Core Points - The European Union has imposed a $3.45 billion fine on Google for anticompetitive advertising technology practices [1][2] - The fine is based on a complaint from the European Publishers Council, which alleges that Google favored its own ad services, harming competitors and publishers [2][3] - Google reported approximately $350 billion in revenue for 2024 and has been given a chance to demonstrate compliance before potential divestment from certain ad tech services [2] Group 1 - The European Commission emphasizes the need for trust and fairness in digital markets, stating that public institutions must act against dominant players abusing their power [3] - Google plans to appeal the decision, arguing that the fine is unjustified and that it will negatively impact thousands of European businesses [4] - The fine is part of a broader global regulatory effort to rein in the power of Big Tech companies, with Google being a frequent target [6] Group 2 - This fine is not Google's first encounter with EU antitrust actions; previous fines include $2.7 billion in 2017, $5 billion in 2018, and $1.7 billion in 2019 for various anticompetitive practices [8] - Recently, France's data protection authority also fined Google $381 million for improper cookie usage in Gmail [9] - A group of European publishers has filed a complaint against Google for using their content in AI Overviews earlier this year [9]

Apple is preparing to unveil its iPhone 17 lineup next week but a major software update is also rumored to be on the horizon. The company is reportedly planning an AI-powered upgrade to Siri in iOS 26.4, arriving as early as March 2026.According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple is working on a new Siri feature called World Knowledge Answers, an AI-driven search tool designed to generate detailed responses that draw from web data, images, video and local information. Bloomberg wrote that Apple may be workin ...

Disney will pay a $10 million penalty for mislabeling videos on YouTube and allowing personal data to be collected from children without notifying parents or getting their consent, the FTC said in an announcement.The complaint filed in a US District Court, the FCC said, alleged that Disney uploaded videos to YouTube in channels that defaulted to "Not Made For Kids" when the videos should have been labeled "Made For Kids."Due to the mislabeling, videos intended for children collected more information than th ...

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Core Viewpoint - The UK government is pursuing broader access to Apple's iCloud services, including a request for backdoor access to standard iCloud data, which raises significant privacy and security concerns [1][5][6]. Group 1: Government Requests and Legal Context - The UK Home Office's request for access to iCloud data is not limited to data protected by Apple's Advanced Data Protection (ADP) but extends to all iCloud data, including sensitive information like passwords and messages [5]. - The request is facilitated by the Investigatory Powers Act, which aims to assist law enforcement in investigating serious crimes, but critics argue it compromises user security by potentially allowing exploitation of Apple's systems [6]. Group 2: Responses and Implications - Apple previously withdrew its Advanced Data Protection security tool for UK users, expressing disappointment over the necessity of this action, and has initiated a legal challenge against the government's request [4]. - The US government is closely monitoring the situation, as the UK's request could grant access to data from all iCloud users globally, not just British citizens [3]. Group 3: Expert Opinions - Cybersecurity experts warn that creating a backdoor for government access could lead to broader security vulnerabilities, as it undermines the integrity of Apple's security measures and puts all users at risk [7].

Core Points - Google and Fox have reached an agreement to keep Fox channels on YouTube TV, ending a dispute that could have led to the removal of these channels [1][2] - The deal ensures that Fox channels, including Fox Broadcast Network, Fox News, and Fox Sports, remain available for subscribers, preserving the value of the service [2] - The agreement was reached just in time for significant college and NFL football events, highlighting the urgency for both parties to finalize the deal [2] Summary by Sections Agreement Details - Google announced the deal via a YouTube blog post, emphasizing the preservation of service value and future flexibility [2] - The agreement allows for continued access to over 100 channels, ensuring that football fans will not miss upcoming games [2] Context and Urgency - The timing of the agreement was critical due to the first big Saturday of college football and the upcoming NFL season, which increased pressure on both companies to finalize negotiations [2] - A short-term extension was granted to allow negotiations to continue past the initial deadline, ultimately leading to a successful renewal of the contract without service disruption [2]

Apple on Tuesday sent out invites for its annual fall iPhone launch event, which is slated for Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. PT. The company is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 lineup, which could include a slimmer version of the phone. It could also debut the Apple Watch Series 11 and the AirPods Pro 3.The invite for the fall event shows the title, "Awe dropping," with a glowing Apple logo that seems to reference Siri's colorful glow. The keynote will be held at Apple Park in Cupertino, California. CNET will be cover ...

Core Insights - Waymo has received a permit to test its autonomous vehicles in parts of New York City, specifically in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, with a specialist present in the vehicle [2][3] - The company is expanding its robotaxi services to multiple cities, including plans to offer rides in Washington, DC, and Miami by 2026, and has already established operations in cities like Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles [3][4][29][30] - Waymo's autonomous vehicles have demonstrated a significant reduction in crash rates compared to human drivers, with 88% fewer serious injury crashes and 78% fewer injury-causing crashes over 71 million miles driven [9] Expansion Plans - Waymo is conducting early testing in Dallas and plans to launch public rides next year through a partnership with Avis Budget Group [4][24] - The company is also rolling out a limited fleet in Philadelphia, focusing on complex areas, while it aims to expand its services in other cities [28] - Future expansions include Tokyo, where Waymo is collaborating with local taxi services to adapt its technology to local conditions [31][32] Technology Development - Waymo is opening a new 239,000-square-foot factory in Phoenix to increase its fleet of fully autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles from 1,500 to 3,500 [6] - The company has announced partnerships with Hyundai to integrate its sixth-generation self-driving technology into the Ioniq 5 SUV, with testing expected to start by late 2025 [7][35] - Waymo's sixth-generation technology aims to enhance vehicle capabilities, including navigation in extreme weather conditions [34] Safety and Operations - The NYC Department of Transportation has implemented comprehensive safety guidelines for autonomous vehicle testing to ensure public safety [3] - Waymo's vehicles are currently unable to charge for rides in New York due to existing state laws, but the company is advocating for changes to allow fully autonomous ride-hailing services [27] - The company provides over 250,000 paid trips weekly across more than 700 square miles in the US, indicating a growing demand for its services [8]

Katelyn Chedraoui Writer IKatelyn is a writer with CNET covering artificial intelligence, including chatbots, image and video generators. Her work explores how new AI technology is infiltrating our lives, shaping the content we consume on social media and affecting the people behind the screens. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in media and journalism. You can reach her at kchedraoui@cnet.com. Expertise artificial intelligence, AI image generators, social me ...

Meta is diving into AI video generation with a splash. The company will work with and license models from Midjourney AI, one of the most popular AI image and video companies.Alexandr Wang, Meta's chief AI officer, revealed the partnership in a post on X Friday. It's still unclear when a possible Meta x Midjourney model could be available for people to use.Meta teased a possible tool, MovieGen, at its 2024 Connect event, but we haven't heard much since. Right now you can upload an existing file or image, or ...