Indonesia’s antitrust agency KPPU fined Google 202.5 billion Rupiahs, equivalent to $12.6 million, on Wednesday for antitrust violation related to its payment system services for the Google Play Store. The KPPU ordered the search giant to cease the mandatory use of Google Play Billing in the Google Play Store. It also asked Google to let…
Category: Google
Apple, Global Security News, Google, Security
Fake Homebrew Google ads target Mac users with malware
Hackers are once again abusing Google ads to spread malware, using a fake Homebrew website to infect Macs and Linux devices with an infostealer that steals credentials, browser data, and cryptocurrency wallets. […]
Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, OAuth, Security, Startups
Employees of failed startups are at special risk of stolen personal data through old Google logins
As if losing your job when the startup you work for collapses isn’t bad enough, now a security researcher has found that employees at failed startups are at particular risk of having their data stolen. This ranges from their private Slack messages to Social Security numbers and, potentially, bank accounts. The researcher who discovered the…
AI, Alphabet, Amazon, Anthropic, Enterprise, FTC, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Government & Policy, Microsoft, openai
FTC says partnerships like Microsoft-OpenAI raise antitrust concerns
The Federal Trade Commission said in a staff report issued Friday that there are potential competitive issues in partnerships between big tech companies and generative AI developers — specifically, Microsoft’s backing of OpenAI and Amazon and Alphabet/Google’s partnerships with Anthropic. “The FTC’s report sheds light on how partnerships by big tech firms can create lock-in,…
antitrust, ChatGPT, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Government & Policy, openai, sam altman
ChatGPT’s head of product will testify in the US government’s case against Google
The U.S. government has picked Nick Turley, ChatGPT’s head of product, to testify in its antitrust case against Google. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Apps, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Google Search, Javascript
Google begins requiring JavaScript for Google Search
Google says it has begun requiring users to turn on JavaScript, the widely-used programming language to make web pages interactive, in order to use Google Search. In an email to TechCrunch, a company spokesperson claimed that the change is intended to “better protect” Google Search against malicious activity, such as bots and spam, and to…
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Asia Pacific, china, CISA, Congress, critical infrastructure, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Global Security News, Google, Government, Jack Cable, Microsoft, Policy, regulation, Salt Typhoon, secure by design, telecommunications, Treasury Department, Volt Typhoon
A CISA secure-by-design guru makes the case for the future of the initiative
One of the chief architects of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency campaign to get software developers to design their products with security in mind said he believes it could be one of the best tools the Trump administration has to counter China. Jack Cable, who is departing his role as senior technical adviser Thursday,…
carbon credits, Climate, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Varaha
Google strikes world’s largest biochar carbon removal deal with Indian startup Varaha
Google has agreed to purchase 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide removal credits from Indian startup Varaha. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Amazon, donations, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, la, la fires, la wildfires, Media & Entertainment, Netflix, Snap, Sony, Tech Companies
These tech companies are donating to LA wildfire relief efforts
Numerous tech companies have pledged millions in donations to help LA recover from wildfires that caused widespread devastation and forced thousands to evacuate the region. Those offering aid include YouTube/Google, Meta, Snap, Amazon, Netflix, and Sony. Here’s an overview of what each company is doing to aid relief efforts in the region: YouTube and Google:…
AI, Apps, chatbot, deal, gemini, generative ai, Global Security News, Google, News, publisher, the associated press
Google inks deal with The Associated Press to bring more real-time info to Gemini
In a bid to make its Gemini chatbot app more of one-stop shop, Google says it’s working with The Associated Press to build “a feed of real-time information” in Gemini. Jaffer Zaidi, Google’s VP of global news partnerships, said that the goal is to “further enhance the usefulness of results” in the Gemini experience. “As…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, notebooklm, Podcasts
Google’s NotebookLM had to teach its AI podcast hosts not to act annoyed at humans
NotebookLM’s viral AI podcast hosts sounded annoyed at human callers and required “friendliness tuning,” Google says. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, hyperspectral imagery, India, Pixxel, Space
Google-backed Pixxel launches India’s first private satellite constellation
Pixxel, an Indian space tech startup backed by Google, has successfully launched the first three hyperspectral satellites of its commercial constellation Firefly. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Global Security News, Google, Security
Google OAuth flaw lets attackers gain access to abandoned accounts
A weakness in Google’s OAuth “Sign in with Google” feature could enable attackers that register domains of defunct startups to access sensitive data of former employee accounts linked to various software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms. […]
AI, antitrust, CMA, competition, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Government & Policy, regulation, Search
UK’s CMA slaps Google Search and its 90%+ market share with an antitrust investigation
The Competition and Markets Authority — the U.K.’s antitrust watchdog — is wasting no time in lodging its first official investigation of 2025 under its new rules that came into effect this month. It’s looking into the market dominance of Google in Search, including the new work it’s doing in AI search as well as…
2FA, CryptoCurrency, Global Security News, Google, Guest blog, Kraken, password manager, phishing
Canadian man loses a cryptocurrency fortune to scammers – here’s how you can stop it happening to you
A Canadian man lost a $100,000 cryptocurrency fortune – all because he did a careless Google search. Read more in my article on the Hot for Security blog.
AI, Dev, developers, Enterprise, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, google deepmind
Google folds more teams into DeepMind to ‘accelerate the research to developer pipeline’
As it looks to accelerate the pace of its AI development, Google is further streamlining the teams building its AI services, platforms, and tools. On Thursday, Logan Kilpatrick, who leads product for Google’s AI Studio developer platform, said in a post on X that Google’s AI Studio team and the team developing the API for…
AI, Apps, Artificial Intelligence, audio, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, google search labs, Search Labs
Google’s Daily Listen AI feature generates a podcast based on your Discover feed
Google is testing a new “Daily Listen” feature that automatically generates a podcast based on your Discover feed. The company confirmed to TechCrunch that Daily Listen is a personalized AI-powered audio experience that is designed to help you stay up to date on the topics you care about. The feature is currently rolling out on…
AI, Apps, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, google deepmind, Media & Entertainment, tim brooks, world models
Google is forming a new team to build AI that can simulate the physical world
Google is forming a new team to work on AI models that can simulate the physical world. Tim Brooks, one of the co-leads on OpenAI’s video generator, Sora, who left for Google’s AI research lab, Google DeepMind, last October, will lead the new team, he announced in a post on X. It’ll be a part of…
Global Security News, Google, Microsoft
Microsoft Bing shows misleading Google-like page for ‘Google’ searches
Microsoft Bing is displaying what is being categorized as a misleading Google-esque search page when users search for Google, making it look you are on the competing search engine. […]
Global Security News, Google, Software
Google Chrome is making it easier to share specific parts of long PDFs
Google is adding the Text Fragment feature to its PDF reader to make it easier to share specific parts of long PDFs. […]
Amazon, amd, CES, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Hardware, LG, nvidia, robotics, Samsung, Transportation
CES 2025: What to expect from the year’s first and biggest tech show
CES 2025 officially kicks off in Las Vegas on Tuesday morning, running through the end of the day on January 10. The “official” dates are specific to when the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center is open to attendees, and ultimately belie the show’s true duration. A pair of press days kick off Sunday…
Bluesky, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Media & Entertainment, olympics, Social
The online moments that defined 2024
Ah, 2024: the year we debated how to pronounce “hawk tuah,” pondered the health benefits of eating rocks, and held space for a Broadway showstopper. It was a year when the discourse could feel shockingly pure and joyful — at least for a few minutes, before we all came tumbling back down to reality. Online…
Fintech, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Google Pay, India, NPCI, Paytm, PhonePe, Walmart
India again delays rules to break PhonePe-Google Pay duopoly
India has once again pushed back a contentious plan to limit big technology companies’ control of the nation’s digital payments system, extending a regulatory uncertainty that has weighed on the sector for years. The National Payments Corporation of India said on Tuesday it would extend the deadline for implementing a 30% cap on any individual…
Fintech, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Government & Policy, India, NPCI, Paytm, PhonePe, Walmart
India’s mobile payments dilemma
India’s payments regulator is set to decide as early as Monday whether to curb the dominance of Walmart’s PhonePe and Google in the nation’s fast-growing mobile payments market, a move that could reshape how its billion-plus population moves money. The decision centers on UPI, or Unified Payments Interface, a network backed by more than 50…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Sundar Pichai
Google CEO says AI model Gemini will the company’s ‘biggest focus’ in 2025
CEO Sundar Pichai reportedly told Google employees that 2025 will be a “critical” year for the company. CNBC reports that it obtained audio from a December 18 strategy meeting where Pichai and other executives put on ugly holiday sweaters and laid out their priorities for the coming year. “I think 2025 will be critical,” Pichai…
CapitalG, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, google ventures, Venture
GV, the VC team backed by Google, has a broad remit, but it can’t do one thing
David Krane is in an enviable position. As the CEO of GV, the venture firm that is funded entirely by Google to the tune of $1 billion a year, his team of roughly 100 gets to make a lot of bets — with just a couple of notable restrictions. During a TechCrunch StrictlyVC event in…
AI, Anthropic, Claude, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google
Google is using Anthropic’s Claude to improve its Gemini AI
Contractors working on Google Gemini are comparing its responses to Claude’s, according to internal correspondence seen by TechCrunch. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Father Christmas, Global Security News, Google, Law & order, openai, Podcast, Santa Claus, The AI Fix
The AI Fix #30: ChatGPT reveals the devastating truth about Santa (Merry Christmas!)
In episode 30 of The AI Fix, AIs are caught lying to avoid being turned off, Apple’s AI flubs a headline, ChatGPT is available to people who haven’t left the 1970s, our hosts regret to inform you that an AI artist now has a personality, and ant-like robots join forces to lob each other over…
Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Google Maps, In Brief, Transportation, west bank, Wired
An investigation finds that Google Maps fails users in the West Bank
A Wired investigation found that Google Maps can be near impossible to use in the West Bank, especially since the start of the war. Users told the publication that the navigation app would direct them into walls, fail to account for time-consuming checkpoints, or steer them onto restricted roads leading to Israeli settlements, which can…
Android, Apple, Cybersecurity, encryption, Global Security News, Google, identity theft, Microsoft, Mobile Security, password manager, phishing, privacy, Ransomware, Security, spam, TR Academy, trend micro
Protect 3 Devices With This Maximum Security Software
Trend Micro guards desktop and mobile devices from ransomware, phishing schemes, spam, and more for one year.
GitHub, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Meta, openai, Social, TechCrunch Week in Review, Week in Review
OpenAI announces new o3 model — but you can’t use it yet
Welcome back to Week in Review. This week, we’re looking at OpenAI’s last — and biggest — announcement from its “12 Days of OpenAI” event; Apple’s potential entrance into the foldable market; and why Databricks is choosing to wait to go public. Let’s get into it. P.S. We’re off for the holidays! Week in Review…
antitrust, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Government & Policy, US Department of Justice
Google pushes back against DOJ’s ‘interventionist’ remedies in antitrust case
Google has offered up its own proposal in a recent antitrust case that saw the US Department of Justice argue that Google must sell its Chrome browser. US District Court Judge Amit Mehta ruled in August that Google had acted illegally to maintain a monopoly in online search, with the DOJ then proposing a number…
Global Security News, Google, Software
Google says new scam protection feature in Chrome uses AI
Google is planning to use “AI” in Chrome to detect scams when you browse random web pages. […]
Global Security News, Google, Software
Google Chrome uses AI to analyze pages in new scam detection feature
Google is using artificial intelligence to power a new Chrome scam protection feature that analyzes brands and the intent of pages as you browse the web. […]
Global Security News, Google, Security
Ongoing phishing attack abuses Google Calendar to bypass spam filters
An ongoing phishing scam is abusing Google Calendar invites and Google Drawings pages to steal credentials while bypassing spam filters. […]
Central Intelligence Agency, Commerce Department, Geopolitics, Global Security News, Google, Kaspersky, Mastercard, Money, North America, Recorded Future, Russia, Ukraine
Russia bans cybersecurity company Recorded Future
Russia banned the cybersecurity company Recorded Future on Wednesday, labeling it an “undesirable” organization — much to its CEO’s delight. The company stands accused of collaborating with the Central Intelligence Agency, Ukraine and other countries. “They provide information and technical support for the propaganda campaign launched by the West against Russia,” Russia’s Office of Prosecutor…
clickbait, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, India, Media & Entertainment, YouTube
YouTube says it will start cracking down on videos with clickbait titles in India
A lot of YouTube videos have flashy, misleading titles and thumbnails, such as “BREAKING NEWS” or “The president steps down,” to bait the user into watching the video, which has non-related content. YouTube said Wednesday that it is now cracking down on such videos — especially if videos with topics breaking news or current events…
AI, doj, Exclusive, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Perplexity, Startups
The DOJ wants a Perplexity executive to testify in its Google antitrust case
The US government is calling on a Perplexity executive to help make its case that Google is a monopolist. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Cassava Technologies, Enterprise, Fundraising, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google
Google joins $90M investment into Cassava to bolster Africa’s digital infrastructure
With cloud spend continuing to surge, tech companies are scrambling to meet demand for the necessary infrastructure, with the growing need for AI compute only adding fuel to the fire. By way of example, Microsoft and BlackRock have created a $30 billion fund to support new data centers and energy infrastructure for the burgeoning AI…
AI, automated decisioning, automation decisions, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Government & Policy, high risk, terms, terms of use
Google says customers can use its AI in ‘high-risk’ domains, so long as there’s human supervision
Google has changed its terms to clarify that customers can deploy its generative AI tools to make “automated decisions” in “high-risk” domains, like healthcare, so long as there’s a human in the loop. According to the company’s updated Generative AI Prohibited Use Policy, published on Tuesday, customers may use Google’s generative AI to make “automated…
AI, ai coding, ai coding assistant, code assist, coding assistant, Dev, Developer, Enterprise, gemini, gemini code assist, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, google cloud
Code Assist, Google’s enterprise-focused coding assistant, gets third-party tools
Google on Tuesday announced support for third-party tools in Gemini Code Assist, its enterprise-focused AI code completion service. Code Assist launched in April as a rebrand of a similar service Google offered under its now-defunct Duet AI branding. Available through plug-ins for popular dev environments like VS Code and JetBrains, Code Assist is powered by Google’s Gemini…
AI, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, google labs, imagen 3
Google experiments with a new image generator that remixes three images into one creation
Google Labs, Google’s experimental arm, is testing a new image generator called Whisk. This tool allows people to prompt with images instead of text, allowing them to remix a photo by altering the subject, scene, and style. Whisk uses Google’s image-generation model, Imagen 3, to combine three images: one for the subject, another for the…
AI, generative ai, generative media, generative video, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, google deepmind, image generator, imagefx, Imagen, imagen 3, Media & Entertainment, Veo, veo 2, video generator, videofx
Google DeepMind unveils a new video model to rival Sora
Google DeepMind, Google’s flagship AI research lab, wants to beat OpenAI at the video generation game — and it might just, at least for a little while. On Monday, DeepMind announced Veo 2, a next-gen video-generating AI and the successor to Veo, which powers a growing number of products across Google’s portfolio. Veo 2 can…
Enterprise, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Google India, India, Preeti Lobana, Sanjay Gupta, TC
Google names new India chief
Google has appointed Preeti Lobana to lead its India business, filling a key position that had been vacant since Sanjay Gupta’s promotion to Asia-Pacific president in July. Lobana, who was vice president of advertising technology at Google, takes over as the company pushes its AI products in India amid intensifying competition in the digital market.…
Cruise, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, openai, Social, TechCrunch Week in Review, Week in Review
GM ‘blindsides’ Cruise by giving up on robotaxis
Welcome back to Week in Review. This week, we’re looking at GM’s decision to pull out of the robotaxi business, Google alluding to the existence of multiple universes, and how you can make some serious cash by getting an AI bot to fall in love with you. Let’s get into it. General Motors will no…
AI, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, project astra
See what Google’s Project Astra AR glasses can do (for a select few beta testers)
Google has released a prototype of Project Astra’s AR glasses for testing in the real world. The glasses are part of Googles long-term plan to one day have hardware with augmented reality and multimodal AI capabilities. In the meantime, they will be releasing demos to get the attention of consumers, developers, and their competition. Along…
AI, Apps, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, Google NotebookLM, notebooklm
Google’s NotebookLM now lets you to talk to its AI podcast hosts
A few months ago, Google’s NotebookLM note-taking app debuted an Audio Overviews feature that generates a podcast with AI virtual hosts based on information you have shared with the app. Now, NotebookLM is rolling out the ability for users to interact with the AI podcast hosts. The idea behind Audio Overviews and the AI hosts…
agentspace, AI, Apps, Enterprise, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, google cloud, Media & Entertainment, notebooklm
Google debuts NotebookLM for enterprises
Google’s bringing its viral NotebookLM app to the enterprise via a new service for Google Cloud customers, Agentspace. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
AI, Apps, Enterprise, evergreens, gemini, Gemini Pro, generative ai, Global IT News, Global Security News, Google, google gemini
Google Gemini: Everything you need to know about the generative AI models
Gemini is Google’s long-promised, next-gen generative AI model family. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
agentic ai, Amazon, Artificial Intelligence, coding assistant, Developer, developer tools, gemini 2.0 flash, generative ai, Global Security News, Google, google gemini, Microsoft, openai, Security
Google Launches Gemini 2.0 with Autonomous Tool Linking
Gemini 2.0 Flash is available now, with other model sizes coming in January. It adds multilingual voice output, image output, and some trendy “agentic” capabilities.
Apple, CXO, Global Security News, Google, linux, Microsoft, mozilla, Security, Software, vulnerabilities
Patch Tuesday: Microsoft Patches One Actively Exploited Vulnerability, Among Others
December marked a quiet month with 70 vulnerabilities patched, plus updates from outside of Microsoft.
Apple, Australia, Big Data, Cloud Security, CXO, Global Security News, Google, Innovation, International, Microsoft, Security, tech conferences, tech events, United Kingdom
Top Tech Conferences & Events to Add to Your Calendar in 2025
A great way to stay current with the latest technology trends and innovations is by attending conferences. Read and bookmark our tech events guide.
Fake anti-virus, Global Security News, Google, Google ads, Guest blog, malvertising, malware, phishing, Ransomware, Scam, seo, technical support scam
Tech support scams leverage Google ads again and again, fleecing unsuspecting internet users
It’s not a new technique, but that doesn’t mean that cybercriminals cannot make rich rewards from SEO poisoning. Read more in my article on the Tripwire State of Security blog.
AI, ChatGPT, Global Security News, Google, Law & order, Microsoft, openai, Podcast, privacy, robot, The AI Fix
The AI Fix #26: Would AI kill sentient robots, and is water wet?
In episode 26 of The AI Fix, an AI does surgery on pork chops, holographic Jesus wants your consent to use cookies, Mark opens the pod bay doors, our hosts discover OpenAI’s couch potato health coach, and Graham finds a robot made of drain pipes. Graham pits Mark against an AI in a morality quiz…