X has to prove it wasn’t negligent when removing CSAM from its site

X isn’t off the hook yet when it comes to a significant legal case about child sex abuse content on its platform. On Friday, a circuit judge from the US Court of Appeals ruled that X Corp. has to again face claims that it was negligent in taking down child sex abuse content and didn’t have an effective reporting infrastructure for these offenses.This ruling from Judge Danielle Forrest is the latest step in a lawsuit filed in 2021 against Twitter, before it was rebranded to X. The suit lists two underage boys as the plaintiffs and alleges Twitter, now X, “slow-walked its response to reports…

WhatsApp should prepare to stop operating in Russia, official says

A Russian lawmaker who regulates the IT industry said WhatsApp should prepare to stop offering its services in the country. Anton Gorelkin, the deputy head of the lower house of parliament's IT committee, said that it's very likely that WhatsApp will be placed on a list of restricted software, as Reuters reports.WhatsApp owner Meta is designated as an extremist organisation in Russia, which has banned Facebook and Instagram since 2022. This week, President Vladimir Putin issued a directive for the nation to further restrict software (including communication apps) stemming from “…

Microsoft’s constant layoffs risk creating a culture of fear

I can’t open LinkedIn without seeing a new post from a Microsoft employee who lost their job in the company’s latest round of layoffs. Around 15,000 jobs have been eliminated at Microsoft over the past couple months – the biggest cuts at the company in more than a decade.I’ve spoken to more than a dozen Microsoft employees in recent weeks, and everyone is concerned about the company’s direction in this AI era. Morale is at an all-time low, and employees are worried that regular layoffs are simply the new normal.Sources tell me that Microsoft’s leadership team had the choice between reducing…

Nintendo launches another Switch Online test program for 40,000 players

Nintendo has posted a call for participants for another Playtest Program, and this time, it's looking for 40,000 testers and not just 10,000 like in the first one. If you'll recall, Nintendo looked for 10,000 participants for the first Playtest event last year to test an unnamed, mysterious Switch Online feature. The new program still only welcomes active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members, but as you'd expect, it now supports both the original Switch and the Switch 2. Interested participants must be at least 18 years old, and their Nintendo accounts must be…

The best Amazon Prime Day deals under $50: Save on gear from Blink, Anker, Samsung and others

Big ticket items like TVs and iPads might get the lion’s share of the attention during Amazon’s big sale, but there are plenty of Prime Day deals to be had for under $50, too. We’ve combed through the pages (and pages) of discounts to find the brands and gadgets that we at Engadget actually recommend. Our picks include power banks from Anker, smart plugs from TP-Link, microSD cards from Samsung and smart speakers from Amazon Echo. We’ve also linked back to our reviews and buying guides to help with your shopping decisions. Here are the best Prime Day tech deals under $50 that are…

Amazon’s Echo Spot drops to only $45 for Prime Day

It’s still a couple of days until Prime Day 2025 officially kicks off, but the sales are already here. There’s deals on some of our favorite products, like the TP-Link Deco AXE5400 WI-Fi mesh router system and the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max. Now, another Amazon device is on sale: the Echo Spot. Currently, you can get the Amazon Echo Spot for $45, down from $80. The 44 percent discount brings the smart alarm clock to a new all-time low. The deal is available on each of the color options, Black, Glacier White and Ocean Blue. Amazon launched the new Echo Spot in 2024, five years after it canned…