Following a dialogue with EU consumer protection authorities and the European Commission (CPC network), WhatsApp committed to being more transparent on changes to its terms of service. Moreover, the company will make it easier for users to reject updates when they disagree with them, and will clearly explain when such rejection leads the user to no longer be able to use WhatsApp's services. Also, WhatsApp confirmed that users' personal data are not shared with third-parties or other Meta companies...

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The word “recyclable” shows up in a lot of environmental claims for consumer products, but what do people understand the term to mean? Does that perception reflect the current state of recycling practices? And have there been changes in perception or practices that might suggest updates to the FTC’s Green Guides? Those are some of the topics on the table at Talking Trash at the FTC: Recyclable Claims and the Green Guides, a half-day workshop scheduled for May 23,...

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This week we marked one year of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. At the UN, an overwhelming majority of 141 members voted for a just peace for Ukraine. With only 7 countries voting against, it showed, once more, how isolated Russia is. In a briefing to the Security Council, I also underlined the EU’s track record of promoting peace not just in Ukraine but around the world. Many countries look to the EU as a reliable partner with strong multilateral...

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Bank lending grew faster in countries with policy packages combining large fiscal, monetary, and prudential measures. Economists will be studying the pandemic for generations to learn from the dramatic global downturn and the ensuing credit crunch, but one important lesson about the scope of action needed to contain the next global crisis is already coming into focus. During the pandemic, countries often used all-out responses that combined large fiscal, monetary, and prudential policies like grants, credit facilities, and relaxed capital requirements....

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