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Instagram released an updated version of its privacy policy and terms of service and they include lengthy stipulations on how photographs uploaded by users may be used by Instagram and its parent company, Facebook. The changes, which will go into effect Jan. 16, will not apply to pictures shared before that date. Here’s a quick rundown of what the new terms, the most significant changes in Instagram’s short history, could mean for users.
- Instagram can share information about its users with Facebook, its parent company, as well as outside affiliates and advertisers.
- You could star in an advertisement — without your knowledge.
- Underage users are not exempt.
- Ads may not be labeled as ads.
- Want to opt out? Delete your account.
What Instagram’s New Terms of Service Mean for You Instagram Can Soon Sell Your Photos Without Permission, Payment, Or Even Notification (Fast Company)
With its $1.26 billion acquisition of Arbitron, Nielsen is buying much more than the most widely followed radio ratings service.
It is also extending its already substantial reach into the overlapping forms of media through which people consume their entertainment and news, and spend their money — information that is essential to advertisers. Nielsen is best known for its television ratings, but its various branches also track an array of consumer product sales, like books and music, as well as consumers’ habits online and through their mobile devices. Just on Dec 17, for example, Nielsen announced a new system with Twitter to rank TV shows by their levels of social-media chatter. Arbitron, meanwhile, has remained primarily focused on radio consumption, which has held surprisingly strong in the Internet age as people stay plugged in to their favorite radio stations, particularly while driving. Through the deal with Arbitron, Nielsen should be able to track even more of consumers’ media consumption and buying habits.
Arbitron Deal Extends Nielsen’s Reach Into Consumer Habits Old Media, Big Dollars: Nielsen Adds Radio Measurement With $1.3 Billion Arbitron Buy (WSJ) Nielsen Acquiring Arbitron in Bid to Expand Measurement Abilities (AdWeek) Nielsen to Buy Research Rival Arbitron for $1.26B (B&C)
Samsung will drop its injunction applications against Apple in five European countries, in a major U-turn in a long-running patents war between the electronics giants.
The South Korean company will drop injunction applications in Germany, France, the U.K., Italy and the Netherlands, a senior executive told The Wall Street Journal. But it will continue to pursue lawsuits in Europe, where it alleges infringements on its products, it said. Samsung has been locked in a battle with Apple over standard-essential patents both in the U.S. and Europe. The South Korean company has focused its lawsuits on technology patents rather than those covering design, as Apple has done, while the two firms slug it out for dominance in the smartphone and tablet markets. While Samsung was dealt a heavy blow in the US, courts have sided with it in some other jurisdictions, such as the UK.
Samsung Drops Injunction Applications Against Apple Apple, Samsung Inch Toward End of Smartphone Patent Fight (Bloomberg)
Microsoft and Google's Motorola phone unit remain millions of dollars apart in their respective valuations of video and Wi-Fi patents at issue in a pivotal case before a federal judge in Seattle.
The outcome, expected sometime next year, could be a key development in the balance of power between Microsoft and Google - and the rest of the technology industry - in the running battle over ownership of the technology underlying increasingly popular smartphones, tablets and game consoles. A trial, held November 13-20 in the Western District of Washington federal court, was designed to settle the matter of how much Microsoft must pay Motorola for use of two of its standard, essential patents used in its Xbox game console and other products. In redacted post-trial filings made public on Dec 17 - essentially its final arguments before the judge - Microsoft argued that it should pay no more than $502,000 per year for Motorola's H.264 video compression patent, and no more than $736,000 per year for Motorola's 802.11 Wi-Fi technology.
Microsoft, Motorola millions apart on royalty payment case
The European Union set Google an ultimatum on Dec 18, giving it a month to come up with detailed proposals to resolve a two-year investigation into complaints that it used its power to block rivals, including Microsoft.
The EU's antitrust chief, Joaquin Almunia, delivered the deadline in a meeting with Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt in Brussels. If it fails to address the complaints, the world's most popular search engine could face a lengthy battle with what is arguably the world's most powerful antitrust authority. If found guilty, it could mean a fine of up to 10 percent of its revenue, or $4 billion. "Since our preliminary talks with Google started in July, we have substantially reduced our differences regarding possible ways to address each of the four competition concerns expressed by the Commission," Almunia said. "On the basis of the progress made, I now expect Google to come forward with a detailed commitment text in January 2013."
EU's Almunia sets deadline for Google antitrust plan European Antitrust Case Against Google Moves Toward Settlement (WSJ)
Once again, a wide range of breaking news stories kept local television news departments busy at home as well as sending them across the country and around the world, in some cases. Other developments this past year included an encouraging increase in jobs and the amount of news being produced. Some experiments didn’t work out and while a survey listed broadcast news among the worst jobs, a growing number of station GMs are coming from news departments. This is the first part of TVNewsCheck’s annual look back at the year.
Local News 2012: Elections, Storms, Horror
The Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC), which has served as the principal proponent for mobile television since 2007, announced it will be integrated into the National Association of Broadcasters.
Effective Jan. 1, 2013, key functions currently coordinated by the OMVC executive director, including OMVC's technical groups, advocacy efforts and marketing activities, will be integrated into the NAB. "The purpose of the OMVC was to help develop a mobile TV standard, create an ecosystem for broadcasters, manufacturers and other interested parties and to encourage device development," said Anne P. Schelle, who has served as OMVC's executive director since shortly after it began. "We've done that, and with the recent launch of Dyle mobile TV, operated by a consortium of broadcasters known as the Mobile Content Venture, and similar activities by the Mobile500 Alliance, Mobile TV is available in more than 35 U.S. markets covering some 55% of the population," Schelle added. "Integration with the NAB is the logical next step as the commercialization of mobile TV enters its next exciting phase," Schelle added.
OMVC to be Absorbed into the NAB
In discussions of the newspaper industry’s seemingly inevitable collapse, Google is probably most often cited as the reason why many people stopped paying for news. As the argument goes, why pay when you can find the information you need through a simple search? It’s a straightforward thesis that nonetheless glosses over any number of other forces that have chipped away at newspapers’ profits: Craigslist; the economy; advertiser confidence; oh, and, yeah, giving away the content for free.
While Google remains sensitive to those claims (as they have every right to be), recently the Internet giant tacitly acknowledged the profound effect it’s had on newspapers by unveiling a journalism fellowship. Yes, journalism. Google will pay, albeit a modest sum, for eight journalism students to learn about data-driven reporting starting in June. “As a company dedicated to making the world’s information easily accessible, Google recognizes that behind many blue links is a journalist and that quality journalism is a key ingredient of a vibrant and functioning society,” the company said in its announcement about the fellowship.
Google to Fund — Wait for It — Journalism Fellowships
On December 18, 2012, the Federal Communications Commission and its public and private sector partners released a new online tool, the “Smartphone
Security Checker,” to help consumers protect their mobile devices this holiday season.
The “” is a free, easy-to-use online tool that creates a 10-step smartphone action plan to help consumers protect their mobile devices from smartphone-related cybersecurity threats. Almost half of Americans now own a smartphone and close to 20% have been the victim of mobile cybercrime. The FCC worked with smartphone security experts from the Department of Homeland Security, The Federal Trade Commission, The National Cyber Security Alliance, CTIA-The Wireless Association, Lookout, and other public and private sector partners on these mobile security best practices.
“With less than half of smartphone owners using passwords to protect their devices,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, “this new tool will be of particular value to millions of Americans. The holiday gift-giving season is a perfect time to remind consumers to take simple steps, like setting a password, to protect themselves from mobile security threats.”
Smartphone Security Checker Statement (Chairman Genachowski)
The Federal Trade Commission issued orders requiring nine data brokerage companies to provide the agency with information about how they collect and use data about consumers.
The agency will use the information to study privacy practices in the data broker industry. Data brokers are companies that collect personal information about consumers from a variety of public and non-public sources and resell the information to other companies. In many ways, these data flows benefit consumers and the economy; for example, having this information about consumers enables companies to prevent fraud. Data brokers also provide data to enable their customers to better market their products and services.
The nine data brokers receiving orders from the FTC are: 1) Acxiom, 2) Corelogic, 3) Datalogix, 4) eBureau, 5) ID Analytics, 6) Intelius, 7) Peekyou, 8) Rapleaf, and 9) Recorded Future.
The FTC is seeking details about:
- the nature and sources of the consumer information the data brokers collect;
- how they use, maintain, and disseminate the information; and
- the extent to which the data brokers allow consumers to access and correct their information or to opt out of having their personal information sold.
FTC to Study Data Broker Industry’s Collection and Use of Consumer Data Going for broker (FTC blog) FTC Launches Probe of Data Broker Privacy Practices (AdWeek)