WEATHER ALERT
Supreme Court allows multibillion-dollar class action to proceed against Meta
Read full article: Supreme Court allows multibillion-dollar class action to proceed against MetaThe Supreme Court is allowing a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against Facebook parent Meta stemming from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm.
Judge tosses Huckabee lawsuit against Meta over ads suggesting he endorsed marijuana gummies
Read full article: Judge tosses Huckabee lawsuit against Meta over ads suggesting he endorsed marijuana gummiesA federal judge in Delaware has dismissed a lawsuit filed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee against social media giant Meta over advertisements using his name and image to sell CBD products.
EU slaps Meta with a nearly 800 million euro fine for engaging in 'abusive' Marketplace practices
Read full article: EU slaps Meta with a nearly 800 million euro fine for engaging in 'abusive' Marketplace practicesEuropean Union regulators hit Facebook parent Meta with a fine of nearly 800 million euros on Thursday for what it calls “abusive practices” involving its Marketplace online classified ads business.
Australian states back national plan to ban children younger than 16 from social media
Read full article: Australian states back national plan to ban children younger than 16 from social mediaAustralia’s states and territories have unanimously backed a world-first national plan to ban children younger than 16 from most forms of social media.
Australia plans a social media ban for children under 16
Read full article: Australia plans a social media ban for children under 16The Australian government announced on Thursday what it described as world-leading legislation that would set an age limit of 16 years for children to start using social media, and hold platforms responsible for ensuring compliance.
Meta lays off staff at WhatsApp and Instagram to align with 'strategic goals'
Read full article: Meta lays off staff at WhatsApp and Instagram to align with 'strategic goals'Meta says it has laid off some employees, including staff at WhatsApp And Instagram, to realign its resources with its “strategic goals.”.
Austrian activist Schrems wins privacy case against Meta over personal data on sexual orientation
Read full article: Austrian activist Schrems wins privacy case against Meta over personal data on sexual orientationThe European Union’s top court has said that social media company Meta can’t use public information about a user’s sexual orientation obtained outside its platforms for personalized advertising under the bloc’s strict data privacy rules.
Meta unveils cheaper VR headset, AI updates and shows off prototype for holographic AR glasses
Read full article: Meta unveils cheaper VR headset, AI updates and shows off prototype for holographic AR glassesMeta has unveiled updates to the company’s virtual reality headset and Ray Ban smart glasses along as it tries to demonstrate its artificial intelligence prowess and the next generation of computing platforms beyond smartphones and computers.
Instagram makes teen accounts private as pressure mounts on the app to protect children
Read full article: Instagram makes teen accounts private as pressure mounts on the app to protect childrenInstagram is introducing separate teen accounts for those under 18 as it tries to make the platform safer for children amid growing backlash against how social media affects young people’s lives.
Facebook owner Meta bans Russia state media outlets over 'foreign interference'
Read full article: Facebook owner Meta bans Russia state media outlets over 'foreign interference'Meta is banning Russia state media organization from its social media company platforms, alleging that the outlets used deceptive tactics to amplify Moscow’s propaganda.
Meta oversight panel says political content cuts could limit dissent in crises including Venezuela's
Read full article: Meta oversight panel says political content cuts could limit dissent in crises including Venezuela'sMeta’s efforts to scale back political content on its platforms could limit the reach of people’s expressions of dissent or awareness during crises, including Venezuela’s post-election crisis.
Meta agrees to $1.4B settlement with Texas in privacy lawsuit over facial recognition
Read full article: Meta agrees to $1.4B settlement with Texas in privacy lawsuit over facial recognitionOfficials say Meta has agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with Texas in a privacy lawsuit over allegations that the tech giant used biometric data of users without their permission.
Meta's Oversight Board says deepfake policies need update and response to explicit image fell short
Read full article: Meta's Oversight Board says deepfake policies need update and response to explicit image fell shortMeta's Oversight Board says the company failed to take down an AI-generated intimate image of an Indian female public figure that violated its policies until the board got involved.
Meta takes down thousands of Facebook, Instagram accounts running sextortion scams from Nigeria
Read full article: Meta takes down thousands of Facebook, Instagram accounts running sextortion scams from NigeriaMeta says it has removed about 63,000 Instagram accounts engaging in sexual extortion scams.
Facebook lifts restrictions on Trump, giving him equal footing with Biden on the social media site
Read full article: Facebook lifts restrictions on Trump, giving him equal footing with Biden on the social media siteFacebook has lifted restrictions imposed on Donald Trump after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
The Supreme Court rules for Biden administration in a social media dispute with conservative states
Read full article: The Supreme Court rules for Biden administration in a social media dispute with conservative statesThe Supreme Court has sided with the Biden administration in a dispute with Republican-led states over how far the federal government can go to combat controversial social media posts on topics including COVID-19 and election security.
JuJu Watkins enjoying summer, dreams of playing in 2028 Olympics in hometown Los Angeles
Read full article: JuJu Watkins enjoying summer, dreams of playing in 2028 Olympics in hometown Los AngelesJuJu Watkins has already thought about how special it would be to play for the U.S. in 2028 at the Olympics in her hometown of Los Angeles.
New York moves to limit 'addictive' social media feeds for kids
Read full article: New York moves to limit 'addictive' social media feeds for kidsNew York's governor has signed a bill that would allow parents to block their children from getting social media posts suggested by a platform’s algorithm, a move to limit feeds critics argue are addictive.
Facebook owner Meta seeks to train AI model on European data as it faces privacy concerns
Read full article: Facebook owner Meta seeks to train AI model on European data as it faces privacy concernsMeta said Monday it wants to use data from users in privacy-conscious Europe to train its artificial intelligence models.
Supreme Court will take up Meta's bid to end lawsuit over Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal
Read full article: Supreme Court will take up Meta's bid to end lawsuit over Cambridge Analytica privacy scandalThe Supreme Court has agreed to consider shutting down a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit against Facebook parent Meta stemming from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm.
Democratic officials criticize Meta ad policy, saying it amplifies lies about 2020 election
Read full article: Democratic officials criticize Meta ad policy, saying it amplifies lies about 2020 electionSeveral Democrats serving as their state’s top election officials have sent a letter to the parent company of Facebook, asking it to stop allowing ads that claim the 2020 presidential election was stolen.
As India votes, misinformation surges on social media: 'The whole country is paying the price'
Read full article: As India votes, misinformation surges on social media: 'The whole country is paying the price'Misinformation about India's election is surging online as the world's most populous country votes.
Judge dismisses Meta shareholder lawsuit claiming that directors' obligations extend beyond company
Read full article: Judge dismisses Meta shareholder lawsuit claiming that directors' obligations extend beyond companyA Delaware judge has dismissed a shareholder lawsuit asserting novel claims about the roles of corporate leaders and arguing that the loyalties of Meta directors and company founder Mark Zuckerberg should not lie exclusively with the social media giant.
Russia convicts the spokesperson for Facebook owner Meta in a swift trial in absentia
Read full article: Russia convicts the spokesperson for Facebook owner Meta in a swift trial in absentiaAn independent Russian news site has reported that a court in Russia convicted the spokesperson of U.S. technology company Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, of justifying terrorism and sentenced him to six years in prison in absentia.
Facebook News tab will soon be unavailable as Meta scales back news and political content
Read full article: Facebook News tab will soon be unavailable as Meta scales back news and political contentMeta will be sunsetting Facebook News in early April for users in the U.S. and Australia as the platform further deemphasizes news and politics.
State AGs send letter to Meta asking it to take 'immediate action' on user account takeovers
Read full article: State AGs send letter to Meta asking it to take 'immediate action' on user account takeoversA group of 40 state attorneys general have sent a letter to Instagram and Facebook parent company Meta expressing concern over what they say is dramatic uptick of consumer complaints about account takeovers and lockouts.
Social media outages hurt small businesses -- so it's important to have a backup plan
Read full article: Social media outages hurt small businesses -- so it's important to have a backup planThe Meta outage that affected Facebook, Messenger and Instagram for a few hours on Tuesday was an inconvenience for most.
Europe's Digital Markets Act is forcing tech giants to make changes. Here's what that will look like
Read full article: Europe's Digital Markets Act is forcing tech giants to make changes. Here's what that will look likeEuropeans scrolling their phones and computers this week will get new choices for default browsers and search engines, where to download iPhone apps and how their personal online data is used.
Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Threads logins restored after widespread outage
Read full article: Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Threads logins restored after widespread outageA technical issue had caused widespread login issues for more than an hour across Meta’s Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Messenger platforms on Tuesday.
Zuckerberg meets LG, Samsung chiefs in Seoul as Meta ramps up AI ambitions
Read full article: Zuckerberg meets LG, Samsung chiefs in Seoul as Meta ramps up AI ambitionsMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has discussed cooperation on extended reality devices with LG Electronics executives as part of his visit to South Korea that highlights Meta’s ambitions in artificial intelligence.
Tech companies sign accord to combat AI-generated election trickery
Read full article: Tech companies sign accord to combat AI-generated election trickeryMajor technology companies signed a pact Friday to voluntarily adopt “reasonable precautions” to prevent artificial intelligence tools from disrupting democratic elections worldwide.
Meta removes Instagram and Facebook accounts for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Read full article: Meta removes Instagram and Facebook accounts for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali KhameneiMeta has removed Instagram and Facebook accounts run on behalf of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after criticism over his support for Hamas after its Oct. 7 attack on Israel that sparked the monthslong war still raging in the Gaza Strip.
‘It is public information after all:’ UCF student tracking Taylor Swift’s jet responds to threat of legal action
Read full article: ‘It is public information after all:’ UCF student tracking Taylor Swift’s jet responds to threat of legal actionJack Sweeney, the University of Central Florida student tracking Taylor Swift’s jet and the plans of other celebrities, released a statement after the uber-popular pop star threatened legal action against him.
Meta says it will label AI-generated images on Facebook and Instagram
Read full article: Meta says it will label AI-generated images on Facebook and InstagramFacebook and Instagram users will start seeing made-by-AI labels on deepfake images that appear on their social media feeds, part of a broader tech industry initiative to sort between what’s real and not.
Meta, TikTok, other social media CEOs to testify before Senate committee on child exploitation
Read full article: Meta, TikTok, other social media CEOs to testify before Senate committee on child exploitationSexual predators. Addictive features. Self-harm and eating disorders. Unrealistic beauty standards. Bullying. These are just some of the issues young people are dealing with on social media — and children’s advocates and lawmakers say companies are not doing enough to protect them.
Meta, TikTok and other social media CEOs testify in heated Senate hearing on child exploitation
Read full article: Meta, TikTok and other social media CEOs testify in heated Senate hearing on child exploitationThe CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies have testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about child safety on their platforms.
As Florida Senate moves on social media ban, Instagram issues new teen restrictions
Read full article: As Florida Senate moves on social media ban, Instagram issues new teen restrictionsA bill banning social media for Florida children under 16 will be heard in the Florida Senate, according to the chamber’s president.
Court documents underscore Meta's 'historical reluctance' to protect children on Instagram
Read full article: Court documents underscore Meta's 'historical reluctance' to protect children on InstagramNewly unredacted documents from New Mexico’s lawsuit against Meta underscore the company’s historical reluctance to keep children safe on its platforms.
Florida House ready to OK social media restrictions for minors
Read full article: Florida House ready to OK social media restrictions for minorsThe Florida House is poised to pass a bill aimed at preventing children under age 16 from using social media, as parts of the tech industry argue the measure could be unconstitutional and create data privacy concerns.
Meta to hide posts about suicide, eating disorders from teens' Instagram and Facebook feeds
Read full article: Meta to hide posts about suicide, eating disorders from teens' Instagram and Facebook feedsMeta says it will start hiding inappropriate content from teenagers’ accounts on Instagram and Facebook.
A judge has temporarily halted enforcement of an Ohio law limiting kids’ use of social media
Read full article: A judge has temporarily halted enforcement of an Ohio law limiting kids’ use of social mediaA federal judge has temporarily halted enforcement of an Ohio law that would require children under 16 to get parental consent to use social media apps.
A group representing TikTok, Meta and X sues Ohio over new law limiting kids' use of social media
Read full article: A group representing TikTok, Meta and X sues Ohio over new law limiting kids' use of social mediaA trade group representing TikTok, Snapchat, Meta and other major tech companies has sued Ohio over a pending law that requires children to get parental consent to use social media apps.
Social media companies made $11 billion in US ad revenue from minors, Harvard study finds
Read full article: Social media companies made $11 billion in US ad revenue from minors, Harvard study findsA study from Harvard says social media companies collectively made over $11 billion in U.S. advertising revenue from minors last year.
Meta attorneys ask judge to dismiss suit claiming that directors' obligations extend beyond company
Read full article: Meta attorneys ask judge to dismiss suit claiming that directors' obligations extend beyond companyAttorneys for Meta and Mark Zuckerberg are asking a Delaware judge to dismiss a shareholder lawsuit asserting that the loyalties of company directors should not lie exclusively with the social media giant.
Meta's initial decisions to remove 2 videos of Israel-Hamas war reversed by Oversight Board
Read full article: Meta's initial decisions to remove 2 videos of Israel-Hamas war reversed by Oversight BoardA quasi-independent review board has ruled that Facebook parent company Meta should overturn two decisions it made this fall to remove posts “informing the world about human suffering on both sides” of the Israel-Hamas war.
AI's future could be 'open-source' or closed. Tech giants are divided as they lobby regulators
Read full article: AI's future could be 'open-source' or closed. Tech giants are divided as they lobby regulatorsTech leaders have been vocal proponents of the need to regulate artificial intelligence, but they’re also lobbying hard to make sure the new rules work in their favor.
TikTok and Meta challenge Europe's new rules that crack down on digital giants
Read full article: TikTok and Meta challenge Europe's new rules that crack down on digital giantsTikTok and Meta are filing legal challenges against new European Union rules designed to counter the dominance of digital giants and make online competition fairer by giving consumers more choice.
European privacy officials widen ban on Meta's behavioral advertising to most of Europe
Read full article: European privacy officials widen ban on Meta's behavioral advertising to most of EuropeEuropean privacy officials have widened a ban on Meta's “behavioral advertising” practices to most of Europe.
Meta rolls out paid ad-free option for European Facebook and Insta users after privacy ruling
Read full article: Meta rolls out paid ad-free option for European Facebook and Insta users after privacy rulingFacebook and Instagram users in Europe are getting the option to pay for ad-free versions of the social media platforms as a way to comply with the continent’s strict data privacy rules.
States sue Meta for harming young people’s mental health, collecting data on children
Read full article: States sue Meta for harming young people’s mental health, collecting data on childrenDozens of US states, including California, New York, Arizona and Indiana are suing Meta Platforms Inc. for harming young people’s mental health and contributing the youth mental health crisis by knowingly designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to the platforms.
EU demands Meta and TikTok detail efforts to curb disinformation from Israel-Hamas war
Read full article: EU demands Meta and TikTok detail efforts to curb disinformation from Israel-Hamas warThe European Union has demanded Meta and TikTok detail their efforts to curb illegal content and disinformation during the Israel-Hamas war.
'Addictive' social media feeds that keep children online targeted by New York lawmakers
Read full article: 'Addictive' social media feeds that keep children online targeted by New York lawmakersNew York is bidding to put new controls on social media platforms that state leaders say will protect the mental health of younger users.
Social media is awash in misinformation about Israel-Gaza war, but Musk's X is the most egregious
Read full article: Social media is awash in misinformation about Israel-Gaza war, but Musk's X is the most egregiousWhile Twitter has always struggled with combating misinformation about major news events, it was still the go-to place to find out what’s happening in the world.
Facebook and Instagram users in Europe could get ad-free subscription option, WSJ reports
Read full article: Facebook and Instagram users in Europe could get ad-free subscription option, WSJ reportsMeta plans to give Facebook and Instagram users in Europe the option of paying for ad-free versions of the social media platforms as a way to comply with the continent’s strict data privacy rules.
Supreme Court pauses order curbing Biden administration efforts to block social media posts
Read full article: Supreme Court pauses order curbing Biden administration efforts to block social media postsThe Supreme Court has temporarily blocked enforcement of a lower court order curbing Biden administration efforts to combat controversial social media posts.
TikTok Shop launches in the U.S. as the company bets big on e-commerce
Read full article: TikTok Shop launches in the U.S. as the company bets big on e-commerceAfter months of testing, TikTok is fully launching its e-commerce product in the U.S., in an effort to translate the app’s cultural relevance among young consumers to sales.
Court sides with Norwegian regulator's $100K daily fine imposed on Meta over ad privacy concerns
Read full article: Court sides with Norwegian regulator's $100K daily fine imposed on Meta over ad privacy concernsMeta has lost a legal battle to freeze an order from Norway’s data protection authority that imposes hefty fines on the Facebook and Instagram owner over advertising practices deemed to violate user privacy.
EU targets Apple, Amazon, Meta and other Big Tech in next phase of digital crackdown
Read full article: EU targets Apple, Amazon, Meta and other Big Tech in next phase of digital crackdownThe European Union is targeting six Big Tech companies including Amazon, Apple and Microsoft under new digital rules aimed at reining in the market power of online companies.
Elon Musk says X, formerly Twitter, will have voice and video calls, updates privacy policy
Read full article: Elon Musk says X, formerly Twitter, will have voice and video calls, updates privacy policyElon Musk says his social network X, formerly known as Twitter, will give users the ability to make voice and video calls on the platform.
Thailand threatening to shut down Facebook, alleging it doesn't screen ads well enough
Read full article: Thailand threatening to shut down Facebook, alleging it doesn't screen ads well enoughA Thai Cabinet minister is threatening to try to shut down Facebook in the country, saying the social media platform does not do enough to screen the advertisements it runs, leaving people vulnerable to costly scams.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slams Facebook for blocking Canada wildfire news
Read full article: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slams Facebook for blocking Canada wildfire newsCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Facebook of putting profits over people’s safety during Canada’s wildfire emergencies.
For Mark Zuckerberg's Threads, the real rival is still TikTok -- not the former Twitter
Read full article: For Mark Zuckerberg's Threads, the real rival is still TikTok -- not the former TwitterThreads, the simple, bare-bones text-based social network created by Facebook owner Meta, burst onto the scene during a particularly bad week for the rival then still known as Twitter.
Facebook owner Meta carries out threat to block news in Canada. Google plans to do the same
Read full article: Facebook owner Meta carries out threat to block news in Canada. Google plans to do the sameFacebook and Instagram parent company Meta is keeping its promise to block news content in Canada on its platforms in response to a new law that requires tech giants to pay publishers for linking to or otherwise repurposing their content online.
Deep dive into Meta's algorithms shows that America's political polarization has no easy fix
Read full article: Deep dive into Meta's algorithms shows that America's political polarization has no easy fixA team of some of the world's leading social media researchers has published four studies looking at the relationship between the algorithms used by Facebook and Instagram and America's widening political divide.
Are you a Facebook user? You have one month left to apply for a share of this $725M settlement
Read full article: Are you a Facebook user? You have one month left to apply for a share of this $725M settlementU.S. Facebook users have one more month to apply for their share of a $725 million privacy settlement that parent company Meta agreed to pay late last year.
Musk says Twitter is losing cash because advertising is down and the company is carrying heavy debt
Read full article: Musk says Twitter is losing cash because advertising is down and the company is carrying heavy debtElon Musk says Twitter is losing cash because advertising is still down sharply and the social media company is carrying heavy debt.
3 tax prep firms shared 'extraordinarily sensitive' data about taxpayers with Meta, lawmakers say
Read full article: 3 tax prep firms shared 'extraordinarily sensitive' data about taxpayers with Meta, lawmakers saySome congressional Democrats say three large tax preparation firms sent “extraordinarily sensitive” information on tens of millions of taxpayers to Facebook parent company Meta over at least two years.
'Clone' or competitor? Users and lawyers compare Twitter and Threads
Read full article: 'Clone' or competitor? Users and lawyers compare Twitter and ThreadsIn a cease-and-desist letter earlier this week, Twitter threatened legal action against Instagram parent company Meta over the new text-based app, Threads.
Canada's government to stop advertising on Facebook and Instagram after Meta says it will block news
Read full article: Canada's government to stop advertising on Facebook and Instagram after Meta says it will block newsCanada's government says it will stop advertising on Facebook and Instagram in response to Meta’s decision to block access to news content on their social platforms as part of a temporary test.
Oversight board recommends Facebook suspend Cambodian premier's account for violent language
Read full article: Oversight board recommends Facebook suspend Cambodian premier's account for violent languageA quasi-independent review board is recommending that Facebook temporarily suspend the social media accounts of Cambodia's prime minister.
Instagram and Facebook are adding more parental controls. Critics say they aren't enough
Read full article: Instagram and Facebook are adding more parental controls. Critics say they aren't enoughInstagram and Facebook are adding new parental supervision tools and privacy features beginning Tuesday, but critics say the steps don't go far enough.
Canada will require Google and Meta to pay media outlets for news under bill set to become law
Read full article: Canada will require Google and Meta to pay media outlets for news under bill set to become lawA Canadian bill that will require Google and Meta to pay media outlets for news content that they share or otherwise repurpose on their platforms is set to become law.
Twitter is the worst major social media platform when it comes to LGBTQ+ safety, says GLAAD
Read full article: Twitter is the worst major social media platform when it comes to LGBTQ+ safety, says GLAADAll major social media platforms do poorly at protecting LGBTQ+ users from hate speech and harassment — especially those who are transgender, non-binary or gender non-conforming, the advocacy group GLAAD said on Thursday.
Is it real or made by AI? Europe wants a label for that as it fights disinformation
Read full article: Is it real or made by AI? Europe wants a label for that as it fights disinformationThe European Union is pushing online platforms like Google and Meta to step up efforts to fight false information by adding labels to text, photos and other content generated by artificial intelligence.
Meta tests blocking news content on Instagram, Facebook for some Canadians
Read full article: Meta tests blocking news content on Instagram, Facebook for some CanadiansMeta is preparing to block news for some Canadians on Facebook and Instagram in a temporary test that is expected to last through the end of June.
California bill requiring Big Tech to pay for news gains momentum
Read full article: California bill requiring Big Tech to pay for news gains momentumA bill that would force Big Tech companies to pay news agencies for using their content passed its first big test in the state Legislature on Thursday.
Meta fined record $1.3 billion and ordered to stop sending European user data to US
Read full article: Meta fined record $1.3 billion and ordered to stop sending European user data to USThe European Union has slapped Meta with a record $1.3 billion privacy fine and ordered it to stop transferring users' personal information to the United States by October.
Are you a Facebook user? You could get some settlement cash
Read full article: Are you a Facebook user? You could get some settlement cashAnyone in the U.S. who has had a Facebook account at any time since May 24, 2007, can now apply for their share of a $725 million privacy settlement that parent company Meta has agreed to pay.
MWC mobile tech fair to show off new phones, AI, metaverse
Read full article: MWC mobile tech fair to show off new phones, AI, metaverseThe latest folding-screen smartphones, immersive metaverse experiences, AI-powered chatbot avatars and other eye-catching technology are set to wow visitors at the annual MWC wireless trade fair.
Facebook ran ads in Moldova for oligarch sanctioned by US
Read full article: Facebook ran ads in Moldova for oligarch sanctioned by USFacebook allowed a Moldovan oligarch with ties to the Kremlin to run ads on its platform urging protests against that country's government — even though he and his political party are subject to U.S. sanctions.
School lawsuits over social media harm face tough legal road
Read full article: School lawsuits over social media harm face tough legal roadLike the tobacco, oil, gun, opioid and vaping industries before them, the big U.S. social media companies are now facing lawsuits brought by public entities that seek to hold them accountable for a huge societal problem in the mental health crisis among youth.