Russia attempted to fully block WhatsApp, according to the messaging app, as the government continues to tighten its grip on online communication, ABC News reported. The move, which WhatsApp said was intended to push users toward a state-backed alternative, is the latest in a series of actions aimed at controlling internet access within the country.
A WhatsApp spokesperson stated that the Russian authorities' actions were an attempt to drive users to MAX, a state-supported messaging app viewed by critics as a surveillance tool, ABC News reported. The spokesperson added that trying to isolate over 100 million people from secure communication is a "backwards step" that could lead to less safety.
In other news, Republican Rep. Greg Steube of Florida introduced legislation aimed at eliminating the controversial H-1B visa program, Fox News reported. Steube said that prioritizing foreign labor over the well-being of American citizens undermines national interests. He added that American workers and young people are being displaced by the program.
Meanwhile, the abrupt closure of El Paso's airspace late Tuesday was caused by Customs and Border Protection officials deploying an anti-drone laser without sufficient warning to aviation officials, according to multiple sources briefed on the situation, as reported by the NY Times. The incident led the Federal Aviation Administration to shut down the airspace for 10 days, a pause that was quickly lifted Wednesday morning at the direction of the White House. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy claimed the closure was in response to a sudden incursion of drones from Mexican drug cartels.
In the UK, Apple and Google agreed to make changes to their app stores following an intervention from the UK markets regulator, BBC Technology reported. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the tech giants committed to not giving preferential treatment to their own apps and will be transparent about how others are approved for sale. The CMA's head, Sarah Cardell, said the proposed commitments "will boost the UK's app economy."
Also, children are being bombarded with advertisements for weight loss drugs online, according to a report by the children's commissioner for England, BBC Technology reported. The report found young people were "bombarded" with ads for products claiming to change their bodies and appearance, despite this kind of advertising being banned. Dame Rachel de Souza said the posts were "immensely damaging" to young people's self-esteem and called for a ban on social media advertising to children. A spokesperson for the media regulator Ofcom said it did not tolerate "tech firms prioritizing engagement over children's online safety."
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