British Couple Wins Legal Case Worth Billions Against Google Over Search Manipulation

A small startup firm located in the UK has come out victorious in a legal battle against search engine giant Google.

The couple who own the firm Foundem accused the search giant of search manipulation and managed to prove their claims, winning a legal battle worth billions. As a result of the ordeal, Google must now pay a staggering 2.4 billion Euro fine to the company which says it destroyed their price comparison firm.

The news of Google being proven guilty of its search practices is certainly a major win for many small-scale organizations in the digital world.

The founders of Foundem claim they first began their website in June of 2006 and during its launch, the spam filters on Google hit the page. This pushed it deep down the list for search results which meant it couldn’t attain its main traffic source.

As per the owner Shivaun Raff, Google literally made the company vanish from the web. Therefore, such search penalties weren’t removed despite the organization getting the title of the UK’s best price comparison firm on Channel 5’s leading TV show.

Hence, what began as a small complaint soon took the shape of a mega lawsuit. The battle lasted two years when Google refused to answer to the firm’s appeals and that’s when the case was handed over to regulators for assessment.

The complaint caused an investigation by the EC to arise in 2010 that showed similar issues with more than 20 different shopping services that compared pricing such as Yelp and Kelkoo.

While this investigation ended up completed in the year 2017 with the Commission ruling how Google illegally marketed the service and demoted archrivals, it’s now that we’re seeing a fine directed in the Google’s direction.

The legal battle lasted seven long years and it certainly highlights the mega challenges that small firms face in today’s day and age where Google’s illegal search practices are concerned. Despite having so much clear evidence, the couple is happy that the result arose after a long struggle.

Google shared its insights on the matter with a statement published by its spokesperson. The company says the changes they made worked successfully for nearly seven years. It generated billions in terms of clicks for some of the top shopping services offering comparison pricing.

While it has been successful in proving its claims, it might be too late to make a difference for the startup that shut down in 2016. The EC rolled out another investigation into the firm’s current practices under the DMA.

Such a decision confirms how Google’s search rankings could be subjected to regulations and legal battles in the future. This case has already impacted new regulations in the Digital Marketplace such as the DMA. As far as Foundem is concerned, its chapter might have been closed years ago but the legal victory remains.

Image: DIW-Aigen

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

The 25 Companies That Have Changed the Game in Startup Acquisitions Over 20 Years!

The good pals over at Mind the Bridge have ranked the top 25 companies with the most startup acquisitions between 2000 to 2024. The data shows that 18 of these top 25 companies are based in the USA. The biggest company with most startup acquisitions is Alphabet with 222 acquisitions. It is followed by Microsoft with 140 acquisitions.

Coming in third position with 140 acquisitions is Cisco Systems which is also based in the USA. The fourth position goes to Accenture, an Irish company, with 119 acquisitions. Accenture is the only company in the top ten which isn't based in the USA. While most top companies are in the USA, like Apple, Meta, IBM, Amazon and Oracle.

Siemens, based in Germany, has 40 acquisitions making it the top 13th company with the most acquisitions. Roche Group (Switzerland) and Samsung Electronics (South Korea) are the top fourteenth and fifteenth companies with most acquisitions respectively. Accenture is the only non-tech company in the top ten. Ireland, Germany, Switzerland and South Korea are the only non-American companies in the top fifteen companies.

Company (Country)	Startup Acquisitions	Total Deal Value
Alphabet (USA)	222	$16.6B
Microsoft (USA)	140	$50.1B
Cisco Systems (USA)	134	$59.8B
Accenture (Ireland)	119	Undisclosed
Apple (USA)	102	$6.5B
Meta Platforms (USA)	98	$23.5B
IBM (USA)	93	$21.5B
Amazon (USA)	76	$10.7B
Oracle (USA)	76	$7.6B
Salesforce (USA)	63	$61.5B
Intel (USA)	57	$4.9B
Siemens (Germany)	40	$2.5B
Qualcomm (USA)	34	$3.1B
Roche Group (Switzerland)	32	$20.3B
Samsung Electronics (South Korea)	32	$1B
Alibaba Group Holding (China)	29	$21B
Merck (USA)	27	$26.7B
Johnson & Johnson (USA)	26	$31.3B
HP (USA)	25	$5B
SAP (Germany)	25	$13.4B
Comcast (USA)	24	$0.3B
Novartis (Switzerland)	24	$20.8B
Thermo Fisher Scientific (USA)	21	$6.4B
Walmart (USA)	21	$21.7B
Broadcom (USA)	20	$1.8B

Looking at the data above, one might ask: Why do U.S. companies dominate startup acquisitions?

Opportunity is everywhere. In the U.S., the startup ecosystem thrives. Here, innovation isn’t just a buzzword; it’s the lifeblood of business. Companies know that to stay ahead, they must acquire, not just compete.

Risk is embraced. American culture celebrates failure as a stepping stone. This mindset encourages entrepreneurs to take risks, leading to a wealth of startups ripe for acquisition.

Resources are abundant. With access to vast financial resources, U.S. companies can make bold moves. They don’t just wait for opportunities—they create them, scouring the landscape for the next big idea.

Collaboration is key. Partnerships between established firms and startups flourish, resulting in a continuous flow of innovation. The synergy enhances growth for both, creating a powerful ecosystem.

Speed and agility define today’s landscape, and the U.S. leads the way. It’s about more than acquisitions; it’s about creating a future. The winners? They see possibilities where others see risks.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Google Launches AI Overviews In Search To More Than 100 Countries

Google has just expanded AI Overviews to more than 100 countries around the globe. This means the popular search feature will have AI Overviews embedded with the AI offering.

In the past, it was limited to just a few nations including the United Kingdom, the US, India, Mexico, Japan, Brazil, and Indonesia. Now, users from so many different destinations can benefit from it, the search giant confirmed.

Google also explained how it has major plans to extend the language support feature. So if you are in any nation with AI Overviews, you can attain them in any of their native languages as Google will provide support.

Google also shared more details on how this project is one of its biggest expansions to date. The fact that more than 100 countries can benefit means making the most of search like never before. So if a curious explorer is looking for something, they no longer have to restrict the search to a few questions.

The launch already began during the week’s start and Google says it’s a slow process. But it does hope to see success with time, seeing the great demand for AI Overviews. As per Google, the goal of reaching out to one billion users each month is slowly turning into a reality.

Meanwhile, Google also mentioned the list of popular languages that are available right now. This includes English, Japanese, Spanish, Hindi, and Indonesian. If you’re based in the US and speak Spanish, you’ll see this as a regular offering in your native language.

The news comes as the search engine giant and other arch-rivals in the industry try to innovate AI and Search. It’s important to understand how AI features such as Overviews affect businesses and websites. As per Google, if you do own a brand, it always helps to see how it can impact it on Search, how clicking can change, and also what difference it brings to impressions.

Also, a stark reminder to all that the search landscape keeps on changing. So what users might see on Google Search today in terms of AI might contrast with what’s seen in the future. It all sounds very interesting and we hope users are just as keen to use AI as Google is in terms of implementing it.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Men Beware: Your Smartphone Might Be Making You Feel More Alone!

Smartphones shape our social lives in unexpected ways, sometimes subtly cutting into our sense of connection. A recent study took a close look at how phones influence well-being across everyday situations—meals, waiting rooms, moments with friends and family, and even time spent finding directions. Across these, the research found that while phones help us stay connected to the world, they often disrupt the immediate connections with the people around us. This effect is strongest when phones pop up in social settings, especially for men, who seem to experience a threefold increase in feeling socially disconnected compared to women.

Why the difference? It may come down to habits and norms. Women, according to the study, often use their phones in ways that keep them linked to others—texting a friend, sharing a photo, or a quick update on social media. Men, on the other hand, may use their phones less deliberately in social situations, which can interrupt the flow of interaction, making them feel further apart. This gender difference is a key piece the study highlights, though researchers note that more exploration is needed to truly understand it.

The study was no small feat—it analyzed data from eight experiments with over 1,700 participants, each designed to bring out the nuanced ways phones impact social connection. The settings ranged widely: a friendly lunch, a room of strangers waiting in silence, or even moments when participants navigated new spaces. By comparing those allowed phone use to those asked to set them aside, researchers found that phones consistently diminished a feeling of closeness during shared experiences. However, if the phone was only used for practical reasons, like finding directions, the impact on well-being was minimal. This “when and how” factor of phone use could explain a lot about our social experiences.

Still, there are limitations. Most participants came from similar backgrounds—students and parents from British Columbia—leaving open questions about how different age groups or cultures might experience these effects. Plus, the study didn’t dive into specific phone activities. Future research could look at how various types of phone use—checking social media, replying to messages, or navigating apps—differently affect well-being and social connectedness.

The takeaway? Phones may support our social lives from afar, but the closer we are to others, the more they can interfere. This new study sheds light on what’s often an unseen influence, helping us understand how our constant connectivity could be quietly shaping our relationships.

Image: DIW-Aigen

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These Are the Media Giants Reshaping 2024: Google and TikTok at the Forefront

It's a known fact that over the years the global media brands have shifted from traditional broadcast media to tech companies. The consumers are now shifting towards online streaming and many TV brands are losing their worth because of them. Social media has also played an important role when it comes to attracting mass audiences.

According to the Brand Finance's 2024 rankings, Google remains the top valuable media brand with a brand value of $333 billion. It is followed by TikTok with $84 billion brand value and Facebook with $76 billion brand value. Instagram has increased its value by 49% ($70 billion) and has become the fastest growing media brand at fourth position in 2024. Disney got its value down by 6% and has the brand value of $46.7 billion now.

In this rankings, we note that most of the media brands are not only focusing on broadcasting but are now distributing user generated or third-party content on their platforms too. YouTube, Netflix and LinkedIn are also among the top ten most valuable media brands in 2024. The top ten media brands in 2024 are all from the USA with three being from China – TikTok, WeChat and Tencent.

Name	Country	2024 Value (M)	2023 Value (M)
Google	U.S.	$333,441M	$281,382M
TikTok/Douyin	China	$84,199M	$65,696M
Facebook	U.S.	$75,716M	$58,971M
Instagram	U.S.	$70,443M	$47,439M
Disney	U.S.	$46,717M	$49,508M
WeChat	China	$41,794M	$50,247M
Tencent	China	$36,055M	$38,059M
YouTube	U.S.	$31,721M	$29,710M
Netflix	U.S.	$22,815M	$24,150M
LinkedIn	U.S.	$18,812M	$15,507M

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TikTok Takes the Lead: Gen-Z's Go-To Source for News and Product Discovery

If we say that TikTok is Gen-Z’s most favorite social media app, then it wouldn't be wrong. TikTok has dominated Gen-Z’s time and mind, not only in terms of entertainment but also for information and news consumption. According to a recent survey by Sprout Social of 4,400 participants from the UK, Canada, Ireland, US and Australia, all these respondents have at least one social media account and they follow at least five brands on social media platforms.

Gen-Z use TikTok the most. 63% said that they use it for news while 77% said that they use TikTok to know about the products. Instagram is the second most used, with 62% Gen-Z using it for news and 74% using it to get information about products. 48% Gen-Z using Facebook for news, making it the third most used app by Gen-Z for news. But for products, the third most used app by Gen-Z is YouTube (41%). Facebook is the fourth most used app by Gen-Z (39%) for product reviews.

Some Gen-Z (36%) use X for news. Gen-Z say that they like short-form videos of 15-30 seconds the most on these social media platforms.

In terms of consumer care, most Gen-Z prefer Instagram (72%), Millennials use Facebook the most (71%), Gen-X use Facebook (72%) and Baby Boomers also use Facebook (79%). TikTok is the second most preferred social media app for Gen-Z (62%). To compel users to buy their products, most brands post original content showing their products, post content from real consumers or target users with ad or promo codes.

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The Real Reason Instagram Lowers Video Quality—And It’s Not What You Think!

Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, recently explained why some videos on Meta platforms look low quality after a while.

For starters, it is all about performance. When asked about older stories appearing "blurry" in highlights, Mosseri shared that they aim for high-quality playback. But, if a video goes unwatched for too long—since most views happen right after posting—Instagram will downgrade its quality to save resources. If the video gets popular again, they’ll restore its original quality.

In general, we want to show the highest quality video we can when someone is watching a story, reel, or photo. In that case, it's a photo, but still, if something isn't watched for a long time—because the vast majority of views are in the beginning—we will move to a lower quality video. Then, if it's watched again a lot, we will render the higher quality video. Also, if we are serving a video to someone on a slow internet connection, we will serve a lower quality video so that it loads quickly, as opposed to giving them a spinner. It depends; it's a pretty dynamic system, but the goal is to show people the highest quality content that we can.

He added that Instagram prioritizes higher quality (more processing and storage) for creators with larger view counts. This sparked some frustration among smaller creators who feel it puts them at a disadvantage. Meta has explained that they use different video processing based on popularity to manage computing power effectively.

It works at an aggregate level, not an individual viewer level. We bias to higher quality (more CPU intensive encoding and more expensive storage for bigger files) for creators who drive more views. It’s not a binary threshold, but rather a sliding scale.

The system isn’t tailored to each viewer, Mosseri explained, but works on a sliding scale. When a smaller creator questioned its fairness, Mosseri noted that viewers often focus on the content, not quality. Quality tends to matter more to creators themselves, who might delete videos if they appear poor, while viewers rarely notice. Still, not everyone agrees with his assessment.

H/T: @lindseygamble / Threads.

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