Good morning readers. During the 2024 NFL draft last week, the Buffalo Bills went ahead and used one of their picks to draft someone who’s never played football a day in his life. Don’t be surprised, apparently this isn’t that uncommon. Enter Travis Clayton, Buffalo Bills’ hopeful, plucked straight from the English rugby team, Basingstoke Rugby Club. Despite his lack of football experience, Clayton’s towering stature and agile moves make him a prospect worth watching. Can this Buffalo Bills draft pick turn the field into his new home turf? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• Your cell phone company has been selling your information without your consent

• Headline Hustle: Blinken begins Middle East trip aimed at Gaze cease-fire, Japan intervened to prop of the yen after it tanks to multi-decade low, Columbia University is suspending pro-Palestinian student protestors

• GNC's new game plan aims to lure the weight-loss crowd

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

TECH

Who knew your phone could wander so far without you

In a turn of events that's less about tech innovation and more about privacy invasion, the US government has slapped hefty fines on the nation's top wireless carriers for turning a blind eye while your phone's whereabouts narrated tales to strangers, sans your consent.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) uncovered that these carriers had been cozying up to "location aggregators," who in turn passed the sensitive data to anyone from prison officials to possibly any Tom, Dick, or Harriet with a bit of cash. This practice, which has been going on for years, was supposed to have been curtailed after a 2018 exposé and subsequent Congressional scrutiny. But it took the carriers almost a year—or even longer for some—to actually hit the stop button, the FCC noted on Monday.

Caught in the act

According to the FCC, "Each carrier attempted to offload its obligations to obtain customer consent onto downstream recipients of location information, which in many instances meant that no valid customer consent was obtained." The fines doled out were not just petty cash: AT&T is looking at a $57 million bill, Verizon nearly $47 million, Sprint $12 million, and T-Mobile, the leader of the pack, a whopping $80 million.

Not surprisingly, all four carriers have cried foul and plan to appeal.

• AT&T argued that the FCC's decision "lacks both legal and factual merit," claiming it unfairly punishes them for other companies' mishandling of data.

• Verizon and T-Mobile also chimed in, each defending their commitment to customer privacy and criticizing the FCC's rulings as flawed.

Big picture: The story unfolds against a backdrop where personal data can be weaponized against citizens—a scenario Senator Ron Wyden warned against back in 2018, prompting his call for an FCC investigation. "No one who signed up for a cell plan thought they were giving permission for their phone company to sell a detailed record of their movements to anyone with a credit card," Wyden stated, applauding the FCC's crackdown.

IN THE KNOW

Headline Hustle

🇺🇸 Blinken begins Middle East trip aimed at Gaze cease-fire. In a determined effort to de-escalate the volatile situation in the Gaza Strip, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is actively engaging in diplomatic initiatives aimed at securing a cease-fire and advancing broader regional stability talks. His diplomatic agenda includes not only immediate conflict resolution but also ambitious discussions with Saudi Arabia about formalizing ties with Israel, enhancing U.S.-Saudi security cooperation, and paving the way for a Palestinian state.

🇯🇵 Japan intervened to prop up the yen after it hit a multidecade low. Japan has intervened to bolster the yen after it plunged to a multi-decade low against the dollar, bouncing back from 160 to 155 per dollar following the government's active trading. Despite no official confirmation, the finance ministry's top currency official hinted at intervention, emphasizing ongoing measures against the yen's drastic fluctuations. This intervention highlights the broader impact of U.S. interest rate policies on global currencies and marks a significant step as Japan shifts from its long-standing ultralow interest rate policy amidst market skepticism.

🏫 Columbia University starts suspending pro-Palestinian student protestors. Columbia University is actively suspending students involved in a pro-Palestinian encampment, as they defy an ultimatum to vacate campus grounds. The protest, now in its third week, has ignited similar movements nationwide, though it's sparked significant controversy and claims of rising antisemitism on campus. High-profile alumni and donors have criticized the university's president, Minouche Shafik, for her perceived leniency towards the protesters, demanding more decisive action.

BUSINESS

Feeling side effects from weight-loss drugs? GNC's got a section for that

Your local GNC could become the next hot spot for managing side effects of the latest weight-loss drugs.

In a bid to revitalize its brand, GNC is rolling out a new strategy aimed directly at customers using GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. Recognizing the unique needs of this growing demographic, GNC has introduced a dedicated section in its 2,300 U.S. stores. This special area features vitamins, protein shakes, and supplements specifically designed to help manage the not-so-fun side effects of these drugs, such as muscle loss and gastrointestinal issues.

The initiative doesn't stop at products. GNC is ensuring its staff is well-versed in the common side effects of GLP-1s, equipping them to offer knowledgeable support to customers navigating these challenges.

As the prevalence of GLP-1 prescriptions skyrockets—with more than 9 million written in just the last quarter of 2022—GNC's move could position them as a crucial resource for nearly 9% of the U.S. population potentially using these treatments by 2030. It's a strategic pivot for a company that, only three years ago, filed for bankruptcy and closed over 1,200 stores.

This trend isn't just a GNC story. From WeightWatchers designing membership plans that include access to GLP-1 prescribing doctors, to luxury gyms developing training programs for those on the meds, the ripple effect of GLP-1's popularity is reshaping strategies across the health and wellness industry. Even food manufacturers are tweaking their offerings, with giants like Nestlé investing in nutritious products that cater to the altered appetites of GLP-1 users.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

• Paramount Global announced that CEO Bob Bakish is stepping down amid ongoing merger negotiations with Skydance Media.

• Samsung Electronics reported a 932.8% jump in operating profit for the first quarter, driven by a rebound in memory chip prices due to optimism about AI.

• Jareh Sebastian Dalke, a former NSA employee and Army veteran, was sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison for attempting to sell classified information to what he believed was a Russian government official, but was actually an FBI agent.

• OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, secured a new licensing deal with London's Financial Times, adding to its list of European publishers from which it pays for content access.

• Travis Kelce, three-time Super Bowl champion and four-time All-Pro, has signed a record contract for NFL tight ends worth $17.125 million a year, $34.25 over two years.

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