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Tighter Online Controls in China Point to Wider Clampdown

Working out of a Beijing office full of video game designers from around the world, Chinese-born Pin Wang and his startup Substantial Games should be the face of the innovative, forward-looking China that the country's leaders say they want to build.

Pin and his team are attracting investors from across China while launching online games full of swords and sorcery that they hope will dazzle global eyeballs. But for several weeks, Pin's team has struggled with a decidedly down-to-earth problem that's hit countless companies nationwide: They're unable to access their email, shared documents and other online services blocked by China's Internet censors.

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Hackers Steal up to $1 Billion from Banks, Security co. Says

A hacking ring has stolen up to $1 billion from banks around the world in what would be one of the biggest banking breaches known, a cybersecurity firm says in a report scheduled to be delivered Monday.

The hackers have been active since at least the end of 2013 and infiltrated more than 100 banks in 30 countries, according to Russian security company Kaspersky Lab.

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To combat Fraud, Visa Wants to Track your Smartphone

Those days of calling your bank to let them know that, yes, you really are in Thailand, and yes, you really did use your credit card to buy $200 in sarongs, may be coming to an end.

The payment processing company Visa will roll out a new feature this spring that will allow its cardholders to inform their banks where they are automatically, using the location function found in nearly every smartphone.

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Google, Mattel Try to Bring View-Master into 21st Century

Mattel and Google are trying to bring the 75-year-old View-Master into the 21st century — with some help from smartphones and virtual reality technology.

The original View-Masters gave people a chance to click through colorful photos by inserting reels into the viewing devices.

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Facebook Will be with You till Death, and Beyond

Facebook wants to be your social network for life, and even in the hereafter.

The world's biggest social network unveiled an update Thursday that allows its members to designate a "legacy contact" who can take control of the profile and even post messages following a death.

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When YouTube Stars Go Offline and Meet Up 'Live'

If you thought today's young YouTube celebrities have only virtual contact with their fans, think again. They have taken on something new: real life.

A last-minute message on Twitter, Internet or Facebook can bring hundreds, even thousands of teenagers out to a designated venue within hours to see their  "vlogging" -- video blogging -- idols in the flesh.

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'Revenge Porn' Law Passed in Britain

A new law banning "revenge porn" -- sexually explicit images shared online by a former partner without their ex's consent -- was passed in England and Wales Thursday.

The law covers images shared on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter as well as those spread by SMS, email and online.

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Twitter Buys Agency that Grooms Social Media Stars

Twitter on Wednesday announced it is buying Niche, a startup that acts as a talent agency of sorts matching online video celebrities from Vine and elsewhere with advertisers.

Twitter did not disclose financial terms of the deal, which technology news website Re/code said was valued at more than $30 million.

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Parenting Tech Keeps Tabs on Children

American parents may not have the resources of the National Security Agency, but it's not that hard for them to snoop on their smartphone-addicted kids.

A booming array of gadgets are being marketed to harried parents who want to keep tabs on their children, whether they are speeding in Mom's car or texting after hours when they should be asleep.

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Survey: China Internet Censorship Hurts European Businesses

China's Internet restrictions are hurting European businesses operating in the country, a lobby group said Thursday, as controls over access to overseas websites are tightened under President Xi Jinping.

Authorities have in recent months increased restrictions on virtual private networks (VPNs), used to circumvent China's vast censorship apparatus known as the Great Firewall which blocks websites such YouTube and Facebook.

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