1. OpenWeb Partners With NewsGuard To Combat Misinformation (MediaPost)

OpenWeb has announced a partnership with NewsGuard that provides human-curated reliability ratings for over 7,000 news and information websites. The alliance intends to assist OpenWeb in combating misinformation, ensuring that it only works with credible news sources.

2. Biden To Invest $30M To Protect Free Press Globally (Axios)

During the pandemic, press freedom has suffered an unprecedented toll, particularly in poorer countries and those on the verge of democracy. President Biden said that the US will contribute up to $30 million in The International Fund for Public Interest Media, a new project run by journalism veterans to preserve the free press across the world.

3. German Cybersecurity Issues Red Alert Warning On Software (Reuters)

The BSI, Germany’s federal cybersecurity agency, issued a red alert warning on a defect in widely used software saying it presented an “extremely critical threat” to web servers. The BSI said in a statement on its website that a vulnerability in a Java-based library known as Log4j may be exploited to allow a total takeover of the afflicted machine.

4. AppleTV, Netflix, Disney To Invest Around $330M In French Content (Variety)

Netflix, Amazon, Disney Plus, and Apple TV Plus have inked a long-awaited deal with France’s broadcasting authority (CSA) to invest 20% of their yearly sales in French content. The CSA estimates that annual investment will range between €250 million ($282 million) and €300 million ($330 million). Netflix alone will invest €200 million ($225 million).

5. New Options For Livestream Creators By Facebook (MediaPost)

The navigation menu in Facebook is simplified to make the tools more accessible to creators who try to reach as many fans as possible. “Featured Links” is a big change that allows live streamers to include third-party links in their broadcasts. Viewers may now click straight on links to blogs and causes without having to leave the live broadcast.

6. McDonald’s Enters Metaverse With OfflineTV (AdAge)

OfflineTV, a group of eight gamers and video makers with over 2 million YouTube subscribers, will host a virtual event that will be sponsored by the world’s largest restaurant brand, McDonald’s. Users will be able to engage in a virtual reality treasure hunt for a chance to win rare digital products at the metaverse pop-up event.

7. Hackers Attack Brazil Health Ministry, Vaccination Data Targeted (Reuters)

A hacker attack on Brazil’s health ministry’s website brought down multiple systems, including those containing information about the country’s immunization program and issued digital vaccination certificates. The hackers said on the website that internal data had been copied and erased. “Contact us if you want the data back,” said the statement.

Samien Kidwai

Hailing from an academic background, I have been an Assistant Professor in Mass Communication with an additional decade of experience in creative writing. I’m passionate about music and theatre with an inclination towards movies. Being an avid reader, I love to scribble my thoughts and ideas when I’m not running behind my 8 year old daughter.