Corporate Disputes and Tech Controversies Unfold

The ousted chair of Ben & Jerry's, Anuradha Mittal, has accused the company's owner, Magnum, of threatening to launch a public smear campaign against her after she refused to step down from her role. Mittal claims that Magnum threatened to publish 'defamatory statements' about her if she didn't resign. The dispute centers around the independence of Ben & Jerry's board and its freedom to pursue its social missions. Magnum has removed Mittal and two other board members, citing a nine-year limit for people serving on the board and 'material deficiencies' in the Ben & Jerry's Foundation's financial controls. Ben & Jerry's co-founders have criticized Magnum, saying it is 'not fit' to own the firm and that its social mission is being stifled.

CNBC's Jim Cramer suggests that OpenAI needs to raise a significant amount of cash, potentially $200 billion at a $1 trillion valuation, to pay Oracle $300 billion owed for data center infrastructure. Cramer believes this move is necessary for the data center sector to regain its footing in the market. He is optimistic that OpenAI can secure the funding, which would allow other hyperscalers to continue spending on infrastructure, thereby boosting data center stocks. However, if OpenAI fails to raise enough capital, the data center theme could reverse, leading to a downturn.

TikTok is facing legal action from two moderators who claim the company threatened them with redundancy days before they were due to vote on forming a union. The moderators, supported by non-profit Foxglove and law firm Leigh Day, argue that TikTok's actions constitute unlawful detriment and automatic unfair dismissal. TikTok announced in August that over 400 workers would lose their jobs, with some roles being replaced by AI and others being rehired abroad. The moderators claim that the cuts will compromise user safety, a concern echoed by MPs and whistleblowers who have spoken to Sky News.