LinkedIn Audio Events Launch, French Fines Hit Big Tech, and Startup Funding Surges
Tech giants face new regulatory pressures as France fines Google and Facebook over cookie consent dark patterns, while LinkedIn rolls out interactive audio events. Meanwhile, the startup world sees massive funding rounds across biotech, supply chain software, and global B2B commerce.
LinkedIn rolls out interactive, Clubhouse-style audio events in beta this month, with a video version scheduled to arrive in the spring. This move brings live social audio directly into the professional networking platform as companies continue to experiment with new engagement formats. Meanwhile, Spotify introduces a new ad format for podcasts that embeds clickable cards directly inside shows to drive better advertiser engagement.
French regulators issue hefty fines against major tech companies, slapping Google with a $170 million penalty and Facebook with $68 million over deceptive cookie consent practices. These fines target dark patterns that make it difficult for users to reject tracking cookies. On the entertainment front, the illegal movie streaming service Popcorn Time completely shuts down, marking a significant win for anti-piracy efforts.
The startup ecosystem experiences a massive influx of capital as Eikon Therapeutics rakes in an impressive $518 million for biotech innovations. Canada’s Assent Compliance lands $350 million from Vista Equity Partners to expand its supply chain data management platform. Other notable raises include a $25 million round for Indian B2B payments platform Rupifi and a $240 million investment into Dunzo backed by Reliance Retail.