Tag: fine

Microsoft to pay $3 mn fine for selling software to sanctioned Russian firms

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San Francisco: Microsoft will pay $3 million in penalty in the US for selling software to sanctioned companies in Russia, Cuba, Iran and Syria from 2012 to 2019.
The majority of the apparent violations involved blocked Russian entities or persons located in the Crimea region of Ukraine, and occurred as a result of the Microsoft Entities’ failure to identify and prevent the use of its products by prohibited parties, according to the US Department of the Treasury.
“The settlement amount reflects Office of Foreign Assets Control’s (OFAC) determination that the conduct of the Microsoft Entities was non-egregious and voluntarily self-disclosed, and further reflects the significant remedial measures Microsoft undertook upon discovery of the apparent violations,” it said in a statement.

According to an enforcement notice from OFAC, Microsoft, Microsoft Ireland, and Microsoft Russia failed to oversee who was buying the company’s software and services through third-party partners.
Between July 2012 and April 2019, the Microsoft Entities engaged in 1,339 apparent violations of multiple OFAC sanctions programmes when they sold software licenses, activated software licenses, and/or provided related services from servers and systems located in the US and Ireland to SDNs, blocked persons, and other end users located in Cuba, Iran, Syria, Russia, and the Crimea region of Ukraine.
“The causes of these apparent violations included the lack of complete or accurate information on the identities of the end customers for Microsoft’s products,” said the Treasury.
The total value of these sales and related services was $12,105,189.79.
Microsoft Russia employees may have also intentionally tried to defeat the company’s due diligence efforts, according to the US agency.

A Microsoft spokesperson said that “Microsoft takes export control and sanctions compliance very seriously, which is why after learning of the screening failures and infractions of a few employees, we voluntarily disclosed them to the appropriate authorities”.
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#Microsoft #pay #fine #selling #software #sanctioned #Russian #firms
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 8, 2023
‘Win-win’: Washington is just fine with the China-brokered Saudi-Iran deal

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“Not everything between the U.S. and China has to be a zero-sum game,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who leads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Middle East panel. Plus, he said, better relations between Riyadh and Tehran means that there will be less conflict in the region, which would lower the chance of the United States getting dragged into a fighting in the Middle East. “I don’t know why we would perceive there to be a downside to de-escalation between Saudi Arabia and Iran.”
Others provided reasons stretching from the grand strategic to the tactical.
At the highest level, a more-involved China means the United States can focus on its national security priorities, namely defending Ukraine against Russia and deterring China from invading Taiwan. Friendlier ties between Riyadh and Tehran also mean that the Saudi-led coalition’s eight-year war on Yemen could soon come to an end, a key goal for the Biden administration. And there’s the fact that the U.S. has no diplomatic relations with Iran, meaning Washington couldn’t have brokered the rapprochement.
“The United States should see China’s mediation of a Saudi-Iran agreement as a win-win for American interests,” said Martin Indyk, who served as the special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations from 2013 to 2014. And if the deal falls apart, “the blame for the failure will be on China’s back and its foray into Gulf diplomacy will be seen to be much ado about nothing.”
This is generally the argument Biden administration officials make in public and private, despite President Joe Biden’s push for competition with China in the military, economic and technological arenas.
A Democratic Senate aide, who like others was granted anonymity to detail sensitive discussions and diplomacy, said lawmakers express mixed feelings when briefed by senior figures on the deal.
“It’s good in that it reduces the threat of nuclear escalation and conflict in the region,” the staffer has heard lawmakers say, but others argue “it gives China too much influence and positions them in the Middle East, where they have never really been engaged, as a political power.” The good-or-bad arguments don’t fall neatly on party lines, the aide noted.
But there’s no real evidence that China’s role in the Saudi-Iran deal means the United States has somehow removed itself from the Middle East. Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, called Saudi Arabia’s chief of defense Thursday to discuss security cooperation and the military partnership. Col. Joe Buccino, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said the conversation wasn’t tied to diplomacy in China. “Frankly we didn’t even think of that,” he said.

It shows that Beijing is involved in one aspect of the Middle East’s politics, but hasn’t usurped America’s place in all facets. Among other things, the U.S. is working with Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel, partnering in cyberspace and maritime security operations, investing in Riyadh’s infrastructure goals and developing advanced telecommunications networks. And Washington remains the kingdom’s most important security partner, sending billions in weapons to help defend against regional threats — mainly from Iran — and stationing 3,000 troops in the kingdom.
“It’s not like Iran’s Shia militias have quieted down on threats or propaganda,” said Phillip Smyth, an expert on Iranian proxies.
China’s maneuvering, of course, has raised eyebrows in Washington and around the world. It shows Beijing’s willingness to make nice with distant partners, like Iran, and a possible desire to play the long game so that the region eventually tips in China’s favor.
“The U.S. is perceived as leaving the Middle East, and China fills the void,” gaining more influence in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, a Middle East official said. “China becomes the winner here.”
After saying “the Saudi-Iran thing isn’t that big a deal,” a GOP congressional aide added that the “Chinese capitalized on U.S disengagement…We will see others play upon our absence even more in the months ahead.”
There’s also the fear that Riyadh, upset that Biden once vowed to make the kingdom a “pariah,” might leverage China’s clout to extract more support from the United States. It’s why Biden traveled to Jeddah last year to mend relations with Saudi Arabia and box China out of the region.
But in the immediate term, Washington is chalking up China’s work on the Saudi-Iran deal as a win for the United States, not a loss.
“Anything that reduces the chances of conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia is a good thing, regardless of who brokered it,” said Matthew Duss, Sen. Bernie Sanders’ former foreign policy adviser now at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Joe Gould contributed to this report.
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( With inputs from : www.politico.com )

April 7, 2023
Italy orders OpenAI to stop processing users’ data else face fine

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New Delhi: Italian regulators have ordered Microsoft-owned OpenAI to immediately stop the processing of Italian users’ data to general AI models.
The Italian regulator Garante said it’s concerned that the ChatGPT maker is breaching the European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and has opened a probe.
OpenAI will have to notify the Italian regulators within 20 days of the measures implemented to comply with the order, otherwise a fine of up to 20 million euros or 4 per cent of its total worldwide annual turnover may be imposed.
“There is no way ChatGPT can continue to process data in breach of privacy laws. The Italian SA has imposed an immediate temporary limitation on the processing of Italian users’ data by OpenAI, the US-based company developing and managing the platform. An inquiry into the facts of the case was initiated as well,” the regulator noted.
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, late last month admitted that some users’ payment information may have been exposed earlier this week when it took ChatGPT offline owing to a bug.
It’s worth noting that OpenAI does not have a legal entity established in the EU.
Any data protection authority can intervene under the GDPR if it sees risks to local users.
Finally, the Italian regulators emphasised that the lack of age verification mechanism exposes children to receiving responses that are absolutely inappropriate to their age and awareness, even though the service is allegedly addressed to users aged above 13 according to OpenAI’s terms of service.

OpenAI was yet to respond to the Italian regulator’s order.
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#Italy #orders #OpenAI #stop #processing #users #data #face #fine
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 1, 2023
Iran’s proposed new Hijab plan includes a $6,000 fine

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Tehran: Iranian authorities have proposed a new hijab plan that includes fines of up to 30 billion Iranian Rials ($6,000) for women who violate the country’s mandatory hijab law, local media reported.
In an interview in Yazd province, Hojjat-ul-Islam Hossein Jalali said, according to the law, the punishment for wearing a hijab includes a fine of 5 million to 30 billion Iranian Rials.
Other penalties may include revoking driver’s licenses and passports, or internet bans for celebrities and social media influencers and bloggers.
These penalties will apply to passengers who do not abide by the hijab rules while riding in vehicles, in restaurants, government institutions, schools, universities, airports, public transport stations, in cyberspace, celebrities, and in streets and other public squares.
According to a report by Asharq Al-Awsat, Jalali said, a bill for a new hijab law will be prepared within the next two weeks, and parliament will then approve it.
The hijab plan comes in response to the mass protests that have rocked the country since the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody on September 16, 2022.
Her death has since ignited anger over several issues, including the restrictions imposed on personal freedoms and strict rules regarding women’s clothing, as well as the living and economic crisis that Iranians suffer from, not to mention the strict laws imposed by the regime and its political and religious composition in general.

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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 30, 2023
MVD Shopian fine traffic violators; seize 05 motorcycles

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SHOPIAN, MARCH 24: In an ongoing drive against traffic violators in the district, more than 50 vehicles were challaned and a fine of Rs 60 thousand was realised over the past few days, as per data provided by ARTO Shopian.
Five (05)modified motorcycles were also seized during checking and showcause notice for suspension of registration certificates were issued to the owners of modified motor cycles.
The MVD department has been regularly conducting the drives and have appealed to people to adhere to the traffic rules for their own safety.
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#MVD #Shopian #fine #traffic #violators #seize #motorcycles
( With inputs from : roshankashmir.net )

March 24, 2023
Intensive market checking held at D.H.Pora, Rs 2600 fine recovered from violators

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KULGAM, MARCH 24: Following the directions of Deputy Commissioner Kulgam, SDM Noorabad Bashir ul Hassan led a joint market checking team which carried out intensive checking in D.H.Pora market today.
He was accompanied by SDPO, D H Pora Dr. Showkat Ahmed, BMO, TSO and other officers.
During the market checking، an amount of Rs 2600 fine was recovered from violators, while one shop was also sealed.
SDM while interacting with the customers urged them to be aware about their rights.
He added that to curb over pricing and other violations market checking drives will continue in the subdivision۔
NO: PR/DDI/SGR/23/410/
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#Intensive #market #checking #held #D.H.Pora #fine #recovered #violators

( With inputs from : roshankashmir.net )

March 24, 2023
Ramzan: Up to Rs 22 lakh fine for distributing iftar meals without permits in Dubai
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Abu Dhabi: Dubai residents who distribute iftar meals to the public during Ramzan without a permit could be fined 5,000 Dirhams (Rs 1,12,465) to 100,000 Dirhams (Rs 22,49,814), the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities (IACAD) announced in Dubai on Friday.
Imprisonment could also be given from 30 days to a year.
After a short ban due to COVID-19 safety measures, it is allowed to serve food to the less fortunate but anyone doing so needs permission.
Permission can be obtained from the website of the IACAD or by calling 800600.
Documents required
Fill in the location of the distribution
Name and location of the restaurant from where the food is sourced
During the holy month of Ramzan, it is customary for Muslims to engage in charity work, giving food and money to help those less fortunate.
However, it is important to ensure that donated meals are safe for consumption, and obtaining a permit is a necessary step to achieving this goal.
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#Ramzan #lakh #fine #distributing #iftar #meals #permits #Dubai
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )
March 20, 2023
Liga MX: The heavy fine that COFEPRIS would be analyzing imposing on ‘Tuca’ Ferretti for smoking at the Azteca Stadi

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During the victory of Blue Cross 1-0 over the Juarez Braves corresponding to day 9 of Closing 2023 of Liga MX, television cameras captured Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti in a box, smoking a cigar while watching the first half from above.
For the second half of the game, Ferretti came down to the field to witness his first victory as the new technical director of La Máquina, after being hired less than a week ago.
However, despite the joy of getting his first victory on the bench for the cement growers, the third in a row for the team, the smile could soon be erased from the face of ‘Tuca’, all due to the fact of having missed the law.
In trouble
According to the ESPN report, the Federal Commission for the Protection of Sanitary Risksbetter known as COFEPRIS, is already aware that Ferretti broke the General Law for Tobacco Control which entered into force on January 15, 2023, and would be determining whether to impose a sanction on the 69-year-old coach.
The new regulation prohibits smoking in public spaces, including soccer stadiums, markets, health centers, and may generate a fine that could be around 20 thousand and 2 million pesosand even be arrested for 36 hours, depending on the severity.
We recommend you read
While COFEPRIS decides if it is going to fine the historic technical director, Ricardo Ferretti is already preparing La Máquina for the matchday 9 of Mexican soccer, which will be against Mazatlán FC in La Perla del Pacífico, next Friday March 3.
Currently I work as a web editor, specialized in NBA and NFL for EL DEBATE Company. I worked for 4 years and 5 months in the Sports section of the Printed Newspaper in Culiacán, covering various disciplines, being assigned to the source of CIBACOPA’s Caballeros de Culiacán. I had the opportunity to cover the EL DEBATE Neighborhood Basketball Tournament for 3 years, one in Mazatlán, 2 in Culiacán, as well as the Nacional de Bandas Guerra in Los Mochis. In the same way, I was present at various inaugurations and closings of sporting events of the Company. My passion is basketball, so I am constantly researching the rush sport, especially the NBA, and I have created special works on relevant topics. I covered the Culiacán International Marathon on 2 occasions, one of the most important events at the local and state level. I am an avid reader, who likes to constantly improve himself, both personally and professionally. I successfully attended the Digital Sports Journalism Workshop at the University of Guadalajara sponsored by EL DEBATE.

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#Liga #heavy #fine #COFEPRIS #analyzing #imposing #Tuca #Ferretti #smoking #Azteca #Stadium
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( With inputs from : pledgetimes.com )

February 28, 2023
NGT asks Delhi govt to pay Rs 2,232 cr fine for improper waste management

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New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Delhi government to pay Rs 2,232 crore as environmental compensation for improper waste management.
The tribunal observed that compliance with environmental norms on waste management has to be accorded the priority it deserves and it is high time that the authorities concerned realised their duty to the law in this regard and citizens.
Taking note of a report submitted by the Delhi chief secretary, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice AK Goel said there were gaps in the management of solid and liquid waste in the national capital.
“On the pattern of compensation awarded in respect of other states (at the rate of Rs 2 crore per million litres per day (MLD) of untreated sewage and Rs 300 per tonne of untreated legacy waste), a compensation of Rs 3,132 crore is liable to be levied on the Delhi government — Rs 990 crore for solid waste and Rs 2,142 crore for liquid waste,” the bench, also comprising judicial members Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, along with expert members A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad, said.
Deducting the compensation for solid waste already levied (Rs 900 crore), the remaining amount of Rs 2,232 crore has to be paid by the city government on the “polluter pays” principle, the bench said.
It said the amount has to be used for tackling the “emergent situation prevailing in Delhi, posing danger to the safety of the citizens,” and for remedying the continuing damage to the environment.
“This payment will be the responsibility of the chief secretary, Delhi and the payment be made within one month and credited to a separate ring-fenced account,” it said.
The tribunal had, in October last year, directed the Delhi government to pay Rs 900 crore as environmental compensation, following which the authorities concerned had filed a review petition.

“The issue of emergency situation of failure to tackle legacy waste as per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 was earlier considered by this tribunal…whereby liability for compensation for failure to scientifically handle solid waste was determined at Rs 900 crore,” the bench said.
It said the review applications filed by the Delhi government were being disposed of through separate orders and the earlier amount of Rs 900 crore will now have to be paid with the additional amount of Rs 2,232 crore.
“The total amount liable to be paid is Rs 3,132 crore,” the bench said.
It said the Delhi government could formulate a plan to raise the requisite funds from the generators or contributors of waste or by any other legal means.
It said as the situation of non-compliance with the municipal solid waste (MSW) rules remained “untackled” despite monitoring by the Supreme Court for 18 years and by the tribunal for around nine years, the monitoring will now have to be done at the highest level of the Delhi government.
Such a monitoring mechanism has to be on the pattern of the Yamuna Monitoring Committee, envisaging weekly reviews with defined targets and accountability, the tribunal said.
“Accordingly, we constitute a solid waste monitoring committee to be headed by the lieutenant governor of Delhi,” it added.
The committee would also have the chief secretary, the secretaries of various Delhi government and central ministries, the DDA vice-chairman, the director general of forest, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) chairman, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner and the jurisdictional district magistrates and deputy commissioners of police, the tribunal said.
“The committee will deal with all issues relating to solid waste management, including setting up new waste-processing facilities, augmenting the existing waste-processing facilities and a remediation of the legacy waste sites,” it said.
Regarding liquid waste management, the green panel said the gap in the generation and treatment and utilisation of sewage has to be bridged.
It said the sanctity and significance of natural stormwater drains should be maintained and these drains should not serve as sewage carriers.
Noting that of the 530 million gallons per day (MGD) of treated sewage, 267 MGD is being returned to the Yamuna, the tribunal said the treated sewage has to meet the water quality requirement of the river.
“There is a need to enhance the capacity for utilising treated water. The high-level committee to monitor the rejuvenation of the Yamuna may explore the possibility of hiring bulk users so that treated effluents can be utilised,” the NGT said.
It said sewage (treated or untreated) must be prevented from entering drinking water resources and instead, utilised for non-potable purposes, such as agriculture and industry.
“It is seen that the utilised capacity of sewage treatment plants (STPs) of 632 MGD capacity is only 530 MGD and standards of water quality are not always met. This aspect needs to be looked into on a continuous basis by a centralised mechanism, which may be set up preferably within a month,” the tribunal said.
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 17, 2023
Indian-American judge slaps $1 mn fine on Facebook

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New York: Indian-American judge Vince Chhabria has slapped a fine of almost $1 million on Meta, Facebook’s parent company, and its law firm for creating obstacles for court and users in a data breach trial.
According to a Bloomberg report, District Judge Chhabria wrote in an order that the fine is “loose change” for Facebook and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP for deceitfully denying that it shared users’ private information with third parties.
The San Francisco judge said that Facebook relied on “delay, misdirection, and frivolous arguments” to make the litigation unfairly difficult and expensive. “Perhaps realising they had no real argument for withholding these documents, Facebook and Gibson Dunn contorted various statements” of opposing lawyers and the court acebeyond recognition,” Chhabria wrote, according to Bloomberg.
“And again, after being told repeatedly that these arguments made no sense, Facebook and Gibson Dunn insisted on pressing them,” he said.
The judge added that Facebook also attempted to push the users, who had filed a complaint against it, into settling for a lesser compensation.
The lawsuit was filed in a California court on behalf of Facebook users impacted by Meta’s partnership with research firm Cambridge Analytica.
The $925,078.51 penalty comes after Meta had agreed a $725 million settlement in December 2022 to resolve a class-action lawsuit, which claimed that Facebook illegally shared user data with Cambridge Analytica.
In March 2018, whistleblower Christopher Wylie publicly revealed that Cambridge Analytica exfiltrated personal data of 87 million Facebook users in the US in order to influence the results of the 2016 US presidential election.

This data trove included Facebook users’ ages, interests, pages they liked, groups they followed, physical locations, political and religious affiliations, relationships, and photos, as well as their full names, phone numbers, and email addresses.
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 14, 2023