Techcrunch blog!: Antitrust trouble in paradise

Friday, March 22, 2024

Good afternoon, and welcome to your Friday TechCrunch PM. We continue our ongoing coverage of Apple with a look at how this antitrust case, in particular, may affect the consumer tech giant's ecosystem. Also, enjoy a story about how cyber investors committed to fighting spyware, but at least one firm previously invested in an exploit maker. Have a great weekend!

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— Christine

Image Credits: Bryce Durbin / TechCrunch

TechCrunch PM Top 3

Is Apple's antitrust case a sign of things to come?: Natasha reports that it's shaping up to be a tough year for Apple with the range of antitrust activity bearing down on its mobile business. After you're done reading this, catch up on everything we know so far.

Check the scores and your feed: Instagram's Threads is testing the inclusion of live scoring for sports games. So far the pilot has been focused on NBA games. Threads told TechCrunch that the new feature will make it easier for users to join in on conversations about their favorite teams.

If you send a dick pic to this app, it will tell your future: The company is leveraging AI to let you know if your partner has a sexually transmittable disease. However, there are a few red flags, Amanda points out. Including the fact that most STIs are asymptomatic.

Image Credits: Berke Bayur/Anadolu Agency / Getty Images

Afternoon must-reads

Fighting spyware: Six countries are now part of an international coalition to fight commercial spyware. Investors want to do this too. However, we learned that at least one investor gave capital to a malware company. Lorenzo unpacks what happened next.

AT&T mum on data breach: Three years after a hacker teased about an alleged massive theft of AT&T customer data, the phone carrier maintains "it did not appear to have come from our systems." Well, the full dataset was put up for sale online this week, and we're sure that 73 million AT&T customers want to know how it happened.

Meet 1991 Ventures: The U.K.-based venture capital fund launches this week with a £15 million ($18.8 million) fund to invest in both Ukrainian and Central Eastern European startups. It was founded by Ukrainian brothers Denis Gursky and Viktor Gurskyi, who are better known for running incubation and accelerator programs inside Ukraine.

Last call for pitch submissions at TechCrunch Early Stage 2024: Here's your chance to shine at "So You Think You Can Pitch?" our highly anticipated segment at TechCrunch Early Stage 2024, happening in Boston on April 25.

Image Credits: Bryce Durbin / TechCrunch

Around the web

You've been reading about our take on Apple's troubles; now read what Business Insider has to say about "Apple's nightmare."

And in other news, The Information reports celebrity video business Cameo's recent funding round came with a large valuation drop.

Meanwhile, the financial markets are poised to "rebel" if the U.S. government is wrong about inflation. Read more in MarketWatch.

And NBC News warns of a massive Chrysler and Dodge vehicle recall.

TechCrunch Minute

Breaking down the Apple iPhone antitrust lawsuit from the DOJ: The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Apple over allegedly monopolistic smartphone practices. The federal agency is not alone in the matter, bringing 15 states and the District of Columbia into the mix as well. Apple, as you might imagine, disputes the allegations. Hit play, let's talk about it!

On the pods

On today's Equity episode, Becca joins Alex and Mary Ann to discuss the week's most critical stories, including a few funding deals and new funds. They also get into an upcoming Saudi AI push as notable venture funds have been flying to the Middle Eastern state to raise capital. In addition, they also discuss Reddit's IPO and how some VCs are holding back an IPO rush. Listen here.