Technology

White House courts influencers ahead of high stakes speech
White House courts influencers ahead of high stakes speech
by  AFP

In an ongoing quest to connect with ever-elusive young voters, the White House briefed social media influencers ahead of President Joe Biden's annual State of the Union address on Thursday. For the first time, the State of the Union was livestreamed on Instagram, where the White House has 19 million followers.

Despite 'Barbie,' women not getting movie lead roles: report
Despite 'Barbie,' women not getting movie lead roles: report
by  AFP

The share of Hollywood films with women in the lead role fell last year, new research showed Thursday, despite standout successes like "Barbie." The share of films with a woman as the lead character steadily increased over the decade to 2019, researchers said.

Tinder must explain fee discrepencies to EU users
Tinder must explain fee discrepencies to EU users
by  AFP

Dating app Tinder has promised to tell users in the EU why they are being charged different fees for the same service, after Brussels opened a probe following consumer complaints from Sweden and the Netherlands. The users in Sweden and the Netherlands were offered only the subscription fee automatically determined by the company with no possibility for them to compare against the other prices.

Google opens new cybersecurity hub in Japan
Google opens new cybersecurity hub in Japan
by  AFP

Google on Thursday launched a new cybersecurity hub in Japan, aimed at helping to upgrade defences in the Asia-Pacific. "We are officially launching the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in Japan, aiming to connect leading security specialists, researchers, and partners," Google said in a statement.

EU faces uphill battle to rein in big tech
EU faces uphill battle to rein in big tech
by  AFP

The EU's landmark curbs on how tech titans do business online kick in from Thursday, but just how far Brussels succeeds in bringing the giants to heel will hinge on bitter battles that still lie ahead. European tech businesses share this concern: industry sources said they want Brussels to make sure big tech follows the rules, not just propose new ones.

Argentina's 'troll' president: Milei takes aim at rivals online
Argentina's 'troll' president: Milei takes aim at rivals online
by  AFP

Phone in hand, Argentina's President Javier Milei has become a social media junkie who tears into opponents, shares bizarre memes, vents and retweets with a gusto that has seen him dubbed an online "troll." - 'Influencer troll' - After the governor of southern Chubut province, Ignacio Torres, threatened to cut oil supplies over funding reductions, Milei shared and liked various memes about him.