WhatsApp: Latest News and Updates | South China Morning Post

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The latest news, analysis and opinion on WhatsApp. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Chairman / President

Nitin Gupta

CEO / Managing Director

Will Cathcart

CFO / Finance Director

Jonathan Blames

Industry

Social media

Website

whatsapp.com

Headquarters address

1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, California, 94025, USA

Year founded

2009

Malaysia

Malaysia moves to regulate WhatsApp, Facebook and others under online safety law

The decision to deem major platforms licensed regardless of application closes a regulatory gap, but questions remain over enforcement.

1 Jan 2026 - 5:50PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong online investment scams surge 20% as losses hit HK$3.08 billion

22 Dec 2025 - 11:37PM

Australia

Why Southeast Asia’s move to protect children online may fuel state surveillance

18 Dec 2025 - 5:29PMvideocam

Scams and swindles

How the global grey market in SIM cards powers fraud and influence

How much does an army of bots cost? A new study reveals how likes and clout are bought.

12 Dec 2025 - 2:39PM

Research has shown how SIM cards from the grey market are powering bot armies that fill social media with fake likes and comments to manipulate users and deliberately steer trends. Photo: dpa

Hong Kong youth

Opinion | Why Hong Kong’s youth must be key part of city’s mental health support

When young people are involved in designing interventions, those interventions are more culturally relevant, better used and more sustainable.

9 Dec 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

Australia

Fight’s over: YouTube becomes last major platform to accept Australia’s age rule

Despite agreeing to comply, YouTube maintains that it is still ‘fundamentally different’ from other social media services.

3 Dec 2025 - 10:52AM

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Families frantically seek loved ones as scores missing in Hong Kong fire

Authorities have reported 279 people missing as search and rescue operations press on.

27 Nov 2025 - 7:01PM

Six-month-old Ho Tsz-yan and her grandmother. Photo: Handout

Australia

Snapchat makes Australian teens verify age as social media ban looms

From December 10, social media platforms in Australia must remove users aged below 16 or face fines, in one of the strictest bans globally.

24 Nov 2025 - 5:27PM

Singapore

Singaporean Amos Yee released on parole from US prison after child porn sentence

Amos Yee, a registered sex offender, was sentenced in 2021 to six years’ jail by a US court for possession of child pornography and grooming.

20 Nov 2025 - 11:27PM

Indonesia

Isis-linked group used video games to radicalise Indonesian children: police

Over 110 children have been targeted by terrorist recruiters this year alone, a ‘massive’ spike from 17 between 2011 and 2017, police say.

19 Nov 2025 - 4:35PMvideocam

Members of a police bomb squad inspect the wreckage of a motorbike used to carry out a suicide attack in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, on March 29, 2021. Photo: AP

United States

Meta defeats US antitrust case over Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions

The ruling gives Big Tech its first decisive win against the antitrust crackdown started in Trump’s first term.

19 Nov 2025 - 7:19AMvideocam

Meta’s corporate headquarters are seen in Menlo Park, California, in November 2022. Photo: TNS

Nepal

Asian Angle | Nepal found out what Thailand already knew: digital repression is risky

The tactics vary, from Myanmar’s internet blackouts to Indonesia’s subtler control, but the results are the same: resentment and resistance.

15 Nov 2025 - 1:00PMvideocam

Artificial intelligence

Meta Platforms’ AI lay-offs triggered by resource competition: ex-researcher

Tian Yuandong says internal conflicts emerged at Meta as LLM development became the industry-wide focus.

13 Nov 2025 - 9:00AM

Singapore

Singapore police grab 2 Malaysians after woman hands over gold to fake officials

Over US$350 million has been lost to scams in the first half of the year, according to Singapore police.

10 Nov 2025 - 9:58AM

Malaysia

Meta disagrees with Malaysia’s social media licensing framework, proposes talks

Malaysia says its licensing rules are aimed at curbing scams, online gambling and child pornography.

29 Oct 2025 - 5:33PMvideocam

Meta’s three social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, on a mobile phone. The firm has been criticised over content that is harmful to young people on its platforms. Photo: Shutterstock

Indonesia

Asian Angle | TikTok Live blackout in Indonesia exposes fragility of digital freedoms

The suspension shows how global platforms are intertwined with state power and digital infrastructure can be disabled in a political crisis.

27 Sep 2025 - 11:00AMvideocam

Nepal

Nepal’s prime minister resigns over deadly anti-corruption protests

K.P. Sharma Oli has resigned after 19 people were killed in violent protests triggered by a social media ban.

10 Sep 2025 - 3:15PMvideocam

Nepal

Nepal’s Gen Z revolt turns deadly as police fire on protesters, killing 19

The government’s lethal crackdown on young protesters has deepened a crisis sparked by a social media ban and long-standing corruption.

9 Sep 2025 - 12:29PMvideocam

Nepal

Police in Nepal open fire on pro-social media protest, killing 17

The Gen Z-led protest was held to condemn a government attempt to regulate social media that blocked Facebook, X and YouTube, among others.

9 Sep 2025 - 8:57AM

Malaysia

Malaysia summons TikTok, Meta over slow response to fake news, immoral content

Malaysia has stepped up scrutiny of social media companies, after reporting a sharp rise in harmful online content on their platforms.

2 Sep 2025 - 6:56PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Scammers exploit rental platforms in Hong Kong amid rise in investment fraud

Number of investment scams rises 25 per cent year on year in first six months of 2025, with losses surging 36.4 per cent to HK$1.48 billion.

22 Aug 2025 - 10:17AM

A residential area in Cheung Sha Wan. Online rental platforms have become scammers’ latest tool for swindling Hongkongers. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong society

Hongkongers urged to avoid travel to Iran, Israel despite risk downgrade

Authorities lower outbound travel alert for both countries from black to red, warning current risk levels remain ‘a significant threat’.

18 Aug 2025 - 11:49PM

Demonstrators gather in Tel Aviv, Israel, demanding the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas. Photo: AP

Russia

Russia restricts calls on Telegram, WhatsApp, accusing apps of law breaches

The curbs are part of Russia’s push for ‘digital sovereignty’, which includes a new state-backed messaging app to reduce dependence on foreign tech.

13 Aug 2025 - 11:01PMvideocam

Crime in Hong Kong

Girl, 14, blackmailed in Hong Kong via chat app by user who took video of her

Hong Kong police investigate blackmail of teen who met stranger on Wefun chat app and allegedly had indecent clip of her filmed on WhatsApp.

29 Jul 2025 - 2:21PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Online job scams in Hong Kong jump 92% amid rise in ‘click farming’ tactics

Police say 2,148 online employment scams recorded from January to May, up about 92 per cent over same period last year.

15 Jul 2025 - 7:00AMvideocam

The click farming scams lure victims in by initially offering them small rewards for easy tasks. Photo: Getty Images

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong tech and telecoms giants unite to combat online fraud

Seven social media platforms and six telecommunications firms commit to stricter checks and enhanced user safety under new charter.

9 Jul 2025 - 10:21PM

Representatives from financial regulators, technology companies and telecommunications firms at the launch of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Anti-scam Consumer Protection Charter 3.0. Photo: Elson Li

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police arrest 118 over e-commerce scams involving HK$5 million in losses

Three most common types of goods involved in such scams are concert tickets, electronics and food and drink.

21 Jun 2025 - 5:32PM

Malaysia

Malaysians demand action against Facebook group exploiting schoolgirls’ images

A social media influencer unmasked the ‘dirty group’ after discovering an old picture of herself in her school uniform posted on the page.

12 Jun 2025 - 3:46PM

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WhatsApp

Malaysia moves to regulate WhatsApp, Facebook and others under online safety law

The decision to deem major platforms licensed regardless of application closes a regulatory gap, but questions remain over enforcement.

Hong Kong online investment scams surge 20% as losses hit HK$3.08 billion

Why Southeast Asia’s move to protect children online may fuel state surveillance

How the global grey market in SIM cards powers fraud and influence

How much does an army of bots cost? A new study reveals how likes and clout are bought.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Why Hong Kong’s youth must be key part of city’s mental health support

When young people are involved in designing interventions, those interventions are more culturally relevant, better used and more sustainable.

Fight’s over: YouTube becomes last major platform to accept Australia’s age rule

Despite agreeing to comply, YouTube maintains that it is still ‘fundamentally different’ from other social media services.

Families frantically seek loved ones as scores missing in Hong Kong fire

Authorities have reported 279 people missing as search and rescue operations press on.

Snapchat makes Australian teens verify age as social media ban looms

From December 10, social media platforms in Australia must remove users aged below 16 or face fines, in one of the strictest bans globally.

Singaporean Amos Yee released on parole from US prison after child porn sentence

Amos Yee, a registered sex offender, was sentenced in 2021 to six years’ jail by a US court for possession of child pornography and grooming.

Isis-linked group used video games to radicalise Indonesian children: police

Over 110 children have been targeted by terrorist recruiters this year alone, a ‘massive’ spike from 17 between 2011 and 2017, police say.

Meta defeats US antitrust case over Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions

The ruling gives Big Tech its first decisive win against the antitrust crackdown started in Trump’s first term.

Asian Angle | Nepal found out what Thailand already knew: digital repression is risky

The tactics vary, from Myanmar’s internet blackouts to Indonesia’s subtler control, but the results are the same: resentment and resistance.

Meta Platforms’ AI lay-offs triggered by resource competition: ex-researcher

Tian Yuandong says internal conflicts emerged at Meta as LLM development became the industry-wide focus.

Singapore police grab 2 Malaysians after woman hands over gold to fake officials

Over US$350 million has been lost to scams in the first half of the year, according to Singapore police.

Meta disagrees with Malaysia’s social media licensing framework, proposes talks

Malaysia says its licensing rules are aimed at curbing scams, online gambling and child pornography.

Asian Angle | TikTok Live blackout in Indonesia exposes fragility of digital freedoms

The suspension shows how global platforms are intertwined with state power and digital infrastructure can be disabled in a political crisis.

Nepal’s prime minister resigns over deadly anti-corruption protests

K.P. Sharma Oli has resigned after 19 people were killed in violent protests triggered by a social media ban.

Nepal’s Gen Z revolt turns deadly as police fire on protesters, killing 19

The government’s lethal crackdown on young protesters has deepened a crisis sparked by a social media ban and long-standing corruption.

Police in Nepal open fire on pro-social media protest, killing 17

The Gen Z-led protest was held to condemn a government attempt to regulate social media that blocked Facebook, X and YouTube, among others.

Malaysia summons TikTok, Meta over slow response to fake news, immoral content

Malaysia has stepped up scrutiny of social media companies, after reporting a sharp rise in harmful online content on their platforms.

Scammers exploit rental platforms in Hong Kong amid rise in investment fraud

Number of investment scams rises 25 per cent year on year in first six months of 2025, with losses surging 36.4 per cent to HK$1.48 billion.

Hongkongers urged to avoid travel to Iran, Israel despite risk downgrade

Authorities lower outbound travel alert for both countries from black to red, warning current risk levels remain ‘a significant threat’.

Russia restricts calls on Telegram, WhatsApp, accusing apps of law breaches

The curbs are part of Russia’s push for ‘digital sovereignty’, which includes a new state-backed messaging app to reduce dependence on foreign tech.

Girl, 14, blackmailed in Hong Kong via chat app by user who took video of her

Hong Kong police investigate blackmail of teen who met stranger on Wefun chat app and allegedly had indecent clip of her filmed on WhatsApp.

Online job scams in Hong Kong jump 92% amid rise in ‘click farming’ tactics

Police say 2,148 online employment scams recorded from January to May, up about 92 per cent over same period last year.

Hong Kong tech and telecoms giants unite to combat online fraud

Seven social media platforms and six telecommunications firms commit to stricter checks and enhanced user safety under new charter.

Hong Kong police arrest 118 over e-commerce scams involving HK$5 million in losses

Three most common types of goods involved in such scams are concert tickets, electronics and food and drink.

Malaysians demand action against Facebook group exploiting schoolgirls’ images

A social media influencer unmasked the ‘dirty group’ after discovering an old picture of herself in her school uniform posted on the page.

Opinion | Why Hong Kong’s youth must be key part of city’s mental health support