Tech platforms

Security researcher Scott Helme has published an article arguing that passkeys, the passwordless login technology backed by Apple, Google and Microsoft, are not a trap for users despite concerns about vendor lock-in. The piece pushes back against criticism that passkeys tie people to specific platforms, and the argument is drawing active discussion among developers and security professionals.

Dating app Bumble is being bought for $1.3 billion, a deal framed by those involved as a bet on the future of human connection. The takeover of one of the best-known dating platforms is drawing attention online, with commenters weighing in on what it signals for the online dating industry and how people form relationships going forward.

Inditex, the Spanish fashion group behind Zara, is reported to have open-sourced part of its software code and to be backing a platform worth €1.7 billion. The move would mark a rare step for a major retailer, opening internal technology to outside developers while committing substantial funding to a shared platform. Details on the platform's purpose and partners remain limited.

The Gadget Show has released a podcast episode focused on what it calls the smart home war, examining competition among tech companies to dominate connected home devices and platforms. The discussion looks at rival ecosystems for smart speakers, lighting, security and appliances, and what the battle means for consumers choosing between incompatible standards.

Disney and TikTok have reached an agreement that allows creators on the platform to use Disney characters in their videos. The deal opens up Disney's catalogue of iconic characters for short-form content, marking a notable collaboration between a major entertainment company and a leading social media platform. It is seen as a way for Disney to engage younger audiences while giving creators new creative material.

Booking Holdings is building a new AI-focused travel startup in Seattle, a move that signals the online travel giant's push into artificial intelligence beyond its core booking platforms. Details on the venture's products, team and funding have not yet been made public, but the choice of Seattle points to hiring from the city's deep AI talent pool.

Apple is preparing to roll out its artificial intelligence platform in mainland China after a long regulatory delay that kept the company's AI features out of one of its most important markets. The move would bring Apple Intelligence-style features to Chinese users, where approval processes and local partnerships have slowed the rollout compared with other regions.

Meta Platforms shares are being tracked closely by investors checking the company's latest stock price, quotes and historical performance on financial platforms. As one of the largest US technology companies, Meta's share movements are widely watched as an indicator of the broader tech sector and of sentiment around advertising revenue and its investments in artificial intelligence.

A federal appeals court has upheld Florida's law restricting how social media platforms moderate content and control user access, a decision reported by the Tallahassee Democrat. The ruling keeps in place one of the most closely watched state laws aimed at tech companies, which backers say prevents political censorship and which platform operators argue violates their free speech rights. The dispute is expected to continue through further litigation.

Stripchat has lost its legal challenge against the European Union over its designation under the Digital Services Act, which lists it among very large online platforms subject to stricter content moderation and transparency rules. The ruling means the adult streaming site must now comply with the EU's toughest regulatory obligations for major online services.

Developers and tech commentators are discussing an effort to rebuild the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of applications in the Rust programming language. The claim is being shared widely across social platforms, with people debating the feasibility of rewriting complex creative software like Photoshop and Illustrator, as well as Rust's growing role in replacing C++ in large-scale applications.

A federal appeals court has upheld Florida's law restricting how social media platforms moderate content, a defeat for major technology companies that challenged the measure. The law bars platforms from deplatforming political candidates and penalizing users' viewpoints, and is expected to shape the national debate over online speech and state regulation of tech firms.