The Indian government has ordered the removal of Jack Dorsey's Bitchat app from app stores in India, citing law-and-order concerns. The Bluetooth messaging app, which allows offline communication, was previously scrutinised during protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and has now been pulled from both Apple's App Store and the Play Store following the IT Ministry's directive.
Apple has removed the offline messaging app Bitchat from its India App Store following a demand from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Developed by Jack Dorsey, Bitchat faced scrutiny under Section 69(A) of the IT Act, 2000, due to concerns about its potential misuse by anti-national elements and for evading lawful surveillance, especially during public disorder. This marks the second time the app has faced government action in India.
NetApp CEO George Kurian announced that India is the company's fastest-growing market in Asia, driven by strong performance in BFSI, manufacturing, IT services, and public sectors. The company's Bengaluru global capability centre is its largest, housing 4,000 engineers and leading global R&D. NetApp also unveiled new AI-focused storage solutions and cloud partnerships at its Insight event.
Data infrastructure company NetApp has introduced Novus, a new storage architecture designed for large-scale AI factories, alongside significant enhancements to its AI Data Engine, hybrid multi-cloud operations, and strategic partnerships with Nutanix and SAP. These initiatives aim to improve data management, security, and efficiency for AI workloads and enterprise cloud infrastructure.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu launched a mobile application for the Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) to enhance garbage collection. The app allows residents to track garbage trucks in real-time, report overflowing bins with photos, and ensures accountability through before-and-after tracking, making civic services smarter and more citizen-friendly.
Maharashtra's Chief Electoral Officer has allowed voter documents via WhatsApp for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, with Block Level Officers (BLOs) conducting home verifications. This development comes amidst controversy surrounding the Election Commission and its Chief, Gyanesh Kumar, over alleged unilateral decisions regarding the SIR, which opposition parties claim dilute the powers of Electoral Registration Officers. The deadline for claims and objections has been extended to October 12.
A woman in Gurugram was arrested for allegedly blackmailing a man she met on a dating app, extorting approximately Rs 90 lakh by threatening to file a false rape case. Police set a trap and apprehended her while she was accepting an additional Rs 50,000.
Trai has brought app-based spam calls under tighter regulations through new A2P call rules.
The CBI has arrested Abhishek Kumar, an alleged kingpin in the Mahadev Online Betting Application case, upon his arrival from Dubai at Hyderabad airport. Kumar is accused of actively operating the betting activities, coordinating panels, collecting funds, and acquiring assets using illicit proceeds. He has been remanded to police custody as the investigation into the Rs 80,000 crore scam continues, with efforts underway to extradite other main promoters.
Bank of Baroda has launched 'bob World 2.0', an AI-powered mobile banking app featuring voice-command capabilities for payments and navigation. The updated app also includes a personal finance management module and a persona-based customer experience, aiming to offer intuitive, secure, and personalised banking services.
EaseMyTrip co-founder Nishant Pitti has been chargesheeted by the Enforcement Directorate in the Mahadev online betting app money laundering case. He is accused of facilitating illegal betting proceeds into the equity market via foreign portfolio investments, with his DEMAT shares worth Rs 59.60 crore provisionally attached. Pitti denies knowledge of the chargesheet and vows to cooperate, while the ED alleges his involvement in stock price manipulation and layering crime proceeds.
Instant messaging app WhatsApp temporarily put multiple accounts, including those in India, "under review" for 24 hours, blocking all app features. This disruption prompted numerous affected users to voice their concerns on social media, while a WhatsApp spokesperson acknowledged the issue, stating they are working to resolve it quickly.
Congress MLA Ramya Haridas was involved in a scuffle with local party workers in Chirayinkeezhu, Thiruvananthapuram, leading to injuries and police cases. Both Haridas and the party workers, including district panchayat member Sajith Muttambalam and leader Sajad, have filed complaints, each presenting a different account of the incident which reportedly stemmed from a dispute over a WhatsApp post and the role of Haridas' staff member.
The Indian government has ordered the removal of Jack Dorsey's Bitchat app from app stores, citing law-and-order concerns due to its ability to bypass communication restrictions. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued the takedown demand under Section 69(A) of the IT Act, 2000. The government also addressed the issue of banning minors from social media, indicating a search for a better solution than outright bans.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has deemed WhatsApp messages sent by a deceased tribal man to his father as a "prima facie crucial dying declaration" in a suicide abetment case. This ruling led to the denial of bail for three accused individuals, who were allegedly involved in harassing the victim over an agricultural land dispute. The court highlighted the electronic evidence and corroborating family statements.
India's Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare announced that cab aggregators have been ordered to cease advance tipping options, deeming the practice misleading and unfair. This follows the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) imposing a Rs 10 lakh penalty on Rapido for unfair business practices, including advance tipping and "dark patterns" that pressure users to pay more. Investigations into Uber and Ola are ongoing, with the government emphasizing that tipping should be voluntary and post-ride.
WhatsApp is testing new ways for users in India to confirm their age as it prepares to comply with upcoming legal requirements, including those related to the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, the Meta-owned messaging platform said on Tuesday.
The goal is to ensure that your bank works for you, providing liquidity and convenience without charging you for the privilege of holding your own money.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged that the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak was orchestrated through an extensive digital network, with confidential question papers circulated via WhatsApp, Telegram, and electronic files among conspirators days before the examination.
Familiar ideas, frustrating characters and stretched-out storytelling make #Love far less romantic than intended.
Andhra Pradesh police have revealed that female Pakistan Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) are actively targeting Indian defence personnel through social media, honey traps, and financial inducements to extract sensitive information. Under "Operation Firewall-2026," two individuals, including a naval staffer, were arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan, with 13 naval personnel among 18 suspects involved in the espionage conspiracy.
Apple Pay is now available in India. Here's how you can add an eligible credit card to Apple Wallet and make payments using your iPhone.
A 17-year-old boy driving a rented Audi car allegedly crashed into three vehicles in southwest Delhi's Kishangarh, resulting in the death of a 45-year-old pedestrian. Police have apprehended the juvenile, seized the vehicles, and are investigating the car rental company for leasing the luxury car to a minor.
A deputy station manager in Kalyan, Thane, has been booked by railway police for allegedly sending inappropriate WhatsApp messages and making improper advances towards a woman colleague. The case was registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Keralam police have issued a public caution against cyber fraudsters who use fake customer care numbers of banks and e-commerce platforms to deceive individuals and steal their personal and financial information. Fraudsters post fake numbers online, then contact victims posing as support agents, asking them to install remote access apps or make small payments to gain access to sensitive data.
A special POCSO court in Jamnagar, Gujarat, has sentenced a man to death under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for the brutal murder and torture of his seven-year-old niece in 2025. The accused also received life imprisonment under the POCSO Act for sexually assaulting the minor, in what was deemed a 'rarest of rare' case.
Dr Rima Dada, a professor at AIIMS, New Delhi, highlights how modern conveniences like excessive screen time and reliance on food delivery apps are contributing to a surge in lifestyle diseases such as PCOS, obesity, diabetes, and depression.
Delhi Police has implemented a multi-layered security cover at the Red Fort for Independence Day celebrations, deploying advanced technologies like the Abhigyan app for fingerprint scanning and Facial Recognition System (FRS) vans to identify suspicious individuals. This enhanced security, involving thousands of personnel, CCTV surveillance, anti-drone systems, and snipers, aims to ensure a safe event amidst intelligence inputs.
The Election Commission of India has revised instructions for the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls, allowing voters served notices for "No Mapping" or "Logical Discrepancy" categories to avoid physical appearance. Booth Level Officers will collect documents at residences, and submissions can also be made via WhatsApp or during special camps, ensuring a more accessible process for electors.
WhatsApp is finally letting you hide your phone number behind a custom username. While it's a massive win for privacy, cybersecurity experts warn it could unleash a wave of identity scams. Here is what you need to know.
Meta-owned WhatsApp has submitted its reply to the government's notice on the "username" feature and the response is being examined, sources said on Thursday.
The CBI has filed a charge sheet in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, relying heavily on digital forensic evidence including an access control app and call data records. The investigation revealed that three NTA subject experts allegedly exploited procedural gaps to leak confidential questions for money, involving a beautician and a coaching centre owner in the distribution of the leaked material to aspirants.
Apple Pay has officially launched in India, integrating with CCAvenue and partnering with Axis Bank to bring secure and convenient mobile payment solutions to millions of iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users across a vast network of merchants.
The Indian government has ordered the removal of three Chinese mobile applications - BAT-BMS, Lossigy, and Epoch-i-ion - from app stores, citing their alleged misuse to remotely disable battery-operated vehicles in India, amid heightened cybersecurity concerns.
Kerala Police have issued a warning against online fraudsters selling fake tickets for the upcoming India-West Indies first ODI match in Thiruvananthapuram. Scammers use social media to lure victims, collect personal details, and demand multiple payments under various pretexts, advising the public to only use official booking platforms.
Sourabh Chandrakar, the absconding founder of the Mahadev betting app, has been detained in Oman based on an Interpol Red Notice. Indian agencies are now working to extradite or deport him. The ED's investigation into the syndicate has revealed alleged proceeds of crime worth Rs 6,000 crore and links to high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats.
The Indian government has issued a notice to Meta regarding WhatsApp's upcoming username feature, warning the platform not to roll it out until concerns about potential fraud, impersonation, and public safety are addressed to the government's satisfaction.
WhatsApp is introducing an optional username feature, allowing users to connect and chat without needing to share their phone numbers. This privacy-focused update will roll out gradually, enabling users to reserve unique usernames and offering greater control over personal information, especially in group chats or when interacting with businesses.
Your credit card may have security controls you rarely use. Here are seven settings that can help prevent unwanted or fraudulent transactions.
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested 19-year-old Maqsood Ali from Tamil Nadu for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to carry out "violent jihadist activities." Ali was reportedly part of WhatsApp groups sharing bomb-making videos and Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) material, and was in contact with Pakistani hackers, developing a secure communication network for the group. This is the second arrest in the case, following Mohammad Nabeel's apprehension.
