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EU Slams Google $2.7bn Fine

Published

7 years ago

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Google

Google The European Commission found that the U.S. tech giant denied “consumers a genuine choice” by using its search engine to unfairly steer them to its own shopping platform.

Regulators said that Google must change its behavior within 90 days or face additional penalties.

“What Google has done is illegal under EU antitrust rules,” said Margrethe Vestager, the bloc’s top antitrust official. “It denied other companies the chance to compete on the merits and to innovate. And most importantly, it denied European consumers a genuine choice of services and the full benefits of innovation.”

Google said in a statement that it tries to show ads in ways that are helpful for buyers and sellers.

“We respectfully disagree with the conclusions announced today,” a Google spokesperson said. “We will review the Commission’s decision in detail as we consider an appeal, and we look forward to continuing to make our case.”

The Commission said that Google acted illegally by giving priority placement in search results to its own shopping service, while relegating results from rivals to areas where potential buyers were much less likely to click.

It could have fined Google as much as 10% of its annual sales, or roughly $9 billion.

Vestager said Google’s competitors could claim compensation in national courts within the EU. She said hundreds of companies, including some based in the U.S., complained about the way Google displayed its shopping service.

Shares in Google parent company Alphabet dropped by 1.2% in premarket trading.

Tuesday’s fine dwarfs the previous EU record antitrust penalty of €1.06 billion ($1.2 billion) imposed on Intel in 2009. Intel has been fighting to overturn that decision ever since.

Google’s regulatory headache in Europe doesn’t end with the online shopping case, which dates back to 2010.

The EU has also accused the Silicon Valley titan of abusing its market position by imposing restrictions on Android device manufacturers and mobile network operators.

It is also investigating the company’s ad placing service, AdSense.

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Celebrities

‘Did I flaunt your wife?’ — Yul Edochie fumes after brother’s advice

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12 hours ago

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November 7, 2024 9:59 am

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Yul Edochie, the Nollywood actor, appears to have responded to advice from his brother Linc over his constant online display of his second wife Judy Austin.

Yul unveiled Judy as his second wife in April 2022. He also announced their first child together — to the dissatisfaction of May, his first wife.

Linc, in a recent interview on Kanayo O. Kanayo’s podcast, shared his thoughts on Yul’s decision to constantly flaunt Judy on social media.

He cautioned that the people praising Yul would quickly turn against him if issues arose in his second marriage.

“What is done is done… My father always says, ‘Take your marriage off social media,” he said.

In an Instagram post, Yul questioned why people were concerned about his constant display of Judy online, asking if they had paid for his data or if he was posting their wives.

The movie star also rained abusive words at his critics. Although he did not mention names, Yul concluded with a stern warning: “If my post offends you, hug transformer”.

“Ndi keep your marriage off social media kwenu! Ndi ala. You wey hide your marriage inside house, you still no divorce? Your wife no leave you? Psychos,” he wrote.

“Everybody na adviser for social media, your own life go dey scattter, you no fit fix am. But you sabi advise other people. If I post my wife a million times on my page, how it take concern you?

“Na you buy me data or na your wife I post? Idiots. The one wey dey sweet una na to wear black gather for person burial. One minute silence, the person go turn to hero.

“But when that person is alive being happy, his happiness go dey pain una. Thunder fire you. If my post dey offend you, hug transformer.”

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Celebrities

‘I’m a daughter of two immigrants,’ Cardi B rants as Elon Musk calls her ‘puppet’

Published

3 days ago

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November 4, 2024 10:57 am

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Rapper Cardi B has responded to remarks made by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who recently called her a “puppet” for the Kamala Harris campaign.

Musk shared a clip of Cardi B’s speech on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Another puppet who can’t even talk without being fed the words. The Kamala campaign has no authenticity or true empathy.”

Cardi B fired back, saying, “I’m not a puppet, Elon. I’m a daughter of two immigrant parents that had to work their ass off to provide for me! I’m a product of welfare, I’m a product of section 8, I’m a product of poverty, and I’m a product of what happens when the system is set up against you… But you don’t know nothing about that. You don’t know not one thing about the American struggle… PS fix my algorithm.”

The exchange comes ahead of the U.S. presidential elections, scheduled for November 5, where Democratic candidate Kamala Harris is set to face Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Though Harris stands poised to potentially become the first Indian American president, a survey by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace suggests she may garner fewer votes from the community than President Joe Biden did in 2020.

In her rally speech, Cardi B spoke passionately about women’s rights, stating: “Just like Kamala Harris, I too have been the underdog, I’ve been underestimated, my success belittled and discredited. Let me tell you something: Women have to work ten times harder, perform ten times better, and still people question us, how we got to the top. I can’t stand a bully, but just like Kamala, I always stand up to one.”

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Celebrities

‘We’re not on same level’ | ‘Copy copy’ — Kcee, Flavour trade cryptic jabs on X

Published

1 week ago

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October 30, 2024 9:55 am

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Kcee appeared to have fired back at fellow singer Flavour for allegedly insinuating that he copied his music style.

“Copy copy akaria,’ Flavour had written via X without mentioning names.

Flavour’s subtle dig on Sunday sparked controversy, with many assuming Kcee was the target.

This was due to Kcee’s recent single mirroring Flavour’s signature sound.

Kcee responded with a series of intense posts, describing the tweet as “disrespectful” to his hard work and sweat.

He argued that no one has exclusive rights to the style, which celebrates Igbo culture and heritage.

He emphasized that his music authentically represents his heritage and refused to apologize for using the style.

“Stop trying to gatekeep Igbo culture. You’re not a Custodian. I’ve been in this game before you. It belongs to all. You don’t own this genre of music. My music celebrates our heritage, and I won’t apologize. In an ocean of things that matter. You’re like a needle. Get that right,” he wrote.

“People recognize authenticity. I’ll continue celebrating our culture unapologetically. Spend your energy on success, not diminishing mine.

“I’ve never been the type to go head to head, but I’m calling out this bullshit because I won’t be disrespected. No way. I’ve come too far for anyone to downplay my sweats and hard work.”

Although Flavour has yet to respond, the development has sparked reactions on X.

https://twitter.com/Kele_Chukwu/status/1851171584540569900?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1851171584540569900%7Ctwgr%5E0925c4588990b1131d40048d999cb464e751ecd3%7Ctwcon%5Es1&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Flifestyle.thecable.ng%2Fkcee-flavour-trade-cryptic-jab-on-x%2F

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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