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  • Google pledges to crack down on fake reviews after UK watchdog investigation

    Google pledges to crack down on fake reviews after UK watchdog investigation

    LONDON — Google pledged to crack down on fake online reviews with tougher punishments for rogue reviewers and businesses that try to profit from them, British regulators said Friday following an investigation.

    The Competition and Markets Authority said that Google has committed to “rigorous steps” to detect and remove sham reviews, so it can quickly identify and investigate businesses and reviewers trying to benefit from the phony posts.

    Google will delete all reviews written by people who repeatedly write fake or misleading reviews — either positive or negative — for U.K. businesses, the watchdog said. These reviewers will also be banned from posting new reviews, whether or not they’re in the U.K.

    Businesses that try to artificially boost their star ratings will also face consequences. Warning alerts will be slapped on their Google profiles, and new reviews will not be allowed. And if they repeatedly engage in fake review activity, all their reviews for the past six months or more will be deleted, the CMA said.

    Google’s also adding a way for consumers to quickly and easily report shady reviews, including payments or rewards offered for a positive review.

    “The changes we’ve secured from Google ensure robust processes are in place, so people can have confidence in reviews and make the best possible choices,” the watchdog’s CEO Sarah Cardell said. “They also help to create a level-playing field for fair dealing firms.”

    Google said its “longstanding investments to combat fraudulent content help us block millions of fake reviews yearly – often before they ever get published.” The company said in a brief statement that its “work with regulators around the world, including the CMA, is part of our ongoing efforts to fight fake content and bad actors.”

    A separate investigation into Amazon over fake reviews is ongoing, the watchdog said. It opened the probes in 2021 to examine whether the two companies broke U.K. consumer law by failing to protect shoppers. It began looking into phony reviews on some big websites amid the boom in online shopping fueled by the coronavirus pandemic.

    Phony reviews have long plagued the internet. Some online travel and shopping platforms have banded together to fight fraudulent reviews. Authorities in the U.S. meanwhile have also been trying to crack down, with the Federal Trade Commission banning their sale or purchase and fining businesses and individuals who engage in the practice.

    Fake reviews are typically traded on private social media groups between fake review brokers and businesses willing to pay. Sometimes, such reviews are initiated by businesses that offer customers incentives such as gift cards for positive feedback.

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  • Chinese online retailer Temu faces European Union investigation into rogue traders and illegal goods

    Chinese online retailer Temu faces European Union investigation into rogue traders and illegal goods

    LONDON — Chinese online retailer Temu is facing a European Union investigation over suspicions it’s failing to prevent the sale of illegal products, the 27-nation bloc’s executive arm said on Thursday.

    The European Commission opened its investigation five months after adding Temu to the list of “very large online platforms” needing the strictest level of scrutiny under the bloc’s Digital Services Act. It’s a wide-ranging rulebook designed to clean up online platforms and keep internet users safe, with the threat of hefty fines.

    Temu started entering Western markets only in the past two years and has grown in popularity by offering cheap goods – from clothing to home products — that are shipped from sellers in China. The company, owned by Pinduoduo Inc., a popular e-commerce site in China, now has 92 million users in the EU.

    Temu said it “takes its obligations under the DSA seriously, continuously investing to strengthen our compliance system and safeguard consumer interests on our platform.”

    “We will cooperate fully with regulators to support our shared goal of a safe, trusted marketplace for consumers,” the company said in a statement.

    European Commission Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager said in a press release that Brussels wants to make sure products sold on Temu’s platform “meet EU standards and do not harm consumers.”

    EU enforcement will “guarantee a level playing field and that every platform, including Temu, fully respects the laws that keep our European market safe and fair for all,” she said.

    The commission’s investigation will look into whether Temu’s systems are doing enough to crack down on curb “rogue traders” selling “non-compliant goods” amid concerns that they are able to swiftly reappear after being suspended. The commission didn’t single out specific illegal products that were being sold on the platform.

    Regulators are also examining the risks from Temu’s “addictive design,” including “game-like” reward programs, and what the company is doing to mitigate those risks.

    Also under investigation is Temu’s compliance with two other DSA requirements: giving researchers access to data and transparency on recommender systems. Companies must be detail how they recommend content and products, and give users at least one option to see recommendations that are not based on their personal profile and preferences.

    Temu now has the chance to respond to the commission, which can decide to impose a fine or drop the case if the company makes changes or can prove that the suspicions aren’t valid.

    Brussels has been cracking down on tech companies since the DSA took effect last year. It has also opened an investigation into another ecommerce platform, AliExpress, as well as social media sites like X and Tiktok, which bowed to pressure after the commission demanded answers about a new rewards feature.

    Temu has also faced scrutiny in the United States, where a Congressional report last year accused the company of failing to prevent goods made by forced labor from being sold on its platform.

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  • Real Madrid open investigation to identify fan who allegedly racially abused Lamine Yamal during El Clasico as Spanish football is hit by latest racism storm

    Real Madrid open investigation to identify fan who allegedly racially abused Lamine Yamal during El Clasico as Spanish football is hit by latest racism storm

    By Lewis Browning

    Published: | Updated:

    Real Madrid have opened an investigation to identify a perpetrator who allegedly aimed racist abuse at Lamine Yamal during El Clasico.

    Madrid suffered their first defeat of the season on Saturday night, going down 4-0 against arch rivals Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the campaign at the Bernabeu.

    With the game 0-0 at half time, Robert Lewandowski scored two second half goals before Yamal scored the third of the game. Raphinha wrapped up the scoring soon after.

    Yamal broke another record with his strike, becoming the youngest-ever Clasico scorer, but was allegedly subject to racist abuse from the stands during the match.

    Madrid have now released a statement condemning racial abuse and revealing they have opened an investigation. 

    WARNING: Strong and abusive language 

    Real Madrid have opened an investigation to identify a identify a perpetrator who allegedly aimed racist abuse at Lamine Yamal (pictured) during El Clasico

    Some of the alleged abuse is said to have taken place when Yamal was celebrating after scoring

    Some of the alleged abuse is said to have taken place when Yamal was celebrating after scoring

    One video on social media seems to show the teenager being abused when his side had a corner

    Another appears to show the alleged abuse during his goal celebrations

    Two videos are circulating on social media which seemingly show the teenager being abused on two occasions

    ‘Real Madrid strongly condemns any type of behaviour involving racism, xenophobia or violence in football and sport, and deeply regrets the insults uttered by a few fans last night in one of the corners of the stadium,’ the shared in a club statement.

    ‘Real Madrid has opened an investigation to locate and identify the perpetrators of these regrettable and despicable insults, in order to adopt the appropriate disciplinary and judicial measures.’

    Mundo Deportivo, meanwhile, report that a fan in the front row abused the 17-year-old as he celebrated scoring his goal in the 77th minute.

    It is reported that slurs such as ‘f***ing black’, ‘f***ing moor’ and ‘go to the traffic lights to sell handkerchiefs’ were heard from the stands, all in Spanish.

    A video has been circulating on social media, where the alleged abuse can seemingly be heard.

    In another video, meanwhile, which sees Barcelona taking a corner, more alleged abuse can seemingly be made out. 

    The incident is just the latest in a long line of racist issues in Spain, many of which have involved Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jnr. 

    Earlier this year, a court handed down six-month prison sentences for each incident after a fan was found to have racially abused Vinicius Jnr and another LaLiga star in two separate incidents and also took the decision to implement a three-year stadium ban on the supporter.

    The Brazilian has also opened up on how he feels ‘targeted’ by discriminatory abuse from rival fans.

    It signifies the latest racism storm that Spanish football has suffered, with Real Madrid's Vinicius Jnr also at the centre of abuse earlier this year

    It signifies the latest racism storm that Spanish football has suffered, with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jnr also at the centre of abuse earlier this year

    Yamal, meanwhile, netted his first Clasico goal on the night in his fourth appearance in the fixture to add another record to his ever-growing list.

    He is the youngest player to have started a LaLiga game, which came when he lined up for Barca in the 2023-24 season against Cadiz at 16 years and 38 days old. And just a few days later, he became the youngest player to provide an assist in LaLiga.

    He is also the youngest Barca player to debut in the Champions League, the youngest starter in the history of the Champions League, the youngest player to register a Champions League assist and the youngest player to win a major international trophy.

    There are a number of other records that Yamal has broken listed on Barcelona’s club website, including being the youngest-ever player to play in the Champions League knockouts and being the youngest player to feature in a European Championship final.





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  • RajComp GM’s Lavish Lifestyle Posts Lead to ACB Investigation | Jaipur News

    RajComp GM’s Lavish Lifestyle Posts Lead to ACB Investigation | Jaipur News

    Jaipur: Chhatarpal Singh, group general manager (technology) at RajComp Info Services Ltd, a govt-owned entity based in Yojana Bhavan, drew the attention of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to his extravagant lifestyle by posting photos of luxury vehicles and foreign tours on Facebook.
    The ACB conducted searches at 10 locations associated with Singh in Jaipur, Delhi, Ghaziabad and Hanumangarh on Saturday.The search continued at two locations in Delhi and Ghaziabad on Sunday.
    Sources revealed that Singh was placed on awaiting posting order after ACB raids. The raids were part of an investigation into allegations that Singh amassed wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. During the raids, the ACB uncovered various high-value assets, including luxury vehicles such as a Porsche and a Land Rover Defender.
    “We received confidential information about his wealth, and when we launched an investigation, the first thing we noticed was his Facebook posts boasting of luxury vehicles and expensive trips,” said an official.
    Sources said that Singh had a penchant for luxury cars and an extravagant lifestyle. He is known to have connections within the bureaucracy, and some police officers were his schoolmates and close friends.
    Initial investigations suggest that the Porsche car Singh posted about on social media was bought second-hand, while a Land Rover Defender was purchased for 1.3 crore in the name of a close friend of his. Of the purchase price, 30 lakh was paid in cash, while 1 crore was secured through a loan.
    Chhatra Singh also frequently travelled abroad and stayed in expensive hotels. His father was a doctor, and he was married twice. His first wife resides in a house in Sodala owned by Chhatra Singh’s family, while his second wife lives in a luxury apartment on Ajmer Road.
    During the raid in Vaishali Nagar, Ghaziabad (UP), luxury cars like Porsche and Defender were found, and these cars were registered in someone else’s name.
    On Monday, the ACB will inspect bank accounts and lockers. The ACB found eight bank accounts during the search, along with three lockers in Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Hanumangarh. The team will inspect these bank accounts and lockers on Monday, October 21.
    In the FIR registered by the ACB, the total wealth was estimated to be about Rs 2.30 crore, about 85 percent more than known sources of his income. This doesn’t include the value of expensive cars and bikes. “The cars and bikes are registered in the name of other people. We will issue notices to the registered owners and summon them for questioning,” said the officer.



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  • Tech firms remove social media accounts of a Russian drone factory after an AP investigation

    Tech firms remove social media accounts of a Russian drone factory after an AP investigation

    Google, Meta and TikTok have removed social media accounts belonging to an industrial plant in Russia’s Tatarstan region aimed at recruiting young foreign women to make drones for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

    Posts on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok were taken down following an investigation by The Associated Press published Oct. 10 that detailed working conditions in the drone factory in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, which is under U.S. and British sanctions.

    Videos and other posts on the social media platforms promised the young women, who are largely from Africa, a free plane ticket to Russia and a salary of more than $500 a month following their recruitment via the program called “Alabuga Start.”

    But instead of a work-study program in areas like hospitality and catering, some of them said they learned only arriving in the Tatarstan region that they would be toiling in a factory to make weapons of war, assembling thousands of Iranian-designed attack drones to be launched into Ukraine.

    In interviews with AP, some of the women who worked in the complex complained of long hours under constant surveillance, of broken promises about wages and areas of study, and of working with caustic chemicals that left their skin pockmarked and itching. AP did not identify them by name or nationality out of concern for their safety.

    The tech companies also removed accounts for Alabuga Polytechnic, a vocational boarding school for Russians aged 16-18 and Central Asians aged 18-22 that bills its graduates as experts in drone production.

    The accounts collectively had at least 158,344 followers while one page on TikTok had more than a million likes.

    In a statement, YouTube said its parent company Google is committed to sanctions and trade compliance and “after review and consistent with our policies, we terminated channels associated with Alabuga Special Economic Zone.”

    Meta said it removed accounts on Facebook and Instagram that “violate our policies.” The company said it was committed to complying with sanctions laws and said it recognized that human exploitation is a serious problem which required a multifaceted approach, including at Meta.

    It said it had teams dedicated to anti-trafficking efforts and aimed to remove those seeking to abuse its platforms.

    TikTok said it removed videos and accounts which violated its community guidelines, which state it does not allow content that is used for the recruitment of victims, coordination of their transport, and their exploitation using force, fraud, coercion, or deception.

    The women aged 18-22 were recruited to fill an urgent labor shortage in wartime Russia. They are from places like Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, as well as the South Asian country of Sri Lanka. The drive also is expanding to elsewhere in Asia as well as Latin America.

    Accounts affiliated to Alabuga with tens of thousands of followers are still accessible on Telegram, which did not reply to a request for comment. The plant’s management also did not respond to AP.

    The Alabuga Start recruiting drive used a robust social media campaign of slickly edited videos with upbeat music that show African women smiling while cleaning floors, wearing hard hats while directing cranes, and donning protective equipment to apply paint or chemicals.

    Videos also showed them enjoying Tatarstan’s cultural sites or playing sports. None of the videos made it clear the women would be working in a drone manufacturing complex.

    Online, Alabuga promoted visits to the industrial area by foreign dignitaries, including some from Brazil, Sri Lanka and Burkina Faso.

    In a since-deleted Instagram post, a Turkish diplomat who visited the plant had compared Alabuga Polytechnic to colleges in Turkey and pronounced it “much more developed and high-tech.”

    According to Russian investigative outlets Protokol and Razvorot, some pupils at Alabuga Polytechnic are as young as 15 and have complained of poor working conditions.

    Videos previously on the platforms showed the vocational school students in team-building exercises such as “military-patriotic” paintball matches and recreating historic Soviet battles while wearing camouflage.

    Last month, Alabuga Start said on Telegram its “audience has grown significantly!”

    That could be due to its hiring of influencers, who promoted the site on TikTok and Instagram as an easy way for young women to make money after leaving school.

    TikTok removed two videos promoting Alabuga after publication of the AP investigation.

    Experts told AP that about 90% of the women recruited via the Alabuga Start program work in drone manufacturing.

    ___

    Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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  • Long-serving Rutgers athletic director under investigation for alleged ‘inappropriate relationship’ – after resigning due to ‘health concerns’

    Long-serving Rutgers athletic director under investigation for alleged ‘inappropriate relationship’ – after resigning due to ‘health concerns’

    By Leocciano Callao

    Published: | Updated:

    Rutgers University has launched an investigation on former athletic director Pat Hobbs for a possible ‘inappropriate, consensual relationship,’ according to a report from NJ Advance Media.

    Hobbs resigned on August 16, citing health concerns, after holding the position for nine years.

    NJ Advance reported that the ‘investigation is believed to have spurred his abrupt resignation.’ The school has yet to address the allegation.

    Earlier this week, NJ Advance Media also reported the Rutgers’ gymnastics program was in disarray before Hobbs’ departure, with head coach Umme Salim-Beasley at the center of complaints from the athletes.

    Several gymnasts alleged that Salim-Beasley fostered a ‘toxic’ environment, among many complaints. When they went to Hobbs for help, they were reportedly ignored by the AD.

    Rutgers is investigating former athletic director Pat Hobbs after his abrupt resignation

    Rutgers is investigating former athletic director Pat Hobbs after his abrupt resignation 

    Hobbs is allegedly in a 'inappropriate, consensual' relationship, according to reports

    Hobbs is allegedly in a ‘inappropriate, consensual’ relationship, according to reports  

    The outlet reported that New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy spoke publicly about the ‘internal investigation’ on Friday.

    ‘I know there is an investigation underway, so I don’t want to preempt that,’ Murphy said. ‘I have no insights into that. But that was really ugly and very disturbing. I’ve reached out to Rutgers at the highest levels.

    ‘I know they have an internal investigation going, but that was a pretty disgusting set of facts in the paper. We shall see.’

    The University sang its praise for Hobbs after stepping down from the position.

    ‘I want to thank Pat for his remarkable nine-year tenure at Rutgers, during which we have seen our men’s and women’s teams become leaders and successfully compete in the Big Ten, both on and off the field,’ school president Jonathan Holloway said in an email to university leaders.

    Hobbs was credited for ‘enhancing the student-athlete experience’ and emphasizing ‘elevated communication, improved resource allocation, and enriched customer service,’ during his tenure.

    According to his contract, Hobbs was on deck to make at least $635,000 in base salary this school year with his pay adjusted to the median of other Big Ten athletics directors.

    His biggest move in charge of the Scarlet Knights was bringing Greg Schiano back as the football coach in 2019.

    After Hobbs’ abrupt departure, Ryan Pisarri has stepped in for him on an interim basis. According to the Rutgers Athletics website, Pisarri was the Deputy Athletic Director for Competitive Excellence and Chief of Staff and is in his 14th year with the program.

    Hobbs is married and shares three children with his wife Patrice. He served as the dean at Seaton Hall from 1999 to 2015 before moving to Rutgers.

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