FT News Briefing Can Telegram clean up its act?
Mar 15, 2024
The UAE is eyeing investment in OpenAI’s chip-making venture, highlighting global tech collaborations. Meanwhile, Telegram grapples with its dual role as a news source and a hub for illicit activity, prompting debates on better moderation. A delivery rider’s journey reveals pay discrepancies in gig jobs, leading to the creation of a browser add-on that exposes widespread underpayment in the industry. The struggle for worker rights continues as algorithmic management raises critical questions about job security and fairness.
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Telegram's Evolution
- Telegram has evolved from a niche encrypted messaging app to a major news source and organizing platform.
- Its commitment to free speech allows for both positive uses, like humanitarian crisis organization, and negative ones, like illicit activities and misinformation.
Telegram's IPO Challenge
- Telegram's potential public listing, especially in the US, will increase scrutiny on its financial health and content moderation practices.
- Advertisers generally avoid platforms with toxic content, posing a challenge for Telegram's advertising-based business model.
Uber Cheats
- Armin Sami, a computer scientist and former Uber Eats rider, noticed inconsistencies in his pay and suspected algorithmic bias.
- He developed a browser add-on called Uber Cheats, which revealed widespread underpayment of Uber Eats riders globally.
