Zimbabwe’s government has introduced a licensing requirement for Whatsapp group administrators to curb misinformation and enhance accountability on social media platforms. The licensing fee ranges from $50 to $2,500, depending on the type of Whatsapp group. Administrators must provide personal information to obtain a license from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ)….
The following is a guest post by Yannik Schrade, CEO and Co-founder of Arcium. When Oracle AI CTO Larry Ellison shared his vision for a global network of AI-powered surveillance that would keep citizens on their “best behavior”, critics were quick to draw comparisons to George Orwell’s 1984 and describe his business pitch as dystopian….
According to Coingecko’s 2024 Q3 Crypto Industry Report, the global cryptocurrency market closed flat, ending the quarter with a $2.33 trillion market cap. However, the period saw considerable volatility driven by geopolitical and economic events across major markets. Q3’s Crypto Winners and Losers: Coingecko’s Report Breaks It Down Coingecko’s latest report highlights that the crypto…
The Brazilian Central Bank is opening the drex CBDC pilot to new entrants, aiming to test more advanced use cases and privacy solutions for the project’s second phase. Thirteen use cases have been confirmed, including carbon credits, agricultural bonds, and foreign trade platforms. Brazilian Central Banks Opens CBDC Pilot to New Consortiums Brazil is preparing…
Albert Castellana, co-founder and CEO of Yeager.ai, believes artificial intelligence (AI) can propel blockchain-based applications beyond simple, static contracts. AI integration unlocks “much more subjective decision-making,” opening doors to entirely new use cases, he argues in written responses to Bitcoin.com News questions. Risks Associated With Centralized AI Models Castellana said he envisions developers creating applications…
Congressman Warren Davidson has introduced the Evaluating Defi Opportunities Act to foster data-driven regulations for decentralized finance (defi). He stressed the importance of safeguarding innovation and user privacy while addressing concerns over potential overregulation. This proposed study by key financial regulators seeks to balance defi’s growth with oversight, ensuring the sector’s competitive edge and resilience…
Zano blockchain partnered with Confidential Layer to enable secure and private transactions across different blockchains. This allows users to keep their original assets (like ether or bitcoin) while adding Zano’s strong privacy features. Both the Zano and Confidential Layer teams see this as a significant step towards a digital economy where users have control over…
The North Carolina General Assembly has overridden Governor Roy Cooper’s veto to enact a bill prohibiting a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the state. The Senate voted 27-17, securing the required supermajority. The bill bars payments using CBDC and state participation in Federal Reserve testing. This bill reflects strong opposition to CBDCs and emphasizes…
Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, made his first public statement after his arrest in Paris. He was questioned by French authorities for four days over claims that he could be held responsible for illegal activities of Telegram users. Durov expressed surprise, citing that Telegram has an official representative for such matters. He pledged…
Following Telegram founder Pavel Durov’s arrest, Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted the hashtag #FreePavel on his social media platform X. The hashtags #FreePavel and #FreeDurov emerged as supporters protested Durov’s arrest and called for his release. Durov is known for his strong stance on privacy and free speech, often clashing with government authorities over his…
While the European Central Bank is studying the possible issuance of a Europe-wide CBDC, the digital euro, not all Europeans are fully behind this idea. Germany is particularly concerned about the privacy aspects of this implementation, as most transactions and payments are still made using cash, and citizens are reluctant to share their personal information….