big tech

Google is being targeted for oversight by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
15 Nov

Google is being targeted for oversight by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has started the process of placing Google under federal supervision, an action which could create new standards for how the federal government can oversee big tech if the effort is successful. Falling under the CFPB's supervision would subject Google to regular inspections and scrutiny, although the exact aims of the department's efforts have not been fully disclosed. However, it has been an ongoing project for some time, as sources told that Google has been fighting against this move by the CFPB for months.This department was created in 2008 in response to the financial crisis that…
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Google will stop serving political ads in the EU, including on YouTube
14 Nov

Google will stop serving political ads in the EU, including on YouTube

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Google will stop serving political advertisements in the European Union. The decision, in The Keyword blog, is in response to an upcoming new rule for the bloc that "introduces significant new operational challenges and legal uncertainties for political advertisers and platforms." The company says the Regulation on Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising has an overly broad definition for political advertising and raised concerns that technical guidance around the policy may not be given until close to October 2025, when the rules will take effect.In addition to no longer serving that ad content ahead of next October, Google said that…
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NLRB accuses Grindr of using a return-to-office mandate to upend a unionization drive
04 Nov

NLRB accuses Grindr of using a return-to-office mandate to upend a unionization drive

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The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has filed a complaint against Grindr. According to Bloomberg, the agency alleges that a return-to-office (RTO) mandate that limited remote work and effectively meant a relocation requirement for many workers was an attempt to fend off a unionization drive. Around 80 of Grindr's 178 employees quit as a result of last year's RTO demand, according to the Communications Workers of America (CWA).The NLRB's general counsel office has accused Grindr of violating labor law by retaliating against workers who were attempting to organize. Per Bloomberg, the agency additionally claims the company refused to recognize the…
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Apple is buying the developer of one of the iPhone’s best photo-editing apps
03 Nov

Apple is buying the developer of one of the iPhone’s best photo-editing apps

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Apple is set to buy a notable developer of photo-editing apps. The company is acquiring Pixelmator, pending regulatory approval. Terms of the deal haven't been disclosed.While it seems likely that Apple will eventually bake some of Pixelmator's tech into its own Camera and Photos apps, the latter said "there will be no material changes to the , and Photomator apps at this time." However, it promised there will be "exciting updates" in the future.Pixelmator that it has taken inspiration from Apple since the very beginning of its 17-year existence and that it has similarly focused on "design, ease of use…
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Cash App users can claim thousands of dollars in a data breach settlement
26 Oct

Cash App users can claim thousands of dollars in a data breach settlement

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Heads up if you’ve had a Cash App account over the last six years or so: you may now be able to claim thousands of dollars as a result of a class-action settlement. The company proposed the $15 million settlement earlier this year following two security incidents. If you're eligible to make a claim, you only have a few weeks to do so.The first related breach took place in December 2021 when, according to Cash App, a former employee downloaded reports containing information on more than 8 million users. This included their full names, brokerage account numbers and, in some…
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Google Photos will show when images have been modified with AI
25 Oct

Google Photos will show when images have been modified with AI

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Big tech firms have been releasing AI tools all over their software offerings over the past year. But as it becomes ever easier to manipulate images and video with generative AI, there's been a second wave of launching companion policies to better inform people when that technology has been applied to content. Google is the latest to follow the trend.After debuting tools like the last spring and incorporating AI last month, Google Photos will begin labeling visual content that has been modified with AI. Google was already tagging AI-modified images with corresponding metadata, but now a plain language statement will…
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A federal ban on fake online reviews is now in effect
23 Oct

A federal ban on fake online reviews is now in effect

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Be warned, online merchants who see no issue in publishing phony reviews from made-up customers: that practice is no longer allowed. A federal ban on fake online reviews has taken effect.The Federal Trade Commission issued a final rule on the purchase and sale of online reviews and it came into force 60 days after it was published in the Federal Register. The agency's commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the regulation.The rule bans businesses from creating, buying or selling reviews and testimonials attributed to people who don't exist, including those that are AI generated. False celebrity endorsements aren't allowed and…
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Amazon is reportedly working on a low-cost storefront to rival Temu
23 Oct

Amazon is reportedly working on a low-cost storefront to rival Temu

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Amazon may be working on a secondary online sales platform that would compete with the absurdly low prices of Chinese retailer Temu. The Information that it has seen internal information sent to Amazon merchants that detail some of the price caps for this new storefront.The outlet claims the upper limit of prices are set at $8 for jewelry, $9 for bedding, $13 for guitars and $20 for sofas that are shipped from its fulfillment center in Guangdong, China under this new "Low-Cost Store." According to the site's sources, orders from this storefront would have slower shipping timelines of nine to…
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FCC launches a formal inquiry into why broadband data caps are terrible
15 Oct

FCC launches a formal inquiry into why broadband data caps are terrible

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The Federal Communications Commission that it will open a renewed investigation into broadband data caps and how they impact both consumer experience and company competition. The FCC is soliciting from consumers about their experiences with capped broadband service. The agency also opened a formal to collect public comment that will further inform its actions around broadband data caps."Restricting consumers' data can cut off small businesses from their customers, slap fees on low-income families and prevent people with disabilities from using the tools they rely on to communicate," FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said. "As the nation’s leading agency on communications, it’s…
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Google tests feature to show full recipes in search results
12 Oct

Google tests feature to show full recipes in search results

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It's an experience many of us know all too well: open up a food blogger's recipe only to scroll past a mountain of content you don't care about to actually reach the ingredients and method. Google is trialing a feature that could eliminate this step, even though it's the result of the company's own policies. noticed a new button on the thumbnails for select recipes called Quick View. This button brings up the complete recipe without leaving the search results page. In their testing, a search for "chocolate chip cookie recipe" revealed this Quick View button for the site Preppy…
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