WSJ Tech News Briefing

With more than 500 million active monthly users, Telegram is one of the few significant social-media challengers to Facebook. But until now the messaging company hasn't made much of an effort to turn that success in attracting users into a money-making business. Tech reporter Sam Schechner discusses how that is changing. Christopher Zinsli hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As office employees start returning after a year of working from home, many will encounter a different kind of environment: hybrid work. Senior Personal Technology Columnist Joanna Stern joins host Kateri Jochum to explain what that means, the problems it could pose, and tech tips for dealing with them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Both sides of the political aisle have discussed the need to strengthen U.S. antitrust law. Congressional hearings this week could be a first test of whether that will come to fruition. Tech policy reporter Ryan Tracy joins host Amanda Lewellyn to discuss the hearings, and what the outcome could mean for tech companies. Christopher Zinsli is our supervising producer. Kateri Jochum is the executive producer of WSJ Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The chat startup Discord has doubled its user base and nearly tripled its revenue during the pandemic, as consumer demand for at-home entertainment has skyrocketed. Unlike the big social-media platforms, though, Discord uses a subscription model. Reporter Sarah Needleman joins host Amanda Lewellyn to explain why other platforms are taking note. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The European Union's massive Covid-19 economic-relief package includes a more than $150 billion pledge to bolster its technological independence by 2030. Tech reporter Stu Woo joins host Amanda Lewellyn to discuss who the E.U. is competing against, and what is at stake. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Non-fungible tokens have blown up in recent days, with collectors using them to verify the authenticity of everything from LeBron James highlights to the latest Kings of Leon album. But what are they? And are they here to stay? Reporter Caitlin Ostroff explains. Amanda Lewellyn hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, tech startups have relied on rounds of venture capital to fuel early-stage growth before eventually going public. But recently more are turning to an alternative route to raising capital and securing a public listing: through special purpose acquisition companies, known as SPACs or "blank check" companies. Reporter Heather Somerville explains the trend and breaks down the risks and potential benefits. Amanda Lewellyn hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Hospitals have increasingly been hit with ransomware attacks during the pandemic, making it even harder to deliver critical care to Covid-19 patients. Reporter Melanie Evans joins host Amanda Lewellyn to discuss what is causing the uptick, and what it could mean for hospitals. Christopher Zinsli is our supervising producer. Kateri Jochum is the executive producer of WSJ Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alphabet's Google says it will stop using tracking technologies that uniquely identify internet users based on their browser history. Tech reporter Sam Schechner joins host Amanda Lewellyn to discuss why the change is coming now, and how it could upend the digital-advertising industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since the 19th century, syringes have been the go-to way to administer vaccines. Over the years, some technologists have tried, without much success, to introduce alternatives. But as Covid-19 vaccines roll out, reporter Jason Douglas says some companies see an opening. Amanda Lewellyn hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As tech companies begin to plan for life on the other side of the pandemic, many startups are betting on a future without traditional office spaces. Tech reporter Katherine Bindley joins host Amanda Lewellyn to discuss why they are hesitant to sign leases, and what the shift could mean for the way the tech industry works. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many tech companies, India is key to continued growth. There are hundreds of millions of users in the country who have yet to start using email, or tweeting, or shopping online. But New Delhi has begun to exert tighter control over internet companies, complicating their high hopes for the market. Tech reporter Newley Purnell joins host Amanda Lewellyn to discuss the latest measures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Representatives from the public and private sectors have been collaborating to respond to the massive SolarWinds hack, which compromised at least 9 federal agencies and more than 100 businesses. But some are becoming increasingly frustrated with Amazon, saying the tech giant should be more publicly forthcoming about its knowledge of the attack. Cybersecurity and intelligence reporter Dustin Volz joins host Amanda Lewellyn to explain. Christopher Zinsli is our supervising producer. Kateri...

For many restaurants, food-delivery apps like DoorDash and Grubhub have been a critical way to serve customers in the pandemic. But some say the commissions and fees these services charge is too high, and some restaurants are turning to alternatives. Tech reporter Preetika Rana joins host Amanda Lewellyn to discuss what they are trying, and how the development could affect food-delivery companies' already-struggling bottom lines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, Facebook instituted a news blackout in Australia, over a proposal there that would require internet companies to pay publishers for news content. Now the company has reached a deal with Australia's government to restore news. Tech editor Bowdeya Tweh joins host Amanda Lewellyn to explain why it reversed course, and what the development could mean for other jurisdictions considering similar legislation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the course of the last decade or so, IBM has poured billions of dollars into developing Watson Health, an artificial-intelligence system aimed at revolutionizing healthcare. But now we report that IBM is exploring a sale of the unit. So what happened? Digital science editor Daniela Hernandez joins host Amanda Lewellyn to explain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New campaign finance data shows that employees of big tech companies were a key source of funding for Joe Biden's presidential campaign. Reporter Brody Mullins joins host Amanda Lewellyn to talk about how the finding turns traditional Democratic fundraising on its head. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For years, tech companies have been locked in a debate with publishers over whether they should have to pay for news content. This week, that debate has resulted in a deal between Google and News Corp, the publisher of The Wall Street Journal, as well as a news blackout on Facebook in Australia. Media reporter Keach Hagey joins host Amanda Lewellyn to explain the big issues at play. Christopher Zinsli is our supervising producer. Kateri Jochum is the executive producer of WSJ Podcasts. Learn...

The age of audio-first social media is upon us. The buzziest player is Clubhouse, an invite-only app now in beta testing. Twitter is working on its own version, and Facebook is hot on their heels. On today's episode, Senior Personal Tech Columnist Joanna Stern takes us on a tour and explains what the fuss is about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In times of uncertainty, corporations usually spend less, not more, on risky venture-capital investments. But new data shows that in the pandemic, the trend has been reversed. WSJ Pro Venture Capital reporter Marc Vartabedian joins host Amanda Lewellyn to explain why that is, and what the trend could mean for tech startups. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices