Can Creatives Survive the Future War Against Dall-e 2?Read More

Mark Di Stefano

Reporter

Mark Di Stefano is a London-based reporter for The Information covering Europe tech and Amazon. He previously covered the media, tech and politics beats at BuzzFeed News, the Financial Times and ABC News in Australia. He is the author of a book about Australia’s 2016 election, "What A Time To Be Alive: That and Other Lies of the 2016 Election Campaign." He grew up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. You can reach him at [email protected]

View Profile
A worker delivers packages on Amazon Prime Day in New York. Photo: Bloomberg.
Creator Economy
E-commerce

Amazon Live Shopping Melts in the Spotlight; Poop Emoji in Court

By Mark Di Stefano · July 13, 2022 3:33 PM PDT
Happy Day Two of Prime Day, the mid-year firesale of products on Amazon.com where (nearly) everything must go! I hope you were able to pick up a little smartspeaker on sale, or your annual haul of cheap underwear and socks. This year’s sales event has taken on added importance as Amazon tries to shake off its witch’s brew of problems—high... Happy Day Two of Prime Day, the mid-year firesale of products on Amazon.com where (nearly)...
Briefing
Startups Venture Capital

Key SoftBank Executive Steps Back to Start His Own Fund

July 7, 2022 · 8:03 AM PDT
Rajeev Misra—one of the key architects of SoftBank’s aggressive bets on global tech companies—will take a step back from running the firm’s Vision Fund 2.
Briefing
Policy Entertainment

U.K. Announces Antitrust Probe into Microsoft’s Activision Purchase

July 6, 2022 · 11:16 AM PDT
The CMA surprised the tech industry recently by ordering Meta to unwind its 2020 purchase of the GIF-maker Giphy.
Briefing
Media/Telecom

Twitter Sues India Over Demands to Remove Some Political and Protest Posts

July 5, 2022 · 10:14 AM PDT
The move ratchets up tensions between India's ruling party and U.S. tech companies.
Briefing
Media/Telecom E-commerce

TikTok Ditches Plan to Expand Live E-commerce to Europe and U.S.

July 5, 2022 · 9:26 AM PDT
TikTok is struggling to make live-streamed shopping work outside of Asian markets, as consumer adoption remains low.
Briefing
Media/Telecom Entertainment

Amazon Secures UK Broadcast Rights for Lucrative European Soccer Games

July 1, 2022 · 10:49 AM PDT
It’s the latest step for Amazon in becoming a marquee broadcaster in Europe’s top sports.
Amazon's logo on a tent at Cannes this week. Photo by Reuters.
Amazon

Amazon’s Ad Staffers Flee Amid Complaints of Bloat, Bureaucracy

By Mark Di Stefano and Jessica Toonkel · June 24, 2022 10:07 AM PDT · 1 comment
In the years immediately before Covid-19 sidelined the global advertising festival in Cannes, Amazon kept a low-key presence at the annual gathering of ad and tech people. While staffers booked rooms at the iconic Carlton Hotel to meet with clients, they were so conscious of overspending that one year two senior employees shared a room,... In the years immediately before Covid-19 sidelined the global advertising festival in Cannes,...
TikTok's logo on the beach at Cannes this week. Photo by Reuters.
In Cannes This Week? Don’t Mention the R Word
By Mark Di Stefano · June 22, 2022 5:00 PM PDT · 1 comment
TikTok's logo on the beach at Cannes this week. Photo by Reuters.
The Briefing
Crypto Media/Telecom

In Cannes This Week? Don’t Mention the R Word

By Mark Di Stefano · June 22, 2022 5:00 PM PDT · 1 comment
Having trouble reaching someone in the advertising or marketing worlds this week? They’re most likely living it up in the South of France. Yes, after two years on hiatus due to Covid-19, the annual Cannes ad festival is back on. And attendees are out in force, looking to make up for lost party time. Just don’t mention the r-word (yes,... Having trouble reaching someone in the advertising or marketing worlds this week? They’re most...
Briefing

Shopify’s Spokesperson Quits

June 22, 2022 · 1:15 PM PDT
Shopify lost its top spokesperson as it grapples with a stock price that has fallen 75% so far this year.
Art by Laurent Hrybyk.
Venture Capital Startups

Welcome to the E-Commerce Winter

By Mark Di Stefano and Malique Morris · June 17, 2022 6:02 AM PDT · 3 comments
Every tech downturn has a locus of weakness—the companies that fall first and spread the carnage. But few in Silicon Valley thought retail and payments companies would be among the biggest victims. The implosion in public tech-driven retail and payments companies has been breathtaking—with investors losing tens of billions of... Every tech downturn has a locus of weakness—the companies that fall first and spread the...
Briefing
Media/Telecom Culture

Elon Musk Softens Anti-Remote Work Stance in Twitter All-Hands

June 16, 2022 · 11:38 AM PDT
Employees who make “exceptional” contributions would be allowed to work from home at a Musk-owned Twitter.
Briefing
Policy

Qualcomm Wins Case Against $1 Billion European Antitrust Fine

June 15, 2022 · 7:36 AM PDT
It’s the latest setback for Europe’s antitrust regulator, which continues to have massive fines against large U.S. companies fall apart on appeal in the courts.
Briefing
Policy Google

Amazon, Google Offer Concessions to Resolve European Antitrust Probes

June 13, 2022 · 9:19 AM PDT
If Amazon and Google can strike deals with the regulator, they would avoid paying fines that could total as much as 10% of annual global revenue.
Briefing
Amazon

Amazon Bows Out of Race for Marquee Indian Cricket Rights

June 10, 2022 · 10:49 AM PDT
Amazon is said to back off a bidding war for costly sports streaming rights.
Briefing
Policy Apple

U.K. Regulator Accuses Apple and Google of Running Duopoly in Mobile

June 10, 2022 · 3:23 AM PDT
The move shows that the U.K.'s antitrust regulator intends to use its power to investigate U.S. tech giants and take further action.
Briefing
Culture Entertainment

TikTok Executive Who Spoke Against Maternity Leave to Take Time Off

June 8, 2022 · 9:02 AM PDT
Joshua Ma, TikTok’s head of e-commerce in Europe, had told staff during that as a "capitalist” he was against maternity leave.
Briefing
E-commerce Amazon

Amazon Shutters Gig Delivery Service in Germany

June 7, 2022 · 11:13 AM PDT
With Amazon’s logistics and fulfillment costs under a microscope, it may have figured it has enough delivery capacity in Germany
Briefing
Policy Apple

Europe Reaches Deal to Mandate Common Charger Across Devices

June 7, 2022 · 11:02 AM PDT
Apple opposed the move, as the iPhone maker relies on its proprietary charging ports and cables to recharge devices.
Briefing

Musk Claims Twitter Breached Merger Agreement

June 6, 2022 · 6:56 AM PDT · 1 comment
A letter from Musk's lawyer to Twitter paves the way for him to pull out of the $44 billion deal.
Facebook employees and family members march during the 44th annual San Francisco Gay Pride parade Sunday, June 29, 2014, in San Francisco.
How to Celebrate Pride Month Better; Sheryl Sandberg’s Exit Leads to Shakeup
By Mark Di Stefano · June 1, 2022 2:50 PM PDT · 1 comment
Facebook employees and family members march during the 44th annual San Francisco Gay Pride parade Sunday, June 29, 2014, in San Francisco.
Creator Economy
Startups Facebook

How to Celebrate Pride Month Better; Sheryl Sandberg’s Exit Leads to Shakeup

By Mark Di Stefano · June 1, 2022 2:50 PM PDT · 1 comment
Let’s start by wishing you all a Happy Pride Month! We’ve come a long way from rainbow-framed Facebook profile pictures to mark Pride, the months-long celebration of LGBTQ history and culture. But I’ve also noticed a backlash against supporting Pride from certain (loud) corners of the internet. This has got me thinking about whether there’s a... Let’s start by wishing you all a Happy Pride Month! We’ve come a long way from rainbow-framed...