Latest news with #IPProtection
Fast Company
07-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
Why TikTok Shop can't shake its knockoff problem
TikTok has spent nearly $1 billion cracking down on intellectual property violations in its marketplace. So why is TikTok Shop still flooded with knockoffs? From July to December 2024, the platform shut down 900 stores for IP infringements and brought on 400 additional IP protection specialists. Yet TikTok remains a hub for 'dupe' culture—promoting and selling low-cost imitations of popular products. Even when sellers aren't blatantly copying major brands, they often market untested look-alike items at a fraction of the price. Hiring more staff isn't enough to make TikTok Shop a safe, trustworthy brand. What's needed is a full-scale culture shift. The TikTok Shop IP crackdown TikTok Shop is expanding fast. According to The New Consumer, by the end of 2024, it was already outpacing Shein, Sephora, and home shopping TV in quarterly spending. Of course, Trump's proposed tariffs could threaten that growth, though the data isn't in yet.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Google has ‘good news' for ad tech companies using Chrome; here's what it means for end users
Google has confirmed that it will no longer introduce a new standalone prompt for third-party cookies in Chrome. This move will allow ad tech companies to continue using the tracking technology in the popular browser. The latest change marks a departure from the Chrome team's previous plan to phase out third-party cookies, which was announced in July 2024. The update is expected to have a significant impact on the advertising technology industry, as companies have been preparing for a shift away from cookie-based tracking in response to Google's earlier announcement. Privacy advocates have criticised the reversal, arguing that it encourages extensive user tracking across sites. However, users will still be able to adjust cookie preferences via Chrome's Privacy and Security settings panel. Meanwhile, ad tech companies have welcomed the move, as it preserves established targeting tools without forcing a shift to alternative methods. What Google said about tracking third-party cookies in Chrome In a blog post, Anthony Chavez, VP Privacy Sandbox at Google, wrote: 'We've made the decision to maintain our current approach to offering users third-party cookie choice in Chrome, and will not be rolling out a new standalone prompt for third-party cookies. Users can continue to choose the best option for themselves in Chrome's Privacy and Security Settings.' According to Google, Privacy Sandbox will continue in other forms with select projects developed within it, such as IP Protection for Chrome Incognito users, which are still moving forward and are expected to launch in Q3. 'In light of this update, we understand that the Privacy Sandbox APIs may have a different role to play in supporting the ecosystem. We'll engage with the industry to gather feedback and share an updated roadmap for these technologies, including our future areas of investment, in the coming months,' Chavez added. What does this move mean for Google Chrome users This move will allow existing trackers embedded on multiple sites to still follow user activity across the web, potentially sharing profiles with advertisers. However, users can still navigate to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data to block or allow third-party cookies manually This also means that no new standalone cookie-consent UI will appear for users as Chrome's existing cookie controls remain the only built-in option. Websites relying on third-party cookies for personalised ads and content recommendations will even continue to function without disruption. Meanwhile, it's important to note that users may still see highly targeted ads based on their cross-site browsing history, as no new privacy barrier will be enforced. Users concerned about tracking can enable 'Block third-party cookies' or browse in Incognito mode, which blocks cookies by default in private sessions.
Forbes
22-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Google Suddenly Confirms New Tracking Nightmare For All Chrome Users
Bad news for 3 billion Chrome users. Is this a shock? I'm not sure. Google has just u-turned again on tracking cookies, with the bad news that they're here to stay. Forever. These devilish tracking cookies were supposedly being killed, until Google hit the pause button last July. Now even its Plan B has failed — albeit the spin is very different. This is a disaster for the privacy of Chrome's 3 billion users. Bar the ad industry, no one likes or wants tracking cookies. In a blogpost, Anthony Chavez, the VP for Google's ill-fated Privacy Sandbox suddenly announced 'it remains clear that there are divergent perspectives on making changes that could impact the availability of third-party cookies.' As such, "we've made the decision to maintain our current approach to offering users third-party cookie choice in Chrome, and will not be rolling out a new standalone prompt for third-party cookies." Per DigiDay, 'in a shocking development, Google won't roll out a new standalone prompt for third-party cookies in Chrome, meaning ad tech companies can still use the targeting technology in the world's most popular web browser.' Chavez assured users they 'can continue to choose the best option for themselves in Chrome's Privacy and Security Settings.' But in a world where Chrome is castigated as the worst offending mainstream browser for privacy and tracking, this will land flat. In reality, Google has struggled to balance ad industry, regulator and user interests. On the positive side, Chavez does say Google will 'continue to enhance tracking protections in Chrome's Incognito mode, which already blocks third-party cookies by default. This includes IP Protection, which we plan to launch in Q3 2025. And we'll continue to invest in making Chrome the world's most trusted browser, with technologies like Safe Browsing, Safety Check, built-in password protections, AI-powered security protections, and more.' That's the same Incognito Mode that was the subject of a lawsuit and settlement for secretly tracking users anyway. This follows Google's equally shocking decision to restore digital fingerprinting, which was unpopular enough in browsers but has also now been expanded to smart devices such as gaming consoles and TVs. This other Google u-turn also referenced new privacy preserving technologies as its reason for change. Just weeks ago, we had been told to expect a single click prompt to disable tracking cookies in Chrome. But not anymore. Not a good day for privacy advocates. Cue the backlash…
