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Spotify's COVID-19 content advisory continues roll out two months after Joe Rogan uproar – Yahoo Movies Canada

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You probably remember a few months ago when you couldn’t turn on the news, check Twitter or talk to your conservative uncle without broaching the issue of Joe Rogan, who is signed to an exclusive deal with Spotify worth more than $200 million. In January, 270 physicians and scientists published an open letter to Spotify demanding that it institute misinformation policies in light of Rogan’s podcast, which tops Spotify’s charts and has repeatedly served as a platform for false narratives about the virus. Then, musical icons like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell pulled their libraries from the platform in protest, prompting Spotify to belatedly publish its platform rules. Now, Spotify finally rolled out a content advisory warning on podcasts that discuss COVID-19, two months after it committed to launching the feature.

The advisory is a blue bar that appears atop episodes of podcasts that discuss COVID-19, prompting listeners to click to learn more. This directs users to its COVID-19 information hub, which it added in March 2020. TechCrunch asked Spotify how its app determines which podcast episodes address COVID-19 — it appears that the advisory shows up if words like “COVID-19,” “coronavirus” or “pandemic” appear in the metadata of an episode, including its title. Spotify said that it started rolling out the feature in February, but for some users, the feature has taken longer to appear in app. By now, Spotify has labeled over 1.4 million podcasts with this warning.

Social platforms like Twitter acted faster in their attempts to combat the spread of COVID-19 misinformation. Just days after lockdowns in the U.S. began, Twitter banned any tweets that could help the virus spread. Two months later, it released a coronavirus advisory warning on tweets that may contain false information. Competing streaming services like Apple Podcasts don’t have these advisory warnings, though Apple Podcasts also doesn’t fund a podcaster who talks to right-wing conspiracy theorists for fun.

Despite its PR nightmare, as calls to boycott Spotify trended across social media, the backlash did little to boost Spotify’s rivals. Spotify remains dominant, though other platforms have begun to slowly chip away at its lead.

Update, 3/28/22, 9:20 PM ET with clarification from Spotify about the timeline of the feature rollout.

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Business

Payments tech company Lightspeed Commerce conducting strategic review of business

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MONTREAL – Lightspeed Commerce Inc. says it is conducting a review of its business and operations including talks relating to a range of potential strategic alternatives.

The Montreal-based payments technology company made the comments after reports concerning a potential transaction involving the company.

Lightspeed says it periodically undertakes a review of its business and operations with a view of realizing its full potential.

A strategic review is often seen by investors as a prelude to a sale by a company.

Lightspeed says its board of directors is committed to acting in the best interests of the company and its stakeholders.

Company founder Dax Dasilva returned to the role of chief executive officer earlier this year and has been working to return the company to profitability.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 26, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:LSPD)

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Economy

Bank of Canada trying to figure out how AI might affect inflation, Macklem says

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OTTAWA – Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says there is a lot of uncertainty around how artificial intelligence could affect the economy moving forward, including the labour market and price growth.

In a speech in Toronto at the Economics of Artificial Intelligence Conference, the governor said Friday that the central bank is approaching the issue cautiously to get a better understanding of how AI could affect its job of keeping inflation low and stable.

“Be wary of anyone who claims to know where AI will take us. There is too much uncertainty to be confident,” Macklem said in prepared remarks.

“We don’t know how quickly AI will continue to advance. And we don’t know the timing and extent of its economic and social impacts.”

The governor said AI has the potential of increasing labour productivity, which would raise living standards and grow the economy without boosting inflation.

In the short-term, he said investment in AI is adding to demand and could be inflationary.

However, Macklem also highlighted more pessimistic scenarios, where AI could destroy more jobs than it creates or lead to less competition rather than more.

The governor called on academics and businesses to work together to shed more light on the potential effects of AI on the economy.

“When you enter a dark room, you don’t go charging in. You cautiously feel your way around. And you try to find the light switch. That is what we are doing. What we central bankers need is more light,” he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 20, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Tech

United Airlines will offer free internet on flights using service from Elon Musk’s SpaceX

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CHICAGO (AP) — United Airlines has struck a deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to offer satellite-based Starlink WiFi service on flights within the next several years.

The airline said Friday the service will be free to passengers.

United said it will begin testing the service early next year and begin offering it on some flights by later in 2025.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

The announcement comes as airlines rush to offer more amenities as a way to stand out when passengers pick a carrier for a trip. United’s goal is to make sitting on a plane pretty much like being on the ground when it comes to browsing the internet, streaming entertainment and playing games.

“Everything you can do on the ground, you’ll soon be able to do on board a United plane at 35,000 feet, just about anywhere in the world,” CEO Scott Kirby said in announcing the deal.

The airline says Starlink will allow passengers to get internet access even over oceans and polar regions where traditional cell or Wi-Fi signals may be weak or missing.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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