Meta under fire from European Union for not doing enough about election disinformation
11 months ago

Meta under fire from European Union for not doing enough about election disinformation

Associated Press  

LONDON — The European Union said Tuesday that it’s investigating Facebook and Instagram for suspected violations of the bloc’s digital rulebook, including not doing enough to protect users from foreign disinformation ahead of EU-wide elections. The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, said it’s opening formal proceedings into whether parent company Meta Platforms breached the Digital Services Act, a sweeping set of regulations designed to protect internet users and clean up social media platforms under threat of hefty fines worth up to 6% of annual revenue. “We look forward to continuing our cooperation with the European Commission and providing them with further details of this work.” Meta is being scrutinized “for suspected breach of DSA obligations to protect integrity of elections,” European Commissioner Thierry Breton said in a social media post. The Commission said it’s looking into whether Meta is doing enough to curb the spread of “deceptive Officials said they suspected Meta’s content moderation system for Experts worry that new generative AI systems could be used to disrupt the many elections being held around the world this year, by supercharging the ability to spread disinformation at scale.

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History of this topic

Government postpones big stick for big tech until after election after billions in fines recommended
1 month, 4 weeks ago

Government postpones big stick for big tech until after election after billions in fines recommended

ABC  

Plans to toughen online safety requirements for big tech platforms are on ice after the federal government's hand-picked expert recommended threatening Meta, Apple and Google with billions of dollars in fines. The proposed fine would apply to tech platforms that breach a new "duty of care" enforced by the eSafety commissioner that would require them to be proactive about preventing …

'Misleading' and 'not true': EU official slams Meta CEO Zuckerberg over censorship claim
2 months, 2 weeks ago

'Misleading' and 'not true': EU official slams Meta CEO Zuckerberg over censorship claim

Firstpost  

Zuckerberg had criticised Europe’s regulatory landscape. The rebuttal is one of the strongest responses from an EU official amid ongoing tensions with US tech companies over regulatory compliance European Commission Vice President Henna Virkkunen dismissed Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s claim that the European Union is “institutionalising censorship,” calling the statement misleading and untrue. Zuckerberg had criticised Europe’s regulatory landscape, saying, …

Why is Meta shutting down fact-checkers? | Explained
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Why is Meta shutting down fact-checkers? | Explained

The Hindu  

The story so far: On January 7, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company will get rid of fact-checkers and simplify content policies by removing restrictions on topics as it is “out of touch with mainstream discourse.” In a five-minute video, he said that the company will return to its roots as the fact-checkers have been “too politically biased” and …

Meta’s Fact-checking: disinformation experts slam Zuckerberg’s decision
Trending News
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Meta’s Fact-checking: disinformation experts slam Zuckerberg’s decision

The Hindu  

Tech giant Meta's shock announcement that it is ending its US fact-checking program triggered scathing criticism Tuesday from disinformation researchers who warned it risked opening the floodgates for false narratives. Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg announced the company was going to "get rid" of its third-party fact-checkers in the United States, in a sweeping policy shift that analysts saw as …

Meta takes first step to stop social media fact-checking in the European Union: report
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Meta takes first step to stop social media fact-checking in the European Union: report

NL Times  

Meta Platforms said it is not yet planning on abandoning fact-checking efforts in the European Union of social media posts placed on its platforms. However, European Commission sources told Dutch broadcaster NOS that the tech giant already made its first move in that direction by sending the European Union’s executive body a risk analysis about the matter on Tuesday. Meta …

Opinion: Meta is changing its rules and embracing Trump. What does that mean for the world?
Trending News
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Opinion: Meta is changing its rules and embracing Trump. What does that mean for the world?

LA Times  

Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive of Meta, appears at the computer graphics and interactives conference SIGGRAPH 2024 in Denver. Trump and major social media platforms have been warring for years over perceived anti-conservative bias, including Meta’s decision to shutter Trump’s accounts after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Meta will err on the side of leaving up content that does not …

Mark Zuckerberg is given the green light to train new Meta AI technology
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Mark Zuckerberg is given the green light to train new Meta AI technology

Daily Mail  

Mark Zuckerberg has been given the go ahead to train his new Meta AI technology using billions of British Facebook and ­Instagram posts. Meta had not launched its AI tools in the UK or EU due to regulator concerns. Mark Zuckerberg has been given the go ahead to train his new Meta AI technology Meta had not launched its AI …

Competition watchdog accepts Meta ad data rule changes
7 months, 1 week ago

Competition watchdog accepts Meta ad data rule changes

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The UK’s competition watchdog says …

Nigeria fines Meta $220 mn over breach of data protection, consumer rights laws
8 months, 1 week ago

Nigeria fines Meta $220 mn over breach of data protection, consumer rights laws

Firstpost  

The country’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission accused Meta of discriminatory practices, abuse of market dominance, sharing Nigerians’ personal data without authorisation and denying Nigerians the right to determine how their data are used Nigeria has issued a $220 million fine against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, for “multiple and repeated” violations. The country’s Federal Competition …

EU may charge Instagram and Facebook-parent Meta over digital rules violation: Report
9 months ago

EU may charge Instagram and Facebook-parent Meta over digital rules violation: Report

The Hindu  

EU authorities may charge Meta over its model that makes Facebook and Instagram users pay in order to stop their data from being shared, reported Financial Times, citing several anonymous sources. However, EU regulators have previously warned that as per the Digital Markets Act, “gatekeeper platforms” would not be able to “track end users outside of the gatekeepers’ core platform …

Meta halts European AI model launch following Irish government's request
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Meta halts European AI model launch following Irish government's request

India TV News  

Meta, a popular social media company headed by Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly said that it will not launch its Meta AI models in the European market now. At issue is Meta's plan to use personal data to train its artificial intelligence models without seeking consent, the company said THAT it would use publicly available and licensed online information. Meta further …

Intelligence chairman says US may be less prepared for election threats than it was four years ago
9 months, 4 weeks ago

Intelligence chairman says US may be less prepared for election threats than it was four years ago

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — With only five months before voters head to the polls, the U.S. may be more vulnerable to foreign disinformation aimed at influencing voters and undermining democracy than it was before the 2020 election, the leader of the Senate Intelligence Committee said Monday. As a result, the U.S. could face a greater threat of foreign disinformation ahead of the …

Facebook and Instagram face fresh EU digital scrutiny over child safety measures
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Facebook and Instagram face fresh EU digital scrutiny over child safety measures

Associated Press  

LONDON — The European Union opened fresh investigations Thursday into Facebook and Instagram over suspicions that they’re failing to protect children online, in violation of the bloc’s strict digital regulations for social media platforms. It’s the latest round of scrutiny for parent company Meta Platforms under the 27-nation EU’s Digital Services Act, a sweeping set of regulations that took effect …

EU investigates Meta over Facebook and Instagram child safety
10 months, 2 weeks ago

EU investigates Meta over Facebook and Instagram child safety

Al Jazeera  

The European Commission says it is concerned systems used by apps could ‘exploit weaknesses and inexperience’ of children and stimulate ‘addictive behaviour’. European Union regulators have opened a formal investigation into Meta for potential breaches of online content rules relating to child safety in its Facebook and Instagram platforms. Thierry Breton, the EU’s internal market commissioner, said on X the …

EU opens probe into Facebook and Instagram amid claims they are not doing enough to tackle Russian disinformation ahead of crunch elections
11 months ago

EU opens probe into Facebook and Instagram amid claims they are not doing enough to tackle Russian disinformation ahead of crunch elections

Daily Mail  

The European Union has launched an investigation into Facebook and Instagram amid claims they are not doing enough to tackle Russian disinformation which could potentially undermine democracy. 'If we suspect a violation of the rules, we act,' Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Brussels is especially concerned that Meta, the company which runs the social media platforms, does not …

EU launches disinformation probe against social media giant Meta
11 months ago

EU launches disinformation probe against social media giant Meta

Al Jazeera  

Meta defends risk mitigation process after EU says the companies efforts at moderating content was ‘insufficient’. The European Commission has launched a disinformation probe against social media giant Meta. The commission said Meta’s efforts at moderating content are “insufficient” and fail to tackle deceptive advertising and disinformation. The Digital Services Act, which became effective last year, requires “Big Tech” to …

40000 people working at Meta to safeguard global elections online: Mark Zuckerberg
11 months, 2 weeks ago

40000 people working at Meta to safeguard global elections online: Mark Zuckerberg

India TV News  

40000 people working at Meta to safeguard global elections online: Mark Zuckerberg The social media giant also asserted that it has dedicated over $20 billion to develop teams and technology aimed at safeguarding online elections. Meta, the parent company of popular social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, has emphasised its commitment towards safeguarding the global elections in 2024. …

‘Grave step backwards’: Meta shuts monitoring tool in election year
11 months, 4 weeks ago

‘Grave step backwards’: Meta shuts monitoring tool in election year

The Hindu  

A digital tool considered vital in tracking viral falsehoods, CrowdTangle will be decommissioned by Facebook owner Meta in a major election year, a move researchers fear will disrupt efforts to detect an expected firehose of political misinformation. “It represents a grave step backwards for social media platform transparency.” Meta is set to replace CrowdTangle with a new Content Library, a …

Brussels warns social media platforms ahead of EU elections
1 year ago

Brussels warns social media platforms ahead of EU elections

Dutch News  

Social media platforms will face penalties, including legal action, if they do not take steps against disinformation in preparation for the European parliament elections in June, and other elections in Europe this year. The European Commission has published guidelines asking social media to “mitigate systemic risks online that may impact the integrity of elections”. The commission has also called on …

Apple, Google, Meta targeted under new European law to prevent cornering of digital markets
1 year ago

Apple, Google, Meta targeted under new European law to prevent cornering of digital markets

LA Times  

Margrethe Vestager, European commissioner for Europe Fit for the Digital Age, speaks during a media conference regarding the Digital Markets Act at EU headquarters in Brussels on Monday. European Union regulators opened investigations into Apple, Google and Meta on Monday, the first cases under a sweeping new law designed to stop Big Tech companies from cornering digital markets. The European …

Meta targeted in privacy complaints by 8 EU consumer groups
1 year, 1 month ago

Meta targeted in privacy complaints by 8 EU consumer groups

The Hindu  

Meta Platforms was hit with privacy complaints on Thursday as eight EU consumer groups asked watchdogs to act against the Facebook owner for allegedly breaching the bloc's privacy rules when it hoovers up user data. The complaints by the consumer groups in the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain to data protection authorities in their countries …

Meta Has This Plan To Counter Disinformation And AI Abuse In Europe: All Details
1 year, 1 month ago

Meta Has This Plan To Counter Disinformation And AI Abuse In Europe: All Details

News 18  

BRUSSELS: Facebook owner Meta will set up a team to tackle disinformation and the abuse of generative artificial intelligence in the run-up to European Parliament elections in June amid concerns about election interference and misleading AI-generated content. "As the election approaches, we'll activate an Elections Operations Center to identify potential threats and put mitigations in place in real time," Marco …

Meta unveils team to combat disinformation and AI harms in EU elections
1 year, 1 month ago

Meta unveils team to combat disinformation and AI harms in EU elections

Al Jazeera  

Tech giant’s head of EU affairs says team will bring together experts from across the company. Facebook owner Meta has unveiled plans to launch a dedicated team to combat disinformation and harms generated by artificial intelligence ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections. Marco Pancini, Meta’s head of EU affairs, said the “EU-specific Elections Operations Center” would bring together experts …

Spanish newspaper association files multimillion-euro suit against Meta over advertising practices
1 year, 3 months ago

Spanish newspaper association files multimillion-euro suit against Meta over advertising practices

Associated Press  

MADRID — A Spanish association representing more than 80 newspapers has filed a lawsuit against Facebook parent Meta accusing it of unfair competition in online advertising by allegedly ignoring European Union rules on data protection. The association accuses Meta of “systematic and massive non-compliance” with EU data protection regulations between May 2018, when they took force, and July 2023. The …

Spanish newspaper association files multimillion-euro suit against Meta over advertising practices
1 year, 3 months ago

Spanish newspaper association files multimillion-euro suit against Meta over advertising practices

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A Spanish association representing more …

European privacy officials widen ban on Meta's behavioral advertising to most of Europe
1 year, 4 months ago

European privacy officials widen ban on Meta's behavioral advertising to most of Europe

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

European privacy officials widen ban on Meta’s behavioral advertising to most of Europe
1 year, 4 months ago

European privacy officials widen ban on Meta’s behavioral advertising to most of Europe

Associated Press  

SAN FRANCISCO — European officials widened a ban on Meta’s “behavioral advertising” practices to most of Europe on Wednesday, setting up a broader conflict between the continent’s privacy-conscious institutions and an American technology giant. Behavioral advertising, used by Meta’s Facebook and Instagram among many other tech companies, involves observing individual behavior such as browsing habits, mouse clicks and app usage, …

EU demands Meta and TikTok detail efforts to curb disinformation from Israel-Hamas war
1 year, 5 months ago

EU demands Meta and TikTok detail efforts to curb disinformation from Israel-Hamas war

The Hindu  

The European Union on Thursday demanded Meta and TikTok detail their efforts to curb illegal content and disinformation during the Israel-Hamas war, flexing the power of a new law that threatens billions in fines if tech giants fail to do enough to protect users. The European Commission, the 27-nation bloc's executive branch, formally requested that the social media companies provide …

EU demands Meta and TikTok detail efforts to curb disinformation from Israel-Hamas war
1 year, 5 months ago

EU demands Meta and TikTok detail efforts to curb disinformation from Israel-Hamas war

Associated Press  

LONDON — The European Union on Thursday demanded Meta and TikTok detail their efforts to curb illegal content and disinformation during the Israel-Hamas war, flexing the power of a new law that threatens billions in fines if tech giants fail to do enough to protect users. The European Commission, the 27-nation bloc’s executive branch, formally requested that the social media …

EU opens disinformation probes into Meta, TikTok
1 year, 5 months ago

EU opens disinformation probes into Meta, TikTok

New Indian Express  

The European Commission said it had sent formal requests for information to Meta and TikTok respectively in what is the first procedure launched under the EU's new law on digital content. The commission said the request to Meta related "to the dissemination and amplification of illegal content and disinformation" around the Hamas-Israel conflict. The EU's top tech enforcer, Thierry Breton, …

EU opens investigation into X over disinformation concerns
1 year, 5 months ago

EU opens investigation into X over disinformation concerns

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The European Commission has sent the social media giant …

Court sides with Norwegian regulator’s $100K daily fine imposed on Meta over ad privacy concerns
1 year, 6 months ago

Court sides with Norwegian regulator’s $100K daily fine imposed on Meta over ad privacy concerns

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Meta lost a legal battle Wednesday to halt a Norwegian ban on its advertising practices that came with hefty daily fines, in a blow to the U.S. social media giant’s business model. Norwegian regulator Datatilsynet in July announced a “temporary ban” on Facebook and Instagram’s behavioral advertising — a common marketing practice that tech giants like Meta …

Meta to ask EU users' consent to share data for targeted ads
1 year, 7 months ago

Meta to ask EU users' consent to share data for targeted ads

The Hindu  

Social media giant Meta on Tuesday said it intends to ask EU-based users to give their consent before allowing targeted advertising on its networks including Facebook, bowing to pressure from European regulators. It said the changes were to address "evolving and emerging regulatory requirements" amid a bruising tussle with the Irish Data Protection Commission which oversees EU data rules in …

Meta’s Election Research Opens More Questions Than It Answers
55 years, 3 months ago

Meta’s Election Research Opens More Questions Than It Answers

Wired  

In the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election, Meta set out to conduct a series of ambitious studies on the effects its platforms—Facebook and Instagram—have on the political beliefs of US-based users. Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, said in a statement that “the experimental findings add to a growing body of research showing there is little evidence that …

EU court deals blow to Meta in German data case
1 year, 8 months ago

EU court deals blow to Meta in German data case

The Hindu  

Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp may need to overhaul how they collect the data of users in Europe after the top EU court ruled against parent company Meta on Tuesday. The European Court of Justice ruled in favour of Germany's anti-cartel watchdog, which had argued that it could take data privacy issues into account when considering antitrust cases. The German watchdog …

EU welcomes Meta plans for tough content rules
1 year, 9 months ago

EU welcomes Meta plans for tough content rules

The Hindu  

The EU on Friday cautiously welcomed efforts made by Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, to prepare for new European rules on content moderation that kick in on August 25. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg "was very involved and knew exactly where we stand," EU commissioner Thierry Breton told reporters after talks at the social media giant's California headquarters. The …

Meta offers to limit use of ad data to address U.K. competition concerns
1 year, 10 months ago

Meta offers to limit use of ad data to address U.K. competition concerns

The Hindu  

Britain's competition watchdog on Friday said social media giant Meta had offered to limit its use of other businesses' advertising data for its Facebook Marketplace service to address the regulator's competition concerns. The Competition and Markets Authority said it was minded to accept the commitments, which include advertisers being able to opt out of allowing their data to be used …

Meta explores ban on political ads in Europe
2 years ago

Meta explores ban on political ads in Europe

The Hindu  

Meta Platforms Inc. executives are discussing a company-wide ban on political advertising in Europe due to concerns that Facebook and Instagram will be unable to comply with upcoming EU regulations targeting online campaigns, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. The proposed rules require U.S. tech giants to provide more data on their targeted political ads, with fines up to 4% …

EU calls out Twitter for incomplete disinformation report
2 years, 1 month ago

EU calls out Twitter for incomplete disinformation report

Associated Press  

LONDON — Twitter failed to provide a full report to the European Union on its efforts to combat online disinformation, drawing a rebuke Thursday from top officials of the 27-nation bloc. The company signed up to the EU’s voluntary 2022 Code of Practice on Disinformation last year — before billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk bought the social media platform. Google, …

Meta told to reassess legal basis for EU personalised ads
2 years, 2 months ago

Meta told to reassess legal basis for EU personalised ads

The Hindu  

Meta must reassess the legal basis on how Facebook and Instagram use personal data to target advertising in the European Union, its lead privacy regulator in the bloc said on Wednesday when it fined the social media giant 390 million euros for the breaches. The order on personalised advertising was made in December by the EU's privacy watchdog, according to …

EU fines Meta $414 million for privacy violations, prohibits firm from forcing users to agree to personalised ads
2 years, 2 months ago

EU fines Meta $414 million for privacy violations, prohibits firm from forcing users to agree to personalised ads

Firstpost  

London: European Union regulators on Wednesday hit Facebook parent Meta with hundreds of millions in fines for privacy violations and banned the company from forcing users in the 27-nation bloc to agree to personalized ads based on their online activity. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission imposed two fines totaling 390 million euros in its decision in two cases that could shake …

EU accuses Meta of antitrust breaches with classified ads
2 years, 3 months ago

EU accuses Meta of antitrust breaches with classified ads

Associated Press  

The European Union on Monday accused Facebook parent Meta of breaching antitrust rules by distorting competition in the online classified ads business, the bloc’s latest maneuver to curb the power of Big Tech companies. In its complaint following an investigation launched last year, the EU’s executive commission took issue with the tech company tying its online classified ad business, Facebook …

Meta expected to face new fines after EU privacy ruling
2 years, 3 months ago

Meta expected to face new fines after EU privacy ruling

The Hindu  

Meta is expected to face another large fine after Europe's data watchdog on Tuesday imposed binding decisions concerning the treatment of personal data by the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The European Data Protection Supervisor said in a statement that the rulings concerned Meta's use of data for targeted advertising, but did not give details or recommend fines. The …

Facebook to clarify on pre-election activities to Italy’s watchdog
2 years, 6 months ago

Facebook to clarify on pre-election activities to Italy’s watchdog

The Hindu  

Italy's Data Protection Agency has asked Facebook to clarify the activities the social media giant has engaged in ahead of Sunday's national elections, it said on Thursday. Tech giant Meta, which owns social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, has launched an information campaign targeting potential Italian voters ahead of a parliamentary election called for September 25. A Meta …

Meta quieter on election misinformation as midterms loom
2 years, 7 months ago

Meta quieter on election misinformation as midterms loom

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Facebook owner Meta is quietly curtailing some of the safeguards designed to thwart voting misinformation or foreign interference in U.S. elections as the November midterm vote approaches. CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote Facebook posts promising to take down false voting information and authored opinion articles calling for more regulations to tackle foreign interference in U.S. elections via social media. …

Irish watchdog fines Meta 17 million euros for data breach
3 years ago

Irish watchdog fines Meta 17 million euros for data breach

The Hindu  

Ireland's data regulator on Tuesday said it was imposing a 17 million euro fine on Facebook parent Meta Platforms after an inquiry into 12 data breach notifications the regulator received in 2018. The country's Data Protection Commissioner said it had found that "Meta Platforms failed to have in place appropriate technical and organisational measures which would enable it to readily …

Data spat: Meta threatens to pull Facebook, Instagram from Europe
3 years, 1 month ago

Data spat: Meta threatens to pull Facebook, Instagram from Europe

Al Jazeera  

European regulators are currently reworking regulations on how European data is transferred across the Atlantic. Meta Platforms Inc. has threatened to pull Facebook and Instagram from Europe if it is unable to keep transferring user data back to the U.S. European regulators are currently re-working regulation on how European data is transferred across the Atlantic, after the previous Privacy Shield …

UK government fines Facebook for failing to reveal what it is doing – again
3 years, 1 month ago

UK government fines Facebook for failing to reveal what it is doing – again

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Competition and Markets Authority will fine Meta £1.5 million because it did not tell the regulator …

Facebook, Google, Twitter face grilling by U.K. lawmakers
3 years, 5 months ago

Facebook, Google, Twitter face grilling by U.K. lawmakers

The Hindu  

British lawmakers are set to grill Facebook and other tech giants Thursday over how they handle online safety as European efforts to regulate social media companies gain momentum. They provided little firm commitment for U.S. legislation bolstering protection of children from online harm, which lawmakers say ranges from eating disorders, sexually explicit content and material promoting addictive drugs. Facebook whistleblower …

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