Facebook has failed to name 80% of posts promoting bioweapons conspiracy theory
On Friday, the CCDH (Center for Countering Digital Hate) said that Facebook has failed to name 80% of posts or articles promoting the bioweapons conspiracy theory. And that the US is funding the bioweapon use in Ukraine. This comes as social media firms promise to restrain Russian disinformation on the Ukraine war. Research shows they’ve […]
Facebook halts election reminders in the EU, in response to concerns from regulators
Facebook has paused its election notification feature, after a key European privacy regulator raised privacy concerns, according to TechCrunch. The social media platform offers an “Election Day Reminder” notification designed to increase voter turnout. A study by the company in 2012 conducted with the University of California at San Diego showed the notifications brought 340,000 additional […]
Digital policy chief says AI and industrial data offer Europe a “second chance” at tech leadership
Europe’s digital policy chief Margrethe Vestager says Europe has a “second chance” to compete with tech sectors in the US and China, by using artificial intelligence (AI) to leverage big data from Europe’s largest companies, according to Politico. “One of the reasons why we don’t have a Facebook and we don’t have a Tencent is that […]
Europe’s parliament says it won’t use facial recognition, in response to leaked memo
The European Parliament has clarified that it won’t use facial recognition technology, responding to the leak of an internal memo suggesting it could be used for “biometric-based security and services to members,” according to The Guardian. The page has been removed from the parliament’s “digital transformation programme,” and a spokesperson said there “is no project of facial […]
Facebook launches tools for users to track and control third-party data collection
Facebook has launched its “Off-Facebook Activity” tool in the UK and other regions, giving users more transparency and a degree of control over data collected on their activities beyond the social media platform, according to BBC News. Many websites and apps collect data on a user’s activity and send it to Facebook, where it’s linked to […]
UK will allow Huawei to build 5G networks, but with key restrictions
The UK has announced that it will allow Huawei to develop certain elements of the nation’s 5G network, rejecting calls from US officials to ban the Chinese firm entirely, according to BBC News. However, the company’s participation will come with restrictions. Huawei will be prevented from working on certain sensitive, or “core” elements of the […]
Most requests for cookie consent don’t comply with EU rules, new research suggests
Most consent requests for digital cookies to track users’ web activity do not comply with Europe’s data collection regulations, according to new research, detailed in a report from TechCrunch. The findings echo another study published in August, which also suggested that consent notices routinely fail to offer the meaningful choice required by EU law—which states that […]
Russia has tested a controlled, domestic alternative to the global internet
Russia’s Ministry of Communications says it has successfully tested a domestic alternative to the global internet, according to BBC News. While providing few details, the ministry said that Russian internet users did not notice any changes during a test run in which the domestic internet replaced global access. President Vladimir Putin framed the move as a […]
US official warns China could steal state secrets and “intimate” data on UK citizens if Huawei is involved in 5G networks
Huawei’s involvement in 5G mobile networks poses a risk for the UK’s citizens and intelligence agencies, US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien has warned, according to Reuters. Using the Chinese telecom firm’s equipment in 5G infrastructure could create backdoors allowing the theft of “wholesale state secrets” as well as “intimate” data on UK citizens, he told […]
Social media platforms should ‘open up’ algorithms to combat fake content, says Vĕra Jourová
European Commission Vice President Vĕra Jourová says tech companies need to work harder to eliminate fake accounts and the spread of disinformation online, following a report Friday from a NATO research group showing that fake content is still thriving on most platforms, according to Politico. The report from the Latvia-based Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence showed […]