Latest news with #KevinCarter
CNBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
India's quick commerce sector is 'one of the greatest stories on the planet': EMQQ's Carter
Kevin Carter – founder and CIO of San Francisco-based EMQQ Global, the company behind the Emerging Markets Internet Index (EMQQ) and the India Internet Index (INQQ) – discusses India's quick commerce and internet sector.
CNET
6 days ago
- Business
- CNET
AT&T's $177 Million Privacy Settlement: How You Can Claim Your Share
Two recent AT&T data breaches impacted the privacy of nearly 200 million people. Kevin Carter/Getty Image AT&T has been involved in two of the biggest data breaches in recent history, and it's almost time for its customers to get some compensation. On June 20, US District Judge Ada E. Brown preliminarily approved a $177 million settlement of a class-action privacy lawsuit against AT&T. The suit arose from two massive data breaches revealed in 2024. The settlement administration began accepting claims from affected customers on Aug. 4. The proposed legal settlement for the two AT&T breaches divides claimants into two distinct classes, although people affected by both breaches can file a claim for both. If you were affected and want to file a claim for compensation, you'll need to act by Nov. 18, 2025, or get left out. Read on to learn more about the gigantic AT&T legal settlement -- including how to file a claim and how much money you might receive -- and the data breaches that led to it. What were these data breaches that prompted the lawsuits against AT&T? The two data breaches related to AT&T's current $177 million settlement occurred in 2019 and 2024, although the company didn't acknowledge the 2019 breach until March 2024, weeks after it detected customer data spreading on the dark web. The 2019 breach involved personal data including Social Security numbers, birth dates and legal names, and it affected 7.6 million current AT&T customers and 65.4 million former account holders. Soon after the disclosure, AT&T took the dramatic step of resetting passwords for all current customers who were included in the breach. The second data breach covered by the legal settlement happened soon after the disclosure of the first. In April 2024, hackers accessed phone records from 2022 for nearly all of AT&T's US customers (about 109 million) from Snowflake, the company's cloud-based data warehouse. AT&T disclosed the breach in July 2024. Associates of the hacker group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for similar Snowflake attacks on about 165 companies in mid-2024. Two people were eventually arrested for the AT&T hack. A rash of lawsuits for both data breaches were filed after both of AT&T's disclosures and were consolidated soon after. All parties in both of the breach lawsuits agreed to a settlement in March 2025. The class affected by "AT&T 1 Data Incident" (the 2019 breach) will receive a $149 million payout in the proposed settlement, while the class included in "AT&T 2 Data Incident" (the 2024 Snowflake breach) will receive $28 million. How can people file a claim for part of the AT&T settlement? Kroll Settlement Administration, the organization managing AT&T's legal settlement, has created a website at where eligible class members can file claims for compensation. To file a claim for part of the settlement, you'll need to have a "Class Member ID," which should have come in a notification from Kroll, most likely by email. If you cannot find the email, be sure to check your spam folder or other email filters. You'll need to retrieve your Class Member ID from the notification you received, or else call the administrators to get an ID. Kroll Settlement Administration/Screenshot by CNET If you believe you should be included in either part of the AT&T settlement and did not receive a notification, or if you're not sure if you're included, you can call the settlement administrator at 833-890-4930, or write to it at AT&T Data Incident Settlement; c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC; P.O. Box 5324; New York, NY 10150-5324. Once you have a Claim Member ID from Kroll, you can complete the filing forms, including any documented information about losses you experienced due to either breach or both. Traffic to the website for the AT&T settlement has been metered. I recently checked the claim submission form and received a Cloudflare warning: "We are experiencing a high volume of traffic and using a virtual queue to limit the amount of users on the website at the same time." I had to wait 2 minutes to get in. If you don't want to submit a claim online, you can also print and mail the settlement forms (all PDFs): claim for the 2019 breach; claim for the 2024 Snowflake breach; claim for people affected by both breaches. Mailed forms should be sent to the Kroll address above and postmarked by the same Nov. 18, 2025, deadline. Maximum payouts for the AT&T privacy settlement How much could victims receive if they were included in one or both of the specific AT&T data breaches? Many payouts will be ultimately based on the number of people who file claims, but we have some estimates from the terms of the settlement. People affected by the 2019 data breach who can prove a "documented loss" can receive up to $5,000. If someone cannot prove that loss, they'll receive one of two tiered cash payments, based on whether or not their Social Security number was included in the breach. For the Snowflake breach of 2024, AT&T customers who were affected and can prove that same demonstrated loss with documentation can receive up to $2,500. Those who were affected but have no proof of loss will receive a "pro rata" share of the remaining money, meaning it will be divided up evenly among them. Those affected by both the 2019 and 2024 data breaches can file claims for both classes. While it's not entirely clear yet if someone with two demonstrated losses could receive the full amount of $7,500, there's nothing in the language of the settlement site that says they couldn't.
Black America Web
27-05-2025
- Business
- Black America Web
Last Chance to Book A Southwest Flight Before New Bag Fees Take Effect
Source: Kevin Carter / Getty Today marks the final day for travelers to book a Southwest Airlines flight without incurring baggage fees, as the carrier ends its long-standing free checked bag policy. The change, which takes effect with flights booked starting Wednesday, marks a major shift for the airline known for allowing passengers to check two bags at no charge. Beginning Wednesday, Southwest will charge $35 for a first checked bag and $45 for a second. Standard weight and size restrictions will apply. For years, Southwest built its brand around the promise of free checked luggage, a feature that set it apart from other budget carriers. But going forward, only a select group of customers will continue to enjoy free bag allowances. Passengers eligible for free checked bags under the new policy include: Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred members and Business Select fare travelers (still get two free checked bags), A-List members and some select customers (one free checked bag), Holders of Southwest's co-branded credit cards will receive a credit for one checked bag. Everyone else will be required to pay. The airline also plans to launch a new 'basic' fare class for its lowest-priced tickets when the baggage fee policy takes effect. Southwest estimated last year that the new baggage fees could generate around $1.5 billion annually. However, executives warned it could also result in $1.8 billion in lost revenue from customers who previously chose Southwest specifically for its free bag policy. The policy overhaul comes alongside other changes at the Dallas-based airline. Starting Wednesday, passengers must keep portable chargers visible when in use, due to increasing safety concerns over lithium-ion battery fires. Additionally, Southwest is preparing to phase out its open seating system, a practice it's used for over 50 years. Starting next year, passengers can expect assigned seating on some flights. Other changes on the horizon include: Charging extra for additional legroom, Introducing overnight red-eye flights. These shifts come as Southwest faces growing pressure from activist investors to boost profits. In October, the airline reached a truce with hedge fund Elliott Investment Management, which had been pushing for major reforms. As part of the agreement, Elliott gained several seats on Southwest's board. Earlier this year, Southwest also announced it would be cutting 1,750 corporate jobs, about 15% of its office workforce—the first large-scale layoffs in the airline's 53-year history. Despite the ongoing turbulence, Southwest shares rose 3% in early trading Tuesday, tracking gains across the airline sector. SEE ALSO Last Chance to Book A Southwest Flight Before New Bag Fees Take Effect was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Black America Web
22-05-2025
- Black America Web
Southwest Airlines To Require Portable Chargers To Be Visible During Use Due to Fire Risk
Source: Kevin Carter / Getty Passengers on Southwest Airlines flights will soon be required to keep their portable chargers clearly visible while using them. This new policy comes amid growing concerns about the rising number of lithium-ion battery fires and may be adopted by other airlines. Southwest announced that the new rule will take effect on May 28. The airline noted that some passengers may have already seen notifications about the policy through the airline's app. Although Southwest is the first major U.S. airline to introduce such a restriction, several airlines in Asia implemented similar measures earlier this year after a serious fire broke out on an Air Busan plane in South Korea in January. Concerns over lithium-ion battery fires on aircraft are increasing as the number of incidents rises each year and these batteries are commonly used in many personal devices. So far in 2024, there have been 19 reported incidents involving lithium batteries. This follows a record high of 89 incidents in 2023, according to statistics from the Federal Aviation Administration. The number of battery-related incidents has more than doubled since 2020, which saw only 39 incidents. The total has climbed steadily every year since then. Some studies suggest that portable chargers may be the second most common cause of battery fires on planes, just behind electronic cigarettes. While the number of incidents is still small compared to the approximately 180,000 flights operated by U.S. airlines each week, the issue is becoming more serious in the aviation industry. 'It is definitely a serious risk,' said David Wroth, a risk expert at UL Standards & Engagement who collaborates with 37 airlines and battery manufacturers to help reduce battery hazards. He noted that some airlines are currently reassessing the dangers linked to rechargeable batteries, which may lead to further policy changes. During the January fire on the Korean airline, all 176 people on board had to evacuate because the fire burned through the plane's roof. Although the exact cause of the fire has not been confirmed, Korean authorities and several airlines responded by tightening regulations on portable chargers. Airlines in Korea no longer allow chargers to be placed in overhead compartments. Instead, they must be stored in plastic bags or have their ports covered with insulating tape to prevent contact with metal surfaces. Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways have gone further by banning the use or charging of portable power banks entirely during flights. In another incident last summer, a smoking laptop inside a passenger's bag caused the evacuation of a plane preparing for takeoff at San Francisco International Airport. In a separate 2023 case, a flight from Dallas to Orlando had to make an emergency landing in Jacksonville, Florida, when a battery ignited inside an overhead compartment. Southwest explained that keeping chargers visible during use will help because 'in the rare event a lithium battery overheats or catches fire, quick access is critical and keeping power banks in plain sight allows for faster intervention and helps protect everyone onboard.' Experts have long recommended keeping rechargeable devices within reach during flights to monitor for warning signs such as overheating, bulging, or smoking. However, airlines depend on passengers to be aware of the risks and act responsibly. 'Ultimately, it comes down to a lot of personal responsibility that we as passengers have to take,' Wroth said. Southwest will still allow chargers to be stored inside carry on bags when not in use. A spokeswoman for the airline said Southwest is simply informing customers about the rule before they travel and requesting their cooperation. Wroth agreed that this approach is sensible. 'We already have enough issues with unruly passengers. Confronting someone over what they brought on board is not likely to end well either,' he said. The Transportation Security Administration has long banned e cigarettes and lithium battery power banks from checked luggage but does permit them in carry on bags. This rule exists because fires in the cargo hold are harder to detect and extinguish. The FAA advises passengers to keep devices like phones nearby during flights so they can access them quickly if needed. Flight crews are trained to handle lithium battery fires. If a battery or device begins to overheat, swell, smoke, or catch fire, passengers should alert the crew immediately. Recent research from UL Standards & Engagement indicates that portable chargers were responsible for 19 percent of battery incidents so far this year. This was only slightly more than incidents caused by cell phones. E cigarettes accounted for 28 percent of all issues. Last year, nearly one third of airline passengers carried portable chargers on board. More than one quarter admitted in surveys to putting e cigarettes and chargers in checked baggage, which violates federal regulations. Wroth believes many passengers may not be aware of the risks rather than deliberately breaking rules. UL Standards & Engagement, part of a safety science organization formerly known as Underwriters Laboratories, based its findings on data from 37 passenger and cargo airlines, including nine of the ten largest U.S. carriers. The group is preparing to release its full 2024 report soon. SEE ALSO Southwest Airlines To Require Portable Chargers To Be Visible During Use Due to Fire Risk was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla Stock Falls as Bad News About Europe Sales Continues to Roll In
Kevin Carter / Getty Images Key Takeaways Tesla shares declined for a second straight session on Tuesday as the electric vehicle maker continues to get bad news about sales in Europe. Tesla registrations in Germany and the United Kingdom fell 46% and 62%, respectively, in April compared to a year earlier. The data follows figures from Spain on Monday that also showed declining demand for Tesla vehicles. Tesla (TSLA) shares slid Tuesday, extending Monday's decline as bad news continues to pile up about the electric vehicle giant's sales in Europe. Tesla vehicle registrations, often used as a proxy for sales, declined 46% in Germany and 62% in the United Kingdom in April compared to a year earlier, according to data released Tuesday by industry groups in the respective countries. The data comes a day after similarly disappointing figures out of Spain, which showed that Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y declined in April. Registrations in the month were down 55% to 81% in other European countries like Belgium and Sweden, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. The declines come even as Tesla has ramped up production of its revamped Model Y, which was released earlier this year and some analysts hoped would lead to a sales boost. The company said when it reported first-quarter production and deliveries last month that its changeover to manufacturing the new Model Y cost it several weeks of production. Tesla has been the target of protests in recent months as people in the U.S. and abroad have looked to voice their displeasure about CEO Elon Musk's involvement in the Trump administration. Musk said during last month's earnings call that he plans to scale back his government work to one or two days per week this month, and focus more on Tesla. Tesla shares were down 2% in recent trading, and have lost more than 30% of their value so far this year. Read the original article on Investopedia
