The Facebook news thread

[Rewind]

I think this story falls under the category "Easier said than done."

Ahead of midterms, Facebook says it will ban fake content designed to suppress voter turnout

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/faceboo...voter-turnout/

[Rewind]

Facebook is being sued for fraud for greatly overstating the number of ad views and then charging the advertisers higher rates. Facebook, of course, denies the charge. By the way, Facebook has informed me that this thread has been viewed more than 700,000 times.

'Far from an honest mistake': Facebook accused of inflating ad data

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/faceboo...awsuit-claims/

[Rewind]

Following huge data breaches, the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the discovery of thousands of fake accounts, Facebook has come under intense scrutiny by European regulators who have imposed stronger privacy protections. Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg have hired a British Liberal Democrat party leader to help Facebook deal with Europe. That's because Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg have enough to deal with in this country.

Facebook hires Nick Clegg, Britain's former deputy prime minister, to lead global affairs

http://www.latimes.com/business/tech...019-story.html

[Rewind]

These major shareholders are upset by all the scandals, data thefts and security breaches -- but they have as much chance of getting Zuckerberg to resign as I have of winning the $1.6 billion Mega Millions jackpot.

Facebook's major investors want Mark Zuckerberg to step down as chairman

https://www.techworm.net/2018/10/fac...-chairman.html

[Rewind]

An election is just a few days away and Facebook is flooded with fake accounts, fake ads, false stories, doctored photos, propaganda, hoaxes and conspiracy theories -- in Brazil. What, did you think I was talking about the United States?

Facebook's WhatsApp flooded with fake news in Brazil election

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-b...-idUSKCN1MU0UP

[Rewind]

Sometimes I think the Russians, the Chinese and the Iranians care about United States elections more than United States citizens do.

Facebook removes 82 Iran-linked accounts spreading false information

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/faceboo...ng-false-info/

[Rewind]

There are so many alt-right groups in the United States now, we can't really call them "alt" anymore, can we?

Facebook removes pages belonging to far-right group 'Proud Boys'
NBC News, Oct 31, 2018 1:10 AM PDT

Facebook has begun taking down pages affiliated with the "Proud Boys," a far-right organization whose members were allegedly involved in a violent fight in New York this month. Pages on Facebook and Instagram that previously belonged to the group disappeared and instead showed messages saying they were not available. The social networking company confirmed the move and cited its policies against hate organizations and figures.

Several members of the Proud Boys were arrested this month, in the days after police said the group was involved in a fight with masked protesters belonging to the anti-fascist coalition Antifa. The fight occurred after Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes gave a speech on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Facebook said in a statement, "We ban these organizations and individuals from our platforms and also remove all praise and support when we become aware of it." Social media services and other tech companies have faced pressure from some users to be more aggressive in enforcing their bars on hate speech, especially as online threats have evolved into violence in the real world. Other users have expressed concern about the companies becoming more powerful arbiters of speech.

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-...d-boys-n926506

[Rewind]

Members of the British and Canadian Parliaments formed a committee to investigate the use of social media to spread misinformation and influence elections. They want Zuckerberg to come to London and testify in person. Will he? I'm guessing he will not "like" the committee's request.

UK-Canada committee wants to question Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook's 'malign use in world affairs and democratic process'

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/faceboo...bined-inquiry/

[Rewind]

Here is a foolproof way to stop fake news and fake accounts on Facebook: Impose a strict, inviolable rule that anyone who wants to make a post has to go to Facebook's headquarters in Menlo Park, present proper identification and submit his proposed message to a team of fact checkers who will post it upon verification of accuracy. Of course the number of daily Facebook posts would drop by 99.99999% -- but would that really be so bad?

Facebook, Twitter make moves to guard against misinformation in 2018 midterms and beyond

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fa...icNn?ocid=AMZN

[Rewind]

Facebook has been trying to put a stop to fake accounts, fake ads, misinformation and election meddling but it's a never-ending battle. At least they came up with a new descriptive term:

Hours before election day, Facebook pulls 115 accounts for 'coordinated inauthentic behavior'

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/techn...o46q?ocid=AMZN