Top News:


Preliminary findings: the EU says Meta's pay or consent ad model breaches the DMA; Meta faces a fine of up to 10% of its global annual turnover if found guilty — Meta Platforms (META.O) was charged by EU antitrust regulators on Monday for failing to comply with landmark tech rules …
Discussion:
The Guardian, European Commission, @benedictevans@threads.net, @benedictevans@threads.net, The Register, TVNewsCheck, New York Post, @thierrybreton, Financial Times, @eu_competition, @Jeremiah@alpaca.gold, @eu_commission, @jason_kint, @andrewpardoe@threads.net, MarTech, @tjasa_pet, @florian4gamers, @Jeremiah@alpaca.gold, The Verge, @Frederik_Borgesius …, @vestager, @jefflonsdale, @pernillet@mastodon.online, Benedict Evans on LinkedIn, @GottaLaff@mastodon.social, CNN, @maik.zumstrull.net, TechCrunch, Wired, The Information, Quartz, @beuc and Engadget, more at Techmeme »


Sources: Paramount Global is in discussions with other companies about merging Paramount+ with their streamers; WBD is interested in merging Max and Paramount+ — Paramount Global is holding talks with other entertainment companies about merging its Paramount+ streaming service with an existing platform.
Discussion:
Variety, Alex Sherman on LinkedIn, Cord Cutters News, Media Play News and BGR


A look at WSJ's rocky reboot under Emma Tucker, who addressed editing bottlenecks and pushed for ambitious stories, while unnerving the newsroom with layoffs — The British-born editor has injected America's business paper of record with ambition and verve, while unnerving the newsroom with unapologetic cuts.
Discussion:
@mlcalderone, @charlottetklein and New York Post


Google says it will require advertisers to disclose election ads that use digitally altered content that depicts real or realistic-looking people or events — Google (GOOGL.O) said on Monday it would make it mandatory for advertisers to disclose election ads that use digitally altered content …
Discussion:
Google Help Center and Reuters


Meta changes its “Made with AI” label to “AI info”, to indicate images were not necessarily created with AI but that AI editing tools may have been used — After Meta started tagging photos with a “Made with AI” label in May, photographers complained …
Discussion:
Fast Company, Engadget and The Verge, more at Techmeme »


Terence Samuel, the EIC of USA Today, is leaving “effective today”, after a year in the role; Caren Bohan, the executive editor of politics, will be interim EIC — Terence Samuel, a veteran journalist, had been in the role for a year. — Terence Samuel, the editor in chief of USA Today …
Discussion:
USA Today, The Wrap, MediaPost, The Hill, TVNewsCheck, @davidfolkenflik, @katie_robertson and Deadline


B2B information and data provider Wilmington sells its UK healthcare business, which includes Health Service Journal, to PE firm Inspirit Franklin for £26M — HSJ has been owned by Wilmington since 2017. — Health Service Journal will move under private equity ownership following a sale by owner Wilmington.


YouTube rolled out a policy change that will let people request the takedown of AI-generated or other synthetic content that simulates their face or voice — Meta is not the only company grappling with the rise in AI-generated content and how it affects its platform.
Discussion:
Engadget, Mashable and @baekdal, more at Techmeme »


Some Hollywood writers and actors are struggling to meet salary or work requirements to keep their union's health insurance plans, following the 2023 strikes — After the 2023 work stoppages and amid a larger industry contraction, creatives face difficulties meeting minimums to keep their union plans …


Redbox's owner, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, files for bankruptcy protection; Chicken Soup took on $325M in debt when it acquired Redbox in 2022 — Redbox's owner, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, filed for bankruptcy protection overnight.


SCOTUS orders lower courts to take another look at Texas' and Florida's social media laws, says neither lower court conducted proper analysis of 1A challenges — Washington — The Supreme Court on Monday ordered lower courts to take another look at a pair of laws from Florida and Texas …
Discussion:
Engadget, MediaPost, The Register, NPR, Reason, Quartz, CNBC, @nicoperrino, New York Post, @jordanonrecord, @steve_vladeck, Reclaim The Net, Reuters, @sandeepvaheesan, @daphnehk, @mjs_dc, Fox News, @ishapiro, @joshgerstein, @anupamchander, Associated Press, @jamescz19, @attorneynora, @bykatiebuehler, @neil_chilson, TechCrunch, @willoremus, @sdkstl, @zephyrteachout, @thomas_a_berry, @jeffjarvis, @crumbler@threads.net, @jameeljaffer, @tracethelaw, @mjs_dc, @aricohn, @mjs_dc, @jess_miers, @pat_hedger, @zephyrteachout, Forbes, @robpwj, @robertfreundlaw, @matthewstoller, Media Play News, Politico and Semafor, more at Techmeme »


BlackRock has agreed to buy Preqin, a UK-based provider of private markets data, for £2.55B in cash — The acquisition deepens BlackRock's ability to oversee risks and analyze data across fast-growing markets for private assets, and also expands its Aladdin technology systems …