March 27, 2024
A Slew of New Penalties Target Tech Companies in Europe
Tech and media companies are facing fines from European regulators as new digital laws take effect. Google was fined $270 million by France’s competition authority for failing to inform news publishers about the use of their content to train its AI models. The French regulator claims Google did not negotiate in “good faith” with publishers over media licensing. While Google called the fine disproportionate, the company has decided to settle and not appeal the decision.
The European Union has launched investigations into Apple, Meta, and Alphabet for potentially violating the new Digital Markets Act—legislation that requires companies to be proactive in preserving competition. The European Union has already fined Apple nearly $2 billion for antitrust violations, accusing the tech giant of unfairly restricting competitors in the music streaming market. In Italy, regulators fined TikTok $11 million for not adequately protecting minors from harmful content.
Florida and Utah Assess Social Media Regulation
More states are taking action against social media companies. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that limits minors’ access to social media. The law prevents children under 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for users aged-14-to-15. The new legislation carries significant penalties and is expected to face constitutional challenges from tech companies.
In Utah, legal challenges and free speech concerns are altering the state’s strict social media law. Lawmakers replaced the state’s Social Media Regulation Act with new legislation that will go into effect later this year. The changes require social media companies to provide privacy protections and age verification for minors.
Major Newspapers Cut Ties with Associated Press
Longstanding news alliances are up in the air. This month, newspaper conglomerate Gannett will discontinue its use of Associated Press content. The mass media company aims to invest more in its own USA Today news network, though it will continue to use the AP for election data, and will rely on Reuters for global news.
McClatchy newspapers are joining Gannett by reducing reliance on the Associated Press. The AP claims these changes will not significantly impact revenue, with only 10% coming from U.S. newspapers. While newspapers are ending alliances with the AP, the wire service is embracing AI. Last year, the AP announced a partnership with OpenAI to help train ChatGPT’s algorithm on its news content.
Sequence Summaries: Fresh Fines, Social Statutes, and AP Absence
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