EU’s data protection adviser latest to call for ban on tracking ads

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB), an expert steering body which advises EU lawmakers on how to interpret rules wrapping citizen’s personal data, has warned the bloc’s legislators that a package of incoming digital regulations risks damaging people’s fundamental rights — without “decisive action” to amend the suite of proposals. The reference is to draft […]

フェイスブックが開発中の「触覚グローヴ」は、VRの未来を切り開けるか

メタヴァース企業を目指すメタ(旧社名はフェイスブック)が、仮想空間で物体を持った際の重さや感触を再現できる触覚グローヴの試作モデルを公表した。このグローヴはメタが思い描くメタヴァースで、視覚と聴覚、触覚の融合によって現実感を高める役割を果たす可能性を秘めている

VR glove startup says Meta’s recently unveiled prototype is ‘substantively identical’ to their own device

Facebook, errr Meta, showed off a new prototype haptic feedback glove yesterday, which they detailed could eventually bring a new generation of AR/VR users closer than they’ve ever been to digital content. Today, a VR startup with that same mission called HaptX (which we’ve covered here before) released a fairly aggressive statement accusing Meta of […]

Waldo brings its ad-free, private photo-sharing service direct to consumers

Waldo, a photo-sharing platform that has historically targeted businesses, schools, camps, sports leagues, and other organizations, is capitalizing on the growing anti-Facebook sentiment to promote its newly launched consumer product. The company today is introducing a service aimed at private photo-sharing among family and friends which it’s promoting as an “ad-free, non-toxic” and private alternative […]

Instagram will shut down its companion app Threads by year end

Instagram’s standalone messaging app Threads is shutting down. The app will no longer be supported by the end of December 2021, the company confirmed to TechCrunch after reports began circulating via social media of its impending closure. Instagram is planning to alert its existing Threads users with an in-app notice beginning on November 23, which […]

Apple, Google questioned by ICO over app age ratings after UK child safety charity raises concerns

The UK’s data protection watchdog has written to Apple and Google seeking details of how they assess apps to determine the age ratings they apply following concerns raised by an online child safety charity. The move follows the coming into force of the UK’s Age Appropriate Design Code this September — which puts requirements on […]

フェイスブックの「世界を高速インターネットでつなぐ」計画に高まる懸念

メタに社名変更した旧フェイスブックが、世界中に高速インターネットアクセスを提供するプロジェクト「Facebook Connectivity」を発表した。地球上の10億人以上の人々を高速インターネットでつなぐというこの計画。個人情報を巡るさまざまな問題が顕在化してきた同社だけに、インターネットインフラへの関与に懸念を示す声も上がっている。

This Week in Apps: Court orders Apple to implement App Store changes, 2022 forecast, TikTok tries gaming

Welcome back to This Week in Apps, the weekly TechCrunch series that recaps the latest in mobile OS news, mobile applications and the overall app economy. The app industry continues to grow, with a record 218 billion downloads and $143 billion in global consumer spend in 2020. Consumers last year also spent 3.5 trillion minutes […]