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Google keeps promising to phase out third-party cookies on Chrome but not actually doing it. The company vowed to deprecate cookies back in 2020, pushing the date back to 2023 and then 2024. We did get some traction earlier this year, when Google disabled cookies for one percent of Chrome users, but those efforts have stalled. Now, the company says it wont happen until next year. Its easy to drag Google for this but its not entirely in the companys hands. The tech giant is working closely with the UKs Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to ensure that any tools it implements to replace the cookies tracking and measurement capabilities arent anti-competitive. These tools are known collectively as the Privacy Sandbox and Google says it has to wait until the CMA has had sufficient time to review results from industry tests thatll be provided by the end of June. Googles Privacy Sandbox has stirred up some controversy in recent years. The proposed tools have drawn complaints from adtech companies, publishers and ad agencies, on the grounds that they are difficult to operate, dont adequately replace traditional cookies and give too much power to Google. To that end, the company said that it recognizes ongoing challenges related to reconciling divergent feedback from the industry, regulators and developers. This is another reason given for the delay until next year. The CMA isnt the only regulatory agency giving the side-eye to the current iteration of these Privacy Sandbox tools. The UK-based Information Commissioners Office drafted a report that indicated these tools could be used by advertisers to identify consumers, as suggested by the Wall Street Journal. Those in the ad industry want to see cookies given the heave-ho, despite complaints about Privacy Sandbox. Drew Stein, CEO of adtech data firm Audigent, told Engadget that its time for Google to deliver on the promise of a better ecosystem by implementing its plans to eliminate third-party cookies. The CMA, on the other hand, has indicated a willingness to keep third-party cookies in play, particularly if Googles solution does more harm than good. Craig Jenkins, the CMAs director of digital markets, recently said the organization would delay implementation of Privacy Sandbox tools if were not satisfied we can resolve the concerns, as reported by Adweek. Well see what happens in 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-has-delayed-killing-third-party-cookies-from-chrome-again-155911583.html?src=rss
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The bill that will force a sale or ban of TikTok in the United States is now law. President Joe Biden signed a package of foreign aid bills that included the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, one day after the legislation was approved by the Senate. In a statement, TikTok said it would challenge the law in court, which could delay an eventual sale or ban. This unconstitutional law is a TikTok ban, and we will challenge it in court, the company said. We believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we will ultimately prevail. The fact is, we have invested billions of dollars to keep U.S. data safe and our platform free from outside influence and manipulation. This ban would devastate seven million businesses and silence 170 million Americans. The law gives TikToks parent company ByteDance, which is based in China, up to a year to sell the app to a new owner. If the company fails to divest, then TikTok will be banned from US app stores and web hosting services. Unlike previous attempts to force a sale or ban of the app, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, had overwhelming bipartisan support and was able to move through Congress with remarkable speed. The original version of the bill, which called for a six-month window to divest, passed the House in March, just days after it was introduced. An updated version, which allows up to 12 months for a divestment, passed over the weekend. In a video shared on TikTok, CEO Shou Chew called it a disappointing moment for the company. Make no mistake, this is a ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice, he said. It's actually ironic because the freedom of expression on TikTok reflects the same American values that make the United States a beacon of freedom. Developing...This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/joe-biden-signs-the-bill-that-could-ban-tiktok-in-the-united-states-154106950.html?src=rss
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Valve has closed a loophole in Steam's refund policy that effectively allowed players to beat a game before its official release date and get their money back. The company has long had a policy in place whereby users could refund a game, no questions asked, as long as they havent played for more than two hours within 14 days. Until now, the refund policy was far more lenient for games in early access or advanced access, but Valve has nipped that in the bud. "When you purchase a title on Steam prior to the release date, the two hour playtime limit for refunds will apply (except for beta testing), but the 14-day period for refunds will not start until the release date," Valve's updated policy reads, as noted by IGN. "For example, if you purchase a game that is in Early Access or Advanced Access, any playtime will count against the two-hour refund limit. If you pre-purchase a title which is not playable prior to the release date, you can request a refund at any time prior to release of that title, and the standard 14-day/two-hour refund period will apply starting on the games release date." Early access enables players to try an incomplete version of a game. Its helpful for developers as they can take feedback from players and use that to improve their project before ramping up the marketing campaign ahead of the official release. Supergiant famously used this strategy to tremendous success with Hades (and is perhaps looking to repeat that trick with the sequel). But a game can remain in early access for years. Under the previous policy, players could put many hours into an early access game and still claim a refund on Steam. As for advanced access, that relates to playing a full version of a game before its proper debut. It's pretty common for publishers to sell a deluxe edition of a game that lets players dive in a few days early. However, Steam made it possible for someone to beat a game in advanced access and get their money back before the standard version was available to everyone. Now, the two-hour time limit applies to games in early access and advanced access. There's also a new advanced access label to make it clear when a game offers that. There is one other key issue with the otherwise generous two-hour refund policy that Steam hasn't fully addressed, however. It's not uncommon for players to roll credits on very short games, typically indie titles. That leaves the game's developer and publisher out of pocket.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/steam-closes-an-early-access-loophole-in-its-refund-policy-150003143.html?src=rss
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