Popular pro-Trump internet duo Diamond and Silk will testify before the House Judiciary Committee over growing concerns that social media companies such as Facebook are routinely censoring and suppressing conservative content. The duo, whose real names are Lynnette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson, will attend a panel alongside Corynne McSherry of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and CEO of the News Media Alliance David Chavern to “examine social media filtering and policing practices.”Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), a leading voice on social media censorship who grilled Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the issue last week, will also testify before the committee. Rep. Blackburn recently received President Trump’s endorsement in her bid to become Senator from Tennessee. Representatives from companies such as Facebook, Google, and Twitter were also invited, although it is unclear whether they will attend.“This hearing will focus on … [Read more...] about Diamond and Silk to Testify Before House Judiciary Committee over Facebook Censorship
Zuckerberg Facing Calls to Answer EU Lawmakers over Facebook Data Scandal
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is under increasing pressure to face European Union lawmakers over the recent privacy scandal that has engulfed his company. The President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, has called on Zuckerberg to appear for questioning, adding that sending another executive would not be sufficient.“Let me also stress that one of the Parliament’s future priorities will be to reinforce the regulatory framework to ensure a well-functioning digital market with high-level protection for our citizens,” he wrote in a letter to Facebook. The body’s Justice Commissioner, Vera Jourova, also urged Zuckerberg to attend the parliament following a conversation with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg.“This case is too important to treat as business as usual,” Jourova said this week. “I advised Sheryl Sandberg that Zuckerberg should accept the invitation from the European Parliament. [EU digital chief] Andrius Ansip refers to the … [Read more...] about Zuckerberg Facing Calls to Answer EU Lawmakers over Facebook Data Scandal
Facebook Shrinks Legal Responsibilities Under New EU Data Laws by Shifting User Info to U.S.
Facebook has made moves to shrink their legal responsibilities under new EU data laws by storing as much international user data as possible in the United State instead of Ireland Facebook is reportedly making a change to their Terms and Conditions that will be pushed out next month which will see the user data of all non-EU international users processed by Facebook USA rather than Facebook Ireland, meaning that approximately 1.5 billion Facebook users located in Africa, Asia, Australia and Latin America will not be subject to the new EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) data laws which take effect on May 25, according to Reuters.The new GDPR will allow European regulators to fine companies that collect or use personal data of their users without their permission. The GDPR allows for fines of up to 4 percent of global annual revenue for infractions by companies, making Facebook’s decision to push 1.5 billion users outside of the reach of the GDPR … [Read more...] about Facebook Shrinks Legal Responsibilities Under New EU Data Laws by Shifting User Info to U.S.
Woman given prison for role in streaming live on Facebook a beating of teen with disabilities
A woman accused of taking part in the racially charged assault of a teen with mental disabilities that was livestreamed on Facebook was sentenced to three years in prison Friday after pleading guilty to a hate crime.Tanishia Covington, 25, was the second of four co-defendants to enter a guilty plea to charges of intimidation and aggravated battery as well.The victim and his family looked on quietly in the courtroom — a stark contrast to the national outrage the gruesome video sparked on its posting in January 2017, including from then-President Barack Obama.The video shows the four co-defendants, all African-American, cutting the 18-year-old white victim's scalp with a knife, punching and kicking him and laughing as he was bound and gagged in Covington’s apartment on Chicago's West Side.“I don’t have concrete evidence that this defendant had the knife in her hand, but she was the cheerleader for the … team that did,” Judge William Hooks said as he … [Read more...] about Woman given prison for role in streaming live on Facebook a beating of teen with disabilities
Facebook’s current status with advertisers? It’s complicated
By Sapna Maheshwari Published 3:31 pm, Friday, April 20, 2018 Photo: Richard Drew / Associated Press Image 1of/1 CaptionClose Image 1 of 1 Facebook’s privacy issues are making advertisers cautious about damaging their reputations. Facebook’s privacy issues are making advertisers cautious about damaging their reputations. Photo: Richard Drew / Associated Press Facebook’s current status with advertisers? It’s complicated 1 / 1 Back to Gallery Advertisers are the lifeblood of Facebook, and the vast, personal reach of the social network has been a marketer’s dream. But now, some companies are taking a harder look at how they work with it and hunting for skeletons in their own data closets. Brands are on high alert for how they might be impacted as the social network navigates the … [Read more...] about Facebook’s current status with advertisers? It’s complicated