Facebook has announced the start of its independent Oversight Board on content moderation decisions. Facebook users can now appeal content-moderation decisions directly with its independent oversight board. The social media giant said users could go through this system once they had “exhausted the company’s appeal process”. The Board has the ability to overrule Facebook’s verdict … Read more
Facebook users are less likely to press the ‘Like’ button on content they learn is part of a foreign propaganda campaign, a report in the US has found. Researchers have said that Russia is using political memes to polarise Americans, particularly those at the extreme ends of the political spectrum who typically like and share … Read more
Instagram’s owner Facebook has agreed to make it more difficult for users to post advertising content to its photo-sharing platform without clearly labelling it as such. Popular users often sign deals to advertise a product or service on their feed, but the distinction between paid-for content and standard posted content is not always clear. Clear labelling … Read more
The EU Commission has outlined its long-awaited plans to overhaul ageing regulations for digital companies. Under the sweeping plans, the largest tech companies could face hefty fines and the threat of being broken up. The Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act will update the 20-year-old e-Commerce Directive, which regulates digital services in the EU. … Read more
Niche social media platforms like Gab, 4Chan and Telegram have been described as “deeply problematic” due to the amount of misinformation they carry, including broad scepticism over the coronavirus vaccine. Sarah Connolly, who works as director of security and online harms for the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), was asked by … Read more