Durov's Code

😆 Wave to prove you're human

Google is testing a new reCAPTCHA → that asks users to wave at their webcam. The company says it will help its systems better distinguish humans from advanced AI bots.

@durovs_code

🦴 The wait is almost over

Rockstar has officially announced that GTA 6 pre-orders will open on June 25. The game follows Jason and Lucia, the series' new criminal duo.

When it's launching — and where you'll be able to play it:

↖️ https://durovscode.com/gta-6-pre-orders-open-june-25

🕹 Buttons with feelings

Sony has patented a PlayStation controller whose buttons can become softer or harder depending on what's happening in a game.

How the technology works:

↖️ https://durovscode.com/sony-patents-playstation-controller-with-adaptive-buttons

🤩 Blame the GPUs

Apple will have to raise prices on some of its products due to rising memory costs, CEO Tim Cook has said.

↖️ https://durovscode.com/apple-price-increase-memory-shortage

⚡️ UAE bans social media for children under 15

The UAE has approved new rules restricting access to social media for children under the age of 15.

What the new rules mean, how age verification will work, and what platforms will now be required to do:

↖️ https://durovscode.com/uae-bans-social-media-children-under-15

🙂 Special relationship?

The UK has reportedly asked → the U.S. to exempt British citizens and companies from the ban on Anthropic's Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models.

@durovs_code

🍏 Upgrade

Apple is reportedly preparing → a new iPhone Air with a dual-camera system for launch in 2027.

@durovs_code

🍏 AirPods are watching

Apple is reportedly preparing a new generation of AirPods with built-in cameras for launch in 2027.

More details:

↖️ https://durovscode.com/apple-airpods-cameras-2027-launch-gurman

🤐 The monopoly is over

ChatGPT's share of the global AI assistant market has fallen below 50% for the first time.

OpenAI remains the market leader with more than 1.1 billion monthly users, but competitors like Gemini and Claude continue to gain ground.

📌 https://durovscode.com/chatgpt-market-share-below-50-percent-ai-assistants

🧠 The fundraising went well

DeepSeek has completed → its first-ever funding round, raising more than $7.4 billion.

Investors valued the AI company at over $50 billion, making it the most valuable startup in China.

@durovs_code

⛔️ When a block becomes a global routing incident

Telegram's temporary block in India turned into something much bigger.

Our team dug into the details behind Durov's accusations of BGP hijacking, the role of Reliance, how internet routing actually works, and why users in countries like the UAE suddenly experienced Telegram disruptions.

What really happened — and why this story matters far beyond India:

↖️ https://durovscode.com/india-telegram-block-durov-reliance-bgp-hijacking

⚡️ Telegram disruption beyond India

Pavel Durov says India's Reliance is sabotaging access to Telegram for millions of users outside the country, including in the UAE, through a rogue method known as BGP hijacking.

📌 According to Durov, the disruption looks deliberate, as Reliance has ignored multiple reports about the issue.

📌 He suggests the sabotage may be part of a wider competitive fight, pointing out that Reliance is partially owned by Meta, the company behind WhatsApp.

📌 Network operators have been advised to reject unauthorized BGP announcements from Reliance (AS18101) to prevent route hijacks and keep their users' connections stable.

📌 Durov also hinted that Reliance and WhatsApp may have been behind the recent lobbying campaign to ban Telegram in India.

The latest statement follows India's earlier decision to temporarily block Telegram over leaked medical exam questions. Durov previously criticized that move, arguing it punished 150 million ordinary users while doing nothing to stop the actual leakers, with the content simply migrating to other apps. Telegram has since removed hundreds of channels in India distributing leaked exam materials and related scams, and the platform has also made the "edited" label more visible to prevent backdating fraud.

@durovs_code

🙂 Cursor enters orbit

SpaceX is acquiring Cursor, one of the leading AI coding platforms and a major competitor to tools from OpenAI and Anthropic.

The deal → values the company at $60 billion.

@durovs_code

🤐 That's one way to stop cheating

Indian authorities have blocked Telegram until June 22 following the leak of questions from a major medical entrance exam.

Why officials took the step — and how students reacted:

📌 https://durovscode.com/india-blocks-telegram-medical-exam-leak

😏 Finally, someone did it

A Claude user has sued Anthropic → over usage limits on its paid plans.

The lawsuit claims the company advertises more access than subscribers actually receive on its $100 and $200 tiers.

@durovs_code

🦴 $200,000 for a Durov edit

Telegram has launched a new contest with a $200,000 prize pool.

Participants are invited to create viral videos based on Pavel Durov's recent Oslo Freedom Forum speech and post them on social media.

📌 https://durovscode.com/telegram-digital-freedom-contest-creators

😆 Logged off by the government

The UK is preparing one of the world's toughest sets of restrictions for children and teenagers online.

📌 Users under 18 could face a digital curfew and lose access to romantic AI chatbots.

📌 Anyone under 16 could be banned from social media altogether, with additional restrictions on gaming and streaming platforms.

↖️ https://durovscode.com/uk-social-media-ban-under-16s-digital-curfew-teens

🤐 Xbox might go solo

Microsoft is reportedly considering → major changes to Xbox, including a spin-off, joint venture, or even a sale.

@durovs_code

🤫 Not the best IPO timing

A coalition of U.S. state attorneys general has launched an investigation → into OpenAI days after the company filed for an IPO.

The probe covers ChatGPT's safety, data practices, advertising, and interactions with children.

@durovs_code

❤️ This weekend in #TECH

📌 Trump's "Made in America" smartphone turned out to be strikingly similar to HTC's 2024 U24 Pro.

📌 Apple may have finally fixed Siri nearly two years after unveiling its AI plans.

📌 Anthropic disabled Fable 5 and Mythos 5 worldwide after a U.S. government order targeting foreign users.

@durovs_code