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Beyond

Meta says child abuse ads removed

Meta Platforms has rejected allegations that it knowingly allowed or targeted advertisements linked to child sexual abuse material on its platforms, saying it has strengthened enforcement after receiving a notice from the Centre over reports involving Instagram ads.

In a detailed statement, the company described child exploitation as a “horrific crime” and reiterated its zero-tolerance policy. Meta said it had already identified and removed several policy-violating advertisements and disabled the accounts behind them before the issue was flagged by authorities. A subsequent internal review led to more ads being removed, additional accounts being disabled and links associated with the content being blocked.

Highlighting its enforcement efforts, Meta said advances in its artificial intelligence systems enabled it to automatically remove more than four million suspicious accounts globally last year, along with 36 million pieces of child exploitation content. In India alone, the company said its AI-based detection systems helped remove around 1.6 lakh accounts in the past six months for suspected child exploitation-related activity.

The company also stressed that all advertisements undergo automated and manual reviews before publication and may be reviewed again after going live. It said advertisers found violating its policies can face restrictions or permanent removal from its platforms.

The clarification comes after the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) directed Meta to immediately remove advertisements and content promoting or facilitating child sexual exploitative and abuse material, while seeking a detailed explanation from the company. The government has also asked Meta to strengthen safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Meta said it will continue working with law enforcement agencies and child safety organisations to improve detection systems and strengthen protections for children across its platforms.

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Technology

Centre orders Meta to remove CSAM Ads

The Centre has issued a notice to Meta after reports found Instagram carrying advertisements linked to child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The government has directed the company to remove the content immediately and strengthen its systems to prevent such violations.

The action follows an investigation that uncovered advertisements promoting AI-generated nude images of children and directing users to platforms allegedly hosting illegal child abuse content. The findings raised serious concerns over the effectiveness of Meta’s ad review process.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has sought an explanation from Meta and warned the company to comply with Indian laws governing online safety. Officials said social media platforms are responsible for preventing the spread of illegal content and must act swiftly against such material.

Meta said it has strict policies against child exploitation and is investigating the issue. The company said it removes content that violates its rules and continues to invest in technology and human review to detect harmful material.

The incident has renewed concerns over online child safety and increased pressure on technology companies to strengthen content moderation and advertising checks.

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Beyond

Centre summons Meta over Instagram Ads

The Centre has summoned Meta after reports alleged that advertisements promoting child sexual abuse material appeared on Instagram, raising serious concerns over the platform’s content moderation and advertising systems.

The action follows directions from Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who sought an immediate explanation from the company after reports highlighted the presence of disturbing advertisements. Officials have asked Meta to clarify how such content was allowed to appear on one of the country’s most widely used social media platforms and what steps are being taken to prevent similar incidents.

The government is expected to seek details on Instagram’s ad review process, safeguards for minors and the mechanisms used to detect and block illegal or harmful content before it reaches users. Authorities are also likely to examine whether existing compliance measures under India’s digital regulations were followed.

The incident has once again put the spotlight on the responsibility of major technology companies to monitor content and ensure that their platforms are not misused for criminal activities. Child safety advocates have long argued that social media firms must strengthen automated detection systems while improving human oversight to quickly identify and remove exploitative material.

Meta has previously stated that it maintains strict policies against child sexual exploitation and works with law enforcement agencies and child protection organisations to detect, report and remove such content. The company uses artificial intelligence, automated tools and human reviewers to identify policy violations and take action against offending accounts.

The latest controversy has renewed calls for stronger moderation and greater accountability from digital platforms, particularly as online advertising systems become increasingly automated. Experts believe companies must continuously improve their safeguards to prevent harmful material from slipping through moderation processes.

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Corporate

Micron hits $1.398 trillion, briefly tops Meta, Tesla

US chipmaker Micron Technology briefly became more valuable than Meta and Tesla after its shares surged on the back of strong earnings and booming demand for artificial intelligence (AI) memory chips.

The company’s stock jumped 18.4 per cent, pushing its market value to $1.398 trillion. During the rally, Micron overtook Meta, valued at $1.392 trillion, and briefly moved ahead of Tesla before market values changed later in the trading session.

The sharp rise came after Micron reported better-than-expected quarterly results and issued a strong revenue forecast. The company said demand for its advanced memory chips, which are used in AI servers and data centres, continues to grow rapidly as technology companies expand their AI infrastructure.

Micron also revealed that customers have signed $22 billion worth of long-term agreements to secure future supplies of its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips. These chips are essential for training and running advanced AI models, making them a key component of the fast-growing AI industry.

The company reported a 346 per cent year-on-year jump in revenue, reflecting the strong demand for AI-related products. Investors welcomed the results, seeing them as a sign that spending on AI infrastructure remains strong despite global economic uncertainties.

While companies like Nvidia have dominated the AI hardware market, Micron is becoming increasingly important because AI systems require large amounts of high-speed memory to process data efficiently. As more businesses invest in AI, demand for memory chips is expected to remain strong.

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Technology

Meta and EssilorLuxottica’s new AI glasses

Meta has expanded its push into wearable technology with the launch of a new range of AI-powered smart glasses developed in partnership with eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica. The new product line, simply called Meta Glasses, starts at $299 and is aimed at bringing smart eyewear to a wider audience.

The launch marks an important step for Meta as it seeks to strengthen its position in the fast-growing smart glasses market. Unlike previous products developed under the Ray-Ban and Oakley brands, the new glasses carry Meta’s own branding while still benefiting from EssilorLuxottica’s expertise in eyewear design and manufacturing.

The collection debuts with 26 style options across different frame shapes, colours and lens combinations. Customers can also choose prescription lenses, making the devices suitable for everyday use. The lineup includes three main designs — Adventurer, Fury and a slim oval model created in collaboration with celebrity Kylie Jenner.

At the heart of the glasses is Meta AI, powered by the company’s latest Muse Spark technology. Users can interact with the AI assistant through voice commands, ask questions, receive contextual information and access hands-free assistance throughout the day. The glasses also feature built-in cameras, microphones and open-ear speakers, allowing users to capture photos and videos, make calls and listen to audio without needing headphones.

Meta says future software updates will add more advanced capabilities, including real-time language translation and turn-by-turn navigation. The company believes smart glasses could become one of the most important consumer AI devices in the coming years by offering assistance without requiring users to constantly look at a smartphone screen.

The launch comes as competition in AI-powered wearables intensifies. Rivals including Google, Apple and Snap are all investing heavily in smart eyewear, seeing it as a potential successor to traditional mobile devices. With a lower starting price and a strong focus on fashion, Meta hopes its latest glasses will help bring AI technology into everyday life for millions of consumers.

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Leaders

CRED founder Kunal Shah takes charge of WhatsApp

Indian entrepreneur Kunal Shah has been named the new global head of WhatsApp, marking a major milestone not only in his career but also for India’s growing influence in the global technology industry. The appointment comes alongside Meta’s announcement of a significant investment in Shah’s fintech venture, CRED, underscoring the company’s confidence in his leadership and vision.

Shah, founder of CRED and co-founder of FreeCharge, will succeed longtime WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart, who has led the messaging platform since 2019. Cathcart is expected to move into a new role within Meta focused on developing next-generation products.

The move makes Shah one of the few Indian-origin executives to lead a major global consumer technology platform. It also reflects Meta’s increasing emphasis on integrating messaging, payments and commerce—areas where Shah has built considerable expertise over the past decade.

Born in Ahmedabad and raised in Mumbai, Shah began his entrepreneurial journey with FreeCharge in 2010. The digital payments platform quickly became one of India’s most recognised startups before being acquired by Snapdeal. After exiting the company, Shah launched CRED in 2018, initially focusing on rewarding users for timely credit card payments before expanding into lending, commerce, insurance and wealth products.

Alongside Shah’s appointment, Meta announced a $900 million investment in CRED, valuing the fintech company at around $4.5 billion. The investment gives Meta a minority stake in the Bengaluru-based startup and further strengthens ties between the social media giant and India’s digital payments ecosystem.

Industry observers see the appointment as a strategic move. India remains WhatsApp’s largest market, with hundreds of millions of users, and the platform has increasingly expanded beyond messaging into payments, business services and digital commerce. Shah’s deep understanding of consumer finance and technology is expected to play a key role in shaping WhatsApp’s next phase of growth.

For many in India’s startup ecosystem, Shah’s elevation represents another example of Indian entrepreneurs taking on influential leadership roles on the global stage.

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Beyond

Meta, Reliance partner for AI data centre in Jamnagar

Meta has partnered with Reliance Industries to develop its first artificial intelligence-enabled data centre in India, marking a significant step in the country’s growing ambitions to become a global hub for AI and digital infrastructure.

The proposed facility will be located in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and is expected to support Meta’s expanding AI operations while catering to the increasing demand for computing power, data processing and cloud-based services. The collaboration brings together Meta’s expertise in artificial intelligence and digital platforms with Reliance’s infrastructure capabilities and large-scale project execution experience.

According to the companies, the data centre will be designed to support next-generation AI applications, including large language models, machine learning systems and advanced computing workloads. The project is expected to provide the high-performance infrastructure required for developing and deploying AI technologies at scale.

The partnership aligns with India’s broader push to strengthen its digital ecosystem and attract investments in emerging technologies. Demand for AI-ready data centres has risen sharply worldwide as technology companies invest heavily in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data analytics.

The collaboration is a major endorsement of India’s growing importance in the global technology landscape.  Jamnagar has emerged as a key location for large-scale infrastructure projects because of its industrial ecosystem, energy resources and connectivity advantages. The proposed facility is expected to contribute to the development of a robust AI infrastructure network in the country.

The project is also likely to generate employment opportunities during both the construction and operational phases while encouraging further investment in technology and digital services.

For Meta, the initiative represents a strategic expansion of its AI infrastructure footprint in one of the world’s fastest-growing digital markets. For Reliance, the partnership strengthens its presence in the digital and technology sectors, complementing its broader ambitions in telecommunications, cloud services and artificial intelligence.

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Technology

Meta rolls out AI agents for businesses

Meta has unveiled a new generation of AI agents for businesses, marking a major step in the company’s efforts to expand its artificial intelligence offerings beyond consumer applications. Announcing the launch, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said AI-powered business assistants could eventually handle a wide range of operational tasks, helping companies improve efficiency and customer engagement.

The AI agents are now available globally and can be deployed across Meta’s platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram. Businesses can use them to answer customer queries, provide product recommendations, assist with purchases, schedule appointments, track orders and support marketing campaigns. The tools are designed to operate around the clock, enabling companies to respond to customers even outside regular business hours.

Meta said businesses can customise the AI agents using information about their products, services and brand identity. This allows the assistants to provide more accurate and personalised responses while maintaining a consistent customer experience. The company believes the technology will be particularly useful for small and medium-sized businesses that may not have dedicated customer support teams.

Speaking about the launch, Zuckerberg said AI agents could become as common for businesses as websites or email accounts are today. He suggested that in the future, companies may rely on AI assistants to manage customer interactions, generate leads, handle routine administrative work and support sales efforts.

The rollout is part of Meta’s broader strategy to build new revenue streams and strengthen its position in the rapidly growing AI market. While advertising remains the company’s primary source of income, Meta is increasingly investing in AI-powered products and services for both consumers and businesses.

Industry analysts view the launch as an important move in the competition among major technology companies to commercialise generative AI. Firms such as Google, Microsoft and OpenAI are also developing AI tools aimed at improving workplace productivity and customer service.

Meta said the new AI agents are designed to learn from company information and provide personalised responses to customers. As businesses continue to adopt automation technologies, the company expects AI assistants to play an increasingly important role in everyday operations, helping organisations save time, reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction.

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Technology

Meta introduces Forum app for Facebook Groups

Meta has launched a new app called Forum aimed at improving how users participate in Facebook Groups. The app provides a dedicated space for community discussions outside the main Facebook interface.

The Forum app is designed to organise group content more efficiently, making conversations easier to track and engage with. It allows users to view group posts and discussions in a simplified format without relying on the main Facebook feed.

The move reflects Meta’s broader effort to promote community-based interaction across its platforms. Facebook Groups continue to play a major role in user engagement, covering a wide range of topics and interests globally.

By separating group activity into a standalone app, Meta aims to reduce feed clutter and offer a more streamlined experience for active group members. The company is also expected to test additional features to improve moderation and content discovery.

Details about global availability and full feature rollout have not yet been announced.

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1 Minute-Read

Meta lays off 8,000 employees after WFH notice

Meta has started laying off around 8,000 employees globally, about 10% of its workforce, as part of a major restructuring focused on artificial intelligence.

Reports say employees were first told to work from home before termination emails were sent, with the earliest notices arriving around 4 AM in some regions. The cuts affect multiple teams, including engineering and product roles.

The move is part of Meta’s shift toward leaner AI-driven operations under CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has prioritised heavy investment in AI infrastructure and development. Further restructuring is expected in the coming months.