Day: 28 July 2023

ICO reviewing key businesses’ use of generative AI

Stuart Mitchell

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has called for businesses to address the privacy risks generative AI can bring before rushing to adopt the technology – with tougher checks on whether organisations are compliant with data protection laws. New research indicates that generative AI could become a £1 trillion market within a decade, with potential to bring huge benefits to business and society. Speaking at Politico’s Global Tech Day , Stephen Almond, Exec Director of Regulatory Risk, called for businesses to see those opportunities – but to see too the risks…

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New programme for Fairtrade cocoa cooperatives supports child labour prevention and remediation efforts

Stuart Mitchell

A new programme is launching recently to support Fairtrade certified Ivorian and Ghanaian cocoa cooperatives to strengthen prevention and remediation of child labour and forced labour, according to a joint announcement by Fairtrade International and Fairtrade Africa. With the incidence of child labour having increased in the past decade – involving more than 1.5 million children aged five to 17 working on cocoa farms in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, according to a 2020 report – a change in approach is urgently needed. The new initiative, known as the Fairtrade Child…

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UN chief calls for new era of social media integrity in bid to stem misinformation

Stuart Mitchell

Countries must address the “grave global harm” caused by the proliferation of hate and lies online, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said recently, launching a key report designed to shore up information integrity on digital platforms.  Alarm over the potential threat posed by the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) must not obscure the damage already being done by digital technologies that enable the spread of online hate speech, as well as mis- and disinformation, he said.   The policy brief argues that they should be integral players in upholding the…

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Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative surpasses $200 million in investments, doubling initial 2020 commitment

Stuart Mitchell

Apple has announced its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI), a long-term global effort to advance equity and expand opportunities for Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Indigenous communities, has more than doubled its initial financial commitment to total more than $200 million over the last three years. Since launching REJI in June 2020, Apple has supported education, economic empowerment, and criminal justice reform work across the U.S., with recent expansion to Australia, the U.K., and Mexico. Apple launched REJI at a pivotal moment in the U.S., as protests against racial injustice swept…

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AB InBev, McDonald’s, WPP, Ogilvy, Leo Burnett Middle East and Slap Global top the 2022 Global Effie Index

Stuart Mitchell

Effie Worldwide has announced the 2022 Effie Index (effieindex.com), the annual ranking of the companies behind the world’s most effective marketing – with AB InBev, McDonald’s, WPP, Ogilvy, Leo Burnett Middle East, and Slap Global named Most Effective Marketer, Brand, Agency Holding Group, Agency Network, Agency Office, and Independent Agency, respectively. AB InBev and McDonald’s topped their rankings for the second year running. The 2022 Effie Index rankings reflect the performance of more than 4300 finalists and winning entries from eligible global, regional and national Effie Awards competitions held around the…

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