Google’s plan to deprecate third-party cookies is opposed by Germany’s largest publishers: The fight illustrates the tension between the overlapping priorities of antitrust concerns and privacy protections.

Why Amazon keeps experimenting with physical stores: While offline sales represent a tiny fraction of its overall sales, Amazon has plenty to gain by venturing into the real world.

Retail ventures into the metaverse: Sentiment at annual industry show suggests the metaverse may already be too big to fail.

Instagram introduces subscriptions as it vies for control of the creator economy: As Instagram’s cachet diminishes among younger audiences, it hopes monetization tools will keep creators from turning to other platforms.

Is the Banning Surveillance Advertising Act a threat? Even if the US bill to limit targeted ads doesn’t pass, its introduction signals a legislative landscape that favors privacy more than ever.

Microsoft acquires Activision Blizzard, publisher of Call of Duty and World of Warcraft: The $68.7 billion deal will create a gaming behemoth but could face regulatory roadblocks.

Shopify works with ecommerce giant JD.com to help its merchants sell in China: The deal marks a major push into China for Shopify and broadens JD.com’s international reach.

Walmart, Target, and Best Buy executives look ahead: Their comments at a retail industry conference offer insight into where and how they expect consumers to shop.

Instacart’s delivery ambitions extend beyond grocery: Ahead of a potential IPO, the grocery delivery giant expands its product offerings to include prepared food delivery.

TikTok aims to generate $12 billion in ad sales this year: Reaching that goal requires the social video platform to lure more large advertisers.

Telemundo’s new streaming brand thins the barrier between English- and Spanish-language content: NBCUniversal and Comcast hope Hispanic viewers will turn Peacock’s luck around.

Omicron outbreak leads retailers to cut hours and temporarily close stores: The situation could drive more consumers to buy online and spur merchants to add more self-service tools.

COVID-19 is back at the top of mind for many consumers: Survey suggests spread of omicron variant has led many to change their behavior.

TikTok could be the savior of the box office and travel counter: Pandemic-challenged industries have embraced the social media app in the hopes of fueling their recovery.

Spotify adds clickable ads to its advertising lineup: The audio streaming company aims to transform podcast advertising with visual and interactive experiences.

The instant grocery delivery market is headed toward consolidation: The extremely high cost of 15-minute delivery in the US has startups built on the promise pivoting to longer delivery times and other services.

China deems personalized recommendations discriminatory and harmful to user well-being: The new law could discourage users from spending time—and money—on retail and social media platforms.

Best Buy hops on retail ad network bandwagon: The electronics company is the latest of many to leverage its valuable consumer purchase data to form its own media company.

Samsung smart TVs will bring video games to users this year: The connected TV (CTV) manufacturer partners with several game streaming services in a move that could spur similar features from rivals.

Rounding up news from the last days of 2021: The news cycle didn’t stop over the holidays. These are some of the most notable stories from the last two weeks.