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Indian Express
19 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Amazon's crackdown on counterfeits nets $180M in penalties, dozens of criminal convictions
Amazon has said that its Counterfeit Crimes Unit (CCU) has helped secure more than $180 million in court-ordered penalties and resulted in 65 criminal convictions globally, as part of the company's ongoing mission to protect customers and brands from counterfeit products. More than 99 per cent of suspected infringing listings were blocked before reaching the Amazon platform, the e-commerce major said in a press release on Thursday, June 26. Amazon said that it used AI-driven detection systems keyword and logo analysis, and tools like brand registry and transparency in order to identify the listings of counterfeit products on its platform. This, in turn, led to over 200 civil legal actions, as per the company. The AI boom has also led to a rise in cyber crimes with bad actors like counterfeiters leveraging the technology to evolve their tactics. Amazon's 2024 Brand Protection Report also emphasises that the threat of counterfeits remains an evolving challenge. The company plans to continue investing in advanced detection technologies and enforcement strategies, with the goal of driving counterfeits to zero. 'We're constantly enhancing our tools and technology to stay ahead,' it said. The CCU was set up by Amazon five years ago and has since expanded to over 12 countries, including India, China, the US, the UK, and France. The CCU team comprises former prosecutors, law enforcement professionals, and data analysts. It has also partnered with over 50 government agencies, including EUROPOL, the FBI, and US Homeland Security investigations. In one case, CCU investigations led to the arrest and sentencing of a counterfeiter to six and a half years in prison. In another cross-border operation, Amazon and brand partners uncovered a counterfeit ride-sharing accessories scheme originating in the US and connected to suppliers in China, culminating in multiple raids and a $1.1 million judgment against the main culprit, as per the company. Also Read | Amazon CEO to employees: AI will shrink the company's workforce 'To achieve these results, we collaborate with others in the industry. We work with brands of all sizes to pursue counterfeiters. Our combined efforts give law enforcement the evidence to stop criminals in their tracks,' Amazon said. Recently, the company teamed up with global jewellery brand Pandora for a nearly three-year investigation in China that resulted in convictions, substantial fines, and a prison sentence of over three years for the primary offender. The case involved counterfeit goods, where bad actors had been targeting customers across nine European countries. (This article has been curated by Arfan Jeelany, who is an intern with The Indian Express)
Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Indian Express
Spotify study shows morning-hour music streaming a popular trend among Gen Z, millennials
Music has become a central part of daily life for India's Gen Z and millennials, with weekday mornings between 8-10 a.m. and weekend mornings between 10 am-12 pm emerging as the most active times for streaming, according to a new study by Spotify. The research, conducted on 2,000 respondents across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Lucknow – provides insights into how young adults consume music throughout the day. The study examined 19 different music listening moments and identified six of those that were the most popular: unwinding, commuting, working out, jogging or walking, casual hangouts, and socialising. These moments, Spotify found, fulfilled 'distinct emotional needs', where music served to elevate mood, reduce stress, enhance focus or energise social interactions. According to the study, millennials led music consumption in most moments, especially with outdoor or socially connected ones like commuting or jogging. Gen Z, in contrast, were the main consumers of music during home workouts, suggesting more emphasis on self-care and wellness trends. Gender-based patterns were also prominent: men were found to prefer more 'solitary, goal-driven' moments such as working out or commuting, while women preferred shared experiences like group workouts and casual hangouts at home. The study also found that there was a growing demand for personalised, moment-specific playlists. Whether upbeat Bollywood tracks during a commute or mellow instrumentals or lo-fi beats to decompress after work, listeners preferred music that reflected their emotional and situational state. This highlights a shift away from generic playlists towards hyper-personalised, mood-based soundtracks. Cultural identity also plays a key role. Genres such as Bollywood, I-Pop, and Punjabi rap were found to act as 'emotional anchors' that helped listeners feel grounded in their cultural experiences and identities, indicating a wider shift amongst young Indian listeners away from popular international tracks. On Spotify, users reflect these trends through curated 'mood and moment' mixes like Energy Workout Mix during exercise, Chill Mix during periods of relaxation, and Bollywood Mix in moments of socializing. Features on the Spotify app like ' Jams', a feature that allows multiple people to listen to a playlist together, supported shared listening experiences during casual hangouts and social settings. (This article has been curated by Arfan Jeelany, who is an intern with The Indian Express)
