WebProNews

Category: DataDrivenMarketingPro

DataDrivenMarketingPro

  • Google Analytics Is Illegal in Austria, Violates the GDPR

    Google Analytics Is Illegal in Austria, Violates the GDPR

    In what may be the first of many such rulings, Austria has ruled that Google Analytics violates the GDPR and is therefore illegal.

    Google Analytics is the premier tool available to website operators to gauge their traffic, and better understand how they’re engaging with visitors. Unfortunately for Google, Google Analytics seems to run afoul of the GDPR, the EU’s privacy legislation.

    The issue is the result of a 2020 EU ruling that using US cloud providers violates the GDPR. Because US cloud providers are legally compelled to help US intelligence agencies, they were deemed inherently incapable of being GDPR-compliant. As a result, data on EU citizens could no longer be sent to US companies as freely as it once was. Google Analytics runs afoul of this law because it transmits user IP addresses and other identifiable information to the US.

    Unfortunately for users’ privacy, many companies — both in the US and EU — are choosing to ignore the law and continue with business as usual. The European Center for Digital Rights (noyb) has filed 101 cases against such companies, and the Austrian Data Protection Authority (“Datenschutzbehörde” or “DSB”) has ruled on one of them, concluding that Google Analytics is illegal.

    EU authorities have been cooperating on such cases, acting as a task force, making it likely that Austria’s ruling is just the first of many that will soon be handed down.

    “We expect similar decisions to now drop gradually in most EU member states,” said Max Schrems, honorary chair of noyb.eu. “We have filed 101 complaints in almost all Member States and the authorities coordinated the response. A similar decision was also issued by the European Data Protection Supervisor last week.

    “This is a very detailed and sound decision,” Schrems continued. “The bottom line is: Companies can’t use US cloud services in Europe anymore. It has now been 1.5 years since the Court of Justice confirmed this a second time, so it is more than time that the law is also enforced.”

    Schrems also highlighted the need for the US to adopt its own data protection laws, something prominent US executives have also advocated for, lest platforms and services be splintered.

    “In the long run we either need proper protections in the US, or we will end up with separate products for the US and the EU,” Schrems noted. “I would personally prefer better protections in the US, but this is up to the US legislator – not to anyone in Europe.”

  • T-Mobile Blocking iOS Private Relay

    T-Mobile Blocking iOS Private Relay

    T-Mobile may bill itself the “Un-carrier” that puts customers’ needs first, but its latest move is a little more “Big Brother” as it begins blocking iOS Private Relay.

    Apple included Private Relay (still in beta) in iOS 15 and macOS Monterey. The feature is similar to a VPN in that it “hides your IP address and browsing activity in Safari and protects your unencrypted internet traffic.”

    Given that it bills itself as putting customers first, and given it has suffered a number of high-profile hacks, one could be forgiven for thinking T-Mobile would welcome a feature that better protects its users’ privacy. Unfortunately, one would be mistaken.

    First noticed by Mac user Jon Guidry, it appears T-Mobile is taking a page from European carriers and is starting to block Private Relay in the US.

    ”@TMobileHelp What the hey? Why are you keeping us from using @Apple’s #icloud private relay?”

    — Jon Guidry (@guidryjd), January 10, 2022

    9to5Mac has confirmed that T-Mobile is indeed moving to block the feature, although it hasn’t completed its efforts, meaning Private Relay may still work for some US users.

    In March 2021, we wrote about T-Mobile opting customers into a targeted advertising program that would use their data to deliver personalized ads. The carrier also said it would sell that data to third-party companies as well.

    It seems clear, based on its attempt to block Private Relay, that T-Mobile doesn’t want anything interfering with its data mining operation. Evidently, it’s not enough to actually charge for a service, and deliver one record quarter after another. The company evidently believes it has the right to mine data from its paying customers, and will stop at nothing to block attempts to prevent it from doing just that.

    John Legere used to famously refer to Verizon and AT&T as “dumb and dumber.” Perhaps T-Mobile should start lumping itself into that category too.

  • Google Ads Was Down Tuesday Evening

    Google Ads Was Down Tuesday Evening

    Google Ads was down Tuesday evening, impacting a large number of users.

    Users started experiencing issues with Google Ads Tuesday evening. The company acknowledged an issue impacting its users.

    We’re aware of a problem with Google Ads affecting a significant subset of users.

    Just under three hours later, the company said the problems was fixed.

    The problem with Google Ads has been resolved. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and continued support. The affected users are able to access Google Ads, but may not have access to the most recent data.

  • Microsoft Buying Xandr Ad Business From AT&T

    Microsoft Buying Xandr Ad Business From AT&T

    AT&T has agreed to sell its ad marketplace, Xandr, to Microsoft as the ad industry tries to adapt to a post-cookie world.

    The ad industry has been working to cope with changes to online advertising, including initiatives to replace the web browser cookies that have formed the backbone of the industry for years. AT&T says Xandr compliments Microsoft’s current efforts in the context of the open web.

    “Microsoft’s shared vision of empowering a free and open web and championing an open industry alternative via a global advertising marketplace makes it a great fit for Xandr. We look forward to using our innovative platform to help accelerate Microsoft’s digital advertising and retail media capabilities,” said Xandr’s EVP and GM Mike Welch.

    “With Xandr’s talent and technology, Microsoft can accelerate the delivery of its digital advertising and retail media solutions, shaping tomorrow’s digital ad marketplace into one that respects consumer privacy preferences, understands publishers’ relationships with consumers and helps advertisers meet their goals,“ said Mikhail Parakhin, President of Web Experiences at Microsoft.

    The deal is subject to regulatory review. Neither company disclosed the financial terms of the deal.

  • Facebook, Google, Snap and Others Bypassing Apple’s Privacy Features

    Facebook, Google, Snap and Others Bypassing Apple’s Privacy Features

    New reports are demonstrating that some of the biggest iOS app makers are bypassing Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) privacy settings.

    Apple introduced ATT in an effort to provide users more control over their data, forcing companies to ask for permission before tracking their activity across websites and services. Theoretically, if a user asks an app not to track them, the app is supposed to respect the user’s wishes.

    Unfortunately, it appears some of the biggest platforms are ignoring users’ wishes and tracking them anyway. Facebook (no real surprise there), Google (again, no big surprise), Snap and others are using a loophole to get around Apple’s requirements.

    According to AppleInsider, the loophole involves the definition of “linking.” Apple’s ATT guidelines say that companies cannot track users and link “user or device data” to apps and services. The guidelines, however, do not specifically spell out what’s involved in “linking.” Companies are using this loophole to collect data, data that can then be used however they want at a later date.

    It’s unclear whether Apple is intentionally turning a blind eye to this behavior, or has simply not decided on an appropriate response yet. The company has previously warned that companies trying to skirt or bypass ATT would risk being banned from the App Store. At the same time, Cupertino’s silence is leaving many to wonder just how much Apple knows and/or is willing to tolerate.

    Hopefully the company cracks down on this behavior and reaffirms users’ right to control their own data.

  • UK Takes Aim at Adtech, Warns Against Unlawful Behavior

    UK Takes Aim at Adtech, Warns Against Unlawful Behavior

    Elizabeth Denham, the UK’s information commissioner, has penned a piece on the adtech market, warning against unlawful behavior.

    Adtech has becoming an increasingly controversial business model. No longer content to simply offer and sell goods or services for a fair price, companies have built entire businesses around treating their customers as the product, mining every last bit of data about them — whether they like it or not. Some companies are pushing back with privacy-oriented services, such as Apple’s App Tracking Transparency or DuckDuckGo’s App Tracking Protection for Android.

    Denham is throwing her weight into the dispute, calling out the adtech market for unlawful behavior that doesn’t take consumer choice and privacy into account.

    As organisations continue to evolve their proposals, the Commissioner believes that market participants should develop solutions that are focused on the interests, rights and freedoms of the individual. These should move away from intrusive tracking technologies that may continue to pose risks and struggle to comply with the law. 

    While Denham acknowledges there are multiple ways to address the issues moving forward, she emphasizes that any path forward must be a departure from current practices.

    Participants should note that continued use of intrusive online tracking practices is not the right way to develop solutions. Anything that essentially results in a continuation of existing practices will not meaningfully change the status quo. 

    Industry must recognise the need for change. It should understand that the Commissioner does not advocate for alternatives that use the same fundamentally flawed approaches.

    It’s refreshing to see an official take such a strong stance against an industry that has devolved into near-parasite practices that ignore the privacy and security of its users.

  • 5 Reasons Why Data-Driven Decisions Are Critical To Meet Your Goals

    In order to achieve business goals, it’s essential to make the right decisions. While some decisions based on personal experience and feelings are fine, there are times they don’t drive results. Therefore, new ways of decision-making have become popular as our world continues to go through digital transformation.

    Data-driven decision making uses metrics, data, and proven facts to guide strategic business decisions. However, many organizations don’t have a holistic view of all of their data, so it’s difficult to make data the driving force behind critical thinking and competitive decisions. 

    For companies trying to become more data proficient, a centralized view of their data pipelines is crucial. This will allow businesses to account for both the data in their company and the quality of that data as it travels through their data pipelines.

    Meeting business goals becomes easier when leaders are all working from the same data set. Machine learning and software like reporting tools can also help guide data-driven decision making. Collecting quality data and using it to inform decisions has many benefits for organizations. Keep reading to find out just how data can positively impact your business.

    1. Greater Transparency and Accountability

    When leaders make decisions based on proven data, it increases transparency and accountability. Staff members and teams are able to clearly see objectives and goals. They also feel as though the decisions of leaders can be backed up.

    Business goals are easier to track when they are tied to specific data. Data-driven decisions make objectives clear and prioritize information. In addition, it requires leaders to monitor results to further back up their choices.

    Businesses are also held accountable for updating data when it is used to inform decisions. Because data is essential to a data-driven culture, the entire organization becomes accountable. With increased accountability across departments, teams work together better and improve internal morale.

    Your personal accountability is also important in data-driven decision making. When you have clear expectations for yourself, it helps your team believe in your leadership skills. Leaders who don’t make data-driven decisions risk having teams lose confidence in their abilities.

    2. Tie Decisions to Analytics

    When business decisions are tied to analytics, it drives faster decisions and provides more insight into results. When you have measurable goals based on data, you can track the accuracy of your performance. It also helps you use the data you might not have touched otherwise.

    Even with data tied to analytics, there are still areas for testing different strategies. Making your business strategies align with data ensures that you follow up on results. The results of each strategy help to inform your new strategies. By building connections between data and outcomes, you can improve your data-based decisions.

    3. Protects Against Bias

    Personal bias is an unavoidable part of business leadership. While often unconscious, our biases still influence the decisions we make. Data-driven decision making helps to separate personal opinions from business goals.

    Clear data helps us avoid making assumptions and can redirect our efforts to more meaningful decisions. You can also build diverse teams to help in decision-making processes. This approach also helps you avoid making assumptions even with data sets. Sometimes, even with clear data, we want to interpret it in certain ways.

    To avoid biased behavior, there are a few techniques to employ. First, try to raise your awareness levels and be aware that you have internal biases. Secondly, seek out differing information or opinions. And finally, collaborate with your colleagues and your employees to get varying ideas.

    Getting rid of your bias with data-driven decisions helps your organization grow. You’ll discover more opportunities and gain more insights. Without bias, you can also improve team communication and engagement in decision-making.

    4. Enhancing Consistency

    Making data-driven decisions is more than a one-time approach. Data-driven decisions should become the cornerstone of your processes and internal planning. When there is a consistent method by which decisions are made, your organization performs more smoothly.

    Teams perform better when they have clear understandings of how and why decisions are reached. A data-driven culture motivated employee learning and data interpretation skills. This adds to overall company consistency by changing the way all employees do business.

    Over time, your entire organization will feel the benefits of decision-making consistency. Growing awareness and clarity of processes increased loyalty and responsibility among teams. It also helps your business operate with the same value sets and goals.

    5. Improved Monitoring and Reporting

    When business goals aren’t tied to provable data, it’s hard to measure success in initiatives and campaigns. Reporting without knowing what the goals were becomes tedious and discourages teams.

    With data-driven decision making at the core of your business, you can help create measurable goals. This makes reporting and monitoring for success easier and more productive. When teams are able to understand the value of what they do, they are more motivated and engaged at work.

    Real-time data reporting and monitoring improves business functions. It also helps you create new policies and make new decisions based on previous results. This in turn creates a business culture that has clear definitions of success and growth.

    Improve Data Visibility

    All the benefits of data-driven decision making can’t be realized if the date set you work on isn’t clear. When data isn’t understood, the decisions are made based on faulty information. Tools like a data pipeline can improve data visibility and increase reliability in your data sets.

    When you can align your data with your business goals, you are set up for success. You can use complex data patterns to inform your decisions accurately and help your entire organization grow.

  • Google Makes Slew of Changes to Protect Minors

    Google Makes Slew of Changes to Protect Minors

    Google has announced a slew of changes to its platform in an effort to afford more protections to those under 18.

    Social media companies, and tech companies in general, have been under increased scrutiny and pressure over the negative impact social media and the internet can have on young people. Instagram recently announced it would set new accounts for those under 16 to private by default.

    Mindy Brooks, Product and UX Director, Kids and Families, outlined new features and changes Google is now rolling out, including setting YouTube uploads for teens, aged 13-17, to the most private option. The company will also prominently feature videos aimed at addressing digital wellbeing and commercial consent, concepts teens sometimes struggle with.

    Google also plans to expand its SafeSearch feature, which filters out explicit content, turning it on for the accounts of teens under 18, and making it the default mode for all new accounts created by teens. The company is making similar efforts to ensure mature content doesn’t surface when a child uses Google Assistant on a shared device.

    Location History will also receive some changes. As it stands now, the feature cannot be turned on for children with supervised accounts, but Google will expand that to all accounts for teens under 18 globally.

    Google’s new safety section in the Play Store will give parents more details regarding apps, letting them know which ones follow the company’s Families policies. Similarly, Google Workspace for Education will receive a number of changes to make it easier for administers to customize experiences for different age groups.

    Google will also add additional safeguards “to prevent age-sensitive ad categories from being shown to teens, and we will block ad targeting based on the age, gender, or interests of people under 18.”

    Google’s plans represent one of the most comprehensive efforts the company has made to protect teens under 18, and will hopefully be emulated by other companies.

  • FTC Official Blasts Facebook’s Actions Against Researchers

    FTC Official Blasts Facebook’s Actions Against Researchers

    The FTC’s Acting Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Samuel Levine, has written an open letter blasting Facebook’s recent actions.

    Facebook banned researchers from New York University that were studying political ad spending and disinformation on the social media platform. The company used its Terms of Service, which prohibit scraping personal data, to justify its actions. As critics have pointed out, however, the only data NYU researchers were collecting was regarding ads that are, by their very nature, public.

    Director Levine has written an open letter to Facebook criticizing the company’s actions, and making it clear the company’s initial claim of ‘protecting privacy’ doesn’t hold water in these circumstances.

    Below is a copy of his letter:

    Dear Mr. Zuckerberg:

    I write concerning Facebook’s recent insinuation that its actions against an academic research project conducted by NYU’s Ad Observatory were required by the company’s consent decree with the Federal Trade Commission. As the company has since acknowledged, this is inaccurate. The FTC is committed to protecting the privacy of people, and efforts to shield targeted advertising practices from scrutiny run counter to that mission.

    While I appreciate that Facebook has now corrected the record, I am disappointed by how your company has conducted itself in this matter. Only last week, Facebook’s General Counsel, Jennifer Newstead, committed the company to “timely, transparent communication to BCP staff about significant developments.” Yet the FTC received no notice that Facebook would be publicly invoking our consent decree to justify terminating academic research earlier this week.

    Had you honored your commitment to contact us in advance, we would have pointed out that the consent decree does not bar Facebook from creating exceptions for good-faith research in the public interest. Indeed, the FTC supports efforts to shed light on opaque business practices, especially around surveillance-based advertising. While it is not our role to resolve individual disputes between Facebook and third parties, we hope that the company is not invoking privacy – much less the FTC consent order – as a pretext to advance other aims.

    Sincerely,

    /s/ Samuel Levine

    Acting Director

    Bureau of Consumer Protection

  • Facebook Bans Researchers Investigating It

    Facebook Bans Researchers Investigating It

    Facebook is taking action, that appears to be retaliatory, against researchers that are investigating it.

    Researchers from New York University have been investigating how political advertising money is spent on the social media platform and shed a light on disinformation. The researchers created a browser plug-in that allowed users to capture ads they saw and post the data to a public database.

    Facebook has since blocked the researchers, claiming they are breaking the company’s Terms of Service by scraping data, saying so in a blog post:

    Today, we disabled the accounts, apps, Pages and platform access associated with NYU’s Ad Observatory Project and its operators after our repeated attempts to bring their research into compliance with our Terms. NYU’s Ad Observatory project studied political ads using unauthorized means to access and collect data from Facebook, in violation of our Terms of Service. We took these actions to stop unauthorized scraping and protect people’s privacy in line with our privacy program under the FTC Order. 

    There’s only one problem with Facebook’s stance: The data NYU’s browser plug-in captures is not from private individuals, but from ad companies whose ads are already publicly available — they wouldn’t be very effective ads if they weren’t.

    Facebook’s actions are already drawing criticism, with its actions being seen as a poorly veiled attempt to silence its critics. The result has been calls for increased scrutiny, including from no less that Senator Ron Wyden, well-known for his staunch pro-privacy stance.

  • Facebook Trying to Pervert Homomorphic Encryption

    Facebook Trying to Pervert Homomorphic Encryption

    Facebook is looking to use homomorphic encryption as a way to serve ads in encrypted chat and communications — to the surprise of no one.

    Homomorphic encryption is the next generation of encryption technology. The technology allows calculations to be performed without decrypting data. For example, Party A could encrypt two values, give them to Party B and tell them to add them together. Party B could perform the calculation and pass the encrypted result back to Party A for verification. Throughout the process, Party B would not know any of the values, including the calculated one.

    Many industries see homomorphic encryption as a way to protect data at every step of the way, not just when it’s being stored or in transit. The cloud industry, in particular, sees it as valuable way of securing the industry against cyberattacks.

    Facebook, in contrast, wants to use the technology as a way to serve ads in encrypted WhatsApp messages and other forms of encrypted communication, according to The Information. Fully homomorphic encryption is still a ways off, but the company has been hiring artificial intelligence experts in an effort to crack it. Theoretically, using homomorphic encryption would allow the company to offer its users security and privacy, while not jeopardizing its core advertising business.

    Somehow, it’s not surprising that Facebook — a company with a long-standing history of abusing consumer privacy — is looking to use the next great evolution of encryption to keep monetizing people’s data.

  • Invisibly Launches Platform to Help People Control and Monetize Their Data

    Invisibly Launches Platform to Help People Control and Monetize Their Data

    Invisibly is looking to disrupt the advertising industry, launching a platform that puts people in control of their data.

    The advertising industry is in a state of flux, as privacy has become thefront-and-center issue for many consumers, regulators and companies. Apple’s recent moves with App Tracking Transparency (ATT) has been seen as particularly devastating to the advertising industry, by giving people a choice about whether to be tracked.

    Invisibly is taking that a step further, putting people in control of their own data and putting them in a position to benefit from the monetization of it. Founder and CEO Jim McKelvey, also co-founder of Square, sees this is as the perfect time for Invisibly to make its mark.

    “It’s time we enable people to take back control of their data,” Dr. Don Vaughn Ph.D., Head of Product at Invisibly says. “By creating a platform that lets people make money from their data, we’re not only educating people on how valuable their data is, we’re telling big tech it’s time to change the way things are done, and time to start fairly compensating people for the data they regularly profit from.”

    “Right now people can make a few dollars a month from sharing their data on our platform, but within the next couple of years, we hope that people will be able to earn around $1,000 per year from Invisibly,” Vaughn continues. “We believe that data licensing will be a powerful new source of passive income for people and are excited to help the industry change to a 100% consumer-consented data model that people are fairly compensated for.”

    The platform is now in beta. Those interested in participating can sign up at www.invisibly.com.

  • FTC May Target Google and Facebook’s Data and Algorithms

    FTC May Target Google and Facebook’s Data and Algorithms

    The Federal Trade Commission may target Google and Facebook’s data, and the algorithms they rely on, as part of a larger antitrust crackdown.

    Big Tech has been under increased scrutiny around the world, with regulators in the US and EU poised to take aggressive action to tackle antitrust issues. Google and Facebook, in particular, are facing some of the most intense scrutiny, and are already fending off lawsuits.

    The FTC may have one of the most novel solutions, and the one that should terrify Google and Facebook the most. FTC Chief Technologist Erie Meyer said companies that abuse privacy and collect user data illegally could be forced to pay fines, disclose data and turn over “algorithms that were juiced by ill-gotten data,” reports the Washington Examiner.

    The latter penalty should be especially concerning to both companies, as well as any other data-driven platforms. The algorithms companies use are often some of their most well-guarded secrets. When the US was trying to pressure ByteDance to sell TikTok, one of the issues that torpedoed a sale was China classifying algorithms — such as the one TikTok uses to drive engagement — as sensitive information that could not be exported. Indeed, much of TikTok’s success is believed to be the result of the algorithm it uses.

    If losing algorithms is on the table as a possible penalty, it may well be the single biggest motivation for Big Tech to straighten up and get its act together.

  • Google Piloting Three-Strikes Policy for Repeat Ad Policy Violators

    Google Piloting Three-Strikes Policy for Repeat Ad Policy Violators

    Google is cracking down on those repeatedly violating the company’s ad policies, piloting a three-strikes program.

    Google has a number of policies aimed at preventing harmful or inappropriate ads. The company prohibits “ads promoting deceptive behavior or products such as the creation of false documents, hacking services, and spyware, as well as tobacco, drugs and weapons, among other types of content.”

    Unfortunately, companies often try to circumvent Google’s policies, leading the company to try a ‘three strikes and you’re out’ approach.

    “That’s why we are introducing a new pilot program to test a three-strikes system for repeat ad policy violations,” writes Brett Kline, Product Manager. “Starting September 2021, warnings and strikes will be issued for violations of our Enabling Dishonest Behavior, Unapproved Substances and Dangerous Products or Services policies—this includes ads promoting deceptive behavior or products such as the creation of false documents, hacking services, and spyware, as well as tobacco, drugs and weapons, among other types of content. These types of ads have long been prohibited, but now we are introducing increasing penalties with each strike applied.”

  • EU Poised to Investigate Google’s Adtech Business

    EU Poised to Investigate Google’s Adtech Business

    Fresh on the heels of a French investigation into Google’s advertising business, the company may be facing an even bigger threat in the form of an EU investigation.

    According to Reuters Google could be about to face its biggest regulatory challenge yet, as the EU is reportedly preparing to investigate the company’s adtech business. The company recently settled with the French Competition Authority, to the tune of $267 million, and vowed to make changes.

    It appears EU antitrust regulators may be looking to go further, however, and scrutinize the company’s business far more than the French regulators did, according to Reuters’ sources. The investigation will reportedly begin before the end of the year.

    The rumors are especially bad news for Google, as advertising is the bread-and-butter of the company’s revenue, far exceeding any other business division.

  • Supreme Court Gives LinkedIn Another Chance to Shield Data

    Supreme Court Gives LinkedIn Another Chance to Shield Data

    The U.S. Supreme is giving LinkedIn another chance to prevent its user data from being harvested, in a case with far-reaching implications.

    A company called hiQ Labs Inc was harvesting data from LinkedIn’s site, including the personal data from users’ professional profiles. LinkedIn demanded hiQ stop scraping its data in 2017 but hiQ sued, accusing LinkedIn of anticompetitive behavior.

    A lower court had ruled that LinkedIn could not stop hiQ from scraping the data, despite LinkedIn arguing that hiQ was scraping far more than any human could. In addition, LinkedIn accused hiQ of selling some of the data.

    The Supreme Court has given LinkedIn another chance, sending the case back the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, according to Reuters. At the heart of the issue is whether the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act applies to cases such as these, preventing companies from scraping data from competitors.

    The Supreme Court wants the lower court to reexamine its decision in light of its recent decision involving the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, limiting the scope of crimes that can be prosecuted under the law.

    However the courts rule, the case has profound implications for the future of the internet, as it will help determine who controls publicly available information, and whether third-party companies can profit from it without permission.

  • Ohio AG Sues to Declare Google a Public Utility

    Ohio AG Sues to Declare Google a Public Utility

    Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a lawsuit trying to have Google declared a public utility.

    Google is facing increased scrutiny on multiple fronts, with some critics saying the company should be categorized as a public utility. Such a move would subject Google to more regulation, much like a gas or electric company. Supporters of the move say the company’s monopoly in search justifies the classification and increased regulation.

    Ohio AG Yost is one such critic, and is now suing to force a reclassification of Google.

    “Google uses its dominance of internet search to steer Ohioans to Google’s own products–that’s discriminatory and anti-competitive,” Yost said. “When you own the railroad or the electric company or the cellphone tower, you have to treat everyone the same and give everybody access.”

    The lawsuit does not seek any monetary damage. Instead, it has two main goals:

    • A legal declaration that Google is a common carrier (or public utility) subject to proper government regulation.
    • To force Google competitors equal rights to its own, and not prioritize its own products and services.

    This is the second lawsuit Yost has filed against Google, the first being a lawsuit involving over 30 states, accusing the company of abusing its search monopoly.

  • Target CEO Says Digital Performance Up 50%

    Target CEO Says Digital Performance Up 50%

    “Our digital performance was up 50 percent,” says Target CEO Brian Cornell. “As we gain greater clarity around the consumer, the economy, the state of the vaccine, we feel that the consumer continues to respond to our in-store experience and the ease and convenience of shopping with some of our same-day services like pickup, drive-up, and ship. Same-day fulfillment services now represent over half of our digital channel.”

    Brian Cornell, CEO of Target, discusses their massive Q1 results in an interview on CNBC:

    Digital Performance Up 50 Percent

    We’ve had a string of really solid results going back to 2017 but this quarter may be one of the highlights. Our team executed throughout the quarter. We had a great performance from our store teams with a store comp of 18%. Our digital performance was up 50%. It was really a team effort. We had great supply chain support with our merchants and marketers all coming together to support the results which speak for themselves.

    We are benefitting from investments we’ve been making for years now. Our investment in our store experience, our curated Home Brand and national brand mix, and then the fulfillment services that we offer. That combined with the investment in our team, I think we are seeing continued strength. We feel really good sitting here right now about our outlook, not just for the second quarter but for the full year.

    We’ve Connected With The Consumer

    As we gain greater clarity around the consumer, the economy, the state of the vaccine, we feel that the consumer continues to respond to our in-store experience and the ease and convenience of shopping with some of our same-day services like pickup, drive-up, and ship. They really connect with our curation of Great Home Brand, national brands, and the service our team provides each and every day.

    We are feeling very confident about our position today. I look at the proof point from Q1, we picked up another billion dollars in market share on top of the $9 billion of share last year. That’s just a sign that we’ve connected with the consumer, we’re building relevance, and we’re providing what they need and what they want throughout the year.

    Newness Is A Huge Trend In Our Business

    When you see the combination of stores comping up at 18%, which to me is just a highlight number, and categories like apparel growing again by over 60%, that combination of store traffic and category mix really benefited us throughout the quarter. We are seeing a resilient consumer. They’re clearly shopping our stores and when they’re there they are attracted to anything that’s new.

    Newness has certainly been a trend throughout our business in the first quarter and I think that’s going to continue. That great combination of store traffic and store comps and the continued movement of same-day fulfillment services which now represent over half of our digital channel. We really like that transaction. It looks and feels more like a store transaction which from a profitability standpoint certainly is beneficial for us.

    Target CEO Brian Cornell Says Digital Performance Up 50%
  • Google Sued for Allegedly Selling User Data

    Google Sued for Allegedly Selling User Data

    Google is facing another privacy-related lawsuit, this time for allegedly doing something the company promised it would never do: sell user data.

    The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose, and seeking class-action status, claims that Google is reneging on promises CEO Sundar Pichai made in a New York Times op-ed. In that article, Pichai said: “Google will never sell any personal information to third parties; and that you get to decide how your information is used.”

    According to Mercury News, the plaintiffs point to Google’s long history of privacy abuses and claim the company is “continually and surreptitiously” selling data via its digital ad “real-time bidding” system. In particular, while some companies are using the system as intended, the lawsuits claims others are siphoning off data for their own uses.

    “Many participants do not place bids and only participate to conduct surveillance and collect ever more detailed data points about millions of Google’s consumers,” the suit claims.

    The lawsuit is the latest scrutiny Google is facing for how it handles and administers the gargantuan amount of data it collects. Should the suit gain class-action status, it will only add to the company’s headaches.

  • Verizon Media Sold to Apollo Funds

    Verizon Media Sold to Apollo Funds

    Following reports Verizon was exploring a sale of Yahoo and AOL, its Verizon Media business is being sold to Apollo Funds.

    Verizon purchased Yahoo and AOL, both pioneers among the early internet companies. Although both had since fallen on hard times, the two brands still had large, loyal followings. Verizon’s goal was to build an advertising business that could rival Google and Facebook.

    Unfortunately, the advertising business proved more difficult for Verizon to crack than it planned. Over the last several years, the company has been selling off some of its media properties, with Yahoo and AOL being the final piece. Apollo Funds has agreed to purchase Verizon Media for $5 billion. The new company will be known as Yahoo, and Verizon will maintain a 10% stake in it.

    “We are excited to be joining forces with Apollo,” said Guru Gowrappan, CEO, Verizon Media. “The past two quarters of double-digit growth have demonstrated our ability to transform our media ecosystem. With Apollo’s sector expertise and strategic insight, Yahoo will be well positioned to capitalize on market opportunities, media and transaction experience and continue to grow our full stack digital advertising platform. This transition will help to accelerate our growth for the long- term success of the company.”

    “We are thrilled to help unlock the tremendous potential of Yahoo and its unparalleled collection of brands,” said Reed Rayman, Private Equity Partner at Apollo. “We have enormous respect and admiration for the great work and progress that the entire organization has made over the last several years, and we look forward to working with Guru, his talented team, and our partners at Verizon to accelerate Yahoo’s growth in its next chapter.”

    “We are big believers in the growth prospects of Yahoo and the macro tailwinds driving growth in digital media, advertising technology and consumer internet platforms,” said David Sambur, Senior Partner and Co-Head of Private Equity at Apollo. “Apollo has a long track record of investing in technology and media companies and we look forward to drawing on that experience to help Yahoo continue to thrive.”

    “Verizon Media has done an incredible job turning the business around over the past two and a half years and the growth potential is enormous,” said Hans Vestberg, CEO, Verizon. “The next iteration requires full investment and the right resources. During the strategic review process, Apollo delivered the strongest vision and strategy for the next phase of Verizon Media. I have full confidence that Yahoo will take off in its new home.”

  • Facebook and Instagram Try to Scare iOS Users Into Accepting Tracking

    Facebook and Instagram Try to Scare iOS Users Into Accepting Tracking

    Facebook and Instagram are resorting to scare tactics to convince iOS users to allow the companies to track them.

    The latest version of iOS 14 forces apps to ask for permission before tracking users. Apple has framed the feature in the context of protecting user privacy and, just as importantly, giving users control over their own data and how it is used. As a company that charges for the vast majority of its products and services, Apple does not view its customers as the product, and doesn’t need to sell its users’ data to make money.

    In contrast, Facebook, Instagram and other social media companies view their users as their main product, profiting off the wholesale monetization of their data. Facebook has made no bones about its opposition to Apple’s latest iOS privacy move, and is now resorting to scare tactics to convince iOS users to give them permission to track them and continue profiting off of them.

    In the most recent notification asking for permission, Facebook and Instagram’s iOS apps imply that, without permission to track, the apps may not remain free. Ashkan Soltani, a technology reporter and former Obama White House advisor, was the first to report on the change.