This is also too small a settlement by the Trump/Vance FTC, given that Amazon's US overall US revenues in 2024 was $438 billion. #bigtech gets off easy.

This settlement generated in part by the EU/US coalition of digital rights groups (TACD) that made "dark patterns" a major policy issue in US, as well as Lina Khan FTC commission--which understood dark pattern manipulation is at core of commercial surveillance marketing biz model. bit.ly/46EIw3u

News media consolidation as CBS News likely merges with CNN, reducing independent news gathering, analysis, press freedoms. #democracy Cold Front at CNN www.status.news/p/cnn-david-...

Public health, consumer & data protections & media content integrity raised by this deal. Requires scrutiny worldwide. Netflix Strikes Global Marketing Deal With Beverage Giant AB Inbev www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/bus... via @thr

The US is about to endorse full force platform commercial surveillance marketing by brokering a TikTok deal that fails to provide privacy, Gen AI, consumer protections, competition, youth safeguards. All the failures in past to regulate social media ignored for a "deal" that rewards BigTech.

The pending TikTok deal by Trump Adm has vast implications for the privacy & online consumer protections of Americans, not to mention competition issues (With now News Corp, Paramount/CBS, possibly Warner/CNN, more. Will @AFergusonFTC speak out about the dangers? www.axios.com/2025/09/21/t...

Study: Chatbots/LLMs pose serious new privacy risks, deepen consumer exploitation. Amazon, Meta & OpenAI leave children especially exposed. AI hype is not worth “the loss of privacy and increased risk of domination of consumers”. arxiv.org/pdf/2509.05382 @kingjen.bsky.social, @klyman.bsky.social

The failure of the courts and regulators in US to rein in the power of Google & the other big tech oligarchs--now further empowered by massive giveaway by gov't over overseeing Gen AI & data tactics--is key reason why we need a new Commercial Surveillance & Competition law.

EU's clarity of vision regarding how US big tech/AI commercial surveillance giants undermined our privacy, competition, human rights, the public health, etc. stands in contrast to the ongoing failures by US to protect public--US now unleashing more digital dangers. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Growth of personalized pricing via Google's new "loyalty mode" ad feature. Privacy & consumer protection risks growing. www.marketingbrew.com/stories/2025... blog.google/products/ads...

Do we have any antitrust regulators working on digital anymore, as well as on privacy. Growth of Gen AI and increasing influencer agency consolidation requires action. Wake up #FTC & @JusticeATR example: www.publicisgroupe.com/en/news/pres...

Immersive marketing requires regulation, protections, especially. for fast-foods. Time for AI era consumer protection across platforms, inc. for youth. #PublicHealth finance.yahoo.com/news/step-in...

Will Trump Adm fully endorse commercial surveillance marketing in a US-led TikTok takeover; get 15% of profits from consumer data & marketing tactics? Nvidia/AMD precedent sets stage. Consequences for privacy (inc. minors), consumer protection, competition, antitrust. Sept. 17, deadline coming up

Trump led restructuring of local TV news via FCC--will undermine journalism & communities. Based on faulty premise. Sinclair, Nexstar etc well integrated in today's digital system. ex. bit.ly/3V0d2iN; bit.ly/4myyrvc see: www.levernews.com/big-broadcas...

Is the FTC led by @AFergusonFTC negotiating with #Meta to potentially pardon its many #privacy violations? U.S. minors (teens) at grave risk if proposed protections axed. Huge big giveaway to #BigTech too. Let's hear the reasons now, if true.

Will TikTok in US still be "committed to specific, concrete actions in our push toward building an inclusive platform reflective of our diverse world" after it gets sold by Trump Adm? Will it support the civil rights community? See list, etc. newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/progre...

Holding Meta accountable for its numerous violations of privacy--and how it treats minors (teens)--is key responsibility for the FTC. But is @AFergusonFTC commission negotiating with BigTech giant to allow it to kill off these much needed safeguards. bit.ly/4liGwn0

Is Trump FTC under @AFergusonFTC doing a back-door deal with Zuckerberg's Meta to let them continue target teens & further erode privacy? Such a deal will erode our privacy, harm teens, make a mockery of #BigTech accountability. Answers needed now. bit.ly/3GVHuYj

I've had disagreements with @CPBmedia over the decades, but it fulfilled important role providing news, analysis, culture, non profit kids content not found elsewhere. What US now has for TV/video is a hyper-commercialized system gathering data & pleasing marketers. cpb.org/pressroom/Co...

We have to thank Mark Zuckerberg for bringing us a warning about the ways GenAI will accelerate commercial surveillance marketing worldwide. His "superintelligence" is code for data-driven marketing on steroids across platforms, channels, experiences. It's Meta's super monetization agenda.

Role of platforms & #influencers pushing soda & unhealthy food brands need to be on global consumer protection, & public health agenda. Google: "Pepsi established deep connections with a diverse customer base through YouTube Creator Ads. The company partnered with six YouTube creators...

Trump FCC led inquiry into Comcast/NBCU TV station relationships requires transparency, accountability & oversight. FCC cannot be relied to ensure the public interest is met. Make all records public; have public debate with media historians, experts. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

Out of Nixon/Agnew political playbook. What Trump Adm doing via FCC/FTC is to make broadcasters, networks, digital co's fearful about holding it accountable--which is needed more now than in past. bit.ly/4oepQiY

Before @Ofcom urges BBC to work with YouTube, there must be reforms in UK video streaming market. @Ofcom should ask @ICOnews investigate data+ad tactics of UK video stream channels & implement reforms; BBC should not be part of the commercial surveillance streaming complex. bit.ly/4odoO75

Look at the "cast" here, via AP story: "Pres. Trump is expected to deliver remarks on the initiative Wed. afternoon... The event is expected to involve leaders from more than 60 companies, including major tech companies such as Google and Amazon..." www.seattlepi.com/business/art...

Trump new plan via @CMSGov will enable further commercial harvesting of your health data & weaken privacy. “This scheme is an open door for the further use and monetization of sensitive and personal health information," said @chesterj1 www.seattlepi.com/business/art...

Commercial surveillance marketing on steroids is what Gen AI is really about--extending the model that has undermined democracy online & more. Gen AI is being shaped by advertising & marketing--with Amazon, Google, Microsoft, TikTok, Meta in lead & Open AI, others too. x.com/mcuban/statu...

What is the board's commitment to the journalistic mission of #MSNBC. Answers needed. Comcast Sets Board of Directors for Versant Spin-Off Company variety.com/2025/tv/news... via @variety

Between Musk & the Trump administration, Media Matters has been squeezed to the brink. In settlement discussions, lawyers for X demanded the organization hand over all its cash and shut down — all because MM reported ads appeared on X next to antisemitic content. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/u...

We shouldn't be fooled again--US failed to regulate the Internet in early '90's & "smart" mobile phones around 2007--they helped unleash the global commercial surveillance online model undermining privacy, human rights, more. We have another chance now--to regulate Gen AI.

The Trump FCC continues to shape the US news and information system, via Politico: "Skydance Media is making new concessions to secure FCC approval... inc. a pledge to create an ombudsman to address concerns of media bias...undertake a comprehensive review

Some of the White House AI Action Plan must have been written by Meta AI or its cousins. Hype, such as "Winning the AI race will usher in a new golden age of human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security for the American people." AI will be

Before any US TikTok deal finalized, public should know what new safeguards applied. Protections on data collection, use of Gen AI, influencers role of influencers, dark pattern engagement tactics, etc.--or will it be biz as usual for global advertisers www.verdict.co.uk/blackstone-e...

WH "AI Action Plan" will allegedly "prohibit federal AI funds from going to states" that have laws considered "restrictions"--[Think privacy, safeguards against personalized marketing for loans, drugs, junk food, etc]. It would "pinpoint federal regulations that stifle AI innovation"-

Google helps build nuclear reactors--a power play for many reasons. "Westinghouse Electric Company and Google Cloud have announced collaboration agreement that will deploy artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support the construction of advanced reactors." www.neimagazine.com/news/westing...

My colleagues and I @DigitalDemoc mourn the passing of Brandi Collins-Dexter. In her too brief time, Brandi made a remarkable contribution, including the critical work to ensure social justice & human rights. We urge people to visit this page: support.mediajustice.org/campaign/705...

While US dismantles privacy safeguards, our EU NGO allies are pressing to enforce & expand our digital rights. Europe’s privacy groups take on Big Tech with class action cases www.politico.eu/article/grea...

Use of live & virtual sports & games to promote ultra processed foods raises #publichealth, consumer & digital protection issues. Latest example here: esportsworldcup.com/en/news/ewc-...

Implications about impact of #FTC ruling on Omnicom/IPG merger--narrowing funding for diverse & journalistic content while favoring others. www.americanactionforum.org/insight/the-...

Teachers & schools should be way of AI-edtech gifts since Microsoft, Google, Meta & others goal is to push intrusive commercial surveillance marketing via the tech. See for example: www.microsoft.com/en-us/dynami...; about.ads.microsoft.com/en/tools/pro... www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/b...

Digital wolves in edtech clothing. AI co's are bringing more powerful commercial surveillance marketing; major democratic threats too. Taking their $ brings their biz model ideology. Teachers Union need lessons. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/08/t...

My Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act just passed through the Senate Commerce Committee. We are one step closer to finally protecting children and teens online. On to the full Senate.

Is there a Trump Adm FCC & FTC anywhere? "Disney... adding new virtual “storefronts” to its popular broadband venues that will allow viewers to order snacks or pick out products they’ve seen in their favorite shows..." #privacy #consumerprotection #health variety.com/2025/tv/news...

This underscores it: "YouTube announced an easier way to connect brands with creators, called Open Call...allows brands to place broad requests for sponsored content to any creators in the YouTube Partner Program...powered via Brand Connect..."adweek #CannesLions2025

@nytimes #amazon #AI deal means that any time reporters or editorial cover the critically key concerns around Amazon & Bezos (privacy; consolidation/antitrust; impact on public health; gov't role; digital trade, etc.) it should disclose partnership. investors.nytco.com/news-and-eve...

Missing from Google's self-serving homage to YouTube is impact on our data privacy; expansion of ads+data in video commercialization worldwide; role in digital platform market consolidation & consequences for media diversity. #CannesLions2025 @YouTube blog.youtube/news-and-eve...

Merging of gov't & commercial data long been privacy/civil rights concern. If Trump oks #TikTok & US gets "golden share" stock control, USA in commercial surveillance data marketing biz, endorsing AI, influencers, social & Big Data marketing. Plus all its data on users. Alarm!

This is a potentially dangerous provision that further undermines the U.S. long history of agencies acting on behalf of the people--not totally controlled by a President.

Competition, privacy & consumer protection regulators address: Via Amazon DSP "uses a shared identifier that enables deduplicated reach, frequency capping, & full-funnel measurement across devices...let marketers track CTV ad exposure to Amazon sales." adweek.it/4lbfs9v