Meta's Use of Publicly Shared Data for AI Training

Kurt 'Cyberguy' Knutsson discusses how Meta (Facebook and Instagram) is using publicly shared content from U.S. accounts to train AI models without offering an opt-out option, contrasting with the situation in Europe where laws protect users better. Users in the U.S. can only prevent their data from being used by making their accounts private or deleting public posts.

Apple's Potential AI Partnership with Meta

Apple is in talks with Meta for a potential AI partnership following a recent collaboration with OpenAI. Apple's AI strategy focuses on practical enhancements to existing products. The partnership with Meta could diversify Apple's AI resources and validate Meta's generative AI technology. Apple offers partners access to its distribution network instead of direct financial compensation. Concerns from Elon Musk about the integration of ChatGPT into Apple's systems have been addressed by Apple.

Instagram pushing sexually suggestive content to underage users

Research shows that Instagram pushes sexually suggestive content to underage users, contradicting Meta's claims of prioritizing age-appropriate content. Despite efforts to reduce exposure, internal and external analyses reveal higher rates of pornography, gore, and hate speech for young users compared to adults.

Meta Engineer Lawsuit for Sexist Work Environment

A Meta engineer has filed a lawsuit against the company, accusing it of fostering a sexist work environment and retaliating against him for advocating for female employees. The lawsuit alleges that Meta overlooks sexist treatment of female employees and promotes less qualified men over more qualified women. Despite raising concerns, the engineer claims he faced negative repercussions. The lawsuit aims to hold Meta accountable for violating anti-retaliation and anti-interference laws.

Racial Bias in Meta's Educational Ads Algorithms

A study by researchers from Princeton University and USC suggests that Meta's algorithms for educational ads show signs of racial bias, favoring for-profit universities with predatory practices to black users. This raises concerns about discrimination beyond housing, employment, and credit. Meta settled a previous lawsuit with HUD over discriminatory housing ads in 2022.

Mark Zuckerberg's Open-Source A.I. System

Mark Zuckerberg's decision to release an open-source A.I. system has made him popular in the tech community, despite past issues with developers. The move has been praised for making A.I. technology widely accessible and beneficial for all.

Argentina's President Javier Milei meeting with top tech executives in the U.S.

Argentina's President Javier Milei is set to meet with top-level executives from Google, Meta, and Apple during a trip to the United States. He will also speak at various events and meet with economists, investors, and entrepreneurs linked to artificial intelligence.

Record Dividend Payments in Q1 2024

Companies paid a record amount in dividends to shareholders in the first quarter of 2024, with an increase of 2.4% from the same period in 2023. Alibaba and Meta made their first-ever dividend payments, contributing to half of the growth.

Meta's AI-Powered Wearables Project 'Camerabuds'

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is developing AI-powered earphones with cameras called 'Camerabuds' for surveillance capitalism data gathering. Mark Zuckerberg is actively involved in the project, which faces technical challenges and privacy concerns.

Election Interference by Meta Against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accuses Meta of election interference for censoring a biographical film about him on Facebook and Instagram. Meta allegedly blocked the video, claiming it contained graphic and violent content or violated community standards. Kennedy's campaign plans to file a lawsuit against Meta for censorship.

Letter to Meta CEO about Election Misinformation Ads

Several Democratic secretaries of state have sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg asking to stop allowing ads claiming the 2020 presidential election was stolen, citing concerns about erosion of trust in elections and threats of political violence against election workers.

Meta's Oversight Board Job Cuts

Meta's Oversight Board, responsible for content moderation on Facebook and Instagram, is planning job cuts. The board, funded by Meta, is restructuring to prioritize impactful work. Despite layoffs, Meta remains committed to the board's success and transparency. Concerns arise about misinformation policing as the 2024 US presidential election nears. AI-generated content adds complexity to content moderation efforts.

European Regulators Investigate Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Over Misinformation Concerns

European regulators launch investigation into Mark Zuckerberg's Meta over concerns of misinformation and foreign interference on Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp ahead of EU elections. EU demands Meta to bolster safeguards against misleading ads, deepfakes, and deceptive content. The investigation highlights the EU's firm stance on content moderation failures by big tech.

Instagram Safety Feature for Minors

Instagram, owned by Mark Zuckerberg's Meta, is launching a new safety feature to blur and discourage sending nude images to minors in direct messages. The feature aims to protect children and create a safer environment on the platform.

Meta's New AI Labeling System to Address Misuse During 2024 Presidential Election

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is introducing new labels to identify AI-generated content on its platforms in an effort to combat potential misuse of AI during the 2024 presidential election. Critics are skeptical of Mark Zuckerberg's motives, citing past censorship controversies.

Freedom of Speech and Government Monitoring

FBI agents interrogate woman over Facebook posts, citing safety concerns. Meta hands over data to law enforcement in response to court orders or emergencies. Woman knew her rights and recorded the interaction. FBI claims investigations are based on valid law enforcement purposes, not First Amendment activities.

Meta's Decision to Stop Original Shows on Facebook Watch

Meta has stopped supporting original shows on Facebook Watch after a series of cost cuts, with allegations that this decision was influenced by a strong business relationship with Netflix. Court documents in an antitrust suit claim that Facebook gave Netflix access to users' private messages in exchange for business benefits.

European Commission Investigates Apple, Google, and Meta for DMA Compliance

The European Commission has initiated investigations into Apple, Google, and Meta to ensure compliance with the new Digital Markets Act antitrust rules, citing concerns over their proposed solutions. The investigations will focus on various aspects of the companies' practices, with potential fines of up to 10% of annual global revenue for non-compliance.

EU probes Apple, Google, Meta under new digital law

The EU has started probes against Apple, Google, and Meta under the Digital Markets Act, suspecting that they are not complying with their obligations.

Instagram Restricting Political Content

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faces backlash after Instagram restricts political content, leading to accusations of censorship ahead of the 2024 election. The move has sparked outrage among users and journalists, with concerns raised about the impact on democracy.

Facebook and Instagram Outage

Users are facing difficulties accessing Facebook and Instagram due to a reported outage, possibly linked to a hack on Meta platforms. The issue affected various locations across the USA, with prominent hotspot areas along the West Coast. Meta spokesperson confirmed the technical issue and assured users that they are working on resolving it.

Facebook and Instagram Outages

Users are facing issues accessing Facebook and Instagram amid fears of a possible hack on Meta platforms. Outages have been reported across the USA, with hotspot areas along the West Coast. Meta spokesperson acknowledged the technical issue and assured users that they are working on resolving it.

Social Media Outages

Facebook and Instagram suffered massive outages, affecting potentially millions of users worldwide. The issue also impacted Threads, Facebook Messenger, and briefly WhatsApp. Reports on Down Detector exceeded 90,000 for Facebook and 15,000 for Instagram, with more than half a million users in the US reporting the outage. Meta-owned platforms acknowledged the issue and are working on resolving it.

Meta discontinues Facebook's news feature for US and Australian users

Meta announces discontinuation of Facebook's news feature for US and Australian users in April, prompting backlash from lawmakers. The move is part of an effort to focus on products users value more, such as short form video content.

Meta to Stop Paying News Publishers in Australia

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced that it will stop paying news publishers in Australia, France, and Germany, drawing criticism from Australian government officials who argue that this move threatens the revenue of news outlets. The decision is seen as a dereliction of commitment to the sustainability of Australian news media.

Texas Billionaire John Arnold Joins Meta Board, Raises Concerns About Censorship

Texas billionaire John Arnold joined the board of Meta, parent company of Facebook and Instagram, raising concerns about censorship of 'misinformation' and impact on free speech rights. Arnold Ventures has donated millions to organizations dedicated to combatting alleged disinformation, including leftist news outlets and projects promoting censorship.