Tech5: Apple lowers iCloud encryption level in UK; Jio Financial, Zomato make Nifty50; Jack Ma is back

These changes will take effect from March 28, 2025, following the close of trading on March 27, 2025, NSE said in a press release on February 21. Jio Financial, part of Reliance Industries, was listed in Mumbai in July 2023. Zomato became a public company in July 2021.

 

Apple lowers iCloud data protection in UK on govt demands 

Apple is disabling its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature in the UK, a move prompted by government demands for access to encrypted data, Reuters reported on February 21, citing a company statement. ADP, which provides end-to-end encryption for iCloud backups, will no longer be available for new users, and existing users will be required to disable it.

 

This change means Apple can access certain user data, like iMessages, and provide it to authorities if legally compelled. Critics warn that this weakens user privacy and opens the door for exploitation by malicious actors. Apple emphasised that the decision affects only iCloud data, not device-level encryption, and expressed disappointment over the loss of this privacy safeguard in the UK, according to Reuters.

 

ARM adding more office space in Bengaluru to expand India workforce

ARM Holdings, a British semiconductor and software design company, is planning to expand its facility in Bengaluru, Economic Times reported on February 21, citing a company executive.

 

The Cambridge-headquartered company, which is a subsidiary of SoftBank Group, is a leading provider of semiconductor technology that power a vast array of electronic devices. ARM already has about 2,000 people in Bengaluru and is acquiring more office space to expand that workforce, Peter Stephens, ARM's director of government partnership, said at the CII International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, according to ET.

 

Stephens also chairs the UK-India Tech Forum, a joint initiative of industry lobbies – India’s Nasscom, and Britain’s techUK.

 

Jack Ma’s ‘rehabilitation’ sparks excitement in China tech

The reappearance of Jack Ma, Alibaba's founder, at a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and top business leaders, on February 17, has sparked excitement and speculation about his rehabilitation and the prospects of China’s tech sector. Ma had been sidelined by China’s all-powerful regime in 2020 after criticising the country’s financial sector, and he had withdrawn from public life in.

 

Analysts interpret his presence as a sign of rehabilitation, boosting tech stocks, including Alibaba. The return of Ma, the face of China’s tech prowess for a long time, was celebrated on social media, with many praising his comeback as a positive sign for China's economy. Alibaba's financial results exceeded expectations, and its shares surged last week.

 

Alibaba Group plans to invest at least RMB 380 billion ($53 billion) in AI and cloud over the next three years, the company said in a post on its website earlier today.

 

Probus Smart Things raises $5 million in Series-A funding

Probus Smart Things secured $5 million in a Series-A round led by Unicorn India Ventures, featuring equity and debt financing, according to various news reports. This brings the total funding to over $8 million.

 

The money will enhance its communications tech for smart grid and renewable energy applications and develop AI integrations. The round also included US-based and Indian family offices.

 

“Their tech-backed, scalable solution and AI integration are proven,” Anil Joshi, managing partner at Unicorn India Ventures, said, according to a YourStory report. Most recently, Probus won an order to supply its tech to Tata Power Delhi Distribution, according to February 21 press release.