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Apple Nixes Fortnite Maker’s Ability to Make EU App Store, reports Bloomberg

General

Mar 6, 2024

Apple Inc. has blocked Epic Games from creating an app store for iPhones in Europe, citing a violation of the EU's Digital Markets Act. This follows Apple's termination of Epic's development account, barring Fortnite and Epic Games Store on iOS devices in the EU.

Recently, Apple updated iPhones to support third-party marketplaces in the EU, complying with the DMA. However, Epic's existing ban in the US, initiated due to bypassing Apple's payment system, extended to the EU, despite attempts to restore Epic's developer status in Europe.

Epic accuses Apple of retaliation for criticism of its DMA compliance approach. Apple defends its decision, citing Epic's past contract violations.

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OpenAI and Microsoft AI tools generate misleading election images, researchers say, reports Reuters

General

Mar 6, 2024

AI image creation tools pose risks for spreading election disinformation, according to the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). These tools successfully generated deceptive images such as falsified election scenes, highlighting potential threats to election integrity.

In CCDH's tests, tools like ChatGPT Plus and Microsoft's Image Creator created misleading election-related images in 41% of attempts. Midjourney was most susceptible, with a 65% success rate in producing deceptive content, some of which is already being used for political misinformation.

Midjourney plans updates to address U.S. election misinformation, while Stability AI prohibits disinformation creation. OpenAI is working on abuse prevention, with no comment from Microsoft. This highlights the urgency to control AI tool misuse in sensitive contexts like elections.

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Amazon loses trademark appeal over 'targeting' UK shoppers, reports Reuters

General

Mar 6, 2024

Amazon's appeal against a UK trademark infringement ruling was dismissed by the Supreme Court, establishing that its U.S. website targeted UK consumers. This decision could significantly impact online retailers concerning cross-border sales.

The lawsuit, initiated by Lifestyle Equities, accused Amazon of selling U.S.-branded items to UK customers via its American website. The court's verdict was based on the website's indication of delivery to the UK, affirming targeting of British consumers.

This ruling necessitates online retailers to review their platforms for UK market compliance. Retailers offering shipping to the UK must ensure they don't infringe on UK trademarks or clarify their target audience, setting a precedent for stronger brand protection and potential future legal challenges.

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Apple tweaks changes to comply with EU tech rules after criticism, reports Reuters

General

Mar 6, 2024

Apple, adhering to the EU's Digital Markets Act, revised its proposals to allow alternative app marketplaces. The company removed the requirement for developers to provide a letter of credit and introduced simpler sign-up processes at the developer account level.

Further changes include a new option for developers, allowing them to return to Apple's standard business terms for EU apps under certain conditions. This flexibility aims to accommodate different developer needs and preferences.

Finally, Apple set eligibility criteria for operating alternative app marketplaces: a two-year account history and over 1 million annual installs in the EU. These measures seek to balance openness with maintaining a quality app ecosystem.

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Social media firms reject shadow banning allegations on Palestinian-related content, reports CNBC

General

Mar 6, 2024

Social media firms, facing allegations of 'shadow banning' Palestinian-related content, deny systematic suppression of specific voices. Queen Rania of Jordan highlighted trust issues with platforms controlling content. Snapchat's MENA VP emphasised the balance of algorithmic and human moderation for content safety.

The Middle East's youth heavily rely on social media for news. Users report lower engagement and content removal related to the Gaza conflict on platforms like Instagram, indicating potential content suppression. Meta introduced Instagram's fact-checking feature, sparking censorship concerns.

A Human Rights Watch report accuses Meta of excessively censoring Palestine-related content, which Meta refutes. They emphasise their commitment to balanced content moderation and deny intentional story reach limitation or post deprioritization on Instagram.

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Twitter’s music label legal trouble might have legs, reports The Verge

General

Mar 6, 2024

A U.S. District Judge has partially allowed the music labels' lawsuit against X (formerly Twitter) for copyright infringement to proceed. The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) accuses X of fostering copyright infringement by not effectively policing posts with copyrighted music.

The lawsuit, seeking $250 million, highlights X's failure to address the issue, worsened since Elon Musk's takeover. The court supported some NMPA claims, including X’s leniency in anti-infringement policies for paid subscribers.

However, the court dismissed claims of X's direct copyright infringement and vicarious liability. The ruling considers X’s user monitoring and potential financial benefits from overlooking infringements as the case moves forward.

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Reddit looks to build out sales efforts, ad offerings ahead of IPO, reports Digiday

General

Mar 6, 2024

Reddit, approaching its IPO, is urgently boosting its ad revenue drive, expanding its ad sales team and hosting agency days for marketer education. This surge in ad push aims to meet heightened shareholder expectations post-IPO.

The platform's focus is on an ambitious product roadmap to allure advertisers. Despite existing agency interactions, the impending IPO adds urgency for Reddit to develop attractive ad products and enhance agency relations.

Challenged by a smaller user base compared to rivals, Reddit leans heavily on ad revenue, making strong advertiser relationships and robust performance metrics crucial. Despite a $804 million revenue in 2023, the platform faces a competitive market, underscoring the need for substantial growth.

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IAS Adds Another Shade Of Gray To The MFA Debate, reports AdExchanger

General

Mar 5, 2024

Made For Advertising

Integral Ad Science (IAS) is tackling the issue of made-for-advertising (MFA) sites, which consume ad spend inefficiently. Their expanded solution targets "Ad Clutter" sites, displaying excessive ads without involving ad arbitrage, affecting ad effectiveness.

IAS’s approach utilises AI models to identify sites with high ad density, going beyond mere ad arbitrage focus. This method differentiates sites based on ad experience quality, as not all MFA-like inventory comes from paid traffic sources.

The IAS Ad Clutter tool provides post-campaign metrics on sites with excessive ads, enabling advertisers to block problematic sub-domains selectively. This solution, already in beta-testing, will be generally available by Q2.

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Max is cracking down on password-sharing just like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, reports Mashable

General

Mar 5, 2024

Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming service, Max, is set to enforce password-sharing restrictions, following an announcement by CEO JB Perrette. Subscribers will be informed of this policy change later this year, with full implementation scheduled for 2025.

Max joins other streaming services like Netflix and Disney in prohibiting password-sharing. Defined as allowing access to individuals outside the subscriber's household, this practice is increasingly restricted across the streaming industry.

Facing subscriber decline, Max aims to increase its user base with this policy change. Netflix's recent growth post-password-sharing crackdown suggests potential success for Max in boosting its subscription numbers.

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Bill Would Ban Sale Of Sensitive Data To Foreign Adversaries, reports MediaPost

General

Mar 5, 2024

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has proposed the Protecting Americans' Data from Foreign Adversaries Act, aimed at barring data brokers from sharing sensitive data with foreign adversaries. This bill, introduced by Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Frank Pallone, Jr., focuses on securing a broad range of personal information.

Following President Biden's direction, the bill targets protecting data from nations such as China and Russia, with the Federal Trade Commission responsible for enforcement. It includes a wide definition of sensitive data.

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FTC: Web Browsing Data Is Sensitive, Full Stop, reports MediaPost

General

Mar 5, 2024

The FTC now views web browsing data as sensitive, even without traditionally identifiable information. This classification follows cases against companies like Avast for selling users' browsing data. The FTC argues that such data, even anonymised, can reveal personal details.

Amidst considering new privacy rules, the FTC's focus includes scrutinising online data collection practices. This approach suggests collecting browsing data without explicit consent might be unfair. Although specific rules are pending, this indicates a notable change in data privacy handling.

The FTC's perspective implies a move towards mandating opt-in consent for collecting and selling browsing data. This approach goes beyond past guidelines and current state privacy laws, indicating a tighter regulatory stance on online data privacy.

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TikTok says its revamped creator fund has increased total creator revenue by over 250%, Reports TechCrunch

General

Mar 5, 2024

Influencer Marketing

TikTok's revamped creator fund has significantly boosted creator earnings by 250% in six months, transitioning from the beta "Creativity Program" to the "Creator Rewards Program." This shift promotes longer videos, aligning with increasing user engagement in extended content, and addresses previous concerns about low payouts for popular content.

The platform is rebranding and expanding its LIVE Subscription to "Subscription," making it available to all creators, not just for LIVE content. This expansion enables creators to offer exclusive videos and perks to subscribers, fostering deeper viewer engagement.

TikTok is also transforming its Creator Portal into the Creator Academy, offering updated educational resources and courses in multiple languages to support creator development and content quality.

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Spotify is about to put Apple’s new App Store policies to the test, reports The Verge

General

Mar 5, 2024

Spotify is revising its EU app strategy in response to the European Commission's fine on Apple for restricting alternative music subscription options. Instead of in-app purchases, Spotify plans to provide pricing and feature information within its app and direct users to its website for subscriptions.

This decision follows Apple's anti-steering provisions being deemed illegal, allowing Spotify to communicate freely with its users. The updated app, pending Apple's approval, will include links for buying Premium subscriptions directly from Spotify's site.

Earlier plans for in-app purchases were halted due to Apple's new DMA-compliant terms, including a fee structure for apps on alternative stores. Apple's control over reader apps' external link language remains a contentious issue.

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Google releasing massive search quality enhancements in March 2024 core update and multiple spam updates, reports Search Engine Land

General

Mar 5, 2024

Google is enhancing its search quality with the March 2024 core and spam updates, targeting a 40% reduction in unhelpful content. The complex update, impacting multiple systems, is expected to cause significant ranking fluctuations during its month-long rollout.

The spam update introduces new policies against scaled content and expired domain abuse, penalising mass-produced content aimed at manipulating search rankings, regardless of creation method.

Incorporating the helpful content system into the core updates, Google also addresses 'site reputation abuse' where low-quality content misuses reputable third-party sites. These measures aim to refine search results quality, in response to criticisms of declining search effectiveness.

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TikTok gives users enhanced data control for Digital Markets Act compliance, reports Search Engine Land

General

Mar 5, 2024

TikTok has launched a Data Portability API to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act. This feature lets users control how their data, including profile and posts information, is transferred between TikTok and third-party apps. Currently, it's available in the European Economic Area, with an expansion plan in place.

To access this API, applicants must have a specific use case, cater to EEA TikTok users, and meet stringent privacy and security criteria.

TikTok is adapting to EU regulations despite contesting its 'gatekeeper' status under the DMA. This compliance is essential to maintain its European user base and support advertisers in the region, avoiding potential legal and accessibility issues.

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Rupert Murdoch’s TalkTV to close terrestrial channel, reports FT

General

Mar 5, 2024

TalkTV, launched by Rupert Murdoch's News UK, is ceasing terrestrial broadcasts to focus on digital platforms. This restructuring will repurpose London studios for creating online content, which will be distributed across News UK's websites, apps, and social media. Job cuts are anticipated as a result.

Murdoch's retreat from terrestrial TV comes as TalkTV struggled for viewers, lagging behind competitors like GB News. The channel's difficulties reflect the crowded market for opinion-based UK shows, with audiences increasingly turning to online commentators.

Under Lachlan Murdoch, News UK is prioritising digital growth over traditional media. TalkTV will continue as a live streaming channel, embracing the shift towards online news consumption. News Studios will centralise content production for News UK's brands.

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Google temporarily restores Indian firms’ apps on Play Store after regulatory intervention, reports TechCrunch

General

Mar 5, 2024

Google has temporarily reinstated Indian apps on its Play Store, including Shaadi and Matrimony.com, following discussions with India's IT Minister. This action aims to facilitate a collaborative resolution, with Google asserting its right to enforce business models and invoice service fees.

Developers removed from the Play Store have complied with Google's billing rules, choosing options such as the consumption-only model to minimise fees. Government intervention has occurred due to concerns over Google's fee structure and alleged preferential treatments for larger companies.

The situation underscores challenges in app distribution for Indian developers. Alternative app stores lack reach, and Google's fees impact revenues significantly. Startups are seeking regulatory intervention for fairer competitive practices in the digital marketplace.

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Big Tech App Stores Focus of EU Digital Crackdown, Vestager Says, reports Bloomberg

General

Mar 5, 2024

As the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) takes effect, EU Competition Chief Margrethe Vestager prioritises regulating app stores. The focus is on ensuring smaller app stores access to platforms dominated by Apple, Google, and Microsoft. Vestager advocates for multiple app stores on devices, emphasising consumer choice.

Big tech firms are adapting to comply with the DMA, which imposes stringent rules and significant fines. Apple recently revised its App Store fees, but Vestager cautions against making compliance measures unappealing to users and developers.

Apple's recent €1.8 billion EU fine for limiting music streaming rivals exemplifies the DMA's impact. Vestager stresses the DMA aims to create an open, competitive market, not to target US companies.

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Roblox and Fortnite sued for targeting kids' gaming addictions, reports Axios

General

Mar 5, 2024

Gaming / Metaverse

An Atlanta law firm is suing gaming companies, including Roblox, to address youth gaming addiction. This action aligns with global concerns about gaming as a potential health disorder.

Roblox, popular with younger audiences, offers in-game purchases through "Robux." A lawsuit claims Roblox uses child labor and unfair practices, exploiting children's work for minimal real-money return.

The lawsuit aims to highlight gaming risks and seeks compensation for affected families. Roblox refutes these claims, emphasising their commitment to a safe, educational environment. The firm is also challenging other major games, advocating for better industry regulations and awareness.

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LinkedIn doubles down on news as social rivals retreat, reports Axios

General

Mar 5, 2024

News Publishing

LinkedIn is enhancing its focus on journalism and news, offering a vital platform for news outlets and journalists to grow their audiences, despite the overall reduction in social media traffic referrals to news publishers.

The platform works with over 400 news publishers worldwide, aiding them in optimizing diverse content formats. LinkedIn's focus on professional and business topics facilitates meaningful engagement around journalistic content.

LinkedIn's strategy includes driving traffic to news content, with a collective following of over 240 million for news publishers on the platform. It also supports monetisation through advertising partnerships, podcast networks, and video sponsorship initiatives, catering to the evolving needs of publishers and journalists.

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Meta to Wind Down Sales Partner Program, Have Advertisers Work Directly With Company, reports WSJ

General

Mar 5, 2024

Meta Platforms intends to terminate its authorised sales partner program by July, as confirmed by Entravision Communications, one of Meta's partners. This closure will end Meta's relationships with various ASPs, who act as local extensions of Meta's sales teams in different countries.

Entravision, which currently operates as Meta's authorised sales partner in specific regions of Central and South America, as well as Iceland and Mongolia, revealed that the program constituted about half of its revenue in 2023. In light of this development, the company is reassessing its operational strategy and cost structure.

Meta has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the planned discontinuation of the ASP program.

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U.S. lawmakers push for ByteDance to divest TikTok or face ban, reports Reuters

General

Mar 5, 2024

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is proposing legislation to force ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, to divest the app within six months to avoid a U.S. ban. The bill addresses national security risks associated with Chinese control of the app.

The proposed law would make it illegal for platforms like Apple and Google to host TikTok if ByteDance fails to sell it. The bill specifically targets app stores and ByteDance but not individual TikTok users.

This legislation also grants the President authority to designate and regulate apps that pose national security threats, focusing on those with over a million users and under foreign control. The bill, aimed at TikTok, doesn’t include other non-social media Chinese apps.

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Google rolls out changes for users, apps developers as EU tech rules loom, reports Reuters

General

Mar 5, 2024

Google has announced updates to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act, affecting search results and app developer tools. These changes aim to curb the power of major tech firms like Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, and ByteDance. Starting March 7, the focus is on enhanced user and business accessibility on their platforms.

The company has revised its European services based on feedback, affecting search traffic for various businesses. Additionally, Google is seeking user consent for data sharing across its products.

Developers will gain flexibility with alternative billing systems and can directly guide EU users outside apps for product promotion. Google is also introducing data portability software in Europe to facilitate user data movement between services.

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India asks tech firms to seek approval before releasing unreliable AI tools, reports Reuters

General

Mar 4, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

India requires tech companies to obtain government approval before releasing AI tools deemed "unreliable" or in trial. These tools, including generative AI, must be explicitly labelled for potential inaccuracies. This directive is part of India's broader regulatory tightening on social media platforms.

The move follows criticism of Google's Gemini AI for politically sensitive responses. India's IT ministry emphasises the need for safety and trust in AI platforms, underlining that "unreliable" tools cannot bypass legal responsibilities.

The advisory also mandates AI tools not to compromise the integrity of India's electoral process, particularly with general elections approaching this summer.

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ISBA to raise GBP 52m for Origin ahead of launch as separate company, reports The Media Leader

General

Mar 4, 2024

Origin, a cross-media measurement solution backed by UK advertisers, is set to receive £52m in funding by year-end, a significant increase from the £10m reported last year. This funding, raised through a levy on ISBA members, reflects a strong commitment to developing a reliable household panel for media measurement.

ISBA is transitioning Origin into a separate entity, Origin Media Measurement Limited, resulting in a notable decrease in ISBA's income. However, the substantial £52m funding dwarfs ISBA's annual subscription income, emphasising advertisers' significant investment in Origin.

Launched in 2019, Origin aims to standardise cross-media campaign measurements. Despite funding challenges and broadcaster disagreements, it represents a crucial advancement in media measurement, involving contributions from various industry stakeholders.

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Comscore Integrates Campaign Ratings With YouTube, reports MediaPost

General

Mar 4, 2024

Comscore has integrated its Campaign Ratings with YouTube, enhancing ad performance measurement across platforms, including YouTube Shorts and In-Feed inventory. This allows detailed tracking of ad metrics across devices like connected TVs and mobile, catering to the growing trend of short-form video consumption.

The integration provides advertisers with comprehensive insights on YouTube ad impressions, reach, and audience uniqueness. This facilitates more informed campaign strategies and helps advertisers understand YouTube's role within their broader ad expenditure.

Comscore's partnership with Google ensures their measurement tools remain effective amid evolving privacy landscapes. While focusing on third-party measurement, Comscore aims to align with Google's varied offerings to deliver trustworthy data for advertisers.

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Paramount promotes Lee Sears to president of international ad sales, reports The Media Leader

General

Mar 4, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Lee Sears has been appointed as the President of International Markets Advertising Sales at Paramount Global, a promotion following his elevation in June 2023. He will lead international sales teams, focusing on streamlining the company's commercial operations outside the U.S., with regional leaders reporting to him.

Sears will work under Paramount Advertising's John Halley and Paramount's International Markets CEO Pam Kaufman. His role includes overseeing advertising with Sky Media in the UK and aligning services like Channel 5’s My5 with Pluto TV.

Sears aims to harmonise global ambitions with localised strategies, simplifying the ad-buying process for clients amidst media fragmentation. He advocates for a unified Paramount team approach to navigate diverse platforms and reach audiences effectively.

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Anthropic releases more powerful Claude 3 AI as tech race continues, reports Reuters

General

Mar 4, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Anthropic unveils Claude 3, an advanced AI model suite, asserting superiority over rivals like OpenAI's GPT-4 and Google's Gemini 1.0 Ultra. The suite's standout, Claude 3 Opus, is praised by CEO Dario Amodei for its high-end capabilities in the AI field.

Claude 3 Opus targets complex tasks with a pricing model of $15 per million tokens, higher than competitors, reflecting its premium functionality. Anthropic positions it for markets requiring sophisticated cognitive processing.

This multimodal suite, focusing on text over images, will be accessible via Amazon and Google cloud platforms, and directly in 159 countries, highlighting Anthropic's expansive reach and cloud platform partnerships.

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Microsoft derides doomsday futurology of New York Times’ AI lawsuit, reports FT

General

Mar 4, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Microsoft seeks to dismiss a lawsuit by The New York Times, which accuses OpenAI's ChatGPT of copyright infringement. Microsoft likens the case to historical resistance to new technologies, arguing ChatGPT doesn't undermine copyright laws. The NYT claims ChatGPT was built using its articles without permission.

In defence, Microsoft asserts that ChatGPT, like past tech innovations, doesn't replace original works and criticises the NYT's infringement examples as unrealistic. They dispute the NYT's claim that ChatGPT significantly uses its content.

OpenAI counters the lawsuit, denying that NYT's articles meaningfully trained ChatGPT, attributing issues to inadvertent memorisation. The dispute underscores the complex legal landscape surrounding AI technology and copyright.

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Montana Asks Appellate Court To Restore TikTok Ban, reports MediaPost

General

Mar 4, 2024

Montana's Attorney General is advocating for enforcement of the state's TikTok ban, aiming to protect citizens' data from potential Chinese government access. The law, which seeks to restrict TikTok in app stores and personal devices, was blocked by a federal court.

The ban, driven by data privacy concerns, also addresses issues of harmful content on TikTok. Legislators argue ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, might share user data with China, posing a risk to U.S. residents.

The federal court previously suspended the law, questioning its constitutional validity and effectiveness. Montana defends the law as a measure against foreign data harvesting, not impeding free speech. TikTok's response to the appeal is pending.

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Apple plans to appeal European Commission’s massive antitrust fine favoring Spotify, reports TechCrunch

General

Mar 4, 2024

Apple is set to appeal the €1.84 billion fine by the European Commission, criticising Spotify for wanting free access to its resources. Apple highlights Spotify's extensive use of its services, noting Spotify doesn't pay App Store commissions as it sells subscriptions externally.

Apple disputes Spotify's claims about App Store practices, arguing that Spotify seeks more favourable terms beyond existing policies. Apple's 2022 policy change for "reader apps" hasn't been utilised by Spotify, who demands embedding subscription options directly in its app.

Apple insists the EC's ruling is unfounded and will appeal. They emphasise their commitment to the App Store's safety and support for app-driven innovation and user benefits

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Indian startups ask antitrust body to order Google to restore apps after brazen move, reports Reuters

General

Mar 4, 2024

The Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) has requested the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to intervene against Google's removal of over 100 Indian apps for policy violations. This move escalates tensions between Indian startups and Google, which had enforced its in-app payment policies.

ADIF's letter to CCI, dated March 1, labels Google's actions as "anti-competitive," demanding the reinstatement of the removed apps. Google has not commented on this development, and responses from ADIF and CCI are pending.

The dispute centres on Google's fee imposition for in-app payments, challenged by Indian startups. India's IT minister and deputy IT minister have expressed concerns, with the latter promising to seek a long-term solution with Google.

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Apple Hit With €1.8 Billion EU Fine Over App Store Rules, reports Bloomberg

General

Mar 4, 2024

The EU fined Apple €1.8 billion for limiting music-streaming rivals like Spotify on its platforms and ordered the company to allow apps to offer cheaper deals outside the App Store. EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager accused Apple of a decade-long abuse of market dominance.

Apple disputed the fine, claiming no evidence of consumer harm and highlighting the market's competitiveness. The company's first-quarter revenue reached $119.6 billion, with the iPhone contributing $69.7 billion.

This fine aligns with the EU's strategy against Big Tech's dominance, including the new Digital Markets Act. The investigation was initiated by Spotify's complaint about Apple's App Store practices.

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X, ByteDance and Booking.com could face tough EU rules, reports Reuters

General

Mar 2, 2024

Elon Musk's X social media platform, ByteDance, and Booking.com might be classified as 'gatekeepers' under the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). This act applies to companies with over 45 million monthly users and a market capitalisation exceeding 75 billion euros.

As potential gatekeepers, these companies would have to comply with specific obligations from March 7, including app interoperability and giving users freedom to choose pre-installed apps. They are prohibited from prioritising their services unfairly or restricting app removal.

The European Commission has 45 working days to decide on their gatekeeper status. ByteDance previously challenged its designation, while Booking.com anticipated joining this category in 2023.

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US judge says Google must face some advertisers' antitrust claims, dismisses others, reports Reuters

General

Mar 2, 2024

Google is set to face a class action lawsuit for allegedly monopolising the ad exchange market, as decided by U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel. However, claims concerning Google's ad-buying tools for large advertisers were dismissed.

In a separate case, Gannett, the largest U.S. newspaper chain, has been granted the opportunity to prove Google concealed anticompetitive practices in its ad technology, impacting direct ad sales.

This decision is part of broader antitrust actions against Google, including a 2023 lawsuit by the U.S. Justice Department. The lawsuit accuses Google of abusing its digital advertising dominance, with calls for divesting parts of its Google Ad Manager suite.

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Now the EU is asking questions about Meta’s pay or be tracked consent model, reports TechCrunch

General

Mar 1, 2024

The European Commission is probing Meta over its 'Subscription for no Ads' choice in the EU, questioning its compliance with the Digital Services Act. The scrutiny focuses on Meta's approach, requiring users to pay for ad-free access or consent to ad targeting.

Meta's controversial subscription model in the EU, introduced last fall, faces criticism for limiting user choice between paid ad-free access or ad tracking. This model challenges the validity of user consent under EU data protection law.

The Commission's inquiry, demanding details from Meta by March 22, may lead to deeper investigations under the Digital Services Act. The probe extends to Meta's broader practices, including shadow banning and the handling of manipulated media.

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Google Ads will automatically start pausing ad groups with low activity, reports Search Engine Land

General

Mar 1, 2024

From March 11, Google Ads will automatically pause ad groups over 13 months old with no impressions in the past year, to optimise budget use.

The process will be completed by April 30 for all accounts. Advertisers can reactivate these ad groups, but Google advises only unpausing those likely to get near-term impressions. Inactive ad groups will be paused again after three months.

Ad groups can be edited while paused, allowing for updates before reactivation. Navah Hopkins from Optmyzr endorses this change for enhancing campaign quality and budget efficiency. She notes that inactive ad groups negatively affect campaign data and pausing is reversible, considering seasonality and targeting established accounts.

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Reddit Is Targeting Up to $6.5 Billion Valuation in IPO, reports Bloomberg

General

Mar 1, 2024

Reddit Inc. is targeting a valuation of up to $6.5 billion for its IPO, with a share price range between $31 to $34. This estimated valuation ranges from $6 billion to $6.5 billion.

The IPO process is led by major financial firms including Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Bank of America. The offering's details, like size and timing, are yet to be finalised and may change.

Initially aiming for a valuation of at least $5 billion, Reddit's potential IPO valuation marks a decrease from its 2021 funding round value of $10 billion. The shares are set to be listed on the NYSE under the symbol RDDT.

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Apple reverses decision to disable home screen web apps in EU, reports Reuters

General

Mar 1, 2024

Apple has backtracked on its decision to block web apps in the EU that circumvent its 30% App Store fees. This reversal comes after regulatory scrutiny, with Apple originally justifying the move citing security and privacy concerns.

The company announced that these web apps, which can operate independently on devices, will be reinstated with the iOS 17.4 update in early March. This development allows users to access apps directly from their home screens without going through the App Store.

This change aligns with demands from the European Commission, which had been investigating Apple's compliance with the EU's Digital Markets Act. Apple's response indicates a willingness to adapt to regulatory pressures in the EU.

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Apple's App Store changes fall short of EU's DMA rules, say Spotify, industry groups, reports Reuters

General

Mar 1, 2024

Apple's proposed App Store policy changes have drawn criticism from over 30 tech firms, including Spotify. They argue that these changes disregard the EU's Digital Markets Act and enhance Apple's control over developers.

Apple, known for its up to 30% App Store fee and mandatory use of its payment system, suggested changes in line with the DMA, like permitting alternative app stores. However, it introduced a new "core technology fee," sparking further backlash.

The tech firms' letter to the EU Commission slams Apple's fee structure, asserting it continues to exploit its dominance. This dispute underscores the ongoing conflict between Apple and app developers over market fairness.

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Meta AI creates ahistorical images, like Google Gemini, reports Axios

General

Mar 1, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Meta's Imagine AI image generator, like Google's Gemini, produced historically inaccurate images, sparking concerns about AI biases. Efforts to incorporate diversity in AI training have led to over-corrections, resulting in inappropriate outputs.

Meta's Imagine, integrated into Instagram and Facebook DMs, displayed similar issues to Gemini, generating diverse but historically inaccurate images. For instance, requests for 'popes' yielded images of Black popes, and 'founding fathers' included diverse groups, highlighting the challenge of balancing diversity and historical accuracy in AI-generated images.

The difficulties faced by AI tools like Imagine and Gemini illustrate the complexity of creating AI models that are both imaginative and sensitive to historical and cultural contexts, without being overly cautious or inappropriate.

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Google’s rogue AI worries advertisers and impacts ad tech, reports AdAge

General

Mar 1, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Google's advanced chatbot Gemini, exhibiting problematic behavior, raised concerns among advertisers about the reliability of AI tools. This led to a reevaluation of the speed at which Google's AI and machine learning technologies are adopted in advertising strategies.

The incident with Gemini, which included generating inaccurate images and rejecting sensitive user prompts, has highlighted potential biases and inaccuracies in AI, causing wariness in the advertising sector. Advertisers now question the extent to which AI can be trusted for content creation and ad targeting.

Gemini's malfunction has broader implications for Google's AI advertising tools, affecting advertiser confidence and potentially influencing the future deployment of AI models in marketing strategies.

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Australia threatens action against Meta after Facebook news payments axed, reports FT

General

Mar 1, 2024

News Publishing

Meta Platforms announced it will stop new commercial deals for traditional news content in Australia, France, and Germany. This decision aligns with Meta's focus on investing in user engagement rather than specific news publisher products.

Australia's government criticised Meta's move, calling it a failure to support Australian news media's sustainability. Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones stated the government is consulting on next steps, indicating potential regulatory responses.

Meta's decision reflects ongoing tensions with Australia over news content compensation. This move may impact media sustainability and raises questions about the balance between tech giants and news organisations in digital content distribution.

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Newsguard debuts new automation tools for tracking election-related misinformation, reports Digiday

General

Mar 1, 2024

NewsGuard is enhancing its election misinformation tracking with new AI tools, targeting websites, social media, and video channels. This effort includes collaborations with media monitoring startups and focuses on detecting false claims about elections.

The company's "Misinformation Fingerprint" database expands to include sources of harmful content, particularly targeting disinformation campaigns from Russia, China, and Iran. This data aids in tracking the spread of misinformation online and supports advertiser decision-making.

NewsGuard is addressing the rise of AI-generated "pink slime" websites, funded by partisan groups but masquerading as local news. Over 1,000 such sites have been identified, presenting challenges for advertisers navigating the election landscape.

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IPG places first-to-market bets with Adobe on latest generative AI tools, reports Digiday

General

Mar 1, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

IPG is partnering with Adobe to develop new generative AI tools, investing over $100 million across its agency. This collaboration builds on their existing relationship, granting IPG early access to Adobe's AI innovations.

Central to the partnership is the IPG Engine, an Adobe GenStudio-powered platform. It integrates data with content and commerce, cutting across IPG’s diverse units to enhance media, creative, and CRM services.

Additionally, IPG's data unit Acxiom will integrate its comprehensive consumer data into Adobe products, enriching content and creative delivery. This symbiotic relationship enhances market offerings, with both parties advocating for each other's products and services.

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FreeWheel brings biddable programmatic TV inventory to upfront with new tool, reports AdAge

General

Feb 29, 2024

FreeWheel is trialing a new tool enabling advertisers to include programmatic inventory in their upfront TV buys. This comes as tracking spend across platforms becomes crucial due to streaming's growth. Traditional TV deals and programmatic methods have been slow to integrate.

The tool, FreeWheel's Allocation Module, offers visibility into programmatic biddable ad spending, complementing tracked direct and guaranteed buys. It alerts publishers and advertisers about biddable buy performance, addressing issues of underspending or overspending due to lack of visibility.

FreeWheel's tool, currently tested with Beeswax, aims to future-proof TV buying by facilitating programmatically transactable TV across linear and digital media. Initial tests involve major networks like NBCUniversal and AMC Networks.

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Outbrain Announces David Kostman as Sole CEO with Yaron Galai Remaining as Chairman and Advisor

General

Feb 29, 2024

Leadership Transitions

David Kostman will become the sole CEO of Outbrain Inc., as co-founder Yaron Galai steps down from his co-CEO role effective April 1, 2024. Galai will remain Chairman of the Board and advisor until year-end.

Galai expresses pride in Outbrain's progress and is confident about its future under Kostman's leadership. He highlights the company's growth in new offerings and his forthcoming advisory role.

The Board appreciates Galai's contributions as a pioneer in the industry and anticipates a seamless transition to Kostman’s leadership. Kostman is recognised for his respect within the company and among market partners and shareholders.

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Outbrain Earnings For CY2023 Show -5.7% YoY Revenue Decline, Net Income Up By +141.5% YoY

-6% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Feb 29, 2024

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Google says Performance Max intentionally doesn’t show channel-specific KPIs, reports Search Engine Land

General

Feb 29, 2024

Google withholds specific KPIs for Performance Max campaigns, citing potential misinterpretation of single-channel data. This approach is to prevent misleading advertisers, as channel effectiveness varies per auction.

Julie F Bacchini, President of Neptune Moon LLC, shared concerns on X about Google's lack of transparency. She interprets Google's rationale as expecting advertisers to trust its judgment without access to detailed channel performance data.

Advertisers seek more transparency from Google, wanting assurance that AI-driven decisions prioritise their brand interests. This request for clearer reporting stems from a desire to validate that campaign strategies align with their objectives, not just Google's.

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US judge signals Elon Musk's X may lose case against hate speech watchdog, reports Reuters

General

Feb 29, 2024

A U.S. judge may dismiss X Corp's lawsuit against the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), which has criticised a rise in hate speech on the platform since Elon Musk's takeover. X Corp accuses CCDH of damaging its reputation and violating user contracts by allegedly misrepresenting data.

Judge Charles Breyer questioned the lawsuit's validity, doubting CCDH could have predicted policy changes under Musk's ownership. X Corp's lawyer argued CCDH could have left the platform if it disagreed with policy changes.

CCDH's lawyer countered the lawsuit violates free speech and California's anti-SLAPP law. The lawsuit also includes the European Climate Foundation, but its involvement may be dismissed due to jurisdiction issues.

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Google Faces Widening Antitrust Probe Over Online Ads in Canada, reports Bloomberg

General

Feb 29, 2024

Canada's Competition Bureau is intensifying its investigation into Google's advertising dominance, initially launched in 2020. The focus has expanded from Google's control in video advertising to its broader influence in display advertising technology.

The Bureau suspects Google of employing "predatory" pricing, potentially limiting competition and innovation in the online display ad market. A court order now requires Google to provide evidence for this deepened probe.

This development adds to Google's global legal challenges, including issues related to its app store and artificial intelligence. In Canada, Google owns significant ad tech services, such as AdX and Display & Video 360.

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Germany wants Big Tech to pay towards compliance costs of new digital law, reports Reuters

General

Feb 29, 2024

Germany proposes that major tech firms like Alphabet, Amazon, and Apple should fund the enforcement of new EU regulations aimed at limiting their power. The Digital Markets Act (DMA), effective March 7, mandates these companies to comply with specific operational standards to ensure fair competition.

The German economy ministry suggests a financing model similar to the Digital Services Act (DSA), where large tech companies pay a fee based on their global net income. This move aims to support the EU's regulatory efforts under the DMA.

Germany's proposal, set for EU-level submission, is part of a broader strategy to enhance European competitiveness in key sectors, aligning with initiatives by former Italian leaders Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta.

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IAB Europe’s first retail media standards a transformative step, reports The Media Leader

General

Feb 29, 2024

IAB Europe has introduced initial standards for digital advertising metrics in retail media, collaborating with 15 retailers. These guidelines, currently open for feedback, aim to standardise measurement methods across the retail media ecosystem, enhancing consistency and fostering industry growth.

The standards encompass media metrics, attribution, and insights, focusing on uniformity in metrics like ad impressions and viewability. This initiative aligns with established digital media standards, incorporating unique retail-centric metrics and facilitating more straightforward comparisons across various providers.

These new standards represent a significant step in unifying Europe's retail media market, ensuring clarity and ease of use for advertisers. Future developments will include broader aspects like creative formats and in-store measurement, broadening the scope of retail media advertising efficiency.

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X goes to court in Elon Musk’s war against an anti-hate research org, reports TechCrunch

General

Feb 29, 2024

Elon Musk's X is suing the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) for allegedly spreading false claims about the platform, particularly regarding increased hate speech. CCDH, known for researching social media misinformation, faces a court challenge under California's anti-SLAPP law.

The lawsuit, labelled as an intimidation tactic by CCDH, aims to dismiss Musk’s claims as strategic litigation against public participation. Musk, through X, accuses CCDH of illegal data scraping and violating terms of service.

The case's outcome could impact social media research, with CCDH’s efforts spanning multiple platforms. Their legal battle against Musk’s vast resources is seen as a fight for research freedom and transparency.

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Meta Hit With European Complaints Over Data for Targeted Ads, reports Bloomberg

General

Feb 29, 2024

Meta Platforms Inc. is being challenged in Europe for allegedly not obtaining proper consent for collecting data on Facebook and Instagram to target ads. Consumer organisations argue this violates GDPR, which allows for substantial fines.

Meta's response to the increased regulatory pressure includes offering paid, ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram, claiming compliance with an EU court ruling on user consent. This move aims to balance regulatory demands with user choice.

European complaints may lead to quicker regulatory decisions under new EU rules strengthening data protection. The Irish Data Protection Commission and the EU's EDPB are evaluating Meta's strategy, with the EDPB's upcoming opinion set to clarify online platforms' consent requirements.

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Alphabet and Epic Games Hit Impasse in Google Play Antitrust Talks, reports Bloomberg

General

Feb 29, 2024

Alphabet Inc. and Epic Games Inc. remain at odds over Google Play Store's fees, with no settlement reached after a jury ruled in favor of Epic. The dispute focuses on the fees Google charges app developers, deemed anti-competitive by Epic Games.

The companies, unable to resolve their differences, have reached an impasse, as reported in a court filing. This follows a jury's decision supporting Epic's claims against Google Play's practices.

If no agreement is reached, US District Judge James Donato has indicated a mid-March hearing involving economic experts. The ongoing legal battle underscores the contentious nature of app store fee structures and market competition.

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Reliance and Disney to merge India media assets to create $8.5 billion powerhouse, reports Reuters

M&A

Feb 29, 2024

Reliance Industries and Walt Disney have merged their Indian TV and streaming media assets, forming an $8.5 billion entity, with Reliance injecting $1.4 billion and holding a majority stake. The merger aims to consolidate Disney's struggling Indian streaming business and secure a dominant position in India's media sector.

The combined venture will control extensive TV channels, streaming platforms, and key cricket rights, positioning it as a significant player in India's media industry. Nita Ambani will chair the board, with Uday Shankar as vice-chair.

The deal reflects Disney's global strategy to streamline operations and improve profitability in streaming services. Despite challenges in the Indian market, Disney remains committed, expecting to incur a substantial impairment charge related to Star India assets.

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Double Verify Earnings For CY2023 Show +26.6% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Up By +65.2% YoY

+ 27% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Feb 28, 2024

AdExchanger reports:

DoubleVerify (DV) reported a 62% increase in social media measurement in Q4, constituting 43% of its measurement revenue and 15% of total 2023 revenue. The growth highlights significant market potential, especially with underutilised services on Meta platforms, where only half of DV's top clients currently engage.

DV is expanding its measurement services on Meta, with potential revenue growth projected at an additional $20 million in 2024. TikTok's expansion beyond English-language campaigns also offers a significant growth opportunity.

DV's business includes activation and supply-side revenue, with the former growing by 31%. Supply-side revenue is expected to increase later in the year. DV is also enhancing its misinformation filtering technologies, adding value to its comprehensive suite of services.

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Paramount Earnings For CY2023 Show -1.7% YoY Revenue Decline, Net Income Down By -147.4% YoY

-2% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Feb 28, 2024

Paramount Global reported a 6% drop in Q4 sales to $7.64 billion, underperforming expectations due to decreased traditional TV advertising. The company's earnings surpassed predictions, and Paramount+ subscribers grew to 67.5 million, with streaming revenue hitting $1.87 billion.

The traditional TV segment saw a 15% fall in advertising, impacting profitability. Paramount+'s expected profitability in the coming year and projected ad sales growth offer optimism. However, the film studio's sales and profits significantly declined.

Paramount faces a slower growth in streaming subscribers and plans a $1 billion charge for restructuring. The Redstone family, controlling the company, is exploring options to maximise shareholder value.

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Taboola Earnings For CY2023 Show +2.8% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Loss Up By +585.1% YoY

+ 3% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Feb 28, 2024

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Magnite Earnings For CY2023 Show +7.4% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Loss Up By +22.1% YoY

+ 7% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Feb 28, 2024

AdExchanger:

Connected TV (CTV) remains a key driver for Magnite's business, contributing to its $187 million Q4 revenue. While CTV's share is growing, a surge in non-CTV spending also played a significant role in this increase.

In Q4, CTV generated $63.5 million out of Magnite's $165.3 million revenue, indicating its rising importance. Despite CTV's growing revenue share, other digital venues (DV+) also showed notable year-over-year growth, underscoring a diversified revenue stream.

Magnite's 2023 total revenue reached $549 million, with CTV contributing $219 million. CEO Barrett credits partnerships and emerging trends, like live sports programming, for CTV growth and highlights Magnite's readiness for third-party cookie deprecation in the evolving digital advertising landscape.

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Longtime WPP Executive Blackett Stepping Down After 29 Years At The Company, reports MediaPost

General

Feb 28, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Karen Blackett, WPP's UK country president, is leaving the company after nearly three decades to explore new opportunities. She played a pivotal role in MediaCom and GroupM, steering through the pandemic and advocating for industry diversity.

Blackett's efforts in diversity led to significant recognitions, including an OBE for services to media and communications. She initiated the first media sector apprenticeship program and actively contributed to social change initiatives.

As Blackett prepares to leave WPP, she reflects on her growth journey and the impact of her work. CEO Mark Read praised her contributions, coinciding with leadership changes at EssenceMediacom in the U.S.

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Google Must Face Claims It 'Hijacked' Smartphone Data, reports MediaPost

General

Feb 28, 2024

A federal appeals court has revived a lawsuit against Google, brought by Android users who claim the company improperly collected data from their phones when apps were inactive. This decision overturns a lower court's dismissal of the case.

The court classified cellular data as "property," suggesting Google's actions, if proven, could be seen as misappropriation. The judges noted that cellular data is measurable, can be controlled by users, and can be allocated to specific users.

The case, initiated in 2020, will now return to the lower court for further proceedings. This development signifies a crucial moment in the ongoing debate over digital data rights. Google has yet to respond to this latest ruling.

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Amazon Prime Video joins Barb, reports The Media Leader

General

Feb 28, 2024

Amazon Prime Video has joined UK's Barb Audiences, aligning with its new advertising tier on Prime Video.

This collaboration, effective from 1 March, enables Barb subscribers to access Prime Video's viewership data. Amazon's move mirrors the steps taken by other streaming services like Netflix and Disney+, and coincides with Amazon joining Thinkbox, the UK's commercial TV marketing body.

Amazon's participation in Barb reflects the changing landscape of 'TV', with streaming services increasingly recognised in audience and advertising metrics. Barb, an established provider of third-party audience measurement, gains further relevance with the inclusion of major streaming platforms like Amazon, enhancing its role in the evolving TV advertising market.

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Google hit with $2.3 bln lawsuit by Axel Springer and other media groups, reports Reuters

General

Feb 28, 2024

Google is facing a €2.1 billion lawsuit from 32 media groups, including Axel Springer, for alleged losses in digital advertising. The lawsuit claims Google's ad tech practices resulted in reduced competition and financial harm to these companies.

The legal action references fines and EU charges against Google, arguing that the tech giant's dominance led to lower ad revenues and inflated ad tech fees for media companies. Lawyers assert these funds could have supported the European media landscape.

Filed in a Dutch court to consolidate European claims, this lawsuit underscores the global impact of Google's ad dominance, especially amidst its challenges with generative AI chat technologies.

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Meta plans launch of new AI language model Llama 3 in July, reports Reuters

General

Feb 28, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Meta Platforms is set to launch Llama 3, an improved version of its AI large language model, in July. This update aims to enhance response quality to complex or controversial queries, providing more context and nuanced answers.

The current Llama 2 model, used for chatbots on Meta's platforms, avoids answering certain sensitive questions. Llama 3, however, will interpret questions like 'how to kill a vehicle's engine' more accurately, focusing on shutting off the engine rather than causing harm.

Meta is also appointing an internal overseer for tone and safety training to refine the model's responses, demonstrating a commitment to responsible AI usage. Meta has yet to comment on these developments.

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Apple to disclose AI plans later this year, CEO Tim Cook says, reports Reuters

General

Feb 28, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that the company will reveal more about its use of generative AI later this year, highlighting its transformative potential. Cook emphasised that Apple is already integrating AI in its products, with explicit AI features set to be announced.

At Apple's annual shareholder meeting, a proposal for increased AI transparency, initiated by the AFL-CIO pension trust, was rejected. The proposal sought details on AI usage and ethical guidelines, focusing on AI training with copyrighted content.

Apple opposed the transparency measure, citing competitive risks in the rapidly evolving AI field. A similar proposal is set for Walt Disney's upcoming annual meeting.

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Jill Kelly out as US CEO of GroupM’s EssenceMediacom, reports AdAge

General

Feb 28, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Jill Kelly is no longer the U.S. CEO of GroupM's EssenceMediacom, transitioning to an undefined role within GroupM. She initially led the Essence and Mediacom merger in 2022. JiYoung Kim, GroupM North America's Chief Product Officer, will temporarily assume the CEO role.

An internal memo by Sharb Farjami, GroupM North America's CEO, did not detail the reason for Kelly's role change. Her new position involves developing synergy programs and best practices to enhance client services and market presence.

GroupM is actively searching for Kelly's replacement during a pivotal time for the company. EssenceMediacom, under Kelly's leadership, faced client retention and acquisition challenges, highlighting the agency's ongoing transformation.

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Martin Sorrell is investing in CTV buying platform tvScientific, reports AdAge

General

Feb 28, 2024

S4S Ventures, supported by Martin Sorrell, is investing in tvScientific, a connected TV platform. The investment aims to shift CTV towards performance marketing, offering outcome-based ad buying. Chris Riedy, ex-Twitter VP, is appointed as the Chief Revenue Officer to drive this transformation.

TvScientific's funding from S4S Ventures will enable expansion into a broader advertising market. The platform's unique approach allows advertisers to utilise CTV for targeted audiences and data-driven strategies, supporting Sorrell's vision of tapping into the significant global ad market potential.

TvScientific's vision is to democratise CTV advertising, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes. This approach focuses on performance metrics and business outcomes, expanding the platform's reach beyond traditional advertisers to include performance-focused marketers.

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People Want to Know When AI Is Used in Ads, Research Confirms, reports AdWeek

General

Feb 28, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

A Publicis Media and Yahoo study reveals consumers prefer knowing when ads use AI, with AI disclosures boosting ad appeal and brand trust. While many struggle to identify AI usage in ads, there's a general assumption of its presence.

The research uncovers a gap between consumer and advertiser perceptions of AI in advertising. Advertisers view AI more positively, while consumers express reservations, highlighting the need for greater transparency in AI usage.

Consumers show openness to exchanging personal data for AI-driven, tailored ads. Despite recognising AI's potential benefits, there's a call for regulatory oversight. Advertisers remain optimistic about AI's role in enhancing advertising effectiveness and creativity.

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DoubleVerify Unmasks CTV Ad Fraud Scheme: CycloneBot

General

Feb 28, 2024

DoubleVerify has uncovered CycloneBot, a significant CTV ad fraud scheme generating up to 250 million fake ad requests daily. Employing advanced evasion techniques, CycloneBot spoofs long CTV sessions, blending with genuine traffic and causing a financial impact of $7.5 million monthly for unprotected advertisers.

In collaboration with Roku, DoubleVerify identified and mitigated CycloneBot's activities. Utilizing Roku’s Advertising Watermark, they validated the bot's spoofing actions, demonstrating the importance of robust ad fraud prevention methods.

This discovery emphasises DoubleVerify and Roku's joint efforts in safeguarding the CTV advertising landscape. DoubleVerify's Fraud Lab continually adapts to emerging threats, reinforcing the digital advertising ecosystem's strength and security.

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Large Apple shareholders seek AI disclosures, reports FT

General

Feb 28, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Two major Apple shareholders, Norges Bank and Legal & General, are advocating for more AI transparency, supporting a resolution for Apple to disclose its AI ethical guidelines. The proposal, to be discussed at Apple's annual meeting, aligns with rising investor concerns over AI risks in the tech industry.

Amidst growing regulatory scrutiny, these investors stress the importance of Apple acknowledging the societal impacts of its AI operations. This push for clarity on AI practices reflects an increasing focus on responsible tech development.

However, Apple opposes the resolution, citing potential competitive disadvantages. Despite this, Apple's ongoing AI advancements, including large language models and enhanced chips, suggest a commitment to the field, with plans to unveil more details later this year.

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Meta’s Zuckerberg to Deepen Tie-Up with LG on Next-Gen Devices, reports Bloomberg

General

Feb 28, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms Inc., met with LG Electronics CEO William Cho in Seoul to discuss deepening their collaboration in extended-reality (XR) technology. They explored integrating Meta's AI and large language models into LG's consumer devices, particularly enhancing LG's content and TV business.

Zuckerberg's Asia tour focuses on AI and hardware advancements amidst competition from companies like Apple. In South Korea, he plans to meet Samsung Electronics, a key player in virtual reality and a rival to LG.

After Seoul, Zuckerberg will visit India for billionaire Mukesh Ambani's son's pre-wedding celebrations. Meanwhile, LG plans to invest $7.6 billion in new technologies like electric vehicles, despite economic uncertainties, underscoring the tech industry's dynamic growth and collaborations.

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GoTo and TikTok compliance with Indonesia's trade regulation nears 100%, says GoTo CEO, reports Reuters

M&A

Feb 28, 2024

GoTo, an Indonesian tech firm, and its partner TikTok are close to fully complying with Indonesia's regulation against in-app transactions on social media. This follows TikTok's acquisition of shares in GoTo's e-commerce unit, Tokopedia, adapting to the country's e-commerce rules.

TikTok, now operating its e-commerce services through Tokopedia, is progressing towards regulatory compliance. Indonesian officials had previously highlighted TikTok's non-compliance, but integration efforts are reportedly on track.

GoTo expects financial gains from the TikTok partnership, including quarterly e-commerce fees from Tokopedia's gross merchandise value. This collaboration is also set to enhance GoTo's financial services offerings on TikTok's platform.

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Integral Ad Science Earnings For CY2023 Show +16.2% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Down By -52.9% YoY

+ 16% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Feb 27, 2024

AdExchanger reports:

Advertisers' concerns, such as identity signal loss, are boosting demand for Integral Ad Science's (IAS) services. CEO Lisa Utzschneider highlights the opportunity for IAS to provide alternative solutions as third-party cookies phase out.

IAS sees the 2024 US presidential election as a growth opportunity, planning to launch a misinformation segment in its product. In 2023, IAS reported a 16% revenue increase, reaching $474.4 million, with further growth anticipated in 2024.

IAS's 2024 revenue is projected to grow, supported by events like the Summer Olympics and the US election. Social media platforms like Meta, TikTok, and YouTube are significant growth drivers, with IAS focusing on brand safety and suitability measurement products.

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Warner Bros. Discovery halts merger talks with Paramount Global, sources say, reports CNBC

M&A

Feb 27, 2024

Warner Bros. Discovery has ceased acquisition talks with Paramount Global, though Skydance Media remains interested. Paramount Global is evaluating various bids, including a $14 billion offer from Byron Allen, and has formed a committee for this purpose.

Comcast, NBCUniversal's owner, is not pursuing Paramount Global's acquisition. Instead, it's exploring a potential partnership, possibly involving their streaming services, Peacock and Paramount+.

Warner Bros. Discovery's merger discussions with Paramount Global, which intensified in January, have now cooled. Following a stock price decline, both companies are near their 52-week lows, with Paramount Global preparing for its upcoming earnings announcement.

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New marketplace launches to shift more political ads to streaming, reports Axios

General

Feb 27, 2024

Madhive collaborates with Fox Television Stations to introduce a connected TV marketplace for political ads. This aligns with the surge in U.S. political ad spending, offering more digital TV ad inventory.

Their marketplace enables efficient, large-scale purchase of ads across networks, facilitating precise audience and geographic targeting. This contrasts with the limitations of traditional broadcast ad buying.

Fox, as the initial major client, leverages this marketplace to significantly expand its advertising capabilities. The development of this platform involved meticulous regulation and legal compliance checks, with varying publisher acceptance policies for different ad types.

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TikTok begins removing Universal Music Publishing content after deal stalemate, reports Reuters

General

Feb 27, 2024

TikTok is removing Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) content, muting videos with UMPG songs, due to an unresolved licensing deal. The removal, following a deal's expiry with parent company UMG, is expected to complete by February's end. Negotiations for a new agreement remain open.

UMG, UMPG's parent, represents renowned artists like Taylor Swift. Their prior arrangement with TikTok enabled the use of UMG's music in videos. UMG has yet to respond to this development.

UMG and UMPG's catalogues constitute 20-30% of TikTok's popular songs, varying by region. TikTok's contribution to UMG's revenue is reportedly only about 1%.

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Google Mired in Controversy Over AI Chatbot Push, reports WSJ

General

Feb 27, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Google's AI chatbot Gemini has sparked a reputational issue, generating controversial content and responses, leading to widespread criticism, particularly from tech figures like Elon Musk.

Gemini, which generates responses based on human language models, has shown unpredictable behaviour, raising questions about Google's ability to control its outputs and the reliability of such AI systems.

The backlash against Gemini underscores the broader challenges in AI, including ethical concerns and public trust.

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TikTok shakes up senior roles including in trust and safety unit, reports Reuters

General

Feb 27, 2024

Leadership Transitions

TikTok, owned by ByteDance, is reshuffling its senior management, including changing the head of its trust and safety unit responsible for content moderation, as reported by the Information.

Adam Presser, previously TikTok's operations head, is set to oversee the trust and safety division. This change follows CEO Shou Zi Chew's testimony before Congress, where he and other tech leaders faced criticism for inadequate child protection on their platforms.

Cormac Keenan, formerly leading global trust and safety, transitions to a strategic advisory role within the senior leadership team, confirmed by a TikTok spokesperson. This move is part of TikTok's commitment to invest over $2 billion in trust and safety initiatives.

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Microsoft's deal with Mistral AI faces EU scrutiny, reports Reuters

General

Feb 27, 2024

Microsoft's 15-million euro investment in French AI startup Mistral AI, following its collaboration with OpenAI, has sparked antitrust concerns in the EU, prompting calls for an investigation into potential market dominance issues.

The investment, which will be converted to equity, allows Microsoft access to Mistral's AI technologies through its Azure platform. This arrangement has intensified scrutiny under EU competition laws, especially considering Microsoft's significant role in AI development.

EU lawmakers are questioning the influence of large tech firms on AI regulation, particularly in light of Mistral's lobbying efforts during the drafting of the EU's AI Act. This situation has led to demands for a comprehensive investigation into the impact of these partnerships on competition and AI governance.

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OpenAI says NYT hacked ChatGPT to produce allegedly infringing results, reports Axios

General

Feb 27, 2024

OpenAI seeks dismissal of a lawsuit by the New York Times, asserting the newspaper manipulated ChatGPT to produce allegedly infringing results, involving hacking and exploiting a bug.

The lawsuit's outcome could significantly impact the future of generative AI, as it challenges both the training methods and the output of these systems regarding copyright infringement.

The New York Times' lawsuit, alleging unauthorised use of its articles for training AI, is among several high-profile cases against OpenAI and others. While facing legal challenges, OpenAI has also formed content licensing agreements with publishers like Axel Springer and the Associated Press.

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Disney goes on the offensive in proxy battle with activist Nelson Peltz, reports Reuters

General

Feb 27, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Walt Disney is actively countering Nelson Peltz's efforts to gain board seats, disputing his claims on their Vote Disney website. Peltz, with former Disney CFO Jay Rasulo, is challenging Disney's current board composition.

Disney criticises Peltz's record, noting underperformance of companies he influenced and questioning the effectiveness of Rasulo's media expertise, based on iHeartMedia's stock decline during his board tenure.

As Disney navigates this boardroom battle, they're also focusing on enhancing creative franchises and streaming services. CEO Bob Iger views the activist campaigns as a distraction during a critical period for the company's direction and governance.

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EU set to fine Apple in Spotify music streaming case, reports Reuters

General

Feb 27, 2024

Apple is set to receive a €500 million EU antitrust fine following a Spotify complaint about restrictions in music streaming. The EU criticises Apple's prevention of alternative App Store options, labelling these as unfair "anti-steering obligations".

The fine, expected on March 5, accompanies an EU directive to halt such practices. This aligns with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) effective March 7, influencing Apple among other tech giants.

Separately, the EU examines Apple's removal of home screen web apps, considering DMA compliance. Breaches of DMA stipulations could result in significant fines, underscoring the Act's impact on major tech companies.

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Amazon hints at post-cookie ad tech project called ID++, reports AdAge

General

Feb 27, 2024

Cookie Deprecation

Amazon is advancing 'ID++', a confidential ad tech initiative, to lead in online advertising post-cookie era. Unveiled in a job listing, later withdrawn, it targets innovative ad solutions in an identity-limited world.

ID++ focuses on enhancing ad targeting and measurement without cookies, incorporating Amazon's recent technologies like Amazon Publisher Cloud. These developments align with the industry's shift away from cookie-dependent advertising.

Amazon's ID++ underpins its strategy to dominate the future ad tech landscape. Leveraging its extensive first-party data and advanced tools, Amazon seeks to maintain its advertising prowess and forge closer ties between advertisers and publishers in a transforming digital ecosystem.

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Google Is Paying Publishers to Test an Unreleased Gen AI Platform, reports AdWeek

General

Feb 27, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Google launched a private AI program for select publishers, offering them tools to produce content in exchange for analytics. This initiative includes a stipend and aims to aid content creation using AI.

The program allows publishers to aggregate and republish content from other sources efficiently. It raises concerns about the impact on original journalism and the ethics of content aggregation.

Critics argue that this initiative, under the Google News Initiative, may compromise journalistic integrity. There are ethical concerns about using content without consent, posing a potential conflict with the mission to support journalism.

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FTC sues to block Kroger, Albertsons merger, arguing deal would raise grocery prices and hurt workers, reports CNBC

General

Feb 26, 2024

The FTC is suing to block the Kroger and Albertsons merger, valued at $24.6 billion, citing risks of higher prices and lower wages for consumers and workers. This move, backed by nine state attorneys general, opposes the companies' assertion that the merger would counteract inflationary pressures.

The FTC argues that the merger would decrease competition, impacting both shopping experience and employee bargaining power. Kroger and Albertsons contend that the merger is vital to compete with larger retailers.

Kroger's proposal to sell stores to mitigate antitrust concerns has been rejected by the FTC. This action highlights tensions in the U.S. grocery industry amidst rising prices and market consolidation.

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Google gives advertisers more visibility and control over search following scathing Adalytics report, reports AdAge

General

Feb 26, 2024

Google is updating its ad controls in response to a report highlighting ads on inappropriate sites. This move enhances transparency in its $175 billion search business, introducing detailed reporting for the Performance Max platform from March 4.

The company's new policies offer broader controls for ad campaigns, allowing advertisers to opt out of search partner sites. This follows an earlier opt-out feature added after the revealing report.

Reacting to advertiser feedback, Google is improving oversight, including more rigorous compliance checks. The changes address concerns about ads appearing on unsuitable sites, although the specifics of manual review are not detailed.

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Half of Top News Sites Blocked OpenAI's Crawlers in 2023, reports AdWeek

General

Feb 26, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Nearly half of top news websites in 10 countries, including prominent ones like The New York Times, blocked OpenAI's crawlers by end of 2023, with a lower 24% blocking Google's AI crawler. This trend is a response to concerns over AI's use of copyrighted material.

The study classified outlets into print, broadcast, and digital-born categories, finding over half of print sites blocked OpenAI, more than broadcasters and digital-born sites. Google's crawler faced less blocking, varying across these categories.

Globally, there's a disparity in blocking AI crawlers, with higher rates in the U.S. and lower in Mexico and Poland. Once sites blocked crawlers, they didn't reverse this action.

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PubMatic Earnings For CY2023 Show +4.1% YoY Revenue Growth, Net Income Down By -69.1% YoY

+ 4% YoY Opinions

Earnings

Feb 26, 2024

AdExchanger reports:

PubMatic reports a 14% increase in year-over-year revenue, reaching $84.6 million in Q4 2023. This growth follows their strategic recovery plan and reflects a resurgence in ad spending, with top advertisers increasing their spend by 26%.

The company's success is attributed to its focus on supply path optimization (SPO) and a resurgence in display advertising, which grew 9% year-over-year. SPO deals now represent a significant portion of PubMatic's business, indicating a shift in their strategic focus.

Despite some challenges, such as the impact of Yahoo's SSP closure, PubMatic demonstrates robust growth in video and CTV advertising. The company's increased impressions and advancements in addressability solutions signal a strong position in the competitive ad market.

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Instagram and Facebook Subscriptions Get New Scrutiny in Child Safety Suit, reports NYT

General

Feb 26, 2024

The New Mexico Attorney General investigates Meta's Facebook and Instagram subscription services, focusing on child safety. These services, often used by parents, may attract predators despite Instagram's age restrictions.

Meta faces allegations of enabling harmful adult-minor interactions on its platforms. A complaint cites an incident involving a fictitious young girl's account, highlighting the platform's vulnerability to exploitation.

Meta defends its efforts against child exploitation, highlighting its use of technology and collaboration with law enforcement. Amidst increasing legal scrutiny, the company reiterates its commitment to online safety for young users.

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Google Play Judge Calls $700 Million Settlement Bad for Customers, reports Bloomberg

General

Feb 26, 2024

A US federal judge expressed doubts about Alphabet Inc.'s proposed $700 million settlement over Google Play's alleged market power abuse. Judge James Donato critiqued the settlement for insufficient consumer compensation and overly broad legal protections for Google.

The settlement, revealed in December, aims to resolve antitrust claims by state attorneys and consumers, including policy changes in the Play Store. However, it's criticised for permitting Google to continue charging significant app developer fees.

Judge Donato challenged the settlement's scope, questioning the fairness of its compensation and release terms. He gave attorneys 30 days to justify the settlement's adequacy, amidst ongoing scrutiny of Google Play's practices.

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Facebook and YouTube to Face New Canada Harmful Content Rules, reports Bloomberg

General

Feb 26, 2024

Canada's government introduced the Online Harms Act to regulate harmful internet content. It targets platforms like social media and live-streamed video, requiring them to reduce exposure to harmful content.

The act creates the Digital Safety Commission for rule enforcement and content removal. It aligns Canada with countries like the UK and EU in online safety, fulfilling a campaign promise of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The legislation has sparked debate over user protection versus freedom of expression. It introduces a hate crime offence and a process for complaints to the Human Rights Commission. Trudeau's internet regulations, including this act, have been controversial.

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OpenAI’s Sora tool reveals industry divide over AI and creativity, reports AdAge

General

Feb 26, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI's Sora is transforming advertising with advanced text-to-video technology, sparking debate about its influence on creativity. Its superior quality and realistic videos surpass competitors, but the industry is divided on whether it fosters or hinders creativity.

Enthusiasm and concern coexist among advertising professionals regarding Sora. Some celebrate its creative possibilities, while others worry about diminishing artistry and originality in ads due to over-reliance on AI.

Sora's impressive capabilities raise concerns about traditional video production roles and the future of creativity in advertising. The industry grapples with integrating AI benefits while preserving the uniqueness of human creativity.

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Microsoft Strikes Deal With France’s Mistral, OpenAI Rival, reports Bloomberg

General

Feb 26, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Microsoft Corp. has partnered with French company Mistral AI, OpenAI's main European rival, to integrate Mistral's open-source AI models into Microsoft’s Azure cloud. Mistral's newest model, Mistral Large, is proficient in five languages and boasts advanced reasoning abilities.

Amid antitrust probes in Europe, Microsoft is diversifying its AI partnerships, moving beyond its primary involvement with OpenAI. This strategic shift, highlighted by Microsoft President Brad Smith, aims to foster competition and innovation within the AI sector.

Mistral AI, founded by ex-DeepMind and Meta engineers, positions itself as a European AI contender. It recently raised substantial funding, highlighting Microsoft's investment in expanding AI capabilities and data center infrastructure in Europe.

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EU seeks to investigate Apple over cutting off web apps, reports FT

General

Feb 26, 2024

The EU is probing Apple for restricting access to progressive web apps (PWAs) that circumvent its App Store, amid concerns of non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act. Apple asserts this step, affecting EU PWAs, is to mitigate security risks from browsers other than Safari.

Apple's disabling of PWAs is perceived as a tactic to maintain its App Store's 30% commission, prompting the European Commission to investigate the impact on developers and Apple's rationale.

Amid increasing scrutiny, Apple confronts a potential hefty EU fine over its services business. Despite iOS updates for DMA compliance, critics suggest these changes might still discourage the development of alternative app stores.

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Disney Urged by Activist to Create Corporate CTO Role, reports Bloomberg

General

Feb 26, 2024

Leadership Transitions

Activist investor Blackwells Capital urges Walt Disney Co. to appoint a unified chief technology officer (CTO) and centralise its focus on technological innovation. They propose consolidating Disney's venture investments, currently managed separately between entertainment and parks divisions.

Blackwells criticises Disney for insufficient investment in research and development, particularly in AI and spatial computing. The investor also points out the lack of technology expertise on Disney's board, with only one member having a significant tech background.

Blackwells has nominated directors to aid Disney's tech strategy, while another fund, Trian Fund Management, critiques Disney's sports strategy. Disney, however, recommends shareholders reject these nominations, questioning their value to shareholders.

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Supreme Court hears Florida, Texas social media cases, reports Axios

General

Feb 26, 2024

Supreme Court justices showed scepticism towards social media content laws from Florida and Texas while hinting at potential future internet regulation. They're assessing the balance between tech platforms' First Amendment rights and free speech, debating if these platforms function as public "town squares."

The laws in question challenge the right of companies like Meta and YouTube to moderate content based on political views. The states propose treating these platforms as "common carriers," similar to telephone services, which would restrict their content moderation capabilities.

The justices expressed concerns about the broad implications of these laws for internet platforms. A decision, which could shape future content moderation and free speech on tech platforms, is expected by June.

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Microsoft announces principles to foster innovation, competition in AI, reports Reuters

General

Feb 26, 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Microsoft President Brad Smith announced principles to promote innovation and competition in artificial intelligence (AI), addressing concerns about the company's market dominance. This initiative follows Microsoft's notable collaboration with ChatGPT creator OpenAI.

Smith introduced these principles at the Mobile World Congress, emphasising Microsoft's commitment to responsible AI development. The principles aim to guide Microsoft's global AI operations, focusing on broad accessibility and public good.

The AI Access Principles include providing support to AI developers, making AI models and tools widely available, and ensuring public access to AI models on Microsoft Azure. Microsoft also commits to fair competition practices and data portability for Azure customers.

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Meta to set up team to counter disinformation and AI abuse in EU elections, reports Reuters

General

Feb 26, 2024

Meta is forming a team to address disinformation and the abuse of generative AI during the upcoming European Parliament elections. This initiative responds to concerns over election interference and the potential misuse of rapidly evolving AI technologies.

The company will activate an Elections Operations Center led by Marco Pancini, focusing on real-time threat identification and mitigation. The team will consist of experts from various departments, targeting misinformation and the risks posed by generative AI.

Meta is also expanding its collaboration with independent fact-checkers across the EU and joining forces with major tech companies, including Microsoft and OpenAI, to prevent AI-driven election interference globally.

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