Google gets a giant fine

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What’s in store:

• There’s a penalty Google can’t just swipe away.

• Still no inbox? Threads keeps it basic for now.

• Around the web: Elon Musk denies reports of Tesla and xAI sharing revenue.

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Read Time: 5 minutes

GOOGLE

Big tech play, with big fines following behind

Google has once again lost its attempt to overturn a 2017 European Commission ruling, which found that its shopping service broke competition rules.

This resulted in a record €2.42 billion fine (around $2.7 billion) and required changes to how Google operates its service.

Can’t just hit undo on that, Google.

In 2021, Google appealed, but the General Court mostly upheld the decision, confirming that Google’s presence of its own shopping service in search results was anti-competitive.

Google’s latest appeal to the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) was also rejected, confirming that its behaviour violated EU competition laws.

Here’s what’s happening:

• Google’s appeal against a €2.42 billion fine was rejected.

• The court confirmed that self-preferencing in search results is anti-competitive.

• The ruling strengthens rules for fair competition in the tech industry.

Round 3, still no win

Margrethe Vestager, the EU's competition chief, called the case a significant moment in regulating Big Tech.

While companies can innovate, they must not misuse market power for unfair advantages.

Google expressed disappointment, stating it made changes in 2017 to comply and has helped generate billions of clicks for over 800 shopping services.

In a separate case, the CJEU ruled Apple owes $15 billion in back taxes after benefiting from illegal tax breaks in Ireland.

Apple disagrees, saying the issue is where taxes are paid, not how much.

Both rulings show the EU’s strong stance on holding tech giants accountable for competition and tax compliance.

Get the popcorn out folks!

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On This Day

September 11, 1916 - The first true self-service supermarket, Clarence Saunders' "Piggly Wiggly," opens in Memphis, Tennessee, revolutionising the grocery shopping experience.

Tool of the Week

Aicado

A user-friendly platform that simplifies integrating diverse AI models into websites for non-technical users. Features include seamless embedding into any site, 100% white-labelling, robust support, and free usage for one website.

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META

Threads says no to hopping in your DMs

Threads isn’t working on a separate inbox or direct messaging system yet, despite user requests.

For now, Instagram's inbox will continue to handle private messages, but there may soon be an easier way to send Instagram messages directly from Threads.

App researcher Adwaith Varma revealed a feature in testing, where a messaging button on user profiles allowed messages to be sent quickly to Instagram inboxes.

Though the test is over, it hints at future messaging features for Threads.

At present, to message someone privately, users need to click the Instagram icon on their profile and send the message through Instagram’s system.

This can be inconvenient for users with private profiles or who aren’t active on Instagram.

Key takeaways:

• No separate inbox for Threads, Instagram messaging will continue for now.

• Recent tests suggest quicker Instagram messaging may be coming.

• Rivals like X and Bluesky offer standalone messaging systems, unlike Threads.

We still got Instagram I guess

Competitors like X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky have their own messaging systems.

X offers direct messaging with features like editing, while Bluesky has launched direct messaging with plans for end-to-end encryption.

Mastodon, while not offering a separate inbox, allows private posts visible only to tagged users.

Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, has said a separate inbox for Threads could happen if integration with Instagram doesn’t work out.

Some users have overlapping followers on both platforms, but many have entirely different timelines.

A separate inbox may be better for those users.

Is anyone using Threads, anyway?

Mindstream Picks

Space: ESA successfully deorbited the Cluster 2 satellite on Sept. 8, executing a targeted reentry over the South Pacific to minimise debris risk.

Crypto: Over 350,000 people watched a deepfake of Apple CEO Tim Cook promoting a crypto scam during the "Glowtime" event for the new iPhone on Sept. 9.

Games: The PS5 Pro was officially unveiled by lead architect Mark Cerny. The price will be $699 / £699 / €799 - the console also doesn’t include a disc drive which costs extra.

Music: Nightwish drops new single "An Ocean Of Strange Islands" from their upcoming album Yesterwynde, featuring epic orchestrations and Floor Jansen's powerful vocals.

Don’t Miss - Elon Musk has denied claims that Tesla and his AI startup, xAI, are sharing revenue or licensing AI models for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software. While Musk acknowledges that Tesla has benefited from discussions with xAI engineers, he asserts there's no formal agreement, as xAI's models are too large to run on Tesla's systems.

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Yesterday’s Poll

“Thoughts on the Apple Event?”

Great, can't wait for iPhone 16! - 56% ✅

Boring, nothing new! - 44%

Your Views:

“Functionally great enhancements.” - rplayne

“First they sell phones without chargers, now they sell phones without their new «magical» feature, not even a beta version. Event should have been called «Vapor» instead of «Glow»” - reller

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