Business
EU Gets Tough on Online Platforms With 45 Million or More Users
The EU identified 19 online platforms, including Meta, TikTok, and Twitter, as having such large user bases that they will be subject to harsher content regulatory standards.
The services on the list, which includes Amazon, Google, Meta, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Microsoft, all have more than 45 million monthly active users.
This classifies them under a new EU regulation known as the Digital Services Act (DSA), which goes into effect in August and imposes measures such as annual audits and a duty to effectively combat disinformation and hate content.
“These platforms and search engines will not be able to act as if they were ‘too big to care’ in four months,” said Thierry Breton, the EU’s internal market commissioner, in a statement.
“This new supervision system will cast a wide and tight net, catching all points of failure in a platform’s compliance,” he continued.
Twitter, Alphabet’s Google Search, Google Maps, Google Shopping, and Google Play businesses, as well as its YouTube subsidiary; and Meta’s Facebook and Instagram are among the platforms with 45 million or more users.
Others include Microsoft’s LinkedIn, Apple’s iOS App Store, Wikipedia, the online encyclopaedia, Snapchat, and the creative picture website Pinterest.
They are classified as a “Very Large Online Platform” (VLOP) or a “Very Large Online Search Engine” (VLOSE) under the DSA.
The majority of the companies on the list are based in the United States, although Chinese-owned platforms TikTok and e-commerce site AliExpress are also included. The commission also named Zalando, a German online fashion company.
Platforms to better protect children
Breton told reporters on Tuesday that his team will conduct “stress tests” to ensure Twitter’s compliance readiness “at the end of June.”
He went on to say that TikTok had expressed an interest in working with him to ensure compliance.
The disclosure on Tuesday comes after a February deadline for web corporations in Europe to report user data.
The DSA has a wide range of goals, including requiring platforms to better protect children, increasing transparency around digital services, prohibiting the online sale of dangerous items, and providing customers with more options when shopping online in the EU.
The guidelines empower the EU to levy fines of up to 6% of the platforms’ annual global sales for repeated violations.
By August 25, 2023, the 19 platforms must have an independent compliance framework in place and provide the European Commission with their first annual risk assessment, including how they intend to handle content on mental health and gender-based violence.
The panel will then conduct an independent audit and provide oversight.
Margrethe Vestager, vice president of the European Commission, said the designations were a “huge step forward” for the DSA in bringing “meaningful transparency and accountability of platforms and search engines and giving consumers more control.”
Swedish music-streaming service Spotify, US dating app Tinder, and home-rental platform Airbnb are among the online businesses that have declared that they have fewer than 45 million users.
Breton stated that “four to five” more platforms could be added to the list “in the coming weeks,” but did not specify which ones.
The DSA is one of two major regulations established by the EU last year to regulate digital platforms in order to safeguard EU users.
The specific obligations for very big platforms are in addition to the DSA rules, which will apply to everyone beginning February 17, 2024.
The Digital Markets Act, the second law, outlaws anti-competitive action by so-called “gatekeepers” of the internet.
European Union Digital Services Act
The EU Digital Services Act (DSA) is a proposed legislative framework aimed at regulating online platforms and digital services within the European Union (EU). The DSA is part of a larger EU Digital Single Market strategy that seeks to harmonize digital regulations and create a level playing field for businesses operating in the EU.
The main goal of the DSA is to establish clear rules for digital services, particularly online platforms, to ensure the safety and security of users and protect fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression and privacy. It would also aim to promote competition, innovation, and accountability in the digital marketplace.
Some key elements of the DSA include:
– New obligations for online platforms to detect, remove and prevent the spread of illegal content, including hate speech, terrorist propaganda, and child sexual abuse material.
– A new category of “gatekeeper” platforms, which have significant market power and would be subject to additional regulatory obligations.
– Enhanced transparency and reporting requirements for online platforms, including clear terms and conditions for users and increased access to data for researchers and regulators.
– Improved user rights, including the right to challenge content moderation decisions and the right to access data collected by platforms about their activities.
The DSA is currently being discussed and negotiated within the EU institutions, and its final form is still subject to change. Once agreed upon, it will need to be implemented into national laws by each EU member state.

Business
PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.

(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.
This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.
Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.
Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.
The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.
Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.
Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.
The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.
Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.
Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.
Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.
Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.
Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”
Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.
The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.
Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.
The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.
Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”
Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.
The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.
Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.
The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:
SOURCE: CNBC
SEE ALSO:
Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
Business
Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.
This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.
For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.
This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.
Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”
This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.
This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.
Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.
Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.
Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.
This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.
It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.
Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”
This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.
We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.
Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.
SOURCE: THBL
SEE ALSO:
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
States Sue TikTok, Claiming Its Platform Is Addictive And Harms The Mental Health Of Children
Qantas Airways Apologizes After R-Rated Film Reportedly Airs On Every Screen During Flight
Business
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.
According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
SOURCE | AP
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