local regulations Archives

AppWizard

July 28, 2025

Battery Hazard Prompts Recall Of Popular Minecraft Toy

Innovative Designs has recalled approximately 75,900 Minecraft Light-Up Slap Ruler Bracelets due to non-compliance with federal safety regulations for battery-operated toys. The recall affects two models of bracelets that allow easy access to battery compartments, posing a risk of children swallowing button cell batteries, which can cause severe injuries. The bracelets were sold at Walmart from March to May 2025 and retail for approximately . They are available in pink and green and contain three pre-installed button cell batteries. One report of a battery detaching has been received, but no injuries have been reported. Parents are advised to remove the bracelets from children and send a photo of the disposed bracelet to receive a full refund. The CPSC has also reminded that button cell batteries should be recycled as hazardous waste.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

Vietnam orders ban on Telegram messaging app over security concerns

Vietnam's telecommunications providers have been instructed to block access to Telegram due to national security concerns and alleged non-compliance with local laws. The Ministry of Information and Communications claims that 70% of Telegram channels in Vietnam are linked to illicit activities, including fraud and drug trafficking. Officials allege that Telegram has failed to remove illegal content and provide user data for investigations. A spokesperson for Telegram stated that the company had responded to legal requests from Vietnam. Vietnam has a history of enforcing strict online content controls, previously threatening to block Facebook and discussing a ban on TikTok. Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was arrested in France earlier this year over allegations related to cybercrime and expressed his commitment to improving the platform's security in light of its rapid user growth to 950 million.

AppWizard

May 23, 2025

Want to price your Android app at Rs 4 Lakh? Google Play Store will now allow it, conditions apply

Google has increased the maximum price for apps and subscriptions on the Google Play Store to 9.99 (approximately Rs 4 lakh in India), up from the previous limit of 9.99. This change requires developers to meet specific criteria, including maintaining a compliant Google Play account, adhering to policies, and demonstrating over million in revenue in the past year. The new pricing applies to standalone app purchases, in-app purchases, and subscriptions, except in South Korea, where the limit remains at 0 or its local equivalent.

AppWizard

March 21, 2025

Meta AI arrives in Europe (for real)

Meta AI, the generative AI digital assistant from Meta, has launched in Europe after a year and a half since its initial release. The rollout includes generative text capabilities across WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger in 41 European countries and 21 additional territories worldwide. European users will only interact with Meta AI as a text chatbot, lacking features for generating or editing images and the ability to interpret photographs, which are available in the U.S. Meta AI has not been trained with data from EU users. The launch followed nearly a year of collaboration with European regulators regarding security and privacy.

AppWizard

October 9, 2024

Russia and Turkey ban Discord messaging app

Russia and Turkey have imposed restrictions on the messaging platform Discord due to its failure to comply with local regulations. In Russia, the internet regulatory body Roskomnadzor cited violations related to terrorism, extremist recruitment, and drug trafficking, while data from NetBlocks confirmed Discord's restriction across multiple internet service providers. A Moscow court recently fined Discord for not removing forbidden content. In Turkey, the telecommunications regulator ICTA linked Discord to serious offenses, including child abuse and online harassment, following a court ruling. Both countries have a history of limiting access to social media under security pretexts.

AppWizard

August 27, 2024

Telegram: How the app defies calls for hate censorship

Telegram Messenger is a communication platform used by over 800 million active monthly users as of early 2024. It offers free instant messaging, file sharing, and features like end-to-end encryption for calls, unlimited cloud storage, and large group capacities. In 2022, Telegram introduced a paid subscription model for enhanced features, while assuring users that private messaging will remain free of ads. Founded in 2013 by Pavel and Nikolai Durov, the company has faced scrutiny due to its limited content moderation and the recent arrest of CEO Pavel Durov on August 24, 2023, possibly related to compliance with EU regulations. Telegram is popular in countries like India, Russia, and Indonesia but faces restrictions in others. The company's encryption methods are proprietary and not independently verified, raising concerns about user privacy. Telegram's development team is currently based in Dubai, and the company is open to relocating if necessary.

AppWizard

August 9, 2024

Signal messenger blocked in Russia, says Roskomnadzor -Ifax

Russia's state communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, has blocked the encrypted messaging app Signal due to its failure to comply with local regulations.

AppWizard

April 21, 2024

Apple Takes Down WhatsApp And Other Popular Messaging Apps From Chinese App Store

Apple has removed several high-profile messaging apps from the iPhone's App Store in China in response to an official order from Beijing authorities due to national security concerns.