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Consumers could be "manipulated" into choosing products by unregulated online shopping algorithms, the competitions watchdog said as it launched a probe into potentially misleading practices. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it is concerned that consumers could be manipulated in their shopping choices or end up paying too much for products either by “deliberate or unintended” use of algorithms. It said that these algorithms could be used to personalise services and create search results that “can be manipulated to reduce choice or artificially change consumers’ perceptions”. This could be by using “nudges” on a website, such as the placement of the “buy” button, or could even go as far as “personalised pricing”, the CMA said. The effect of algorithms can be difficult for shoppers to detect, the regulator warned, although it did say that they also bring benefits by showing consumers search results they are more likely to be interested in. Kate Brand, director … [Read more...] about Online shoppers could be ‘manipulated’ to choose different products by algorithms

Plans to introduce rules which would force Facebook and Google to pay for news content running on their sites are facing resistance within government, The Sunday Telegraph understands. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has been examining whether the UK should follow the lead of countries such as Australia, where tech firms have been asked to share revenue generated from advertising alongside news. The Competition and Markets Authority is expected to publish its final report into online platforms and digital advertising by Thursday. The regulator is expected to make new recommendations about how to ease some of the financial pressures on news organisations, which face steep declines in traditional advertising revenue. DCMS is yet to see the final proposals from the CMA. But it is thought the CMA will recommend measures to reduce Google and Facebook’s dominance in the digital advertising market. No requirement exists in the UK for social media … [Read more...] about UK reluctant to force Facebook and Google to pay for news

Joe Biden won the US presidential election – with running mate Kamala Harris – after receiving  the most votes of any US candidate in history. It is widely expected that Biden will roll the clock back as much as possible to January 2017, when he and Barack Obama left office. Biden wasted no time signing executive orders , with his official schedule for January 20 showing he set aside 30 minutes in the afternoon to begin that process. Biden signed 17 orders and actions just hours after being sworn in as US leader to break from policies of departing President Donald Trump and set new paths on immigration, the environment, fighting Covid-19 and the economy. In first-day moves, he ended Trump’s much-assailed ban on visitors from several majority-Muslim countries and halted construction of the wall that Trump ordered on the US-Mexico border to stem illegal immigration. He also set a mask mandate on federal properties to stem the spread of Covid-19; restored protections of … [Read more...] about Joe Biden’s policies: The President’s views on Covid-19, immigration and the environment

Announcement of the results from BT Group strike ballots Sign up for FREE for the biggest new releases, reviews and tech hacks SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info According to reports, around 25,000 members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) at BT and Openreach and 9,000 BT call centre workers were balloted and overwhelmingly backed industrial action, the (CWU) recently said. BT employees have voted overwhelmingly in favour of holding a national strike for the first time in 35 years, sparking the latest industrial action dispute over wages. Related articles Where is the safest place in the UK during nuclear war? Top 20 areas Trade unions and Labour could split as 'summer of discontent' looms … [Read more...] about BT national strike threatens to severely hamper broadband as employees set to walk out

BBC BREAKFAST'S Naga Munchetty slammed Charlie Stayt for goading a guest with an 'unsafe' demand. Naga , 47, and co-star Charlie , 60, interviewed a group of lads from a boxing club, which has helped keep hundreds of kids away from crime. Unfortunately the gym could be faced with closure as its running costs soar. Jav Khaliq, who won the IBO welterweight title back in 2000, offers classes to around 100 people a week. The hosts were joined by Jav along with Mohammed, Dwayne and Fidel from Nottingham. Naga praised Jav for giving youngsters an alternative to being on the streets. READ MORE ON BBC BREAKFAST 'SUPERSTAR' BBC Breakfast's Carol Kirkwood pays touching tribute to co-star ahead of exit LOOSE LIPS BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty brands co-stars her 'rivals' - & regrets it Jav explained the difficulties the club is facing, he said: "A couple of months ago we received an email that our rent … [Read more...] about BBC Breakfast’s Naga Munchetty scolds Charlie Stayt for goading guest with ‘unsafe’ demand

Every so often, it becomes apparent that ministers are as perplexed as anyone about the operations of government. Most civil service work, after all, takes place entirely without political supervision. By and large, this is acceptable – except when the Civil Service goes wildly off track and starts devoting manpower to tasks that are irrelevant or contrary to the Government’s programme or beliefs. One such example from the Coalition era was the existence of “pilgrims” – trade union officers paid a full Civil Service salary to work mostly on union work instead of government business. Lord Pickles famously outlawed the practice. But “pilgrims” now have a worthy heir: a type of employee we might dub the “staff network pilgrim” or “wokers”, as opposed to workers. The Telegraph has published data from the Taxpayers’ Alliance showing that some departments allow civil servants to devote an entire day of the week to workplace activism. For some wokers, however, this may be a minimum. … [Read more...] about Civil Service ‘wokers’ are more interested in activism than serving the public

Scottish firms put up their prices at a record rate last month amid “unprecedented inflationary pressures”, new analysis has shown, as rising costs continue to bite. Business activity north of the boarder rose at the fastest pace for three months in February, according to the Royal Bank of Scotland’s latest Business Activity Index, but continued to lag the UK trend. The index, where anything above 50 shows growth, saw the measure of combined manufacturing and service sector output climbing to 55.5 last month, up from 53.7 in January. Malcolm Buchanan, chairman of the Scotland Board at the Edinburgh-based bank, said business activity rose as demand strengthened and Covid-19 rules were scaled back. Recommended Over £130m handed to housing providers named and shamed by regulator “That said, the stronger performance was dampened slightly by unprecedented inflationary pressures in February,” he said. “Firms continued to face surging energy, fuel, … [Read more...] about Scottish firms put prices at record rates as rising costs bite

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE highlights will be shown for free on the BBC from 2024. Footy fans will be able to enjoy a Match of the Day-style show each Wednesday after a three-year deal was agreed with Uefa. Starting from the 2024/25 season, the highlights package will be available on TV, iPlayer and online. The same campaign sees the Champions League expand from 32 to 36 teams. A new format will create one single group, with each side playing eight matches. The top eight will automatically reach the knockout stages, while positions 9-24 will play a two-legged showdown to fill the remaining positions. READ MORE SUN STORIES CASINO DEALS The best casino offers from free spins and bonus cash to no deposit deals PRIME TIME Amazon to seal £1.5bn deal to share UK Champions League TV rights with BT Sport The news comes with Amazon set to secure a joint deal with BT Sport to air live Champions League matches between … [Read more...] about BBC to show Champions League highlights for free in Match of the Day-style show after reaching agreement for 2024 season

If Donald Trump returns to power in 2025, he will find a world starkly different from the one he tried to construct while president. All hopes of normalizing relations with Russia have been obliterated in the slaughter of Ukraine. China is more powerful than ever. Iran is closer to acquiring nuclear weapons. And Kim Jong Un is still behaving like Kim Jong Un. But, in a narrow yet important sense, the world has become more Trumpian since he left office. After NATO met in Madrid this past week to agree on a new strategy to defend the West, the great irony is that it has started to resemble the kind of organization Trump and his wing of the Republican Party said they always wanted. NATO’s European members are paying more for their own defense, the alliance is more Eastern European in its outlook and positioning, and, for the first time, it is explicitly focused on America’s great-power rivalry with China. Trump is not primarily responsible for these changes—for that he can thank … [Read more...] about The Accidental Trumpification of NATO

Michael Gove grilled by Hartley-Brewer on car ban cost This article contains affiliate links, we may receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Sign up for FREE driving tips, latest models and breaking news SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) published the “Getting Cities Moving” report which provides the Government with advice on how to support sustainable economic growth. It states that measures to discourage private car journeys should be taken seriously as an option. Related articles Drivers told to use secret button to reduce fuel consumption New driving laws to be introduced in July will affect all UK motorists Potential … [Read more...] about National congestion charges should be used to ‘discourage private car journeys’ across UK