🌐 Telegram’s founder arrested, Russian cyber unit, & iPhone 16!
Good morning. It’s Friday, September 06. Today we are covering:
Pavel Durov: Telegram founder says France arrest is 'misguided'
Russia's Most Notorious Special Forces Unit Now Has Its Own Cyber Warfare Team
Everything to Expect From Apple's iPhone 16 Launch on Sept. 9
British competition regulator objects to Google's ad tech practices
Qualcomm's big augmented reality project with Samsung and Google is... glasses
Let’s dive in
Pavel Durov: Telegram founder says France arrest is 'misguided'
The Guardian
Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, criticized his detention in France, calling it "misguided" and stating authorities should have contacted his company directly regarding complaints.
Durov denied accusations that Telegram is an "anarchic paradise" and noted that the platform actively removes millions of harmful posts daily, rejecting claims of abuse.
The charges against Durov, including complicity in the spread of child sexual abuse images and other crimes, have reignited debates on free speech, criminal liability, and government censorship related to online platforms.
𝕏: I'm still trying to understand what happened in France. But we hear the concerns. I made it my personal goal to prevent abusers of Telegram's platform from interfering with the future of our 950+ million users. - Pavel Durov (@durov)
Russia's Most Notorious Special Forces Unit Now Has Its Own Cyber Warfare Team
By Andy Greenberg via WIRED
GRU Unit 29155, Russia's notorious special forces division, has formed its own cyber warfare team, blending physical sabotage with digital attacks in operations targeting Ukraine, the US, and other global regions.
The hacker group Cadet Blizzard has been identified as part of Unit 29155, responsible for cyberattacks such as the WhisperGate malware and data theft, furthering the GRU's hybrid warfare strategy.
Western intelligence agencies and the US Department of Justice have linked the group to cyber espionage and sabotage against critical infrastructure in NATO countries and Ukraine, sparking increased scrutiny and indictments.
𝕏: Intelligence agencies and FBI/DOJ have revealed that unit 29155 of Russia’s GRU—a unit responsible for coup attempts, assassinations, and bombings—is now engaged in brazen hacking operations with targets across the world, including in Ukraine and the US. - Andy Greenberg (@agreenberg at the other places) (@a_greenberg)
The best way to reach new readers is through word of mouth. If you click THIS LINK in your inbox, it’ll create an easy-to-send pre-written email you can just fire off to some friends.
Everything to Expect From Apple's iPhone 16 Launch on Sept. 9
By Mark Gurman via Bloomberg
Apple is set to launch the iPhone 16 on Sept. 9, alongside significant updates for AirPods and Apple Watches.
The event will introduce a new artificial intelligence platform, marking a key expansion in Apple's tech ecosystem.
The timing of the event allows Apple to stay ahead of major global events, including a US presidential debate and an important European Commission decision regarding a $14 billion tax dispute.
𝕏: I think the new iPhone 16 Pro gold is going to be the stand out color this year and potentially drive interest. It looks impressive and not terrible like the early renders. I've never had a gold iPhone before but considering. - Mark Gurman (@markgurman)
British competition regulator objects to Google's ad tech practices
By Ryan Browne via CNBC
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has accused Google of using its dominance in online display advertising to favor its own ad tech services, harming competition.
Google disagrees with the CMA’s claims, arguing that its ad tech tools help fund content and provide value to publishers and advertisers in a competitive market.
The CMA highlighted concerns that Google's ad tech stack, particularly its ad exchange AdX, charges high fees and prevents competitors from competing on a level playing field.
Qualcomm's big augmented reality project with Samsung and Google is... glasses
By Jess Weatherbed via The Verge
Qualcomm, Samsung, and Google are collaborating to develop mixed reality smart glasses that connect to smartphones, aiming for widespread adoption by making them as common as regular glasses.
The glasses are expected to leverage generative AI, with processing split between the device, the phone, and the cloud, creating new user experiences.
This project builds on Qualcomm's success with the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, powered by its Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chip, and signals a major push into the mixed reality market.
Trending in AI
Bill Gates Talks to CNET About AI, Misinformation and Climate Change
Exclusive: Honor's latest devices use AI to try to reverse nearsightedness
Thanks for reading to the bottom and soaking in our Newslit Daily fueled with highlights for your morning.
I hope you found it interesting and, needless to say, if you have any questions or feedback let me know by hitting reply.
Take care and see you on Monday!
P.S. Want to advertise with us? We’d love to hear from you.
How was today’s email?