Digital Insights - 13 October 2023

Google to defend AI users against copyright claims

• Google announced it will defend users of its AI systems like Vertex AI and Duet AI from copyright claims related to both training data and generated content.

• The policy covers Workspace and Cloud platform users, but does not apply to Bard or intentional infringement.

• Google is the first major tech company to offer comprehensive protection against both types of copyright claims involving generative AI.

• The move follows lawsuits against AI creators like Google from writers, artists and others saying AI systems violate their IP rights.

• Other tech giants like Microsoft and Adobe have also pledged legal support for AI users accused of infringement.

Google Search can now generate images and text

• Google's Search Generative Experience (SGE) can now create images from text prompts, similar to Bing Chat's image generation.

• Users can refine prompts to generate multiple AI-created images, powered by Google's Imagen models.

• Generated images will have metadata labelling them as AI-created and have embedded watermarks, and image generation will be limited to 18+ users and avoid realistic faces or notable individuals for now.

• SGE can also generate written drafts in different lengths and tones that users can export to Docs or Gmail.

• Google continues to build out capabilities of SGE like video and links since its launch in May. This comes as OpenAI launches image creation and audio capabilities for ChatGPT.

LSEG highlights global presence beyond London Stock Exchange in cross-platforms campaign

• LSEG is running a campaign titled Possibility, to showcase it is more than ‘just’ the London Stock Exchange. The campaign, running across out of home, social media and other digital channels emphasizes LSEG's global reach, connecting capital and ideas in 190 markets.

• The campaign highlights LSEG's partnerships with 40,000+ customers globally across the entire trade lifecycle and showcases LSEG as a leading financial markets infrastructure provider beyond just operating stock exchanges.

• The campaign presents LSEG's diverse offerings in indices, analytics, benchmarks, and investment solutions worldwide, and represents an impactful example of a corporate campaign.

Meta and TikTok's ad-free tiers: a game-changer for advertiser budgets?

• In response to the EU's stringent data privacy regulations, Meta is exploring an ad-free subscription for European Facebook and Instagram users, while TikTok pilots a similar model outside the U.S.

• Meta's proposed charge for European users is around €10/month for ad-free desktop browsing, whereas TikTok offers a competitive price at $4.99/month.

• The EU's new Digital Services Act allows users to opt out of personalization using their data. Meta's ad-free proposal is a potential solution to this challenge. Many users might prefer free content with ads, especially on platforms like TikTok where ads feel native. The decision to pay for ad-free versions may depend on the perceived value of privacy.

• With advertisers ramping up social media ad budgets, the introduction of ad-free tiers could influence budget allocations, especially given TikTok's 70% ad revenue growth.

• The success of these ad-free models in Europe will be a determining factor for their potential global expansion, including in the U.S., and will impact how companies plan their campaigns.

X fails to manage disinformation over Israel-Hamas conflict

• Researchers have warned that fake posts linked to the latest escalation of conflict between Israel and Hamas are proliferating online and especially so on X.

• The platform has been singled out as it recently stopped using a software tool designed to identify when different accounts shared the same of similar media, which formed an important part of identifying disinformation campaigns.

• Additionally, it has been noted that Elon Musk also largely fired the department responsible for addressing disinformation over the last year.

• Coverage from Wired shares an anecdote from a researcher noting that credible regional news outlets were “virtually impossible to find” on the platform compared to 2021, while “xenophobic goons” were being boosted by CEO Elon Musk.

• Elsewhere outlets note the company’s new paid bluetick policy is giving preferential status to paying accounts, many of which are sharing old and doctored footage, such as video game clips being passed off as actual combat or football star Cristiano Ronaldo holding the Palestinian flag.

Publishers react to X removing headlines from posts

• As of last week, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter no longer automatically features headlines in posts containing links.

• As a result, publishers, including The New York Times and The Washington Post have shifted their strategy for posting to the platform, encouraging journalists to place more context and descriptive text in the post body. HuffPost is advising to use images that show the headline, while USA Today is auto-populating tweet text with article headlines.

• Musk has explained the shift, saying: “Our algorithm tries to optimize time spent on X, so links don’t get as much attention, because there is less time spent if people click away”.

• This is part of a trend of increased antagonism towards publishers on X’s platform, following the removal of verification badges, and the slowing of page load speed of links to news organizations.

Playing digital defense in Asia Pacific

• Japan and eight ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam) pledged to strengthen private sector cybersecurity cooperation at a recent conference in Tokyo.

• The need for cooperation is clear. According to IBM, Asia Pacific was the most targeted region for cyberattacks last year (31% of global incidents), with Japan hardest hit.

• Most organizations (62%) in APAC say they are not prepared to handle cyberattacks, according to a recent survey by Cloudflare, with 78% having experienced at least one cybersecurity incident in the last 12 months.

• Japan and its neighbors have promised closer collaboration to improve defenses and reduce vulnerabilities. But as FGS Global advises, growing cyber-threats, particularly posed by generative AI, will also require companies themselves to prepare, to recognize the threats and to respond with increasing precision.

TikTok faces obstacles in Southeast Asia expansion drive

• TikTok has promised to address issues raised by the Malaysian government regarding non-compliance with local laws, according to media reports.

• Company representatives are expected to meet with Malaysia’s communications regulator next week. The Southeast Asian country's communications minister earlier accused TikTok of inadequately moderating misleading or defamatory content.

• Earlier this month, the Indonesian government banned ecommerce transactions on TikTok Shop in a bid to protect the country’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Malaysia reportedly intends to investigate a similar policy.

Apple starts enforcing new app checks in China

• Starting from October 29, Apple began requiring app developers to submit the "internet content provider (ICP) filing" when they publish new apps on its China App Store.

• An ICP filing is a longtime registration system, required for websites to operate legally in China, and most local app stores including those operated by Tencent and Huawei have adopted it since at least 2017.

• Apple's loose ICP policy has allowed it to offer far more mobile apps than local app rivals and helped the U.S. tech giant boost its popularity in China.

Sony confirms server security breaches that exposed employee data

• Sony has alerted 6,800 current and former employees that, following a security breech in May, their personal information had been compromised.

• A ransomware group, known as C10p, claimed responsibility for breaking into a Sony server in June.

• The breach occurred due to a vulnerability in the MOVEit Transfer platform that Sony Interactive Entertainment was using. Sony is one of many organizations that have been affected by MOVEit cyberattacks.