Microsoft chairman and CEO Satya Nadella, who is currently on a visit to India, took to social networking platform LinkedIn to share his excitement of coming back to India and “meeting innovators and changemakers”.
“It’s fantastic to be back in India this week, meeting with so many innovators and changemakers, like these employees at State Bank of India who are using technology to make a difference at their organization – and across the country,” he said in his post on Wednesday.
The post further highlighted how employees at India’s largest bank State Bank of India embraced Microsoft Power Apps to their benefit. A blog pointed to the use of Digi Toolkit which has been built using Microsoft Power Apps, and enables employees to fill customer details easily on their smartphones or PC.
The blog also claimed that today, all SBI’s employees have Office 365 and use services, such as OneDrive, Teams, SharePoint Online and Power Apps, as part of a digital transformation that the 220-year-old bank underwent in 2017. SBI has over 450 million customers and more than 250,000 employees.
Hyderabad-born Nadella is on a four-day visit to India to meeting key customers, startups, developers, educators and students. He addressed Microsoft Future Ready Leadership Summit in Mumbai on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the Microsoft leader said there is tremendous momentum in cloud adoption, as he termed cloud a “big game changer”. Nadella, in his address on Tuesday, listed cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as imperatives that can be helpful in driving economic growth.
“Cloud has been a big game changer… cloud is in early-to-intermediate innings…,” Nadella said and noted the “tremendous momentum in cloud adoption,” he said.
He also lauded the way in which India is building public infrastructure. He also mentioned that energy efficiency will be one of the key components that will help economic growth in the future.
Nadella also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday and discussed several issues including governance and security in the digital domain.
“Great to meet Chairman and CEO of Microsoft Corporation @satyanadella. Discussed delivery, governance and security in the digital domain,” the Minister tweeted.
This is his first trip to the country since February 2020. Recently Alphabet Inc’s Sundar Pichai also visited the country.
On paper, the College Football Playoff national title game between No. 1 Georgia and No. 3 TCU isn’t a heavyweight bout. It’s more like Mike Tyson versus Glass Joe in Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!
It’s like a stalk of high grass versus a lawnmower. It’s Aaron Judge vs. a slow-pitch softball machine.
It’s a lopsided affair, and the rosters these teams have built — and how they’ve built them — underscore just how different this national title game is.
TCU vs. Georgia: David vs. Goliath?
Following a 2021 season that culminated with Georgia winning its first national title in four decades, the Bulldogs lost 14 starters from the best team in the sport, and the best defense the SEC had seen in 10 years.
For almost any other program, that’s a setback. In the modern version of the sport, it would also mean coaches all over the staff directory immediately hitting the ever-expanding transfer portal to find plug-and-play players who fit their needs.
At Michigan State, Mel Tucker used the portal to flip his program from 2-5 in 2020 to 11-2 in 2021. At USC, Lincoln Riley used the transfer portal to flip a program that finished 4-8 in 2021 to 11-3 in just over a calendar year.
These are but two examples of head coaches turning to the development and evaluation of other programs for their benefit. Lately, the prestige, brand and promise of money made in the form of name, image and likeness have meant the rich get richer.
All of these men chose Alabama for some reasons that are specific, but others that are quite obvious, like the ability to play for national titles and enter the NFL Draft with a high selection number — and the additional money that comes with that. A place like TCU, on the other hand, could not compete in that area. TCU could only hope to come up with the scraps that Alabama, USC or even Michigan State didn’t want — until now.
The Horned Frogs, to date, are the best example of using the transfer portal to build a team that competes for the national title.
No team in the transfer era has taken double-digit transfers, paired them with a first-year head coach and staff, and marched straight into the national title game. In fact, TCU’s Sonny Dykes is trying to become just the fourth coach in history to win a national title in his first year at a program — and the first since Larry Coker did it with the Miami Hurricanes 21 years ago.
Dykes earned this opportunity by building on the foundation left by his predecessor, Gary Patterson, who was remarkably brilliant and consistent at taking underappreciated high school players and developing them into top-tier NFL talents. Dykes and his staff took that, then hit the portal for what else they needed.
Shadrach Banks played wide receiver in high school, and his game was favorably compared to Amari Rodgers. But Banks plays linebacker at TCU because that’s what Patterson thought he’d do best. Patterson did this once before with Ty Summers, who committed to play quarterback at Rice in 2013 before flipping his commitment to TCU and becoming a defensive end and linebacker.
With the benefit of Patterson’s evaluation, Dykes and assistants also managed to earn transfers — 13 in fact — that chose TCU because they were not given the opportunity elsewhere to play right away or to make an impact on their teams in the manner each of them envisioned. With players like Johnny Hodges choosing to transfer to TCU from Navy and bolster a scheme that defensive coordinator Joe Gillespie had proven could develop first-round NFL talent at Tulsa, TCU just looked to give itself a chance.
And that’s all it was — a chance. The Horned Frogs are the first to point out they were picked to finish seventh out of 10 teams in the Big 12, and they have benefited from being overlooked and underestimated from Week 1 forward. They are, in that respect, diametrically opposed to their opponent on Monday night.
Georgia was picked by most to play in this game almost as soon as it won the 2021 national title, despite losing so much experience and production to graduation and the NFL. That’s because Kirby Smart has affected the philosophy toward recruiting and development of his mentor, Nick Saban. They pick them, they sit them, and they develop them.
Can Max Duggan lead an upset over the Bulldogs?
Smart, in just five years, cranked Georgia into a new benchmark for recruiting, and then dispersed that talent across both sides of the ball. Fifteen five-star players and 78 blue-chip recruits — five- and four-star players — dot UGA’s 85-man scholarship roster.
TCU boasts just 17 blue chips and one five-star player, ranking 32nd in the 247 Sports Talent Composite behind programs like Georgia Tech and Missouri.
Many programs claim to reload rather than rebuild. UGA takes it further, instilling a culture of Bulldog football along the way. As the portal gains entrants and NIL becomes the currency for which signings are made, UGA sells teenagers on this culture, convincing them to bet on the process with the idea that it will pay off in a few years’ time. It’s proven to be a winning strategy.
However, not every program has the wherewithal to build that way, and not every program will have the financial capability to sustain the effort of courting the best players in the country year after year. So UGA will likely be here, in this conversation for national titles, longer than TCU.
But more offseason booster program talk will be marked by wealthy donors approaching their respective coaches at caravan stops and asking why they can’t be the next TCU. Those coaches will have no choice but to say that it’s possible — and pursue it.
Read more:
Top stories from FOX Sports:
Get more from College FootballFollow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Keeping it private. Andrew Shue is maintaining space between himself and his estranged wife, Amy Robach, amid her relationship scandal with GMA3 cohost T.J. Holmes.
“[Andrew and his family] are distancing themselves from the situation [with Amy and T.J.],” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly, adding that it would be “very surprising” if Shue, 55, ever made a public statement regarding the affair between his estranged wife, 49, and Holmes, 45.
The coanchors turned heads in November 2022 when photos surfaced that showed the twosome getting cozy on multiple occasions. Amid news of their romance, the pair were put on hiatus from the third hour of Good Morning America as ABC conducts an internal investigation.
Last month, an insider revealed toUsthat the coworker’s connection “blossomed from a close friendship” into something more. “They always had a spark and their work trips away together brought them even closer,” the source shared at the time. “[They] have been trying to keep their relationship a secret until they were ready to announce.”
Following news of the scandal, Shue, who tied the knot with Robach in 2010, removed all traces of the TV reporter from his Instagram account. However, despite the scandal, the insider tells Us that the Wonder Years alum and his family are “doing well, moving forward and staying positive” amid the drama.
Prior to his relationship with Robach, Shue was married toJennifer Hageney from 1994 to 2008. They expanded their family with Nate, Aidan and Wyatt before their split. Meanwhile, Robach exchanged vows with Tim McIntosh in 1996 and they welcomed daughters Ava and Analise, born in 2002 and 2006, respectively, ahead of their divorce in 2008.
“RIDERS ON THE STORM. ON TO ‘23,” the 26-year-old captioned a December 28 Instagram photo of the family on a getaway to Montana. In the social media upload, the Melrose Place alum was also joined by sons Aiden and Wyatt.
Before their estrangement, Shue and Robach often offered a glimpse into their home life. “We spend money on experiences and not material things. Those things can get forgotten about,” the former 20/20 anchor told Us in 2017. “Seeing a Broadway show with my girls for Christmas instead of getting them clothes turned out to be one of the most meaningful ways to spend my money and time. Memories can’t be broken or returned.”
Shue, meanwhile, shared what kept the blended brood a closely knit unit. “At least five nights a week we sit down for dinner together,” he explained to Us at the time. “And we spend one-on-one time with each kid. It really changes the relationship. It doesn’t have to be extravagant, but it’s rewarding.”
Although the Dartmouth college alum has chosen not to comment on the scandal, Holmes’ wife, Marilee Fiebig, broke her silence on Wednesday, January 4, after the Arkansas native filed for divorce on December 29.
“During the holiday season and in light of the challenging times, Marilee’s sole focus has remained on the overall best interest of her 9-year-old daughter,” Fiebig’s attorney Stephanie Lehman told Us in a statement. “To that end T.J.’s lawyer and I have been working together to move their divorce forward privately, expeditiously and as amicably as possible.”
The lawyer continued: “Notwithstanding, we continue to be disappointed by T.J’s lack of discretion, respect and sensitivity toward Marilee and the party’s daughter. Marilee has been touched by the outpouring of support and looks forward to a new beginning in this new year.”
Despite a choppy session, the major U.S. equity averages secured modest gains on Wednesday, the first advance so far in 2023. Concerns remained about Federal Reserve policy and the near-term future of the economy.
Cruise stocks were among the winners during the session. A move by Carnival Corp. (NYSE:CCL) to raise prices on certain add-ons gave a lift to the sector, including rivals Royal Caribbean (RCL) and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH).
Elsewhere, Las Vegas Sands (LVS) and Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MLCO) added to recent gains on signs that a recent COVID outbreak in China may have peaked, raising the prospects for companies with significant exposure to Macau. With the advance, both stocks set 52-week highs.
China Geron (GERN) represented another standout gainer on the session, expanding its value by a third following the release of clinical data. The release of clinical data had the opposite impact on Vera Therapeutics (VERA), which lost nearly two-thirds of its value during the session.
Sector In Focus
Well-received pricing news from Carnival Corp. (CCL) gave a lift to the overall cruise sector. Investors bet that higher prices pointed to a strong demand situation for the sector.
CCL climbed almost 10% on reports that it intended to raise prices for on-board add-ons. Cruise Industry News reported that this would include rates for things like Wi-Fi and recommended onboard gratuities.
The halo effect of the news sent rival Royal Caribbean (RCL) higher by 8%, while Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) advanced by about 5%.
Standout Gainer
Geron (GERN) surged almost 33% after reporting strong clinical data from a late-stage trial of its only drug candidate, imetelstat.
The Phase 3 study met its primary endpoint as well as the key secondary endpoint. The trial looked at the product for use in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome, a blood disorder.
Following the news, GERN surged to an intraday 52-week high of $3.84. The stock came off that peak later in the day but still closed at $3.19, an advance of 79 cents on the session.
With the latest rise, GERN has now climbed more than 170% over the past year.
Standout Decliner
The release of clinical data sent shares Vera Therapeutics (VERA) spiraling. The stock plunged nearly 65%.
The company revealed top-line data from a mid-stage trial of its atacicept product in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy. The Phase 2 study met its primary endpoint by the reduction in proteinuria seen in the data did not match some optimistic expectations.
In the study, the change in proteinuria, a condition marked by high levels of protein in your urine, was 33% for the 150 mg dose cohort. Prior to the results, Cowen’s Ritu Baral suggested that the best-case scenario would involve a reduction of at least 50%.
VERA finished the session at $6.46, a decline of $11.84 on the day. The stock also reached an intraday 52-week low of $6.21.
Notable New High
Las Vegas Sands (LVS) and Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MLCO) surged again on Wednesday, adding to a recent upswing, as investors bet on stocks closely tied to the Chinese gambling haven of Macau. With the gains, both stocks reached new 52-week highs.
Signs of a peak in the recent COVID resurgence in China gave a boost to Macau-related stocks. The South China Morning Post reported that recent data point to easing infection rates.
LVS rose 5% on the session, climbing $2.56 to close at $51.89. Shares also touched an intraday 52-week high of $52. This marked the fourth consecutive day of gains, as LVS has climbed 49% over the past six months.
As for MLCO, the stock jumped 9%, advancing $1.12 to finish at $13.10. In the process, shares established an intraday 52-week high of $13.39.
MLCO has climbed 37% for the past month and has jumped more than 120% over the past six months.
Bay Area Dragons’ Hayden Blankley in the PBA Finals. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Hayden Blankley of the Bay Area Dragons took a shot at the way officiating was handled after his team lost Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
“Got nothing but love for the [Philippines] and its people, but at this point, it’s obvious, just let it be a fair game, please,” Blankley said in an Instagram story posted after the Dragons absorbed an 89-82 defeat on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Blankley then concluded his since-deleted post with a parting shot.
“As the locals would say—it’s ‘cooked,’” added Blankley, who fouled out midway in the fourth quarter.
Reserve import Myles Powell also aired his grievance on social media by pointing out the freethrow discrepancy.
Stats showed Ginebra had 38 free throw attempts as compared to just 10 for the guest team from Hong Kong.
“Y’all saying we shot 21 free throws in game 2 & y’all only shot 5 proves exactly my point,” Powell tweeted.
“Something ain’t right clearly the refs making the difference between who wins or not when it should just be a fair called game,” he added.
WATCH: Bay Area Dragons coach Brian Goorjian was in no mood to talk with reporters after his team’s 89-82 loss in Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
As his two players wanted to see the series played fairly, coach Brian Goorjian was in no mood to voice out his own frustrations.
Goorjian declined to talk to reporters as he emerged from the locker room, but he was visibly upset with how the game turned out.
“I really don’t think you wanna hear what I have to say. You guys saw the game. Completely…. that’s for everyone to see,” said Goorjian, who at the start of the fourth quarter got whistled for a technical foul, prompting him to make an animated reaction.
RELATED STORIES
Read Next
Don’t miss out on the latest news and information.
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.
Gellar played the role of the monster-slaying high schooler for seven seasons, ending in 2003. But now, as rumors swirl of a revival, the 45-year-old says it’s time to find a younger star for the title role.
Speaking recently with SFX Magazine via MovieWeb, Gellar indicated she’s not interested in any return.
“I am very proud of the show that we created, and (a revival) doesn’t need to be done. We wrapped that up. I am all for them continuing the story, because there’s the story of female empowerment. I love the way the show was left: ‘Every girl who has the power can have the power.’ It’s set up perfectly for someone else to have the power. But like I said, the metaphors of Buffy were the horrors of adolescence. I think I look young, but I am not an adolescent.”
Disney owns the rights to the series, and reportedly considered a reboot led by Alias and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. veteran Monica Owusu-Breen.
Gellar has said that Zendaya would be her choice if the role were to be revived.
If Buffy is off the table for now, Gellar is still in the horror game. She plays investigator Kristin Ramsey in Wolf Pack, the new Paramount+ supernatural series that explores small-town teens’ connection to a sinister creature unleashed by a catastrophic California Wildfire. The series starts Jan. 26.
Amazon has raised the number of employees it plans to eliminate from its corporate workforce to “just over 18,000”, chief executive Andy Jassy said, as the company looks to rein in costs.
In a blog post published on Wednesday, Jassy said the majority of cuts would hit the company’s Stores unit — which includes its core ecommerce business — and its human resources division, known as People, Experience and Technology, or PXT.
The figure is substantially higher than the company had been anticipating internally.
Amazon’s moves mirror belt-tightening by other Big Tech groups, including Meta and Snap, in recent months as large companies dial back rapid headcount growth during the coronavirus pandemic.
In November, Amazon had expected to cut about 10,000 roles, a person familiar with its plans said — though the person warned that figure could change as an annual review of the company’s business progressed.
The assessment, led by Jassy, resulted in several thousand job cuts before the Christmas break, affecting members of Amazon’s Devices and Books business, which included the team behind its Alexa voice assistant and Kindle ereader. On Wednesday, Jassy said the broader cuts would happen in “early 2023”.
“This year’s review has been more difficult given the uncertain economy and that we’ve hired rapidly over the last several years,” Jassy wrote.
“These changes will help us pursue our long-term opportunities with a stronger cost structure,” he added.
Jassy confirmed that Amazon would be cutting back the team working on its online store, which has performed poorly post-pandemic as customers have spent less amid rising inflation and supply chain pressures, while logistics costs have soared.
The flagging fortunes of online shopping were a significant drag on profitability in 2022. Excluding its cloud computing business, Amazon recorded an operating loss of almost $2.9bn in the last reported quarter. Shares in the company have fallen by almost 50 per cent over the past 12 months.
The cuts still make up just a fraction of Amazon’s global workforce, which numbers about 1.5mn, though the vast majority of its workers are frontline employees in warehouses or physical stores who are unaffected by the cuts.
Jassy wrote that he was “optimistic that we’ll be inventive, resourceful, and scrappy in this time when we’re not hiring expansively and eliminating some roles. Companies that last a long time go through different phases. They’re not in heavy people expansion mode every year.”
The increased number of cuts was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The confirmation of more cuts comes the day after Amazon took out an unsecured $8bn loan, due to mature at the end of the year, from several lenders, led by TD Securities.
“Like all companies, we regularly evaluate our operating plan and make financing decisions — like entering into term loan agreements or issuing bonds — accordingly,” Amazon said.
“Given the uncertain macroeconomic environment, over the last few months, we have used different financing options to support capital expenditures, debt repayments, acquisitions, and working capital needs.”
Siri, play Boyz II Men, “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” because the NFL Week 18 Season Finale has got us feeling very emo.
From the last snap of the Super Bowl until the first kickoff of the regular season, we long for the NFL’s return. And when it finally arrives — even though the regular season is 18 weeks long — it seems like it’s gone in a flash. Thank goodness for the postseason. And thank goodness we have Terry Bradshaw coming in clutch this last week of the regular season with a $100,000 FOX Bet Super 6 jackpot.
FOX Bet Super 6 is a free-to-play contest where you pick the winners of all six marquee games with their margins of victory for a chance to win $100,000 in our NFL Sunday Challenge. Just download the FOX Bet Super 6 app on your phone or mobile device, make your picks and submit your selections before Sunday’s games kick off.
Oh, and did we mention that it’s so easy and, more importantly, FREE to play?
But you have to get in the game to get the green. So before you make your predictions for Sunday’s marquee matchups, read all about our picks below.
Jalen Hurts or Tom Brady: which NFC QB should be trusted the most the in playoffs?
Emmanuel Acho, Joy Taylor, LeSean McCoy, and David Helman discuss which NFC quarterback’s they trust the most heading into the playoffs.
Since Tampa Bay has already clinched its playoff spot as the NFC South champions, you’d think this game might not matter as much. But then you remember that if Tom Brady loses this matchup, that would mean he’d clinch the first losing season of his career.
Not on Tom Terrific’s watch.
As a matter of fact, Brady mentioned on his Let’s Go podcast earlier his week that, despite the Bucs being locked into their playoff spot, he plans to play.
At FOX Bet, the Bucs are currently 4.5-point underdogs. But if we take Tom’s word that he and other starters are suiting up, fading the Falcons here should be easy.
A win for the Vikings this week would mean they would post 13 wins or more for only the third time in franchise history. And this weekend, Minnesota faces a Bears team that’s playing for pride while the Vikes, on the other hand, are playing out of pure obligation.
Minnesota has already secured a playoff berth, and most likely, they’ll end up as the No. 3 seed behind the Eagles and the Niners. So Vikings -7.5 points at FOX Bet seems like too big of a spread considering Minnesota has a good grasp on its postseason fate.
So what should we expect in the season finale between these NFC North foes? Bears quarterback Justin Fields is going to sit the finale, which means Minnesota will win. The Vikings won’t be too motivated, so look for them to take home the win, but not by much.
The 7-9 Jets enter this contest having been eliminated from playoffs while the 8-8 Dolphins come into this matchup on the postseason bubble. At first glance, you’d go, “Dolphins should win easily.” However, this game between conference rivals will come down to the wire.
Miami has benefited from having offensive weapons like Tyreek Hill on the roster, but the squad has missed having consistent play from Tua Tagovailoa because concussion protocol has forced him to miss several games. Week 18 will be another matchup the third-year QB will miss. And with second-string quarterback Teddy Bridgewater hurt, third-stringer Skylar Thompson is expected to start for Miami.
Both squads are on five-game losing streaks, but only one is playing for the postseason. So in this AFC East showdown, we’re going with the 1-point underdog Dolphins to squeak one out.
Prediction: Dolphins by 1 to 2 points
Where do the Dallas Cowboys fall in Colin’s Super Bowl Bubble?
The Dallas Cowboys are heading into the final week of the regular season intending to play all starters according to Jerry Jones.
Oh, the lowly NFC South. The division where the team that owns it could very well end up having a losing record. When these two teams last met in Week 3, Carolina won 22-14. And the Panthers are on the prowl as they seek their first season sweep on the Saints since 2015.
Unfortunately for the Panthers, they’ll miss the mark again.
New Orleans is on a three-game winning streak and playing good football. The Saints’ tight end group has accounted for 17 touchdowns this season. That’s tied for the most in the NFL as a group with Kansas City.
Looking at the trajectory of Pittsburgh’s season, who would’ve thought that in Week 18, the Steelers would have a chance to sneak into the playoffs? But sneak is the operative word here.
For Mike Tomlin & Co. to clinch a Wild Card spot, they need to beat the Browns, the Dolphins to lose to the Jets and the Patriots to lose to the Bills. Technically, all stars could align for the Black & Gold, but for now, let’s focus on their game.
The Steelers’ 8-8 season has been underwhelming but with a few bright spots. Since Week 13, the Steelers are one of two teams holding opponents to under 150 yards passing per game, and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is tied for the league lead with six interceptions. Running back Najee Harris is 46 rushing yards away from 1,000 for the season.
So will the Steelers whip up a win against a dismal Cleveland squad in this season finale and do their part to keep their postseason dreams alive? Absolutely.
At FOX Bet, Pittsburgh is a 2.5-point favorite. We’re siding with the oddsmakers on this one and taking Pittsburgh to win but by at least a touchdown.
Dallas is in. Washington is out. But if the Cowboys aspire to do better than their current fifth-seed position, they’ll put their best boot forward in this game.
A Dallas win, coupled with a Giants win over the Eagles, means America’s Team would own the NFC East. If all that happened AND if the Niners fell to the Cardinals, then Dallas wins the No.1 seed in the NFC and gets a first-round bye. Long-winded way of saying this game matters.
Since Week 9, the Cowboys are averaging 34.8 points per game, and also since Week 9, they are the only team that averages 250 plus passing yards and 125 or more rushing yards per contest. Zeke’s 12 rushing touchdowns are tied for fifth in the league, and CeeDee Lamb’s eight receiving TDs are tied for seventh. They have the offensive firepower to roll in this game.
Look for Dak and crew to cover the 7.5-point spread and then some as they try to claw their way to the top of the conference.
Prediction: Cowboys by 11 to 13 points
It’s your turn to jump in and win some money this last week of the NFL regular season!
After you download the app and submit your selections for the upcoming contest, be sure to share your picks with us by tagging @FOXSuper6 and @EricaReneeD and using the #EricaSuper6 hashtag across all social media platforms.
Today we read about the descendants of Noah, and the story of the Tower of Babel from Genesis 10-11, as well as Psalm 2. Fr. Mike reveals the errors of these characters, and how we also can fall into the same traps.
For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear.
Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children – parental discretion is advised.
France’s privacy watchdog CNIL on Wednesday said it had imposed a EUR 8 million (roughly Rs. 70 crore) fine linked to ad personalisation in the iPhone maker’s App Store, citing shortcomings with regard to user consent.
“The advertising targeting settings available from the “Settings” icon of the iPhone were pre-checked by default”, the CNIL said in a statement, even though that was not strictly necessary for the device’s functioning.
It added that the case, which dates back to 2021, concerned an old version of the phone’s iOS operating software.
The lobby group which brought the case had argued that Apple under iOS 14 had failed to ask iPhone users clearly enough for their prior consent to allow installed mobile apps to gather a key identifier used for targeted ads.
Apple said after the announcement it was “disappointed with this decision” and that it would file an appeal.
“Apple Search Ads goes further than any other digital advertising platform we are aware of by providing users with a clear choice as to whether or not they would like personalised ads”, the company said.
Apple’s privacy updates, called App Tracking Transparency, give users the option to block apps from tracking activity across apps and websites owned by other companies.
The fine was higher than the EUR 6 million (roughly Rs. 53 crore) penalty requested by the CNIL’s top adviser.
