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Wednesday, December 31, 2025
TopicGoogle

Topic: Google

Google lays off hundreds of employees across its voice assistant, augmented reality teams

Fitbit co-founders James Park & Eric Friedman also leaving, as tech giant continues to cut costs. As of September 2023, Alphabet had 182,381 employees globally.

Google to pay $700 million to US consumers, states in Play store settlement

Google will pay $630 million into a settlement fund for consumers and $70 million into a fund that will be used by states, according to the settlement, which still requires a judge's final approval.

India 3rd among countries sending Google most content removal requests — 20,000 over last 10 years

Study by Netherlands-based cybersecurity services provider Surfshark ranks India after Russia & South Korea. Top 2 reasons for such requests from India were defamation & impersonation.

Taming Big Tech: Battles against them have reached a defining moment

Charges against Big Tech include violating privacy & promoting paid-for content. They have responded with vigorous defence & aggressive lobbying, but also with changes to business models.

Google introduces AI-powered search tool for users in India and Japan

Google’s search feature is meant to be used for seeking information, such as locating something to purchase. It is different from its chatbot Bard.

Google, Universal Music in talks for deal on AI ‘deepfakes’, says FT report

The talks aim to develop a tool for fans to create tracks legitimately and compensate copyright owners, the report said, adding the artists would have a choice to opt in the process.

Court order on Disney app fee in India is temporary, says Google

Disney in India has gone to court in what is the latest and most high-profile challenge to Google's policy of imposing a 'service fee' of 11-26% on in-app payments.

Google accuses India of ordering changes to its business model ‘only to protect’ rival Amazon

Google approached apex court to quash CCI order asking the former to make 10 changes to its business model, after it abused its dominant position in market with Android OS.

Google & Amazon pledge $25 billion in investments after White House meeting with Modi 

While Google announced a fintech company in Gujarat & reiterated his promise of investing through ‘India Digitisation Fund', Amazon has announced additional investment of $15 billion.   

Google begins talks to move some Pixel production to India, reports Bloomberg News

Google has spoken to Lava International Ltd, Dixon Technologies India and Foxconn Technology Group’s Indian unit Bharat FIH, Bloomberg said.

On Camera

Bareilly birthday party attack puts all friendships with Muslims on trial in India

The assumption is simple: A Hindu woman’s proximity to a Muslim man is never neutral. It always requires scrutiny, explanation, and, if necessary, punishment.

2025 was a busy trade year for India. King of Tariffs strain, FTA with New Zealand, UK & Oman deals

The year began with two major trade announcements—opening of negotiations for “first tranche” of a bilateral trade agreement with the US following PM Modi’s visit to Washington.

2025 was Indian Army’s year. New battalions & platoons, embracing next-gen warfare

Amidst a doctrinal shift towards joint theaterisation and greater synergy between the various wings of the forces, the Indian Army in 2025 moved further on its path to Vision@2047.

A year-end Mea Culpa in National Interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy

Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.