Election probe: Facebook, Twitter, Google grapple with technologya s dark side
Facebook wants to bring the world closer together. Twitter vows to protect freedom of expression.
Category Archives: Social Software
Senators expected to largely endorse intel report on Russian…
U.S. Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., left, and Mark Warner, D-Va., enter a meeting of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Sept. 7, 2017, in Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., left, and Mark Warner, D-Va., enter a meeting of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Sept.
How we got played by the Russians on Facebook
Facebook and Twitter say organizations linked to the Russian government used their platforms to influence American voters during the 2016 election. The Washington Post reports that " Russian Facebook ads showed a black woman firing a rifle, amid efforts to stoke racial strife.
Russia’s online ads designed to stoke U.S.’ social divide
One of the Russian-bought advertisements that Facebook shared with congressional investigators on Monday featured photographs of an armed black woman "dry firing" a rifle -- pulling the trigger of the weapon without a bullet in the chamber, according to people familiar with the investigation. Investigators believe the advertisement may have been designed to encourage black militancy and, at the same time, to stoke fears within white communities, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the probe.
Google, Facebook help spread bad info after Las Vegas attack
In the immediate aftermath of the Las Vegas shooting, people turned to Facebook and Google, looking for news about what happened and, in some cases, updates about their friends and loved ones in the area. Perhaps the most egregious strain of misinformation took hold after far-right trolls gathered on 4chan, a forum in which individuals are permitted to post almost anything anonymously, and, through some amateur online sleuthing, misidentified the shooter.
Facebook says estimated 10 million saw Russia-linked ads
Facebook says ads that ran on the company's social media platform and have been linked to a Russian internet agency were seen by an estimated 10 million people before and after the 2016 election. The company turned 3,000 ads over to three congressional committees Monday as part of their investigations into Russian influence in the 2016 election.
Google, Facebook help spread bad information after Las Vegas attack
In the immediate aftermath of the Las Vegas shooting, people turned to Facebook and Google, looking for news about what happened and, in some cases, updates about their friends and loved ones in the area. Perhaps the most egregious strain of misinformation took hold after far-right trolls gathered on 4chan, a forum in which individuals are permitted to post almost anything anonymously, and, through some amateur online sleuthing, misidentified the shooter.
Facebook to give Russia-linked ads to US Congress on October 2
Facebook Inc said it plans on Monday to turn over to the U.S. Congress copies of some 3,000 ads that the social network says were bought on Facebook likely by people in Russia in the months before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Last month, in response to calls from U.S. lawmakers, Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg pledged to hand over the ads to congressional investigators who are looking into alleged Russian involvement in the U.S. presidential election, but he had left the timing unclear.
Mark Zuckerberg seeks forgiveness for division caused by his work
Facebook Inc founder and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg asked for forgiveness for ways his work was used to divide people in a Facebook posting marking the end of Yom Kippur, the Jewish holiday of atonement on Saturday. "For the ways my work was used to divide people rather than bring us together, I ask forgiveness and I will work to do better," Zuckerberg said in the post.
Niall Ferguson: Facebook, Twitter won the day on Election Day
Shortly after last year's presidential election, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and chief executive of Facebook, dismissed as "a pretty crazy idea" the notion that fake news might have decided the contest in Donald Trump's favor. Last week he had to admit that he regrets those words.
Facebook to give Russia-linked ads to US Congress on Monday
Facebook Inc said it plans on Monday to turn over to the US Congress copies of some 3,000 ads that the social network says were bought on Facebook likely by people in Russia in the months before and after the 2016 US election. Last month, in response to calls from US lawmakers, Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg pledged to hand over the ads to congressional investigators who are looking into alleged Russian involvement in the US presidential election, but he had left the timing unclear.
US migrant social media crackdown: I have nothing to hide, oh, wait
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Feds demand Facebook handover private info of ‘anti-administrationa
The Department of Justice is demanding that Facebook provide the government with the private information of three users, including the identities of an estimated 6,000 people who "liked" a page set up in protest of President Donald Trump. In search warrants filed in court , government officials sought the disclosure of a wide swath of personal information from the Facebook accounts of two political activists and a page set up to coordinate protests of Trump on Inauguration Day.
Senator: Twitter’s actions on Russia-linked accounts lacking
Twitter's Carlos Monje, the director of public policy and philanthropy, right, knocks on the door with Colin Crowell, head of global public policy, to enter the closed door meeting Thursday with the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill as part of the investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 elections. Alex Brandon/The Associated Press Twitter's Carlos Monje, the director of public policy and philanthropy, right, knocks on the door with Colin Crowell, head of global public policy, to enter the closed door meeting Thursday with the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill as part of the investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 elections.
NAACP Releases Statement on Racist Photo
The Evansville branch of the NAACP has released a statement concerning a disturbing picture that shows middle school aged boys gathered around an African-American baby doll with a noose around its neck. Apparently taken using the social media platform Snapchat, the photo has been seen and shared by thousands of people on social media.
Twitter Tells Congress it Took Action on 200 Russia-Linked Accounts
Twitter has informed Congress that it found and took action on roughly 200 accounts on its service after determining they were linked to Russia and sought to interfere in American politics. "Of the roughly 450 accounts that Facebook recently shared as a part of their review, we concluded that 22 had corresponding accounts on Twitter.
Facebook, Google, Twitter asked to testify on Russian meddling
Executives from Facebook, Alphabet Inc's Google and Twitter have been asked to testify to the U.S. Congress in coming weeks as lawmakers probe Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. election, committee sources said on Wednesday. A Senate aide said executives from the three firms had been asked by the Senate Intelligence Committee to appear at a public hearing on Nov. 1. The leaders of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee said the panel would hold an open hearing next month with representatives from unnamed technology companies in an effort to "better understand how Russia used online tools and platforms to sow discord in and influence our election."
Mark Warner: I won’t stop trying to expose fake Russia-linked Facebook ads
"We want to try to find a way," he said, "to make some of those ads and other information public." Facebook provided data about the pro-Trump propaganda to special counsel Robert Mueller's team after Mueller obtained a search warrant earlier this month.
Op-Ed Columnist: Will Mark Zuckerberg ‘Like’ This Column?
But now it's really scary, given what we've discovered about the power of his little invention to warp democracy. All these years, the 33-year-old founder of Facebook has been dismissive of the idea that social media and A.I. could be used for global domination - or even that they should be regulated.
Facebook to give Russian ads to Congress, boost transparency
Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said Thursday Russia-linked ads on the huge social network aimed at inflaming tensions around last year's US presidential election will be given to Congress. News of the decision came with word that Facebook is cracking down on efforts to use the leading social network to meddle with elections in the US or elsewhere.