iWorld
OTT platforms proposing ombudsman model to the govt: Arre’s Ajay Chacko
KOLKATA: To regulate or not to regulate online content, that's the question. If yes then what should be the way forward? There has been no industry consensus on it yet. While in the earlier part of this year, Hotstar, Jio, SonyLiv and Eros formed an adjudicatory body Digital Content Complaint Council (DCCC), other platforms like Netflix, Amazon, MX Player, ZEE5, AltBalaji and Arre opposed it. Arre co-founder and CEO Ajay Chacko is strongly against DCCC model of regulation and said that they are now proposing an ombudsman model to the government.
“We have not agreed to the DCCC model and are now proposing an ombudsman model to the government which is actually a midway path. I am hoping that works,” Chacko said in a webinar called ‘Future of OTT content and its evolution in India’ hosted by Indiantelevision.com.
He again strongly advocated that the internet is a medium of choice and people should be allowed to decide what they want to watch or don’t. He also added that if the authority wants to get parity in regulations of all mediums then it should not bring the newest medium to the lowest common denominator of the oldest medium. According to him, the problem is not with OTT platforms not being regualted but with the way cinema and TV have been over-regulated.
Recently during FICCI e-Frames, ministry of information and broadcasting secretary Amit Khare said the ministry is proposing to bring content being streamed on over-the-top (OTT) platforms under its purview. Prior to that, I&B minister Prakash Javadekar gave streaming services 100 days to finalise a code of conduct.
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.
