Topic: consumer protection
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Peak Body Slams Telecoms as Optus Hit With $100M Fine
The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) is demanding an end to industry self-regulation, following a Federal Court ruling that imposed a $100 million penalty on Optus for unconscionable sales practices. ACCAN's research reveals systemic consumer issues, with 43% of Australia...
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Qatar Suspends Talabat for 1 Week Over Consumer Rights Breach
Qatar's Ministry of Commerce and Industry suspended Talabat for one week due to verified breaches of consumer protection regulations, including misleading product information and improper payment collection. The suspension was based on violations of specific articles in consumer law, prompting ad...
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Bitdefender Fights AI Scams Targeting Families Worldwide
AI-powered scams using deepfake video and voice cloning technology are becoming highly sophisticated, posing significant financial and emotional risks by impersonating trusted individuals to manipulate victims. Bitdefender's "They Wear Our Faces" campaign aims to combat this threat by educating t...
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CRA's New Caller ID Plan Fights Fraud, Protects You
The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) is introducing Caller Name Presentation (CNAP) in partnership with Ooredoo Qatar and Vodafone Qatar to help consumers identify legitimate callers and reduce fraud by displaying registered names on incoming calls. Initially, CNAP will apply to calls fr...
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TRA Bahrain, Mobile Operators Launch Anti-SMS Fraud Guidelines
Bahrain's TRA and mobile operators have launched new "Guidelines for Reducing Fraudulent SMS" to combat scam messages and enhance mobile security nationwide. The guidelines establish technical and operational measures for identifying and intercepting fraudulent communications, alongside public ed...
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FCC to Scrap ISP Fee Disclosure Rule Amid Rising Costs
The FCC is proposing to eliminate a rule requiring ISPs to itemize recurring monthly fees on broadband labels, arguing that detailed breakdowns can overwhelm customers. This rule, implemented in April 2024, was intended to prevent misleading low advertised prices by ensuring transparency about ad...
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California Bans Predatory Early Cancellation Fees
A new California law (AB 483) protects consumers from unexpected early termination fees in installment contracts by requiring transparency and capping fees at 30% of the contract's total value. The legislation mandates that businesses clearly disclose cancellation charges upfront, preventing them...
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FTC Investigates Google, Amazon for Ad Pricing Transparency
The FTC is investigating Google and Amazon for potential lack of transparency in their advertising practices, including ad pricing and terms. These inquiries are part of broader regulatory actions against both companies, building on previous antitrust concerns over their market dominance. The inv...
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Europe's Fintech Future: How Regulation Can Drive Growth
Europe's fintech sector faces a balancing act between innovation and consumer protection, with recent regulations addressing crypto volatility, fraud, and money laundering while fostering growth. Key EU regulations like DORA, AMLA, and MiCA introduce harmonized standards, improving cybersecurity,...
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UK's Google Search Faces a Major Overhaul
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has designated Google's search engine with Strategic Market Status to address its dominance, which accounts for over 90% of general search queries and involves significant business advertising spending. This designation enables targeted regulatory action...
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Lawmakers demand ban on Delta's AI price-hiking surveillance
Lawmakers are proposing a bill to ban AI-powered price discrimination and wage suppression, sparked by Delta Airlines' plan to use AI for dynamic pricing based on personal data. The legislation targets practices like adjusting prices based on financial vulnerability or suppressing wages using alg...
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California Bans Loud Ads on Netflix and YouTube
California has passed a law requiring streaming platforms to maintain consistent audio levels between programming and ads, effective July 2026, to address viewer complaints about loud commercials. The legislation, Bill 576, was inspired by personal stories of disrupted sleep and aims to protect f...
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UK Regulator Labels Google Search a "Strategic Market" Power
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has granted Google strategic market status for its core search and search advertising services, enabling regulators to impose targeted interventions to protect competition and consumers. This decision, part of the UK's new Digital Markets Regime, exclude...
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California's Rental Fee Law Sparks ISP Backlash
A new California law effective January 1 allows tenants to decline bundled internet services in their leases without penalty, aiming to increase competition and fairness in the rental market. The legislation, supported by bipartisan lawmakers and smaller providers, does not ban bulk billing but e...
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Windows 10 Security Updates: Free for EU Users for One More Year
Microsoft will provide free extended security updates for Windows 10 users in the European Economic Area until October 2026, removing requirements for a Microsoft Account or cloud backup. This policy change responds to pressure from Euroconsumers, which argued initial conditions likely violated t...
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Microsoft's Free Windows 10 Security Updates Exclude US and UK Until 2026
Older computers can remain secure through a free Windows 10 Extended Security Update (ESU) program, which provides critical patches until October 2026, but only if users log in with a Microsoft account and re-enroll if inactive for over 60 days. This free ESU program is exclusively available to i...
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Qatar, ITU Host Workshop to Boost Global ICT Governance
The CRA of Qatar and the ITU held a workshop from September 28-30, 2025, to enhance staff skills in international ICT governance and ITU procedures. The training focused on preparing for key ITU conferences, WTDC-25 and PP-26, teaching strategic conference preparation and policy influence through...
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Microsoft's Free Windows 10 Security Updates Now Mandatory in Europe
Microsoft will now provide free Extended Security Updates to European Economic Area consumers, removing the previous requirement to enable Windows Backup. This policy change resulted from pressure by consumer advocacy groups and is geographically limited to the EEA. The free security updates are ...
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Apple Could Disable App Tracking in Europe
Apple may disable its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature in Europe due to intense lobbying, potentially undermining user privacy by removing their ability to block cross-app tracking. Regulators in countries like Germany and France argue ATT is anticompetitive, alleging Apple applies stricte...
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Warp Agentic: The Top Development Tool of 2025
Warp Agentic is a leading 2025 development tool that boosts productivity through integrated code generation, debugging, and project management features. It enhances team collaboration with real-time shared workspaces and reduces delays from communication and version control issues. The platform o...
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