The 2020 pandemic and related restrictions on retail businesses led consumers redirecting their purchasing and spending to online sales. For example, in the EU and UK, online sales reportedly grew by 30-40% after lockdown restrictions were introduced in March last year. This trend has shone a light on certain online sale practices that raise concerns… [Read More]
News
Microsoft offers support for Australian media code
Bing search engine could be expanded if Google withdraws In contrast to Google and Facebook, Microsoft has announced its backing for the proposed media law in Australia, reports Reuters. It described the new code as a ‘reasonable attempt to address the bargaining power imbalance between digital platforms and Australian news businesses’. Microsoft said it will… [Read More]
Google escalates response to proposed Australian news law
Search engine could be disabled if code on content payment is enforced ‘Unworkable’ is how Google’s Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand described the new law on payment for news content, reports Bloomberg. Mel Silva told a parliamentary hearing that if the proposed new code, requiring platforms to pay for displaying third party news, became law… [Read More]
TikTok strengthens privacy for younger users
Accounts for 13-15 year olds to be private by default Social Media platform TikTok has announced changes to its privacy settings designed to protect younger users, reports telecompaper. Accounts registered to 13-15 year olds will default to private, meaning that only someone approved by the user can follow them. The ‘everyone’ comment setting will be removed for… [Read More]
WhatsApp under pressure over privacy changes
Backlash risks growth ambitions in India The new privacy policy announced by WhatsApp continues to create headaches for the company as it battles mistrust globally, reports Reuters. The new policy requires users to allow the sharing of their data with Facebook and other group companies, but the backlash in India, WhatsApp’s largest market, has forced the platform… [Read More]
Banning Trump ‘in part a failure of Twitter’
Platform ‘hasn’t done enough to foster healthy conversations’ Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has described the ban on Donald Trump as ‘right’ but ‘dangerous’, reports the BBC. In a long thread, the Twitter founder accepted that the move would have consequences for an open and free internet. He described the decision as the right thing to do in… [Read More]