Midday rundown: Fortnite pays hefty fine, snowstorm stalls travelers

KARAH RUCKER: A POPULAR VIDEO GAME DEVELOPER HAS JUST SETTLED WITH THE FTC OVER ALLEGATIONS THE COMPANY VIOLATED PRIVACY PROTECTIONS FOR CHILDREN.

THIS IS YOUR MIDDAY RUNDOWN AIMED DOWN THE MIDDLE WITH STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.

FORTNITE COMPANY SETTLES WITH FTC

EPIC GAMES INCORPORATED, THE PARENT COMPANY OF THE POPULAR “FORTNITE” VIDEO GAME, HAS JUST PAID $520 MILLION TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION.

THE COMPANY IS ACCUSED OF VIOLATING THE CHILDREN’S ONLINE PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT. ALLEGEDLY COLLECTING PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM FORTNITE PLAYERS UNDER THE AGE OF 13 WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT, AND “TRICKING” PLAYERS INTO UNINTENDED PURCHASES.

THE COMPANY DID NOT ADMIT OR DENY THE ALLEGATIONS AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT.

META ACCUSED OF ANTITRUST BREACH

FACEBOOKS PARENT COMPANY META IS FACING ACCUSATIONS OF ANTITRUST BREACHES THAT COULD CARRY HEFTY FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES.

THE EUROPEAN UNION SAYS THE PLACEMENT OF FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE, INSIDE IT’S FACEBOOK SOCIAL MEDIA APP, IS LIMITING COMPETITION IN ONLINE ADVERTISING SERVICES.

IF META IS FOUND GUILTY OF BREAKING ANTITRUST LAWS, THE COMPANY COULD FACE A FINE OF UP TO 10% OF ITS GLOBAL ANNUAL REVENUE.

HOLIDAY TRAVELERS BRACE FOR STORM

LAST WEEK THE COUNTRY WAS STRUCK WITH ITS FIRST MAJOR WINTER WEATHER SYSTEM. AND ANOTHER SNOW STORM COULD THREATEN HOLIDAY TRAVEL FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.

BLIZZARD CONDITIONS, RAIN, STRONG WINDS, AND FRIGID ARCTIC AIR ARE FORECASTED LARGELY ACROSS THE MIDWEST AND NORTHEAST.

DELAYS IN FLIGHTS AND POOR ROAD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO LAST FROM THURSDAY TO SATURDAY.

WE’LL CONTINUE TO TRACK THE PROJECTED STORMS AS WE NEAR CLOSER TO THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

STUDY TESTS ENDING OF TITANIC MOVIE

A FORENSICS TEST IS PUTTING A DEBATE TO REST IN THE ICONIC TITANIC MOVIE.

LOVERS OF THE TITANIC HAVE LONG ASKED WHY JACK WAS IN THE WATER AND NOT UP ON THE PIECE OF WOOD WITH ROSE IN THEIR LAST MOMENTS TOGETHER AFTER THE SHIP WRECKED.

JACK DIED OF HYPOTHERMIA, WHILE ROSE SURVIVED.

SO WHY COULDN’T JACK HOP UP ON THE PIECE OF WOOD TOO? OR ALTERNATE TAKING TURNS ON THE RAFT?
WELL APPARENTLY IT WASN’T AN OPTION.

AFTER A THOROUGH STUDY OF WHETHER BOTH OF THEM COULD’VE LIVED, EXPERTS SAY ONLY ONE OF THEM WOULD’VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT ALIVE IN THE FREEZING WATERS.

THE EXPERIMENT THAT WAS CONDUCTED TO TEST THAT THEORY WILL AIR ON NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC NEXT YEAR.

THAT’S GOING TO DO IT FOR THIS EDITION OF YOUR MIDDAY RUNDOWN. THANKS FOR WATCHING STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.
WHERE WE STRIVE TO DELIVER JOURNALISM WITHOUT AGENDA.