In Graphic Detail: The puny nature of regulatory fines compared to Big Tech’s financial prowess

January 30, 2026 A recent analysis from Proton, dubbed a Big Tech Fines Tracker, suggests that while the $7.8 billion in fines — the total amount issued globally, issued against such players by government entities such as the European Union in 2025 — sounds punitive on paper, when stacked against free cash flow, the financial impact of such actions is marginal at best. Advertisement TOP STORY Data Regulation In Graphic Detail: The puny nature of regulatory fines compared to Big Tech's financial prowess Big Tech could pay off over $7 billion in 2025 fines in less than one month, demonstrating the disparity between regulatory bite and corporate wealth. OTHER THINGS TO KNOW Now that campaigns can accommodate mid-flight changes — adjusting visual sequences, calls to action or tone based on audience engagement — advertisers can treat creative as a dynamic asset, not a fixed deliverable. Partner insights from PadSquad. The discussion around brand safety and suitability has matured. The industry is now entering a new phase, where brands expect more control, more extensibility into walled gardens and closer accountability to outcomes. Partner insights from Channel Factory. Autonomous advertising learns continuously, adapts instantly, frees teams from operational drag, unlocks audiences others can't see and compounds performance over time — extending expertise for performance marketers. Partner insights from Quantcast. MARKETING Member exclusive Future of Marketing Briefing: Advertising's tracking system meets a new political reality The privacy debate in advertising is entering a phase when decisions will stick. PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM NAME.COM Why new top-level domains are a core piece of brand identity Brands that thrive in the AI-powered search era will be those that make their digital identities crystal clear with descriptive top-level domains (TLDs). New TLDs signal credibility, specialization and relevance to algorithms and consumers alike. Brands in Culture As AI catches on across luxury, brands play up their emotional value At Shoptalk Luxe, vendors and brands alike described deeper AI integration than ever before. PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM FULLTHROTTLE.AI Why CFOs are looking for ad tech that blends marketing and finance needs Most ad tech platforms are built for CMOs, so the real breakthrough is finding one that's also built for CFOs — a true ad tech operating system that unites marketing performance with financial precision. Advertisement MEDIA & PLATFORMS Generative AI WTF is vibe coding? Vibe coding is an increasingly popular way of writing code using plain-language prompts that creators are leveraging to build apps, websites, and more. PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM EXPERIAN Why context is key to making AI successful in marketing As AI takes center stage in marketing strategy, context is emerging as the differentiator that turns reactive automation into predictive intelligence. Generative AI 'Our marketing is not a bullshit machine': Why Perplexity is investing in targeted, organic growth Perplexity is banking on its name carrying weight to keep current users engaged and attract new ones ICYMI Business of TV Programmatic advertising on TV is set to increase this year Comcast said programmatic ad spend on TV s trending up, as access widens and old borders between CTV, streaming and linear dissolve. Written by Jim Cooper and Sara Jerde Were you forwarded this email? Sign up to get it daily. Advertise | Digiday+ | Events | Awards Update your email | Unsubscribe | Privacy policy