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Topic: Facebook

Alphabet Inc.’s Google said Thursday that it’s making several changes to comply with the EU’s Digital Services Act. (Pexels) AI 

EU Investigates Google, Twitter, and Facebook as New Regulations Take Effect

Jim Hendler, , , , , , , , ,

Starting from Friday, Meta Platforms Inc., Google, and X (previously known as Twitter) will be required to comply with stringent content moderation regulations in the European Union. These regulations will be legally enforceable under a new law that governs social media platforms. Alphabet Inc’s Google said on Thursday it is making several changes to comply with EU digital services laws, including expanding access to online ad targeting data and disclosing more about its content monitoring practices on services such as Google Search. It also adds risk analysis to its largest…

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The ads, which were bought by a watchdog group, never ran. News 

European Commission Gives Green Light to Facebook Ads Inciting Violence

Jim Hendler, ,

Once again, Meta is being accused of inadequate measures to curb the dissemination of hate speech and violent content through Facebook ads. A recent report highlights eight specific ads that were approved despite blatantly violating the company’s policies on hate speech and violence, and were aimed at European audiences. The report comes from watchdog Ekō, which is sharing its work to draw attention to the social network’s “substandard moderation practices” ahead of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which comes into force in Europe later this week. It details how the…

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Interactions with Russia and China’s government media dropped when users noticed the badge. News 

Facebook Labels for State-Controlled Media May Decrease User Engagement

Jim Hendler,

According to a recent study, Facebook’s labeling of content from “state-controlled media” seems to have a negative impact on user engagement with posts from authoritarian countries like China and Russia. Users showed decreased interest in content labeled as originating from government-run media of these nations. However, the study also found that the labels had a positive effect on user favorability towards posts from Canadian state media. This suggests that broader perceptions of a country may influence the effectiveness of these tags. Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University, Indiana University, and the…

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Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield shares his thoughts about Chandrayaan-3. (ISRO/Instagram) News 

Astronaut Chris Hadfield Hails Chandrayaan-3 as a Monumental Occasion

Febin Mathew, , ,

In a few minutes, Chandrayaan-3 will achieve a significant milestone by successfully landing on the moon. As people worldwide witness this historic event, astronauts and scientists are expressing their thoughts on ISRO’s remarkable endeavor. Chris Hadfield, a Canadian astronaut and former Commander of the International Space Station, recently discussed India’s Moon landing attempt in an interview with National Geographic. Let’s hear what Hadfield had to say about it. Chandrayaan-3 Chris Hadfield claims that the mission and the moon landing are a historic event. He lauded ISRO’s capabilities and said that…

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The first phase of the European Union’s groundbreaking new digital rules will take effect this week. (AFP) News 

Europe’s Regulations for Tech Giants Google, Facebook, TikTok and Others to Take Effect – Explaining the Details

Jim Hendler, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some of the largest technology companies, including Google, Facebook, and TikTok, are currently confronting a significant initiative in Europe aimed at purifying the online content that users come across. The first phase of the European Union’s ground-breaking new digital rules comes into effect this week. The Digital Services Act is part of a technology-focused code drawn up by the 27-nation bloc, which has long been a world leader in cracking down on tech giants. The DSA, which the major platforms must begin on Friday, is designed to keep users safe…

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Users will also be able to see search results not personalized to them specifically. News 

Facebook and Instagram to Implement Chronological Feeds for Stories and Reels to Comply with EU Regulations

Jim Hendler, ,

Meta has announced that it will soon introduce chronological order for Stories and Reels, along with other modifications, in order to adhere to the European Digital Services Act (DSA). These changes were anticipated following the European Commission’s announcement in April, stating that new regulations would mandate platforms like Facebook to provide alternative systems that do not rely on profiling as a crucial condition. Meta said it has mobilized more than 1,000 people “to develop solutions to the demands of DSA”. Some of the changes will increase the transparency of how…

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A combo photo of the Lunar far side area from the Chandrayaan-3 Mission captured by the Lander Hazard Detection and Avoidance Camera on Monday. (ISRO Twitter) Space 

ISRO May Delay Chandrayaan-3 Landing to August 27 – Here’s the Reason

Sanjay Patil, , , , , , ,

The Space Applications Centre-ISRO announced on Monday that if any aspect of the lander module is deemed unfavorable, the landing date for Chandrayaan-3 will be rescheduled to August 27. Ahmedabad-based Space Applications Centre-ISRO Director Nilesh M Desai said the decision to land will be taken based on the condition of the lander and the conditions on the moon. “On August 23, two hours before Chandrayaan-3 will land on the Moon, we will decide based on the condition of the landing module and the conditions on the Moon, whether it is…

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PayPal to launch PayPal USD, a crypto token pegged to the U.S. dollar, making it the second major global company to launch a stablecoin after Facebook. (REUTERS) News 

PayPal’s Stablecoin: What Makes it Different from Facebook’s Libra?

Jim Hendler,

Due to PayPal’s influential position in Washington and policymakers’ improved comprehension of the matters over the past three years, it is anticipated that PayPal’s stablecoin will triumph where Facebook’s stablecoin failed. PayPal this month announced the launch of PayPal USD, a cryptocurrency pegged to the US dollar, making it the second major global company to launch a stablecoin since Facebook, now Meta Platforms, announced Libra in June 2019. The move, which comes amid PayPal’s transition to a new CEO that was announced last week, appears risky after political opposition crushed…

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Clicking a link on X to one of the affected websites resulted in a delay of about five seconds before the webpage loaded, the Washington Post reported. (REUTERS) News 

X of Elon Musk Prevents Access to New York Times, Instagram, Facebook, and More

Jim Hendler, , , , , ,

According to a report from the Washington Post on Tuesday, Social media company X, previously recognized as Twitter, has postponed the availability of links to content from Reuters, New York Times, and competitors such as Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Clicking on X’s link on one of the affected websites resulted in a delay of about five seconds before the webpage loaded, the Washington Post reported, citing tests it conducted on Tuesday. Reuters also saw a similar delay in tests it ran. By late Tuesday afternoon, X appeared to have cleared…

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The Facebook logo is seen on a screen in this picture illustration taken December 2, 2019. (REUTERS) News 

Global Study Finds No Link Between Facebook Use and Poor Mental Health

Jim Hendler,

Contrary to previous analyses and popular beliefs, the largest independent scientific study on the subject has found no evidence to support the notion that the increased usage of Facebook has resulted in widespread psychological damage. This study, conducted on Wednesday, challenges the prevailing perception surrounding the negative impact of Facebook on mental well-being. A study by Oxford University’s Internet Institute, which analyzed data from nearly a million people in 72 countries over 12 years, instead found “positive correlations” between social media platform adoption and so-called indicators of well-being. The researchers…

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The messaging app will become a chat app from next month when its important feature loses support. News 

Facebook Messenger to Discontinue Certain Feature Starting in April

Jim Hendler

Facebook Messenger is still a popular app among users, but the platform will lose one of its features in September. Many of you may not know this, but the Messenger app used to allow people to send SMS messages over the cellular network on Android phones, but this option is going away next month. Messenger has shared an update via its support page recently. Text message Support ends on September 28, message adds. The feature will be removed via an app update for Messenger users on Android. The SMS feature…

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Meta Platforms is asking a court in Norway to stop a fine the Nordic country's data regulator imposed on the owner of Facebook and Instagram for breaching users' privacy, according to a court filing. News 

Meta Platforms Attempts to Prevent Penalty for Privacy Infringement in Norway

Jim Hendler,

OSLO: Meta Platforms is asking a Norwegian court to stop a fine imposed by the Nordic data protection authority on the owner of Facebook and Instagram for violating users’ privacy, according to a court filing. Meta Platforms will be fined 1 million kroner ($97,700) a day from August 14 for privacy violations, Norway’s data protection authority told Reuters on Monday in a decision that could have wider European implications. Meta Platforms is seeking a temporary injunction, according to the court filing. Its appeal will be presented on August 22 in…

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Meta and other US Big Tech companies have been hit by massive fines over their business practices in the EU in recent years. (REUTERS) News 

EU Users to be Requested for Permission to Use Data for Targeted Ads

Adarsh V.K

Meta, the social media giant, announced on Tuesday that it plans to request consent from users based in the EU before implementing targeted advertising on its platforms, such as Facebook. This decision comes as a response to the demands of European regulators. It said the changes were meant to respond to “evolving and emerging regulatory requirements” amid a dispute with the Irish Data Protection Commission, which enforces EU data protection rules in Ireland, from where Meta runs its European operations. European regulators had in January rejected the previous legal basis…

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Meta is responding to new legislation by blocking news content on the two platforms. News 

Beginning of Facebook and Instagram News Censorship in Canada Commences Today

Jim Hendler, , ,

As previously announced, Meta has initiated the blocking of news content in Canada. Commencing today, users of Facebook and Instagram within the country will no longer have the ability to access or distribute news links, as well as view videos and photos shared by publishers and broadcasters. Meta, who has been warning about this significant action for several months, stated that it will take a few weeks for the alteration to be fully implemented for all users in Canada. “News links and content published by Canadian news publishers and broadcasters…

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News 

Meta’s Oversight Board Proposes Stricter Regulations on Gender-Based Violence

Sanjay Patil, , ,

The Oversight Board of Meta is urging for revisions to the social media company’s guidelines regarding gender-based violence. Alongside reversing the choice to keep a Facebook post that trivialized domestic abuse, the panel has suggested that Meta establish policies that discourage content which promotes or ridicules violence, thereby normalizing it. Furthermore, the board members are requesting Meta to explicitly state that their anti-harassment rules encompass severe physical injuries categorized as “medical conditions.” The findings are in response to a 2021 Iraq post that “jokes” about a woman who was beaten…

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In 2018, Google was fined 4.3 billion euros ($4.8 billion) for abusing the dominant position of its Android mobile operating system to promote its search engine. (AP) News 

Europe’s Battle Against Big Tech: Dominance, Data, and Disinformation

Adarsh V.K, , , , ,

The European Commission, which declared on Thursday an investigation into Microsoft’s promotion of its Teams messaging app, has been engaged in battles against American tech giants on various issues such as tax evasion, spreading false information and hate speech, safeguarding data privacy, and preventing monopolistic practices. Here’s a rundown of the fights between Silicon Valley and Brussels. – Stifles competition – The European Commission announced on Thursday that it will investigate whether Microsoft is “abusing and defending its market position” by combining its Teams application with Office software. It comes…

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Whatsapp allows users to send short video messages. News 

Users Can Now Record and Share Video Messages on WhatsApp

Jim Hendler,

On Thursday, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, unveiled a fresh addition to WhatsApp that enables its users to send brief video messages. Taking to his official Facebook handle, Zuckerberg shared an introductory video with the caption “New to WhatsApp – we’re adding the ability to instantly record and share a video message in your WhatsApp chats. It’s as easy as sending a quick voice message.” According to a statement shared by the WhatsApp team, WhatsApp voice messages changed the way people communicate by providing a fast and secure way…

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The research found shocking findings on Facebook's algorithms. Check to know more. (Pexels) News 

Research Finds No Evidence of Facebook Algorithm Changing People’s Beliefs

Jim Hendler

Are social media echo chambers exacerbating political polarization, or merely mirroring pre-existing social divisions? A major research project examining Facebook around the 2020 presidential election released its first results Thursday, finding that, contrary to assumptions, the platform’s oft-criticized content ranking algorithm does not shape users’ beliefs. The work is the result of a collaboration between Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and a group of researchers from US universities, who were given extensive access to the company’s internal data and who registered tens of thousands of users for…

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Safiya Noble, Ifeoma Ozoma and Timnit Gebru (Bloomberg) AI 

The Perils of Tech Whistleblowing: ‘You Become a Target’

Nitin Misra,

Ifeoma Ozoma was forced to leave her position at Pinterest Inc. after she claimed that she faced retaliation for advocating for equal pay. This incident not only resulted in her losing her job but also led her to completely depart from Silicon Valley. For the latest episode of The Circuit With Emily Chang, I interviewed Ozoma at her ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Included were Timnit Gebru, a former Googler who resigned in 2020 after co-authoring a paper on the dangers of generative artificial intelligence, and Safiya Noble, author…

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But there still aren't obvious solutions to addressing polarization. News 

Study reveals impact of Meta’s algorithms on 2020 election content on users’ feeds

Jim Hendler,

Almost three years ago, Meta made an announcement about its collaboration with over a dozen independent researchers to examine the influence of Facebook and Instagram on the 2020 election. The project aimed to provide an unbiased analysis of topics such as polarization and misinformation, utilizing extensive internal data. Both Meta and the researchers assured the public of delivering an impartial perspective. Now we have the first results from this research in the form of four peer-reviewed papers published in the journals Science and Nature. The research offers a fascinating new…

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