hodler

25 Jan 2026, 14:14

Meta fights U.S. court lawsuit over false claims of WhatsApp message privacy

A group of international plaintiffs on Friday filed a new lawsuit against Meta, claiming it lied about WhatsApp privacy and fooled users into thinking their chats were truly private. According to the lawsuit, Meta has been secretly storing, analyzing, and accessing messages it publicly claims are “end-to-end encrypted.” WhatsApp shows users a default privacy warning: “only people in this chat can read, listen to, or share” messages. That’s supposed to mean that not even Meta can see what users send. But the new lawsuit says that entire promise is fake, and it accuses Meta of defrauding billions of users worldwide by making them believe otherwise. Plaintiffs say Meta misled billions about encryption The group filing the case includes plaintiffs from Australia, Brazil, India, Mexico, and South Africa. They argue that Meta’s claims about end-to-end encryption are a complete scam, and that workers inside the company can view the content of so-called “private” WhatsApp messages. The plaintiffs say whistleblowers helped bring this to light, though they didn’t name them or explain how they got the info. Meta bought WhatsApp in 2014 and has repeatedly claimed its platform is fully secure. But the plaintiffs say that’s all just PR spin, not real privacy. They accuse Meta and WhatsApp of building an illusion of safety to lure in users, while in the background, the company collects and studies the messages it claims are out of reach. Meta is not backing down. The company’s spokesperson, Andy Stone, called the entire lawsuit a joke. “Any claim that people’s WhatsApp messages are not encrypted is categorically false and absurd,” Stone said in a statement. “WhatsApp has been end-to-end encrypted using the Signal protocol for a decade. This lawsuit is a frivolous work of fiction.” Meta says it will pursue sanctions against the plaintiffs’ lawyers. Lawyers for the plaintiffs want this case to become a class-action lawsuit. The legal team includes attorneys from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, Keller Postman, and Barnett Legal. Multiple lawyers declined to comment or didn’t respond to requests. Patent fight adds pressure over smart glasses tech As Meta deals with that lawsuit, it’s also being targeted in a separate patent fight. In Massachusetts federal court, Solos Technology Ltd. filed a complaint Friday, saying Meta and partners stole smart glasses technology and violated “core patents” that power products like the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer Gen 1. Solos is asking for “multiple billions of dollars” in damages. The company also wants an injunction that could stop Ray-Ban Meta products from being sold. The filing claims Meta and EssilorLuxottica had years of access to Solos’ intellectual property, going back to at least 2015. Solos says even Oakley employees tested early versions of its hardware years before Meta got involved. Solos built its first smart eyewear for cyclists over a decade ago. Its more recent “AirGo” models include AI-powered features like translation and ChatGPT integration. On its site, Solos says it holds over 100 patents and applications. The lawsuit alleges that every Meta release since Gen 1 copies Solos’ tech, including the latest smart glasses built with muscle-signal technology. Solos also says that a former MIT Sloan Fellow, Priyanka Shekar, published a 2021 study citing Solos’ patented tech. That same year, she joined Meta as a product manager. According to the lawsuit, Shekar’s work gave Meta internal access to Solos’ designs, making the alleged infringement even more deliberate. The filing claims that by the time Meta and EssilorLuxottica launched smart glasses in 2021, they already had deep, direct knowledge of Solos’ entire roadmap. That lawsuit is now one more legal mess Meta has to clean up, while it’s still trying to convince users that WhatsApp chats aren’t being read behind their backs. Claim your free seat in an exclusive crypto trading community - limited to 1,000 members.

25 Jan 2026, 12:52

Xiaomi's SU7 outsells Tesla's Model 3 in China for the first time in 2025

After years of trying to compete with Tesla’s dominance, a Chinese technology company has managed to outsell the American electric vehicle giant in the premium sedan category, marking a significant milestone for the country’s automotive industry. Xiaomi sold 258,164 units of its SU7 electric sedan across China last year, beating Tesla’s Model 3 , which delivered 200,361 vehicles during the same period, based on figures from the China Passenger Car Association. This marks the first time Tesla’s Model 3 has lost its top position in China’s premium electric sedan market since the vehicle started selling in the country at the close of 2019. Chinese competitors challenge Tesla’s market dominance Tesla builds its Model 3 at its Shanghai manufacturing plant located in the Lingang free-trade zone. The vehicle had maintained its leading position in the premium electric sedan segment through 2024, even as several Chinese competitors like Nio, Xpeng, and IM Motors worked hard to challenge its market share. “Tesla’s dominance in the premium EV segment has been eroded by its Chinese competitors that are able to churn out vehicles on par with its technology standards while offering them at lower prices,” said Eric Han, a senior manager at Shanghai consultancy Suolei. “Xiaomi’s success is a strong boost for Chinese carmakers, which are all trying to move up the value chain.” Tesla’s Shanghai facility also produces the Model Y sport utility vehicle, which managed to outsell all other SUVs on the mainland in 2025, including those running on gasoline. Upgraded SU7 draws strong pre-orders Following last year’s strong performance, Xiaomi has moved forward with an improved version of the SU7 sedan. The company started taking small deposits for the updated model on January 7, 2026, and received close to 100,000 advance orders within just 15 days. The new version carries a pre-sale price of 229,900 yuan ($32,500), which represents an increase of 14,000 yuan ($1,980) compared to the earlier model. The updated SU7 is scheduled for its official release in April 2026, though marketing activities began three months ahead of time, according to CLS. Workers at several Xiaomi retail locations in Beijing reported receiving between 200 and 400 orders per store. Outlets in Shanghai and Wuhan have also recorded more than 100 orders each. With 477 stores operating nationwide, Xiaomi calculates that advance orders are approaching 100,000 units. The newer SU7 comes with better driving assistance features an d lo nger battery capacity. Technical improvements include a silicon carbide high-voltage platform rated at 752V and 897V, laser radar equipment standard on all versions, 700 TOPS of computing power for self-driving capabilities, and a CLTC-rated driving range of 902 kilometers. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun hosted three live-streaming events in January 2026 to promote the advance ordering period. The firm began selling off the leftover inventory of the previous year’s model in January 2026 as pre-sales for the revised SU7 got underway. Dealers have ceased accepting orders for specific setups and are now selling these older units from their current inventory. In an effort to ensure a seamless transition between model years and consistent supply chain operation, Xiaomi has changed production priorities to produce more SU7 cars while allocating capacity for the next generation model. Earlier, Xiaomi experienced problems with delivery timelines, especially with the Xiaomi YU7, where customers at one point waited more than a year for their vehicles. To prevent similar delays, the company introduced an early small-deposit approach for the SU7. Sales staff explained that advance orders help the company study demand patterns and handle supply chain stocks, including essential parts, to reduce long waiting periods for buyers. With 411,800 automobiles delivered overall in 2025, Xiaomi exceeded its annual target by 17%. The business has set a goal of 550,000 deliveries for 2026 and intends to launch two more models: an unannounced YU7 GT and the pre-ordered SU7. Talk about a possible range-extender version has not been confirmed. Since first launching in April 2024, the Xiaomi SU7 has sold close to 400,000 units and remains central to the company’s delivery plans as it moves into 2026. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .

25 Jan 2026, 11:07

Data leak exposes 149M logins, 420K linked to Binance

A total of 149 million login credentials were exposed. The data leaked access to 420,000 Binance accounts, Instagram, Facebook, Roblox, dating sites, and other platforms. The database exposed to the public lacked encryption and password protection, according to Jeremiah Fowler from ExpressVPN. It included 149,404,754 distinct login credentials and reached 96 GB in size of raw data. Millions of account logins leaked from Binance, Instagram, Google, and TikTok. Source: ExpressVPN blog . The leaked data was open to the public The database was open to the public. Anyone who found it could access millions of people’s credentials. The exposed documents contained emails, usernames, passwords, and account login URLs. The leaked records included data from social media websites like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter). Dating apps and OnlyFans accounts data revealed login methods for creators and users. Fowler found leaked logins from many streaming accounts as well, such as Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, and Roblox. In the small sample of records the cybersecurity researcher examined, he found financial service accounts, crypto wallets , Binance trading accounts, as well as banking and credit card logins. Government accounts were not spared either. Logins linked to [dot]gov domains from various nations were found. Such sensitive data may enable targeted phishing or impersonation attacks. This could threaten national security and public safety. The database was hosted online but lacked ownership details. Fowler reported it to the hosting provider, and after almost a month, the hosting was suspended. The hosting provider refused to reveal who managed the database. It remains unclear whether the database was used for criminal activity, legitimate research, or why it was publicly exposed. The database exposure duration is unknown. Other people might have accessed it. A troubling detail is that the records kept growing until they became restricted and inaccessible, the cybersecurity researcher added. The total number of records and the size of the exposed infostealer database. Source: ExpressVPN blog . Infostealer malware collected logins and extra information The database contained keylogging and infostealer malware, which secretly collect credentials from infected devices. Unlike old infostealer malware datasets, these files recorded extra information. The records contained the “host_reversed path.” This structure organizes stolen data by victim and source for easy indexing. Reversing the hostname can prevent directory conflicts and evade simple detection rules targeting common domain formats. The system assigned each unique log line a document ID based on a line hash to guarantee one distinct record. A brief check showed these hash and document IDs were unique with no duplicates found. The release of many unique usernames and passwords creates a major security threat for many people who are unaware that their data was compromised. Criminals may use this information to automate attacks on accounts like email, crypto wallets, social media, and business systems. This greatly raises the risk of fraud, identity theft, financial crimes, and phishing scams. Malware silently steals login data and sends it to hackers. Changing passwords is useless in the presence of malware and infostealers. Installing antivirus software helps detect and remove malware from smartphones and computers completely. An October report by Security[dot]org found that about 66% of U.S. adults used antivirus software in 2025. Many users have unprotected devices that are vulnerable to infostealer malware. The report stated that $16.6 billion was lost to cybercrime in a single year. If someone thinks their device has malware, they should act right away. Want your project in front of crypto’s top minds? Feature it in our next industry report, where data meets impact.

25 Jan 2026, 10:23

Pope Leo XIV warns of AI risks to human behavior, connection in World Day of Communications

Pope Leo XIV has warned about the dangers of artificial intelligence to human behavior and connection. He noted that the AI models could usurp human identities and relationships, influence public opinion, and deepen social polarization. The comments come as many artificial intelligence models face criticisms since the start of the year. The most glaring one is that of xAI chatbot Grok, which has faced criticism over its use to create inappropriate deepfake images of women and children. Countries across the world have issued a standing order to the platform to fix its chatbot, with some even going as far as suspending its use in their country while asking Elon Musk to create safeguards to fix the issue. Pope Leo XIV highlights the dangers of AI to humans In his message marking the World Day of Social Communications, the pope mentioned that AI systems can reflect how their creators see the world. He mentioned that they can also shape patterns of thought by reproducing the biases embedded in the data that they process. “The challenge is a matter of protecting human identity and authentic relationships,” the pontiff said. We need faces and voices to once again speak the person. We need to safeguard the gift of communication as the deepest truth of the human being, and to orient every technological innovation toward it. https://t.co/PmSAHj4gju — Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) January 24, 2026 Pope Leo XIV’s warnings are also coming as generative AI continues to make leaps and bounds towards replication. The models are now used to manufacture images, music, and texts to levels where they are sometimes indistinguishable from human-made works. In 2023, his predecessor, Pope Francis, was the subject of several viral fake AI images. In some images, he wore a white puffer jacket instead of his usual robes, while in others, he was altered in some ways. Since then, generative AI has been the go-to tool for some high-profile figures, including United States President Donald Trump, who has generated and posted several AI-generated images to his online accounts. In his speech, Pope Leo XIV warned that only a small number of companies hold significant power over AI development, and that AI tools are now increasing the difficulty of telling apart works that were created by humans and those created using the models. Pope urges tech leaders to look into AI risks This is not the first time that Pope Leo XIV has warned the global populace about the risks and dangers associated with artificial intelligence. Since he was elected Pope last May as the first pontiff from the United States, he has consistently warned about the growing influence of AI technology. In November, he urged the leaders in the technology industry to build artificial intelligence models that respect human dignity. He highlighted that AI development is part of a larger struggle over who we become when we build systems that learn, decide, and operate at a global scale. “Technological innovation can be a form of participation in the divine act of creation. It carries an ethical and spiritual weight, for every design choice expresses a vision of humanity,” the Pope said at the time. He called on builders of AI to create models that show genuine reverence for life. In addition to creating models that show genuine reverence for life, the Pope also criticized systems that present statistical probability as reliable knowledge, adding that the tools only offer approximation. He noted that the challenge ahead is to establish effective governance and called on countries to educate young people about how algorithms influence perceptions of reality. The pontiff also condemned the increased use of AI in military applications, warning against delegating life-and-death decisions to machines. Claim your free seat in an exclusive crypto trading community - limited to 1,000 members.

25 Jan 2026, 09:30

Report: ZBD Raises $40 Million to Power Bitcoin Payments for Video Games

ZBD secures $40 million Series C to expand bitcoin and blockchain payment rails for gaming. ZBD, a New Jersey‑based bitcoin payments startup, reportedly secured a $40 million Series C led by Blockstream Capital with $36 million committed, funding the company’s expansion of video game payment software that processes bitcoin and other blockchain transactions. ZBD, which

25 Jan 2026, 09:02

DTCC Partners With R3 That Uses XRP

A recent post by crypto researcher SMQKE has brought renewed interest in the relationship between the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), enterprise blockchain firm R3, and the role of XRP within that technological stack. In his statement, SMQKE asserted that DTCC is partnered with R3 and emphasized that R3’s infrastructure uses XRP, noting that this connection has been documented multiple times. The claim was presented as a response to ongoing skepticism around XRP’s involvement in large-scale financial market infrastructure. Rather than relying on opinion, the post focused on documentary evidence. The images attached to the tweet were positioned as historical and institutional references that, taken together, outline how XRP has been referenced within R3-related settlement frameworks and how DTCC has worked with R3 in distributed ledger initiatives. DTCC IS PARTNERED WITH R3 WHICH USES XRP Documented 3x for the skeptics. https://t.co/hoUQocViJU pic.twitter.com/gndfoQDxoT — SMQKE (@SMQKEDQG) January 23, 2026 DTCC’s Engagement With R3 DTCC is a central pillar of global financial market infrastructure, responsible for clearing, settlement, custody, and information services across multiple asset classes. Over the past several years, DTCC has publicly explored distributed ledger technology as part of efforts to modernize post-trade processes. One of its most notable collaborations in this area has been with R3, the firm behind the Corda distributed ledger platform. The material shared by SMQKE points to documentation indicating DTCC’s participation in projects built on R3’s Corda technology. These initiatives were designed to improve efficiency, transparency, and resilience in clearing and settlement workflows. The tweet does not emphasize that DTCC directly uses XRP in its core operations, but that DTCC’s chosen DLT partner, R3, has developed solutions that explicitly reference XRP. R3, Corda, and XRP References Banks and financial institutions use R3’s Corda platform for permissioned settlement applications. According to the documents highlighted in SMQKE’s post, XRP has been identified within certain R3-related settlement contexts, including discussions around cross-border payments and interoperability. One of the attached excerpts references XRP as a digital asset supported within settlement solutions connected to Corda, particularly in payment obligations and global transfers. SMQKE underscored that these references are not isolated. By stating that the link has been “documented 3x,” the researcher suggested a pattern across multiple sources rather than a single, ambiguous mention. The post is intended to counter claims that XRP has no documented relevance within institutional-grade financial infrastructure connected to major market entities. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 Implications Highlighted by the Researcher The core message of SMQKE’s tweet is evidentiary rather than predictive. By compiling and resurfacing these documents, the researcher aimed to demonstrate that XRP has appeared within serious, institutional discussions tied to R3’s technology and, by extension, to organizations such as DTCC that have partnered with R3. The post stops short of claiming current production use by DTCC but stresses that dismissing XRP as entirely absent from this ecosystem overlooks documented material. In presenting these attachments, SMQKE presents the issue as one of record rather than belief, arguing that the documented links are sufficient to challenge persistent skepticism in XRP’s relevance in enterprise and financial market infrastructure. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on X , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post DTCC Partners With R3 That Uses XRP appeared first on Times Tabloid .