Today’s top tech news: Another Facebook scandal, a new music streaming app and Flipkart’s grocery foray

This Tech Insider’s daily dose of tech news. This is everything that’s happening in tech that you need to know about today:


1. The world’s most valuable unicorn is looking to take on Spotify and Apple Music
The publisher behind TikTok, ByteDance, is looking to launch its own music streaming service. According to reports, the company’s new music app will only launch in its overseas markets, specifically emerging markets — like India.


Why you should care:
More competition in the music streaming space means cheaper prices and better quality for the user. India already saw the launch of Spotify and YouTube Music this year and the country’s demand for music seems to be intiable.

2. You’ll be able to watch the election results live on Google in 14 different languages
Prasar Bharati, the Indian government-owned broadcasting agency, has teamed up with Google to live stream the Lok Sabha Election results on May 23 via DD News’ channel on YouTube. The company’s CEO asserts that increase visibility and credibility to the world’s largest democractic exercise, which has recently been called into question.


Why you should care:
Recent allegations aside, a live stream of the Lok Sabha Election results on YouTube means you can catch the action even if you’re on the go. You don’t have to be tied down to a television set or wait on Twitter updates to know what’s happening.

3. Tech Mahindra partners with the Indian Navy for work on national defence security systems
The software giant, Tech Mahindra, is helping India out with its defence. The company’s just signed a new contract with the Indian Navy to put a radio frequency identification system in place.

Why you should care:
Tech Mahindra’s new solution for the Indian Navy is meant to make their systems more secure. Sourcing new technology from a domestic company reduces India’s dependency on foreign technology while fostering growth for the private sector.

4. Facebook gets caught sharing user data — yet again
Another expose on the social networking giant, Facebook, revealed that the company has been sharing user data with a 100 different telecom companies in 50 different countries. Age no-bar, Facebook has been collecting data from users as young as 13 years old.

Why you should care:
According to the documents seen by the Intercept, the data sharing was also used to spin out ‘racially targeted ads’. And one of Facebook’s tools, ‘Actionable Insights’, that’s supposed to address the problems of low connectivity areas apparently collects a lot more data than just your cell reception.


5. Flipkart’s going offline to sell you fruits and vegetables
The e-commerce giant, Flipkart, is looking to follow in the footsteps of its parent company, Walmart, by opening brick-and-mortar grocery stores in India. Globally, food retail has the largest sales for Walmart. In India, even though Flipkart can’t open offline stores for retail, it can open grocery stores — a sector where the Indian government allows for 100% foreign direct investment.


Why you should care:
While there are plenty of existing options in the market when it comes to grocery shopping, Flipkart’s foray into food retail could mean the launch of their own food products.


6. 'Game of Thrones' author George R.R. Martin says he's working on a video game while he finishes the final 2 books in the series
The mastermind behind Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin says that he’s working with a company in Japan to bring out a video game that’s based on the books. He’s also working on a couple shows for HBO and Hulu that might be coming out soon.


Why you should care:
Game of Thrones, the TV series, has come to an end and the final two books of the story are still pending but with a video game around the horizon — fans might have a way to bide the time.


7. Facebook's former security chief says Mark Zuckerberg has too much power and needs to step down as CEO
Alex Stamos, Facebook’s former security chief, has stated that the company’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, needs to step down. He echoed the opinion of Chris Hughes, Facebook’s co-founder — who recently published an op-ed in the New York Times — saying that Zuckerberg has ‘too much power’.


Why you should care:
Facebook’s largest user base is in India. Most people in the country who have access to the Internet, have a Facebook account — regardless how often they actually use and what their purpose is. The regular reports of data breaches, mishandling of content and privacy scandals draw doubt over the platform’s reliability and credibility.


8. THE TECH COLD WAR: Everything that's happened in the new China-US tech conflict involving Google, Huawei, Apple, and Trump
United States’ blacklisting of Huawei in the country has taken over headlines this week. The announcement brought on a flurry of activity from Trump being mocked on Chinese social media to the realisation of how much power Google has over Android. Track this page to keep on top of all the updates.

Why you should care:
Huawei being added to the trade blacklist in the United States means that it will no longer be able to conduct business with American companies. Google’s already severed ties with the Chinese smartphone maker and Microsoft seems to be next in line. Users will now have to decide if they want their next smartphone to have Android or Huawei’s backup operating system.

Tech Insider India curates the top tech news for the day from all its global editions and partner publications.