Digital Advertising & Platforms: Meta’s youth-safety settlement caps at $17.1B but still lets the company keep collecting data from young users and serving targeted ads—raising the stakes for how “protection” is defined in ad-driven platforms. Ad Fraud & Attention Economics: Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince warns AI bots could break the internet’s ad-funded model because bots don’t click, threatening the human-based referral traffic that pays publishers. Programmatic/Ad Tech Leadership: PubMatic CRO EMEA Emma Newman says future media leaders need both soft skills and real fluency in AI tools. Retail Media/OOH: Guinness rolls out “LoVely” billboard ads with AMV BBDO, using its harp mark to refresh classic brand nostalgia. Creator Commerce & Distribution: Haelsoft Marketplace launches to help African creators sell digital products via mobile-first, data-light commerce; The LAB signs a global distribution deal for a mobile-first Jamaican drama built for short-form viewing. Regulation & Public Messaging: UK escalates measures tied to Israeli settlements, including bans on importing settlement goods and advertising/promotion in Britain. Energy & Marketing Backdrop: Brent pushing past $100/110 keeps pressure on India’s oil import bill while domestic petrol/diesel prices stay unchanged, squeezing OMC margins—an indirect headwind for ad budgets. Media/Marketing Ethics: A Spectator column on Sadie Sink’s Calvin Klein campaign sparked backlash over sexualized commentary about a young actress, reigniting debate over editorial boundaries. Local Political Advertising: Indiana casino billboard controversy highlights gaps in disclaimer rules for “public questions,” complicating who paid for political messaging.