Things aren’t looking too great for search giant Google who just was cornered by 32 different media groups. The company has been sued for $2.27 billion USD (or 2.1 billion Euro) after the groups claimed the firm’s digital ad practices led to serious financial losses.
The publishers in question are located in several different nations in the EU including the likes of Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Hungary, and the Netherlands.
The media houses issued a joint statement that shed light on how they’ve gone through huge losses, thanks to the least competitive market that arose thanks to the search engine giant’s mishandling of the matter.
They also mentioned how the tech giant abused its leading position in the market today, and these media firms would end up getting bigger revenues thanks to ads and would pay much lower amounts for services like advertising.
Such funds were reinvested in bettering the whole EU landscape.
Now, Google says that it’s not aware of how such a matter arose in the first place and therefore is bidding the allegations as false and one used to defame the firm. They have even gone as far as to dub it as a speculative issue and released a statement on this front.
Google stated how it’s always worked most constructively with any EU publisher and given rise to a whole lot of advertising tools. Most of those are linked to adtech competitors and assist so many web pages and platforms in funding content seen online. This enables firms of various sizes to reach out to new clients effectively.
The services in question are adapting and evolving with time with the same lot of publishers. Therefore, such a legal case is very opportunistic they mentioned and they hope to oppose that vigorously, depending on other facts.
Let’s not forget the crucial timing of this matter and how the case follows up with competition attained from the French who continue to roll out fines worth $238 million regarding Google’s ad tech business and the charges brought forward by the EC in 2023. These were used as references in the claims made by the media groups.
As per reports from a court in the Netherlands, the group opted to sue the company inside a court belonging to the Dutch as the nation is famous for handling such claims inside Europe. In this way, the result would prevent dealing with a lot of claims linked to various EU nations.
Image: Digital Information World - AIgen
Read next: US Takes Action Against Data Transfer to Nations Like China and Russia Over National Security Concerns
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World
"Mr Branding" is a blog based on RSS for everything related to website branding and website design, it collects its posts from many sites in order to facilitate the updating to the latest technology.
To suggest any source, please contact me: Taha.baba@consultant.com
Thursday, February 29, 2024
US Takes Action Against Data Transfer to Nations Like China and Russia Over National Security Concerns
The current Biden administration seems to have a serious task at large and that includes controlling the transfer of American users’ data to nations they feel are ‘of concern’.
In case you didn’t know, those countries include the likes of China and Russia as mentioned by the White House yesterday.
The issue has been one of concern for quite some time now but not a lot has been done on this front in the past. But from what we’re seeing right now, the matter has picked up the pace and people want answers immediately regarding what to do next.
President Biden rolled out a new executive order that would set aside the right safeguards to disguise a lot of biometric and healthcare information belonging to citizens as it’s not only sensitive but private property. Moreover, it’s collected by a wide range of businesses located in the country.
Be it China, Iran, Cuba, North Korea, or Russia - all of the mentioned countries have been dubbed as serious threats and the US says it cannot afford data transfer like this due to high-security reasons. The information in question also includes details on geolocations and genomic endeavors that are collected by some tech firms and even offered for sale by legal workers to a huge number of data brokers.
This would make its way to scammers as well as intelligence firms present abroad.
The rules were rolled out on Wednesday and they’re said to come into play soon to offer greater protection. As mentioned by AG Merrick Garland, the duty right now is to bar nations that serve as serious threats to the US and make the most of American citizens’ information that’s very private and personal.
The leading members of the admin and Justice Dept added how the rules would stop bad actors present in certain countries from playing with free data flow and abusing it.
Data attained by firms situated in the US are a great resource for countries such as China and Russia which can make the most of such cyber campaigns and challenge any regimes in place.
The latest set of rules are yet to come into play and they won’t come into effect immediately. But from what we’re seeing so far, they’re set to undergo scrutiny so that the right stakeholders can weigh on it and curb it before getting out of hand.
But when it does come into effect, we see it stopping data transfer to certain places that are said to be of serious concern to America’s national security. The right measures against such actors would mean bigger punishments if rules get violated.
The selling of personal data to countries like China or Russia would be prevented outright. But security requirements need to be met, right before firms enter into any kind of investment agreement in such nations.
The executive order was generated last Wednesday and is part of a plan that continues to grow to prevent undermining of the country’s security. The goal is to focus on means through which foreign adversaries are utilizing investments to provide better access to American data and tech.
One of the biggest worries as we’ve seen in the past has been China and its respective allies. The US is very clear on where it stands with the Asian nation and how much evidence they have about American data getting into the hands of Chinese government officials.
Image: DIW-Aigen
Read next: Canalys Forecasts 20% Surge in Global Cloud Spending, Outpacing 2023 Growth Rate
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World
In case you didn’t know, those countries include the likes of China and Russia as mentioned by the White House yesterday.
The issue has been one of concern for quite some time now but not a lot has been done on this front in the past. But from what we’re seeing right now, the matter has picked up the pace and people want answers immediately regarding what to do next.
President Biden rolled out a new executive order that would set aside the right safeguards to disguise a lot of biometric and healthcare information belonging to citizens as it’s not only sensitive but private property. Moreover, it’s collected by a wide range of businesses located in the country.
Be it China, Iran, Cuba, North Korea, or Russia - all of the mentioned countries have been dubbed as serious threats and the US says it cannot afford data transfer like this due to high-security reasons. The information in question also includes details on geolocations and genomic endeavors that are collected by some tech firms and even offered for sale by legal workers to a huge number of data brokers.
This would make its way to scammers as well as intelligence firms present abroad.
The rules were rolled out on Wednesday and they’re said to come into play soon to offer greater protection. As mentioned by AG Merrick Garland, the duty right now is to bar nations that serve as serious threats to the US and make the most of American citizens’ information that’s very private and personal.
The leading members of the admin and Justice Dept added how the rules would stop bad actors present in certain countries from playing with free data flow and abusing it.
Data attained by firms situated in the US are a great resource for countries such as China and Russia which can make the most of such cyber campaigns and challenge any regimes in place.
The latest set of rules are yet to come into play and they won’t come into effect immediately. But from what we’re seeing so far, they’re set to undergo scrutiny so that the right stakeholders can weigh on it and curb it before getting out of hand.
But when it does come into effect, we see it stopping data transfer to certain places that are said to be of serious concern to America’s national security. The right measures against such actors would mean bigger punishments if rules get violated.
The selling of personal data to countries like China or Russia would be prevented outright. But security requirements need to be met, right before firms enter into any kind of investment agreement in such nations.
The executive order was generated last Wednesday and is part of a plan that continues to grow to prevent undermining of the country’s security. The goal is to focus on means through which foreign adversaries are utilizing investments to provide better access to American data and tech.
One of the biggest worries as we’ve seen in the past has been China and its respective allies. The US is very clear on where it stands with the Asian nation and how much evidence they have about American data getting into the hands of Chinese government officials.
Image: DIW-Aigen
Read next: Canalys Forecasts 20% Surge in Global Cloud Spending, Outpacing 2023 Growth Rate
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
YouTube Unveils "Create" App Expansion: Editing Tools and Features for Creators In More Regions
YouTube has exciting news for content creators. The tech giant unveils its "Create" video editing app expansion, tailored for Shorts content production. Initially introduced at the "Made On" showcase event last September, "YouTube Create" offers an array of features to facilitate intricate video compositions.
Among its editing functionalities are audio clean-up, eliminating background disturbances, and auto captions in English, Hindi, and Spanish. Additionally, creators gain access to filters, effects, and transitions on a simplified interface. Moreover, a diverse library of royalty-free music tracks and sound effects is available, alongside direct publishing to YouTube for both Shorts and long-form content.
Amidst this expansion, users in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey gain access to the tool starting today.
"YouTube Create" mirrors CapCut, offering a comprehensive toolkit to personalize and optimize visual narratives. Its indispensable features aim to enhance the allure and impact of video clips.
While currently exclusive to Android users, accessibility extends beyond geographical boundaries. Initially available in India, Singapore, the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, South Korea, and Indonesia, the platform plans to roll out access to more regions over time.
For eligible markets and Android users, acquisition of the app is effortless through the Play Store. Embark on your creative journey today and unlock the boundless potential within YouTube Create.
Image: DIW-AIgen
Read next: YouTube Rolls Out New ‘Collab’ Tool For Shorts As Competition With TikTok Heats Up
by Asim BN via Digital Information World
Among its editing functionalities are audio clean-up, eliminating background disturbances, and auto captions in English, Hindi, and Spanish. Additionally, creators gain access to filters, effects, and transitions on a simplified interface. Moreover, a diverse library of royalty-free music tracks and sound effects is available, alongside direct publishing to YouTube for both Shorts and long-form content.
Amidst this expansion, users in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey gain access to the tool starting today.
"YouTube Create" mirrors CapCut, offering a comprehensive toolkit to personalize and optimize visual narratives. Its indispensable features aim to enhance the allure and impact of video clips.
While currently exclusive to Android users, accessibility extends beyond geographical boundaries. Initially available in India, Singapore, the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, South Korea, and Indonesia, the platform plans to roll out access to more regions over time.
For eligible markets and Android users, acquisition of the app is effortless through the Play Store. Embark on your creative journey today and unlock the boundless potential within YouTube Create.
Image: DIW-AIgen
Read next: YouTube Rolls Out New ‘Collab’ Tool For Shorts As Competition With TikTok Heats Up
by Asim BN via Digital Information World
How App Marketers Are Responding to ATT and Other Privacy Frameworks
App marketers are still feeling the impact of COVID-19 today. What started with exponential growth as millions of consumers flocked to business, e-commerce, and gaming apps has stabilized. But just as consumer habits change, so do privacy regulations that dictate the user information accessible to app marketers.
Whether it’s Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT), recent SKAdNetwork (SKAN) 4 changes, or Google’s upcoming shift from Google Advertising ID (GAID) to its Privacy Sandbox, changes such as these can significantly impact ad performance and how marketers report and measure their campaigns.
How are app marketers responding? Is ATT still causing problems? Are marketers wising up to the implications of SKAN 4? And with GAID deprecation looming, are app marketers fully prepared for these changes? Or perhaps more importantly, do they understand how these changes affect them and their campaigns?
To find out, we asked more than 500 app marketing professionals from top companies worldwide to share how they’re responding to pivotal mobile ecosystem challenges, such as user privacy, cost, and macroeconomic factors. You can find the full findings in Liftoff’s 2024 App Marketer Survey*. However, we wanted to look deeper at app marketers’ sentiments around user privacy to see how the industry is progressing and where marketers can improve.
According to AppsFlyer, average opt-in rates hover at about 45% in the second year of ATT, although rates can vary significantly across app verticals, with shopping apps reporting at 82%.
With that in mind, it’s unsurprising to hear many app marketers are still dealing with the repercussions of ATT. When we asked app marketers how ATT changes had impacted their overall UA performance, the responses were:
As we can see from the chart above, two of the biggest challenges are a need for more available data hindering decision-making (71% agree), costs increasing (68%), and campaigns being less successful (62%).
App marketers can combat these challenges by:
While 66% of app marketers reported at least some familiarity with SKAN 4, it’s concerning that over a third of respondents are not familiar. Though this is an improvement on last year’s survey, where more than half of respondents weren’t familiar with SKAN 4, many app marketers seem to be struggling to embrace SKAN 4, or are unaware of its benefits.
For the unfamiliar, SKAN allows advertisers to receive up to three postbacks based on a different activity window: 0-2 days, 3-7 days, and 8-35 days. This makes it easier to gauge the effectiveness of ad campaigns after 35 days, giving you more options for optimization and reporting. Our advice: Read up and change tactics if you need to.
Speaking of campaign optimization, unattributed postbacks are a great way to gather valuable information and improve campaign performance. While they don’t include attribution data, they do include conversion data, which might be why more than half of the app marketers we surveyed don’t share unattributed postbacks with their partners.
That said, 38% of respondents do share unattributed postbacks or would do so with a partner if asked, highlighting that while app marketers are cautious about the information they share, they are willing to provide it to the right partners when they recognize the benefits, such as optimizing campaign performance by allowing ad networks to determine CPI billing more accurately.
When Google says goodbye to GAID potentially this year, it will change audience targeting, emphasize interest-based ad serving over traditional personalization methods, and introduce an API for attribution reporting.
In short, Google will make it more difficult for app marketers to get the information they rely on for Android campaign optimization. Despite this, our survey found that a third (33%) of respondents are unfamiliar with GAID, while 30% are only somewhat familiar and 27% are very or extremely familiar. Familiarity aside, there was also a notable lack of preparation for incoming changes, with more than half of app marketers saying they have made very little or no preparation for GAID deprecation.
Preparing for these changes now will stand you in good stead, as it gives you a headstart of knowing what and how you need to change campaign activations and performance, as well as targetting and any tweaks to creative you might need to make.
*The Liftoff 2023 App Marketer Survey was conducted October 25–November 21, 2023. It’s based on over 500 responses from global app marketing professionals across gaming (54%) and non-gaming (46%) app verticals, with respondents based in APAC (27%), the Americas (32%), and EMEA (41%). Respondents work with monthly advertising budgets from $50,000 to over $1,000,000.
Written by: Joey Fulcher, Global VP, Accelerate at Liftoff
Read next: 10 Most Popular Social Media Titans: Top Platforms of 2024
by Web Desk via Digital Information World
Whether it’s Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT), recent SKAdNetwork (SKAN) 4 changes, or Google’s upcoming shift from Google Advertising ID (GAID) to its Privacy Sandbox, changes such as these can significantly impact ad performance and how marketers report and measure their campaigns.
How are app marketers responding? Is ATT still causing problems? Are marketers wising up to the implications of SKAN 4? And with GAID deprecation looming, are app marketers fully prepared for these changes? Or perhaps more importantly, do they understand how these changes affect them and their campaigns?
To find out, we asked more than 500 app marketing professionals from top companies worldwide to share how they’re responding to pivotal mobile ecosystem challenges, such as user privacy, cost, and macroeconomic factors. You can find the full findings in Liftoff’s 2024 App Marketer Survey*. However, we wanted to look deeper at app marketers’ sentiments around user privacy to see how the industry is progressing and where marketers can improve.
ATT is still impacting UA performance
According to AppsFlyer, average opt-in rates hover at about 45% in the second year of ATT, although rates can vary significantly across app verticals, with shopping apps reporting at 82%.
With that in mind, it’s unsurprising to hear many app marketers are still dealing with the repercussions of ATT. When we asked app marketers how ATT changes had impacted their overall UA performance, the responses were:
- Very negatively (9%)
- Slightly negatively (35%)
- No change (33%)
- Slightly positively (20%)
- Very positively (4%)
As we can see from the chart above, two of the biggest challenges are a need for more available data hindering decision-making (71% agree), costs increasing (68%), and campaigns being less successful (62%).
App marketers can combat these challenges by:
- Adding more transparent messaging on their apps about data collection and privacy to improve opt-in rates
- Focusing on campaign optimization with in-app advertising optimization to increase ROAS
- Working with DSPs with an established network of high-quality users to bring down costs
Over a third of app marketers are still unfamiliar with SKAN 4
While 66% of app marketers reported at least some familiarity with SKAN 4, it’s concerning that over a third of respondents are not familiar. Though this is an improvement on last year’s survey, where more than half of respondents weren’t familiar with SKAN 4, many app marketers seem to be struggling to embrace SKAN 4, or are unaware of its benefits.
For the unfamiliar, SKAN allows advertisers to receive up to three postbacks based on a different activity window: 0-2 days, 3-7 days, and 8-35 days. This makes it easier to gauge the effectiveness of ad campaigns after 35 days, giving you more options for optimization and reporting. Our advice: Read up and change tactics if you need to.
Marketers are cautious but not unwilling to share unattributed postbacks
Speaking of campaign optimization, unattributed postbacks are a great way to gather valuable information and improve campaign performance. While they don’t include attribution data, they do include conversion data, which might be why more than half of the app marketers we surveyed don’t share unattributed postbacks with their partners.
That said, 38% of respondents do share unattributed postbacks or would do so with a partner if asked, highlighting that while app marketers are cautious about the information they share, they are willing to provide it to the right partners when they recognize the benefits, such as optimizing campaign performance by allowing ad networks to determine CPI billing more accurately.
Over half of marketers have made little or no preparations for GAID deprecation
When Google says goodbye to GAID potentially this year, it will change audience targeting, emphasize interest-based ad serving over traditional personalization methods, and introduce an API for attribution reporting.
In short, Google will make it more difficult for app marketers to get the information they rely on for Android campaign optimization. Despite this, our survey found that a third (33%) of respondents are unfamiliar with GAID, while 30% are only somewhat familiar and 27% are very or extremely familiar. Familiarity aside, there was also a notable lack of preparation for incoming changes, with more than half of app marketers saying they have made very little or no preparation for GAID deprecation.
Preparing for these changes now will stand you in good stead, as it gives you a headstart of knowing what and how you need to change campaign activations and performance, as well as targetting and any tweaks to creative you might need to make.
*The Liftoff 2023 App Marketer Survey was conducted October 25–November 21, 2023. It’s based on over 500 responses from global app marketing professionals across gaming (54%) and non-gaming (46%) app verticals, with respondents based in APAC (27%), the Americas (32%), and EMEA (41%). Respondents work with monthly advertising budgets from $50,000 to over $1,000,000.
Written by: Joey Fulcher, Global VP, Accelerate at Liftoff
Read next: 10 Most Popular Social Media Titans: Top Platforms of 2024
by Web Desk via Digital Information World
From Syria to Senegal: the 10 countries that searched for VPNs most in 2023
Looking at global statistics around VPN (Virtual Private Network) usage, it’s easy to build up a picture of the average VPN user.
They’re probably male (57% of VPN users are), with an income of $25,000 to $49,000; most likely degree-educated, too. The latest data also tells us what those people are using VPNs for: namely, to protect their privacy on public wifi (51%), safeguard their browsing anonymity (44%), communicate securely (37%), and mask their browsing from authorities (Techopedia).
But recently, research has demonstrated that it’s not just who you are that determines whether, or how, you use a VPN. It’s where you are in the world, too.
So – which countries serve as the highest predictors for VPN usage? In which parts of the planet were searches for VPNs most fervent and frequent in 2023 – and, perhaps, most importantly, why?
Let’s take a look.
The findings revealed that the countries most interested in VPNs in 2023 were:
Below, we unpack the top three talking points from Techopedia’s VPN findings – and what’s happening in those countries to have caused VPN usage to spike so dramatically.
Myanmar observed a 27% increase in VPN interest, while St Helena – a remote British territory located almost 2,000 km off the coast of southwestern Africa – saw a 60% boost. Familiar culprits such as Iran and China (both +93%) saw even greater growth in VPN searches, as did Uganda (+106%) and war-torn Syria (+108%).
But the most jaw-dropping increase in 2023 VPN searches compared to the year prior – and by some margin – was in Afghanistan, where VPN-related queries grew a staggering 156%.
How come?
Since the Taliban seized power in 2021, the country – and its internet – has remained in the lethal grip of the militant group’s forces. Since then, Afghanistan’s relationship with online freedoms has been a complex one. Early in the Taliban’s reign, the Pashtun organization imposed an outright ban on the internet, although this soon gave way to a more lenient approach – perhaps after the Taliban realized that they could turn the internet into a weapon.
They soon set about doing that, and 2022 saw the group block 23 million websites: surgically and strategically severing its citizens’ access to anything it leaders deemed ‘anti-Islamic content’. To this day, the militant group also monitors social media for posts expressing similar views or ‘immorality’ – or, indeed, simply anything anti-Taliban.
However, Afghanistan’s stringent internet controls haven’t yet made their way into the realm of law – and in 2024, VPNs remain legal to use in Afghanistan.
To those already familiar with Turkmenistan’s overzealous approach to policing the internet, this comes as no surprise. This central Asian country’s internet is widely considered to be the most censored in the world, with a dictator-led government controlling the flow of information through a sole internet provider.
That, of course, is for Turkmen citizens who have access to the internet – most don’t.
Turkmenistan's internet penetration rate of 38.2% is central Asia’s lowest. Further complicating the picture is the fact that VPNs – the main method the country’s internet users have of circumventing its government’s iron fist on information – are illegal.
That’s right: Turkmenistan is one of a mere handful of countries (which also includes North Korea, Iraq, Belarus, and Oman) to outlaw VPNs altogether. Among the punishments to be handed out to offenders? Cautions, fines – and lengthy prison sentences.
Yet, if the latest data is anything to go by, that hasn’t deterred Turkmenistan’s internet users from seeking out VPNs to restore their access to unfiltered internet.
Leading the west African country’s surge into the standings was a remarkable 60,000% increase in VPN demand in 2023 – the biggest uptick of the year, and one made all the more extraordinary by the fact it took place in a single month, from June to July.
So, what happened?
In brief, Senegal’s VPN uptick can be traced back to the fate of Ousmane Sonko – the leader of the country’s opposing party, PASTEF – who was sentenced in June 2023 to two years in prison by a court, on the charge of “corrupting youth”. The judgment was immediately denounced by Sonko’s supporters, who branded it a plot to prevent the politician running for election the following February.
Violent clashes broke out, leaving nine dead – and it wasn’t the first time violence had gripped the country that year. A mere month earlier, protests in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, killed one and wounded 30, with those involved pushing back against the state’s increasingly repressive attitude towards its citizens. (Schoolchildren demanding schools to be built, rather than police stations, were met in the streets by police kitted out in full riot attire.)
The Senegalese government – in response to this string of high-profile clashes and ever-increasing public dissent against it – shut down social media. Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp all disappeared, and VPN searches in the country exploded. Despite these bans being lifted just a week later, recent developments in Senegal’s ongoing struggles suggest that Senegal’s first appearance in VPN searches’ global top 10 won’t be its last.
In February 2024, Senegal’s president, Macky Sall, postponed the country’s elections (scheduled for that month) to December. In the aftermath, three people were killed in bloody clashes between protestors and police, and Sall’s government (one with a history of internet censorship that far predates June 2023’s social media blacklists) pulled the plug on mobile data, citing “the dissemination on social networks of several subversive hate messages.”
Senegal’s late entrance into the global top 10 for VPN searches suggests that, when it comes to circumventing online censorship, its internet users are relatively late to the party.
But, if their relationship with VPNs isn’t such a longstanding one now, it certainly promises to be going forward – so watch this space.
That’s because Techopedia’s findings map neatly with data from Freedom House’s Freedom of the Net Report 2023, which measures the extent to which the internet is freely available and unrestricted in 70 countries. According to Freedom House, the least free internets are those in:
And one thing is clear. As governments in these countries conduct their ongoing flirtations with increasingly authoritative and oppressive approaches to rule, internet freedoms are emerging as a key battleground; and VPNs a major player.
Looking to the future, how VPNs are accessed and used will continue to be a major avenue of escape for internet users in countries with degenerating records of internet freedoms. Though it remains to be seen how these jurisdictions’ governments will respond to block those routes off in the form of regulation and recrimination; with statutes and sanctions.
Through policy – and through punishment, too.
Read next: Study Shows ChatGPT's Rapid Adoption at 55%, 33% Raise AI Usage Despite Lingering Privacy Concerns
by Asim BN via Digital Information World
They’re probably male (57% of VPN users are), with an income of $25,000 to $49,000; most likely degree-educated, too. The latest data also tells us what those people are using VPNs for: namely, to protect their privacy on public wifi (51%), safeguard their browsing anonymity (44%), communicate securely (37%), and mask their browsing from authorities (Techopedia).
But recently, research has demonstrated that it’s not just who you are that determines whether, or how, you use a VPN. It’s where you are in the world, too.
So – which countries serve as the highest predictors for VPN usage? In which parts of the planet were searches for VPNs most fervent and frequent in 2023 – and, perhaps, most importantly, why?
Let’s take a look.
Which 10 countries searched for VPNs most in 2023?
In Techopedia’s guide to the countries that searched for VPNs most, it analyzed Google Trends data. The goal? To ascertain which countries had the highest proportion of VPN-related online searches (as a proportion of total searches) in 2023 – and how much these had increased compared to 2022’s figures.The findings revealed that the countries most interested in VPNs in 2023 were:
- Turkmenistan
- Ethiopia
- Iran
- Myanmar
- China
- Syria
- Afghanistan
- St Helena
- Senegal
- Uganda
Below, we unpack the top three talking points from Techopedia’s VPN findings – and what’s happening in those countries to have caused VPN usage to spike so dramatically.
Afghanistan’s VPN searches are the fastest-growing
In Techopedia’s research, all but three of the countries in the top 10 for VPN searches saw an increase in online VPN-related queries vis a vis 2022 levels. (The three outliers were Turkmenistan, which stayed consistent, plus Ethiopia and Senegal – both of which were new entrants in the rankings.)Myanmar observed a 27% increase in VPN interest, while St Helena – a remote British territory located almost 2,000 km off the coast of southwestern Africa – saw a 60% boost. Familiar culprits such as Iran and China (both +93%) saw even greater growth in VPN searches, as did Uganda (+106%) and war-torn Syria (+108%).
But the most jaw-dropping increase in 2023 VPN searches compared to the year prior – and by some margin – was in Afghanistan, where VPN-related queries grew a staggering 156%.
How come?
Since the Taliban seized power in 2021, the country – and its internet – has remained in the lethal grip of the militant group’s forces. Since then, Afghanistan’s relationship with online freedoms has been a complex one. Early in the Taliban’s reign, the Pashtun organization imposed an outright ban on the internet, although this soon gave way to a more lenient approach – perhaps after the Taliban realized that they could turn the internet into a weapon.
They soon set about doing that, and 2022 saw the group block 23 million websites: surgically and strategically severing its citizens’ access to anything it leaders deemed ‘anti-Islamic content’. To this day, the militant group also monitors social media for posts expressing similar views or ‘immorality’ – or, indeed, simply anything anti-Taliban.
However, Afghanistan’s stringent internet controls haven’t yet made their way into the realm of law – and in 2024, VPNs remain legal to use in Afghanistan.
Turkmenistan has the highest proportion of VPN searches
Techopedia’s research found that, while internet searches for VPNs in 2023 grew most in Afghanistan, they were highest (as a proportion of all online queries) in Turkmenistan – a position the country also held in 2022.To those already familiar with Turkmenistan’s overzealous approach to policing the internet, this comes as no surprise. This central Asian country’s internet is widely considered to be the most censored in the world, with a dictator-led government controlling the flow of information through a sole internet provider.
That, of course, is for Turkmen citizens who have access to the internet – most don’t.
Turkmenistan's internet penetration rate of 38.2% is central Asia’s lowest. Further complicating the picture is the fact that VPNs – the main method the country’s internet users have of circumventing its government’s iron fist on information – are illegal.
That’s right: Turkmenistan is one of a mere handful of countries (which also includes North Korea, Iraq, Belarus, and Oman) to outlaw VPNs altogether. Among the punishments to be handed out to offenders? Cautions, fines – and lengthy prison sentences.
Yet, if the latest data is anything to go by, that hasn’t deterred Turkmenistan’s internet users from seeking out VPNs to restore their access to unfiltered internet.
Senegal’s VPN demand spike was the largest in 2023
Despite Senegal only entering Techopedia’s rankings in 2023, it did so with a bang – placing a global ninth for VPN-related searches that year.Leading the west African country’s surge into the standings was a remarkable 60,000% increase in VPN demand in 2023 – the biggest uptick of the year, and one made all the more extraordinary by the fact it took place in a single month, from June to July.
So, what happened?
In brief, Senegal’s VPN uptick can be traced back to the fate of Ousmane Sonko – the leader of the country’s opposing party, PASTEF – who was sentenced in June 2023 to two years in prison by a court, on the charge of “corrupting youth”. The judgment was immediately denounced by Sonko’s supporters, who branded it a plot to prevent the politician running for election the following February.
Violent clashes broke out, leaving nine dead – and it wasn’t the first time violence had gripped the country that year. A mere month earlier, protests in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, killed one and wounded 30, with those involved pushing back against the state’s increasingly repressive attitude towards its citizens. (Schoolchildren demanding schools to be built, rather than police stations, were met in the streets by police kitted out in full riot attire.)
The Senegalese government – in response to this string of high-profile clashes and ever-increasing public dissent against it – shut down social media. Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp all disappeared, and VPN searches in the country exploded. Despite these bans being lifted just a week later, recent developments in Senegal’s ongoing struggles suggest that Senegal’s first appearance in VPN searches’ global top 10 won’t be its last.
In February 2024, Senegal’s president, Macky Sall, postponed the country’s elections (scheduled for that month) to December. In the aftermath, three people were killed in bloody clashes between protestors and police, and Sall’s government (one with a history of internet censorship that far predates June 2023’s social media blacklists) pulled the plug on mobile data, citing “the dissemination on social networks of several subversive hate messages.”
Senegal’s late entrance into the global top 10 for VPN searches suggests that, when it comes to circumventing online censorship, its internet users are relatively late to the party.
But, if their relationship with VPNs isn’t such a longstanding one now, it certainly promises to be going forward – so watch this space.
VPNs and internet freedom: a crystal-clear correlation
While the correlation between VPN usage and low levels of internet freedom has always felt, intuitively, to be strong, only recently have we had the data to prove it.That’s because Techopedia’s findings map neatly with data from Freedom House’s Freedom of the Net Report 2023, which measures the extent to which the internet is freely available and unrestricted in 70 countries. According to Freedom House, the least free internets are those in:
- China (9/100)
- Myanmar (10/100)
- Iran (11/100)
- Cuba (20/100)
- Russia (21/100)
- Vietnam (22/100)
- Belarus (25/100)
- Saudi Arabia (25/100)
- Uzbekistan (25/100)
- Ethiopia (26/100)
And one thing is clear. As governments in these countries conduct their ongoing flirtations with increasingly authoritative and oppressive approaches to rule, internet freedoms are emerging as a key battleground; and VPNs a major player.
Looking to the future, how VPNs are accessed and used will continue to be a major avenue of escape for internet users in countries with degenerating records of internet freedoms. Though it remains to be seen how these jurisdictions’ governments will respond to block those routes off in the form of regulation and recrimination; with statutes and sanctions.
Through policy – and through punishment, too.
Read next: Study Shows ChatGPT's Rapid Adoption at 55%, 33% Raise AI Usage Despite Lingering Privacy Concerns
by Asim BN via Digital Information World
Study Shows ChatGPT's Rapid Adoption at 55%, 33% Raise AI Usage Despite Lingering Privacy Concerns
Tidio recently conducted a study on the first anniversary of generative AI being a mass product and the first year of ChatGPT. Have society’s expectations come true? Do people use AI more or less than before? Do we fear it as much as in the beginning? The answers provide a mixed bag of satisfaction and fears.
In November 2022, OpenAI unveiled ChatGPT, initially perceived as merely another playful bot. However, its impact swiftly reverberated across the tech industry and society at large, catalyzing a transformative shift. With over 100 million users embracing it within a year, ChatGPT emerged as a catalyst for change.
Users swiftly integrated ChatGPT into their daily routines, with a large portion trying it immediately upon release. Now, a staggering 88% of people are regular ChatGPT users, harnessing its capabilities across various domains. From aiding decision-making to solving work-related problems, so many people found a way the tool can help them.
The other findings also highlight the profound influence of ChatGPT. As revealed by our research, a significant 55% of users tried ChatGPT immediately upon its release, while 34% exercised patience before giving it a go. Moreover, our findings indicate that 33% of users have significantly increased their AI usage since ChatGPT's introduction. Still, about 33% have altered their AI usage during the last year due to privacy and ethical concerns.
It’s true that while many users found their expectations met, concerns linger regarding privacy, biased responses, and the limitations of AI capabilities. A striking 89% of users reported that ChatGPT fulfilled their expectations, with enhancements in daily convenience, work efficiency, problem-solving, and learning experiences. However, challenges persist, as indicated by the 38% of users who expressed privacy concerns and the 33% who encountered biased responses.
Despite these challenges, people remain hopeful. Our research highlights that users envision AI facilitating breakthroughs in healthcare (35%) and education (36%), while fears persist regarding job displacement (32%) and dangerous AI exploitation (31%).
The impact of ChatGPT extends far beyond individual users, impacting industries such as tech, healthcare, education, and customer service. From facilitating efficiency gains in customer service to aiding medical research and educational advancements, ChatGPT has reshaped industry landscapes.
Yet, legal and regulatory hurdles continue to pop up. Issues surrounding data privacy, copyright infringement, and AI-generated biases call governments and officials for careful navigation. Ethical considerations are paramount as ChatGPT's influence deepens, emphasizing the imperative for responsible AI deployment.
In sum, while ChatGPT and AI offer boundless potential, many people remain skeptical due to potential issues AI can cause. Still, there has never been a bigger game changer in our lives than AI. Accessible to everyone online, it has helped us solve millions of problems, and will do even more. So, as society navigates the evolving landscape of AI adoption, ethical considerations and responsible usage must remain at the forefront.
Take a look at the below infographics for more insights:
Read next: The Top US Colleges and States for Local Entrepreneurs and Business Founders
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World
In November 2022, OpenAI unveiled ChatGPT, initially perceived as merely another playful bot. However, its impact swiftly reverberated across the tech industry and society at large, catalyzing a transformative shift. With over 100 million users embracing it within a year, ChatGPT emerged as a catalyst for change.
Users swiftly integrated ChatGPT into their daily routines, with a large portion trying it immediately upon release. Now, a staggering 88% of people are regular ChatGPT users, harnessing its capabilities across various domains. From aiding decision-making to solving work-related problems, so many people found a way the tool can help them.
The other findings also highlight the profound influence of ChatGPT. As revealed by our research, a significant 55% of users tried ChatGPT immediately upon its release, while 34% exercised patience before giving it a go. Moreover, our findings indicate that 33% of users have significantly increased their AI usage since ChatGPT's introduction. Still, about 33% have altered their AI usage during the last year due to privacy and ethical concerns.
It’s true that while many users found their expectations met, concerns linger regarding privacy, biased responses, and the limitations of AI capabilities. A striking 89% of users reported that ChatGPT fulfilled their expectations, with enhancements in daily convenience, work efficiency, problem-solving, and learning experiences. However, challenges persist, as indicated by the 38% of users who expressed privacy concerns and the 33% who encountered biased responses.
Despite these challenges, people remain hopeful. Our research highlights that users envision AI facilitating breakthroughs in healthcare (35%) and education (36%), while fears persist regarding job displacement (32%) and dangerous AI exploitation (31%).
The impact of ChatGPT extends far beyond individual users, impacting industries such as tech, healthcare, education, and customer service. From facilitating efficiency gains in customer service to aiding medical research and educational advancements, ChatGPT has reshaped industry landscapes.
Yet, legal and regulatory hurdles continue to pop up. Issues surrounding data privacy, copyright infringement, and AI-generated biases call governments and officials for careful navigation. Ethical considerations are paramount as ChatGPT's influence deepens, emphasizing the imperative for responsible AI deployment.
In sum, while ChatGPT and AI offer boundless potential, many people remain skeptical due to potential issues AI can cause. Still, there has never been a bigger game changer in our lives than AI. Accessible to everyone online, it has helped us solve millions of problems, and will do even more. So, as society navigates the evolving landscape of AI adoption, ethical considerations and responsible usage must remain at the forefront.
Take a look at the below infographics for more insights:
Read next: The Top US Colleges and States for Local Entrepreneurs and Business Founders
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
The Top US Colleges and States for Local Entrepreneurs and Business Founders
Location. Location. Location.
No, we're not talking about one of the fundamental laws of property investment. Instead, we're focusing on where the next generation of business founders are deciding to launch their companies.
And for that, we've brought you this latest piece of research from the team at Switch On Business. It put together several charts showing the US colleges and states with the most local business founders, based on data collected from LinkedIn.
Here's a summary of all the results.
The New York colleges churning out local graduate founders include Baruch College, Columbia University, and The New School.
Of the New York schools on the list, Hunter College scored highest, with over half (54%) of its graduate founders staying in the Big Apple.
Let's also give a special mention to New York's Fashion Institute of Technology. 40% of its graduate founders started their business in New York. The fashion school also has an illustrious lineup of super-famous graduates who became some of the biggest names in fashion, such as Michael Kors and Calvin Klein.
Some of the highest-scoring schools outside New York City include Georgia State University (46.32%) and The University of Houston (41.23%).
So what's so great about Utah?
Put simply, it's one of the best states in the USA to set up and do business. Taxes are low, regulation is favorable, and the state economy is absolutely booming.
And with its thriving startup and tech scene, why would any ambitious graduate even think about leaving Utah? It has everything they need to get a new venture off the ground, then grow fast.
Utah Valley takes the top spot on a state-by-state analysis, but the rest of the chart belongs to California. Thirteen of the top twenty colleges in this part of the study are located in The Golden State.
Chicago's DePaul University is the top school in the state of Illinois for graduate founders. Just under half (49%) decided to stay in Illinois following matriculation.
These graduates are following in a fine tradition. Founded in 1898, DePaul has a strong commitment to serving local communities and providing access to education for all students, including first-generation college students and those from underrepresented groups. The school's founder wanted to ensure that students from all backgrounds could receive a quality education that would enable them to improve their lives and contribute positively to local economies.
61% of all graduate founders in California remained in the state, while Texas boasts a graduate founder retention rate of 53%. Impressive stuff.
The same can't be said for Vermont, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. These three states are among the lowest scores of all. Each scored under 10%, meaning 9 out of 10 college founders who studied in states are putting their education to good use elsewhere.
But at least they didn't do as poorly as Rhode Island; less than 6% of its college founders have any interest in doing business in the state after college.
That's some serious brain drain. But where does all that potential move to? One possible answer is New York.
New York is less than 2 hours drive from Rhode Island. The city offers graduate founders a larger and more diverse market to target, as well as superior access to capital, talent, and a dynamic cultural and innovation ecosystem.
According to this final infographic from Switch On Business, the answer is California.
California is a giant magnet for graduate talent, sucking in more graduate founders from across the USA than any other major state included in the study.
It's the smart choice location for graduate founders looking for that first break. A recent study found that new businesses in California have the best survival rate - or at least for the first year. And this is a crucial advantage in a country where 20% of startups never make it past that first critical 12 months.
Read next: People Equal Profits: New Study Reveals Revenue Generated Per Employee in Big Tech Firms
by Asim BN via Digital Information World
No, we're not talking about one of the fundamental laws of property investment. Instead, we're focusing on where the next generation of business founders are deciding to launch their companies.
And for that, we've brought you this latest piece of research from the team at Switch On Business. It put together several charts showing the US colleges and states with the most local business founders, based on data collected from LinkedIn.
Here's a summary of all the results.
New York colleges produce the most local business founders
New York is the place to be for graduates who want to start a business. The city dominates the list of the top US colleges with the most graduate founders, with 8 entries in the top 20.The New York colleges churning out local graduate founders include Baruch College, Columbia University, and The New School.
Of the New York schools on the list, Hunter College scored highest, with over half (54%) of its graduate founders staying in the Big Apple.
Let's also give a special mention to New York's Fashion Institute of Technology. 40% of its graduate founders started their business in New York. The fashion school also has an illustrious lineup of super-famous graduates who became some of the biggest names in fashion, such as Michael Kors and Calvin Klein.
Some of the highest-scoring schools outside New York City include Georgia State University (46.32%) and The University of Houston (41.23%).
Utah Valley graduates stay loyal to their state
An impressive 80% of all graduate founders from Utah Valley University remain in Utah following graduation.So what's so great about Utah?
Put simply, it's one of the best states in the USA to set up and do business. Taxes are low, regulation is favorable, and the state economy is absolutely booming.
And with its thriving startup and tech scene, why would any ambitious graduate even think about leaving Utah? It has everything they need to get a new venture off the ground, then grow fast.
Utah Valley takes the top spot on a state-by-state analysis, but the rest of the chart belongs to California. Thirteen of the top twenty colleges in this part of the study are located in The Golden State.
The college with the most graduate founders in each state
Texas State University helps support the local economy by producing a large amount of graduate founders. Over two-thirds of all graduate founders who went to the college are now running a business in Texas.Chicago's DePaul University is the top school in the state of Illinois for graduate founders. Just under half (49%) decided to stay in Illinois following matriculation.
These graduates are following in a fine tradition. Founded in 1898, DePaul has a strong commitment to serving local communities and providing access to education for all students, including first-generation college students and those from underrepresented groups. The school's founder wanted to ensure that students from all backgrounds could receive a quality education that would enable them to improve their lives and contribute positively to local economies.
US states with the most graduate founders
California and Texas are winning the battle to hold onto their best, brightest, and most ambitious graduate talent.61% of all graduate founders in California remained in the state, while Texas boasts a graduate founder retention rate of 53%. Impressive stuff.
The same can't be said for Vermont, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. These three states are among the lowest scores of all. Each scored under 10%, meaning 9 out of 10 college founders who studied in states are putting their education to good use elsewhere.
But at least they didn't do as poorly as Rhode Island; less than 6% of its college founders have any interest in doing business in the state after college.
That's some serious brain drain. But where does all that potential move to? One possible answer is New York.
New York is less than 2 hours drive from Rhode Island. The city offers graduate founders a larger and more diverse market to target, as well as superior access to capital, talent, and a dynamic cultural and innovation ecosystem.
Searching for opportunity in California
Where do all the graduate founders who don't stay in their state move to?According to this final infographic from Switch On Business, the answer is California.
California is a giant magnet for graduate talent, sucking in more graduate founders from across the USA than any other major state included in the study.
It's the smart choice location for graduate founders looking for that first break. A recent study found that new businesses in California have the best survival rate - or at least for the first year. And this is a crucial advantage in a country where 20% of startups never make it past that first critical 12 months.
Read next: People Equal Profits: New Study Reveals Revenue Generated Per Employee in Big Tech Firms
by Asim BN via Digital Information World
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