ok, finally read the full announcement from UK yesterday. It's a BFD. Another major nation integrating thinking on competition and data policy. This adds to the German Cartel Office decision vs Facebook, state AGs and federal antitrust suits, US Congress and other parliaments. /1
"self-reinforcing" and "insurmountable without regulatory intervention"... /2
"We do not agree" that competition law and data protection are in opposition. /3
The regulators speak directly to how weak competition can undermine privacy protections...and leave users with no meaningful choice. Witness Google and Facebook tracking us more than any companies and 85-90% of the incremental growth in the market. /4
a good reminder that they're still looking at the core of how much of the digital advertising market works ("RTB"). I expect more to come on this but there are claims it's inconsistent with data protection and GDPR. /5
this is the kicker point - about siloing data in the case of dominant platforms - and it's consistent with Germany's decision against Facebook, the draft EU Digital Markets Act and where US needs to go. /6
👀 /7
recall when Republican congressman @RepArmstrongND asked Google and Facebook CEOs about this topic late last year. Their answers weren't crisp and begging for action. (ignore Jack) ;) /8
Ugh, just noticed @CMAgovUK cited Google research again. Note, this study only looked narrowly at effects on open exchanges on Google tech for 500? “popular” sites. Google generated study for press headline and tried to bury but CMA pursued. It’s what I hinted at here. @ICOnews
Unsealed evidence posted over the weekend in the 40+ State AGs upcoming child addiction trial (ndcal mdl) v Facebook/Meta/Instagram (as part of summary judgement proceedings).
This backchannel as their lawsuits were filed is sort of deadly imho. /1
It includes emails from Zuckerberg, policy people, strategies for leveraging Meta's "alumni network", academics, favorite press, lawmakers, et al. It also includes bits of transcripts like this one. /2 storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…
Here is Facebook comms crafting what appears to be an internal call to arms for Nick Clegg who presented to be on the right side of doing something about all of this. Although maybe it was more focused on suppressing criticism than improving product. /3 storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…
wow. NdCal just denied Facebook's attempt to dismiss securities suit for Cambridge Analytica cover-up. Court says plaintiffs credibly alleged Zuckerberg and Sandberg knew it "possessed over 40mil user profiles" way earlier. 4th amended complaint added/redacted cited evidence. /1
Count I, II and III now proceed, all alleged (civil) violations of 1934 SEC Act including over $5B in stock sales by Zuckerberg. This is the case Facebook already took up to SCOTUS to be denied cert. In DE, they settled similar case as director Andreessen was set to testify. /2
In this case, the executive defendants are Zuckerberg, Sandberg and CFO Wehner. What is interesting is it's added new evidence squeezed out more recently in courts including Court sanctions against Sandberg for deleting "relevant emails" over a pseudonymous gmail account. /3
Big. A major new law & tech paper takes on the economics of behavioral advertising - the kind that tracks users across multiple businesses and contexts, not just on sites they choose to visit.
It challenges industry’s favorite claim: that tracking is a “win-win” for everyone. /1
Bear with my thread. You may know I've been sharing Google and Meta monopoly abuse concerns for nearly a decade (courts now ruling). That said, I've always said ubiquitous data collection across the web (mostly NOT on the duopoly's own services!) is what fuels their dominance. /2
At the heart of the debate is this Figure 1 - and two very different ways to frame it.
Framing #1 (the industry narrative): Data aka 'signal' -> Better targeting -> More relevant ads -> More revenue -> Free content -> Everyone wins!
Simple. Elegant. But entirely misleading. /3
The 8hr video of Jack Smith’s testimony was released by Congress on New Years’ Eve in between Epstein and Venezuela. It’s an extraordinary display of Smith’s integrity and attention to justice and fairness on 1/6. Allison Gill deserves praise for curating the key clips. 1/4
Smith clearly represents all who worked towards justice and public interest, expressing his confidence and rationale he had the evidence to prove Jan 6th case to a jury. He also shows his gratitude to those retaliated against - in just doing their jobs. This stood out to me. 2/4
I must say I’m impressed by Covington & Burling law firm who has stood strong during this retaliation. This is just 1/6 - they’ve worked with Smith to be cautious to not discuss any confidential details in his classified docs report still sealed by Judge Cannon. (1.3x to fit) 3/4
So many mind blowing sentences in this just incredible Wall Street Journal report. Starting here, “Witkoff, who hasn’t traveled to Ukraine this year, is set to visit Russia for the sixth time next week and will again meet Putin. He insisted he isn’t playing favorites.” /1
“Inside were details of the commercial and
economic plans the Trump administration had been pursuing with Russia, including jointly mining rare earths in the Arctic.” /2
“European official asked Witkoff to start speaking with allies over the secure fixed line Europe's heads of state use to conduct sensitive
diplomatic conversations. Witkoff demurred, as he traveled too much to use the cumbersome system.” /3
Saturday’s “No Kings” protests have filled front pages across America with impactful visuals and headlines of peaceful protests. Many included the eye popping NYC Times Square shot. Here in the Dothan Eagle (Alabama). But everyone turned out. See Montana in its Missoulian. /1
Plenty of big city energy from St. Louis, Missouri to Chicago, Illinois. /2
Midwest with Cleveland, Ohio to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. /3