SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Facebook on Thursday said it was moving to prevent the sharing of blueprints for 3D-printed guns on the social network, which violates its rules on regulated goods. “Sharing instructions on how to manufacture firearms using 3D printers or CNC milling machines is not allowed under our Community Standards,” a Facebook spokesman said in response to an AFP inquiry. “In line with our policies, we are removing this content from […]
Tag: Facebook
Internet giants delete content of US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Internet giants launched an offensive Monday against far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who is now banned from Apple, Facebook, Spotify and YouTube. The move, described by Jones as a “coordinated communist-style crackdown,” came after months of criticism against Facebook, Twitter and YouTube calling for them to do more to combat disinformation and hate discourse. Jones, whose site InfoWars has accused victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting of […]
WhatsApp out to make money from business messages
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP)–Facebook on Wednesday set out to make money from WhatsApp with a scheme to connect businesses with customers via the smartphone messaging service. Facebook said it has been testing a “WhatsApp Business” tool for months with more than 90 companies including Uber and Singapore Airlines. “We’re introducing a solution for businesses that require more powerful tools to chat on WhatsApp and a new way for people to quickly start a […]
Facebook uncovers political influence campaign ahead of midterms
by Glenn Chapman, with Michael Mathes in Washington Agence France-Presse SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Facebook said Tuesday it shut down 32 fake pages and accounts involved in an apparent “coordinated” effort to stoke hot-button issues ahead of November midterm US elections, but could not identify the source although Russia is suspected of involvement. It said the “bad actor” accounts on the world’s biggest social network and its photo-sharing site Instagram could […]
Facebook cracks down on bogus posts inciting violence
MENLO PARK, United States (AFP)–Facebook on Wednesday built on its campaign to prevent the platform from being used to spread dangerous misinformation, saying it will remove bogus posts likely to spark violence. The new tactic being spread through the global social network was tested in Sri Lanka, which was recently rocked by inter-religious over false information posted on the world’s leading online social network. “There are certain forms of misinformation that have contributed to physical […]
Britain to fine Facebook over data breach
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain’s data regulator has said it will fine Facebook half a million pounds ($660,000) for failing to protect users’ data, in an inquiry into whether personal information had been misused by campaigns on both sides of Britain’s 2016 EU referendum. An investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has focused on the social media giant since earlier this year, when evidence emerged that an app had been used to […]
Facebook faces Australia data breach compensation claim
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Facebook could face a hefty compensation bill in Australia after a leading litigation funder lodged a complaint with the country’s privacy regulator over users’ personal data shared with a British political consultancy. The social networking giant admitted in April the data of up to 87 million people worldwide — including more than 300,000 in Australia — was harvested by Cambridge Analytica. Under Australian law, all organisations must take “reasonable steps” to […]
WhatsApp offers tips to spot fake news after India murders
NEW DELHI, India (AFP)–WhatsApp took out full-page advertisements in Indian newspapers Tuesday offering “easy tips” to identify fact from fiction after a slew of recent murders spurred by hoaxes shared on its platform. The Facebook-owned messaging service has been under immense pressure to curb the spread of misinformation in India after the lynching of more than 20 people accused of child abduction in the last two months. Most recently a mob surrounded and killed five men […]
Facebook responding to US regulators in data breach probe
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) – Facebook acknowledged Tuesday it was facing multiple inquiries from US and British regulators about the major Cambridge Analytica user data scandal. The leading social network offered no details but its admission confirmed reports of a widening investigation into the misuse of private data by Facebook and its partners. “We are cooperating with officials in the US, UK and beyond,” a Facebook spokesman said in response to an AFP query. “We’ve provided […]
Facebook bug unblocks unwanted connections for a bit
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Facebook on Monday said it is notifying more than 800,000 users that a software bug temporarily unblocked people at the social network and its Messenger service. The glitch active between May 29 and June 5 has been fixed, according to Facebook, which has been striving to regain trust in the aftermath of a Cambridge Analytica data privacy scandal. “We know that the ability to block someone is important,” Facebook […]
Facebook, Google ‘manipulate’ users to share data despite EU law: study
OSLO, Norway (AFP) — Facebook and Google are pushing users to share private information by offering “invasive” and limited default options despite new EU data protection laws aimed at giving users more control and choice, a government study said Wednesday. The Norwegian Consumer Council found that the US tech giants’ privacy updates clash with the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which forces companies to clarify what choices people have when sharing private information. “These […]
Facebook eases ban on cryptocurrency ads
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)–Facebook said Tuesday it was easing a ban on ads for cryptocurrencies while keeping a prohibition on initial coin offerings to raise assets. The move comes five months after the leading social network said it was banning all ads related to cryptocurrencies like bitcoin as a way to curb scams. To place ads on Facebook for cryptocurrencies, companies will need to be pre-approved and offer proof they have licenses or are […]





