Yazılar

Amazon Commits to Tougher Measures Against Fake Reviews After UK Investigation

/in /tarafından

Amazon has agreed to implement stronger actions to combat fake reviews on its platform, following a four-year investigation by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The deal includes new enforcement powers that allow Amazon to sanction British businesses found using deceptive tactics to boost product ratings, as well as measures to detect and remove fraudulent content more efficiently.

The CMA said on Friday that Amazon’s commitments also address concerns about “catalogue abuse” — a practice where sellers attach their products to highly rated but unrelated items in order to mislead shoppers and inflate rankings. In severe cases, businesses violating these rules could face bans from Amazon’s platform altogether. Individual users who post fake reviews may also be prohibited from submitting further reviews.

According to the CMA, approximately 90% of consumers rely on online reviews when making purchasing decisions, making the integrity of reviews crucial for fair competition and consumer trust. Amazon’s new obligations will include robust systems to identify and eliminate manipulated reviews and enforce stricter penalties for offenders.

The regulator began its investigation into Amazon and Google in 2021 over potential breaches of consumer protection law. In January, Google also made similar commitments to improve the reliability of online reviews. CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell praised Amazon’s actions, stating, “These new commitments matter and help set the standard.”

The CMA has recently been granted new enforcement powers allowing it to independently determine if consumer law has been broken. It can now issue fines and compel businesses to improve their practices without needing to go through lengthy court proceedings.

In parallel, the CMA is conducting a broad assessment of online review platforms as part of its ongoing work to ensure compliance with its newly updated reviews guidance issued in April.

UN Report: AI Boom Drives 150% Surge in Tech Giants’ Indirect Emissions

/in /tarafından

A new United Nations report revealed on Thursday that indirect carbon emissions from the operations of four major AI-driven tech giants—Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta—rose by an average of 150% between 2020 and 2023. The sharp increase is largely driven by the vast energy demands of data centers powering artificial intelligence systems.

The report, published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the U.N.’s digital technologies agency, analyzed the greenhouse gas emissions of 200 leading digital companies over the three-year period. Indirect emissions include those generated from purchased electricity, heating, cooling, and steam consumed by a company’s operations.

Among the companies surveyed, Amazon posted the largest rise, with operational carbon emissions soaring 182% over the period. Microsoft followed with a 155% increase, while Meta and Alphabet saw rises of 145% and 138%, respectively.

The growing reliance on AI has led to surging energy demands, with electricity consumption from data centers growing four times faster than overall global electricity usage, according to the ITU. The report projects that carbon emissions from top-emitting AI systems could eventually reach 102.6 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually, further straining existing energy infrastructures.

In response, several companies highlighted their ongoing sustainability efforts. Meta referred Reuters to its sustainability report, stating that it is taking steps to reduce emissions, energy use, and water consumption in its data centers. Amazon emphasized its investments in carbon-free energy projects, including both nuclear and renewable sources. Microsoft pointed to its recent progress in improving energy efficiency, including transitioning to chip-level liquid cooling technologies that consume less energy than traditional cooling systems.

However, the ITU noted that while more digital companies are setting ambitious emissions targets, many of these commitments have yet to translate into meaningful reductions in actual emissions. The report underscores the growing challenge of balancing AI’s rapid expansion with environmental sustainability.

Walmart’s Flipkart Secures RBI Approval for Direct Lending in India

/in /tarafından

Walmart-owned Flipkart has obtained a non-bank finance company (NBFC) licence from India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), enabling the e-commerce giant to directly lend to customers and sellers on its platform. This marks the first time RBI has granted such a licence to a major Indian e-commerce player, allowing Flipkart to offer loans without relying on third-party lenders.

The certificate of registration, officially recognizing Flipkart Finance Private Limited as an NBFC, was issued on March 13, 2025. Flipkart applied for the licence in 2022, and the approval, previously unreported, was confirmed by company spokespersons after Reuters reviewed the official documents.

Currently, Flipkart offers personal loans through partnerships with banks and NBFCs like Axis Bank, IDFC Bank, and Credit Saison. With the new licence, it can launch a more profitable direct lending operation on its e-commerce platform and its fintech app, super.money. The company is also considering offering financing options to sellers on its platform.

The start of lending operations depends on internal steps such as appointing key management and finalizing business strategies. A source familiar with the matter expects Flipkart to commence lending “in a few months.”

Flipkart, valued at $37 billion following a $1 billion funding round led by Walmart in 2024, is in the process of shifting its holding company from Singapore to India. Walmart acquired a controlling stake in Flipkart in 2018, which also included ownership of PhonePe, a fintech firm planning its own IPO.

Flipkart’s competitor Amazon recently acquired Indian NBFC Axio, but that deal awaits RBI approval.