Washington, United States | AFP | Facebook’s new focus on protecting private user data is likely to change the game for many campaigns, making it harder to deliver highly targeted, personal political messages. The changes unveiled by the huge social network following an outcry over the hijacking of data on …
Read More »1980s classic ‘Karate Kid’ reborn as YouTube joins content wars
New York, United States | AFP | For Generation X, “The Karate Kid” is a pop culture touchstone. Now, more than 30 years on, YouTube wants to bring a new generation into the dojo. Thirteen years after its creation, the wildly popular video-sharing platform is rolling out its first major …
Read More »Google ramps up Gmail privacy controls in major update
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Google on Wednesday ramped up privacy controls in a Gmail overhaul, aiming first at businesses that use its suite of workplace tools hosted in the internet cloud. The “all new” Gmail is available to the more than four million businesses that pay for …
Read More »WhatsApp bans European under-16s from using app
Paris, France | AFP | WhatsApp has raised its minimum age for users in the European Union to 16 years, as the bloc prepares for a new online privacy law to come into force next month. In an update to its terms of service on Wednesday, WhatsApp said the minimum age …
Read More »Spotify ramps up free service in bid for expansion
New York, United States | AFP | Spotify on Tuesday announced a major expansion of its free service, hoping that a more option-rich platform will boost its ambitions to make music streaming even bigger worldwide. Weeks after its successful listing on the New York Stock Exchange, the leading streaming company said …
Read More »Facebook unveils appeal process for when it removes posts
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Facebook said Tuesday it will give users the right to appeal decisions if the social network decides to remove photos, videos or written posts deemed to violate community standards. Plans to roll out an appeals process globally in coming months came as Facebook provided …
Read More »Facebook rejects Australia media calls for regulation
Sydney, Australia | AFP | Tech giant Facebook has opposed calls by Australian media companies for digital platforms to be regulated, amid an inquiry into their impact on competition in news and advertising markets. The government tasked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission earlier this year with assessing whether platforms …
Read More »Facebook confirms it collects data beyond users
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Facebook, embattled in a scandal over the mishandling of user data, confirmed Monday that it also collected information from people beyond their social network use. During heated hearings in Congress last week, CEO Mark Zuckerberg had already explained that Facebook collects data beyond …
Read More »Facebook takes out ads to tout new EU data protection law
2447, Germany | AFP | Facebook took out full-page ads in European newspapers Monday to trumpet tough new EU legislation that promises “more data protection for you”, as the company seeks to win back trust following a damaging privacy scandal. The new law, set to come into effect on May …
Read More »Iran bans foreign social media networks in schools
Tehran, Iran | AFP | Iran’s ministry of education on Sunday banned the use of foreign social media networks in schools, the ILNA news agency reported, amid a push by Tehran to limit the influence of outside online platforms. Schools must “only use domestic social networks” for their communication, the …
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