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Welcome to this week’s roundup of the latest technology news from around the world. This week, we bring you a range of stories covering different aspects of the tech industry, from antitrust concerns to dark store expansion.
- Our first story takes us to Japan, where the antitrust watchdog, the Fair Trade Commission, has issued warnings to tech giants Apple and Google over their app store practices.
- Our second story takes us to India, where the developer of the popular video game Fortnite has accused Google of violating the remedial directions issued by the Competition Commission of India.
- In our third story, we bring you a story from India about a ban on hundreds of Chinese betting and loan apps.
- Finally, we talk about the plans of Indian online grocery delivery startup BlinkIt to increase its dark store count by 40% in the next 12 months.
Japan Antitrust Watchdog Issues Warnings to Apple and Google over App Store Practices
The Japanese antitrust watchdog, the Fair Trade Commission, has issued warnings to Apple and Google regarding their app stores. The warnings state that the companies’ practices could violate anti-monopoly laws. Specifically, the watchdog is concerned about the companies’ policies surrounding in-app purchases and commissions charged to app developers. The Fair Trade Commission has called on companies to improve their policies to ensure fair competition and protect consumers. This comes amid growing global scrutiny of tech companies and their business practices, with regulators around the world looking to rein in the power of tech giants.
Read the full story here: http://bit.ly/3jR9Sz0
Fortnite Developer Accuses Google of Violating CCI Remedial Directions
The developer of the popular video game Fortnite, Epic Games, has accused Google of violating the remedial directions issued by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) concerning the company’s app store practices. Epic Games has claimed that Google’s actions are anti-competitive and have resulted in the company being unfairly prevented from offering its games and distributing its third-party app store, Epic Games App Store. The CCI had previously issued directions in response to complaints about Google’s app store practices, which were found to have resulted in reduced competition and consumer choice. Epic Games’ allegations are part of a growing global debate over the power and influence of app stores and their impact on competition and innovation in the tech industry. The case highlights the need for greater scrutiny of the app store business model and how it affects developers, consumers, and competition.
Read more here: http://bit.ly/3K2pk60
India to Ban Hundreds of Chinese Betting and Loan Apps Over Data Security Concerns
The Indian government is banning loan-lending apps due to their harmful practices, including extortion and harassment of individuals who had taken small loans through these apps. Most of these apps were created by Chinese nationals and were found to have jacked up interest rates to up to 3,000 percent annually. The issue of predatory loan-lending apps came to the forefront following a series of suicides, particularly in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, by individuals who had taken out loans or lost money through betting apps. The apps also pose a security risk to Indian citizens’ data and can be used for espionage and propaganda. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory against the advertisements and distribution of these illegal betting platforms as well, while online advertisement intermediaries have been advised to not target such ads toward the Indian audience.
Source: http://bit.ly/3HYNg7E
BlinkIt Aiming to Increase Dark Store Count by 40% in the Next 12 Months
BlinkIt, an Indian online grocery delivery startup, is looking to expand its operations by increasing its dark store count by around 40% over the next 12 months. Dark stores are fulfillment centers that operate as an intermediary between traditional brick-and-mortar stores and customers. They allow retailers to offer customers a wider range of products and faster delivery times while reducing the cost of running physical stores. The company’s plans for expansion demonstrate its confidence in the future of the Indian e-commerce market and its commitment to helping retailers succeed in a rapidly changing retail landscape.
Read the complete story here: http://bit.ly/3YNtAe6
That concludes this week’s roundup of the latest technology news. From antitrust concerns to dark store expansion, it’s been a week of major developments in the tech industry. We hope you found these stories informative and stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks.
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