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New technology initiative to be launched at Soccerex
MUMBAI: T Soccerex Global Convention, to be held in Rio de Janeiro in 26-30 November, will see a new technology focussed initiative, launched in collaboration with Major Events International (MEI).
With the increasing interest in the use of innovative ways of delivering and promoting the game, Soccerex will coordinate a dedicated area in the main exhibition hall to bring greater coherence to this important part of thisconference and exhibition.
Soccerex marketing director David Wright said, “We are all aware of the debate about the use of technology in football, but the spectator and viewing experience alone means it is an area which we must cater for to enhance our delegate and exhibitor time at our event. Major Events International (MEI) will help to bring best in class international companies to Soccerex in November and a dedicated area for technology will, I am sure, attract significant attention.”
MEI CEO Dennis Mills said, “Working collaboratively with Soccerex on a dedicated Technology area is complimentary to MEI’s core role of assisting our clients to gain greater market profile and customer access. We are delighted to lead this new initiative and assist exhibitors in achieving greater attention and creating an interesting area for delegates to learn more about the way technology can help achieve their personal objectives.”
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
