DIGITAL LIFE

China removes major gay dating apps from digital stores in new offensive against LGBTQ+ platforms

The gay dating apps Blued and Finka have been removed from the Apple Store and several Android app stores in China following a ruling by the country's Cyberspace Administration, China's main internet censorship and regulation body.

The removal was confirmed by Apple to Wired. "We respect the laws of the countries where we operate. Based on an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China, we have removed these two apps only from the Chinese store," a spokesperson said.

The person added that the apps had already been unavailable in other countries for some time: "Earlier this year, the developer of Finka chose to remove the app from stores outside of China, and Blued was only available in China."

Despite the removal, users who had already downloaded Blued and Finka can still access them - at least for now. The measure, however, reignites the debate about the growing siege imposed by the Chinese government on the LGBTQ+ community, which in recent years has seen the closure of specialized organizations and constant censorship of profiles on social media.

China decriminalized homosexuality in the 1990s, but the government does not recognize same-sex marriage.

Blued is controlled by BlueCity. In 2020, the company went public and reported that the gay dating app had over 49 million registered users and over 6 million monthly active users.

In the same year, as reported by Wired, BlueCity announced the acquisition of Finka, its main competitor in China. The company ceased trading on the stock exchange in 2022 and was acquired by the social media business Newborn Town, listed in Hong Kong.

A few years ago, BlueCity expanded its activities into the healthcare sector, launching a digital pharmacy service and a telemedicine clinic aimed at Chinese men. Furthermore, she operates a non-profit organization dedicated to combating HIV/AIDS.

It is not yet known whether the removal of the apps in China is permanent. In previous cases, some services managed to return to the app stores after making changes required by censors.

Blued and Finka...Blued is China's leading gay dating app and at one point had 49 million registered users. Its parent company, BlueCity, bought Finka in 2020 for US$33 million and was acquired in 2022 by Newborn Town, a Hong Kong social media company.

In 2024, the international version of Blued was renamed HeeSay, popular in India, Pakistan, and the Philippines. The app remains available normally outside of China.

It is not yet confirmed whether the removal of Blued and Finka will be temporary or permanent. In previous cases, apps only returned to the app stores after adjustments required by the authorities.

Homosexuality was decriminalized in China in the 1990s, but same-sex marriage remains without legal recognition. In recent years, LGBTQ groups have faced increased censorship and restrictions under the control of the Communist Party.

Reporter: Renata Turbiani, Brazil

 

DIGITAL LIFE

Landfall spyware targeted Samsung phone flaw, attackers still unknown

Samsung Galaxy phones have been targeted by Android spyware dubbed Landfall, and for nearly a year, the attack went unpatched, running rampant throughout the Middle East. Unit 42 has recently released an in-depth report on the spyware and how it works, showcasing how a weakness in Samsung's image processing library allowed for Landfall to execute arbitrary code on victims' devices. Unit 42's findings indicate that the attack was not deployed on the larger Internet like Herodotus, but rather toward specific individuals in the Middle East, and exact motivations or identities of the attackers in question remain unknown.

Thankfully, the CVE-2025-21042 vulnerability that provided the attack vector for this spyware has been patched by Samsung since April 2025. But this was only after the attack was already in use since at least mid-2024, and Unit 42's research indicated that the attack was used for comprehensive surveillance of compromised devices in the Middle East. Surveillance functions included "microphone recording, location tracking, and collection of photos, contacts, and call logs". The malformed image files used to carry the attack were sent to victims via WhatsApp and subsequently burrowed deep into the system, remaining active and undetected for months until Samsung's patch for the underlying vulnerability was released.

So, fortunately for current Samsung and Android users, there's no immediate cause for concern. As long as you've patched your Android phone since April 2025, you're most likely safe from this specific attack and the vulnerability it exploited. However, it does show a concerning trend in zero-click attacks on Android devices that don't even require users to download an application or misclick on a web page, which makes careful curation of browsing destinations and contacts even more important for those trying to protect their privacy.  Many new pieces of malware no longer require user ignorance to exploit—now, just being the recipient of an innocuous image file on an unpatched device could be a precursor to a malware infection.

The full Unit 42 report is available on Palo Alto Networks' blog, and goes into far more details on the specifics of this attack and how it and its contemporaries do their work. Knowledge of attacks like these emphasize the importance of security updates and up-to-date knowledge of cybersecurity, but especially for government or private sector employees dealing with highly-sensitive information.

mundophone

DIGITAL LIFE

The absurd (and brilliant) invention created for those who can't put down their cell phones

A company decided to combat digital addiction in a radical way: by transforming the cell phone into an object that is almost impossible to carry. The idea seems like a joke, but it's real, expensive, and was created based on neuroscience concepts. The goal is simple — to tire the user until they give up using the device.

If you've already tried time limit apps, focus modes, reduced notifications, and are still addicted to your cell phone, perhaps this idea is the most extreme of all. A company has developed a smartphone case weighing almost three kilograms to force the user to put down the device due to sheer physical exhaustion. The project mixes irony, engineering, and a bit of psychology — and is already seeking investors to reach the market. It may seem absurd, but the proposal is serious.

The proposal is reminiscent of the old metaphor of the "ball and chain." Matter Neuroscience created a stainless steel case that weighs about 2.7 kg, the equivalent of carrying a large bottle of water along with the cell phone. The idea is simple: if the device becomes too heavy to hold or carry, the user automatically reduces usage time.

The system consists of two metal plates that are fastened with screws, making the smartphone heavier than many laptops.

The design was inspired by the Black Diamond model, a robust phone from the 1980s. The company started from a basic principle of neuroscience: physical effort creates a negative feedback mechanism. In other words, the more uncomfortable the use, the less the desire to continue repeating the habit.

In addition to weighing a ton — literally for the arms — the case doesn't fit in a pocket and is uncomfortable to hold for long periods. Expected result: the phone ends up lying on the table, out of reach.

To prevent the user from simply giving up on the idea and removing the case, it can only be removed with an Allen key. This detail reduces the temptation to unscrew everything and return to normal use of the device.

The Neuroscience...We’re wired for face-to-face connection, not endless scrolling. Our brains have 6 feel-good neurotransmitters, only 2 of which are easily activated by your phone (dopamine and serotonin). The other 4 (cannabinoids, testosterone, opioids, and oxytocin) are activated more easily IRL, and with other people.  

And even dopamine and serotonin are more effective when activated IRL. The “happiness” we think we feel in our brain from our phones is often too fleeting to satisfy our brain’s needs. Instead, our brain gets caught in a continuous loop of craving in which we want positive satisfaction, but nothing we’re getting is sufficient for our brain, and just increases our cortisol (stress) levels over and over again.

Whether you're 16 or 60, too much screen time starves your brain of the social neurotransmitters it craves. Basically, real life hits different (and much better.)

Matter Neuroscience offers two versions:

-Stainless steel, for about $210

-Brass, even heavier, for approximately $500

A joke, a protest, or a real solution? The company is seeking to raise $75,000 to produce on a large scale. So far, it has received about $17,000 in support. The proposal mixes humor, criticism of digital addiction, and behavioral science. The message is clear: if nothing else works to reduce cell phone use, perhaps the weight of reality—or the case—will work.

While psychologists warn of the impact of excessive smartphone use on mental health and family relationships, the invention emerges as a solution as absurd as possible. The future will tell if it's just provocation…or a new market for those who need help disconnecting.

by mundophone 

 

DIGITAL LIFE

Big tech companies hold consumers and governments hostage with dependency-based discourse, says teacher

Tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Meta do everything to increase the dependence of governments and consumers on their products, says Rodrigo Ochigame, 33, a professor of anthropology at Leiden University in the Netherlands.

Ochigame, originally from Mato Grosso do Sul and a computer science graduate, went to the US to study at two centers of excellence—the University of California, Berkeley, and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)—how computer companies adapt their discourse to gain advantages.

He gained prominence in the public sphere as a critic of Silicon Valley with an article published on the American news website The Intercept, in which he described how an ethical AI researcher at MIT received funding from investment funds to campaign against technology regulation.

His book "Informatics of the Oppressed," written in 2020 and translated into Portuguese this year, shows how big tech services are subsidized by anti-competitive practices, such as the inclusion of free WhatsApp in internet plans, and contracts with the government, such as Google's presence in universities through cloud services. At the same time, local and collaborative projects are left uncovered by public policies.

"The zero-data franchise gives Meta's platforms a very large and extremely unfair competitive advantage, creating dependence on this company for a huge number of users," exemplifies the researcher.

"Brazil should not only prohibit the zero-data franchise of big tech companies, but use it in reverse: there should be subsidies for people who don't have mobile phone credit so they can use non-extractive alternatives, such as Signal [an ad-free and non-profit messaging app]," he adds.

The same, he says, applies to cloud computing services, where there are open-source alternatives, such as NextCloud. "It works perfectly, we use it at Leiden University, but it's not free, there's a transparent cost—you have to pay, but no one is exploiting your data."

For Ochigame, it's necessary to overcome the lobbyists' strategy that only large technology companies are capable of delivering cutting-edge technology. "What's the advantage of living in a high-resolution virtual reality, using state-of-the-art devices, if the sponsored advertising content is generated by artificial intelligence and optimized for technological manipulation?"

To do this, says the researcher, it's necessary to seek out theses and accounts that "won't easily appear in social media news feeds." Even the official history of Silicon Valley, he adds, reinforces the prominence of "ingenious inventions by geniuses" like Larry Page (Google), Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates.

"In the case of Google, there is an erasure on at least two levels: the collective work of the field of information science and the more feminized field of work of librarians that gave rise to modern information science," the researcher exemplified.

It was while he was at MIT, in 2019, for example, that Ochigame met a retired librarian, Theresa Tobin, who introduced him to the work of the Cuban researcher María Teresa Freyre de Andrade, fundamental to research in information science. "Google Scholar does not index any of María's main books, although the Cuban online encyclopedia EcuRed has an extensive article about her," he says.

The Cuban digital library system of the 1980s, incidentally, is cited in the book as visionary. "A peculiar quality of the information science that developed in Cuba is that Cuban information scientists recognized that the metrics and algorithms they used to prioritize some information over others could never be neutral," says Ochigame.

In the current scenario, the researcher says, the US should oppose the construction of democratic digital infrastructures because the Donald Trump administration is captured by large corporations. "China (which is a dictatorship) will also not support these projects, as they contradict its regime of surveillance and censorship."

Brazil itself, the professor states, was once an example in the search for alternatives to Chinese and American technologies. "The first Lula government had great courage and audacity in supporting free software, which made Brazil, in the past, a certain leader internationally."

However, this public policy has lost strength since 2010, and today the Brazilian government has also been signing billion-dollar contracts with big tech companies to install foreign servers in public companies such as DataPrev and Serpro. "At this moment, the federal government has become complicit with the tech giants by making a discourse of digital sovereignty that has been co-opted by lobbyists," says Ochigame.

For the researcher, the country needs to propose free public alternatives. "In Brazil, there are already some laboratories with supercomputers for research purposes to which university researchers can submit proposals for use and be able to use part of this computing capacity for a period of time, and this model can be extended to general-use services, such as email and cloud computing."

"Of course, it's an investment that needs to be made, but it's not astronomical," says Ochigame. "For the kind of benefit that breaking this dependence and this enormous geopolitical vulnerability would bring, it's actually a rather modest cost."

https://ochigame.org/

mundophone

STREAMING

Pluribus: New sci-fi series from the creator of Breaking Bad on Apple TV+

It's one of the most anticipated returns to television. Vince Gilligan, the creator behind the acclaimed works Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, is back with a new series that completely breaks with the crime universe that made him famous. His latest project, the sci-fi drama "Pluribus," premieres today on the Apple TV+ platform.

Gilligan, who began his career on cult series like The X-Files, returns to his sci-fi roots with a bizarre and captivating premise: what happens to the world when everyone is too happy?

Apple TV+ has kept the plot details of "Pluribus" under tight secrecy, but the central premise is deliciously ironic.

The series stars Rhea Seehorn, known for her brilliant portrayal of Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul. Seehorn plays Carol, a novelist who, by a twist of fate, becomes the most miserable person on the planet. This unhappiness is not a choice; It is a survival factor, as the rest of humanity has been affected by a contagion that has turned them into a kind of "collective mind" of unwavering happiness.

Chaos ensues when the US president contacts Carol in a desperate attempt to convince her to join the widespread happiness. However, Carol is the last line of defense, the only one who can fight this epidemic of optimism and save the world from uniformity. The series explores the idea that "too good to be true" (in this case, eternal happiness) does not lead to good results.

For fans of Vince Gilligan's work, the series offers a visual and narrative treat. Although "Pluribus" is a completely independent story (not part of the Breaking Bad universe), the production returns to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the stories of Walter White and Jimmy McGill took place. The most attentive fans will certainly recognize familiar settings that will serve as a backdrop for this new dystopian adventure.

Rhea Seehorn, who takes on the lead role, is the undisputed star. Critics praise her performance, noting that much of the series' drama and humor rests on her shoulders.

Apple is betting big on the success of "Pluribus." The company greenlit the series with a two-season order right off the bat and invested a premium budget that reportedly hovers around $15 million per episode. This massive investment is a sign of Apple's confidence in Vince Gilligan to create its next big audience hit, on par with other acclaimed series on the platform.

"Pluribus" premieres today with a double-episode release. The first season will have a total of nine episodes, with a new chapter being released every Friday and the season finale scheduled for December 26.

Between mystery and anticipation...Expectations for "Pluribus" were high since the series was announced back in 2022. It was, indeed, Gilligan's first project outside the universe created by "Breaking Bad," considered by many to be one of the best series in American TV history – if not the best.

In addition, the project was always shrouded in mystery. So much so that little was known about the plot or Seehorn's role until this year.

The first teaser, released in July after years without major news, showed only a dark room, in which a woman carefully licked all the donuts from a communal box to the sound of a sinister soundtrack.

It may seem like little, but it makes sense right in the first episode – which mixes tension and comedy, like the best moments of Walter White's misadventures. With perhaps a little more lightness.

'Complete cycle'..."Pluribus" also attracted attention because it was Gilligan's return to science fiction, the genre that started his career. "Kind of a return to the roots," as he himself defines it.

He was just a fan of a new series when he decided to write the script for an episode and send it to the studio. The executives liked it, and the story became an episode of the second season.

Over time, he was hired and became one of the executive producers. The series became one of the most important on American TV in the 1990s.

"It really feels like a full circle. I had so much fun for seven years writing for 'The X-Files.' It was a great job. I tell people, with a sort of smile, that it was a very close second in terms of favorite job of all time," he says.

"I loved writing dialogue for Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. I loved all those people. And I learned how to create for TV in those seven years on that job,"...said the series creator Vince Gilligan.

mundophone

TECH

Putting people first: Europe's 6G push for connectivity that serves society

As Europe prepares for the leap to 6G, researchers, policymakers and citizens are working together to make sure that the next digital revolution is not just faster, but also ethical, sustainable and inclusive.

What if tomorrow's super-fast, super-connected digital world could be shaped by public values—right from the start? Dr. Monique Calisti, an Italian engineer, entrepreneur and researcher, is a leading voice in the drive to keep people at the center of digital transformation.

"I have three teenage daughters and I feel a big responsibility to give them a digital world that is sustainable and socially inclusive," she said.

Calisti is the founder and CEO of Martel Innovate, a digital innovation and consulting company based in Switzerland and with offices in the Netherlands. She also founded Digital for Planet, a non-profit association that campaigns for sustainable, ethical and inclusive digital technologies.

On the cusp of next-generation connectivity...Currently, Calisti is leading a two-year initiative called 6G4Society to ensure that when the next generation of mobile networks—6G—arrives, it is not just faster or more capable, but also inclusive, sustainable, ethical and trusted.

Today's 5G wireless networks are already paving the way. But around 2030, 6G is expected to go much further. It will offer not only much higher speeds, but also lower latency—the delay between sending a signal and getting a response.

In practice, this means near-instant reactions, which are vital for things like remote surgery, self-driving cars or improved environmental monitoring.

For everyday users, 6G will bring clear benefits. Connectivity will be widespread, lightning-fast and ultra-reliable, blurring the lines between the physical and digital worlds.

"The vision is to have a super-reliable network where there could be, for instance, hologram conversations, with a 3D image of the person you are talking to present in the room with you," she said. This would help children in hospitals, or refugees, for example, talk to their loved ones.

Unlocking future benefits...Telemedicine, remote surgery and vehicles that communicate directly with infrastructure could all become standard in the next decade, unlocking new possibilities for society.

That means a leading heart surgeon in Paris, for example, will be able to use fast and reliable 6G connectivity to operate a robotic arm in a hospital in Romania and perform life-saving surgery on a patient at the other end of Europe.

Yet alongside its potential, 6G also raises questions. The rollout of 5G in 2019–2020 triggered public concerns about health, the environment and privacy. Living in Switzerland, Calisti was surprised by the strong opposition from a big portion of the population.

This shows that new technology cannot assume instant public acceptance, she conceded. Calisti therefore wants to lay the groundwork now to ensure that 6G development puts people and the environment first and is widely accepted.

A society-first approach...The 6G4Society team brings together universities, industry, policymakers, non-profits and civil society groups from across Europe working towards future networks that are technically advanced, but also socially responsible.

"Our work is really unique because it is fully dedicated to looking at the societal, environmental and sustainability aspects of 6G technology developments," said Calisti.

The initiative is also part of a wider European drive to accelerate the deployment of 5G and lay the foundations for 6G. At the heart of this effort is the European Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking.

This public–private partnership has a budget of €1.8 million for 2021–2027. It funds projects covering everything from advanced network technologies to security, cloud systems, sustainability and micro‑electronics.

By bringing together EU policymakers, companies and researchers, it aims to keep Europe at the cutting edge of these technologies while ensuring they meet society's real needs.

Voices beyond engineering...While engineers design the technology, social scientists help explain how it is used and how it fits into society. One of these is Dr. Katrina Petersen, a senior researcher with Public Safety Communication Europe, a non-profit that focuses on communications systems for emergency services such as fire brigades, ambulances and the police.

She argues that involving social sciences adds an important alternative perspective, because they explore why technology is used and what values it should serve. "Involving end users and broader society is vital," she said.

To give a real-world example, Petersen pointed to the difficulties faced by emergency workers. In crises such as wildfires or floods, emergency responders from different agencies, or across national borders, still struggle to communicate.

By feeding these kinds of insights into the process, the 6G4Society team can help guarantee that developers already start by thinking about the impact of 6G and the needs of society and citizens, to help make lives better now and in the future.

Listening to citizens...To understand public expectations, 6G4Society scientists are surveying people across Europe about their experiences with 5G and hopes for 6G. Survey responses vary by location and age, said Calisti.

"Younger people are more concerned about environmental aspects, while older people are more concerned about privacy and security."

Asked about 5G, 23% of respondents mentioned speed and connectivity, while 16% expressed concern or criticism. Most people expect 6G to deliver better access to fast and reliable information and remain optimistic—for now.

Many also expect 6G to be more energy-efficient, though Calisti is quick to point out that sustainability extends far beyond energy.

Mining for rare minerals, e-waste and broader ecosystem impacts also matter. Initiatives like 6G4Society aim to make sure these issues are not overlooked.

Shaping Europe's digital future...The 6G4Society team will continue to engage the public through interviews, workshops and webinars until their collaboration formally wraps up in December 2025. Its findings will help inform EU policy and guide industry decisions for years to come.

As Europe prepares for the arrival of 6G, their work highlights the importance of shaping technology with societal values in mind.

By engaging citizens, social scientists and industry in dialogue, these efforts aim to make sure that the next digital revolution delivers not just speed, but a fairer and more inclusive future for all.

Provided by Horizon: The EU Research & Innovation Magazine

TECH

A Kenyan engineer transforms plastic into bricks 5x stronger than concrete

A Kenyan engineer has created a solution that combines sustainability, innovation, and social impact. The factory founded by Nzambi Matee recycles 1.5 tons of plastic per day and produces bricks up to five times stronger than concrete — changing infrastructure and income in vulnerable neighborhoods.

What began as an improvised experiment in a backyard has become a global symbol of environmental innovation. Kenyan engineer Nzambi Matee found a way to transform plastic waste into super-strong building blocks. Today, her startup Gjenge Makers recycles tons of waste daily and helps build a more sustainable future — one brick at a time.

In 2020, Reuters showed the world the small factory that Nzambi set up in Nairobi. Three years later, the project has evolved: Gjenge Makers recycles 1,500 kg of plastic per day and manufactures bricks that, according to independent tests, are five times stronger than ordinary concrete.

The secret lies in the mixture of sand and plastics such as polyethylene and PET, which are heated and compressed until they form ultra-dense blocks. The result is a durable, inexpensive material ideal for sidewalks, patios, public areas, and small constructions.

In many neighborhoods of Nairobi, Matee's bricks are already changing landscapes: squares, schools, and community centers have gained resistant and sustainable pavements. In addition, the project generates income for local residents, who participate in the collection and separation of waste.

With this, the engineer created a circular economic cycle: the waste that once clogged rivers and streets is now transformed into jobs, infrastructure, and dignity for entire communities.

Matee's journey did not begin with resources or institutional support. She melted plastics with improvised tools, testing hundreds of combinations until she arrived at the ideal formula. In 2020, she was recognized as a Young Champion of the Earth by the UN Environment Programme — an award that boosted the growth of the factory and the international visibility of the initiative.

Today, Gjenge Makers is a benchmark in sustainable innovation and social entrepreneurship, inspiring similar projects in other countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

An exportable and promising model...Experts see the project as a practical solution for countries facing two major challenges simultaneously: excess plastic waste and a deficit of urban infrastructure. The startup already plans to automate part of the production and license the technology to new factories, expanding its global impact. Although the blocks do not yet replace concrete in large vertical constructions, they are perfect for community buildings and urban paving, with reduced costs and a smaller ecological footprint.

Education and a sustainable future...More than bricks, Nzambi Matee builds awareness. His team organizes workshops on recycling and the circular economy in schools and communities, showing that innovation and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.

From an improvised workbench to a factory that transforms tons of plastic a day, his story proves that great solutions can be born from small ideas — and that the future of construction can, indeed, be shaped from waste.

The beginning of everything...Plastic waste is one of humanity's greatest challenges, but a Kenyan engineer has presented a possible solution to this problem. Nzambi Matee and her company, Gjenge Makers, have developed a way to recycle the material and transform it into a building material that could replace concrete.

The organization specializes in recycling plastic to transform it into paving blocks, and highlights some significant advantages in its application, which go beyond environmental concerns. It is also seven times stronger, 15% cheaper to produce, and, on top of that, weighs half as much, which brings great logistical advantages.

Matee explains that plastic is, by nature, a fibrous material. For this reason, when mixed with sand, subjected to extreme heat and compressed, it can be molded into a brick with great compressive strength.

Thanks to the procedure developed by Matee and her colleagues, it is possible to eliminate the formation of air pockets inside the blocks. The result is a firmer material that shouldn't crack as easily, even when subjected to strong impacts or extreme weather conditions.

The engineer's idea came from observing the amount of plastic waste in her country. She explains that the capital, Nairobi, alone discards 500 tons of the material every day. Only 10% of that is destined for recycling, so there is great potential for reuse.

There are some limitations, however. Not just any type of plastic can be reused in the process. Of the seven main types, only four can be used to produce the blocks; among those excluded is PET, so widely used in bottles.

Furthermore, Gjenge Makers also plans to explore new materials beyond plastic. “We want to be leaders in alternative construction products. Plastic is our first area of ​​focus,” Nzambi Matee told AFP in an interview.

mundophone