Tiktok gave itself permission to collect biometric data on us users
A change to TikTok’s U.S. privacy policy on Wednesday introduced a new section that says the social video app “may collect biometric identifiers and biometric information” from its users’ content.
TikTok did not explain which developments required the addition of such a section, but promised to ask the user for consent.
USA expands investment ban on Chinese tech and telecom companies
Biden signed an executive order expanding the list of Chinese companies that American individuals and businesses are prohibited from investing in.
The black list includes 59 organizations that, according to Washington, are associated with the military-industrial complex of the People's Republic of China. These include Huawei, China Mobile Communications Group Co., Ltd., China Telecommunications Corporation and others.
Google boosts Android privacy protections
Google will make it harder for Android app developers to track those users who have opted out of receiving personalized ads.
Later this year, Google will close access to the advertising IDs. Apps will no longer be able to use them for non-advertising purposes, such as analytics and fraud prevention.
Google Ads will now allow crypto wallets to advertise in its network in the US
From August 3, advertisers offering cryptocurrency exchange services and cryptocurrency wallets targeting the United States will be able to display ads for their products and services if they meet the requirements and are certified by Google.
Companies still can’t advertise for Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), Decentralised Finance (DeFi) trading protocols, cryptocurrency loans, token liquidity pools, celebrity cryptocurrency endorsements, unhoster wallets and unregulated decentralised apps (DApps).
China to hand out $6.2 million in digital currency to Beijing residents
China will hold a lottery and distribute 40 million yuan in digital currency to Beijing residents. The digital yuan is not a decentralized cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. The Chinese authorities are interested in the digital yuan being actively introduced into the country's financial system. In 2022, China plans to allow foreign visitors to the Beijing Winter Olympics to use the digital yuan.
NFT market is down 90% in the past month
The peak of sales of NFT tokens fell on May 3 — the total amount of transactions for the day was $102 million, and for the previous week — $170 million. The crypto-collectibles market accounted for $100 million of all sales.
For the week from May 26 to June 2, sales in the NFT market amounted to only $19.4 million — almost 90% less than at the peak.
Coinbase card can now be used with Apple Pay и Google Pay
Customers of the exchange platform will be able to pay with cryptocurrency in any stores that accept Visa bank cards.
At the same time, Coinbase clients will be able to get cashback when paying via Google Pay or Apple Pay — 1% in bitcoins or 4% in Stellar Lumens. You can use Coinbase Cards only in the United States with the exception of Hawaii.
Post-pandemic ecommerce ad spend up nearly 50% in US
The pandemic increased the volume of e-commerce advertising in the US to 49.8%. By the end of 2020, e-commerce advertising accounted for about 12% of digital advertising spending in the US, up from 9% in 2019.
Sensor tower released a new streaming apps report
At the beginning of this year, the leader in downloads in the United States was the HBO Max service, which surpassed the leader of recent years, Netflix. In third place there was Disney+. Consumer spending in the 30 most profitable streaming apps reached $605 million in the first quarter of 2021, an increase of 48% year to year.
Amazon plans to launch an identifier of its own amid post-cookie confusion
Amazon decided to take advantage of the fact that Google will soon cancel cookies, and create their own identifier. This will allow the retailer to scale Amazon Publisher Services and increase advertising revenue.
Google admitted to collecting data on the location of Android users without their consent
The court accused Google of illegally collecting data on the location of smartphone users even after they refused to track them.
When testifying in the case, a company representative admitted that the only way to abandon surveillance is to throw Google off the trail.