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San Francisco, CA – Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced plans to implement facial recognition technology to combat a growing wave of scams that fraudulently use the likenesses of celebrities in advertisements. High-profile figures, including Elon Musk and personal finance expert Martin Lewis, have reported being victims of such schemes, which often promote dubious investment opportunities and cryptocurrency.

Martin Lewis, who frequently discusses the issue on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, revealed that he receives “countless” reports daily of scams exploiting his name and image, stating that the situation has left him feeling “sick.” In response to these concerns, Meta aims to enhance its existing ad review system, which currently utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to identify false celebrity endorsements.

The upcoming facial recognition system will work by cross-referencing flagged images from suspicious ads with the profile photos of celebrities on Facebook and Instagram. If a match is confirmed and the advertisement is determined to be a scam, it will be automatically removed from the platform. According to Meta, early testing of this system has yielded “promising results,” prompting the company to roll out notifications to a wider audience of affected public figures.

The issue of celebrity scams has persisted for years, prompting Lewis to take legal action against Facebook in the past. He eventually dropped the case after the platform introduced a reporting button for scam ads and donated £3 million to Citizens Advice. Despite these efforts, the sophistication of the scams has evolved, with many now employing deepfake technology to create realistic computer-generated images or videos that falsely endorse products or services.

Pressure has mounted on Meta to address this alarming trend. Recently, Lewis urged the UK government to empower Ofcom, the communications regulator, to tackle the increasing prevalence of fraudulent advertisements, especially following a fake interview with Chancellor Rachel Reeves that misled individuals into revealing their bank details.

Meta has acknowledged the relentless nature of scammers, stating, “Scammers are relentless and continuously evolve their tactics to try to evade detection.” The company hopes that its proactive approach will contribute to the broader fight against online fraud.

In addition to combating scams, Meta is also exploring the use of facial recognition technology to assist users who find themselves locked out of their accounts. Previously, regaining access required users to upload official identification. The new method under consideration involves using video selfies to verify identity, which would then be compared to the account’s profile image.

Despite the potential benefits, the widespread use of facial recognition technology raises privacy and ethical concerns. Meta previously utilized such technology before discontinuing it in 2021 due to issues related to privacy, accuracy, and bias. The company has assured users that any video selfies collected will be encrypted and securely stored, with facial data being deleted after verification.

However, the facial recognition system will not be immediately available in regions where regulatory permission has not been secured, including the UK and EU. As Meta continues to navigate the complexities of online security and privacy, the introduction of facial recognition technology marks a significant step in its ongoing efforts to protect users from fraud.

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EU New Car Registrations Rise in October, But Electric Vehicle Sales Struggle

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New car registrations across the European Union rose slightly in October, driven by strong performances in Germany and Spain, according to the latest data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). The EU saw a 1.1% increase in new car registrations for the month, with notable growth in two major markets.

Germany’s car registrations rebounded by 6%, reversing three months of declines, while Spain experienced a robust 7.2% increase. However, not all countries saw growth. Italy’s new car registrations fell by 9.1%, and France also experienced a decline, with a 11.1% drop in registrations.

Looking at the year so far, new car registrations in the EU have risen by 0.7% from January to October, reaching approximately 8.9 million units. Italy saw a modest increase of 0.9%, while Spain posted a 4.9% rise. However, both Germany and France have faced declines in new car registrations, with Germany down by 0.4% and France experiencing a 2.7% drop over the same period.

Sigrid de Vries, ACEA’s director general, commented on the trend, highlighting the challenges faced by the electric vehicle (EV) market. “The latest year-to-date figures on market volume for battery electric (-4.9%) and plug-in hybrid cars (-7.9%) underline the urgent need to increase efforts to support the transition to zero-emissions vehicles,” de Vries said. She stressed the need for greater incentives and an expanded network of charging stations to encourage consumer adoption.

Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) have seen a decline in sales, with a 4.9% drop in registrations in the first 10 months of 2024 compared to the same period last year. This decrease was primarily driven by a significant 26.6% drop in registrations in Germany. However, BEV registrations in October saw a slight uptick, increasing by 2.4% to 124,907 units.

Similarly, plug-in hybrid vehicle registrations also faced challenges. These vehicles dropped by 7.9% year-to-date, with disappointing performances in Italy and France. In October, plug-in hybrid car registrations fell 7.2%, reducing their market share to 7.7%, down from 8.4% in October 2023.

The slump in EV sales can be attributed to a combination of factors, including rising energy prices, insufficient incentives, and a lack of charging infrastructure. Additionally, higher tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, following concerns over government subsidies, have made these cars significantly more expensive in Europe. This price increase, along with ongoing economic uncertainty and rising interest rates, has led to a dampened consumer appetite for electric vehicles.

With global economic pressures and geopolitical uncertainty also weighing on consumer sentiment, the EU faces significant hurdles in meeting its ambitious targets for the transition to zero-emissions vehicles.

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Google Faces Potential Breakup After Monopoly Ruling: What’s Next for the Tech Giant?

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The tech world is closely watching as Google navigates the aftermath of a significant legal ruling. In August, a U.S. judge determined that the company had illegally monopolized online search, sparking concerns over its dominance. Now, with the U.S. government pushing for more drastic measures, the future of Google’s business is uncertain.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has requested that U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta consider forcing Google to break up its business to reduce its stranglehold on the search engine market. One of the more extreme proposals is to have Google sell its Chrome browser, which serves as the primary gateway to its search engine. Chrome is the world’s most popular web browser, and forcing its sale could significantly alter the way users interact with Google’s services.

The DOJ also suggested that Google divest its Android operating system, which powers the majority of smartphones worldwide, as a means of preventing the company from promoting its search engine over competitors’. While these measures would be drastic, the government has also proposed “behavioral remedies,” such as restrictions on how Google can pay other companies, like Apple, to have its search engine set as the default on devices.

For instance, Google pays Apple billions annually to make its search engine the default on Apple devices like iPhones and Macs. If these payments were curtailed, it could potentially open the door for competitors like Microsoft’s Bing to gain ground. However, the transition would not be simple, as Google’s search engine is deeply ingrained in daily internet use, and many users are unlikely to switch easily.

Industry analysts suggest that any disruption to these lucrative partnerships could have significant ripple effects, especially for companies like Apple, which earned an estimated $20 billion from Google in 2022. Dipanjan Chatterjee from Forrester Research noted that Apple, known for its commitment to customer experience, will likely develop a “Plan B” if the case leads to changes in how search engines are selected.

Another potential remedy being discussed is the implementation of a “choice screen,” similar to what has been mandated in Europe. Under this system, users would be prompted to select their preferred search engine when setting up a new device or browser. While this could level the playing field, experts doubt it would cause many users to abandon Google, given the company’s dominance and reputation for reliable search results.

The legal battle is expected to continue for years, drawing comparisons to Microsoft’s lengthy antitrust case in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In that case, the company faced a similar ruling but ultimately reached a settlement after a drawn-out appeal process. With Google now in the hot seat, it remains to be seen what long-term impact this case will have on its operations and the broader tech industry.

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Comcast Announces Plan to Spin Off NBCUniversal Cable Networks Amid Streaming Growth

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Comcast has announced plans to spin off its NBCUniversal cable television arm as part of a strategy to adapt to the challenges posed by streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. The move, which was confirmed on Wednesday, aims to create a new company encompassing cable networks such as MSNBC, CNBC, USA, E!, Syfy, and the Golf Channel.

While the networks remain profitable, generating a combined revenue of $7 billion (£5.5 billion) in the year ending in September, the shift reflects the changing landscape of the media industry. Comcast will retain control of the NBC broadcast network, its film and television studios, its theme parks, and its Peacock streaming service. The company anticipates completing the spin-off within a year.

Executives believe that by separating the cable networks, Comcast will be in a better position for growth, particularly as traditional cable TV continues to see a decline in viewership. They also indicated that the newly formed company will be well-positioned to acquire additional cable networks that may become available in the future.

The new company will be led by Mark Lazarus, the chairman of NBCUniversal’s media group, who will serve as its CEO. Lazarus expressed optimism about the future, stating, “We see a real opportunity to invest and build additional scale, and I’m excited about the growth opportunities this transition will unlock.”

Comcast’s president, Michael Cavanagh, hinted at the potential move during a call with investors last month, suggesting the creation of a new, well-capitalized company that would manage its portfolio of cable networks.

Comcast acquired NBCUniversal in 2011, before the rise of streaming giants disrupted the cable TV market. At the time, its cable networks were seen as highly valuable assets. However, the decline of traditional cable subscriptions and the shift toward streaming platforms have led to reduced audience numbers for Comcast’s cable networks, which currently reach approximately 70 million U.S. households.

The decision follows similar moves by other media giants. Earlier this year, Warner Bros. and Paramount Global cut billions of dollars from the valuation of their cable TV networks. Comcast is the first major media company to officially announce the separation of its cable business, although Walt Disney had previously considered a similar strategy before abandoning the plan.

Following the announcement, shares in Comcast were set to open about 2% higher in New York trading.

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