iWorld
WhatsApp to limit forwarding to five chats in India
MUMBAI: WhatsApp, the world’s most popular messaging app, is now firmly embedded into our social fabric. The simplicity and utility of the app has enabled it to breach several divides. The emergence of WhastApp as a dominant communication tool has also brought into focus the menace of fake news, false videos and rumour mongering.
False propaganda on WhastApp has been the source of several unfortunate incidents, including mob lynching, in India of late. The recent developments have compelled the Indian government to push the Facebook-owned messaging app into adopting more stringent measures.
Taking note of all concerns, WhatsApp is now testing a new policy for its chat forwarding feature.
‘Today, we’re launching a test to limit forwarding that will apply to everyone using WhatsApp. In India – where people forward more messages, photos, and videos than any other country in the world – we’ll also test a lower limit of 5 chats at once and we’ll remove the quick forward button next to media messages,” WhatsApp said in its blog on Friday.
The company has over one billion users globally, of which over 200 million are in India. The option of forwarding multiple chats at once was added a few years ago.
On Thursday, Indian government sent out a second letter to WhatsApp asking the company to come up with more effective solutions to tackle the existing problem.
On 3 July, the IT Ministry had sent a letter to WhatsApp to address the issue of provocative messages.
In response to the first notice, WhatsApp emphasised on collaborative effort from government, civil society and technology companies to check fake news, misinformation and hoaxes.
While outlining planned measures in its reply, WhatsApp said it has the ability but since it cannot see the content of private messages, blocking can be done only based on user reports.
“We are deeply committed to your safety and privacy which is why WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted, and we’ll continue to improve our app with features like this one,” the new blog reads.
Gaming
Nodwin Gaming partners with Runestone for esports data and integrity solutions
South Asian esports leader joins forces with Czech tech firm to enhance tournament operations.
MUMBAI: Nodwin Gaming has just levelled up its game by bringing in a specialist to keep the scoreboard honest and the fans fully engaged. The leading South Asian esports and gaming company has announced a strategic partnership with Runestone, a Prague-headquartered esports technology firm specialising in real-time data and engagement solutions for tournament organisers and publishers.
The collaboration aims to strengthen competitive integrity, improve operational oversight, and deliver more interactive viewing experiences across Nodwin’s properties. It will initially focus on the Nodwin Clutch Series for Counter-Strike 2, a Tier 2 tournament that provides emerging teams with consistent competitive opportunities and helps build the talent pipeline.
The latest edition of the series recently concluded with Big defeating ECSTATIC 2–1 in the grand final of the $50,000 online event.
Nodwin Gaming chief business officer at MENA and global head of data monetization Teemu Koski said, “Integrity and transparency are fundamental to sustainable esports ecosystems, especially in Tier 2 competition where the next generation of talent emerges. Runestone’s expertise complements our experience in building scalable esports IPs.”
Runestone head of partnerships Michael Schwartz added, “Nodwin Gaming has built one of the most dynamic esports ecosystems across emerging markets. We’re thrilled to collaborate on supporting tournaments with greater transparency, deeper fan interaction, and scalable tools.”
Both companies are exploring opportunities to extend the partnership across additional titles, including mobile-first competitive ecosystems, and to develop new products for publishers, tournament operators, and event promoters.
In the rapidly growing world of esports, where fair play and fan excitement are equally crucial, Nodwin Gaming and Runestone are teaming up to ensure every match is not only competitive but also transparent and engaging. This alliance could well become a game-changer for Tier 2 tournaments across South Asia and beyond.
