LinkedIn settles antitrust lawsuit, agrees to contracting changes
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Business social network LinkedIn has agreed to make temporary changes to its contracting practices to settle a lawsuit by U.S. users who claimed it schemed to prevent potential rivals from entering the market.The preliminary class action settlement, which does not include a financial payment, was filed on Friday in the federal court in San Francisco and requires a judge's approval.LinkedIn was accused in the 2022 lawsuit of illegally fashioning some business contracts to bar third-parties from competing with the company, allowing it to overcharge for premium services and upgraded account features.The plaintiffs said LinkedIn, now owned by Microsoft , was "effectively paying potential competitors not to enter the market."LinkedIn did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Microsoft was not a defendant. LinkedIn denied any wrongdoing.The plaintiffs' lawyers declined to comment.Under the terms of the deal, LinkedIn said for three years it will not enforce provisions in current or future contracts for "application programming interfaces" that would restrict a third-party potential rival from competing.The contracts at issue in the lawsuit allowed LinkedIn business partners to access private user data "in exchange for restraints against competing with LinkedIn," according to the settlement filing.The plaintiffs said the pause would allow potential rivals to compete more effectively, facilitate reduced prices and increase consumer choice.There are about 9 million people in the settlement class, which includes LinkedIn members who purchased LinkedIn Premium services between January 13, 2018, and the present, according to the settlement.Members of the class can opt out of the settlement to sue individually for alleged damages, the settlement said.The plaintiffs said they planned to present expert testimony at the time of final approval to show the overall value of the settlement, since there is no money being paid to LinkedIn users.The plaintiffs' lawyers said they would seek up to $4 million in legal fees.The case is Todd Crowder et al v. LinkedIn Corp, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 4:22-cv-00237-HSG.For plaintiffs: Yavar Bathaee and Brian Dunne of Bathaee Dunne; Christopher Burke of Burke LLP; and Carol O'Keefe of Korein TilleryFor defendant: Russell Cohen and Julia Chapman of Dechert
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Business Standard
41 minutes ago
- Business Standard
San Francisco rolls out Microsoft's AI tools to 30,000 govt workers
The city of San Francisco, on the west coast of the United States, has announced the rollout of AI-powered tools to nearly 30,000 public sector employees. This marks one of the largest and most ambitious government-level adoptions of artificial intelligence (AI) in the world. San Francisco's Mayor, Daniel Lurie, confirmed on Monday (local time) that employees across all city departments, including healthcare workers, social service staff, and administrative personnel, will now have access to Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, an AI assistant powered by OpenAI's GPT-4o model. This tool will help reduce time spent on routine administrative tasks like data analysis, drafting reports, and translating content into over 40 languages. With this move, San Francisco aims to boost efficiency and allow workers to spend more time directly serving residents. 'San Francisco is the global home of AI, and now we're putting that innovation to work,' said Mayor Lurie. 'We're showing the world how governments can use technology to deliver better results.' What is Microsoft Copilot Chat? Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is a smart assistant built into popular workplace tools such as Word, Excel, and Outlook. With the help of AI, it can draft emails, summarise long documents, and even help translate languages. These are all repetitive tasks that often consume hours of government workers' time. AI tools helped workers save up to five hours a week, the city found during its six-month pilot programme with 2,000 employees. It was especially effective in 311 public service lines (similar to helplines in India), improving response times for complaints related to waste management, homelessness, and multilingual service needs. The city is now launching a five-week training programme for employees. This includes live workshops, public sector-specific courses, and support from InnovateUS, a nonprofit that focuses on preparing government staff for digital transformation. Security and ethics top priorities in AI adoption The platform will run on Microsoft's secure government cloud, with strict data protection measures. Updated AI guidelines, released on July 8, ensure that all AI use remains transparent and responsible. Every department must disclose how it is using AI, and staff remain accountable for any AI-generated content they share. 'AI is here, and San Francisco is meeting the moment,' said Michael Makstman, the city's Chief Information Officer. 'We're not just talking about innovation—we're doing it responsibly and at scale.' How is the govt adapting artificial intelligence? San Francisco is also applying AI in other areas like: - Improving traffic safety through predictive analytics - Connecting homeless individuals with services faster - Simplifying permit approvals, similar to India's building and trade license processes The city plans to build on feedback from employees to improve AI tools over time. It hopes to set an example for governments leveraging AI. 'As our city and the world embrace AI technology, San Francisco is setting the standard for how local government can responsibly do the same,' Mayor Lurie said. OpenAI offer custom AI This development also comes at a time when OpenAI, the creator of GPT-4o, has begun offering highly customised AI services starting at $10 million, with early clients including the US Department of Defence and Southeast Asia's super app Grab. As part of this strategy, OpenAI is embedding forward-deployed engineers (within organisations to tailor GPT-4o to specific needs, ranging from workflow automation to advanced chatbots. This shift places OpenAI in direct competition with established consulting giants like Palantir and Accenture.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Now, Indians eye US entry through paid authorships; fake papers used to fast-track EB1A visas
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Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Tier-2 and tier-3 non-metro cities attracting more jobs, talent in India: Report
Job market momentum and economic opportunity are growing in non-metro cities in India, according to a new report on Tuesday. The Cities on the Rise report, by professional network platform LinkedIn, identifies Visakhapatnam, Ranchi, Vijayawada, Nashik, and Raipur as the fastest-growing non-metro hubs where professional opportunities are accelerating. The report also highlights emerging tier-2 and tier-3 growth pockets – Rajkot, Agra, Madurai, Vadodara, and Jodhpur -- for professionals looking to relocate, tap into new industries, or grow their careers locally. It attributed the success of these emerging cities to central and state government's push for local development. 'Tier-2 and tier-3 cities are at the heart of India's economic transformation. The influx of GCC investments, the local MSME boom, and the government's vision of a Viksit Bharat are collectively turning smaller cities into serious career hubs,' said Nirajita Banerjee, LinkedIn Career Expert and India Senior Managing Editor. 'This means, for many Indians, meaningful career progress no longer demands moving to a big city. Because these 10 rising cities offer real opportunities across industries, functions, and roles -- right where they are,' Banerjee added. Further, the report emphasised the role of technology, pharmaceuticals, and finance companies in moving into tier-2 and tier-3 Indian cities and attracting talent. It noted that amidst the boom in data and AI, tech companies are setting up shop across tier-2 and tier-3 cities, fueling local talent activity. Even healthcare and pharma companies are creating opportunities in Vishakhapatnam and Vadodara; while several major banks are accelerating the growth of financial services in Raipur, Agra, and Jodhpur. Business development roles were identified as the top hiring drivers in six out of 10 Cities on the rise, including Nashik, Raipur, Rajkot, Agra, Vadodara, and Jodhpur. For professionals in Vishakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Madurai, most job opportunities are emerging in the engineering function. Sales, operations, and education are other key functions where professionals in tier-2 and tier-3 cities can look for jobs.
