democracy Archives

AppWizard

December 2, 2025

‘Big Brother cannot watch us’: Indian government phone app plan sparks outrage

India has directed smartphone manufacturers to pre-install a government-operated cybersecurity application called Sanchar Saathi on all mobile devices manufactured or imported for use within the country. The app is designed to enhance protection against fraud and cyber threats, allowing users to block and track lost or stolen phones and identify fraudulent mobile subscriptions. Major smartphone companies have a 90-day compliance window, and the app must be visible and accessible during device setup. Critics, including the Internet Freedom Foundation, have raised concerns about user privacy and governmental control over personal devices, while the Indian telecom minister described the app as a voluntary system. The government also requires that the app be pushed to devices already in circulation through software updates. Political opposition has emerged, with calls for the order's retraction, citing constitutional concerns.

AppWizard

November 28, 2025

Helldivers 2 gets a huge Black Friday deal, making it cheaper than ever, but only for a day

Helldivers 2 is a co-op shooter known for its engaging bug-slaying and robot-demolishing gameplay, community missions, and strong narrative focus. It is currently available at a Black Friday discount of .59 / £24.14, which is a 31% reduction from its regular price. This offer is a Flash Deal and expires on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 8 am PT / 11 am ET / 4 pm GMT.

AppWizard

November 22, 2025

Helldivers 2 players exercise managed democracy to rename destroyed city ‘New York Supreme’ rather than the infinitely better ‘Bernard’

The Helldivers 2 community voted to rename a devastated city from York Supreme to New York Supreme, receiving 62,674 votes, while the alternative name "Bernard" received 53,480 votes. The vote took place on the game's official Discord server, raising discussions about player engagement and democracy within the game. Previously, another city was named "Gun." The developer, Arrowhead, acknowledged player involvement by celebrating 'Avengement Day' and hosting a one-day event called "Liberty Day" featuring a browser game.

AppWizard

October 20, 2025

Surviving Mars: Relaunched arrives in orbit next month, bringing a whole new political system and every DLC from the get-go

Surviving Mars: Relaunched is a remaster of the city-builder game Surviving Mars, originally released seven years ago. The new edition will feature enhanced technology, a refreshed user interface, and a groundbreaking political system that starts with an Earth-based council making decisions for the colony. Players can later establish their own governance by creating a Martian Assembly, choosing from government types like theocracy or liberal democracy, which will influence political dynamics and faction development. The Relaunched edition will also include all previously released DLC, featuring mechanics such as terraforming and rival colonies, with future updates planned to enhance food production systems and introduce robots.

AppWizard

October 6, 2025

Signal app threatens to leave Europe over chat control law

Meredith Whittaker, head of the Signal messaging app, stated that Signal is prepared to exit the EU market if legislation allows authorities to bypass encryption to scrutinize private messages. Whittaker emphasized that Signal would prioritize user privacy over compliance with such regulations. The EU is discussing a law aimed at combating the dissemination of child sexual abuse material, which would require messaging platforms to scan messages before encryption. WhatsApp's head criticized the proposed law, claiming it jeopardizes user privacy, while Threema expressed concerns about mass surveillance being incompatible with democratic principles. The European Parliament largely opposes the initiative, while the Council of Member States shows majority support for control measures. Additionally, an incident was reported where an unknown individual used AI-generated voice technology and Signal to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio and contacted five government officials.

AppWizard

September 30, 2025

Madagascar Protesters Turn to Offline Messaging App as Crisis Deepens

Protests erupted in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on September 25, 2025, due to daily power cuts exceeding 12 hours, escalating into violence and resulting in five fatalities. Law enforcement responded with rubber bullets and tear gas, and a curfew was imposed. The protests, led by three municipal officials, were named “Leo Délestage.” Amid the unrest, interest in the offline messaging app Bitchat surged, with downloads reaching over 71,000 in the week of the protests. Bitchat operates via Bluetooth without requiring internet access, catering to the digital inequality in Madagascar, where only 6.6 million of 32 million residents have internet access. Similar patterns of increased Bitchat downloads were observed in Nepal and Indonesia during political unrest. Bitchat, launched in July 2025 by Jack Dorsey, is designed for decentralized and private communication, making it a vital resource for protesters in Madagascar.

AppWizard

September 10, 2025

Helldivers 2 isn’t getting a social hub, Arrowhead CEO says it’s ‘on the feature list for the next one,’ but the studio’s next game is not Helldivers 3

Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani confirmed that the upcoming game will not be Helldivers 3 and emphasized the focus on enhancing Helldivers 2 instead. Players have expressed a desire for a more robust social hub in Helldivers 2, which currently has a basic mini hub. Helldivers 2, launched in February 2024, has seen significant success as a live service title, with ongoing updates and community engagement. Former CEO Johan Pilestedt suggested that Helldivers 2 could evolve into Helldivers 3 over time.

AppWizard

September 5, 2025

Former Call of Duty director stopped making foreign countries the enemy because he wanted ‘to go to these countries’ without needing a bodyguard

Call of Duty began with a clear antagonist in the Nazis during its World War II era, but as the series progressed into modern and futuristic settings, the portrayal of enemies became more nuanced. Glen Schofield, a former director of the franchise, noted that the depiction of villains was influenced by themes of jingoism, colonialism, and American interventionism. His perspective was shaped by a personal story from an Iraqi classmate, whose uncle expressed ambivalence about democracy after escaping imprisonment under Saddam Hussein. This narrative inspired Schofield to develop the character of Jonathan Irons in Advanced Warfare, leading to a powerful speech crafted by Eric Hirshberg that reflected this complex worldview. The evolution of Call of Duty illustrates a growing awareness among creators regarding the narratives they present and their potential impact on players' perceptions of global issues.

AppWizard

July 8, 2025

Jack Dorsey made an encrypted Bluetooth messaging app

Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and Block, has launched a peer-to-peer messaging application called Bitchat, which uses Bluetooth technology to enable communication without Wi-Fi or cellular service. The app operates on Bluetooth Low Energy mesh networks, allowing encrypted messages to be sent directly to nearby devices and enabling automatic message relay to extend the effective range beyond direct Bluetooth connections. Bitchat prioritizes user privacy, requiring no accounts or data collection, and features like a password-protected channel and a “Panic Mode” for instant data deletion. It has a messaging range exceeding 300 meters and is currently in beta testing via Apple TestFlight, which has reached its capacity of 10,000 users.

AppWizard

July 8, 2025

Jack Dorsey working on Bluetooth messaging app, Bitchat

Jack Dorsey, CEO of Block and co-founder of Twitter, has launched a messaging app called Bitchat, which utilizes Bluetooth mesh networks to enable communication without Wi-Fi or cellular networks. Bitchat can extend its messaging range to 300 meters (approximately 984 feet) by relaying messages through connected peers. The app prioritizes user privacy, offering end-to-end encryption. Bitchat is currently in beta testing via Apple’s TestFlight platform, but the testing group has reached its limit of 10,000 participants, with plans for a broader release in the future.