Some YouTube employees detail internal deliberations about content relating to the Israel-Hamas war and accuse the company of inconsistent moderation (Paresh Dave/Wired)

Mediagazer: Some YouTube employees detail internal deliberations about content relating to the Israel-Hamas war and accuse the company of inconsistent moderation (Paresh Dave/Wired)

Top News:

New York Times:

Sources: Barry Diller is exploring a bid to take control of Paramount; his digital media conglomerate, IAC, has signed NDAs with National Amusements— Mr. Diller, a digital media pioneer, lost a bidding war for Paramount Pictures decades ago. Now, he's making a run at its parent company.
Discussion: The Wrap, @benmullin, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, @jbmp51, @webbarr, Forbes, @jgdean14, @davidgura, @davidkeithlaw, Los Angeles Times, @davidpoland, IndieWire, @susanlitv, TVNewsCheck, Deadline and Bloomberg

Discussion:

Alexei Barrionuevo /
The Wrap: Over 3 Decades Later, Barry Diller Takes Another Swing at Paramount

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: scoop w/@LaurenSHirsch: Barry Diller makes a run at Paramount https://www.nytimes.com/... $PARA

Jason Miller /
@jbmp51: Memories....of deals of the past Barry Diller Explores Bid to Take Control of Paramount https://www.nytimes.com/...

Antonio Pequeño IV /
Forbes: Billionaire Barry Diller In Potential Takeover Talks With Paramount Following Skydance's Failed Bid, Report Says

David Gura /
@davidgura: Barry Diller scrambles the Sun Valley agenda. Los Angeles Times: Barry Diller expresses interest in Redstone family firm (and Paramount controlling shareholder)

David Poland /
@davidpoland: Ha. Diller has been saying studios are dead for years. But this is pretty much why Redstone dumped Ellison. If the company is being sold for parts, Diller is more skilled than most at that. Barry Diller Explores Bid to Take Control of Paramount - NYT https://www.nytimes.com/...

Brian Welk /
IndieWire: The Latest Contender for Paramount Is Its Former CEO Who Once Let the Studio Slip Away

Susan Li /
@susanlitv: Barry Diller Explores Bid to Take Control of #Paramount Diller tried to acquire Paramount Pictures in early '90s Also head of Paramount Pictures in 1974 at the age of 32 Day of interest in $para after Zaz & #WarnerBrosDiscovery explore a streaming tieup https://www.nytimes.com/...

Erik Pedersen /
Deadline: Barry Diller Kicking Tires On Paramount Bid - Report

Hannah Miller /
Bloomberg: Barry Diller Explores Possible Paramount Bid, NY Times Says

RELATED:

CNBC:

Sources: Paramount Global is in discussions with other companies about merging Paramount+ with their streamers; WBD is interested in merging Max and Paramount+— Paramount Global is holding talks with other entertainment companies about merging its Paramount+ streaming service with an existing platform.

Discussion:

Wayne Friedman /
MediaPost: Paramount Seeks More Aggressive Streaming Merger Deal: CNBC

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Could Max and Paramount+ Merge? Warner Bros. Discovery Open to Exploring Paramount Streaming Joint Venture @cynicalfate: @DiscussingFilm I want to be happy for more content in one place but they just always get way more expensive as a result.

Alex Sherman /
@sherman4949: Could Warner Bros Discovery's Max be the partner Paramount+ is looking for? There's interest from David Zaslav's company in a deal. And it could jumpstart a “streaming 2.0” re-rationalization of the industry that could help all players. https://www.cnbc.com/...

Martin Peers /
The Information: Meta Falls Afoul of Europe's Regulators

Alex Sherman /
Alex Sherman on LinkedIn: Paramount Global is looking for a partner for Paramount+. Warner Bros Discovery has interest in a deal. … @culturecrave: @CNBC Combined the companies carry nearly $60B in debt, with a substantial part due to the aggressive pivot to streaming Paramount also confirms they're looking at partnering with a technology platform https://www.cnbc.com/...

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: Paramount+ & Max Are Reportedly In Talks to Merge Streaming Services @cnschedules: https://www.cnbc.com/... Should note Paramount has been kinda wishy-washy so who knows what the hell is gonna happen. They passed merger talks with WBD, Sony, and Skydance for Paramount as a whole. Paramount is also considering partnering with a technology platform.

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: WBD expresses interest in unifying Max, Paramount Plus

Deadline:

VFX company DNEG raised $200M from Abu Dhabi's UASG at a $2B valuation, to expand its division Brahma, which is developing an AI-powered, photo-real CGI creator— London-based The DNEG Group has secured a $200M capital injection from Abu Dhabi investment firm United Al Saqer Group (UASG).

Discussion:
Proactive, Business Standard, @dneg, DNEG, @malhotra_namit and Financial Times

Discussion:
@dneg: The DNEG Group is pleased to announce a $200 million investment from @UnitedSaqer , valuing the DNEG Group at over $2 billion. With this investment, the DNEG Group will accelerate its strategy of innovation & diversification. More: https://www.dneg.com/...

Namit Malhotra /
@malhotra_namit: Excited about the partnership with @UnitedSaqer. This strategic investment will accelerate our plans to redefine our business model & position our Group as a global provider of the highest-quality solutions across media, entertainment, and gaming. #AI #PrimeFocus #DNEG

Wall Street Journal:

Sources: Imagine Entertainment, led by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, is seeking a buyer after receiving some inbound interest from a potential suitor— Production company behind ‘Apollo 13’ is working with bankers to explore a sale — Imagine Entertainment, the Hollywood production company known …

Discussion:
Deadline, Variety, The Wrap and TVNewsCheck

Discussion:

Mike Fleming Jr /
Deadline: Imagine Partners Brian Grazer & Ron Howard Tap JP Morgan To Explore Possible Sale

Cynthia Littleton /
Variety: Imagine Entertainment Enlists J.P. Morgan to Field Sale Offers

Umberto Gonzalez /
The Wrap: Ron Howard and Brian Grazer Look to Sell Imagine Entertainment | Report

New York Times:

Terence Samuel, the editor-in-chief of USA Today, leaves the role after a year; Caren Bohan, the executive editor of politics, is named interim EIC— Terence Samuel, a veteran journalist, had been in the role for a year. — Terence Samuel, the editor in chief of USA Today …

Discussion:
USA Today, Poynter, @tatecurtis, @deggans, @dankennedy_nu, The Wrap, @davidfolkenflik, TVNewsCheck, @katie_robertson, MediaPost, The Hill and Deadline

Discussion:

Tom Jones /
Poynter: Former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki weighs in on the ‘bad debate’ — plus more media news and tidbits

Dan Kennedy /
@dankennedy_nu: @davidfolkenflik ... I wouldn't count on that being “interim.” This is Gannett. They probably eliminated the EIC job to save a few bucks.

David Folkenflik /
@davidfolkenflik: News: USAToday editor-in-chief Terence Samuel @terencesamuel ousted, one week shy of a year in the role, according to two people with knowledge of events. Managing Editor @carenbohan said to lead newsroom on interim basis.

Katie Robertson /
TVNewsCheck: USA Today's Top Editor Abruptly Steps Down

Katie Robertson /
@katie_robertson: NEW: Terence Samuel @terencesamuel tells me his exit from USA Today was sudden: “I wished that this had lasted a lot longer because it was a great year. We did great things in that newsroom and I wish them the very best.” https://www.nytimes.com/... https://x.com/...

Ray Schultz /
MediaPost: ‘USA Today’ Editor Terence Samuel Is Leaving Post

The Wrap:

Ampere Analysis: in Q1 2024, Netflix and Amazon commissioned 53% of all original streaming titles globally, spurred by increased investment outside of the US— The growth comes from increased investment in international territories, according to Ampere Analysis

Discussion:

John Koblin /
New York Times: Netflix and Amazon Drive Bump in TV Show Market

Tony Maglio /
IndieWire: Netflix and Amazon Are Giving Us the World

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: Ampere: Netflix, Prime Again Dominate Original Streaming Content Production

David Satin /
The Streamable: Netflix and Prime Video Are Investing More in Streaming Content as Global Strategies Shift to Forefront

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: Netflix, Prime Video commissioned most originals in Q1 2024

Mansha Daswani /
WORLD SCREEN: Netflix & Prime Video Lead Streaming Originals

Julian Clover /
Broadband TV News: Netflix and Amazon dominate Originals production

Patrick Frater /
Variety: Netflix and Amazon Dominate Commissioning by Streamers, Tilting the Content Market Away From U.S., Towards Local - Study

Max Goldbart /
Deadline: Netflix & Amazon Ordered Majority Of Originals From Outside U.S. Last Quarter, Ampere Research Finds

Wired:

Some YouTube employees detail internal deliberations about content relating to the Israel-Hamas war and accuse the company of inconsistent moderation— Insiders have shared YouTube's playbook for handling the Gaza crisis. They argue that it shows inconsistent enforcement.

The Moscow Times:

Spotify has removed the songs and profiles of pro-war Russian artists sanctioned by the EU; their profiles remain accessible on Apple Music and YouTube— Music streaming service Spotify has removed the songs and profiles of pro-war Russian artists sanctioned by the West, the Sweden-based company told The Moscow Times on Thursday.

Discussion:
Music Ally, Breitbart, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, @moscowtimes, @irgarner, Stereogum, Hotpress, The Kyiv Independent, Billboard, Consequence and Digital Music News

Discussion:

Stuart Dredge /
Music Ally: Spotify has removed music from some pro-war Russian artists

John Hayward /
Breitbart: Report: Spotify Removes Russian Artists Supportive of Vladimir Putin's War in Ukraine @moscowtimes: In a statement sent to The Moscow Times, Spotify said its “Platform Rules clearly state that we take action when we identify content which explicitly violates our content policies or local laws.” “Upon review, these artists met the threshold for removal,” the statement added.

Dr. Ian Garner /
@irgarner: The fash pop is all gone from Spotify, what a shame https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ ...

Caroline Kelly /
Hotpress: Spotify removes music by pro-war Russian artists

Nate Ostiller /
The Kyiv Independent: Spotify removes music by pro-war Russian singers

Chris Eggertsen /
Billboard: Spotify Removes Music by Russian Artists Supportive of Ukraine Invasion

TechCrunch:

Meta changes its “Made with AI” label to “AI info”, to indicate images were not necessarily created with AI but that AI editing tools may have been used— After Meta started tagging photos with a “Made with AI” label in May, photographers complained …

Discussion:
The Verge, Fast Company and Engadget, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Richard Lawler /
The Verge: Instagram's ‘Made with AI’ label swapped out for ‘AI info’ after photographers' complaints

Hunter Schwarz /
Fast Company: Meta's making a change to the way it labels AI on its apps. Here's why

Karissa Bell /
Engadget: Meta changes its labels for AI-generated images after complaints from photographers

TechCrunch:

YouTube rolled out a policy change that will let people request the takedown of AI-generated or other synthetic content that simulates their face or voice— Meta is not the only company grappling with the rise in AI-generated content and how it affects its platform.

Discussion:
MEDIANAMA, @baekdal, Engadget, Mashable and The Register, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Kamya Pandey /
MEDIANAMA: YouTube allows users to take down AI-generated content featuring their likeness

Thomas Baekdal /
@baekdal: This is a good first step, but fundamentally, it should be illegal to do this at all without explicit prior consent from the person being used. We need legislation around AI.

Will Shanklin /
Engadget: New YouTube policy lets you request the removal of AI-generated content that uses your likeness

Elizabeth de Luna /
Mashable: YouTube says Gen Z may love fan-made content more than original content

Matthew Connatser /
The Register: YouTube confirms it'll pull AI fakes in 48 hours if a complaint's upheld

Vanity Fair:

A look at WSJ's rocky reboot under Emma Tucker, who addressed editing bottlenecks and pushed for ambitious stories, while unnerving the newsroom with layoffs— The British-born editor has injected America's business paper of record with ambition and verve, while unnerving the newsroom with unapologetic cuts.

Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, @mlcalderone and @charlottetklein

Discussion:

Feven Merid /
Columbia Journalism Review: Journalists are preparing for an intense summer covering politics

Michael Calderone /
@mlcalderone: Deep look into the Wall Street Journal from @charlottetklein, who spoke to editor Emma Tucker and more than two dozen current/former staffers about layoffs, morale, and the future of the paper https://www.vanityfair.com/...

CBS News:

SCOTUS orders lower courts to take another look at Texas' and Florida's social media laws, saying neither lower court conducted proper analysis of 1A challenges— Washington — The Supreme Court on Monday ordered lower courts to take another look at a pair of laws from Florida and Texas …

Discussion:
Engadget, @nicoperrino, New York Post, Quartz, @jordanonrecord, @steve_vladeck, @sandeepvaheesan, @daphnehk, @mjs_dc, @ishapiro, @joshgerstein, @anupamchander, @jamescz19, MediaPost, @attorneynora, @bykatiebuehler, @neil_chilson, TechCrunch, @willoremus, @sdkstl, @zephyrteachout, NPR, @thomas_a_berry, @jeffjarvis, @crumbler@threads.net, @jameeljaffer, @tracethelaw, @mjs_dc, News/Media Alliance, @aricohn, @mjs_dc, @jess_miers, @pat_hedger, @zephyrteachout, Forbes, Reason, @robpwj, CNBC, @robertfreundlaw, @matthewstoller, Reuters, Media Play News, TVNewsCheck, Politico and Semafor, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Karissa Bell /
Engadget: Supreme Court remands social media moderation cases over First Amendment issues

Nico Perrino /
@nicoperrino: The majority opinion in @NetChoice reminds us of three core First Amendment principles: 1) Principles don't vary with new technologies. 2) States can't violate speech rights to achieve desired ideological balance. 3) Content publishers have the right to editorial discretion.

Ryan King /
New York Post: Supreme Court sends challenge to Florida, Texas laws restricting social media regulation back to lower courts

Laura Bratton /
Quartz: The Supreme Court won't decide Big Tech's free speech fight with Florida and Texas

Jordan Fischer /
@jordanonrecord: Another day, another Fifth Circuit benchslap from SCOTUS (from today's Moody v. NetChoice decision). [image]

Steve Vladeck /
@steve_vladeck: Justice Kagan has the consolidated ruling in NetChoice, holding for a unanimous-ish(!) Court that *neither* the Fifth Circuit *nor* the Eleventh Circuit applied the right test, and remanding for proper application of the standard for facial relief: https://www.supremecourt.gov/ ...

Sandeep Vaheesan /
@sandeepvaheesan: Concerning line in Moody v. NetChoice for all public regulation of communications networks: Can AT&T as an ISP block certain content and prioritize other content and claim it is engaged in protected “expressive” activity? [image]

Daphne Keller /
@daphnehk: Alito's NetChoice concurrence is literally (mis)citing the part of Packingham he criticized at the time as “undisciplined dicta[.]” [image]

Mark Joseph Stern /
@mjs_dc: I would deem the NetChoice decision a significant, albeit incomplete, victory for the social platforms, and a loss for Florida and Texas; perhaps the biggest winners are the platforms' lawyers, who get to continue litigating these cases in the lower courts and billing for it.

Ilya Shapiro /
@ishapiro: 1. On NetChoice: The five opinions will take a while to digest, but the fact that SCOTUS was able to speak with one voice to send the cases back to lower courts to further consider the 1A issues here signals that justices are taking seriously our brave new social-media world.

Josh Gerstein /
@joshgerstein: BREAKING: 2nd opinion from #SCOTUS this AM: Netchoice. TX and FL social media laws. Kagan writes. Newsfeeds and home pages are like newspapers “protected expressive activity.” Other parts of sites maybe not. Remanded to both appeals courts https://www.supremecourt.gov/ ...

Anupam Chander /
@anupamchander: Justice Kagan's majority opinion in Moody v NetChoice, on quick read, will protect against excessive government speech regulation of internet platforms' editorial decisions made through their algorithms. Consider this extensive list of editorial activity by internet platforms: [image]

James Czerniawski /
@jamescz19: I love this line from the #NetChoice case: “The government may not, in supposed pursuit of better expressive valance, alter a private speaker's own editorial choices about the mix of speech it wants to convey.” It is not the government's job to do the balancing act. That's on us.

Nora Benavidez /
@attorneynora: Supreme Court has vacated the NetChoice cases. A slight sigh of relief for our First Amendment. Government regulation should have no business dictating private speech. Statement from us at @freepress pending.

Katie Buehler /
@bykatiebuehler: BREAKING: A 9-0 Supreme Court punts on constitutionality of FL & TX laws barring social media platforms from removing content/users based on viewpoint, returning it to lower courts. (Moody v. NetChoice/NetChoice v. Paxton, No. 22-277/22-555) #SCOTUS https://www.supremecourt.gov/ ... [image]

Neil Chilson /
@neil_chilson: The Internet survives! [image]

Aisha Malik /
TechCrunch: Supreme Court sends Texas and Florida social media regulation laws back to lower courts

Will Oremus /
@willoremus: The Supreme Court vacates and remands the lower court rulings on both the Texas and Florida social media content moderation laws, essentially punting on any kind of substantive First Amendment ruling. Here's the decision: https://www.supremecourt.gov/ ...

Staci D Kramer /
@sdkstl: >>HOWEVER: Kagan's opinion for the court holds that content moderation IS “expressively activity” and that social media platforms ARE protected by the First Amendment, no matter their size, from state intrusion. That's a major holding.<<

Zephyr Teachout /
@zephyrteachout: The Netchoice remand today is a big win for the child social media laws being pushed around the country. Phew.

Thomas Berry /
@thomas_a_berry: Although the Supreme Court's opinion in the NetChoice cases did not reach the merits, this passage from Justice Kagan's majority opinion is hugely important and a victory for the view that both NetChoice and Cato urged. https://www.supremecourt.gov/ ... [image]

Casey Newton /
@crumbler@threads.net: Content moderation is still legal ... for now

Jameel Jaffer /
@jameeljaffer: I was prepared for disaster, but the Netchoice decision is good. It rejects the broadest arguments made by the states and the platforms. It recognizes that platforms are ‘editors’ but dismisses the argument that regulation in this sphere is categorically unconstitutional. /1

Trace Mitchell /
@tracethelaw: While SCOTUS did not definitively rule on the constitutionality of the laws at issue, the majority makes clear that platforms do have constitutionally protected editorial rights. That is both correct and an important victory for anyone who cares about the First Amendment!

Mark Joseph Stern /
@mjs_dc: Kagan says social media platforms engage in protected speech when moderating content posted by third parties, and Texas' alleged interest in interfering with that practice amounts to the “suppression of free expression, and it is not valid” under the First Amendment. [image]

Charlotte McBirney /
News/Media Alliance: Supreme Court Remands Cases; Sidesteps First Amendment Question in Texas and Florida Social Media Laws Case

Ari Cohn /
@aricohn: Upshot: SCOTUS vacates and remands the NetChoice cases because of the facial challenge irregularity that came up at oral arguments, but the Court takes the time to explain how it views the First Amendment principles at issue, with a not-at-all-disguised swipe at the 5th Circuit. [image]

Mark Joseph Stern /
@mjs_dc: The Supreme Court's second decision is NetChoice. Justice Kagan's complicated opinion for the court remands both cases to the appeals courts for the proper analysis of a First Amendment facial challenge, which, she says, they flunked the first time. https://www.supremecourt.gov/ ...

Jess Miers /
@jess_miers: SCOTUS attached a massive warning to their remand of the Netchoice cases: Laws that interfere with the editorial discretion of private online services, including their curation decisions, shall face a tremendous First Amendment hurdle. https://www.supremecourt.gov/ ... [image]

Patrick Hedger /
@pat_hedger: Key takeaway from the NetChoice cases. Florida and Texas went too far and their social media laws' days are numbered.

Zephyr Teachout /
@zephyrteachout: So Netchoice loses big in three ways 1) They actually lose (Remand) 2) Kagan says that “Texas's asserted interest relates to the suppression of free expression” which is a finding not applicable to most laws 3) Barrett is the swing here and leaves a lot of room

Alison Durkee /
Forbes: Supreme Court Throws Out ‘Social Media Censorship’ Cases In Florida And Texas

Ilya Somin /
Reason: Supreme Court Remands Texas and Florida Social Media Cases—But Strongly Suggests the States' Laws Violate the First Amendment

Robert Winterton /
@robpwj: NetChoice, CCIA, and the First Amendment WON at SCOTUS today in the NetChoice cases. The SCOTUS decision holds that social media sites have a constitutional right to decide what content they host. Here's a thread 🧵 highlighting quotes that explicitly defend these First [image]

Rob Freund /
@robertfreundlaw: Save this snippet from Netchoice for future conversations where people claim platforms are violating the First Amendment by “censoring” them. [image]

Matt Stoller /
@matthewstoller: Court in NetChoice has a weird ruling, saying that NetChoice failed to prove the laws it is challenging on platform censorship are unconstitutional. Then the court adds a lot of (non-binding) commentary on how those laws are unconstitutional. https://www.supremecourt.gov/ ... Reuters: The Supreme Court will decide if Florida and Texas are violating social media First Amendment rights

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: U.S. Supreme Court Puts Hold on Texas, Florida Laws Regulating Social Media

Caroline Anders /