WhatsApp delays enforcement of a controversial privacy change, Apple may get rid of the Touch Bar in future MacBooks and Bumble files to go public. This is your Daily Crunch for January 15, 2021.
\nThe big story: WhatsApp responds to privacy backlash
\nEarlier this month, WhatsApp sent users a notification asking them to consent to sharing some of their personal data \u2014\u00a0such as phone number and location \u2014 with Facebook (which owns WhatsApp). The alert also said users would have to agree to the terms by February 8 if they wanted to continue using the app.<\/p>\n
This change prompted legal threats and an investigation from the Turkish government. Now the company is pushing the enforcement date back three months.
\n\u201cNo one will have their account suspended or deleted on February 8. We\u2019re also going to do a lot more to clear up the misinformation around how privacy and security works on WhatsApp,\u201d the company said in a post. \u201cWe\u2019ll then go to people gradually to review the policy at their own pace before new business options are available on May 15.\u201d
\nThe tech giants
\nUber planning to spin out Postmates\u2019 delivery robot arm \u2014\u00a0Postmates X is seeking investors in its bid to become a separate company.
\nApple said to be planning new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros with MagSafe and Apple processors \u2014\u00a0This could be the end for the Touch Bar.
\nAmazon\u2019s newest product lets companies build their own Alexa assistant for cars, apps and video games \u2014\u00a0Yes, that means your next car could have two Alexas.
\nStartups, funding and venture capital
\nBumble files to go public \u2014\u00a0The company plans to list on the Nasdaq stock exchange, using the ticker symbol \u201cBMBL.\u201d
\nTracy Chou launches Block Party to combat online harassment and abuse \u2014\u00a0Currently available for Twitter, Block Party helps people filter out the content they don\u2019t want to see.
\nEverlywell raises $75M from HealthQuest Capital following its recent $175M Series D round \u2014\u00a0Everlywell develops at-home testing kits for a range of health concerns, and it added a COVID-19 home collection test kit last year.
\nAdvice and analysis from Extra Crunch
\nFifteen steps to fundraising a new VC or private equity fund \u2014\u00a0Launching is easy; fundraising is harder.
\nLessons from Top Hat\u2019s acquisition spree \u2014\u00a0The acquisition of Fountainhead Press marks Top Hat\u2019s third purchase of a publishing company in the past 12 months.
\nTwilio CEO Jeff Lawson says wisdom lies with your developers \u2014 Takeaways from Lawson\u2019s new book \u201cAsk Your Developer.\u201d
\n(Extra Crunch is our membership program, which aims to democratize information about startups. You can sign up here.)
\nEverything else
\nVideo game spending increased 27% in 2020 \u2014\u00a0According to the latest figures from NPD, spending on gaming hardware, software and accessories was up 25% in December and 27% for the full year.
\nDOT evaluated 11 GPS replacements and found only one that worked across use cases \u2014\u00a0 The government wants to create additional redundancy and resiliency in the sector.
\nThe Daily Crunch is TechCrunch\u2019s roundup of our biggest and most important stories. If you\u2019d like to get this delivered to your inbox every day at around 3pm Pacific, you can subscribe here.<\/p>\n