Best of tech opinion in 2022 December 29, 2022 From Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to algorithms keeping us in with our daily dose of otters, some of the best tech opinion in City A.M.
Dignity shares rocket after funeral cost controls dropped because of pandemic August 13, 2020 Shares in funeral company Dignity surged nearly 40 per cent today after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it would not introduce price controls because of the coronavirus pandemic. Dignity shares jumped 38 per cent to 540p. The company said it was considering the CMA’s report in detail. An investigation into the sector, focusing [...]
Handle with care: Big Tech mergers are not as evil as our watchdogs might believe December 7, 2021 Watchdogs and oversight bodies around the world, including the US Federal Trade Commission, have tried to break up Big Tech, but the UK may be the first to succeed — at the cost of entrepreneurship and innovation. Last week, the Competition and Markets Authority ordered Facebook’s parent company, Meta, to sell Giphy over antitrust concerns. [...]
Watchdog opens probe into major homebuilders over leasehold practices September 4, 2020 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today said it was opening enforcement cases against four of the UK’s biggest housebuilders over suspicions they may have broken consumer protection law in relation to leasehold homes. The CMA today said it was opening enforcement actions focusing on the practices of Barratt Developments, Countryside Properties, Persimmon Homes and [...]
Competition watchdog seeks emergency powers to tackle coronavirus profiteering May 18, 2020 The UK’s competition watchdog has told the government it needs emergency powers to crack down on firms profiteering from the coronavirus crisis. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it needs emergency time-limited legislation to tackle companies that have increased prices for high demand products such as hand sanitiser during the pandemic. CMA chief executive [...]
As Meta appeals the CMA’s slap down over the Giphy acquisition, we must steer clear of watchdog intervention December 26, 2021 It seems to have become accepted wisdom that big tech firms are too dominant and need to be broken up and regulated. This a narrative spun by a belief that bias from Silicon Valley creates unbalanced debate; it is also, generally speaking, the view of the elite – amongst many academics and the leadership of [...]
Tech giants hit with new rules amid calls to fix ‘dysfunctional’ ad market November 27, 2020 Facebook and Google will be subjected to tighter scrutiny over how they use consumer data as ministers face calls to fix the “dysfunctional” online advertising market. The government today announced the launch of a new digital markets unit aimed at curbing the dominance of tech giants and giving consumers greater control over their personal data. [...]
Andrew Tyrie, chair of Competition and Markets Authority, to step down June 18, 2020 Former Treasury select committee chair Lord Andrew Tyrie has resigned as chairman of the UK’s competition watchdog, citing the “inherent limits” of his position. Tyrie, who used to be a Conservative MP, announced he would step down from his role at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in September. He joined the CMA in April [...]
Spire admits to price fixing scandal in £1.2m fine July 1, 2020 Spire Healthcare has admitted to its part in an illegal price fixing scandal that saw one of its hospitals overcharge patients with eye disorders. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) ordered the firm to pay £1.2m in fines following the conclusion of its investigation. One of Spire’s hospitals instigated and facilitated an illegal arrangement with [...]
Tui to refund all customers by the end of the month September 16, 2020 Travel giant Tui UK will refund all package holidays cancelled due to the coronavirus by the end of the month, the UK’s competition watchdog announced this morning. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) had launched an investigation into the firm after receiving thousands of complaints from customers who had not been refunded. Under consumer protection [...]