Author: Jaxon Bennett

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.The first trial stemming from a wave of UK class action antitrust lawsuits against Big Tech is due to start on Monday as Apple faces a £1.5bn legal claim it levies “excessive and unfair” charges on software downloaded from its app store.Barring a last-minute settlement, the iPhone maker will begin a courtroom showdown in the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal over allegations it has abused a dominant market position to charge commissions of as much as 30 per cent on purchases on its…

Mark Zuckerberg’s unexpected ‘free speech’ overhaul of Meta’s content moderation has sparked concerns among advertisers that it will lead to a surge of harmful content and misinformation across the social media platform. Multiple advertising bosses told the Financial Times that Meta’s move to end its fact-checking programme and weaken hate speech policies could cost the platform, where marketing represents the majority of its $135bn in annual sales, if brands fear their adverts might run next to toxic content. “Some brands will already be assessing their plans carefully and it’s no doubt going to become a commercial conundrum for both sides,” said…

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the US equities myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.Wall Street stocks rallied on Friday to close out the first week of 2025 on an upbeat note amid fresh signs of manufacturing stability that brought a halt to several days of losses.The S&P 500 ended the day 1.3 per cent higher, posting its biggest rise since November 6 — the day after Donald Trump’s US election victory. The benchmark index’s gains on Friday also brought an end to five consecutive days of losses — the longest such streak since April. The…

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for freeYour guide to what the 2024 US election means for Washington and the worldNick Clegg, the president of global affairs at Meta, is leaving the social media platform and will be replaced by Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican known for overseeing the company’s relationships with conservatives.In a post on Meta’s Facebook on Thursday, Clegg, a former leader of the Liberal Democrats and deputy prime minister in the UK, said he was departing the company after seven years. He added he would spend “a few months handing over the reins” and representing the social…