MadTech Daily: Australia Sues Platforms Over Under-16 Social Media Ban; Spotify Launches Paid Podcast Memberships

In today’s ExchangeWire news digest: Australia moves to sue Meta, TikTok, Snap and Google over enforcement of its under-16 social media ban, Spotify launches paid memberships to help podcasters monetise their biggest fans, and Spark Foundry research finds 25-to-34-year-olds are the toughest consumers for UK brands to win over

In today’s digest, Apple defends its WebKit crackdown on ad tech identity resolution and signals more to come, YouTube tests AI answers at the top of search results, and Meta removes contract language over scraping business websites for AI training

In today’s MadTech Daily, Google rolls out Universal Cart, its AI shopping tool, in the US ahead of the holiday season, Universal Music Group launches layoffs and an executive shake-up across the US and UK, and Apple and Meta team up on an open AI model built for Mac

In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss United reorganising its advertising business to support its tech push, WARC tracking shifts in ad spend among 25 global brands, and Alibaba’s Taobao adding AI to cross-border shopping.

Which vendors have been added to Apple's block list? What is ChatGPT Ads' annualised revenue run rate? How many new members joined the Standard for Publishers Usage Rights (SPUR)?ExchangeWire returns for the 6th quiz edition of The MadTech Podcast, with John Still, head of content, leading COO Lindsay Rowntree 4-1. Grainne Reid, head of marketing, puts them to the test on Apple's block list, ChatGPT ads revenue, and the SPUR coalition's membership numbers.The first story covers the latest iOS update blocking The Trade Desk from serving ads on Safari, and how Apple's related policy affects data vendors. The second is OpenAI's plan to turn ChatGPT ads into a standing line item on holding companies' media plans. The conversation explores ChatGPT Ads' success, and its potential impact on agencies.Finally, they look at what the recent surge in SPUR sign-ups reveals about the state of publishing landscape. Can publishers receive fair protections and compensation for their content in the AI era?•••0:00 Introduction1:20 Q1: Name two vendors on Apple’s block list3:20 iOS 27 blocks Trade Desk ads on Safari11:54 Q2: What is ChatGPT’s annualised revenue run rate?13:50 OpenAI wants ChatGPT ads on agency media plans22:04 Q3: How many new members recently joined SPUR?23:08 SPUR welcomes the NYT and many more…

In today’s MadTech Daily, Netflix cuts around 6% of its workforce as growth and engagement slow; Apple wins early access to OpenAI’s hiring records in its trade secrets case; and UK marketing budgets hit a two-year high in Q3

In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss Apple winning fast-track access to OpenAI evidence in its trade secrets fight, Tencent raising $5.7bn through bond sales despite concerns over AI spending, and ITV’s generative AI ad tool attracting 16 first-time TV advertisers in its first year. 

In today’s MadTech Daily: Publicis says it is taking market share as growth picks up in Q3; The New York Times is among more than 40 new members of the SPUR AI licensing coalition; and YouTube brings its AI assistant to Shorts in limited test 

In this special episode of The MadTech Podcast, Chris Walker, public and external affairs director at the Advertising Association (AA), joins ExchangeWire COO Lindsay Rowntree to examine UK advertising regulation around areas such as HFSS and gambling, and how the relationship between the industry and government has changed in the past decade.*Chris joined us at ATS London 2026 last month, speaking on a panel about The Cost of Playing Safe: Unlocking Revenue Through Trust, Standards and Regulation.UK advertising spend is forecast to surpass $50bn in 2026, yet the industry has never had to justify its existence as much as it has to today. With restrictions on less-healthy food advertising and Andy Burnham's new government coming into play, they discuss how the industry can engage constructively on public health while making the case against further restrictions.The UK system relies on the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) codes, which the industry funds and writes. As more spend moves to global tech platforms and creators, it prompts the question of whether self-regulation can stay credible, or if policy work will move the UK towards a more statutory model.The AA lists public trust in advertising among its main priorities. The conversation explores what has actually moved the dial on trust, and if restrictions on advertising boost or hinder creativity. And when economic growth and harm reduction pull in different directions, how can the industry help policymakers weigh the two, and what does it offer in return?