Europe is finally hitting Google where it hurts most
Forget the $9 billion of fines that came before. They barely scratched the surface. For Google, this is the big one. On Tuesday the European Commission announced a formal probe into the search giant’s practices in online advertising. After years of antitrust investigations, this is ...
As unpredictable Olympics loom, Japan's sponsors struggle to adapt
More than 60 Japanese companies together paid a record of more than $3 billion to sponsor the Tokyo Games, an event most Japanese now want canceled or delayed again.
Anxiety over Tokyo Olympics leaves Japanese sponsors counting the cost
Around 60 firms in Japan ploughed a record ¥361 billion ($3.3 billion) into the event, which was postponed for a year due to the pandemic.
When is a sausage just a sausage? Controversial ads fuel South Korea's sexism debate.
This month three South Korean companies and the Seoul police have had to pull ads and other content after men's rights groups claimed that "small penis" symbols were used, insulting men.
Tokyo Olympics sponsor Asahi Shimbun joins cancellation chorus
Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said it was "natural" that "different media organizations have different views," but acknowledged that people are "anxious."
Tokyo 2020 sponsor Toyota 'conflicted' over pandemic Olympics
"To be honest, we are conflicted every day over what the best course of action is," said Jun Nagata, the automaker's operating officer.
Ad campaign critical of Japan's coronavirus response makes waves
The full-page ad by Takarajimasha, featuring a World War II-era photo of Japanese children training to fight with sticks, was a rare rebuke of the pandemic response by a private firm.
Backlash hits mascot designed to sell Fukushima water release
"If (the government) thinks it can get the general public to understand just by creating a cute character, it is making a mockery of risk communication," one critic tweeted.
The fact-finding investigation is part of a series of FTC surveys on digital markets including for online shopping, app retailing and advertising.
Ad saying gender equality is 'outdated' sparks outrage in Japan
The online advertisement for an evening news program featuring a woman playfully criticizing the debate over gender equality was criticized as being sexist.
Tokyo 2020 creative chief quits over Naomi Watanabe 'Olympig' pitch
Hiroshi Sasaki floated the idea of comedian Naomi Watanabe descending from the sky in porcine form during the opening ceremony, a magazine reports.
