Google to Open Access to New Transparency Tool; Tech Titans Pull Back from Hong Kong

by Hannah Dillon on 13th Jun 2023 in News

In today's ExchangeWire news digest: Google prepares to open access to its new transparency tool; tech giants withdraw from Hong Kong and mainland China; and the EU advances its clampdown on crypto.

Google to open access for transparency tool

Google is set to open access to a new ad tech tool to help publishers and buyers track ad fees. The tool, titled Confirming Gross Revenue, allows publishers to see the gross revenue from a particular buyer, information which can be used to expose any hidden fees. Intended to enable more transparent transactions, Google has confirmed it is working with industry trade body the IAB to standardise the new tool.

Tech giants pull back from Hong Kong

American tech giants are slowly shutting out Hong Kong internet users as regional authorities attempt to stymy online dissent. Google, Microsoft, and ChatGPT-creator OpenAI have limited access to their AI chatbots within the nation in recent months as part of a wider withdrawal from Hong Kong and mainland China. Just last week, Financial Times reported that Microsoft is moving some of its best AI researchers from mainland China to Canada, a move which could stunt the country’s domestic tech sector.

EU ramps up crypto clampdown

The Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) legislation has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). The regulation was introduced in 2020 and aims to establish a consistent regulatory framework for how crypto assets are handled amongst European Union member states. The legislation’s inclusion on the OJEU triggers the countdown for the law being enforced from December 2024.