Spotify announced on April 30, 2026, that it will introduce a “Verified by Spotify” badge and new artist activity insight on its platform to help users distinguish human artists from AI-generated or AI-based persona profiles. Verified artists will display a light green checkmark and the “Verified by Spotify” label on profiles and next to names in search results.

Gaming platform Roblox has made it mandatory for children under 16 in Indonesia to undergo facial age verification. The move comes nearly a month after Indonesia banned users younger than 16 from accessing digital platforms that could expose them to cyberbullying, pornography, online scams and addiction.

'Strictly Business' is Variety's weekly podcast featuring conversations with industry leaders about media and entertainment

States and UTs have been asked to adopt the model order by May 31, 2026; the government has also developed a single-window clearance system on the India Cine Hub portal

Joshi, a noted lyricist, writer and advertising professional, had taken charge as Chairman of Omnicom Advertising India as part of the group’s new India structure

An analysis by Ormax Media of streaming rights for India’s top theatrical films of 2025 points to an increasingly competitive OTT marketplace, but one still led decisively by Netflix, which commands the largest share of post-theatrical digital premieres across languages.

Deal brings mobile-first format into programmatic ads as market hits $3 billion.

A new report by the Digital Citizens Alliance and IP House argues that piracy has become more organized and sophisticated over the years. In some cases, it has been linked to other criminal elements, including drugs, weapons, and the mafia. The report calls for site-blocking legislation and urges Congress to act. How site-blocking would affect other criminal endeavors remains to be seen.

Google-parent Alphabet chief Sundar Pichai positions YouTube as a central growth engine alongside AI, driving subscriptions, creator activity and engagement at scale.