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LinkedIn to Restrict Targeted Advertising in EU Due to Complaint Regarding Use of Sensitive Data

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LinkedIn has confirmed it will no longer allow advertisers to target users based on data gleaned from their participation in LinkedIn Groups. In response to the complaint it received in February, the EC wrote to LinkedIn to request further information on how it might be enabling targeted ads based on sensitive personal data such as race, political allegiances, or sexual orientation. While LinkedIn maintained that it complied with the DSA, the company has now removed the ability for advertisers to “create an advertising audience” in Europe using LinkedIn Group membership data. “We made this change to prevent any misconception that ads to European members could be indirectly targeted based on special categories of data or related profiling categories,” Corrigan wrote on LinkedIn today. LinkedIn will still allow targeted advertising, just not using data garnered from LinkedIn groups.

DOJ Accuses Apple of Using Privacy as a Cover for Profit Maximization

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The complaint accuses Apple of moulding its privacy and security practices in ways that benefits the company financially. One quote particularly jumps out where the DOJ calls Apple’s privacy and security justification an “elastic shield”:“Apple deploys privacy and security justifications as an elastic shield that can stretch or contract to serve Apple’s financial and business interests,” it says. “Apple wraps itself in a cloak of privacy, security, and consumer preferences to justify its anticompetitive conduct. It also said that at the moment developers can’t offer a separate app store for children. Essentially, the DOJ argues that Apple’s privacy and security practices are pretextual in nature and the company chooses “alternative courses” to protect its monopoly.

“Fresh Insights into Spotify’s Operations Unveiled by Apple Ahead of Potential EU Penalty”

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This week, the Financial Times reported the EC will issue its first-ever fine against the tech giant for allegedly breaking EU law over competition in the streaming music market. It reads:We’re happy to support the success of all developers — including Spotify, which is the largest music streaming app in the world. In the case of the EU complaint, the concern is that Apple’s App Store distorts completion in the music streaming market. “There are other rivals to Apple Music — there are Deezer, there are Soundcloud. A rep for the EC declined to comment on news related to Spotify’s complaint or any pending fines.

Alleged Firing of Eight Activist Employees at SpaceX Questioned by US Labor Board

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The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed a complaint alleging that SpaceX illegally fired eight employees who wrote and distributed an open letter with workplace concerns. Circulated in June 2022, the open letter called out how SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk’s public behavior was harming the company’s reputation. At the time, Business Insider alleged that SpaceX paid a $250,000 settlement to a flight attendant that Elon Musk sexually harassed. As a result of its complaint, the NLRB regional director in Los Angeles will seek to arrive at a settlement with SpaceX. If SpaceX doesn’t settle, the company will face a hearing before an administrative law judge in March.

“OpenAI and Microsoft Called Upon by The New York Times to Compensate for Training Data”

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The New York Times is suing OpenAI and its close collaborator (and investor), Microsoft, for allegedly violating copyright law by training generative AI models on Times’ content. Actress Sarah Silverman joined a pair of lawsuits in July that accuse Meta and OpenAI of having “ingested” Silverman’s memoir to train their AI models. As The Times’ complaint alludes to, generative AI models have a tendency to regurgitate training data, for example reproducing almost verbatim results from articles. And that’s why most [lawsuits like this] will probably fail.”Some news outlets, rather than fight generative AI vendors in court, have chosen to ink licensing agreements with them. In its complaint, The Times says that it attempted to reach a licensing arrangement with Microsoft and OpenAI in April but that talks weren’t ultimately fruitful.

EU Advertisements Targeting Sensitive Data Draw Privacy Complaint Against Musk’s X

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Elon Musk’s X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, is facing a new privacy complaint in Europe related to its ad targeting tools. The complaint, which is being lodged with the Dutch data protection authority by privacy rights not-for-profit noyb, accuses X of failing to enforce its own its advertising guidelines. “After we filed our first complaint in this matter, the EU Commission has already confirmed to stop advertising on X. “In November, this unlawful use of micro-targeting already prompted noyb to file a complaint against the EU Commission itself. “It remains to be seen if the Commission may take action against X itself under the DSA,” noyb further added.