<p>This Cookie Notice («Notice») outlines how Versant Media LLC and its affiliated entities («Versant,» «our,» «us,» or «we»), alongside our partners such as advertisers and vendors, utilize cookies and comparable tracking tools on our websites, apps, and other online offerings (the «Services»). This Notice elaborates on the nature of these technologies, the reasons for their use, and your available options, and forms part of the Versant Privacy Policy accessible here. Reading both the Privacy Policy and this Notice will give you a comprehensive understanding of how Versant handles your personal data. Please be aware that disabling cookies may prevent you from accessing numerous features designed to enhance your user experience, and some Services may not operate correctly.
WHAT ARE COOKIES?
Similar to many businesses, we employ cookies, which are small text files stored on your computer or device when you access our Services. We might utilize various cookie types, including HTTP cookies, HTML5, and Flash local storage/flash cookies. Beyond cookies, we may also implement other tracking technologies in a similar manner, such as web beacons/GIFs, pixels, embedded scripts, ETags/cache browsers, and software development kits (collectively referred to as «Cookies»).
Cookies can automatically gather and store information like your IP address, a unique identifier, and/or other data related to you and your device. They may also be utilized to share your information with: Versant; another party acting on our behalf; and/or a third party (e.g., an advertising or marketing partner) in line with their privacy policy. Cookies also help us and third parties recognize you or consolidate information about you from and across various sources.
HOW ARE COOKIES USED?
As detailed further below, Versant, our partners, and other third parties use Cookies for various purposes on our Services:
Strictly Necessary: These Cookies are essential for Service functionality, including system administration, delivering requested content and features, security and fraud prevention, identifying and resolving technical issues, authenticating your identity, and enabling purchasing capabilities. You can configure your browser to block these Cookies, but some parts of the Services may not function properly.
Information Storage and Access: These Cookies facilitate the storage and access of information on and across your devices, such as device identifiers, and your preferences (e.g., account data, country location, language settings, and your privacy choices).
Measurement and Analytics: These Cookies enable us, our vendors, and third parties to collect data for statistical analysis, such as regarding your usage and performance of the Services (e.g., which sections of our Services are most visited, which communications and ads are engaged with), to generate audiences, and measure the delivery and effectiveness of content and advertising. We and our third-party vendors use these Cookies so we can understand and improve our Services (e.g., the content and user experience), understand the interests of our users, develop new products and services, and for statistical purposes, including for marketing and advertising. They are also used to recognize you and provide further insights across platforms and devices for the above purposes.
Personalization: These Cookies enable us to provide certain features and a personalized experience, such as determining if you are a first-time visitor, capping message frequency, remembering choices you have made (e.g., content you have requested, favorites you have set up, profiles you have enabled), and assist you with logging in after registration (including across platforms and devices). These Cookies also allow your device to receive and send information, so you can see and interact with ads and content.
Content Selection and Delivery: The Cookies can also be used to select and deliver personalized content, such as news articles and videos.
Ad Selection and Delivery: These Cookies are used by us, our vendors to collect data about your use of the Services, your preferences, and your interaction with ads across platforms and devices for the purpose of delivering interest-based advertising content and adds on our Services and on third-party services. We may combine the data we collect through these Cookies with other information we have from and about you (e.g., your account data) for these purposes.
Third parties (e.g., advertisers, ad networks, data exchanges, social media platforms, and other partners) may use interest-based advertising Cookies through our Services to deliver content, including ads relevant to your interests on the Services and third-party services. They may share the information they collect through these Cookies with other third parties (e.g., advertisers) according to their privacy policy.
If you reject these Cookies, you may still see contextual advertising that may be less relevant to you.
Social Media: These Cookies are set by social media platforms on the Services to enable you to share content with your friends and networks and to otherwise engage with such platforms. Social media platforms have the ability to track your online activity outside of the Services. This may impact the content and messages you see on other services.
We and third parties may associate data collected through all of the Cookies identified above with other information we may have collected or received from and about you.
HOW DO I MANAGE COOKIES?
Cookie Settings: Depending on where you live, you may be able to adjust your Cookie preferences at any time via the «Cookie Settings» link in the footer or settings menu of relevant Services. You must adjust your settings on each browser or device that you use. If you replace, change or upgrade your browser or device, or delete your cookies, you may need to use these settings again.
Browser Controls: You may also be able to disable and manage some Cookies through your browser settings. If you use multiple browsers on the same device, you will need to manage your settings for each browser. Please click on any of the below browser links for instructions:
If the browser you use is not listed above, please refer to your browser’s help menu for information on how to manage cookies. Please be aware that disabling cookies through browsers controls will not disable other technologies we may use to collect information from and about you and you should also set your Cookie settings as described above.
Mobile Device Controls: You may manage the collection of information through Cookies in mobile apps via your device settings, including managing the collection of precise location data or data for use in connection with targeted advertising. Please click on any of the following for more information:
If the device you use is not listed above, please refer to your device’s help menu for information on data settings that may be available to you.
Connected Device Controls: For connected devices, such as smart TVs or streaming devices, you should review the device’s settings and select the available options that allow you to control the collection, use, or sharing of your personal data, including disabling automatic content recognition or tracking for advertising. Typically, to opt out, such devices require you to select options like “limit ad tracking” or to disable options such as “interest-based advertising,” “interactive TV,” or “smart interactivity”. These settings vary by device type.
Certain Partner-Specific Controls: Some vendors and partners we work with (including in connection with advertising, marketing, and analytics) provide individual information on their data practices and provide individual mechanisms that allow you to control your data, including:
The above are examples of our vendors and partners and this is not an exhaustive list. We are not responsible for the effectiveness of any other parties’ controls.
Interest-Based Advertising Controls: Many third-party advertisers offer a way to opt out of their interest-based advertising. For more information or to opt out of receiving interest-based advertising from certain third-party advertisers, depending on your country of residence, please visit:
For certain Services, Versant participates in the IAB Europe Transparency &amp; Consent Framework and complies with its Specifications and Policies.
Consequences of Deactivation of Cookies: If you disable or remove Cookies, some parts of the Services may not function properly. Information may still be collected and used for other purposes, such as research, online services analytics or internal operations, and to remember your opt-out preferences.
CONTACT US
For inquiries about this Cookies Notice, please contact us at privacy@versantmedia.com or Chief Privacy Officer, Versant Legal Department, 900 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632, USA, Versant Legal Department Attn: Chief Privacy Officer.
CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE
This Notice may be revised occasionally and in accordance with legal requirements. Please revisit this Cookie Notice regularly to stay informed about our and our analytic and advertising partners’ use of Cookies.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has finalized an agreement to resolve a lawsuit filed against Elon Musk last year, which alleged that the world’s wealthiest individual breached securities regulations while preparing to acquire Twitter.

Documents submitted on Monday, bearing signatures from legal representatives of both the SEC and Musk, indicate that Musk’s revocable trust will remit a $1.5 million civil penalty to the commission. The resolution remains pending approval from the overseeing judge.

Attorney Alex Spiro, representing Musk, stated that the outcome cleared his client’s name, noting in a release that «a trust vehicle has agreed to a modest fine for a delayed filing.»

The SEC has not yet provided a comment in response to a request for statement.

Musk, who serves as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, completed a $44 billion leveraged acquisition of Twitter in late 2022. He subsequently rebranded the platform as X, integrated it with his artificial intelligence firm, xAI, and later merged it with SpaceX earlier this year. According to Forbes, Musk’s net worth stands at approximately $790 billion.

Before acquiring Twitter, Musk accumulated a stake exceeding 5% in the publicly traded company. At this threshold, he was obligated to publicly disclose his holdings within 10 calendar days. However, Musk failed to submit the required disclosure on time.

The SEC’s initial complaint alleged that Musk’s nondisclosure allowed him to purchase shares at «artificially low prices,» placing other investors at a disadvantage. In a court filing last month, the SEC disclosed that it was «engaged in discussions of a potential resolution» with Musk regarding the matter.

In a separate class action lawsuit, a California federal court jury determined in March that Musk had misled Twitter investors prior to his acquisition. Musk’s legal team indicated they would appeal the verdict.

The Monday agreement follows a previous settlement between the regulator and Musk in 2018 concerning Tesla and Musk’s failed attempt to take the automaker public. Both Musk and Tesla were fined $20 million, and Musk temporarily stepped down as chairman of the board. A revised consent decree was signed the following year.

After that agreement, Musk repeatedly expressed disrespect for the SEC.

Meanwhile, Musk is involved in a separate legal dispute with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The trial — Musk v. Altman — commenced last week in a federal courthouse in Oakland, California, with Musk testifying from Tuesday through Thursday. In 2024, Musk sued Altman and OpenAI, alleging they broke their promise to maintain the artificial intelligence lab as a nonprofit.

James Dyett, OpenAI’s sales executive, announced on Monday that he is stepping down from his position, adding to a recent wave of notable exits at the artificial intelligence firm.

Dyett became part of OpenAI in 2023, coinciding with a phase of rapid expansion after its ChatGPT chatbot gained traction. While his LinkedIn lists him as «Head of Sales,» the company describes him as a «senior sales leader.»

With OpenAI now valued at over $850 billion by private investors, Dyett oversaw both enterprise sales and its application programming interface (API) sales at various times during his tenure.

«The timing feels right,» Dyett wrote on X on Monday. «I’m drawn back to the early stages of company building, and OpenAI is in a strong place.»

Dyett’s exit follows several executive leadership changes at OpenAI in recent months.

Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s product and business chief, announced last month that she would take medical leave because of a worsening neuroimmune condition. Kate Rouch, OpenAI’s marketing chief, also decided to step down to focus on her cancer recovery, and Brad Lightcap, OpenAI’s operating chief, transitioned to a new role focused on “special projects.”

Weeks later, Bill Peebles, who led OpenAI’s defunct short-form video app Sora, and Kevin Weil, the vice president of OpenAI for Science, announced they had departed from their respective roles.

Dyett said he is moving to a new role at the venture capital firm Thrive Capital, where he will serve as an Operator in Residence. Thrive is one of OpenAI’s longterm backers, and the firm’s founder, Joshua Kushner, has a close relationship with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

“I’ve been fortunate to work at Thrive-backed companies over the past decade—first Stripe, then OpenAI—and have experienced firsthand their commitment to their companies,” he wrote. “I’m excited to pay that forward to founders across the portfolio and stay close to building.”

WATCH: OpenAI and Anthropic are on a competitive collision course, says Big Technology’s Alex Kantrowitz