Google Agrees To $700 Million Payout And Minor Concessions To Play Store After Illegal Monopoly Accusations

Search engine giant Google was in the hot seat last week after a jury ruled against the company and declared it guilty of illegal monopoly behavior at the Play Store.

This particular anti-trust lawsuit granted victory to its accusers Epic Games but they were not the sole party fighting this case. A combination of 50 attorney generals united and settled a similar case three months back.

Now, we’re seeing Google agree upon handing down results linked to $700 million in payout and some minor concessions being made too. This has to do with how the Play Store works across the US.

Moreover, the largest change of them all is reportedly tied to Google allowing developers to take some of its customers linked to the Play Store for a few years, in case the settlement is finalized.

This particular settlement features a staggering 68-page summary of what all it entails but we’ve generated a summary regarding it for you below.

As a whole, $700 million would be the total payment made by the tech giant which is nearly 3 weeks of operating profits generated solely through the app store. Out of this, $629,000 would be released to those who may have paid extra for the company’s apps or any purchases done online through Google Play, minus the great figure of taxes, fees of lawyers, and more.

Furthermore, $70 million of the total goes to those American states and would be used for purposes outlined by their Attorney Generals. And then $1 million is used for administration settlements.

For a staggering 7 years, we will see the company enable Android so that it can install apps from other parties involved through Mobile Devices. This is other than the usual Google Play. On the other hand, for 5 years, we’ll see the company enable developers to give alternatives for billing systems through the app via a feature dubbed Choice Billing.

Then for another 5 years, we’ll see Google take a back seat as developers can offer any price they seem as a fit for clients picking Google Play and its respective Billing option. This is just many of the clauses outlined and it’s a huge setback for the Android maker for obvious reasons.

While it might sound like a huge deal and a lot to compromise on Google’s part, critics agree that the amendments are not coming slowly and will ultimately result in a unique Google App Store landscape that most of us are rarely accustomed to. When you look at the way Google has been working in the last decade, this new picture is very different from that. However, it’s important to mention that not all of the changes are real concessions, and let’s not forget how they come attached with expiration dates. Hence, it’s not everlasting. Meanwhile, a lot of the changes outlined are linked to the company’s User Choice Billing endeavor which was dubbed fake in the past as proven by Google.

As confirmed by Google, the spokesperson added how the participants from the Choice Billing are given discounted rates of 4% from what Google charges users via its respective payment offerings. This will not change due to this settlement. The company found out how developers were losing out on funds when users opted for 4%. At the same time, the search engine giant claims firms such as Spotify were getting a free ride while billing others in the industry.

The most important thing here is linked to the search engine giant preventing company developers from adding links to their respective websites so users would attain discounted rates. Today, Google does not need to give developers the chance to add links that take users outside the app outlined via the Google Play store for making purchasing decisions.

It’s going to be interesting to figure out how Apple will enable links via buttons to other modes of payments as that’s yet to be discussed.

Meanwhile, as far as this particular settlement is concerned, the American states will request the judge to give out a final settlement by the first week of February. This is the same person in charge of overlooking the Epic Games versus Google endeavor.

Read next: Apple Races Against Time To Alter Its Smartwatch Algorithms After New Feature Accused Of Patient Infringement And May Result In Ban
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Apple Races Against Time To Alter Its Smartwatch Algorithms After New Feature Accused Of Patient Infringement And May Result In Ban

Tech giant Apple is racing against time to make some swift changes to its smartphone watches.

The iPhone maker is trying to devise a rescue mission to help prevent a complete ban on its smartwatches after an interesting feature was called out linked to its algorithms. This had to do with the measurement of the patient’s blood oxygen levels that could come under patient infringement.

Therefore, the Cupertino firm is not planning on taking any risks in this regard and hopes that its quick software amendments could potentially save it from a potential US ban. This is why the firm’s engineers are busy at work after the allegations arose from Masimo Corp in this regard.

They are now just so busy in terms of adjusting technology used to evaluate the levels of oxygen saturation and put it out as client data as per sources familiar with the matter.

So as one can imagine, it’s definitely one type of engineering effort that has high stakes linked to it, very different from what we’ve seen the company take part in the past. But it’s not the first time that the company’s offerings have been barred in certain nations regarding legal issues.

However, if such a ban does arise regarding this matter, it’s definitely not a small one as it would hit the company massively. After all, smartwatches are a huge seller and one of the organization’s main means to make money on its own soil where it resides.

Did we mention how it’s the holiday season and anything of this nature could affect sales massively and end up dramatically hitting profits as the year comes to a close.

Thanks to a veto conducted by the White House at the last moment, a ban may take effect by the ITC on Christmas, reports have gone on to add.

Now it’s up to Masimo as to how it plans on tackling the situation. It might enter into a deal with the iPhone maker in this debate but on most occasions, that’s not the route it takes or likes to take.

Meanwhile, both firms are showing no possibility of making any kind of deal of that sort on the matter so far. But at the moment, the Cupertino company is making swift and due efforts to modify the technology while attempting to win over favors alongside regulators.

When and if such bans hold true, the iPhone maker also has backup plans in place to provide options on a legal basis as well as the technical front.

It has already started to make amendments in its leading stores for the change. This entails new signs generated to leading retail firms marketing Apple Watch without any display of images from the Ultra 2 and the Series 9. Both the former and the latter are included in the ban, in case you did not know. However, the firm’s lower-end range for devices is still going to be up for grabs to customers, it added.

We would see the company halting sales of the barred smartwatches online by Thursday and then witness it pulling them out as in-store offerings by next week, presumably one day before Christmas.

It’s been a tough pill for Apple to swallow as the firm’s shares are down by nearly 1% during the start of the week as stocks did not change during pre-market trading the next day, where it remained at $196. Meanwhile, shares for Masimo went up by 3.2% during the week’s start.

Masimo just rolled out a press statement on the effective ban for smartwatches by Apple as it feels this is proof of how even some of the world’s most successful tech companies need to follow the law or be ready to witness penalization if they cannot.

The word has spread in Apple that there is a strong belief that changes done to software could do enough to save the organization from a thorough ban and we would soon see it back in stores very soon.

What is interesting is how the debate coming from users is more linked to the hardware than the software so let’s see how Apple really does get to the bottom of it.

Photo: DIW - AIgen

Read next: Meta’s Automated Tools Are Unnecessarily Removing Hamas-Israel Content, Oversight Board Confirms
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Meta’s Automated Tools Are Unnecessarily Removing Hamas-Israel Content, Oversight Board Confirms

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to a surge in data linked to Israel and Hamas. But a recent finding by Meta’s Oversight Board is bringing to light some very interesting observations.

Meta has been accused by its own board of getting rid of posts of this nature, even though it did not go against the company’s rules.

The news was a part of the initial expedited review published recently that was expected to arise after weeks. Instead, it has come in just 12 days, leaving many in shock.

Watching the Board end up reversing Meta’s decision of removing two articles on the Gaza conflict unnecessarily raised a lot of questions on this matter. We’re seeing two types of content be erased from two sides regarding the conflict.

Ever since it provided support for the company’s decision to have the content restored on its apps, we’re not expecting to see any more steps being taken by the firm in this regard.

However, there are a lot of questions as to how such reviews are bringing to light some very interesting facts. This concerns how the tech giant might need to rely more on automated tools to get the job done right. But instead, it’s bringing about massive errors along the way as this case served as the prime example.

Seeing the probability of it getting rid of valuable articles that bring to light some very important findings linked to the world’s suffering on both ends of the spectrum such as the Middle East conflict is certainly a surprise, experts added.

Seeing the Board opt to investigate separate appeals on this topic is just a fraction of the figure of appeals that people in this part of the world have been rolling out since the start of October. One of those is related to a video published on the Facebook app.

That one had a female begging her captors for release and pleading with them not to take her life after being dragged as a hostage during the attack on Israel. Meanwhile, another video in question had to do with the devastation of the strike linked to the Al-Shifa Hospital that arose in Gaza while Israel made an offensive attack through the ground. This published a host of slain bodies and injured civilians from Palestine and kids were also a part of it.

This kind of review featured two types of content that Meta says were deleted erroneously after adjusting its own tools and forcing them to be more aggressive in terms of gauging content linked to the attack on Israel’s soil on October 7.

For example, the Al-Shifa incident where Israel was accused of striking the hospital was removed and the user who appealed against it received a rejection for its reinstatement. Both types of videos were reinstated after the company set out warning alerts on viewers’ screens, explaining how this type of content is designed to generate awareness and provide news.

However, the Board was not happy with Meta’s plan of action. It feels the firm needs to move at a quicker pace and take on the policy, all depending on how the instances continue to rise at a fast pace. The ordeal comes at a high cost that includes compromising more on freedom and access to data for deleting such types of content online.

It has similarly gone about raising some concerns regarding the firm’s quickly altering techniques linked to content regulation. And as a result, a lot of Meta’s policies on the subject are being questioned for obvious reasons.

Read next: Instagram Boosts Profile Image Privacy With This Update
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

These Are the Biggest Financial Centers in the World

Certain cities have served as financial hubs since the earliest days of capitalism, and a new report by Z/Yen, a consultancy group, have revealed which cities sit at the top of the rankings. Understanding their positions is essential because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up determining where global investments will be headed.

These financial centers were judged based on a variety of factors such as development of the sector, the overall environment for businesses, the amount of human capital available, financial infrastructure as well as the city’s reputation on the world stage. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that New York City is still at the top spot, covering around 40% of the market cap of the biggest companies all around the globe which amounts to a whopping $46 trillion worth of stocks.

5 other major financial hubs exist in the US, including San Francisco at number 5 thanks to the presence of Silicon Valley, with its fellow Californian city of Los Angeles going from 7th to 6th place this year. Chicago jumped up four places to reach number 8, Boston went up five places to reach number 9.

Outside of North America, London is the second most important financial center in the world. Brexit has dulled its edge somewhat, but in spite of the fact that this is the case, it still continues to hold onto the number 2 spot, although this might change in subsequent years. Elsewhere in Europe, Paris has seen its prestige decline leading to a four place drop that saw it exit the top ten list and reach the 14th place on this list.

The third and fourth most important financial hubs happened to be in East Asia, more specifically Singapore in third place and Hong Kong in fourth place. Shanghai fell by one place but is still in the top 10 with its number 7 ranking, whereas Beijing sank by five places and is now at number 13 with all things having been considered and taken into account.

The only country outside of Europe, North America and Asia to make the cut was Australia, where Melbourne serves as a financial hub and reaches 15th place in the world after a 2 place jump.

Infographic via VisualCapitalist

Read next: The Younger Generation is More Afraid of Online Frauds then Someone Hacking their Social Media Accounts
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Elon Musk’s X Under EU Scrutiny After Being Accused Of Illegal Content And A Risk To Public Security

It’s not been a great year-end for Elon Musk’s X platform and now we’re seeing the app be targeted by the EU too. This is regarding illegal content allegations as well as serving as a threat to public security.

The news comes in the form of a series of allegations that were partially linked to several posts that had to do with the Gaza-Israel war. Therefore, the act was deemed to be a complete breach of the obligations as underlined in the DSA, making it the first probe of its kind to arise.

The Digital Services Act first came about full throttle in November 2022 and since then, it’s caused quite a shakeup in the world of online apps. This includes all leading search engines that must do more to curb the growing figures for illegal content as well as any risks observed to user security.

Meanwhile, this particular investigation in question has to do with the emphasis on curbing illegal material spread across the EU region as well as outlining the list of effective measures taken to curb how data continues to be manipulated like the famous community notes interface as revealed by the Commission recently.

During the start of 2023, we saw X rollout Community Notes that gave users the chance to add comments for posts while flagging fake material or those deemed to be misleading. This was a major effort as it bid farewell to just a solo team comprising professional fact-checkers who were hired to do the job instead.

This particular investigation is going to take into consideration a few aspects of the firm’s business strategy such as access to data that it solely provides to research teams.

So many researchers found on social media have been very vocal about how they terminated their studies linked to the X app or ended up in a position where they were forced to change it due to the behavior of its head and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. The latter has been very strict in terms of giving others access to the platform for this purpose as mentioned by Reuters in the past month.

This particular step that is being taken doesn’t find the X app guilty of any kind of wrongdoing, confirmed one leading EU member. It also does not speak about X disobeying the Digital Services Act, it added.

The only purpose is to further investigate the platform for any claims that have arisen in recent times so that they’re put to rest after detailed scrutiny.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk did confirm how his company is committed to obeying the DSA and will cooperate until the end with the whole process of regulation as outlined yesterday through a public statement.

For now, X continually reiterates how its main goals have to do with obeying the DSA and providing relentless cooperation with the whole scrutiny process. Moreover, it’s also working hard in terms of ensuring no political factors are coming into play as the goal is to obey the law.

A recently published post by Musk on the app added a question for the current EU industry head Thierry Breton. This is where he put out his concern regarding X and whether other social media apps were being treated in the same manner or if it was only his company that was being targeted.

He was not shy to blatantly add how X may have some issues but that does not mean others are perfect. In reality, he added that they’re much worse and therefore must be under scrutiny too.

After the attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, X and its arch-rival social media apps were blasted with all sorts of fake material including misleading data and inaccurate images.

On that note, letters were sent out to the heads of TikTok, Alphabet, X, and even Meta which served as a reminder of their duties under the law in terms of handling dangerous and unlawful material through apps.

As a response to that, a list of integral steps was then highlighted where all measures taken to prevent the spread of such material topped the list. This included a new challenge brought forward by Musk to Breton regarding the allegations of disinformation.

Photo: DIW-AIGen

Read next: Recent Study Shows that ChatGPT Can Act Biased When Asked About Environmental Justice and Issues
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

The Younger Generation is More Afraid of Online Frauds then Someone Hacking their Social Media Accounts

According to a report from American Express (a multinational financial corporation), people from the younger generation are more worried about someone frauding them to make online transactions than someone hacking their social media accounts. They conducted a survey of 2,000 American citizens to make sense of what the young generation thinks of online frauds and how they are able to handle such activities. As the technology is progressing and everyone is shifting to the online world, the youngsters often experience online frauds that result in their money being stolen.

The report says that even though millennials and Gen-z are worried about the risk of fraud but they also think that they can easily identify these frauds if they happen to them. 69% of millennials and GenZ in the US say that they are always anxious about someone doing fraud with them but are not that worried about their social media accounts. In older generation, the percentage is 81%.

Regarding concerns about online frauds on bank accounts and credits, 70% of youngsters in the US worry about fraud incidents on their accounts or cards, compared to 75% of GenX and boomers. Despite these concerns, 89% of millennials and GenZ believe that they can successfully identify fraud activities on their credit cards or bank accounts. 91% of GenX and boomers think the same.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) highlights that GenZ are 34% more likely to report fraud on their credit cards or bank accounts than people over the age of 60. The report shows the importance of prevention from the fraud activities and education for those who fall victim to it. Frauds become especially common during the vacations or festive when shopping activities increase and the fraud levels also rise.

Photo: DIW-AIgen

Read next: Recent Study Shows that ChatGPT Can Act Biased When Asked About Environmental Justice and Issues

by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Recent Study Shows that ChatGPT Can Act Biased When Asked About Environmental Justice and Issues

A recent study from Virginia Tech, a university in the US, has highlighted prejudice about environmental issues in OpenAI’s artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT. The study shows that when the researchers asked ChatGPT about environmental issues in different countries, it came with biased responses according to the location of the area. Researchers also found out that ChatGPT has some limitations and they are the reason that it isn’t able to deliver location specific information of many countries.

According to the report, the information given by ChatGPT is biased towards bigger and populated states in the USA. Less than 1% of the residents living in the counties of states such as Delaware or California did not have any information about environmental issues. Keep in mind that these are the urban areas in the USA. On the other hand, 90% of the population in rural states like Idaho and New Hampshire did not have local access to data about environmental issues and justice.

A lecturer in Virginia Tech’s Department of Geography, Kim, says that there is a strong need of further researching to tackle these prejudices of ChatGPT about the environment. The report also has a map of the USA which shows populations without access to information on environmental justice issues according to the location.

This study is a great way to know about prejudices of ChatGPT on political and environmental issues happening in the world. Some researchers from the UK and Brazil have already published a study that shows the errors and biases in the answers of ChatGPT. These are enough to raise alarms because they have power to mislead ChatGPT users and people who read these responses.

In conclusion, the report is a great indicator that shows that even though ChatGPT is a wonderful AI chatbot, it still cannot provide unbiased information about certain issues regarding politics and the environment. As technology is progressing fastly and public opinions are changing according to it, AI models need to be perfect and unbiased in their responses for the betterment of people. AI developers should work on making the AI models as perfect as they can be.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World