Feb 18, 2016 | Mobile, Regulation
Apple has been ordered to help the FBI to unlock the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino shooters, but the firm says it will oppose it, calling it an ‘unprecedented step which threatens the security of our customers’. A US federal magistrate ordered the company to...
Feb 17, 2016 | Mobile, Regulation
SMS remains a hugely effective communication channel for many brands- but more providers are now using ‘grey routes’ to deliver messages, stripping texts of vital context, such as timing. This infographic looks at a growing threat that most brands are...
Feb 12, 2016 | Online advertising, Regulation
Google can now automatically sift Web traffic from three of the major ad-fraud botnets, responsible for malware on half a million devices. The company has developed a filter that marketers can use through Google Display Network and DoubleClick Bid Manager. Google said...
Feb 3, 2016 | Regulation, USA
A last minute agreement on EU-US ‘Safe Harbour’ transatlantic data transfers has been announced, in a move that could save business millions in extra fees for privacy protection… but many critics are wary of the privacy implications for citizens. The two sides have...
Feb 2, 2016 | Content marketing, Online video, Regulation, Viral and buyrals
The team behind one of YouTube’s biggest channels have dropped plans to trademark ‘reaction videos’ after a backlash from fans. The Fine Brothers’ videos show people responding to online clips, depicting groups like teens, children, the elderly and...
Feb 1, 2016 | Mobile, Regulation
Samsung has become the latest player to allow ad blocking by default, pre-installing the filtering software on its latest Android phones. The software will come pre-installed on the updated Samsung web browser, and has begun rolling out for Android Lollipop or higher...
Jan 29, 2016 | Regulation
Nearly three-quarters (72%) of UK consumers online are concerned about the level of protection given to the personal information they share with brands and organisations online, according to new research. The survey commissioned by Informatica, reveals that British...
Jan 27, 2016 | Online advertising, Regulation
The adblock wars are escalating, with head of the IAB launching a vitriolic attack on the companies behind the filtering software. President and CEO of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Randall Rothenburg used the opening keynote speech at the IAB summit to...
Jan 27, 2016 | Online advertising, Regulation
Over one third (37%) of mobile users are already using some form of adblocking software, with a further 42% considering using them, according to new research. According to Global Web Index’s (GWI’s) latest wave of research, it’s a significant 37% of mobile users...
Jan 25, 2016 | Online advertising, Regulation
Since Apple allowed ad-blocking software on iOS last year, Ad Blocking has become a key concern to marketers. New research from Global Web Index indicates that nearly 40% of the worlds web users have some sort of ad filtering program installed. Concern among media and...
Jan 22, 2016 | Regulation
Google disabled 780 million bad ads globally in 2015 as part of its continuing initiative to rid its network of ads that used sneaky tactics to get more clicks. Announcing its annual ‘Better Ads’ report (changed from its old ‘Bad Ads’ label), the search giant said it...
Jan 20, 2016 | Regulation
The 25 worst passwords of 2015 have been released by SplashData, indicating that many people are still failing to protect themselves online. The company, which makes password management software, compiles the annual list from the most common passwords leaked online...
Jan 19, 2016 | Online advertising, Regulation
Adblock Plus has revealed that its staff have been “uninvited” to the Interactive Advertising Bureau’s annual leadership meeting, as tensions escalate between the popular ad-blocking tool and the digital marketing industry. .@iab disinvites us to #IABALM, dissing...
Jan 19, 2016 | FMCG digital marketing food and beverages, Regulation, Social media
Gourmet Burger Kitchen sparked controversy this week after a series of poster ads in London led to a social media backlash for criticising vegetarians. @gbkburgers Loved GBK but apparently we're not welcome #vegetarian #vegan #resistanceisfutile #ieatgrasswiththem...
Jan 19, 2016 | Regulation, Search engine marketing
Google has come under fire after allegedly refusing to let a clothing company to advertise to “curvy or plus-size” people, according to a news report. Normally, Google lets advertisers show their messages to people who use certain words in their emails...
Jan 15, 2016 | Content marketing, Regulation
Buzzfeed and Dylon have had been censured by the Advertising Standards Authority over a recent advertorial that was insufficiently flagged as paid-for content. The move marks the first time BuzzFeed has fallen foul of the UK advertising watchdog. The ad for the...
Jan 13, 2016 | Regulation
Employers can read workers’ private messages sent via chat software and webmail accounts during working hours, European judges have ruled. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said a firm that read a worker’s Yahoo Messenger chats sent while he was at...
Jan 13, 2016 | Regulation
Google’s self driving cars experienced 13 near-misses and 272 technology failures in 15 months, with humans having to take the wheel to avoid accidents, according to new files released by the tech giant. Google has revealed that humans have had to take over 341 times...
Jan 11, 2016 | Regulation
Microsoft has revealed what Windows 10 user activity is tracked via its new operating system (OS), Windows 10. In a blog post, Microsoft shared some impressive numbers about the uptake of its new web browser, Microsoft Edge, and digital assistant, Cortana, among...
Jan 7, 2016 | Mobile, Regulation
Over two fifths of global mobile consumers are are “reluctant sharers” of their personal data, but 21% of mobile users currently take no action to secure their device, according to new research. Global mobile trade body Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF) today unveiled the...
