Regulatory

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday said over-the-top (OTT) communication services do not currently need a regulatory framework, casting aside the threat of potential restrictions on platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Google.Telecoms firms in the country have long lobbied for regulation of apps that offer free voice and text services over the internet, arguing that such services erode their revenues."It is not an opportune moment to recommend a comprehensive regulatory framework for various…

China's $1.2 billion fine on Didi Global draws a line under the ride-hailing company's regulatory woes, but the retroactive application of laws and a lack of clarity on the firm's business revival show the worst for its tech sector may not be over. Beijing's launch of a cybersecurity probe just over a year ago into Didi was part of a wider and unprecedented crackdown on violations of antitrust and data rules, among other issues, that targeted some of China's best-known corporate names, such as Alibaba Group and Tencent…

Products offered by four entities for 'cross border payments' have been found viable by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) after they completed the test phase under the regulatory sandbox scheme. Regulatory sandbox usually refers to live testing of new products or services in a controlled/test regulatory environment for which regulators may (or may not) permit certain relaxations for the limited purpose of the testing. The four entities are Cashfree Payments India, Fairex Solutions, Nearby Technologies and Open Financial…

China has launched a multi-pronged crackdown on its tech companies, leaving startups and decades-old firms alike operating in a new, uncertain environment.Here are sectors that are facing regulatory pressure:Gaming companiesChinese regulators have slashed the amount of time players under the age of 18 can spend on online games to an hour of gameplay on Fridays, weekends and holidays, in response to growing concern over gaming addiction, state media said on Monday.Tech companies eyeing IPOsChina is framing rules to ban…

Samsung is rapidly gathering regulatory approvals for its upcoming foldables. Earlier this week, we saw the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 receive the FCC certificate. A few days later, both new foldables have now picked up approval from Thailand’s NBTC (National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission). These developments indicate that the devices are nearing their debut.Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 receive NBTC certificationNBTC has certified the upcoming Samsung foldables with model numbers SM-F936B and…

Dana Mattioli / Wall Street Journal: Sources: Amazon has reduced its white label product selection and mulled exiting the business altogether, amid weak sales and mounting regulatory pressure — Executives also have discussed exiting the business entirely to address regulatory pressure — Amazon.com Inc. AMZN 0.21%&#9650 … Dana Mattioli / Wall Street Journal: Sources: Amazon has reduced its white label product selection and mulled exiting the business altogether, amid…

Alibaba Group is cutting over a third of staff in its in-house deals team, four people with knowledge of the matter said, after Beijing's sweeping regulatory crackdown sharply slowed the Chinese e-commerce behemoth's dealmaking pace. Alibaba plans to reduce its strategic investment team of more than 110 people, mainly based in mainland China, to about 70, said two of the people, adding the company has already informed a bulk of staffers of their redundancy. Alibaba did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The…

Two Chinese technology companies said they have resumed registering new users, the latest sign Beijing is dialing back a regulatory campaign that had hurt economic activities in the country’s tech sector.Logistics platform Full Truck Alliance and online recruitment firm Kanzhunsaid Wednesday that Chinese authorities lifted a ban preventing the companies from registering new users, signaling the end of a year-long cybersecurity probe. Two Chinese technology companies said they have resumed registering new users, the…

Source: Luke Filipowicz/iMore Telegram CEO Pavel Durov says that he hopes "that regulatory action will follow" a UK government decision to look into the impact of Apple's refusal to allow web browsers to use anything other than WebKit on iPhone and iPad. Posting in his own Telegram channel, Durov noted that the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is already looking into Apple's App Store requirements for web browsers. In a press release the CMA said that it is "concerned" that Apple's refusal to allow non-WebKit…

The Reserve Bank of India will soon come out with regulatory architecture for digital lending platforms, many of which are unauthorised and illegal, Governor Shaktikanta Das said. There have been increasing cases of alleged suicides of borrowers due to harassment by a few of the operators of digital lending apps. "I think very soon we will be coming out with a broad regulatory architecture, which should be able to address the challenges that we are confronted with regard to lending through digital platforms, many of which…