Regulations

Russia blocks WhatsApp, urges users onto domestic ‘Max’ app as Kremlin cites legal noncompliance Russia has blocked WhatsApp nationwide over what the Kremlin called the platform’s failure to comply with local legislation, intensifying a state push to shift tens of millions of people to a homegrown alternative that lacks end-to-end encryption. “As for the blocking of WhatsApp ... such a decision was indeed made and implemented,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that the move stemmed from the service’s…

In a recent move, the Zimbabwean government has mandated that administrators of WhatsApp groups within its jurisdiction must register and obtain a license from the Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ). This development is not just a bureaucratic tick-off; it reflects significant shifts in the country’s regulatory landscape. POTRAZ has set a minimum licensing fee of U.S.$50, but this amount could skyrocket to as high as U.S.$2,500, depending on the group's nature and size. The authorities…

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn (AX) — "The Biden administration just rolled out fresh rules to tackle the flood of bargain-basement shipments from China, especially targeting online retail behemoths Shein and Temu," the Associated Press reported. This new directive sets its sights on closing gaps in the "de minimis" exemption, which currently allows goods under $800 to bypass U.S. tariffs and extra fees. The changes could profoundly affect Chinese e-commerce firms banking on low-cost, direct-to-consumer shipping to snag a foothold in the…