The Briefing by Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

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The Briefing

By Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

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Recent Editions

A rendering of the Propel Center, a tech-focused learning hub Apple is funding in Atlanta. Image provided by Apple.

Apple’s Unsavory Lobbying; Musk’s Autopilot Dream Is Still Far Off

By Nick Wingfield · Aug 20, 2021 5:41pm PDT

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone when companies pull out the stops to lobby against legislation they view as harmful to their interests. And yet, a new examination of Apple’s lobbying tactics contained a detail about Apple’s tactics in a recent battle with Georgia state lawmakers that was jaw-dropping, especially for a company that often... It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone when companies pull out the stops to lobby against...

The Federal Trade Commission building in Washington, D.C. Photo by Bloomberg

The FTC’s Clumsy Second Salvo Against Facebook

By Amir Efrati · Aug 19, 2021 5:51pm PDT

Two months ago, the Federal Trade Commission was chastened by a federal judge who summarily dismissed the agency’s antitrust lawsuit against Facebook in which it sought to force the company to spin off Instagram and WhatsApp. Now the agency seems to be asking for another lashing from the jurist—and a similar result.On Thursday the agency filed a... Two months ago, the Federal Trade Commission was chastened by a federal judge who summarily...

A Whole Foods Market in Houston. Photo provided by Whole Foods

Where Amazon’s Physical Growth Isn’t So Explosive

By Nick Wingfield · Aug 18, 2021 5:11pm PDT

Amazon has a voracious appetite for physical space for its warehouse and other facilities. Paris showed that vividly in her story today about how dramatically the company has increased its physical footprint over the past couple years (by six Disneylands-worth of space, doubling its U.S. real estate holdings over that time, she writes).But there... Amazon has a voracious appetite for physical space for its warehouse and other facilities. Paris...

People near Taliban signature white flags at a border crossing point in Pakistan on Aug. 17. Photo: AP

Facebook’s Taliban Maneuvers; Lina Khan Buzz on the Conference Circuit

By Sylvia Varnham O'Regan · Aug 17, 2021 5:30pm PDT

People near Taliban signature white flags at a border crossing point in Pakistan on Aug. 17. Photo: AP

Facebook’s Taliban Maneuvers; Lina Khan Buzz on the Conference Circuit

By Sylvia Varnham O'Regan · Aug 17, 2021 5:30pm PDT

As the Taliban moves to seize control of Afghanistan, Facebook’s actions in crisis are under scrutiny once more. A top executive at the social media company said Tuesday it was "proactively" taking down content related to the Taliban across Facebook's apps. (The group is banned under Facebook’s policy against terrorist organizations.) But... As the Taliban moves to seize control of Afghanistan, Facebook’s actions in crisis are under...

Photo: Bloomberg

Why TikTok Will Become a Political Football Again

By Amir Efrati · Aug 16, 2021 5:29pm PDT

One of the hottest topics in business last summer was then-President Donald Trump’s effort to ban TikTok, the Chinese-owned viral video app that had accumulated more than 100 million American users. But while TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, ultimately prevailed against Trump in federal court, some of the key arguments TikTok made to defend itself... One of the hottest topics in business last summer was then-President Donald Trump’s effort to ban...

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Photo by Bloomberg

Where Have All Amazon’s Investor Fans Gone?

By Martin Peers · Aug 13, 2021 5:00pm PDT

This week concluded the bulk of tech’s summer earnings season (although Zoom Video and Snowflake are among the stragglers still to report). We’ve learned a lot about how robust the digital ad market is (very), the state of play in ride-hailing (so-so) and food delivery (still strong). It’s notable that some of the newly public crop of tech... This week concluded the bulk of tech’s summer earnings season (although Zoom Video and Snowflake...

Disney's Burbank studio. Photo by Bloomberg

Disney’s Hulu Deserves More Respect

By Martin Peers · Aug 12, 2021 5:00pm PDT

Disney’s quarterly earnings tonight made clear that the company’s flagship streaming service Disney+ is getting most of its growth out of cut-priced Asian markets such as India. That’s a long term problem for the entertainment giant, which has to figure out a way to get Disney+ growing more strongly in richer, more lucrative markets, most... Disney’s quarterly earnings tonight made clear that the company’s flagship streaming service...

A DoorDash delivery person. Photo by Bloomberg

What Instacart’s Failed Deal Outreach Reveals

By Martin Peers · Aug 11, 2021 5:00pm PDT

A DoorDash delivery person. Photo by Bloomberg

What Instacart’s Failed Deal Outreach Reveals

By Martin Peers · Aug 11, 2021 5:00pm PDT

It’s becoming clear that Instacart over the past six months or so has been a company in an almost constant state of turmoil. Our story today that Instacart initiated talks both with DoorDash—looking for a merger—and Uber—looking for a sales partnership—is an extraordinary insight into the challenges Instacart faces.We already knew that Instacart... It’s becoming clear that Instacart over the past six months or so has been a company in an almost...

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son. Photo by Bloomberg

SoftBank’s Son Doubles Down on Personal Risk Exposure

By Martin Peers · Aug 10, 2021 5:00pm PDT

Investing in tech is, by definition, a risky endeavor, given the high failure rate of new enterprises. But SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, whose tolerance for risk has always been unusually high, is doubling down on his personal exposure. Son revealed on Tuesday that he plans to invest $2.6 billion personally in the company’s Vision Fund 2, which he... Investing in tech is, by definition, a risky endeavor, given the high failure rate of new...

Apple CEO Tim Cook. Photo by Bloomberg.

The Unsurprising Reality Behind the Apple Privacy Storm

By Martin Peers · Aug 9, 2021 5:00pm PDT

Nuance and complexity don’t translate well in today’s news media, so you can reliably bet that any time a complicated story is dominating the headlines, some key facts are astray. Witness the Apple child safety controversy of the past few days. Based on an Apple’s memo today, and a more thoughtful analysis published by Apple-watcher John Gruber,... Nuance and complexity don’t translate well in today’s news media, so you can reliably bet that...

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney. Photo by Bloomberg

Epic’s Disingenuous Google Claims

By Martin Peers · Aug 6, 2021 5:00pm PDT

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney knows how to play to the crowd. In a court filing unsealed Thursday night related to Epic’s lawsuit against Google—initiated around the same time that Epic went after Apple last year—Epic makes the sure-to-generate-headlines assertion that Google had “contemplated buying some or all of Epic to squelch” the threat posed... Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney knows how to play to the crowd. In a court filing unsealed Thursday...

South Park's creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker. Photo by AP

ViacomCBS’ South Park Decision Shows Industry’s Muddled Strategy

By Martin Peers · Aug 5, 2021 5:00pm PDT · 1 comment

South Park's creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker. Photo by AP

ViacomCBS’ South Park Decision Shows Industry’s Muddled Strategy

By Martin Peers · Aug 5, 2021 5:00pm PDT · 1 comment

Most big TV companies are now squarely in the streaming game. But no one can accuse them of abandoning their buddies in the traditional cable world. Take ViacomCBS, which proudly announced today it had renewed its deal with the makers of “South Park” for several new seasons of that hit animated series, to run on… you guessed it, the decades-old... Most big TV companies are now squarely in the streaming game. But no one can accuse them of...

Instacart's new president, former Facebooker Carolyn Everson

Facebookers Crowd Instacart's C-Suite With Big Ad Plans

By Martin Peers · Aug 4, 2021 5:00pm PDT

Facebook staff’s takeover of Instacart appears to be complete. The grocery delivery service’s hiring Wednesday of former Facebook exec Carolyn Everson as president means that three key positions at the grocery delivery service are held by former Facebookers, including the CEO and COO roles. And that doesn’t count the more than 50 others hired... Facebook staff’s takeover of Instacart appears to be complete. The grocery delivery service’s...

A Lyft drivers hub in San Francisco. Photo by Bloomberg

Lyft’s Pandemic Is Far From Over

By Martin Peers · Aug 3, 2021 5:04pm PDT · 1 comment

After the rush of the advertising-based internet firms reporting blockbuster growth, we’re coming down to earth this week with the ride-sharing companies Lyft and Uber reporting their second-quarter results. The verdict, at least so far: meh. Lyft went first today, reporting 125% growth in revenue from last year’s pandemic-crushed second... After the rush of the advertising-based internet firms reporting blockbuster growth, we’re coming...

Square's Jack Dorsey. Photo by Bloomberg

What Dorsey’s Square Deal for Afterpay Means For Affirm

By Martin Peers · Aug 2, 2021 5:00pm PDT

Affirm CEO Max Levchin owes Jack Dorsey big time. Just two weeks ago, news that Apple was working on an Affirm-like buy-now-pay-later consumer service sent Affirm shares plunging 14%. Today, after Dorsey’s Square unveiled plans to buy Affirm’s bigger rival, Australia-based Afterpay, Affirm’s stock jumped back 15%. Competition from Square cancels... Affirm CEO Max Levchin owes Jack Dorsey big time. Just two weeks ago, news that Apple was working...

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Photo by Bloomberg.

Microsoft’s Dubious Cloud Growth Tactic

By Martin Peers · Jul 30, 2021 5:00pm PDT · 4 comments

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Photo by Bloomberg.

Microsoft’s Dubious Cloud Growth Tactic

By Martin Peers · Jul 30, 2021 5:00pm PDT · 4 comments

One of the more eyebrow-raising stories of this week, in a week full of big tech news, was that Microsoft is considering investing in India-based hotel chain Oyo. If true—and Microsoft declined to comment on the report, which appeared first in TechCrunch—it would be a truly bizarre use of the software giant’s cash resources. Forget, for a... One of the more eyebrow-raising stories of this week, in a week full of big tech news, was that...

Robinhood co founders Baiju Bhatt, left, and Vladimir Tenev, walk on Wall Street following their company's IPO. Photo by AP

Robinhood’s Dismal Opening Is a Telling Sign

By Martin Peers · Jul 29, 2021 5:00pm PDT · 2 comments

The stock market may be at record highs, but there were plenty of red lights flashing today. The most glaring of these would have to be the dismal opening day performance of Robinhood, the company most obviously associated with the post-Covid bull market. After pricing at the bottom end of its preliminary range, the stock fell sharply shortly... The stock market may be at record highs, but there were plenty of red lights flashing today. The...

FTC Chair Lina Khan. Photo by Bloomberg

FTC’s Khan Accuses Big Tech of Promoting Fraud, Targets S. 230

By Martin Peers · Jul 28, 2021 5:02pm PDT

Lina Khan ratcheted up the rhetoric against big tech on Wednesday, accusing digital platforms owned by “some of the world’s largest companies” of promoting fraud. Gee, who could the FTC chair be talking about? What she said next should make it clear, if there was any doubt: “Business models singularly focused on scale and engagement coupled with... Lina Khan ratcheted up the rhetoric against big tech on Wednesday, accusing digital platforms...

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai. Photo by Bloomberg.

Big Tech's Boffo Performance

By Martin Peers · Jul 27, 2021 5:00pm PDT

Apple, Microsoft and Alphabet each reported impressively robust earnings results for the June quarter, demonstrating that these giant companies continue to go from strength to strength even as they face greater regulatory scrutiny. If there is any downside for the companies and their shareholders, it’s that the results will only concentrate... Apple, Microsoft and Alphabet each reported impressively robust earnings results for the June...

A Meituan food delivery courier in Beijing in April. Photo by Bloomberg.

China’s Tech Crackdown Rattles Investors

By Martin Peers · Jul 26, 2021 5:00pm PDT · 1 comment

A Meituan food delivery courier in Beijing in April. Photo by Bloomberg.

China’s Tech Crackdown Rattles Investors

By Martin Peers · Jul 26, 2021 5:00pm PDT · 1 comment

American critics of U.S. tech giants must be looking a little enviously at how China is clamping down on its tech industry. On almost every issue that tech’s U.S. detractors have focused on—alleged antitrust breaches, data privacy and most recently, the rights of workers handling food delivery—the Chinese government has taken action against... American critics of U.S. tech giants must be looking a little enviously at how China is clamping...