Search results for "harmful content online"

Apple to scan U.S. iPhones for images of child sexual abuse

Apple unveiled plans to scan U.S. iPhones for images of child sexual abuse, drawing applause from child protection groups but raising concern among some security researchers that the system could be misused, including by governments looking to surveil their citizens. The tool designed to detected known images of child sexual abuse, called “neuralMatch,” will scan […]

What's in a tag? Twitter revamps misinformation labels

Last May, as Twitter was testing warning labels for false and misleading tweets, it tried out the word “disputed” with a small focus group. It didn’t go over well. “People were like, well, who’s disputing it?” said Anita Butler, a San Francisco-based design director at Twitter who has been working on the labels since December […]

New update for WhatsApp video places quality at the helm

Facebook and WhatsApp are currently testing two separate new updates, that will look to make both platforms a safer space for people to network, while the latter focuses more on its video-sharing quality. WhatsApp Messenger, a subsidiary of Facebook since 2014, is developing a new feature allowing users to control the quality of videos sent […]

Facebook, Twitter, and Google sue Florida over new social media law

Two tech trade groups consisting of Facebook, Twitter, and Google have filed a lawsuit against the state of Florida over a new law that would fine social media companies that bar political candidates, citing a violation of free speech. The lawsuit – which highlighted that the bill was signed by Republican Florida Governor Ron DeStantis […]

EU outlines ambitious AI regulations focused on risky uses

Risky uses of artificial intelligence that threaten people’s safety or rights such as live facial scanning should be banned or tightly controlled, European Union officials said Wednesday as they outlined an ambitious package of proposed regulations to rein in the rapidly expanding technology. The draft regulations from the EU’s executive commission include rules for applications […]

Lawmakers press Big Tech CEOs on speech responsibility

The CEOs of tech giants Facebook, Twitter and Google faced a grilling in Congress Thursday as lawmakers tried to draw them into acknowledging their companies’ roles in fueling the January insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and rising COVID-19 vaccine misinformation. In a hearing by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, lawmakers pounded Facebook CEO Mark […]

GOP pushes bills to allow social media 'censorship' lawsuits

Republican state lawmakers are pushing for social media giants to face costly lawsuits for policing content on their websites, taking aim at a federal law that prevents internet companies from being sued for removing posts. GOP politicians in roughly two dozen states have introduced bills that would allow for civil lawsuits against platforms for what […]

Australia report says make Google and Facebook pay for news

Australia’s Parliament will debate making Google and Facebook pay for news after a Senate committee on Friday recommended no changes to the world-first draft laws. The Senate Economics Legislation Committee has been scrutinizing the bill since it was introduced in Parliament in December. The senators rejected Facebook and Google’s arguments that the so-called media bargaining […]

After booting Trump, Twitter regulations under spotlight in India, Mexico

Micro-blogging giant Twitter seems to be in hot water on multiple fronts this week, as its previous suspension of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s account during his last days in office seem to be haunting the platform. The social media company is facing freedom of speech and regulation-oriented debates over the content that’s being pushed […]

3 social media CEOs face grilling by GOP senators on bias

The CEOs of Twitter, Facebook and Google are facing a grilling by Republican senators making unfounded allegations that the tech giants show anti-conservative bias. The Senate Commerce Committee has summoned Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Google’s Sundar Pichai to testify for a hearing Wednesday. The executives agreed to appear remotely after being […]