iWorld
Hoopr gets MeitY boost to bring order to India’s digital music
MUMBAI: In a digital world where music travels faster than rules can keep up, Hoopr is stepping in to restore rhythm and reason. The music licensing platform has received institutional backing from Atal Incubation Centre Goa Institute of Management (AIC-GIM), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s Samridh programme, to help shape modern frameworks for India’s fast-growing digital music economy.
Backed by an undisclosed investment, the support signals a move towards cleaner, clearer and more compliant music usage online. For an ecosystem where creativity often races ahead of governance, Hoopr’s mandate is simple. Make licensing transparent, scalable and fair for everyone involved.
Sitting at the crossroads of music, technology and the creator economy, Hoopr has quietly built serious scale. Over the past three years, it has onboarded more than 1,500 artists, curated a catalogue of over 15,000 tracks and paid out more than Rs 4.5 crore directly to creators. Today, its music powers ethical usage for over 4 lakh creators and more than 200 brands, earning Hoopr a reputation as one of India’s most reliable digital licensing platforms.
The timing could not be sharper. With nearly 80,000 brands and close to 6 lakh creators producing content daily, music is everywhere. Yet almost 87 per cent of usage remains unregulated. The result is a grey zone where artists lose out, brands face risk and creators remain unsure. Hoopr’s government-backed push aims to narrow that gap.
As short-form video and creator-led content redefine entertainment, legacy copyright systems built for linear media are struggling to cope. Under the MeitY Samridh programme, Hoopr is helping design future-ready licensing infrastructure using transparent digital workflows, real-time tracking of music usage and equitable royalty distribution. Its integration with the Indian Performing Right Society further strengthens this effort.
AIC-GIM CEO Sumit Garg, said Hoopr is tackling a long-standing structural gap. He noted that the programme has supported the platform in strengthening its technology, compliance systems and readiness to contribute to national digital rights governance.
For Hoopr’s leadership, the backing is both validation and responsibility. Co-founder and CEO Gaurav Dagaonkar said the digital shift has changed how music is created, shared and monetised, making technology-led frameworks essential for responsible growth. Co-founder Meghna Mittal added that scalable systems to monitor music usage in real time are no longer optional but necessary to ensure fairness and accountability.
As India’s digital ambitions continue to swell, this partnership strikes a hopeful chord. One where creativity thrives, rules are clear and artists finally get their due.
iWorld
Meta warns 200 users after fake Whatsapp spyware attack
Italy-targeted campaign used unofficial app to deploy surveillance spyware.
MUMBAI: It looked like a message, but it behaved like a mole. Meta has warned around 200 users most of them in Italy after uncovering a targeted spyware campaign that weaponised a fake version of WhatsApp to infiltrate devices. The attack, first reported by Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata, relied on classic social engineering with a modern twist: persuading users to download an unofficial WhatsApp clone embedded with surveillance software. The malicious application, believed to be developed by Italian firm SIO through its subsidiary ASIGINT, was designed to mimic the real app closely enough to bypass suspicion.
Meta’s security teams identified roughly 200 individuals who may have installed the compromised version, triggering immediate countermeasures. Affected users were logged out of their accounts and issued alerts warning of potential privacy breaches, with the company describing the incident as a “targeted social engineering attempt” aimed at gaining device-level access.
The malicious app was not distributed via official app stores but circulated through third-party channels, where it was presented as a legitimate WhatsApp alternative. Once installed, it reportedly allowed external operators to access sensitive data stored on the device turning a simple download into a potential surveillance gateway.
According to Techcrunch, Meta is now preparing legal action against the spyware developers to curb further misuse. The company, however, has not disclosed details about the specific individuals targeted or the extent of data compromised.
A Whatsapp spokesperson reiterated that user safety remains the top priority, particularly for those misled into installing the fake iOS application. Meanwhile, reports from La Repubblica suggest the spyware may be linked to “Spyrtacus”, a strain previously associated with Android-based attacks that could intercept calls, activate microphones and even access cameras.
The episode underscores a growing reality in the digital age, the threat is no longer just what you download, but where you download it from. As unofficial apps become increasingly convincing, the line between communication tool and covert surveillance is getting harder to spot and far easier to exploit.
