Vero is the hottest new social network in the app store. It claimed the number one spot this week and has been downloaded more than one million times. Taylor Lorenz, Tech Culture Reporter at The Daily Beast was with us to discuss why it has become so popular.
Vero surpassed 1 million downloads, but a handful of users are already calling for others to abandon the app due to the controversial past of its Founder and CEO, Ayman Hariri. Hariri served as deputy CEO and Vice Chairman of his family's construction company, Saudi Oger. During his time there, over 31,000 complaints of non-payment for wages were filed against the company. However, there have been no accusations against Vero.
Vero's success could suggest user frustration with Facebook and Instagram as users search for a social media platform without a flood of ads or algorithm-driven content. Vero planned to monetize through a subscription model, but lack of transparency and details have caused users to become skeptical.
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Spain's government has fined Airbnb 64 million euros or $75 million for advertising unlicensed tourist rentals. The consumer rights ministry announced the fine on Monday. The ministry stated that many listings lacked proper license numbers or included incorrect information. The move is part of Spain's ongoing efforts to regulate short-term rental companies amid a housing affordability crisis especially in popular urban areas. The ministry ordered Airbnb in May to remove around 65,000 listings for similar violations. The government's consumer rights minister emphasized the impact on families struggling with housing. Airbnb said it plans to challenge the fine in court.
Roomba maker iRobot has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but says that it doesn’t expect any disruptions to devices as the more than 30-year-old company is taken private under a restructuring process. iRobot said that it is being acquired by Picea through a court-supervised process. Picea is the company's primary contract manufacturer. The Bedford, Massachusetts-based anticipates completing the prepackaged chapter 11 process by February.
Serbia’s prosecutor for organized crime has charged a government minister and three others with abuse of position and falsifying of documents related to a luxury real estate project linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The charges came on Monday. The investigation centers on a controversy over a a bombed-out military complex in central Belgrade that was a protected cultural heritage zone but that is facing redevelopment as a luxury compound by a company linked to Kushner. The $500 million proposal to build a high-rise hotel, offices and shops at the site has met fierce opposition from experts at home and abroad. Selakovic and others allegedly illegally lifted the protection status for the site by falsifying documentation.
