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☆ Net neutrality is back as FCC votes to regulate internet providers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The net neutrality regulations adopted Thursday by the Federal Communications Commission prohibit providers such as AT&T, Comcast and Verizon from selectively speeding up, slowing down or blocking users’ internet traffic. And for the first time, the FCC said it would step in to override state or local policies that conflict with the federal net neutrality rule. “The Title II authority will ensure that broadband providers are properly overseen by the FCC like all telecommunications services should be. “These 400-plus pages of relentless regulation are proof positive that old orthodoxies die hard,” said Jonathan Spalter, CEO of USTelecom, a trade association representing internet providers. As a result, the outcome of a legal challenge to the FCC’s net neutrality rules could have potentially broad ramifications for other US regulatory bodies, not just the FCC.

Persons: Trump, Jessica Rosenworcel, Rosenworcel, ” Rosenworcel, ”, Justin Brookman, Biden, Jonathan Spalter, Brendan Carr Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Communications Commission, Comcast, Verizon, Democratic, FCC, “, Consumer, Trump, Republican, Communications Locations: unwound, Washington, America

But a new report from Consumer Reports said it recently compared the nutritional profiles of two Lunchables kits served in schools and found they have even higher levels of sodium than the Lunchables kits consumers can buy in stores. The non-profit consumer group said it has petitioned the US Department of Agriculture, which oversees the federally assisted school meal program, to remove Lunchables food kits from school cafeterias, as a result. The introduction of Lunchables in schools came amid proposed changes to school food guidelines by the USDA, which oversees the federally assisted school meal program. The proposed changes aimed to reduce added sugars and sodium levels in school-provided lunches. Food additives are considered “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration, but not everyone agrees.

Persons: Lunchables, Armour LunchMakers, Oscar Mayer, can’t, “, Brian Ronholm, Kraft Heinz, ” Kraft Heinz, Carlos Monteiro, Monteiro, ” Monteiro, Heinz “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, Consumer, Natural Meat, World Health Organization, US Centers for Disease Control, US Department of Agriculture, CNN, USDA, University of Sao, NOVA, US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Science, Environmental, Kraft Locations: New York, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

☆ Americans are expected to spend $3.1 billion on Easter candy this year. These 10 shocking stats reveal the cost of the holiday.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Mykenna Maniece | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Over 1.5 billion Marshmallow Peeps are consumed every Easter holiday. Marshmallow Easter Peeps. In April 2023, BI reported that a consumer group was warning the public about the presence of red dye No. Just Born told BI at the time that they comply with FDA regulations and that their packaging and websites help customers make informed decisions. In October 2023, the Los Angeles Times reported that two colors of Peeps will contain red dye No.

Persons: LI Cook, Shutterstock Organizations: Business, FDA, Los Angeles Times Locations: Bethlehem , Pennsylvania, California

☆ Sweeping EU rules for tech giants take effect today. Here’s what’s changing
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The new EU regulations force sweeping changes on some of the world’s most widely used tech products, including Apple’s app store, Google search and messaging platforms, including Meta’s WhatsApp. Its broad obligations affect six of the world’s largest tech companies: Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft and ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. While the law could increase demand for tech companies to extend EU-specific features to other markets, few platforms have shown signs they plan to do so. Tech pushes backBut some tech companies have pushed back on the DMA, warning that it could lead to unintended consequences. “The changes the DMA requires will inevitably cause a gap” between EU users’ security and the security Apple users enjoy outside the EU, it added.

Persons: Meta’s, Apple, Bing, Elon Musk’s, “ Fortnite, ”, Agustin Reyna, “, Apple’s, ” Apple, Reyna, ” BEUC, Tim Sweeney, Meta —, Daniel Friedlaender, CCIA, Friedlaender, Olesya Dmitracova Organizations: Washington CNN, Apple, Google, Union citizens, Big Tech, Spotify, Netflix, Digital Markets, Meta, Microsoft, European Commission, EU, YouTube, Epic, Consumer, Tech, Games, CNN, Computer, Communications Industry Association Locations: United States, Europe

☆ Live in DC? Get ready for 20% service charges when you eat out.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewCouncil members in DC voted to allow restaurants and bars to charge service fees of up to 20%, provided that it's made clear to diners before they order. Travelers United, a nonprofit that filed lawsuits against two restaurant groups that charged service fees in DC, argued that they were deceptive. The Washington Post reported that some restaurants had introduced service charges to cover the higher wages they now need to pay staff. The minimum wage that employers have to pay for tipped workers in DC is currently $8 an hour. AdvertisementFrom July 1, when the District minimum wage goes up to $17.50 an hour, restaurants will have to pay tipped workers a minimum of $10 an hour.

Persons: —, it's, they're, Muriel E, Bowser Organizations: Service, Business, Travelers United, DC, District's, Washington Post Locations: DC, Tuesday's

☆ The Juggernaut promised to revolutionize South Asian news. But insiders say the company's founder misled investors, struggled to raise money, and left workers 'heartbroken.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Katie Warren | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +33 min

They were gathered for the inaugural summit of The Juggernaut, a digital South Asian news startup that launched in 2019. The Juggernaut spokesperson told BI that "multiple employees have equity in the company," but BI was unable to identify any such employees. "Twenty years ago, you might've struggled to mention a South Asian actor that you've seen in a movie," he said. As of January, the site had about 10,500 subscribers, Sur told investors in an email viewed by BI. Some feel that the publication has strayed from its mission of delivering "untold, smart South Asian stories and news you won't find anywhere else."

Persons: —, Richa Moorjani, Manish Chandra, Anish Melwani, Sadiq Khan, Amitav Ghosh, Roy Rochlin, Jay Bhattacharya, didn't, Sur, Padma Lakshmi, Moorjani, Mira Nair, Oprah Winfrey, she'd, who've, Josh Benson, Bhattacharya, might've, you've, Dev Patel, Priyanka Chopra, Black millennials, Bhattacharya's, Adam Hansmann, Kevin Lin, Albert Ni, Charles Hudson, Steve Jennings, Sur's, Kyle Stanford, Axios, Stanford, Snigdha, Winfrey, MICHAEL TRAN, hadn't, wouldn't, Fariha Róisín, Meghna Rao, Róisín, Rao, Rao didn't, they'd, she's, it's, Hudson, who'd, Reetu Gupta, Aditi Shah, Sean Gupta, Steven Simione, would've, we're, Brian Morrissey, Morrissey, cofounders, Narendra Modi's, Sneha Mehta Organizations: Spring Studios, Netflix, Business, New Yorker, Harvard Business School, Guardian, American, Old Town Media, Athletic, BI, Indian, Yale, McKinsey, Precursor Ventures, Forbes, Getty, TechCrunch, YouTube's Sustainability, YouTube, Paramount Pictures Studios, Immigration Services, Stanford, Digiday, Gannett Locations: York City, chai, Jean's, hasn't, Sur, New York City, South, Asian, India, Madhya Pradesh, Queens, Sur texted, Indian American, AFP, Róisín, Los Angeles , California, South Asia, Silicon

☆ Meta accused of ‘massive, illegal’ data collection operation by European consumer rights groups
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —European consumer rights groups have accused Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, of carrying out a “massive” and “illegal” operation of collecting data from hundreds of millions of users in the region. The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), an umbrella body for 45 consumer groups, said eight of the groups were filing complaints with their respective national data protection authorities Thursday. The company’s practices, the groups argue, breach parts of the European Union’s signature data privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR. Several days later, Meta launched a subscription service allowing its European users to pay up to €12.99 ($14) a month to use ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram. The organization filed a complaint with European consumer protection authorities in November, arguing that this “pay-or-consent” approach was an example of an unfair and “aggressive” commercial practice prohibited under EU law.

Persons: Meta, “, Ursula Pachl, Brian Fung Organizations: London CNN, Facebook, European Consumer Organisation, General Data, CNN, Meta Locations: Europe, United States

☆ New rules for banks would be the 'end of real-estate finance as we know it,' MBA says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Yuheng Zhan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Basel III proposals would cripple commercial property financing, MBA CEO Bob Broeksmit said. "Basel III could be the end of bank real-estate finance as we know it," Broeksmit said. Basel III could be the end of bank real-estate finance as we know it," Broeksmit said at the CREF 24 conference in San Diego on Monday. This isn't the first time Basel III has raised alarms, and some groups outside of the banking industry have also criticized the proposals as too stifling. Consumer groups last month joined the chorus of bankers in calling for the rejection of the Basel III proposal over fears that it would strangle credit availability for underserved borrowers.

Persons: Bob Broeksmit, Broeksmit, —, They're Organizations: Service, Mortgage Bankers Association, Consumer, Basel III Locations: Basel, San Diego, Washington ,

☆ A Goldman Sachs-backed electricity firm is making a play to reach more Americans’ homes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Hugh Son | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

That covers energy networks, mostly in the Northeast, that provide electricity for 190 million Americans, according to federal data. It also gets Goldman into an industry, albeit through an intermediary, that critics have called a hotbed of consumer abuse. The startup, which began offering retail energy plans to Texans in 2021, avoids the teaser rates and hidden fees of rivals, it has said. "Many of those companies operate businesses that serve retail customers. Private equity firms have transformed the energy landscape in the nation's largest power markets.

Persons: Omar Marques, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, watchdogs, James Bride, Marcus, David Solomon, Dennis Wamsted, Tyson Slocum Organizations: Lightrocket, Getty, Energy, CNBC, Texans, U.S . Energy Information Administration, New, Institute for Energy Economics, Utilities, Federal Energy Regulatory, Street, Public Citizen Locations: Texas, Houston, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland

☆ Congress hasn’t been able to make social media safer. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

This has been true since the early 2010s, when tech companies began realizing the benefits of influencing policymakers on issues including net neutrality and privacy. This week, Microsoft announced its support for the Kids Online Safety Act, a leading social media bill. Even when lawmakers can agree on what the problem is, they often disagree on how to solve it, creating a smorgasbord of half a dozen or more social media bills floating around Congress. That would be a huge down payment on a future social media law, said Balkam. But even that proposal is still subject to many of the same dynamics that make social media regulation hard.

Persons: Washington CNN —, ”, Danny Weiss, Ben Thompson, Adam Kovacevich, “ That’s, hasn’t, Republican stonewalling, Weiss, Kovacevich, ” Kovacevich, I’m, ” Weiss, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, Schumer, Nancy Pelosi’s, “, Johnson didn’t, Evan Greer Organizations: Washington CNN, Big Tech, Tech, Sense, Microsoft, Kids, LinkedIn, of, Republican, CNN Locations: Washington, United States

☆ Big Tech executives to appear at Senate hearing to defend social media’s impact on teens
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Brian Fung | Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Zuckerberg is expected to tout the company’s more than 30 safety controls, according to prepared testimony released ahead of the hearing. In recent weeks, Meta has also begun hiding more “age-inappropriate” content in teens’ feeds and restricting teens from receiving direct messages from people they don’t follow. Ideally, Clegg said, Zuckerberg would authorize as many as 124 new hires, but acknowledged that financial pressures could make it difficult. After months of radio silence from Zuckerberg, Clegg tried to follow up, this time with a slimmed-down proposal that envisioned either 25 new hires or, if even that was infeasible, just seven. “This would be the bare minimum needed to meet basic policymaker inquiries,” Clegg wrote to Zuckerberg on Nov. 10, 2021.

Persons: “ We’re, ” Connecticut Democratic Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, Evan Spiegel, Rosemarie Calvoni, Meta, Calvoni, ”, ” Calvoni, Arturo Béjar, ’, Tennessee Republican Sen, Marsha Blackburn, Sheryl Sandberg, Global Affairs Nick Clegg, Clegg —, —, Clegg, ” Clegg, Sandberg, “ Organizations: Washington CNN, Meta, Twitter, ” Connecticut Democratic, Facebook, Blumenthal, Tennessee Republican, Global Affairs Locations: ” Connecticut, Massachusetts

☆ Why banks and consumer groups have become unlikely allies
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. JPMorgan chief Jamie Dimon previously noted that this would dampen economic expansion, as banks may pull back on new lending. Separate groups that rely on bank investments have also called for the proposal's revision. The National Association of Manufacturers expressed worry that tighter requirements would mean less capital availability to virtually every industrial sector, especially smaller manufacturers that have few options for financing. Meanwhile, the American Council on Renewable Energy and the Solar Energy Industries Association warned that tighter capital requirements would make it expensive for banks to finance green energy projects through tax equity incentives, slowing the clean energy transition.

Persons: —, Banks, Jamie Dimon, Michelle Bowman Organizations: Service, Business, JPMorgan, National Association of Manufacturers, American Council, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy Industries Association Locations: Basel

☆ Harvard's president resigning means more drama for other universities
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In today's big story, we're looking at the resignation of another Ivy League president and the knock-on effect it'll have on education in the US. The big storyIvy League issuesBrian Snyder/ReutersClaudine Gay's tenure as Harvard president wasn't long, but it won't be forgotten. Alan Garber, Harvard's provost and chief academic officer, will serve as interim president, the school's board announced. Gay is the second Ivy League president to step down in less than a month, following in the footsteps of former Penn president Elizabeth Magill. Harvard president Claudine Gay Kevin Dietsch/Getty ImagesGay and Magill's departures highlight the tension between businesses and prestigious universities and the former's influence over the latter.

Persons: —, Bob Marley, John Wick, Brian Snyder, Claudine Gay's, wasn't, Gay, Alan Garber, Harvard's, Elizabeth Magill, Magill, Sally Kornbluth, Bill Ackman, Claudine Gay Kevin Dietsch, Business Insider's Paul Squire, Lucas Jackson, Tesla, Goldman, Tyler Le, it's, Warren Buffett, Greta Thunberg, Florence Pugh, Mel Gibson, J.R.R, Tolkien, Eli Manning, Max Willcocks, Dan DeFrancesco, Diamond Naga Siu, Hallam Bullock, Jordan Parker Erb, Hayley Hudson, Lisa Ryan Organizations: Service, Ivy League, Business, Harvard, Ivy, Penn, Gay, MIT, GOP, Big Tech, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Meta, Boston Consulting Group, Cushman & Wakefield, LinkedIn, SAP, Verizon Consumer Group, EV, Elon, Jiji Press, Japan Airlines, New York Locations: China, Jisoo, New York, San Diego, London, Edinburgh

☆ The CEO of Verizon's mobile unit has a bold ambition for salespeople and call centers in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-21 | by ( Josée Rose | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

He became the CEO of Verizon's consumer group, which includes its flagging mobile unit. As he took on his new role, Sampath worked at Verizon stores and one of the company's overseas call centers. There's uncertainty about the economy. There's uncertainty with elections looming, and it's going to be massively polarizing. AdvertisementYou will have companies that attract certain talent and companies that don't attract certain talent, and that's going to have long-term consequences.

Persons: —, Sampath, it's, what's, We'd, I've, there's, you've, They're Organizations: Service, Verizon, Business Locations: America

☆ 2 nuclear reactors that can power 1 million US homes with clean, sustainable energy is $21 billion over budget and years behind schedule
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-19 | by ( Jeff Amy | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

It would take effect in the first month after Vogtle's Unit 4 begins commercial operation, projected to be sometime in March. They're currently projected to cost Georgia Power and three other owners $31 billion, according to Associated Press calculations. But even as government officials and some utilities are again looking to nuclear power to alleviate climate change, the cost of Vogtle could discourage utilities from pursuing nuclear power. Overall, the company said Georgia Power would collect an additional $729 million a year from its 2.7 million customers. The five Republican commissioners, all elected statewide, voted on an agreement that Georgia Power reached with commission staff and some consumer groups.

Persons: —, They're, Jeff Amy Southern, Georgia Power, John Kraft, Jason Shaw, Vogtle, " Shaw, Bryan Jacob Organizations: Service, Georgia Public Service, Georgia Power Co, Business, Vogtle's, Georgia Power, Westinghouse, Republican, Georgia Public Service Commission, AP, Jeff Amy Southern Co, Georgia, Georgia PSC, Power, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Oglethorpe Power Corp, Municipal Electric Authority of Locations: ATLANTA, Georgia, Augusta, American, Atlanta, Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, Dalton, Florida, Alabama

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms' (META.O) paid no-ads subscription service, which it rolled out in Europe this month, breaches EU consumer laws, Europe's largest consumer group said on Thursday as it took its grievance to consumer protection authorities. Meta has said it launched the paid no-ads subscription service, which applies to Facebook and Instagram, to comply with EU rules requiring companies to give users a choice on whether their data can be collected and used for targeted ads. It also took issue with the "very high subscription fee for ad-free services" which could deter users. The ad-free service cost 9.99 euros ($10.96) monthly for Web users and 12.99 euros for iOS and Android users. Meta has said these prices are in line with Google's (GOOGL.O) YouTube and Spotify's (SPOT.N) premium services and with Netflix (NFLX.O).

Persons: Dado Ruvic, NOYB, Meta, BEUC, Ursula Pachl, Pachl, Foo Yun Chee, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Meta, REUTERS, Rights, European Consumer Organisation, CPC, Facebook, EU, YouTube, Netflix, Thomson Locations: Rights BRUSSELS, Europe, Austrian, Brussels

☆ Intuit beats first-quarter estimates on resilient demand for financial products
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of financial software company Intuit is displayed at the Collision conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada June 23, 2022. REUTERS/Chris Helgren Acquire Licensing RightsNov 28 (Reuters) - Accounting software-maker Intuit (INTU.O) on Tuesday beat Wall Street estimates for first-quarter profit and revenue, on resilient demand for its artificial intelligence infused products that help businesses manage their financial needs. Products offered by Intuit include tax-preparation software TurboTax, personal finance portal Credit Karma, and QuickBooks that help small businesses. The company posted adjusted profit of $2.47 per share for the first quarter, compared with analysts' estimates of $1.98 per share. In the reported quarter, revenue at Credit Karma fell 5% to $405 million, while revenue at its Consumer Group rose 25% to $187 million.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Jaspreet Singh, Shailesh Organizations: Intuit, REUTERS, Products, Credit Karma, Consumer, Thomson Locations: Toronto , Ontario, Canada, View , California, Bengaluru

☆ Washington's secret weapon is a beloved Gen Z energy drink with more caffeine than God
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Lauren Vespoli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Celsius, the suddenly-ubiquitous energy drink, is a favorite of Gen Z — and Capitol Hill. "I love to take meetings in front of the Celsius vending machine," he told Business Insider. "It's a way better alternative to coffee, honestly," Robertson told Business Insider. "Capitol Hill is full of young, energetic career-oriented people who by and large care about fitness," he told Business Insider. Stanford said these young workers are part of a new consumer group that's helping drive the overall growth of the energy drink market.

Persons: Z, —, Matthew Hoekstra, Gen Z, Brent Robertson, Roger Marshall, Victoria Knight, Knight, she's, Robertson, Hoekstra —, Matthew Hoekstra Florida, Anna Paulina Luna, w3O2gsMYXP —, Eric Garcia, Rayburn, Dirksen, — Doug Andres, @DougAndres, curt, Duane Stanford, Stanford, Hoekstra, John Parra, Garcia Organizations: Capitol, Service, Republican Kansas, Capitol Press Corps, PepsiCo, Vibe, Caucus, The Independent, Republican House, Cannon, Beverage, Essential Energy, Republicans Locations: Washington, Rayburn

☆ Italy's privacy regulator looks into online data gathering to train AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AI (Artificial Intelligence) letters are placed on computer motherboard in this illustration taken, June 23, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMILAN, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Italy's data protection authority has kicked-off a fact-finding investigation into the practice of gathering large amounts of personal data online for use in training artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, the regulator said on Wednesday. The watchdog is one of the most proactive of the 31 national data protection authorities in assessing AI platform compliance with Europe's data privacy regime known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Earlier this year, it briefly banned popular chatbot ChatGPT from operating in Italy over a suspected breach of privacy rules. "Following the fact-finding investigation, the Authority reserves the right to take the necessary steps, also in an urgent matter", the regulator said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Elvira Pollina, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, General Data Protection, Authority, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Italy, France, Germany

☆ Branding’s corporate titans face moment of truth
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Now for the first time this century, sales volumes at the big consumer goods manufacturers are falling. In the first nine months of the year, Kraft Heinz said the quantity of its sold items declined by nearly 6 percentage points year-on-year. That’s likely to allow Nestlé, Kraft Heinz and Unilever to see flat or modest increases in 2023 sales, LSEG data shows. Earlier this year, outgoing Kraft Heinz Chief Executive Miguel Patricio said the company lost market share to a branded competitor that spent more. Unilever, Nestlé and Kraft Heinz have all pointed to a slowing of price growth in the coming year.

Persons: Kraft Heinz, Nestlé, ’, Xavier Roger, Kraft, what’s, John Furner, Miguel Patricio, Mars, ”, François, EY, George Hay, Streisand Neto, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Consumer, Kraft, Unilever, Danone, ’, United Nations, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Nestlé, Kraft Heinz, Target, Reuters Graphics, Obesity, Mondelez, Walmart, “, Thomson Locations: U.S, Europe, Australia, Norway, Chocolat, London

The logo of Deutsche Bank is seen in Brussels, Belgium December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Deutsche Bank AG FollowFRANKFURT, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Customers of two Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) units have lodged a surge in complaints with Germany's consumer protection agency, the advocacy group said on Monday, as the banking giant scrambles to make good with aggravated clients. The VZBZ consumer group said it had registered about 1,700 complaints by customers of Deutsche's Postbank arm and its mortgage division in the year through September. The consumer group had already reported complaints of Postbank customers not having access to their funds for weeks and direct debits getting rejected, jeopardising their credit scores. BaFin got nearly 10,000 complaints about Postbank by early September, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Persons: Yves Herman, VZBZ, Ramona Pop, BaFin, Sewing, Tom Sims, Rod Nickel Organizations: Deutsche Bank, REUTERS, Companies Deutsche Bank, FRANKFURT, Deutsche, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Germany's, Postbank

☆ Dutch Consumer Group Sues Amazon Over Data Tracking
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Catherine Stupp | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The class-action lawsuit represents around five million Amazon account holders residing in the Netherlands, SDBN said. Photo: PASCAL ROSSIGNOL/REUTERSA consumer-rights group in the Netherlands sued Amazon on Wednesday over its alleged practice of tracking website visitors’ online activity, using recently expanded legal provisions allowing class actions. The lawsuit, filed in a Dutch court by Stichting Data Bescherming Nederland, or SDBN, said Amazon is violating the European Union’s privacy law by monitoring visitors to popular websites through cookies—the pieces of code that identify individual browsers to create targeted advertisements—without their permission.

Persons: SDBN, PASCAL ROSSIGNOL Organizations: REUTERS, Amazon, Stichting Data Bescherming Locations: Netherlands

☆ ECB starts preparation for digital euro in multi-year project
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Francesco Canepa | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A number of Caribbean countries and Nigeria have already launched digital currencies while China and Sweden are among those that have rolled out pilot projects. The ECB says a digital euro will create competition in the market for payments, dominated by U.S. credit card companies. The digital euro will distributed by the ECB as well as commercial banks and digital wallet providers. Many of these projects surged around 2019, when Facebook announced plans to introduce a digital currency, which were then ditched. But the rise of stablecoins – crypto tokens backed to some degree by traditional currencies – gave central bank’s digital currencies, or CBDC in financial jargon, new impetus.

Persons: Markus Ferber, Francesco Canepa, Alex Richardson, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: European Central Bank, ECB, Bank of England, Bank of Canada, European People's Party, U.S, Monetary Fund, Commission, Bank for International, Facebook, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Nigeria, China, Sweden

☆ Abercrombie & Fitch says it is 'appalled' by allegations against former CEO Mike Jeffries
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Abercrombie & Fitch says it has launched its own investigation into allegations originally published by the BBC that the company’s former CEO, Mike Jeffries, exploited men for sex. “We are appalled and disgusted by the behavior described in the allegations against Mr. Jeffries, whose employment with Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ended in 2014, nearly ten years ago. At least some of the parties are alleged to have occurred while Jeffries was the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch. Jeffries’ attorney, Brian Bieber, provided a response to CNN to the BBC report, saying that “Michael is 79 years old and retired. In years past, he has chosen not to comment on media reports, documentaries, and stories of any kind as they relate to his personal life - and does not plan on doing so now.”Mike Jeffries, former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO, photographed in November 2005.

Persons: Fitch, Mike Jeffries, Jeffries, “, Matthew Smith ., Jeffries ’, Brian Bieber, Michael, ” Mike Jeffries, Michael Loccisano, ”, – Organizations: New, New York CNN, Abercrombie, BBC, Abercrombie & Fitch Co, CNN, Abercrombie & Fitch, Fitch, Brothers Laundry Service, The New York Times, & $ Locations: New York, Black

☆ Dutch insurers' shares hit by unfavourable court ruling
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AMSTERDAM, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Shares of Dutch insurers took a hit on Wednesday as a court ruling in a years-long fight over investment-linked products re-opened the prospect of large compensation claims. NN Group (NN.AS) traded down 13.5% at 0750 GMT in Amsterdam, while fellow Dutch insurer ASR (ASRNL.AS) fell 8.6%, as NN warned of the possibly "material adverse effect" of the interim court ruling. NN Group and other Dutch insurers have been dealing with issues related to these insurance policies, popularly known as "woekerpolissen" for years. "This also has impact for the legal cases against other Dutch insurers, who all sold similar unit-linked products at the time," KBC analysts wrote in a note. Between 2008 and 2010, Dutch insurers collectively paid clients about 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion) in compensation over similar policies, but several consumer groups have since filed suits arguing the compensation was too low.

Persons: Bart Meijer, Louise Heavens, Christina Fincher Organizations: KBC, Aegon NL, Dutch, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, Hague, Amsterdam

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