Facebook Inc said on Saturday it will ban advertisements for weapon accessories and protective equipment in the United States with immediate effect until at least two days after U.S. President-elect Joe Bidenâs inauguration on Jan. 20. Following the attack by supporters of President Donald Trump against the U.S. Capitol on …
Read More »Congress attackers compared to Daesh, irresponsible social media condemned
By the time social media companies took action against users and groups spurring on the siege of Capitol Hill this week, culminating in the suspension of US President Donald Trumpâs accounts, it was too little too late. For weeks, content on Big Tech platforms Facebook Inc., Twitter Inc. and Alphabet …
Read More »Turkey slaps new social media laws on YouTube
YouTube has decided to appoint a local representative to Turkey in a move designed to comply with the countryâs new social media law, the company said on Wednesday. According to state media, Turkey fined YouTube, Facebook and Twitter some 40 million lira each in the last two months for not …
Read More »US bracing for anti-monopoly suit against Google
A group of US states is taking aim at Google with an antitrust lawsuit, saying the Internet giant abused its power when ranking its own offerings in search results, Politico reported Tuesday. A complaint led by attorneys general from Colorado and Nebraska could be filed as early as Thursday, Politico …
Read More »Christians not interested in Saad Hariri as head of new government
Lebanonâs largest Christian political party said on Saturday it would not back the nomination of former Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri to lead a government to tackle a deep economic crisis, further complicating efforts to agree a new premier. Hariri, who quit as prime minister last October in the face of …
Read More »Trump militia supports indicted in plot against woman governor
Thirteen men, seven of them associated with an anti-government militia group called the Wolverine Watchmen, have been arrested on charges of conspiring to kidnap the Michigan governor, attack the state legislature and threaten law enforcement, prosecutors said on Thursday. The suspects had plotted to abduct Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat …
Read More »Climate science info centre for facebook in face of fake news criticisms
Facebook on Tuesday launched a climate science information center to elevate credible sources on climate change, as critics question its role in the spread of misinformation on the issue. Facebook said the project is modeled on its COVID-19 Information Center, and launched a similar feature last month on voting in …
Read More »US to declare war on Chinese social media platforms
The U.S. Commerce Department plans to issue an order Friday that will bar people in the United States from downloading Chinese-owned messaging app WeChat and video-sharing app TikTok starting on September 20, three officials told Reuters. The officials said the ban on new U.S. downloads of TikTok could be still …
Read More »EU takes issue with online fake news industry
Two years after agreeing to a self-regulatory code of practice to tackle disinformation, Facebook, Alphabetâs Google, Twitter and other tech rivals must try harder to be more effective, the European Commission said on Thursday. Fake news related to COVID-19 has accelerated calls for social media to be more proactive in …
Read More »Many Faces of Eve: Mackenzie Davis on the State of Americaâs Female Union! – PART I
By Emad El-Din Aysha, PhD âI myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat, or a prostitute.â — Rebecca West âThe more identities …
Read More »Trump clamps down on TikTok in China trade war
TikTok Chief Executive Officer Kevin Mayer has left short video app firm just three months since joining – and days after TikTok sued the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump over an executive order banning transactions with it in the country. He will be replaced by U.S. General Manager Vanessa …
Read More »American social media bans Trump posts over coronavirus
Facebook Inc (FB.O) on Wednesday took down a post by U.S. President Donald Trump, which the company said violated its rules against sharing misinformation about the coronavirus. The post contained a video clip, from an interview with Fox & Friends earlier in the day, in which Trump claimed that children …
Read More »Trump, Biden fight for primacy on social media
On an average day, US President Donald Trump sends about 14 posts to the 28 million Facebook followers of his campaign account. His Democratic rival, Joe Biden, delivers about half that many posts to an audience of just 2 million. The numbers are similarly skewed in other spheres of the …
Read More »A modern witch hunt in coronavirus times
In times of crisis and panic, going against the flow is seen by many as inconvenient. This is precisely the case in the current Covid-19 pandemic where people who dare to oppose the official information coming from institutions such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and other local health institutions …
Read More »Can’s China’s TikTok help people survive corona lockdown?
Andy Warhol predicted a time everyone would have 15 minutes of fame. He was nearly right â it is actually 15 seconds. That is the maximum duration of a video clip with music (non-music clips can last up to a minute) on TikTok, the video-sharing platform that has taken the …
Read More »Facebook: The Rising Star in the Marketing World
By Qais Ahmadi* — Marketing is primarily the most important part of any business or organization. An efficient and effective marketing strategy will ensure the success of your business. In this era; the use of technology is on the rise. There are many channels where you can advertise your business/product …
Read More »Facebook closes ‘spam’ pages linked to Brazil poll
Social media platform Facebook has closed 68 pages and 43 accounts linked to a marketing group believed to be promoting the chances of Brazilian right-wing presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro. Facebook issued a statement saying it had acted against the pages and accounts linked to Raposos Fernandes Associates (RFA) âfor violating …
Read More »‘This is probably the last time you’ll ever talk to me’: WhatsApp’s cofounder broke his silence about his icy relationship with Mark Zuckerberg
WhatsApp cofounder Brian Acton has broken his silence about why he left Facebook last year in an explosive interview with Forbesâ and it is a gnarly Silicon Valley fight for the ages. Acton left Facebook in 2017, three years after the company acquired WhatsApp for $16 billion. His cofounder, Jan …
Read More »Google, Facebook dealt blow by EU lawmakers in copyright fight
Tech platforms and internet activists protested the outcome of a European Parliament vote Wednesday to back copyright rules that would help video, music and other rights holders seek compensation for use of their content online. Alphabet Inc.âs Google, Facebook Inc. and other tech firms may now be forced to negotiate …
Read More »Newly-wed woman deported after buying UAE visa on Facebook
A newly-wed woman who bought a visa on Facebook to come to the UAE and live with her husband, was deported from the airport after the visa was found to be fake, officials said on Tuesday. The Arab couple had paid Dh4,000 to get the âvisaâ. Brigadier Mohammad Rashid Bin …
Read More »Egypt Sentences Lebanese Tourist to 8 Years in Prison for Facebook Video
An Egyptian court sentenced a Lebanese tourist to eight years in prison on Saturday after she posted a video tirade on her Facebook page that Egyptian authorities claimed had insulted the country and its leader. The news website Ahram reported that Mona el-Mazbouh was initially handed an 11-year sentence and …
Read More »Online fraudsters target UAE Facebook users for data
Facebook users in the UAE are at a greater risk of online fraud by social network phishing attacks aimed at stealing personal data via fake Facebook pages, said a global cybersecurity firm on Tuesday. Kaspersky said the UAE was among the top five countries subjected to social network phishing attacks …
Read More »‘I’m sorry’: Zuckerberg to EU lawmakers
Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg apologised to the European Parliament on Tuesday for the âharmâ caused by a huge breach of usersâ data and by a failure to crack down on fake news. But Zuckerbergâs appearance failed to satisfy MEPs who accused him of dodging questions and criticised a format that …
Read More »Cambridge Analytica shutting down after Facebook data scandal
Cambridge Analytica, the UK marketing analytics firm at the heart of the Facebook data scandal, announced Wednesday it was âimmediately ceasing all operationsâ and filing for insolvency in Britain and the United States. âIt has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business,â the company, …
Read More »The CEO of Cambridge Analytica’s parent company compared Trump propaganda tactics to Hitler
The founder and CEO of Cambridge Analytica’s parent company compared Donald Trump’s campaign methods to those of Adolf Hitler, newly-released audio has shown. Nigel Oakes, who heads SCL Group, told a media researcher last November that Trump deliberately demonised Muslims and stoked fears about ISIS to appease his base, as …
Read More »Google, Thiel feature in Saudi Princeâs Silicon Valley tour
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman wrapped up a whirlwind tour of technology titans on Friday, part of a three-week US visit focused on economic opportunities to diversify the oil-rich nation. The Saudi delegation visited several Silicon Valley corporate campuses, including Apple Inc and Facebook Inc. But two industry players …
Read More »The Russia Investigations: On The Hunt For Duffel Bags Full Of Cash
This week in the Russia investigations: Mueller sends the feds to meet some international arrivees; new sanctions on some powerful, wealthy Russians; and Mr. Zuckerberg goes to Washington. Fade in: A gleaming new Gulfstream 650 â or maybe it’s a Sukhoi business jet â sweeps in for a landing at …
Read More »Facebook Scandal May Impact China Overseas Surveillance Plans
China is turning artificial intelligence, face scanning, and other Big Data systems into new tools domestically to enhance the communist partyâs command and control systems. The partyâs methods of surveillance and increasing use of technology present an interesting contrast with the ongoing scandal concerning the scraping and manipulation of Facebook …
Read More »Former Brexit volunteer alleges campaign ‘cheated’
An individual who volunteered for a Brexit campaign effort said the organization broke the law, and in turn, is arguing the referendum vote “wasn’t legitimate,” according to the United Kingdom’s Channel 4 News. Shahmir Sanni told Channel 4 that the organization “Vote Leave” coordinated spending over the legal limit, using …
Read More »Cambridge Analytica misled MPs, says ex-director
Cambridge Analytica conducted data research for one of the leading Brexit campaign groups â and then misled the public and MPs over the work the company had undertaken, according to a former employee who has spoken to the Guardian. In an exclusive interview, Brittany Kaiser, Cambridge Analyticaâs business development director …
Read More »Facebook gets into more trouble as data security issues mount
Even as Cambridge Analytica and its alleged illegal use of private data and profiles put Facebook in trouble this last week, the social media giant is falling deeper into the vortex created over security fears. Zuckerberg says Facebook ‘made mistakes’ on Cambridge Analytica (Reuters) Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg …
Read More »Facebook bans Trump-affiliated data firm Cambridge Analytica
Facebook suspended Cambridge Analytica, a data-analysis firm that worked for President Donald Trumpâs 2016 campaign, over allegations that it held onto improperly obtained user data after telling Facebook it had deleted the information. The social network issued a blog post explaining its decision, although the tale is convoluted. Years ago, …
Read More »EU readies tax on US tech titans
The European Union will next week unveil plans for a digital tax on US tech giants like Facebook, Amazon and Google as transatlantic tensions flare over prospects of a trade war. The move is aimed at recovering billions from multinationals that divert European earnings to low-tax countries, and opens a …
Read More »Trump is ignoring the worst attack on America since 9/11
Imagine if, after 9/11, the president had said that the World Trade Center and Pentagon could have been attacked by âChinaâ or âlots of other people.â Imagine if he had dismissed claims of al-Qaedaâs responsibility as a âhoaxâ and said that he âreallyâ believed Osama bin Ladenâs denials. Imagine if he saw …
Read More »Davosâ economic dilemma: protectionism and tech censorship
Itâs the most wonderful time of the (economic) year when the worldâs top politicians and economists gather in the snowy Swiss town of Davos. This year, the World Economic Forum at Davos kicked off with a speech by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with more politicians set to speak at …
Read More »Urgent appeal for blood donations in Abu Dhabi
The treatment of a Pakistani eye surgeon based in Abu Dhabi requires urgent blood donations, and residents are being urged to donate AB- blood to the Abu Dhabi Blood Bank. Dr Omar Durrani, a 50-year-old physician who works at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabiâs Eye Institute, was diagnosed with leukaemia late …
Read More »Female Congressional Candidate Ends Run After She Is Accused Of Sexual Harassment
A woman running for Congress as a Democrat in Kansas â a red state â says she will drop out following the revelation of a sexual harassment allegation lodged by a former employee whom she had fired. Andrea Ramsey, a retired business executive, was one of the Democratic candidates running …
Read More »Facebook hits back at former executive Chamath Palihapitiya
Facebook has responded to a former executive who said the social network, and other services like it, was “ripping society apart”. Chamath Palihapitiya made the comments last month but were circulated widely online on Monday. Facebook took the unusual step of issuing a statement to defend itself. A spokesperson said Mr Palihapitiya …
Read More »F.C.C. Plans Net Neutrality Repeal in a Victory for Telecoms
The Federal Communications Commission released a plan on Tuesday to dismantle landmark regulations that ensure equal access to the internet, clearing the way for internet service companies to charge users more to see certain content and to curb access to some websites. The proposal, made by the F.C.C. chairman, Ajit …
Read More »Russia Using Disinformation To ‘Sow Discord In West,’ Britain’s Prime Minister Says
British Prime Minister Theresa May has launched a blistering attack on what she called Russia’s efforts to “sow discord in the West,” putting Moscow on notice: “We know what you are doing and you will not succeed.” In what is being described as a major foreign policy address delivered at …
Read More »CBS fires VP for writing âRepublican gun totersâ killed in Las Vegas donât deserve sympathy
CBS fired a company executive Monday after she criticized some victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting as âRepublican gun totersâ who did not deserve sympathy. Hayley Geftman-Gold, who was a vice president and senior legal counsel at CBS in New York, also wrote on Facebook that she had no hope that Republicans â …
Read More »Trump slams Facebook as lawmakers await ads amid Russia probe
U.S. President Donald Trumpon Wednesday criticized Facebook Inc (FB.O) as âanti-Trumpâ and questioned its role during the 2016 presidential campaign, amid probes into alleged Russian interference in the election and possible collusion by Trumpâs associates. His salvo came as the social media giant prepares to hand over 3,000 political ads to congressional investigators that it has said …
Read More »Facebook will provide ads bought by Russian company to congressional committees investigating Trump ties
Responding to mounting pressure to reveal details about Russian-paid propaganda on its platform, Facebook said it would share more than 3,000 ads linked to Russia with congressional panels investigating foreign meddling in the 2016 election. The move announced Thursday is a reversal for Facebook, which previously only showed staffers on …
Read More »Facebook Has Told Mueller More About Russian Ad Spending, Source Says
Facebook Inc. has given special counsel Robert Mueller extra details on political ad spending from a Russian group that tried to sow discord online ahead of last yearâs U.S. presidential election, according to a person familiar with the matter. The social network provided copies of ads and explained how they …
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