In a major setback for Google’s advertising business, a U.S. federal judge has ruled that the tech giant illegally monopolised parts of the online advertising technology market, stifling competition and harming publishers and consumers. The decision came in a case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice and several states, and it marks a significant development in the government’s wider effort to rein in...

Google has reported a significant surge in its enforcement against misleading and fraudulent advertising, with a notable focus on political ads during India's 2024 Lok Sabha elections. According to its 2024 Ads Safety Report, the tech giant suspended 2.9 million ad accounts originating from India, part of a broader crackdown that saw 5.1 billion ads blocked globally and 39.2 million advertiser accounts taken down,...

India’s Competition Commission (CCI) launched a sweeping antitrust raid on major media buying agencies this week, acting on evidence submitted under its leniency programme, with Japan’s Dentsu reportedly among the first to cooperate, sources told Reuters. Price-Fixing Allegations Rock Media Sector The two-day operation targeted the Indian offices of GroupM (WPP-owned), Interpublic, Publicis, and Dentsu, as well as the Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF)—a powerful...

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has instructed major social media platforms—including Meta, Instagram, Google, and X—to remove content or applications that assist users in committing offences under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. The directive, issued in response to concerns over caller ID manipulation (CLI spoofing), highlights the government’s push to curb digital misconduct related to telecom identification tampering. The move follows reports that some social media...

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a new mandate requiring political parties to prominently label content created or modified using artificial intelligence (AI) or synthetic digital technologies. The move aims to enhance transparency and ethical conduct in the increasingly digital landscape of political campaigns. Clear Labelling for AI and Synthetic Content In its advisory, the ECI stressed the importance of transparency, particularly in campaigns...

In a groundbreaking collaboration, Culture Genesis, the largest digital video network for underrepresented creators and publishers, has announced a strategic partnership with VTAGZ By Mammoth. VTAGZ, a direct-to-retail SaaS platform, enables brands to leverage first-party data and boost in-store purchases via SMS-based cashback campaigns. Under this partnership, Culture Genesis will assume executive management of VTAGZ's operations, signaling a significant shift in retail marketing strategies. This...

New Delhi, Jan 6: Generative AI is set to revolutionize customer interactions in 2025, shifting the focus from brand-led communication to customer-driven experiences, according to a recent report by CleverTap, a leading customer engagement platform. The report predicts that businesses will increasingly rely on AI-driven, retention-based, conversational engagements, reducing communication touchpoints while enhancing their quality and impact. Key Trends in Marketing and Customer Engagement for...

The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in business-to-business (B2B) marketing is rapidly transforming the landscape in India. A recent LinkedIn report highlights how Indian B2B marketing leaders are leveraging AI to enhance their marketing strategies, resulting in significant improvements in efficiency and productivity. With a remarkable increase in AI literacy among marketers and Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) leading the charge, the integration of generative...

India's influencer marketing industry is poised for explosive growth, projected to nearly double from ₹19 billion in 2023 to ₹34 billion by 2026. This forecast, according to a recent FICCI EY report, is driven by widespread digitization, increased internet access, and significant social media penetration across the country. Understanding Influencer Marketing Influencer marketing is a dynamic form of social media marketing that involves endorsements and product...

In the high-stakes environment of corporate leadership, C-suite executives need to harness advanced metrics to steer their organizations' marketing strategies towards measurable success. These key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics are essential tools for evaluating the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and ensuring the efficient allocation of resources for an optimal marketing ROI. Here’s a deeper dive into the sophisticated metrics that can aid top...