Today's cache | Epic sues Google and Samsung; YouTube accused of fueling mental health crisis; The iPhone component factory Tata stops production

Epic accused Google and Samsung of coordinating to block third-party competition in application distribution on Samsung devices. | Photo credit: Reuters

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Epic is suing Google and Samsung

Epic accused Google and Samsung of coordinating to block third-party competition in application distribution on Samsung devices. The problem is due to Samsung's auto-blocker feature, which only allows apps to be installed from authorized sources such as the Samsung Galaxy Store or the Google Play Store. The feature is enabled by default but can be changed in a phone's settings. The tool prevents the installation of applications from unauthorized sources and blocks “malicious activities,” according to Samsung.

Epic, on the other hand, says that Auto Blocker “will almost certainly cement Google's dominance over Android app distribution.” The lawsuit comes after a jury found in December that Google's Android app store was protected by anticompetitive barriers that harmed smartphone users and software developers.

YouTube has been accused of fueling the mental health crisis

Alphabet-owned YouTube is being sued in the US state of Arkansas for allegedly making the video streaming platform addictive and fueling a mental health crisis among young people. The lawsuit claims YouTube is addictive and has led the state to spend millions on expanded mental health and other services for young people.

The lawsuit is the latest in an ongoing push by state and federal lawmakers to highlight the impact that social media sites are having on younger users. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in June called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms about their impact on young people's lives, similar to those now mandatory on cigarette packs.

The iPhone component factory Tata stops production

The Tata electronics plant in southern India, which makes Apple iPhone components, has suspended operations indefinitely after a fire broke out over the weekend. Ten people were slightly injured in the incident and production was interrupted. The factory produces key back panels and some other components for iPhones. iPhone assembly is expected to begin in another building within the same complex before the end of the year, but it is not clear what impact this will have.

Tata Electronics, part of India's $165 billion salt-to-software Tata Group, is one of Apple's main suppliers in India, along with Taiwan's Foxconn.