WhatsApp is delaying enforcement of a controversial data protection change. Apple may be removing the Touch Bar in future MacBooks and Bumble files to bring them to the public. This is your daily crisis for January 15, 2021.
The big story: WhatsApp reacts to data protection problems
Earlier this month, WhatsApp sent a notification to users asking them to consent to sharing some of their personal information – like phone number and location – with Facebook (which owns WhatsApp). The warning also said that users would have to agree to the terms by February 8 if they wanted to continue using the app.
This change resulted in legal threats and an investigation by the Turkish government. Now the company is moving the enforcement date back three months.
“Nobody will have their account blocked or deleted on February 8th. We will also do a lot more to clear the misinformation about how privacy and security work on WhatsApp,” the company said in a post. “We will then gradually go to the staff to review the guidelines at their own pace before new business options become available on May 15th.”
The technology giants
Uber plans to outsource Postmates’ delivery robotic arm – Postmates X is looking for investors to become a separate company.
Apple is reportedly planning new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros with MagSafe and Apple processors – this could be the end of the Touch Bar.
With the latest product from Amazon, companies can create their own Alexa assistant for cars, apps and video games. Yes, that means your next car could have two Alexas.
Startups, Finance and Venture Capital
Listing Bumblebee Files – The company plans to list on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “BMBL”.
Tracy Chou Launches Block Party to Combat Online Harassment and Abuse – Block Party is currently available on Twitter and is helping people filter out content they don’t want to see.
Everlywell raises $ 75 million from HealthQuest Capital following its recent Series D round, valued at $ 175 million. Everlywell develops home test kits for a range of health issues and last year added a COVID-19 home collection test kit.
Advice and analysis of extra crunch
Fifteen Steps to Raising New VC or Private Equity Fund – It’s easy to launch. Fundraising is more difficult.
Lessons Learned from the Top Hat Acquisition – The acquisition of Fountainhead Press marks the third acquisition of a publisher by Top Hat in the past 12 months.
Jeff Lawson, CEO of Twilio, says the wisdom lies with your developers – take away from Lawson’s new book, Ask Your Developer.
(Extra Crunch is our membership program that aims to democratize information about startups. You can sign up here.)
Everything else
Video Game Spending Up 27% in 2020 – According to the latest figures from NPD, spending on gaming hardware, software and accessories increased 25% in December and 27% for the full year.
DOT evaluated 11 GPS replacements and found only one that would work for all use cases. The government wants to create additional redundancy and resilience in this sector.
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