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AdvertisementSome venture capitalists expect US President Donald Trump to dial back regulation, potentially making it easier to develop new technologies and do business in Silicon Valley. Related VideoWhile many in Silicon Valley dislike Trump, many VCs and startup founders crave more freedom to pursue riskier new technologies unburdened by regulation. E-acc," referring to the recent Silicon Valley movement that wants technological advancements in AI to move as fast as possible, without any guardrails. Regulation has held Silicon Valley back in recent yearsVCs during Biden's presidency have complained about how tough it's been to get deals done. AdvertisementVCs anticipate an innovation boomAmerica is a country of entrepreneurs, and that's especially true in Silicon Valley.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Elon, Ben Narasin, we've, Trump, Musk, cheekily, Vance, Augustus Doricko, Kamala Harris, Aaron Levie, Harris, Mark Pincus, Biden's, Louis Lehot, Foley, Lardner, Lina Khan —, it's, Biden, JD Vance, Khan, Mason Angel, who's, he's, Narasin, Ben Thompson, Rainmaker's Doricko, Angel Organizations: Service, Elon, Venture, White, Department of Government, Zynga, acc, Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, Federal Trade Commission, Department of Justice, Trump, Republican, Big Tech, FTC, SpaceX, Space Force Locations: Silicon Valley, Silicon

☆ Coinbase is delisting some stablecoins in Europe this year. Here's what it could mean for the crypto stock
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-07 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Circle-issued USD Coin (USDC) did not hit the market until 2018. "Coinbase and Circle have a revenue sharing agreement — they share 50% of USDC revenue," he said. "If the market cap for USDC goes up revenue for Coinbase will increase as well." The market cap for dollar-backed stablecoins has been hitting all-time-highs in recent weeks after a sharp drop in 2023. Tether makes up more than 70% of the market cap of U.S. dollar-backed stablecoins, according to CryptoQuant.

Persons: Owen Lau, Oppenheimer, Lau, stablecoins Organizations: European Union, CNBC, . Locations: Europe, Crypto

☆ Apple reaches deal with EU regulators to open up mobile payments system to rivals
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

EU antitrust regulators on Thursday accepted commitments from Apple to allow access to its tap and go payments technology to rivals, bringing an end to a four-year investigation. "From now on, Apple can no longer use its control over the iPhone ecosystem to keep other mobile wallets out of the market. The iPhone maker now has until July 25 to implement the commitments, Vestager said. All developers will then be able to offer mobile wallets for iPhones with the tap and go technology, she explained. It added that there would be no changes to Apple Pay or the Apple Wallet following the probe.

Persons: Margrethe Vestager, Apple, Vestager Organizations: European Union, Apple, EU, European Commission, Economic Locations: Europe

☆ iPhone users in Europe will no longer have to use Apple Pay for mobile payments
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Apple has yielded to pressure by European regulators to give rivals access to the contactless payments technology on iPhones, meaning that their users will no longer be limited to the Apple Pay mobile wallet. Under the agreement, third-party mobile wallet developers will gain free access to the standard technology used for contactless payments with iPhones, known as near-field communication (NFC) technology. Apple will also allow iPhone users to choose which mobile wallet to make the default wallet on their phones. “Apple Pay and Apple Wallet will continue to be available in the European Economic Area for users and developers.”The European Commission first raised objections against Apple’s tap-to-pay practices in 2022, having opened a formal antitrust investigation into Apple Pay two years earlier. That means rivals wanting to create apps or wallets using the tap-to-pay features on iPhones have been unable to do so and users have been forced to use Apple Pay for mobile payments.

Persons: London CNN —, Margrethe Vestager, Apple, “, ” Vestager, ” Organizations: London CNN, London CNN — Apple, Apple, European Union, Digital Markets, European Commission, Economic, CNN, “ Apple, Economic Area, NFC

☆ EU charges Microsoft with 'abusive' bundling of Teams and Office, breaching antitrust rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Katrina Bishop | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The European Union on Tuesday accused Microsoft of breaching antitrust rules with the "abusive" bundling of its Teams and Office products. Microsoft took the pre-emptive step to unbundle Teams from Microsoft 365 in an effort to quash antitrust concerns by the EU. The EU opened its investigation into Microsoft — which remains ongoing — in July 2023 following a complaint by Salesforce -owned Slack, which has a rival chat service to Teams. The Commission's concerns are centered around the fact that, starting in around 2019, Microsoft tied Teams with its software-as-a-service — or SaaS — applications, such as Office. It notes that Microsoft is "dominant worldwide" in the SaaS market for professional productivity applications.

Persons: —, Brad Smith Organizations: Union, European, Microsoft, European Commission, EU, Salesforce, Economic

☆ Travel news: Living the Italian dream just got easier, thanks to a new visa
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —In travel news this week: submersible superyachts for billionaires, the megahub airport that could be the world’s busiest, plus new digital nomad visas in Turkey and Italy. New digital nomad visasPacking up your life and making a fresh start abroad is a dream for many, and new visa programs and tax incentives are making it a bit more achievable. Portugal, Spain and Costa Rica are some of the countries with popular digital nomad visas, and now there are two new options for remote workers. Turkey’s vibrant cities and glorious coastline can be enjoyed with its new digital nomad visa which is open to citizens of 36 countries, including the United States, Canada, France and the United Kingdom, ages 21 to 55. Italy’s long-anticipated digital nomad visa is also now accepting applications.

Persons: you’re, Hopper, he’d, “ It’s, ”, Latronico, there’d Organizations: CNN, European Union, European Economic, KSL, Mount Fuji Locations: Turkey, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Costa Rica, United States, Canada, France, United Kingdom, Italian, Italy London, Texas, Costa, Los Angeles, Basilicata, Austrian, Utah, Indonesia, Caicos, Mull, Kintyre, Miami

☆ A new study reveals the states where private equity has the most influence on housing, health care, jobs and pensions
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Gretchen Morgenson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Since that ownership change in 2018, involving a hospital chain known as LifePoint Health, care at the health system has declined, three patients say. In recent years, private-equity firms have taken over broad swaths of the nation's economy, extending well beyond health care. The analysis, called the Private Equity State Risk Index, details private equity's involvement in those arenas in all 50 states. The index shows "the private equity threats in our own backyard and gives state leaders the tools to protect the people they serve," said Chris Noble, policy director at Private Equity Stakeholder Project. "By providing transparent data on the risks associated with private equity investments, we empower communities, working families, and policymakers to advocate for change and protect their states from the threats posed by unchecked private equity firms."

Persons: Paul Ricci, Ricci, Conemaugh, Chris Noble Organizations: Broadway Capital, Apollo Global Management, Allegheny Independent Media, NBC, NBC News, MetLife, Equity, Private Equity Locations: Chelsea , Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Johnstown, Hastings, Meyersdale, United States, Allegheny Region, New York City, Conemaugh, U.S, Arizona, Georgia, New Mexico, West Virginia, Alabama, Massachusetts, Washington, Louisiana, Michigan

☆ Microsoft will now let customers worldwide buy Office without Teams, following EU antitrust concerns
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Washington CNN —Microsoft will no longer sell its Teams collaboration software as a bundled product with its Office 365 suite anywhere in the world, the company said Monday, in the face of antitrust concerns. The decision to separate Teams from Office globally extends a previous announcement last year affecting only the European Union. And it comes after rivals such as Salesforce’s Slack complained in 2020 that Microsoft’s practices were a form of anticompetitive self-dealing. Slack’s complaint led to a European Commission antitrust investigation of Microsoft that is still ongoing. Monday’s announcement appears aimed at allaying some of those concerns, allowing customers worldwide to buy Microsoft’s Office software without Teams included and the ability to buy Teams as a standalone product for business customers.

Persons: Salesforce’s Slack Organizations: Washington CNN, Microsoft, European Union, Economic, European Locations: Switzerland

☆ Microsoft to separate Teams and Office globally amid antitrust scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Exterior view of the Microsoft Times Square building in New York City on Jan. 29, 2023. Microsoft will sell its chat and video app Teams separately from its Office product globally, the U.S. tech giant said on Monday, six months after it unbundled the two products in Europe in a bid to avert a possible EU antitrust fine. The European Commission has been investigating Microsoft's tying of Office and Teams since a 2020 complaint by Salesforce-owned competing workspace messaging app Slack. The company started selling the two products separately in the EU and Switzerland on Aug. 31 last year. For new commercial customers, prices for Office without Teams range from $7.75 to $54.75 depending on the product while Teams Standalone will cost $5.25.

Organizations: Microsoft Times, Microsoft, European Commission, Salesforce, Business, Economic, European, Enterprise Locations: New York City, U.S, Europe, EU, Switzerland

☆ Zoom and Salesforce stand to benefit from Microsoft's unbundling of Teams and Office
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Microsoft's rivals won a reprieve on Monday, when the software giant said it would split up its Teams and Office bundles following scrutiny from European regulators. Analysts at Mizuho Securities wrote in a note on Monday that "while customers believe Zoom is a superior platform vs. Teams" and other vendors, "the bundling of MS Teams to Office 365 has always been enticing for customers to consider Teams." Last year, Microsoft generated almost $53 billion in revenue from Office, including Teams, up about 14% from 2022. Months later, the European Commission disclosed a probe into Microsoft's Teams and Office bundling.

Persons: Microsoft Corporation Satya Nadella, Slack, Satya Nadella, Salesforce, David Schellhase, Slack's, Stewart Butterfield Organizations: Microsoft Corporation, Economic, Salesforce, European Commission, Mizuho Securities, Mizuho, Microsoft, Financial Times, European Union, Microsoft's, CNBC, European Locations: Davos, Switzerland, Europe

CAIRO (AP) — The European Union on Sunday announced a $8 billion aid package for cash-strapped Egypt amid concerns that economic pressure and conflicts and chaos in neighboring countries could drive more migrants to European shores. The package includes both grants and loans over the next three years for the Arab world’s most populous country, according to the European Union Mission in Cairo. The package drew criticism from international rights groups over Egypt’s human rights record. Amnesty International decried the deal and urged European leaders not to be complicit with human rights violations taking place in Egypt. “EU leaders must ensure that the Egyptian authorities adopt clear benchmarks for human rights, said Amnesty International’s Head of the European Institutions Office, Eve Geddie in a statement.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Eve Geddie, Geddie Organizations: Union, Sunday, European, Mission, EU, Amnesty International, Amnesty, Office Locations: CAIRO, Egypt, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Cairo, Libya, Africa, Saharan Africa, Europe, Israel

☆ Oman Cultural Complex could become a ‘cultural magnet’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Callum Sutherland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Oman Cultural Complex, designed by French firm Architecturestudio, will consist of the new National Theatre, National Library and an exhibition center, and cover 70,000 square meters upon completion. ArchitectureStudioRoueïda Ayache oversees most Architecturestudio projects in the Middle East, including previous designs such as the Bahrain National Theatre, opened in 2012, and Jordan’s Amman Rotana Tower. She believes that the Cultural Complex will become a key attraction in Muscat. ArchitectureStudioRené-Henri Arnaud is the partner architect in charge of the Cultural Complex, and for him, a crucial aspect is its practicality. Arnaud adds that the National Library “will be a multimedia library, not just for students but international visitors.”There is no definitive completion date as yet for the complex.

Persons: Architecturestudio, Roueïda Ayache, ”, Ayache, ArchitectureStudio René, Henri Arnaud, “ It’s, Arnaud Organizations: CNN, National Theatre, National Library, Bahrain National Theatre, Jordan’s, Jordan’s Amman Rotana, Oman’s Ministry of Heritage, Muscat International Airport, Theatre, National Locations: Muscat, Oman, Jordan’s Amman, Muscat . “, Greater Muscat

☆ Apple offers rivals access to mobile payment tech in EU antitrust case
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Apple has offered to give rivals the ability to access and interoperate with its contactless payment tech in an effort to appease antitrust regulators in Europe. Apple Pay, the company's mobile wallet feature, allows users to make purchases by simply tapping their iPhones, which run on Apple's operating system called iOS. Since Apple controls this operating system exclusively, third-party mobile wallet developers' access to its payment technology has previously been restricted. Apple said it will allow third-party developers to gain access to the mobile payment technology, provide new features for users like defaulting to preferred payment apps and apply "non-discriminatory eligibility criteria" for rival developers. If Apple's commitments assuage European regulators' competition concerns, the Commission will adopt them and legally require Apple to implement the changes.

Persons: Tim Cook, Apple Organizations: Apple, National Committee, China Relations, China Business Council, Economic Cooperation, APEC, European Commission, Economic, CNBC, Department of Justice, Bloomberg, DOJ Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, Europe, U.S

[1/2] EU flag and TikTok logo are seen in this illustration taken, June 2, 2023. Meta on Wednesday challenged the "gatekeeper" designations for its Messenger and Marketplace platforms, but did not appeal against the status for Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The European Union in September picked 22 "gatekeeper" services, run by six tech companies - Microsoft (MSFT.O), Apple (AAPL.O), Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) Google, Amazon (AMZN.O), Meta and ByteDance's TikTok. The company said it was designated a gatekeeper based on its parent company, ByteDance's, global market capitalisation that us based primarily on the performance of business lines that do not even operate in Europe. Last month, China's ByteDance bought back shares from U.S. employees in a deal that valued the company at $223.5 billion.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, China's ByteDance, Supantha Mukherjee, Nick Zieminski Organizations: EU, REUTERS, Rights, Meta, Digital Markets, Facebook, European Union, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Economic, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Rights STOCKHOLM, Europe, Stockholm

☆ Europe's problems are far bigger than a shallow recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Balazs Koranyi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Deep structural problems mean Europe is bound to trail most other big economic areas for years to come. The labour market remains tight and the world economy is rebounding, so external demand is also likely to be healthier. Fearing it will be difficult to hire in future, firms are now hanging onto workers, creating even more labour market tightness, potentially fuelling wage growth and weakening productivity. The potential growth rate for Europe's largest economy is now below 1%. European Union governments are meanwhile struggling to reach consensus on bigger questions that will help shape the future.

Persons: Philip Lane, Erik Nielsen, Eric Gaillard, Europe's, There's, Lane, Reinhard Cluse, Mark John, Catherine Evans Organizations: Central Bank's, REUTERS, European Commission, UBS, European Union, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Europe, Nice, France, United States, Germany

Meta and Facebook logos are seen in this illustration taken February 15, 2022. The ban on such advertising, which targets users by harvesting their data, is a setback for U.S. tech giant Meta Platforms (META.O), the owner of the two social media services, which has opposed efforts to curb the practice. The Norwegian data regulator, Datatilsynet, in September said it had referred the ongoing fine to the European regulator, as its fine was valid in Norway only and due to expire on Nov. 3. Norway is not a member of the EU but is part of the European single market. The decision affects some 250 million Facebook and Instagram users in Europe, Datatilsynet said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, EDPB, Datatilsynet, Gwladys Fouche, Terje Solsvik, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Meta, REUTERS, EU, Facebook, European Union, European Economic, European Data Protection, Reuters, Economic, Big Tech, Thomson Locations: Norway, Ireland, Norwegian, Europe

☆ EU clamps down on Meta’s use of personal data for targeted ads
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Meta will soon be forced to seek European users’ consent before using their personal information to deliver those users targeted advertisements on Facebook and Instagram. A European Union-wide ban announced Wednesday dealing with Meta’s handling of user data proposes blanket restrictions which could be finalized as soon as late next week. The restrictions were announced by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), a group of EU data regulators representing numerous countries in the bloc. Under EU rules known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Meta must cite one of several specific legal justifications in order to collect and use people’s personal data for advertising. It directs the Irish Data Protection Commission, Meta’s primary privacy regulator in Europe, to issue a final rule on the matter by Nov. 10.

Persons: Meta, It’s, “ Meta, “, ”, Anu Organizations: CNN, Facebook, European Data Protection, EU, General Data Protection, Meta, Irish Data Protection Locations: Europe

☆ Facebook and Instagram get ad-free subscription service in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

People in the European Union, which includes 27 countries, the European Economic Area and Switzerland, will be able to pay 9.99 euros ($11) per month on the web or 12.99 euros ($14) per month month on iOS and Android to access the ad-free version of Facebook and Instagram. Meta said on Monday it will offer an ad-free subscription option for Facebook and Instagram in Europe after it faced a major challenge from regulators in the region this year. Meta said the introduction of the subscription service is aimed at addressing regulatory concerns. Meta pointed to this ruling as a reason for introducing the subscription offer. "In its ruling, the CJEU (European Court of Justice) expressly recognised that a subscription model, like the one we are announcing, is a valid form of consent for an ads funded service," Meta wrote.

Persons: Meta Organizations: European Union, European Economic, Facebook, General Data, Meta, of Justice Locations: Switzerland, Europe

☆ Meta introduces ad-free plans for Instagram, Facebook in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logos of Facebook and Instagram and the words "Monthly subscription" are seen in this picture illustration taken January 19, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsOct 30 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms (META.O) said on Monday it will offer users in Europe a subscription plan to use Facebook and Instagram without advertisements to comply with the European Union regulations. The monthly subscription plans for users in the EU, European Economic Area and Switzerland, will cost 9.99 euros ($10.58) for web users, while iOS and Android users will have to shell out 12.99 euros a month. The EU regulations threaten to curb Meta's ability to personalize ads for users without their consent and hurt its major revenue source. ($1 = 0.9446 euros)Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini GanguliOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Meta, Akash Sriram, Shinjini Organizations: REUTERS, Facebook, European, European Economic, Ireland's, EU, Thomson Locations: Europe, EU, Switzerland, Meta, Bengaluru

☆ Arcelik's European deal with Whirlpool gets EU approval
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Employees stand at the Whirlpool company plant in the northern city of Amiens, France, June 14, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Arcelik AS FollowWhirlpool Corp FollowGDANSK, Oct 24 (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators have cleared Turkish domestic appliances maker Arcelik's (ARCLK.IS) proposed purchase of Whirlpool's (WHR.N) European domestic appliances business, an European Commission filing showed on Tuesday. "The Commission concluded that the transaction would not raise competition concerns given in particular the presence of alternative suppliers in the European Economic Area countries where both parties are active," the European Commission said in a statement. Under the deal announced in January, the companies will set up a new entity made up of Arcelik's European units producing major and small domestic appliances as well as consumer electronics with Whirlpool's European business. Britain's antitrust regulator said on Oct. 11 it had decided to refer the deal for an in-depth investigation.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, Arcelik, Blomberg, Canan, Daren Butler, Jason Neely Organizations: Whirlpool, REUTERS, Commission, Economic, European Commission, Markets Authority, Zenith, Thomson Locations: Amiens, France, GDANSK, Arctic, Altus, Grundig

☆ Microsoft closes $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard after lengthy regulatory review
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"Today we start the work to bring beloved Activision, Blizzard, and King franchises to Game Pass and other platforms," Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said in a blog post . Microsoft has closed its $69 billion acquisition of video game publisher Activision Blizzard , according to a regulatory filing by the company Friday. Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick will stay on as CEO through the end of the year. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who took the helm in 2014, is aiming to diversify the company's business beyond its core areas such as operating systems and productivity software. WATCH: Microsoft deal with Activision Blizzard set to clear final hurdle

Persons: Phil Spencer, Tony Hawk, It's, Bobby Kotick, Satya Nadella, pushback, Victoria Graham, Activision Blizzard Organizations: Activision, Blizzard, Microsoft, Markets Authority, Federal Trade Commission, European Commission, Markets, Economic, Activision Blizzard, Nintendo, Sony, Nvidia, San, U.S, Appeals, Circuit, Ubisoft, FTC Locations: U.S, San Francisco federal

☆ Microsoft to unbundle Teams software in Europe in bid to abate EU antitrust concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Silhouettes of laptop users are seen next to a screen projection of Microsoft logo in this photo illustration. U.S. tech giant Microsoft on Thursday said it will unbundle its chat and videoconference service Teams from its Microsoft 365 and Office 365 products, in a bid to allay European Union antitrust concerns. European Union regulators had in July opened an antitrust investigation into Microsoft's bundling of Teams with other Office products, citing anti-competitive concerns. "We appreciate the clarity that has emerged on several of the concerns from extensive and constructive discussions with the European Commission. With the benefit of this clarity, we believe it is important that we start to take meaningful steps to address those concerns," Nanna-Louise Linde, vice president of Microsoft European Government Affairs, said Thursday in a blogpost.

Persons: Nanna, Louise Linde, — CNBC's Silvia Amaro Organizations: Microsoft, European Union, European Commission, Microsoft European Government Affairs, CNBC Locations: Swiss

Britain's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the only regulator to block Microsoft's $69 billion Activision deal, in a test of its post-Brexit clout. The CMA in a statement said the revised transaction would "allow Ubisoft to commercialise these rights to other cloud gaming services providers (including to Microsoft itself)". Under the new terms, Microsoft will not be able to release Activision Blizzard games exclusively on its own cloud streaming service — Xbox Cloud Gaming – or to exclusively control the licensing terms of Activision Blizzard games for rival services. The new transaction deals with streaming rights outside the European Economic Area, reflecting the fact that Brussels had already approved the deal. Ubisoft will, however, receive a non-exclusive licence for Activision's European gaming rights too, enabling the French group to also stream the rights in the EU.

Persons: Yadarisa, Kate Holton, Rashmi Aich, Sachin Ravikumar, Barbara Lewis Organizations: CMA, Activision, Ubisoft Deal, Microsoft, Ubisoft Entertainment, Britain's, Markets Authority, Ubisoft, European Union, Sony, U.S, Activision Blizzard, Economic, Activision's, Thomson Locations: Paris, British, Brussels, Bengaluru, London

☆ Microsoft gives ground on streaming in bid to remove UK block on Activision deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Olesya Dmitracova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Microsoft has made a major concession to UK authorities in a bid to remove the last remaining regulatory obstacle to its huge takeover of Activision Blizzard. The restructured deal, announced by the UK Competition and Markets Authority Tuesday, follows a decision by the CMA to block the acquisition on its original terms. A US federal court also said in July that it would not block the deal from closing. The transaction was valued at $69 billion at the time, making it one of the tech industry’s largest deals. Activision Blizzard is one of the world’s biggest video game developers, producing games such as “Candy Crush,” “Call of Duty,” “World of Warcraft” and “Overwatch.”

Persons: Sarah Cardell, ” Cardell, Candy, ” Organizations: London CNN, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, European Union, Ubisoft Entertainment, UK Competition, Markets, CMA, Ubisoft —, Economic, Ubisoft, Activision Locations: United Kingdom, Paris

☆ Facebook owner Meta Platforms seeks to stop privacy breach fine in Norway
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Meta Platforms' business group is seen in Brussels, Belgium December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Yves Herman//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Meta Platforms Inc FollowOSLO, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms (META.O) will ask a court in Norway on Tuesday to stop a fine the country's data regulator has imposed on the owner of Facebook and Instagram for breaching users' privacy, in a case that could have wider European implications. Since Aug. 14, Meta Platforms has been fined 1 million crowns ($94,313) per day for harvesting users' data and using it to target advertising at them, called behavioural advertising, a business model common to Big Tech. Meta Platforms is asking for a temporary injunction against the order, which imposes a daily fine through to Nov. 3. Datatilsynet could make the fine permanent by referring its decision to the European Data Protection Board, which has the power to do so, if it agrees with the Norwegian regulator's decision.

Persons: Yves Herman, Meta, Tobias Judin, Datatilsynet, Gwladys Fouche, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Facebook, Big Tech, European Union, European Economic, EEA, Reuters . Regulator, Meta, Reuters, European Data Protection, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Norway, Norwegian, Europe, Oslo

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