Platforms have almost doubled-tripled deepfake takedowns: Vaishnaw

Platforms have almost doubled-tripled deepfake takedowns: Vaishnaw



Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday highlighted rising concerns over AI-generated deepfakes, and noted that social media platforms, too, have scaled up efforts on deepfake takedowns.


The minister termed deepfakes as a new menace and a threat to society.


“A lot of content has started coming in the nature of deepfakes. Because of whatever changes have happened in the AI world, a huge quantity of deepfakes have started coming in the social media… the entire world, and the social media platforms themselves have significantly ramped up their efforts at removing the deepfakes,” Vaishnaw, who is the minister for IT as well as Information and Broadcasting, told reporters.

 


The platforms themselves have almost doubled or tripled their own takedowns of deepfake content, he added.


“It’s a new menace, new threat, which is coming for the society,” he said, adding that countering it effectively is very important for society, for every individual, and institution.



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Bethesda to shut down servers for The Elder Scrolls Blades on June 30

Bethesda to shut down servers for The Elder Scrolls Blades on June 30



Bethesda has reportedly confirmed that it will shut down servers for The Elder Scrolls: Blades on June 30, effectively bringing an end to the free-to-play mobile title. According to a report by Engadget, citing an in-game screenshot shared on Reddit, the game will be permanently shut down on the aforementioned date. What solidified this news was the fact that the game has already been delisted from both the App Store and Google Play Store.

 


Ahead of the shutdown, Bethesda is offering remaining players a final in-game update, with a free bundle of Gems and Sigils, while all store items have been reduced to a cost of one unit each. The title, which launched in 2020 across Android, iOS, and Nintendo Switch, will complete roughly six years of availability before going offline.

 


According to an Engadget report, at launch, The Elder Scrolls: Blades saw early traction, crossing over one million downloads on iOS during its early access phase. However, the game failed to sustain long-term success and did not match the performance of Bethesda’s mainline Elder Scrolls titles. Over time, it drew criticism for repetitive gameplay and heavy reliance on microtransactions, reflected in its “generally unfavourable” rating on Metacritic.

 


The shutdown follows a broader pattern for Bethesda, which had earlier discontinued development of The Elder Scrolls: Legends in 2019 before eventually taking its servers offline in January 2025. For users still looking for a mobile experience set in the franchise’s universe, The Elder Scrolls: Castles remains available.


What is The Elder Scrolls: Blades


The Elder Scrolls: Blades is a role-playing game set in Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls universe. The game places players in the role of a member of the Blades, an elite group of imperial agents forced into exile who return to find their hometown destroyed. The central objective revolves around rebuilding the town while uncovering threats and navigating a series of story-driven quests tied to the broader fantasy setting.


In terms of gameplay, Blades combines linear dungeon exploration with touch-based combat, where players engage enemies using timed attacks, blocks, and spells. The game features procedurally generated dungeons alongside handcrafted missions, with progression tied to character upgrades, loot collection, and town development. It also includes a PvP Arena mode, allowing players to compete in one-on-one combat, adding a multiplayer layer to an otherwise solo-focused experience.

 



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Govt in talks with tech industry, no impact seen from Iran war: Vaishnaw

Govt in talks with tech industry, no impact seen from Iran war: Vaishnaw


New Delhi: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during an event on the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme at National Media Centre, in New Delhi. (Photo:PTI)


The government is in dialogue with hi-tech industry associations on the West Asia conflict and its impact on the ecosystem, and industry bodies have not reported any adverse impact on their operations, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Monday.


The Electronics and IT Minister’s comments came amid reports that the helium crunch has started impacting global tech supply chains.


“We have asked every industry association here, and each one has said that so far there is no impact… This includes semiconductors, mobile, electronics components, and hardware space…It is an evolving situation. So, we will continue interacting with the industry,” Vaishnaw told reporters.

 


The industry believes that the West Asia crisis will not be prolonged, he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Mar 30 2026 | 2:49 PM IST



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DoT may push SIM binding deadline for WhatsApp, Telegram and more: Report

DoT may push SIM binding deadline for WhatsApp, Telegram and more: Report


The government is reportedly planning to extend the deadline for messaging platforms to comply with SIM binding rules after companies failed to meet earlier timelines and raised technical concerns. According to a report by Hindustan Times, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is now considering a phased rollout, with compliance expected by December-end. The move comes as platforms like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram flagged challenges related to testing, operating system limitations, and user experience while implementing the directive.


What are SIM binding directives?


DoT had issued the SIM binding directive in November 2025, requiring messaging platforms that use mobile numbers for user identification to ensure their services are linked to the SIM card installed in the user’s device. The aim is to make it harder to use such apps without an active SIM, helping plug security gaps that have been exploited for digital fraud.

 
 

The directive also mandates that web versions of these apps must log users out periodically, at least once every six hours, requiring re-authentication, typically via QR code, to continue access. 

 


Deadline likely to be extended

 


According to Hindustan Times, a DoT official said the government will extend compliance deadlines as companies have faced issues related to testing and operating system updates.

 


“We will extend the compliance deadlines as companies have run into technical challenges… The compliance will happen in a phased manner,” the official said, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

 


The report added that Android devices are likely to comply first, while iOS is facing certain constraints.

 

“Android is likely to comply first, while iOS faces certain technical constraints for which Apple is working on a solution. These are expected to be resolved by December,” the official said, according to Hindustan Times. 

 


Missed timelines and industry response

 


The companies were initially required to comply within 90 days of the November 2025 directive, setting a deadline of February-end 2026. However, these timelines were not met. The report noted that while DoT had earlier indicated flexibility until March-end, it is now considering a longer extension after requests from platforms.

 


As per the report, Meta said that the company is working with DoT to find a technically feasible solution. Meanwhile, SIM binding for WhatsApp on Android is reportedly in beta testing.”

 



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YouTube adds limited Android Auto support for background play: Report

YouTube adds limited Android Auto support for background play: Report



YouTube is reportedly rolling out support for Android Auto, bringing basic playback controls for users who listen to content while driving. According to a report by 9To5Google, the update allows users to manage background audio directly from their car’s interface. However, it does not bring a full YouTube app experience to car screens.


YouTube adds limited Android Auto support: Details

According to the report, this is not a dedicated YouTube app on Android Auto. Users cannot watch videos or access a full interface. Instead, YouTube appears only within the media widget on the dashboard. From there, users can perform basic actions such as play, pause, and skip to the next video. The skip function moves to the next video entirely rather than skipping ahead within the same video. The same controls are also accessible through steering wheel buttons, as mentioned in the report.

 
 

The report highlighted that while the feature is limited, it can still be useful for certain types of content. Many users reportedly listen to podcasts, interviews, or long-form videos on YouTube as audio while driving, and these controls make it easier to manage playback without interacting with the phone. 

 


However, it is not the full Android Auto integration that some users may have expected. The report added that a more complete YouTube experience on Android Auto has not been ruled out by Google.

 

The report also pointed out that this functionality depends on background playback, which is only available with a YouTube Premium subscription. Without it, users will not be able to use YouTube in the background. For context, background play is also included in the more affordable Premium Lite plan priced at Rs 89 per month, making the feature accessible to a wider range of users. 

 


Rolling out across devices

 


According to the report, the feature has started appearing across multiple devices, accounts, and app versions. It is available on both beta and stable versions of the YouTube app, suggesting a broader rollout is underway.”

 



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Blaupunkt launches Rock & Roll Ibiza party speaker in India: Price, details

Blaupunkt launches Rock & Roll Ibiza party speaker in India: Price, details


Blaupunkt has launched a new party speaker in India, the Rock & Roll Ibiza, with a built-in recording feature. According to the company, the speaker is designed for karaoke and live sessions, allowing users to record performances directly onto a USB drive. It also comes with 180W RMS output, dual 8-inch woofers, and a bundled wireless microphone, positioning it as an all-in-one portable audio system for indoor and outdoor use.


Blaupunkt Rock & Roll Ibiza: Price and availability


  • Price: Rs 18,990

  • Colour: Black


Blaupunkt Rock & Roll Ibiza is available for purchase from the company’s official website, select online platforms, and select offline retail stores across India.

 


Blaupunkt Rock & Roll Ibiza: Details


According to Blaupunkt, the key highlight of the speaker is its integrated recording function, which lets users capture karaoke sessions, voice recordings, or live music by plugging in a USB drive. The company says this feature is aimed at users who want to save performances without needing external recording equipment.

 


The speaker delivers 180W RMS output and features dual 8-inch woofers along with tweeters. Blaupunkt claims this setup is tuned to offer deep bass and clear vocals. It also includes multiple sound modes, EQ controls, and a bass boost function, along with an animated display panel.

 


For karaoke and live use, the speaker ships with a wireless UHF microphone and supports echo and reverb controls, as well as a guitar input. The device also includes RGB lighting for visual effects during playback.

 


In terms of design and usability, the Rock & Roll Ibiza comes with built-in wheels for portability and carries an IPX5 rating for water resistance. It is powered by a 7,000mAh battery and supports connectivity options such as Bluetooth, AUX, and USB.


Blaupunkt Rock & Roll Ibiza: Specifications


  • Output: 180W

  • Woofers: Two (8-inch)

  • Tweeters: Two (2.25-inch)

  • Battery: 7,000mAh

  • Lighting: 4 modes, dynamic

  • Durability: IPX5

  • Portability: Integrated wheels

  • Connectivity and display: Bluetooth 5.4, AUX, USB, Animated display



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