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Enhanced Conversions in Microsoft Advertising This week on Marketing O'Clock, some updates are coming to Microsoft Ads that will enhance the experience. Then, Google unveils a reBard of its AI chatbot. Plus, who took the cookie from the cookie jar? The UK's Competition and Markets Authority, that's who. Google ‘cannot proceed with third-party cookie deprecation' in the UK until they address privacy concerns. Take the Marketing O'Survey - https://survey.marketingoclock.com/ Visit us at - https://marketingoclock.com/ Join our Discord Community - http://community.marketingoclock.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Intro - 00:00

oin us for a discussion on the latest trends of the regulatory response to greenwashing in the UK and EU. We will be exploring decisions by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority and Advertising Standards Authority and the EU Commission to give you practical tips to navigate the regulatory risks of greenwashing. We will also be looking ahead to key pieces of legislation, such as the EU Green Claims Directive, and what impact they will have on business marketing their green products or services. Click to find out more about our ESG Litigation and Regulatory Investigations Tracker and the ESG Disputes Radar! Contacts: Robert Allen, Mark Jephcott, Emily Blower, Craig Gilchrist, Alice Denis.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority aims to make big tech companies give more access to their rivals, Google is laying hundreds of employees across multiple business units, and Huawei is shutting down lobbying operations in the U.S. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE. You can get an ad-free feed of Daily Tech Headlines for $3 aContinue reading "Google Is Laying Off Hundreds Across Multiple Units – DTH"

Regulators in the US, EU, and UK have increasingly scrutinized non-compete and no-poach clauses in employment agreements and M&A deals. The US Federal Trade Commission proposed a rule to ban non-competes in most situations, while several US states seek to implement complete or partial non-compete bans. In Europe, the European Commission and the UK's Competition and Markets Authority are enhancing enforcement on no-poach agreements, while the UK government plans to limit the length of non-compete clauses in employment contracts. In this episode of Connected With Latham, London M&A partner Beatrice Lo speaks to Chicago partner Nineveh Alkhas and London associate Karima Salway about why deal teams and corporates should match regulators' focus on their use of restrictive covenants, and how to mitigate the risk of existing and proposed laws targeting the use of non-compete and no-poach clauses.   This podcast is provided as a service of Latham & Watkins LLP. Listening to this podcast does not create an attorney client relationship between you and Latham & Watkins LLP, and you should not send confidential information to Latham & Watkins LLP. While we make every effort to assure that the content of this podcast is accurate, comprehensive, and current, we do not warrant or guarantee any of those things and you may not rely on this podcast as a substitute for legal research and/or consulting a qualified attorney. Listening to this podcast is not a substitute for engaging a lawyer to advise on your individual needs. Should you require legal advice on the issues covered in this podcast, please consult a qualified attorney. Under New York's Code of Professional Responsibility, portions of this communication contain attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Results depend upon a variety of factors unique to each representation. Please direct all inquiries regarding the conduct of Latham and Watkins attorneys under New York's Disciplinary Rules to Latham & Watkins LLP, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, Phone: 1.212.906.1200

On this day in legal history, December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, a 42-year-old African American woman, sparked an inflection point in the American Civil Rights Movement. Working as a seamstress at the Montgomery Fair department store, Parks was returning home on a city bus during rush hour in Montgomery, Alabama. The buses had a segregated seating policy, reserving the front 10 seats for white passengers. Parks sat in the first row behind these reserved seats. As the bus became crowded, the driver, James Blake, ordered Parks and three other African American passengers to vacate their seats for white passengers. While the others complied, Parks refused, maintaining that she was not in a seat reserved for whites. Defying the driver's order, she was arrested for violating a city law enforcing racial segregation on public buses.This act of nonviolent resistance by Parks, who was already actively involved with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as a secretary to E.D. Nixon, the president of its Montgomery chapter, became a catalyst for change. Her arrest and the subsequent events highlighted the injustices of Jim Crow laws, prevalent across the South, which enforced discrimination and segregation against African Americans.Following her arrest, Parks was booked, fingerprinted, and briefly incarcerated. Charged with "refusing to obey orders of bus driver," she faced significant physical risk while in police custody, causing great concern for her family. Despite not being the first to be prosecuted for violating Montgomery's bus segregation laws, Parks' impeccable character and high esteem in her community made her case a rallying point. This led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a well-orchestrated, peaceful protest lasting 381 days. The boycott saw the rise of Martin Luther King, Jr., then a 26-year-old minister, who gained national fame for his eloquent oratory promoting civil rights and nonviolent protest.Parks was fined $10, plus $4 in court fees for her act of defiance. Her arrest record from December 1, 1955, shows her seated in the non-reserved section, challenging the segregation laws not by occupying a white-only seat, but by refusing to relocate when asked.Her conviction led to an appeal process entangled in the state court system. Meanwhile, in a related case, Browder v. Gayle, a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court ruled on June 4, 1956, that racial segregation on public buses was unconstitutional. This decision was later upheld by the United States Supreme Court on November 13, 1956, effectively ending bus segregation and signaling a significant legal victory for the Civil Rights Movement. Rosa Parks, through her quiet yet profound act of resistance, earned the title of "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement," symbolizing the fight against racial injustice in America.U.S. Representative George Santos (R-NY), currently facing a House expulsion vote, has been embroiled in controversy since his 2022 election. Accused of fabricating significant parts of his biography, including false claims of attending New York University, working at Goldman Sachs, and Citigroup, and even falsely claiming Jewish heritage with grandparents fleeing Nazis during World War Two, Santos faces serious allegations. He has been indicted on charges of laundering campaign funds and defrauding donors, although he pleads not guilty. Despite surviving a previous expulsion attempt, Santos' situation worsened following a bipartisan investigation revealing misuse of campaign funds for personal expenses, including spa treatments and luxury retail shopping. With the House requiring a two-thirds majority for expulsion, the decision rests on a significant number of Republicans joining all Democrats. Santos, who has refused to resign but will not run for reelection, could be the first member expelled from the House without a criminal conviction or affiliation with the Confederacy. If expelled, New York Governor Kathy Hochul will call a special election for his seat.US lawmaker George Santos, indicted on fraud charges, faces House expulsion voteA U.S. District Judge, Donald Molloy, blocked Montana's ban on the short-video sharing app TikTok, which was set to take effect on January 1. The judge ruled that the ban violated the free speech rights of users and overstepped state power, labeling it as unconstitutional. TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, had sued Montana to prevent the ban, asserting that it infringed upon the First Amendment rights of both the company and its users. Montana users of TikTok had also filed a lawsuit against the state legislature-approved ban, which was grounded in concerns over personal data security and potential Chinese espionage.TikTok expressed satisfaction with the ruling, emphasizing the platform's importance for self-expression, earning a living, and community building for Montanans. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, who defended the ban, noted that the ruling was preliminary and the legal analysis might evolve as the case progresses. Knudsen's office is considering further actions to defend the law, which they argue protects Montanans from the misuse of their data by the Chinese Communist Party.In previous court filings, TikTok has consistently denied sharing U.S. user data with the Chinese government and highlighted its substantial measures to safeguard user privacy and security. Judge Molloy, appointed by President Bill Clinton, found TikTok's arguments persuasive and noted an anti-Chinese sentiment underlying Montana's legal stance and legislation.The blocked state law could have imposed fines of $10,000 for each TikTok violation in Montana but did not penalize individual users. Molloy criticized Montana's attempt to exercise foreign policy authority, a domain reserved for the federal government, and deemed the state's action as excessively broad. While many states and the U.S. government have restricted TikTok on government devices, Montana's attempt to completely ban the app's use was unique. Efforts to nationally ban TikTok or restrict foreign-owned apps have been proposed in Congress but have not progressed. This decision follows a trend of courts blocking similar bans, including former President Donald Trump's 2020 attempt to bar new downloads of TikTok and WeChat.US judge blocks Montana from banning TikTok use in state | ReutersTikTok Ban in Montana Blocked by Court as Free Speech Threat (2)Google has urged the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to take action against Microsoft, alleging that Microsoft's business practices are disadvantaging competitors in the cloud computing market. This follows a broader scrutiny by regulators in the UK, EU, and US of the cloud computing industry, particularly focusing on the market dominance of Microsoft and Amazon. In 2022, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft's Azure controlled a substantial 70-80% of the UK's public cloud infrastructure services market, with Google's cloud division trailing at 5-10%.Google's primary concern, as expressed in a letter to the CMA, is Microsoft's licensing practices. These practices, according to Google, effectively compel customers to choose Azure as their primary cloud services provider, hindering competition and harming customers. Microsoft, in response, stated that it had updated its licensing rules to address these concerns and promote competition, although these changes have not appeased rivals.Microsoft spokesperson highlighted that the competition between cloud hyperscalers remains healthy and that independent data shows both Microsoft and Google gaining ground on AWS. Google Cloud Vice President Amit Zavery criticized Microsoft's approach to cloud services, emphasizing Google's commitment to a multi-cloud strategy that allows customers flexibility in choosing providers. He pointed out that Microsoft's licensing terms effectively increase costs for customers using cloud services from Google or AWS instead of Azure.Zavery also differentiated Microsoft's market behavior from that of AWS, noting that AWS customers don't face similar restrictive practices. Google's recommendations to the CMA include compelling Microsoft to improve interoperability and banning it from withholding security updates to customers who switch providers. The CMA has yet to comment on Google's allegations and recommendations.Exclusive: Google pushes for antitrust action against Microsoft in UK cloud market | ReutersMeta Platforms Inc. has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), challenging the constitutionality of the agency's structure and its authority. This legal action seeks an immediate halt to the FTC's efforts to modify their 2020 privacy settlement, claiming the agency's in-house process violates the U.S. Constitution. The central argument of Meta's complaint is that the FTC's administrative process is unfairly biased in favor of its commissioners, contrasting with the impartiality expected in an independent court's proceedings.This lawsuit is the latest in a series of corporate challenges to federal agencies' enforcement actions, particularly after the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Axon Enterprise v. FTC and SEC v. Cochran, which allows FTC and Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement targets to contest the constitutionality of agency actions without awaiting an administrative law judge's decision. Meta's contention centers on the argument that the FTC's structure does not conform with due process standards.The case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, follows a broader trend of scrutinizing administrative agency power at the Supreme Court level. This scrutiny includes cases like SEC v. Jarkesy, West Virginia v. EPA, and Seila Law LLC v. CFPB, which question the extent of agency powers and their constitutional validity. A ruling against the FTC could have significant implications, potentially curtailing the agency's consumer protection and privacy enforcement capabilities.Privacy advocates and legislators have criticized Meta's lawsuit as an attempt to evade accountability, particularly concerning the company's handling of children's data and online safety. The lawsuit could also slow down the FTC's proposed updates to the agreement with Meta, which includes limiting facial recognition use and banning profit from children's data, potentially impacting Meta's business model. Sen. Edward Markey, author of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, condemned Meta's legal action, seeing it as a move to avoid scrutiny.Meta Lawsuit a ‘Serious Attack' on FTC Enforcement AuthorityThe U.S. Supreme Court is set to review a $6 billion settlement involving Purdue Pharma LP and its owners, the Sackler family, which may significantly impact the conduct of bankruptcy settlements in the U.S. The settlement, intended to protect the Sacklers from future opioid lawsuits, utilizes a legal mechanism that grants immunity to third parties like the Sackler family, who are not directly bankrupt but are connected to the bankruptcy case. This mechanism has been used in various cases, including mass litigation over dangerous products and sex abuse claims against organizations like Catholic dioceses and the Boy Scouts of America. However, its legality is now under question.Critics of the settlement argue that it unfairly strips victims of their right to a jury trial and extends beyond the powers granted to bankruptcy courts by Congress. On the other hand, industry groups and some bankruptcy scholars argue that such deals are necessary for fair and efficient distribution of a bankrupt company's limited assets. The central issue in the case is whether provisions called non-consensual third-party releases, which are a key part of these agreements, are lawful.By way of very brief background, in bankruptcy law, a non-consensual third-party release is a controversial and complex provision often included in reorganization plans. This release discharges certain non-debtor parties, typically corporate affiliates, officers, or directors, from liabilities related to the debtor's obligations, without the explicit consent of the affected creditors. These releases are designed to facilitate the restructuring process by protecting key stakeholders who might otherwise face legal action. However, they are contentious as they can potentially infringe upon creditors' rights to seek full redress from parties other than the debtor. The legality and enforceability of such releases vary significantly across jurisdictions, reflecting differing views on balancing debtor relief with creditor rights.The Biden administration's Solicitor General, Elizabeth Prelogar, has suggested that if the Sacklers are forced back into the civil justice system, they could end up paying more than the $6 billion currently offered. The settlement has also been criticized for potentially leaving the Sackler family wealthier after all payments are made. The Sackler family, however, disputes allegations of wrongdoing and asserts that the settlement avoids prolonged and uncertain civil litigation.This case also encompasses a related proposal to transform Purdue into a public benefit corporation focused on developing and distributing medications for overdose reversal and opioid addiction treatment. Members of the Sackler family have not faced criminal charges, although they agreed to a $225 million settlement with the Justice Department in 2020 for civil claims, while Purdue pleaded guilty to federal felonies related to OxyContin marketing. The outcome of the Supreme Court's review could have broad implications for future bankruptcy settlements and the rights of victims in similar cases.A $6 Billion Settlement Threatens to Upend US Bankruptcy Deals Get full access to Minimum Competence - Daily Legal News Podcast at www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has increasingly asserted its jurisdiction to review private equity buy-and-build transactions, including completed deals, citing competition concerns and protection against perceived threats to consumers. With regulators in the US and elsewhere voicing similar concerns, PE firms and portfolio companies must now consider the heightened risk of enforcement action in the merger control context. In this episode of Connected With Latham, London private equity partner David Walker speaks to London counsel Ludmilla Le Grand about the CMA's key tests for initiating review of a roll-up transaction, as well as the impact of a CMA investigation on acquirers and how private equity firms should approach merger control risk.   This podcast is provided as a service of Latham & Watkins LLP. Listening to this podcast does not create an attorney client relationship between you and Latham & Watkins LLP, and you should not send confidential information to Latham & Watkins LLP. While we make every effort to assure that the content of this podcast is accurate, comprehensive, and current, we do not warrant or guarantee any of those things and you may not rely on this podcast as a substitute for legal research and/or consulting a qualified attorney. Listening to this podcast is not a substitute for engaging a lawyer to advise on your individual needs. Should you require legal advice on the issues covered in this podcast, please consult a qualified attorney. Under New York's Code of Professional Responsibility, portions of this communication contain attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Results depend upon a variety of factors unique to each representation. Please direct all inquiries regarding the conduct of Latham and Watkins attorneys under New York's Disciplinary Rules to Latham & Watkins LLP, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, Phone: 1.212.906.1200

On this day in legal history in 1946 the Nuremberg executions were carried out, following the trials of ten high level officials of the Third Reich.On October 16, 1946, a somber chapter in the aftermath of World War II closed with the Nuremberg executions. Ten prominent members of the Nazi regime were hanged, marking the end of the historic Nuremberg trials that sought justice for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide. The executed men included Hans Frank, Wilhelm Frick, Alfred Jodl, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Wilhelm Keitel, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Alfred Rosenberg, Fritz Sauckel, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, and Julius Streicher. Hermann Göring, another top Nazi official scheduled to be executed, evaded the noose by committing suicide the night before.These executions took place in the gymnasium of Nuremberg Prison and were carried out by the United States Army. Master Sergeant John C. Woods and his assistant, military policeman Joseph Malta, were the executioners. They used the standard drop method instead of the long drop, which led to considerable controversy as some of the men did not die quickly from a broken neck, but slowly strangled to death. Reports indicated that some hangings took from 14 to 28 minutes, leading to claims of botched executions, which the Army later denied.The order of the executions began at 1:11 a.m. with von Ribbentrop and spanned just about two hours. The condemned men were allowed final statements, many of which expressed a mix of nationalistic sentiments, pleas for peace, and even denial of guilt. For instance, Ribbentrop's final words were a wish for understanding between East and West, and for peace in the world. On the other hand, Fritz Sauckel claimed his innocence and asked God to make Germany great again.Kingsbury Smith of the International News Service provided an eyewitness account, complete with photographs, that later appeared in newspapers. The initial belief was that the bodies were taken to Dachau for cremation. However, they were actually incinerated in a crematorium in Munich, and the ashes were scattered over the river Isar.The Nuremberg executions and the trials that preceded them remain landmarks in the evolution of international law and human rights. While they meted out justice to some of the perpetrators of the Holocaust and other wartime atrocities, they also ignited debates on judicial ethics and the very nature of evil. Thus, October 16 serves not just as a grim remembrance of the punishment meted out to some of history's worst criminals, but also as a milestone in the ongoing global dialogue about justice and accountability.Judge David R. Jones, a top U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Texas, has resigned amid an ethics investigation. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a formal misconduct complaint against him for not disclosing his live-in relationship with Elizabeth Freeman, an attorney at Jackson Walker LLP, a prominent bankruptcy firm. In a statement, Jones said he had become a "distraction" to the court's work and resigned to refocus attention on the court. His departure may trigger further scrutiny of the high-profile Chapter 11 cases he had overseen, including those involving Neiman Marcus, JCPenney, Seadrill Ltd., and Chesapeake Energy.The misconduct complaint was lodged by Chief Judge Priscilla Richman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which has jurisdiction over federal courts in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Freeman and Jones have lived together since 2017, and Jones approved attorney fees for Jackson Walker and even recommended Freeman for professional positions without disclosing their relationship. Richman stated there was "probable cause to believe that Judge Jones has engaged in misconduct."Jackson Walker learned of the relationship allegation in March 2021 and instructed Freeman to stop working on cases overseen by Jones. The firm claims to have acted responsibly, including conducting a full inquiry and consulting external ethics counsel. Freeman left the firm in late 2022. Jones was sworn in as a bankruptcy judge in 2011 and was instrumental in making the Southern District of Texas a popular venue for large corporate Chapter 11 cases.Jones defended his actions by stating he and Freeman were not married and that he had no economic interest in her cases. However, Richman cited instances where Jones violated the code of conduct for U.S. judges, including not recusing himself where impartiality could be questioned. The Department of Justice's bankruptcy watchdog also questioned a bankruptcy plan mediated by Jones involving a party represented by Freeman.As of now, it is unclear whether the federal appeals court investigation into Jones will continue post-resignation. Legal experts suggest the case could have long-term ripple effects, raising questions about what other judges or firms may have known about the relationship. Calls for larger reforms in bankruptcy practice have also been ignited, emphasizing the need for expanded disclosures and better regulation.Texas Bankruptcy Judge Resigns After His Ethics Questioned (2)Top US bankruptcy judge resigns amid ethics inquiry | ReutersCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law a bill to regulate the state's cryptocurrency industry, which hosts nearly a quarter of all blockchain companies in North America. The legislation comes in the wake of issues like last year's collapse of the FTX exchange and aims to establish a basic regulatory framework. Newsom, who is a proponent of blockchain innovation, had previously vetoed similar legislation but suggests that the current measure may still require further refinement for clarity.The law, known as AB 39, is paired with another bill, SB 401, which targets cryptocurrency kiosks, ATM-like machines where cryptocurrencies can be bought or exchanged. Both bills were signed by the governor. AB 39 seeks to replicate New York's licensing system for cryptocurrency businesses, requiring various safety protocols, documentation, and fees. Businesses will also need to disclose if their services are insured and must maintain a customer phone line. Enforcement actions, including revoking licenses and imposing civil penalties of up to $20,000 per day, will be handled by the state Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.SB 401 imposes restrictions on crypto kiosks, capping transactions at $1,000 per day and limiting charges to a maximum of $5 or 15% of the transaction value. Documentation requirements have also been stipulated for greater accountability. Consumer advocates believe that these laws are essential for curbing fraud in the cryptocurrency sector. However, industry groups like the Crypto Council for Innovation, representing companies such as Coinbase and Gemini, have opposed both bills. They argue that the laws need more exemptions for smaller companies and more clarity around the licensing process, while also claiming that the kiosk restrictions could effectively put such businesses out of operation.Gov. Newsom Signs Crypto Licensing Bill in CaliforniaSen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey has been indicted for allegedly acting as a foreign agent for Egypt, which has led to renewed scrutiny of his role in blocking reforms to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Menendez, a Democrat, had substantial influence over FARA-related legislation in his capacity as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a position he stepped down from following a previous corruption indictment. He has been identified as a significant obstacle to legislative efforts to modernize FARA, a law dating back to 1938 that requires disclosure for those acting on behalf of foreign interests.Bipartisan calls for reforming FARA have been growing, especially as the Department of Justice has increased its investigations under the law since 2016. However, comprehensive updates have failed to gain traction. Menendez had publicly blocked an expedited vote on FARA reform in 2020 and also worked behind the scenes to thwart changes to the foreign lobbying disclosure law. His indictment has now raised questions about whether his actions were motivated by a desire to cover his own activities related to Egypt.Menendez explained his 2020 decision to block a FARA package by urging a more comprehensive look at the proposed changes. A spokesperson for Sen. Charles Grassley, who backed the FARA reform, stated that Menendez has not been cooperative on FARA reform since the 2020 defeat of the proposal. Menendez, who is not charged under FARA but under a different statute pertaining to public officials, has denied any wrongdoing.The indictment against Menendez has reinvigorated discussions about the need for FARA reform. Legal experts suggest that his case could be a catalyst for legislative action, much like past scandals have precipitated changes in lobbying laws. The removal of Menendez from his committee position could also remove a significant barrier to FARA reform.The Justice Department alleges that Menendez conspired with officials who should have been registered under FARA, raising the stakes for reforms to the law, which has multiple ambiguities and outdated language. If Menendez is proven to have acted on Egypt's behalf, it could make it difficult for Congress to ignore calls for reform, especially given that Menendez had been urging the DOJ to investigate a Republican politician under FARA.Menendez Indicted as Foreign Agent After Thwarting Related BillU.S. prosecutors are expected to request a judge to restrict former President Donald Trump's public comments about a federal case that accuses him of attempting to overturn his loss in the 2020 election. The hearing is planned by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan and aims to consider Special Counsel Jack Smith's bid to prevent Trump from discussing potential witnesses and making disparaging remarks about prosecutors, court staff, and potential jurors. Smith has pointed to Trump's "inflammatory public statements," including social media attacks, arguing that they could undermine public confidence in the legal process and possibly sway jurors.Trump, who is not expected to attend the hearing, has strongly opposed this request, describing it as an attempt to limit his free speech while he is running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. The issue has become an early contentious point, approximately five months ahead of Trump's scheduled trial. The former president is charged with conspiracy to interfere in the vote counting and blocking the certification of the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden.Trump has pleaded not guilty and accuses the prosecutors of interfering with his campaign. This is one of four criminal cases brought against him by federal and state prosecutors this year. Earlier this month, a New York judge issued a gag order against Trump in a civil fraud trial, prohibiting him from speaking about court staff.In a court filing, prosecutors cited comments Trump made on his Truth Social site about potential witnesses, including former Vice President Mike Pence and former top U.S. general Mark Milley. They argue that Trump's remarks are consistent with threatening behavior he exhibited after the 2020 election, which led to threats from his supporters against election officials.Trump's legal team has responded by saying there is no evidence to suggest that his social media posts have adversely affected the case. They accuse prosecutors of trying to impose broad restrictions on Trump's ability to criticize the government. Trump's lawyers argue that the proposed gag order is an attempt by the Biden administration to unlawfully silence its major political opponent.Special Counsel Jack Smith was appointed to provide the investigation a degree of independence from the political leadership of the U.S. Justice Department. Prosecutors have previously refuted allegations of political interference.Prosecutors aim to persuade judge to rein in Trump comments on election case | ReutersMicrosoft has successfully completed its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, making franchises like Call of Duty officially part of Xbox. The deal makes Microsoft the second-largest gaming company in the world, surpassing Sony. It also greatly expands the catalog for Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass subscription service, with Activision Blizzard titles like Overwatch 2, Diablo IV, and World of Warcraft, while boosting Microsoft's presence in mobile gaming through titles like Candy Crush and Call of Duty Mobile. Microsoft has signed a 10-year agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation but may make other Activision Blizzard franchises exclusive to Xbox.The acquisition expands Microsoft's gaming business by roughly 10,000 employees. Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick will remain with the company through the end of 2023, reporting to Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer. Microsoft has agreed to union neutrality, and Activision Blizzard employees will have the opportunity to recognize a union through a simple card check process starting 60 days from now.The deal was initially announced in January 2022 after Activision Blizzard faced a drop in stock price due to major game delays and reports of sexual harassment within the company. Contrary to previous expectations that Kotick would resign after the deal, he is set to stay on and stands to make nearly $400 million from the sale via his stock holdings.Legal battles almost derailed the merger, with the Federal Trade Commission attempting to block it, resulting in a week-long trial. However, Microsoft managed to clear the regulatory hurdles, including agreeing to sell cloud gaming rights for Activision Blizzard games in the UK to Ubisoft to satisfy the UK's Competition and Markets Authority.Going forward, Microsoft faces the challenge of integrating Activision Blizzard into its existing gaming operations, a process that is expected to take years. This acquisition significantly amplifies Microsoft's gaming business, coming after its 2020 purchase of Bethesda Softworks' parent company ZeniMax, and sets the stage for future industry consolidation.Microsoft Finally Closes Massive Activision Blizzard Deal, Making Call Of Duty Officially Part Of Xbox Now Get full access to Minimum Competence - Daily Legal News Podcast at www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

The Microsoft/Activision deal is still alive. And now, Ubisoft has been folded into the conversation with control of cloud streaming rights. Also: Earnings (Square Enix, Sony, Take-Two, Embracer Group), The July 2023 Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending, Xbox's new moderation system, and a listener question about the Xtra Small Small. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise!   TIME STAMPS  [00:01:36] - Square Enix Q1 FY24 Earnings [00:07:16] - Take-Two Q1 FY24 Earnings [00:14:51] - Sony Q1 FY24 Earnings [00:18:24] - Embracer Group Q1 FY24 Earnings [00:26:23] - Investment Interlude [00:41:24] - Quick Hits [00:46:17] - Labor Report [00:50:59] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for July 2023 [00:54:19] - Xbox's New Moderation System [00:56:46] - Listener Question   SOURCES Square Enix Q1 FY24 Earnings | Square Enix Sony Q1 FY24 Earnings | Sony Take-Two Q1 FY24 Earnings | Take-Two Embracer Group Q1 FY24 Earnings | Embracer Group Scoop: Saudi-funded Savvy Games was the mystery partner in collapsed $2B Embracer deal | Axios Embracer is Moving to Shutter Campfire Cabal | Campfire Cabal on LinkedIn Xbox Introduces Enforcement Strike System | Xbox Wire Xbox 360 Store and Xbox 360 Marketplace FAQ | Xbox Support An Update on the State of BioWare | BioWare   INVESTMENT INTERLUDE Telltale Acquires Flavourworks | Telltale Behaviour Interactive Acquires Award-Winning Codeglue | GamesPress Roleplay Community Update | Rockstar Games VIRTUOS EXPANDS GAME ENGINEERING CAPABILITIES WITH LAUNCH OF VIRTUOS LABS – PRAGUE | Virtuous Krafton commits $150 million to India following BGMI trial approval | TechCrunch Play Ventures raised at least $78M for third gaming venture fund | GamesBeat Microsoft and Activision Blizzard restructure proposed acquisition and notify restructured transaction to the UK's Competition and Markets Authority | Microsoft Microsoft submits new deal for review after CMA confirms original deal is blocked | UK CMA Activision Blizzard Games Coming To Ubisoft+ | Ubisoft Microsoft's Activision Blizzard merger approved in New Zealand | Game Developer  

Microsoft has lashed out at the UK's Competition and Markets Authority over its decision to veto the software giant's $69 billion acquisition of gaming company Activision Blizzard. Microsoft President Brad Smith called the decision “the darkest day of our four decades in Britain,” warning that the regulator's red light had shaken the company's confidence about doing business in the UK. On this week's podcast, MLex's M&A team examines the fallout of the CMA's decision and what it means for the prospects of the global deal.

I start off by showing off an old Heathkit catalog from 1978, and the way that we used to build electronics like you build Ikea furniture today. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has blocked the Microsoft and Activision merger on the grounds that it could create a monopoly in the cloud gaming space - and even made the decision assuming that Google Stadia failed because it didn't have Call of Duty on it. We also discuss what the next steps could be, because not all is lost yet, but it is a large hurdle that was somewhat unexpected. Then we talk to Rob about why we actually do want Microsoft to buy Activision.

In this episode, we'll discuss the recent news of the UK's Competition and Markets Authority blocking the Microsoft Activision Blizzard deal and how the deal could potentially move forward now. We also discuss Metacritic's efforts to improve moderation after abusive and disrespectful reviews of Horizon Forbidden West and Burning Shores. We'll also talk about DigitalFoundry's recent article calling Star Wars Jedi Survivor PC port the worst triple-A port of 2023 so far and whether publishers will ever be made to feel accountable to consumers in releasing finished products. Lastly, we'll share our top gaming draft picks by decade.

Disney has filed a lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis alleging that he has been using the government's power to damage the company amid a prolonged dispute over a contentious classroom bill. The complaint claims that DeSantis orchestrated a campaign to penalize Disney, which now threatens the corporation's business. This escalates the lengthy fight between DeSantis, who is expected to be a top Republican contender in the 2024 presidential race, and Disney, one of Florida's biggest employers. Disney opposed a Florida bill that restricted classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity, and DeSantis and his allies subsequently aimed at the specific tax district that has allowed Disney to largely govern its Florida operations since the 1960s. On the same day the board of supervisors, which DeSantis picked to assume control over Disney's Orlando-area parks, filed the lawsuit, it moved to overturn a development agreement that it claims Disney made to thwart its authority. The suit claims that this action was the "newest strike" and that the development contracts "laid the foundation for billions of Disney's investment dollars and thousands of jobs." Disney is asking the court to declare the legislative move illegal and unenforceable. DeSantis' office responded by suggesting that the fight was about Disney's unique tax and governance privileges, not political retribution.For more on the DeSantis-Disney debacle, check out the soon-to-be-recorded latest episode of Esquiring Minds. My co-host, Jacob Schumer, is the expert on the subject and we'll be delving in to all things Disney when we record this evening. The episode should be up late tonight, or early tomorrow morning.  Disney sues Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, alleges political effort to hurt its businessA hearing in the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit could determine the legality of hundreds of OSHA workplace safety requirements. The case, brought by Allstates Refractory Contractors LLC of Waterville, Ohio, challenges the authority of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to decide which safety hazards require regulation and what protections should be implemented. If the court rules against OSHA, it could strike down safety regulations dating back 50 years, covering hazards such as falls and electrocution. OSHA argues that over 50 years of court decisions support its safety rule-making powers, and that it is limited to issuing standards that are economically and technologically feasible. If OSHA standards were to be cancelled, state laws, workers' compensation, industry consensus standards, and fear of lawsuits may fill the regulatory gap. Judges Deborah Cook and Richard Allen Griffin, both appointed by President George W. Bush, and John Nalbandian, appointed by President Donald Trump, will hear the case.Legality of OSHA Safety Rules Challenged in Federal Appeals CaseThe U.S. Senate is set to vote on Thursday on a measure that could allow the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to be added to the Constitution, but it is likely to fail due to Republican opposition. The amendment, first proposed in 1923 and passed by Congress in 1972, would entitle women to equal pay and secure their rights in legal matters. Virginia became the 38th state to adopt the amendment in 2020, and a resolution now before the Senate would remove the deadline so that the amendment could go into effect. Proponents argue that the ERA is crucial at a time when women's rights are under threat, while opponents claim it could lead to making abortion rights constitutional and force women into military service. Regardless of the vote outcome, the ERA will face legal challenges, as some states that initially ratified it later rejected it – which is a perfect microcosm of the current state of toxic political discourse.US Senate to vote on Equal Rights Amendment, a century after introduction | ReutersMicrosoft's president, Brad Smith, criticized the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for blocking its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, saying it had shaken confidence in Britain as a destination for tech businesses. The CMA, which operates independently from the government, blocked the deal on Wednesday, saying it could hit competition in the nascent cloud gaming market. Smith said the decision sent the wrong message to the global tech industry about the UK and that if the government wants to bring in investment and create jobs, it needs to look hard at the role of the CMA, the regulatory structure in the UK, this transaction, and the message that the UK has just said to the world. However, a spokesman for the UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said Smith's comments were "not borne out by the facts". Microsoft said it would appeal the decision with "aggressive" support from Activision. Appeals against CMA rulings are heard by the Competition Appeals Tribunal.Microsoft hits back at UK after Activision acquisition blocked | ReutersLegal AI startup Harvey has raised $21 million in fresh investor cash led by Sequoia Capital in a Series A fundraising round. Harvey, built on OpenAI's GPT-4, builds custom large language models for law firms. Several major firms have signed deals to adopt new AI products, such as Casetext's AI legal assistant product, CoCounsel, which uses GPT-4 to speed up legal research, contract analysis, and document review. Even early adopters of AI are cautious and highlight the need for testing and guardrails to protect confidential client data and avoid errors.As the use of AI in the legal space continues to grow, concerns around privacy and accountability are becoming increasingly relevant. The use of large language models and generative AI tools can potentially lead to the mishandling or exposure of confidential client information, which could have severe legal and reputational consequences for law firms. Additionally, AI systems can introduce bias into decision-making processes, perpetuating existing inequalities and injustices. This isn't just hypothetical, there are real world examples of this occurring, as in the Dutch AI tax case. There, AI was scapegoated as the cause of a disproportionate number of ethnic minorities being denied benefits and charged with fraud. The reality wasn't that the AI was racist, but the lawmakers that employed it were. It is crucial for policymakers and even law firms as well as AI developers to establish clear guidelines and protocols for the ethical and responsible use of these tools, including regular audits and risk assessments to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks.Legal AI race draws more investors as law firms line up | ReutersThe Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, John Roberts, has declined an invitation to testify at an upcoming Senate Judiciary Committee hearing focusing on judicial ethics. The committee's chairman, Senator Dick Durbin, had asked Roberts to appear before the panel to address potential reforms to ethics rules governing the justices, citing a "steady stream of revelations" regarding justices falling short of ethical standards. Roberts declined the invitation, saying that such appearances by chief justices were rare due to concerns about the separation of powers between the three branches of the U.S. government.Supreme Court's Roberts declines to appear at Senate Judiciary hearing | Reuters Get full access to Minimum Competence - Daily Legal News Podcast at www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

It's one thing to lose a high-profile antitrust lawsuit targeting a tech behemoth on the merits of the case; having a judge rule against you for missing deadlines is another. Yet a procedural stumble was enough to place the UK's Competition and Markets Authority on the receiving end of a court ruling that upended its probe of Apple's mobile browser and cloud-gaming services. The recent ruling of the Competition Appeal Tribunal in Apple's favor was a reminder that, whatever its motives, the regulator can't escape statutory obligations over procedure.

Sneaks up on ya. Games we played this week include: Tax Heaven 3000 (3:05) Boneraiser Minions (13:45) Have a Nice Death (22:50) Before Your Eyes (32:20) Core Fault (34:10) Shining Gadget (35:35) Factory Farming (36:20) Resident Evil 4 Remake (40:55) Pizza Tower (50:45) --- News things talked about in this episode: Confusion arises over discarded plans for PS5 version of Redfall (55:20) https://www.destructoid.com/redfall-ps5-microsoft-arkane-purchase-zenimax-xbox-exclusive/ UK's Competition and Markets Authority expected to allow Microsoft merger (57:25) https://www.eurogamer.net/microsofts-activision-blizzard-takeover-will-not-result-in-a-substantial-lessening-of-competition-says-cma US Senator in Microsoft's home state raises suggestion that Sony has the real monopoly (59:32) https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2023/03/cantwell-calls-out-sonys-gaming-monopoly-in-exchange-with-us-trade-rep-tai-00088607 Bobby Kotick promises not to be vindictive toward Sony over merger dispute (1:01:20) https://activisionblizzard.substack.com/p/microsoft-deal-update-march Publishers are showing their pullout game when it comes to E3 (1:02:35) https://www.ign.com/articles/rumors-swirl-around-e3s-future-as-sega-even-more-publishers-back-out --- Buy official Jimquisition merchandise from the Jimporium at thejimporium.com Find Laura at LauraKBuzz on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, and Patreon. All her content goes on LauraKBuzz.com, and you can catch Access-Ability on YouTube every Friday. Follow Conrad at ConradZimmerman on Twitter and check out his Patreon (patreon.com/fistshark). You can also peruse his anti-capitalist propaganda at pinfultruth.com.

This week on Dense Pixels: Micah gives his impressions after some time spent in Like a Dragon: Shin. Sony has stirred up controversy by claiming that Microsoft may release a version of Call of Duty on PlayStation which will contain bugs and errors that only emerge in the game's final level or after later updates. Meanwhile, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has expressed concerns over the Nintendo Switch's capability to run Call of Duty in an Xbox deal. The Microsoft-Activision deal is likely to pass EU regulators, despite initial doubts. Fans of DC comics have been eagerly awaiting the release of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, but a recent preview and delay announcement has cast doubt on the game's potential. Finally, Square Enix looks set to replace its NFT-loving CEO, while fans of Elden Ring have something to look forward to with the announcement of an expansion DLC called Shadow of Erdtree.

Welcome to Episode 87. This week Barry and Anthony will take a look at the first trailer for the upcoming Tetris movie. Final Fantasy VII heads to the Xbox... sort of. The Pokémon company announces a livestream event for Pokémon Day. Plus we mourn two great Square-Enix RPGs leaving Xbox Game Pass at the end of February. Finally we talk about the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) potentially jumping the gun on a new Nintendo console. Full show notes are available at https://www.retrogamingdads.co.uk/ Support the podcast at https://www.retroages.co.uk/support/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/retrogamingdads/message

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority recently released the results of their assessment of the potential acquisition of Activision by Microsoft, and concluded that it's not in consumer's best interests. We chat about the implications of a deal like this, the nature of Activision, and throw shade on Bobby Kotick, while Mike tries baiting Peter about the fact that this report only applies to the UK. Today's article: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/microsoft-activision-deal-could-harm-uk-gamers LINKS: • Discord: https://discord.gg/7QsrTbKchc • Peter: https://twitter.com/pgl • Jon: https://twitter.com/jonnisec • Mike: he's just unsociable • Curated privacy and security news feed: https://twitter.com/privsecnews

Google showed off new features for search, Google Translate, Google Maps and their version of the ChatGPT Large Language Model. We explain the latest regarding Microsoft's acquisition of Blizzard Activision from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority. And Scott details his experience with the Xbox Game Pass service. Starring Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Scott Johnson, Roger Chang, Joe, Amos To read the show notes in a separate page click here! Support the show on Patreon by becoming a supporter!

their version of the ChatGPT Large Language Model. We explain the latest regarding Microsoft's acquisition of Blizzard Activision from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority. And Scott details his experience with the Xbox Game Pass service.Starring Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Scott Johnson, Roger Chang, Joe.Link to the Show Notes. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/dtns. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FOLLOW UP: ARRIVAL ‘PAUSES' JV WITH MERCEDESRecently Arrival announced a joint-venture with Mercedes-Benz, to make electric vans in Europe. However, they have just stated there will be a ‘pause' in the deal as they focus on the US market and becoming cash flow positive. You can learn more by clicking this Reuters link here. REGULATOR STATES FUEL PRICES NOT DROPPING FAST ENOUGHCompetition and Markets Authority has concluded their investigation into retailer fuel prices, with the conclusion that they do not fall quick enough, especially compared to the increases. This is not surprising to anyone, as we have all seen the price gouging by those making huge profits. Click this Autocar link to learn more. BMW FINED BY UK REGULATOR OVER LACK OF DATAAccording to the BMW Group the UK's Competition and Markets Authority has no jurisdiction to demand information from it, only BMW UK, over the investigation into anti-competitive practices that is running concurrently with the European one. The CMA disagrees and is now fining the company. More can be read on this by clicking this MSM news article link. TOYOTA RESHAPING EV STRATEGYToyota is reshaping their three staged EV strategy to move certain aspects further up the timescale. They will be holding a large call with relevant supplies in February 2023. To learn what this means, click this Market Screener link here. VW BOARD TO BE GIVEN SOFTWARE ‘REALITY CHECK'Oliver Blum, the VW Group CEO, will present what is being described as a ‘reality check' of their software program, to the Group board. The much heralded V2.0 release will likely be put back from 2026 to at least 2028. Don't forget one VW CEO has lost their job thanks to their software woes. Click this Reuters link to learn more. M&S TEAMS UP WITH BP PULSE FOR EV CHARGERSFurthering their partnership, where M&S stores can be found at BP forecourts, BP Pulse is going to be the provider for rapid EV chargers installed at shops across the country. The plan is for 900 to be installed, being a mix of 50kW and 150kW capable chargers. To read more, click this Move Electric article here. WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY EV DESIGN COMPETITION LAUNCHEDMotability and Callum Design have teamed up to launch a design competition for students to come up with a future-proof and affordable design for wheelchair friendly EVs. 60 submissions have already been received with the winner being announced in January 2023. Click here to learn more, from the Move Electric article. UK ESCOOTER LAWS DELAYEDSurprising no one, the Government has confirmed there will be a delay in producing laws designed to take account of escooters and their use...

In episode 65 we have a hardware heavy show. Barry and Anthony talk about the potential of Gamecube titles heading to the Switch, the Mega Drive Mini 2 has been unveiled for PAL territories and Microsoft run afoul of the UK's Competition and Markets Authority. Plus we also take a look a two new handhelds, the upcoming Evercade EXP gets 18 included Capcom titles. Also Logitech may have had their upcoming streaming handheld leaked as we talk about it's looks and specs. Full show notes are available at https://www.retrogamingdads.co.uk/ Support the podcast at https://www.retroages.co.uk/support/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/retrogamingdads/message

Hope is dwindling that Halo Infinite can meet the previous promises by 343 Industries. Is it too late for a change in management? Also the UK's Competition and Markets Authority expresses it's concerns over Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Do they have a leg to stand on? The panel is back in full force for the latest episode of Busy Playing Something LIVE! Tune in to find out! Welcome to Busy Playing Something LIVE! ► Live every Wednesday at 7:30 pm AEST on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/BusyPlayingSomething ► Busy Playing Something - https://twitter.com/Busy_Playing The team: ► Joshua La Rosa - https://twitter.com/JoshuaLaRosa ► Ricki Needs - https://twitter.com/BudgetSethRogen ► Sean Haren - https://twitter.com/HolyDaprawn

TIME STAMP INFO: 01:00 Intros 06:00 Microsoft's Brad Smith Responds To The UK's Competition & Markets Authority Statements Regarding ABK 1:45:00 Xbox Game Pass Family & Friends appears yesterday on the "Official" Xbox website, was this planned after the CMA announcement? 2:20:00 Panel Outros and Special Message to the community! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/craig-ravitch/support

This week, we're talking about returns. The more we shop, the more we return. And the more we shop online, the worse it gets. Retailers have embraced easy, free returns as a way to grab market share, but it's coming at a cost to the companies and the planet. We'll look at just how bad the data is, talk about what can be done to manage returns, and hopefully find some companies who are getting it right. This won't be the only time we talk about returns, but we're starting out today with a look at just how bad the problem has gotten. Then, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is getting serious about holding fashion brands accountable for their sustainability claims. They announced an investigation into Asos, Boohoo, and Asda after a preliminary look at the brands' claims in January. Will other countries follow suit? And how are brands responding?  Resources:   New York Times: Retail's “Dark Side” McKinsey: Improving returns management for apparel companies BBC: Asos, Boohoo and Asda investigated over green claims  New York Times: Why a Vogue Cover Created a Controversy for Olena Zelenska Hot Buttons is a production of Post Script Media. The show is hosted by Christina Binkley, Rachel Kibbe, and Shilla Kim-Parker. Follow the show on Twitter. 

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. Well, this week we are looking at just one of the biggest and most interesting news stories of the last week, because last Tuesday the UK's Competition & Markets Authority published an interim report based on its market study into the streaming music sector - and given it's 97 pages long, we figured that was probably enough material to fill an edition of Setlist. STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK • CMA declines to recommend a full market investigation into music streaming OTHER LINKS • Full CMA Music And Streaming report • Mixed response from music industry to CMA's decision on streaming investigation • Full DCMS Economics Of Streaming Inquiry timeline • Buy MMF and CMU Insights' Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon MORE FROM CMU • Upcoming CMU webinars • Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin • Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has named 10 companies that have been investigated for bid-rigging and price fixing. Eight of them have admitted involvement. But while the industry is still reeling, it does have the opportunity to rebuild anew. If you enjoy this episode, then please consider showing your support at www.buymeacoffee.com/demolitionnews

The collapse of a deal involving two Finnish crane companies — Cargotec and Konecranes — as a result of regulatory obstacles has thrust into the spotlight differences in outlook between the UK and the European Union on mergers and acquisitions. The European Commission had been prepared to wave the deal through — albeit with undertakings from the companies to divest an array of assets; but the UK's Competition and Markets Authority concluded that the undertakings on the table wouldn't be enough to allay its fears of competitive harm. The deal highlighted and solidify the differences between those regulators that are prepared to work with undertakings; and those who aren't. Also on the podcast today: Brazil's CADE faces scrutiny over antitrust penalties.

Episode 35 of the Influencer Marketing Lab - a weekly podcast tracking the growth spurts and growing pains of influencer marketing.This podcast is sponsored by Tagger the data-driven influencer marketing platform and social listening tool.This week Scott Guthrie is in conversation with Cecilia Parker Aranha, Director of Consumer Protection at the UK's Competition and Markets Authority.In this episode we discuss:The aims of the Green Claims CodeWhat points it coversHow it affects brands, influencer marketers and creatorsThe vertical sectors the CMA may prioritise Next year's review processCheck out the Influencer Marketing Lab website for full show notes and related useful links. 

Randy talks about a Google Pixel repair nightmare and also about the negatives of Amazon's continuing world domination. This News Edition Episode was recorded on Sunday, December 5th, 2021 Meta, The train wreck formerly known as Facebook isn't happy about having to undo a deal and sell off the $400 million dollar Giphy that they paid for, 19 months later. Meta's failed Giphy deal could end Big Tech's spending spree | Ars Technica $400 Million is a massive amount of money, but compare that to the $19 Billion they paid for WhatsApp, $2Billion for Oculus VR, and $ 715Million for Instagram. When people send GIFS, it's likely they're either using Giphy, or Tenor (a platform owned by another monopoly, Google - Is Google a Monopoly? (marketrealist.com). ) How was the purchase stopped? The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) rules the they must sell all the GIFS, according to ARS Technica. Usually these big purchases don't get fully-stopped like this, and they're asked to just pay some fine and asked to be good, etc. My opinion? I think it's great to bring any attention to big tech trying to grow even larger than the cancer it has already become. Amazon is avoiding the supply chain mess by using their own ships and long-haul planes. Amazon has been investing into these private ships and planes, behind the scenes, for a few years nowEven with their shipping powers, Amazon has encountered a 14% rise in items that are out of stock, with 25% average price increase. In 2020, amazon spent $61 Billion on shipping, compared to $38 Billion in 2019. Source: How Amazon beats supply chain chaos with ships and long-haul planes (cnbc.com) Google Pixel repairs have allegedly started a privacy nightmare. A video game designer sent in her Pixel 5a to be repaired by Google at a facility in Texas, only to find out that someone allegedly hacked her device. Google told her they never received the phone, where she was then charged for a replacement device. The woman mentioned having FedEx tracking information showing it arrived, and she received the refund.Here's where things got weird, though. Somehow, it seems someone began to clear her two-factor authentication checks (which could only be done from the old phone), and logged into her Dropbox, Gmail, and more. Photos were stored in those accounts of her in bathing suits, dresses, and having stitches after surgery. If you've used Google accounts, you'll know that when you log into a device on a different machine, you'll get a security alert to your Gmail. Well, the person using her email deleted those. If this is all true, it's alarming and disgusting. Google Pixel repairs resulted in leaked pics and a privacy nightmare - The Verge Closing Remarks I'd like to thank you for putting time aside to listen to the podcast. Follow our Podcast If you're a new listener to the Manly Hanley Podcast, we would love to hear from you. Visit our website and leave a comment. Send me an email with any questions or comments. Follow Randrums on twitter

Facebook's parent company, Meta, has been ordered to sell Giphy by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority, BBC reports. Meta, until recently known as Facebook, bought the GIF-sharing search engine last year in a deal reportedly valued at $315 million. Meta planned to integrate Giphy's database of GIFs with Instagram, according to the BBC report. But the CMA ruled the purchase unfair to competing for social-media platforms. In May 2020, when Meta announced its acquisition of Giphy, it said 50 percent of the GIF search engine's traffic already came from Facebook platforms—half of that from Instagram. Giphy also provides GIFs to competitors such as TikTok, Snapchat and Twitter. Facebook's cryptocurrency head David Marcus is leaving the company, The Verge reports. The former PayPal executive joined Facebook in 2014 to run Messenger but eventually took over plans to launch a new cryptocurrency and wallet. These were known at the time as Libra and Calibra, respectively, but are now called Novi. “While there's still so much to do right on the heels of hitting an important milestone with Novi launching—and I remain as passionate as ever about the need for change in our payments and financial systems—my entrepreneurial DNA has been nudging me for too many mornings in a row to continue ignoring it,” Marcus said on his Facebook page and Twitter. Novi's VP of product Stephane Kasriel, previously an early PayPal employee and the CEO of Upwork, will take over the leadership. Twitter has banned users from sharing photos or videos of private individuals without their permission on its platform, the company said in a blogpost. Twitter is updating its existing private information policy and expanding its scope to include “private media.” Under its existing policy, publishing other people's private information, such as phone numbers, addresses, and IDs, is already not allowed on Twitter. This includes threatening to expose private information or incentivising others to do so. Microsoft has been asked by shareholders to publish a report on sexual harassment within the company, CNBC reports. Shareholders approved a proposal asking the company's board to publish a report on the effectiveness of its workplace sexual harassment policies in a rare vote of support for an activist initiative. Microsoft's board had recommended that shareholders vote against the proposal, but it received 77.97 percent of all votes, according to a regulatory filing. The decision comes a year and a half after Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates stepped down from his seat on the company's board. Reports at the time had said that Gates had tried to start a relationship with an employee in 2000—prompting a board investigation. The proposal asks for the details of investigations on executives—including Gates—as well as the number of cases the company has looked into and what was done about them. Xiaomi's Redmi Note 11T 5G Android smartphone has been launched in India. The phone was previously launched in China alongside two other new Redmi Note 11 series phones last month, Android Central reports. Xiaomi's latest budget 5G phone has a 6.6-inch LCD with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 240Hz touch sampling rate. It is equipped with MediaTek's 6nm Dimensity 810 chipset, paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The phone is expected to go on sale in India from December 7 for a starting price of ₹16,999 (about $227), according to Android Central.

Twitter updated its privacy information policy preventing the sharing of personal information without consent including photos and videos part of its anti-doxxing rules. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority ordered Meta to sell Giphy. The Wall Street Journal reports on investment companies buying up digital “land” in virtual platforms that they hope may one day become the metaverse.Starring Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Robb Dunewood, Roger Chang, Joe.Link to the Show Notes. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/dtns.

Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna—three of the world's biggest Covid vaccine makers—are making an estimated $1000 every second in profits even as the world's poorest go unvaccinated, according to a press release from Oxfam, a UK-based non-profit development organisation. The estimate is based on a report by the People's Vaccine Alliance. The Alliance has 80 members including the African Alliance, Global Justice Now, Oxfam, and UNAIDS. Pfizer and BioNTech have delivered less than one percent of their total vaccine supplies to low-income countries, while Moderna has delivered just 0.2 percent. Meanwhile, 98 percent of people in low-income countries have not been fully vaccinated, according to the release. Britain is moving into phase two of its investigation of Nvidia's proposed $54 billion takeover of UK chip designer, Arm, after the first phase of the probe by the country's competition authority revealed concerns of both competition and national security, according to a government statement. This could pose a setback to Arm's majority owner, SoftBank Group. The deal, when announced in September 2020, was pegged at $40 billion in cash and stock but has since risen in value to $54 billion. UK's Competition and Markets Authority has found that the acquisition “may result in a substantial lessening of competition” across four key markets: data centres, Internet of Things, automotive, and gaming, according to the statement. The authority now has 24 weeks, plus an additional eight weeks, if needed to conclude its investigations. Arm's chips go into several devices including Apple's iPhones. The deal is also under scrutiny in Europe and China. Infosys and MIT Technology Review's custom publishing division Insights has launched The Cloud Hub—a forum offering insights and learning from successful cloud transformations to help global enterprises accelerate their cloud journey, the Indian IT services company said in a press release. The Cloud Hub aims to create a community of experts from the industry, including practitioners, providers and influencers, to debate key challenges and opportunities surrounding one of the biggest technology disruptions that the world is witnessing. (03:03) Interview: Hotmail's co-founder Sabeer Bhatia on his latest venture, ShowReel, to bring ‘purposeful' short videos to millions Even as a new generation of entrepreneurs is trying to reinvent email—think Rahul Vohra, at SuperHuman or Bhavin Turakhia with Titan—Sabeer Bhatia, the original email entrepreneur, continues to seek his next big challenge. In today's interview, Sabeer tells Forbes India about ShowReel, which he hopes is timed right to bring “purposeful” short videos to millions of users.

Music Ally's Stuart Dredge and Joe Sparrow talk over the shock news that the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced that Sony Music's $430m acquisition of distributor AWAL from Kobalt “raises competition concerns”, and gave the major label a five-day deadline to respond. If those responses do not satisfy the regulator, it will launch a deeper ‘phase two' investigation of the deal. Stu and Joe discuss why this has happened, what the responses of various connected parties were – and if this, combined with the UK's recent parliamentary inquiry into music streaming, means that major labels are facing an unprecedented period of probing and pressure. (For more context, we analysed this story in depth here.)

The CMA, the UK's competition watchdog, has launched an investigation into Amazon and Google for fake reviews. The CMA says it will gather evidence to determine whether they may have violated UK law by failing to take adequate steps to protect shoppers from fake reviews on their websites. According to the CMA, its investigation into Amazon and Google follows an initial probe that began in May 2020 and focused on assessing several platforms' internal systems and processes for detecting and dealing with fake reviews.

Google agrees to work with the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority on Privacy Sandbox proposals, Twitter will add a subscribe button to profiles for newsletters, and Didi Chuxing files for an IPO. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE. You can get an ad-free feed of Daily Tech Headlines for $3 a month here. A special thanks toContinue reading "Google Agrees To Involved the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority in Privacy Sandbox Proposals – DTH"

Today on The Leaders' Brief - China's internet watchdog the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), said last week that it had found 105 applications, including ByteDance's Douyin, Microsoft's Bing and LinkedIn, and Baidu, were engaged in the improper collection and use of data. According to the internet watchdog, the 105 apps had violated Chinese laws by excessively collecting and illegally accessing users' personal information. The announcement comes less than a month after Beijing put in place measures outlining how apps should collect personal information.  White House press secretary Jen Psaki, announced last week that the Democrats have cut down US President Joe Bien's ambitious $2.25 trillion infrastructure spending plan by over $300 billion. The over $2 domestic trillion infrastructure spending plan proposed by the US President earlier this year had hoped to address several fronts, including competing with Chinese economic activity. On a domestic level, the plan addressed climate change, elder care, and affordable schooling.  The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved the $44 Billion merger deal between Virgin Media and Telefonica-owned O2. The deal would create a 50:50 joint venture and would see a total of 46 million video, broadband and mobile subscribers along with $15.5 Billion in revenues. The CMA had launched an inquiry into the deal as it felt the merger had the possibility to threaten competitiveness in the country's telecom industry. About egomonk: Website | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedInegomonk is a global intelligence platform delivering asymmetric outcomes by bringing organizations closer to the communities they want to serve and the leaders they wish to influence. If you wish to collaborate with us then email us at contact@egomonk.com.

For this week's episode, Alina Utrata talks to Josh Simons, a PhD candidate in Government at Harvard University and a Labour candidate for local office in the UK. They discuss Josh's research — what is machine learning and why is it (always) political? As critical information infrastructure, should Google and Facebook be regulated as democratic utilities? And do we need a whole new understanding of corporations' role in society if we're going to tackle the tech industry? Tweet at AlinaTweet at JoshSign up for The Anti-Dystopians newsletterA transcript of this episode is available here.Mentioned in this podcastJosh Simons (co-authored by Dipayan Ghosh) on Brookings: Utilities for democracy: Why and how the algorithmic infrastructure of Facebook and Google must be regulatedVirginia Eubanks's seminal work on Automating Inequality: How High-Tech Tools Profile, Police and Punish the Poor. Plus a review on the LSE's blogCory Doctorow, How to Destroy Surveillance CapitalismMore on the UK's Competition and Markets Authority and Digital Markets Unit Nowhere Land by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4148-nowhere-landLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrea Coscelli, the chief executive of the UK's Competition and Markets Authority, tells the BBC that tech giants Google and Facebook have too great a share of the UK online advertising market and that regulation is needed. In this extended interview with Amol Rajan, Dr Coscelli also gives his response to Facebook's recent behaviour in Australia after a new law was proposed which would force tech companies to pay publishers for news. In response to this interview, Facebook said it faces "significant competition" online from rival firms and that "it's always been our intention to support journalism in Australia and around the world, and we'll continue to invest in news globally and resist efforts by media conglomerates to advance regulatory frameworks that do not take account of the true value exchange between publishers and platforms like Facebook". Google has also been approached for comment by the BBC. Producer for BBC News: Elizabeth Needham-Bennett Producer for The Media Show: Hannah Sander

Persistence is everything. When your self belief fails you then you need to fall back on your persistence to see you through. If ever a person lived out her advice it is Solange Semedo. Solange is the Group CEO of ETZ Group PLC - ETZ offers a full stack of software for recruitment agencies. With back office at its core, ETZ saves recruitment agency processing costs by up to 85%. Back office, payroll and CRM software that saves money and helps recruitment agencies grow. A Portuguese national who was brought to the UK by her mother as a young child Solange has had a challenging journey to where she now finds herself leading her organisation. As she shares in this wonderful discussion hard work and perseverance have been two of the hall marks of her career. From packing goods in a factory, through working for large international law firms to investigating white collar crime Solange has had a very varied history. As a black female non UK national she has faced bias and discrimination, and it feels has always had to fight to have a voice. Her personal story has led her to genuinely wanting to lead with humanity and a caring approach - to ensure that the company she leads does not negatively impact the lives of teams in the way that she has had to suffer in her career. Listen in as she shares her wisdom and advice that she has gained from her life so far. You can connect with Solange on Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/solangesemedolawyer1/ Solange is a UK commercial solicitor with over 10+ years' experience in white collar crime, EU/Competition law investigations, and Compliance. Solange has worked in private-practice at New York law firm Debevoise & Plimpton, and UK heavyweight Clyde & Co; and in-house at Oil & Gas company BP, US eDiscovery leader KrollDiscovery; and in the public sector at the Office of Fair Trading (now the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)). Solange has substantial knowledge in the Technology industry, speaks 5 languages fluently (Portuguese, English, French, Spanish, Italian), has an LLB (Hons) in English and European Laws and an LLM in EU Law from the University of Essex. Websites www.GetETZ.com https://www.etz-global.com/ https://www.freelanceinformer.com/

The trial of Roger Stone, the longtime Republican political strategist, friend of US President Donald Trump and former adviser to the Trump campaign, began Tuesday. He stands accused of lying to Congress about acting as a liaison between the Trump campaign and WikiLeaks, as well as witness tampering and obstruction of justice. What is this really all about?In a video that leaked Tuesday, ABC News anchor Amy Robach, sitting at her desk on set but apparently speaking to colleagues off-air, expressed frustration that the network did not air her 2015 interview with Virginia Giuffre, who said she was coerced into a sexual relationship with wealthy pedophile Jeffrey Epstein when she was a teenager. Among other men whom she accused of abusing her when she was 17 is the UK's Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth's second son. Robach said the network killed her story under pressure from the British royal family. What are we to make of all of this?"Google's announcement Friday that it intends on acquiring digital fitness tracker maker Fitbit has raised the eyebrows of privacy advocates in the US and UK who say regulators should oppose the deal," Common Dreams reported Monday. "'This is not just a business deal, it's a data grab — and that should worry us all,' Tom Watson, the Labour Party's digital, culture, media, and sport secretary, wrote to the UK's Competition and Markets Authority." How big of a concern should this be?GUESTS:David Rosen — Author of "Sex, Sin & Subversion: The Transformation of 1950s New York's Forbidden into America's New Normal." He can be found at www.DavidRosenWrites.com. Jim Kavanagh — Political analyst and commentator and editor of The Polemicist.Daniel Lazare — Journalist and author of three books: "The Frozen Republic," "The Velvet Coup" and "America's Undeclared War."