have already put out some major concerns regarding issues related to privacy and ethics that may pop up sometime soon. We’re not sure if this is going to be a major nightmare or not but one thing is for sure, people don’t want a repeat of the scenario that came with chatbots.

For those still curious about what exactly is Worldcoin, well, it is another name for crypto that is designed to make universal access for the world’s economy so that it welcomes and ensures benefits for all around the globe.

Clearly, this mission is not easy by any means. But the question is how the founders of this app plan on doing everything in such a short span of time.

Sources revealed how the main point worth pondering upon is how the endeavor makes use of software that entails biometrics through the eyes so that a person’s unique identity gets established.

After receiving the verification, they may produce IDs that are linked to the Digital World and it would start to attain Crypto Tokens.

The firm says that this World ID was rolled out in the past week and that combined with the World App may be utilized in a pseudonymously manner that entails a long list of apps without the real identity of the user coming into focus.

You can see this type of technology as a very personalized protocol and it’s designed to tackle some huge issues linked to the massive development of tools that get powered by AI. It’s going to differentiate between real individuals and bots and help people believe how it might help provide some basic sources of income to people affected by such cuts in jobs due to AI.

We know for a fact that the sounds of this are not very thrilling for so many individuals. Plenty of whistleblowers exist who continue to show concerns about the practice during the start of 2021. During such a period of time, they raised the concern linked to how people’s data was getting stored and that was not alright for obvious reasons.

But the firm vows it’s all very safe for use and there’s nothing to worry about.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

VPN Demand in Pakistan Sees Astounding 1,329% Increase in 6 Days, Here’s How That Stacks Up With the Rest of the World

Amid violent protests, civil conflicts and crackdowns by paramilitary elements, the demand for VPNs in the South Asian nation of Pakistan has seen an unprecedented 1,329% increase in 2023. This occurred after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on the 9th of May, which spurred widespread protests that authorities responded to by restricting access to social media platforms.

In the span of just six days, VPN usage soared to levels that had never been seen with all things having been considered and taken into account. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority also blocked broadband access across the board, which once again made VPNs more useful than might have been the case otherwise.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Pakistan is not alone in this surge. Earlier in the year, more specifically during the months of February and March, VPN usage in Ethiopia surged by 3,651% after the government blocked certain portions of the internet.

This wasn’t the first time Ethiopia saw such a startling increase. In November of 2021, the Ethiopian government blocked Facebook and Instagram after exam papers were leaked. This led to VPN usage becoming 5,109% higher than normal.

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Elsewhere in Asia, Iran saw a 3,082% increase in VPN usage in the aftermath of the arrest and death of Mahsa Amini. The Iranian government attempted to curtail protests by blocking WhatsApp and Instagram, and this spurred the Iranian people to start using VPNs so that they could continue to communicate.

The demand for VPNs is also seeing a huge uptick in the US. In the state of Utah, an 847% increase was noted after the government starting requiring users to submit IDs to verify their age in order to access adult sites like Pornhub. Louisiana also saw a 246% increase for the same reason.

All around the world, government restrictions on internet access are being sidestepped with VPN usage. It will be interesting to see how these trends continue for the rest of 2023.



Via: Google Trends

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World