Alphabet’s Google announced that Brazil will be the first country to test a new anti-theft feature for Android phones, utilising AI to detect and lock stolen devices. The initial test phase will offer three locking mechanisms. One uses AI to identify movement patterns typical of theft and lock the screen. Another allows users to remotely lock their screens by entering their phone number and completing a security challenge from another device. The third feature locks the screen automatically if the device remains offline for an extended period.
These features will be available to Brazilian users with Android phones version 10 or higher starting in July, with a gradual rollout to other countries planned for later this year. Phone theft is a significant issue in Brazil, with nearly 1 million cell phones reported stolen in 2022, marking a 16.6% increase from the previous year.
In response to the rising theft rates, the Brazilian government launched an app called Celular Seguro in December, allowing users to report stolen phones and block access via a trusted person’s device. As of last month, approximately 2 million people had registered with the app, leading to the blocking of 50,000 phones, according to the Justice Ministry.
The Turkish competition authority has fined Google approximately 482 million lira ($14.85 million) for not meeting obligations related to hotel searches. The fine stems from Google’s failure to address the authority’s concerns regarding fair competition with local search engines.
The decision highlights ongoing issues with Google’s compliance with competition laws in various countries. The competition board in Turkey aims to ensure a level playing field for local businesses in the digital marketplace.
Google has faced similar scrutiny and penalties in other regions, emphasising the global nature of regulatory challenges confronting major tech companies. The fine reinforces Turkey’s commitment to enforcing fair competition practices within its digital economy.
Alphabet’s Google will avoid a jury trial over allegations of digital advertising dominance after paying $2.3 million to settle the US government’s monetary damages claim. The payment means the case, involving non-monetary demands, will be heard directly by a judge. Initially, the Justice Department and several states had sued Google, accusing it of monopolising digital advertising and overcharging users, seeking primarily to break up its advertising business.
US District Judge Leonie Brinkema scheduled the non-jury trial for 9 September, where she will directly hear arguments and decide the case. Google criticised the Justice Department’s damages claim as contrived, denying any wrongdoing and not admitting liability by making the payment. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.
The Justice Department initially claimed more than $100 million in damages but later reduced the demand to less than $1 million. Google’s $2.3 million payment covers the interest and potential tripling of damages under US antitrust law. Google accused the government of inflating its damages claim to secure a jury trial, while the government contended that Google has worked to keep its anticompetitive conduct hidden from public scrutiny.
London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled that Google’s parent company, Alphabet, must confront a lawsuit worth up to £13.6 billion ($17.4 billion) for purportedly exploiting its position in the online advertising sector. The lawsuit, filed by Ad Tech Collective Action on behalf of UK-based publishers, accuses Google of anti-competitive practices that have led to publishers’ financial losses.
Despite Google’s efforts to block the case, arguing it lacked coherence and denying the allegations, the CAT certified the lawsuit to proceed towards a trial, expected no sooner than the end of 2025. The tribunal emphasised that the threshold for certifying such cases under the UK’s collective proceedings regime is relatively low.
Google’s legal team contends that its impact on the ad tech industry has been positive, fostering competition. However, the CAT’s decision marks another setback for a tech giant, following recent rulings allowing cases against Meta and Apple to proceed.
Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet, reportedly plans to lay off around 100 employees from several teams in its cloud unit. The affected roles include those in sales, operations, engineering, consulting, and ‘go to market’ strategy. The information citing internal correspondence as the source was provided in the report.
A spokesperson for Google stated that the company is constantly evolving its business to align with customer priorities and to capitalise on significant opportunities. They emphasised Google’s commitment to investing in critical areas that are necessary for long-term success.
Why does it matter?
These layoffs are part of the company’s ongoing efforts to cut costs. In April, Google implemented unspecified staff reductions across various teams. The management move was followed by hundreds of layoffs in January, reflecting a broader trend of job cuts in the tech and media industry due to economic uncertainty.
Alphabet’s Google announced the completion of its data centre and cloud facilities expansion in Singapore, marking a total investment of $5 billion in the nation’s technical infrastructure. This substantial investment underscores Google’s commitment to enhancing its services in Southeast Asia. The expanded data centres, which employ over 500 people, are crucial for powering essential services like Google Search and Maps.
In addition to its efforts in Singapore, Google revealed plans last week to invest $2 billion in Malaysia to establish its first data centre in the country. The expansion into Malaysia signifies Google’s broader strategy to bolster its presence and capabilities across Southeast Asia, aiming to support the growing demand for digital services and infrastructure.
Europe’s top court has ruled in favour of tech giants Google, Amazon, and Airbnb in their legal battle against an Italian regulation requiring them to disclose information about themselves. The dispute arose over provisions implemented in 2020 and 2021, which compelled online service providers operating in Italy to register and furnish various details, along with paying a financial contribution or facing penalties.
The companies contested this requirement, arguing that it contradicted the EU law, which stipulates that online service providers are subject only to the regulations of the country where they are established. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Luxembourg concurred, stating that member states cannot impose additional obligations on online service providers established in other EU countries.
The ruling has significant implications, with Google and Airbnb having their European headquarters in Ireland and Amazon in Luxembourg. Expedia, a US-based online travel services provider headquartered in Spain, also objected to the requirement. The CJEU’s decision, which is final and not subject to appeal, has far-reaching implications for cross-border online services within the EU.
Why does it matter?
This ruling underscores the importance of adhering to the EU laws and regulations regarding online services. It sets a precedent for maintaining consistency in regulations across member states and reinforces the principle of mutual recognition among EU countries. As technology continues to transcend borders, legal clarity and harmonisation are essential for fostering a conducive environment for digital innovation and commerce across Europe.
Google will invest $2 billion to establish its first data centre and Google Cloud region in Malaysia, marking a significant expansion into Southeast Asia. This investment will be located in Sime Darby Property’s Elmina Business Park in central Selangor. It aims to advance Malaysia’s digital ambitions, offering AI capabilities and other advanced technologies to enhance the local industry’s global competitiveness.
The new data centre will support services like Search, Maps, and Workspace, while the cloud centre will cater to local businesses and public sector organisations. Google’s Chief Financial Officer, Ruth Porat, emphasised the partnership’s role in fostering an ecosystem for innovation and driving digital transformation in Malaysia. This collaboration builds on a previous agreement announced last November between the Malaysian government and Google to accelerate domestic innovation.
The move is part of a broader trend of global tech giants’ significant investments in Southeast Asia. Microsoft has committed $2.2 billion to cloud services in Malaysia and $1.7 billion in Indonesia. Additionally, Malaysian conglomerate YTL is partnering with Nvidia in a $4.3 billion AI infrastructure project, while Amazon plans to invest $9 billion in Singapore, $5 billion in Thailand, and $6 billion in Malaysia.
Lobbying groups representing airlines, hotels, and retailers in Europe are urging the EU tech regulators to ensure that Google considers their views, not just those of large intermediaries, when implementing changes to comply with landmark tech regulations. These groups, including Airlines for Europe, Hotrec, EuroCommerce, and Ecommerce Europe, had previously expressed concerns about the potential impact of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) on their revenues.
The DMA aims to impose rules on tech giants like Google to give users more choice and offer competitors a fairer chance to compete. However, these industry groups fear the proposed adjustments could harm their direct sales revenues and exacerbate discrimination. In a joint letter to EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager and EU industry chief Thierry Breton, dated 22 May, they emphasised their mounting concerns regarding the potential consequences of the DMA.
Why does it matter?
Specifically, the groups worry that the proposed changes may give preferential treatment to powerful online intermediaries, resulting in a loss of visibility and traffic for airlines, hotels, merchants, and restaurants.
Despite Google’s acknowledgement in March that changes to search results may impact various businesses, including those in the European market, the company has not provided immediate comment on the recent concerns raised by these lobbying groups. The European Commission, currently investigating Google for possible DMA breaches, has yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter.
Google has announced the rollout of ‘AI Overviews’, previously known as the Search Generative Experience (SGE), marking a significant shift in how users experience search results. The following feature will provide AI-generated summaries at the top of many search results, initially for users in the US and soon globally. Liz Reid, Google’s head of Search, explained that the advancement simplifies the search process by handling more complex tasks, allowing users to focus on what matters most to them.
At the recent I/O developer conference, Google unveiled various AI-driven features to enhance search capabilities. These include the ability to search using video via Lens, a planning tool for generating trip itineraries or meal plans from a single query, and AI-organized results pages tailored to specific needs, like finding restaurants for different occasions. Google’s Gemini AI model powers these innovations, summarising web content and customising results based on user input.
Despite the extensive integration of AI, only some searches will involve these advanced features. Reid noted that simple searches like navigating a specific website won’t benefit from AI enhancements. However, AI can provide comprehensive and detailed responses for more complex queries.
Why does it matter?
Google aims to balance creativity with factual accuracy in its AI outputs, ensuring reliable information while maintaining a human perspective, especially valued by younger users. Google’s shift towards AI-enhanced search represents a broader evolution from traditional keyword searches to more dynamic and interactive user experiences. By enabling natural language queries and providing rich, contextual answers, Google seeks to make searching more intuitive and efficient. The approach not only aims to attract more users but also promises to transform how people interact with information online, reducing the need for extensive typing and multiple tabs.
