Applications
Canada’s video providers & Friend MTS partner to tackle sports piracy
Mumbai: Friend MTS, a provider of video content security solutions, reported that several video service providers in Canada have chosen it to prevent piracy using dynamic delivery server blocking (DDSB). These companies have secured a nationwide court order to block servers hosting pirated content, including content from major sports leagues like FIFA, NBA, NHL, and UFC.
The court order allows internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to servers distributing pirated content without needing a new order for each event. This approach saves time and money by reducing court fees and appearances, while protecting valuable sports content rights.
Launched by Friend MTS in 2017, DDSB enables large-scale content blocking while meeting legal standards for court-granted orders. It provides customers with the necessary intelligence and evidence to persuade ISPs to restrict access to illegal servers, reducing the number of illegal streams. This helps drive viewers to legitimate platforms and preserves the value of video content. Friend MTS’ DDSB has a proven track record of blocking illicit access within minutes, particularly for short format content like sports and live events, and is increasingly used to protect linear content.
“This collaboration shows the powerful impact that results from video service providers, ISPs, and video security specialists coming together to fight piracy,” said Friend MTS CEO Shane McCarthy. “Canadian operators are leading the global industry by setting the bar for piracy prevention in new, dynamic ways. We’re thrilled to have helped them not only implement security solutions, but to obtain the blocking order as well. Our unique blend of expertise and blocking technology innovation is aiding their security teams, legal counsels, and business leaders with the right analytics and evidence to effectively stop piracy, without impacting legitimate websites.”
Applications
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.
