1. According to a recent report from Axios, President Joe Biden is planning to take action to protect the privacy of those seeking abortions. Specifically, he intends to send a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), urging them to crack down on unfair or deceptive practices related to personal data collection and sharing. This includes health-related information. Given the sensitive nature of abortion, it is vital that those seeking this
procedure be able to do so without having their privacy violated. The FTC has the authority to take steps to ensure that companies are not engaging in practices that would put the personal information of abortion seekers at risk. Therefore, Biden's letter is likely to have a significant impact on how the FTC handles this issue going forward. insensitive nature of this procedure, it is crucial that providers take steps to protect the privacy of their patients. The FTC has the authority to take
steps to ensure that companies are not engage in practices that would put the personal information of abortion seekers at risk. Therefore, Biden's letter is likely to have a significant impact on how the FTC handles this issue going forward.
2. Volkswagen Group of America has created a new C-Suite position that focuses on the automaker's digital and data strategy. Neeru Arora has been appointed executive vice president, chief information officer (CIO) and chief digital officer (CDO) for Volkswagen Group of America and the North America Region, which includes both Volkswagen and Audi brands. In this role, Arora will be responsible for
developing and implementing the company's digital transformation strategy.
Arora brings more than 20 years of experience in the technology sector to her new role. Most recently, she served as the chief information officer for Dunn-Edwards Corporation, a leading manufacturer of paints, coatings and related products. Prior to that, she held various leadership positions at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, including head of Americas Transformation Office and global head of Next Generation Data Centers. Arora has also held leadership roles at Microsoft, Honeywell International
and Deloitte Consulting."I am thrilled to welcome Neeru to our team," said Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America. "Her appointment underscores our commitment to investing in the future of mobility through digital innovation."
3. Google is testing a new SERP feature that will show places to eat, drink, shop, and more based on user reviews. This feature is similar to the “find places through photos” feature that Google rolled out earlier this year. The new feature is currently being tested on mobile devices, and it is not clear when or if it will be rolled out to all users. However, the fact that Google is testing this feature suggests that it is interested in making
it easier for users to find places to go based on reviews. This could be a major change to the way that people use Google to find information about businesses. It could also lead to more businesses focusing on their online reviews in order to attract more customers.
4. Today marks a big day for privacy-conscious web users: Mozilla has released Firefox 102, which includes a new feature that strips parameters from URLs that are used to track you around the web.
URL parameters are often used by third-party trackers to uniquely identify users and track their activity across the web. By removing these parameters from URLs, Firefox makes it much more difficult for trackers to identify and target users. This change will have a profound impact on the online ecosystem, and it will make it much harder for companies to collect data about users without their consent. This is just the latest in a series of privacy-focused changes that Mozilla has made to Firefox
in recent years. In 2018, the browser implemented a "Do Not Track" feature that tells websites not to track your activity. Earlier this year, Firefox began blocking third-party cookies by default. And now, with the release of Firefox 102, Mozilla is once again setting the standard for privacy-friendly web browsers.
5. Facebook has announced that it will soon be rolling out support for non-fungible tokens (NFTs). This means that Facebook users will be able to create custom posts with a ‘Digital Collectible’ tag, while their profiles will also have a new, dedicated NFT section to show off their artworks. This is a big move for Facebook, and it is likely to have a big impact on the world of digital collectibles. NFTs are a relatively new phenomenon, but they
are rapidly gaining popularity due to their uniqueness and the fact that they can be bought, sold, or traded like traditional assets. With Facebook now getting involved, it is likely that we will see a significant increase in the number of people buying, selling, and trading NFTs. This could lead to a whole new economy developing around these digital assets, and it will be fascinating to see how it all unfolds.
6. YouTube plans to officially disable hidden subscribers July 29, making numbers of subscribers visible to all users on the platform. While they claim it’s to prevent comment spam, the real motive is likely to appease advertisers. With clear subscriber data, it will be easier for brands to find relevant influencers, compare and track campaign results, and avoid scammy creator accounts.
8. The platform is currently testing a new Shopping feed, a hub where you can buy products relevant to your interests from the platform’s shop. The feature is currently available in just a few countries, with no indication of when—or if—it will expand. However, the potential for this feature is considerable. For example, it could make it easier for people to find and purchase products from the platform’s shop. Additionally, it could provide a
new revenue stream for the platform. Given the current state of the economy, it is likely that many people would be interested in using this feature. As such, it is possible that the platform will roll out the Shopping feed more broadly in the future.
9. As any developer knows, getting your app noticed can be half the battle. With millions of apps on the market, it can be difficult to make yours stand out from the crowd. Fortunately, Microsoft is making it easier for developers to get their apps noticed with the addition of new discovery features to the Microsoft Store. Microsoft demonstrated the forthcoming enhancements during this week’s Build 2002, which the company held again as an online
event. The new Microsoft Store Ads will let developers create advertising campaigns for their apps, making it easier for potential customers to find and download your app. In addition, Microsoft is also adding new features to help customers discover apps that are relevant to their interests. With these new tools, it’s easier than ever for developers to get their apps in front of the people who are most likely to use and enjoy them.
10. In today's increasingly digital world, algorithms are becoming more and more powerful. They are used to personalized our online experience, recommend products, and even target ads. However, these algorithms can sometimes be biased, according to some "resulting in negative consequences for both individuals and businesses." To combat this perceived problem, Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N), Kellogg Co (K.N), and several major ad agencies have
pledged to take action. They will work to ensure that their algorithms are free from bias and discrimination, and that they take into account the needs of all consumers.
11. In the current landscape of mobile user acquisition, TikTok is not the leader. Instead, that honor goes to Google and Meta. Why? Because they are the primary platforms that users turn to when they are actively looking for new apps to download. This is opposed to TikTok, where users are primarily passively engaged, meaning they are not actively searching for new apps but stumbled upon TikTok while scrolling through their social media feeds.
While TikTok may have a higher number of monthly active users, Google and Meta are still the king and queen when it comes to mobile user acquisition.
12. MediaRadar, a leading media intelligence platform, announced Thursday that it has added Twitter and Instagram to its social tracking capabilities. The addition of these two popular social media platforms will provide MediaRadar's users with even more insights into the social media habits of their target audiences. With this increased level of insight, advertisers will be able to better tailor their campaigns to reach their desired consumers.
MediaRadar plans to further enhance its social tracking capabilities later this year by adding geographic buying trends to the feature. This will allow advertisers to see which regions are most active on social media and adjust their strategies accordingly. With these new capabilities, MediaRadar is poised to become the go-to resource for social media intelligence.