News Analysis India

Tag: X

  • Likes Now Private On Social Media Platform X, Users Can’t See Them On Posts |

    New Delhi: A day after making likes private on his social media platform X, Elon Musk on Thursday said that the move has resulted in a massive hike in the number of likes for millions of users worldwide.

    The tech billionaire had made all likes private by default to help people avoid retaliation from trolls and “better protect user privacy.”

    In a fresh post on X, he said that there has been a “massive increase in likes after they were made private.”

    After this change, the X users will not be able to see the posts that other users have liked on the platform.

    However, the users can still see the posts they liked and the post’s original writer can see who liked it.

    According to the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, the move is important to allow people to like posts without getting attacked for doing so.

    According to the social media platform, ‘likes’ are visible between you and the author.

    “The author will be notified, but not anyone else. Bookmark is only visible to you. We could even make it customisable for users,” according to the company.

  • Elon Musk says An X Phone With Samsung As Potential Partner Is Not Out Of Question |

    New Delhi: Taking on the Apple-OpenAI collaboration in a big way, tech billionaire Elon Musk said on Tuesday that his own X phone is a possibility with Samsung as a potential partner which cannot be ruled out, as he slammed the integration of ChatGPT in iPhones and other Apple devices.

    Reacting to an X user who claimed that “X will partner with Samsung to manufacture an X phone” which will be optimised for the X app, offer an open-source operating system (OS) and a “direct connection to Starlink”, Musk said, “it is not out of the question”.

    Musk earlier said that it is “patently absurd” that Apple isn’t smart enough to make its own AI, “yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security & privacy”.

    It’s patently absurd that Apple isn’t smart enough to make their own AI, yet is somehow capable of ensuring that OpenAI will protect your security & privacy!

    Apple has no clue what’s actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. They’re selling you down the river.
    — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2024

    “Apple has no clue what’s actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. They’re selling you down the river,” the Tesla and SpaceX CEO added.
    Apple is yet to comment on Musk’s allegations.

    Earlier in the day, Musk threatened to ban iPhones from all his companies over the integration of ChatGPT into iPhones and other Apple devices. Apple on Monday announced that in iOS 18, users will be able to ask Siri questions and OpenAI’s ChatGPT will answer.

    Musk posted on X that if Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, “Apple devices will be banned at my companies”. “That is an unacceptable security violation,” Musk added.

  • Elon Musk Asks X Users To Post Long-Form Articles To Promote Citizen Journalism |

    New Delhi: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, on Sunday, encouraged X users to post long-form articles on the platform and create space for citizen journalism. Some users have already started posting full-length articles written by them on X, as Musk tries to compete with traditional media giants.

    “I just published my first X Article! Thank you @elonmusk for creating a platform for citizen journalism,” said a user. Musk replied: “Publish full-length, complex articles on X!” Another user commented: “Great idea! Engaging content on X will attract more readers.”

    Last September, the tech billionaire visited the US-Mexico border and live-streamed his tour of the region. Musk then encouraged people to do citizen journalism on X. “Please encourage more citizen journalism! You can do live video easily from your phone. 

    Publish full-length, complex articles on! https://t.co/xJIs5SEk5m
    — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 9, 2024

    More on-the-ground reporting from regular citizens will change the world,” he posted. The X owner has invited journalists to publish directly on X and earn more. He has also made X an open-source platform.

    He is even planning to launch his own news distribution service called XWire, saying whatever is relevant in legacy media is already available on X. The aim is to rival existing news platforms for disseminating company PR news and press releases.

  • dhruv rathee: ‘Getting rape and death threats’: Swati Maliwal opens up on campaign by AAP, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee

    Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal has opened up about the death and rape threats she has been receiving, following an alleged “character assassination” campaign launched by AAP and she claimed that the situation just got worse when YouTuber Dhruv Rathee released a one-sided video against her on the assault allegations.

    Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Maliwal said that after the leaders and volunteers of AAP orchestrated a campaign of charachter assassination, victim shaming and fanning of emotions against her, she has been getting rape and death threats.

    “This got further exacerbated when YouTuber @Dhruv_Rathee posted a one-sided video against me. As far as the party leadership goes, it is very clear that they are trying to intimidate me into withdrawing my complaint. However, for Dhruv, I tried my best to reach out to him to tell him my version but he ignored my calls and messages,” she further said.(More to come)

  • Now Limit Replies Only To Verified Users On X To Avoid Spam: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk

    The X owner has already threatened to stop ad revenue sharing for content creators as the platform probes the use of bots into replies and direct messages (DMs).

  • Twitter Ban: Pakistan Imposes Curb On Elon Musk’s X |

    New Delhi: The Pakistan Interior Ministry informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that the disruption of social media platform ‘X’ in the country aims to address concerns regarding its misuse, as reported by Dawn.

    Ministry’s Submission To The Court

    Interior Secretary Khurram Agha, representing the ministry, submitted a report to the IHC in response to journalist Ehtisham Abbasi’s petition challenging the ban. (Also Read: Viral Video: Zomato Boy Delivering Food On Harley-Davidson Surfaces Online — Watch)

    Background Of Ban

    Access to ‘X’ has been disrupted in Pakistan since February 17, following allegations made by former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Chattha against the chief election commissioner and chief justice of Pakistan regarding rigging in the February 8 general elections. (Also Read: ‘Open To Anything,’ Says Microsoft Worker Who Was Laid Off After 3 Decades Of Service)

    Reasons For Ban

    The interior ministry’s report cited the failure of Twitter/’X’ to comply with lawful directives and address concerns about misuse, leading to the imposition of the ban.

    The decision was made in the interest of national security, public order, and the country’s integrity, considering reports from intelligence and security agencies.

    Government’s Objective Of Ban

    The ban on ‘X’ aims to counter hostile elements seeking to create chaos and instability, with the ultimate goal of destabilizing Pakistan.

    The platform’s lack of registration and cooperation with Pakistani authorities necessitates regulatory measures to ensure accountability and adherence to national laws.

    Response From Rights Bodies And US

    Rights bodies, journalists’ organizations, and internet service providers have condemned the social media disruption. The United States called on Pakistan to lift restrictions on social media platforms.

    Court Proceedings

    The IHC has been overseeing the matter, with Chief Justice Aamer Farooq warning of further action if satisfactory reasons for the disruption are not provided. Additional hearings are scheduled, with the next hearing set for May 2.

    (With ANI Inputs)

  • X’s Blue Tick Policy Undergoes Changes; Premium Users Will Soon… |

    New Delhi: Once a symbol of influence and prestige on X (formerly Twitter), the coveted blue checkmark against a user’s name has undergone a significant transformation over time. Initially reserved for celebrities, influencers, politicians, and CEOs, obtaining the blue tick was considered a privilege and required undergoing a verification process.

    Shift In Policy

    However, when Elon Musk assumed control of Twitter in 2022, the significance of the blue tick shifted dramatically. Musk integrated the blue tick as a feature of the X Premium subscription service (formerly known as Twitter Blue), which users could access by paying a monthly fee. (Also Read: Swiggy Delivery Partner Caught Stealing Shoes in Viral Video, Company Reacts: Watch)

    Consequently, the blue tick, once a symbol of influence, became associated with users simply paying for the X Premium service, losing much of its prestige in the process. Previously, users could hide the blue tick, but recent reports indicate impending changes to this policy. (Also Read: Setback For OnePlus? Mobile Retailers’ Body Threatens To Stop Sales From May 1)

    Changes In Hiding Feature For Premium Users

    Several X Premium users have reported receiving pop-up notifications warning them that they will soon lose the ability to hide the blue tick. The notification states, “The hide your checkmark feature of X Premium is going away soon. Tap to manage your X Premium features.”

    Free Premium Features For Verified Users

    Recent developments also include Musk’s announcement that X accounts with over 2,500 verified subscriber followers will receive access to Premium features for free. Additionally, accounts with over 5,000 verified subscribers will enjoy Premium+ features without charge.

    Expansion Of Premium Benefits

    Beyond the blue tick and increased reach, X Premium and Premium+ subscribers gain access to GrokAI, a newly launched AI chatbot. Musk had earlier revealed plans to make Grok AI available to all premium subscribers, extending its availability beyond Premium+ subscribers.

  • Elon Musk Challenges Brazil’s Court Order To Block X Accounts |

    New Delhi: Challenging Brazil’s court order to block certain popular X accounts, tech billionaire Elon Musk has said that he will lift all the restrictions even if they have to close their office in the country.

    This move comes after X Corp has been forced by court decisions to block certain popular accounts in Brazil. “We do not know the reasons these blocking orders have been issued. We do not know which posts are alleged to violate the law,” X wrote in a post.

    We are lifting all restrictions. This judge has applied massive fines, threatened to arrest our employees and cut off access to in Brazil.

    As a result, we will probably lose all revenue in Brazil and have to shut down our office there.

    But principles matter more than…
    — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 6, 2024

    “We are prohibited from saying which court or judge issued the order, or on what grounds. We are prohibited from saying which accounts are impacted,” it added.

    Responding to such restrictions put by the Brazilian court, Musk said, “Why are you doing this @alexandre (Alexandre de Moraes, Justice of Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court)?

    Later, in another post, the tech billionaire said, “We are lifting all restrictions. This judge has applied massive fines, threatened to arrest our employees and cut off access to X in Brazil”. (Also Read: OpenAI Used Over A Million Hours Of YouTube Videos To Train Its AI Model: Report)

    “As a result, we will probably lose all revenue in Brazil and have to shut down our office there. But principles matter more than profit,” he added.

    Meanwhile, X has activated the Community Notes feature -a user-based fact-checking programme -in India, as the country prepares for general elections.

    Musk-owned social media platform also welcomed new contributors in India for its community notes feature.

  • Misinformation Spread Via Deepfakes Biggest Threat To Upcoming Polls In India: Tenable |

    New Delhi: Misinformation and disinformation spread through artificial intelligence (AI)-generated deepfakes and fake content are the biggest threats to the upcoming elections in India,” exposure management company Tenable said on Sunday.

    According to the company, these threats will be shared across social media and messaging platforms like WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and others.

    “The biggest threats to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are misinformation and disinformation as part of influence operations conducted by malicious actors against the electorate,” said Satnam Narang, Senior Staff Research Engineer at Tenable, to IANS.

    A recent report by Tidal Cyber highlighted that this year, 10 countries will face the highest levels of election cyber interference threats, including India.

    Recently, deepfake videos of former US President Bill Clinton and current President Joe Biden were fabricated and circulated to confuse citizens during the upcoming presidential elections. (Also Read: Woman Falls Victim To Investment Scam, Loses Jewelry And Over Rs 24 Lakh)

    Experts note that the proliferation of deepfake content surged in late 2017, with over 7,900 videos online. By early 2019, this number nearly doubled to 14,678, and the trend continues to escalate.

    “With the increase in generative AI tools and their use growing worldwide, we may see deepfakes, be it in images or video content, impersonating notable candidates seeking to retain their seats or those hoping to unseat incumbents in parliament,” Narang added.

    The Indian government has recently issued directives to social media platforms such as X and Meta (formerly Facebook), urging them to regulate the proliferation of AI-generated deepfake content.

    Additionally, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) has issued an advisory to these platforms to remove AI-generated deepfakes from their platforms. (Also Read: WhatsApp Allows To Pin Multiple Messages In Chat; Here’s How to Pin Messages on Android, iOS, And Desktop)

    Tenable suggests that the easiest way to identify a deepfake image is to look for nonsensical text or language that looks almost alien-like in language. 

  • Carl Pie Suggests Elon Musk To Change His Name To Elon ‘Bhai’; Netizens Flood X With Hilarious Reactions |

    New Delhi: Carl Pei Yu, the CEO of Nothing Phone, known for his innovative approach, has shared a suggestion for Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, regarding opening a factory in India. Pei, who is gearing up to launch the “Nothing Phone 2a” in India next month, proposed that Musk should change his username on the X platform to “Elon Bhai,” to facilitate the establishment of a Tesla factory in the country.

    Carl Pie’s Tweet

    In a lighthearted tweet directed at Musk, Pei humorously questioned whether Musk had considered the necessity of adopting the moniker “Elon Bhai” to proceed with building a Tesla factory in India. (Also Read: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Gets Rs 38,962 Price Cut: Check Bank And Exchange Offers)

    Interestingly, Pei himself has already changed his X username to ‘Carl Bhai’. Pei’s tweet sparked a playful exchange among Twitter users. (Also Read: WATCH: Man Turns Plane Into Luxurious Villa; Viral Video Amazes Anand Mahindra)

    .@elonmusk did you really think you could build a Tesla factory in India without changing your username to Elon Bhai?
    — Carl Bhai (@getpeid) February 18, 2024

    Users Reaction

    One user commented, “You are the Bhai, he will be the Mamu,” while another user humorously suggested different titles for Musk based on various Indian states.

    You are the Bhai, he will be the Mamu
    — Starcommander (@Starcommander10) February 18, 2024

    Depends on the location as well ..If Gujarat then Elon Bhai, If Maharashtra then Elon Bhau, If Telangana then Elon Gaaru, If Haryana then Elon Tau, If Punjab then Elon Paaji, If Tamil Nadu then Elon Anna, If West Bengal then Elon Dada


    — Parag Mandpe (@ParagMandpe) February 19, 2024

    He has to change it to ‘Bun Maska’
    — Raghu (@vennelacheekati) February 18, 2024

    Can anyone ever speak in front of Carl bhai, carl bhaiiiiii!!!
    — Tarun Lochib (@tarunlochib) February 18, 2024

    Still better would be:
    Elone Maska, i.e. Elone Butter because Maska means butter in Hindi.
    So, ईलोन मस्का.
    He is welcome though.@elonmusk
    — Sunil Mehta (@kalki_007) February 19, 2024

    Meanwhile, as per the latest report by The Economic Times, Tesla, under the leadership of Elon Musk, is on the brink of entering the Indian market.

    The government is reportedly in the process of finalizing a policy to extend concessional import duties on electric cars priced above Rs 30 lakh for 2-3 years.

    Import Duty

    India imposes a 100 percent import duty on cars valued at more than Rs 33 lakh and 60 percent for cars below that threshold. Tesla has shown interest in investing up to $2 billion in India, contingent upon the government reducing the import duty of 15 percent on foreign electric vehicles during the initial years of operation.