Applications
Microsoft criticises Google’s attitude towards copyright
MUMBAI: Software major Microsoft has accused online major Google of profiting off sites that sell pirated video and software. Microsoft lawyer Thomas Rubin has been quoted in reports stating that Google‘s track record of protecting copyrights was weak and that it had encouraged the use of keywords and advertising text referring to pirated content. Microsoft has also claimed that Google cuts into authors‘ profits with its Google Books Search service. In a speech Rubin points out that Google that creates no original content of its own has no problem making billions in ad revenue off of others‘ content. Rubin talked not only of the problems Google has had with content on video sharing site YouTube but also its program of making digital copies of books from libraries. Google‘s stated policy of making only snippets of copyrighted books available, Rubin says, asks copyright holders to put far too much trust in the company. Reports state that the offensive from Microsoft comes as it is seeking to work with media companies to fight piracy on its own video-sharing site Soapbox. Rubin says, “Companies that create no content of their own, and make money solely on the backs of other people’s content, are raking in billions through advertising revenue and IPOs. Authors and publishers often find it difficult just to cover their costs, let alone make a profit, in this new online world. “Google takes a unilateralist or ‘opt out‘ approach where the practice is to simply to ‘take‘ the works of others, without any regard for copyright or the impact of their actions on authors and publishers. Microsoft doesn’t believe that is the right approach.” Rubin spoke at the Association of American Publishers (AAP) annual meeting. The AAP has been tied up in litigation with Google for the past year and a half.
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.
