Australia hits up Facebook for $529BN Haunted by the ghost of 2018’s Cambridge Analytica debacle, Facebook have been served a lawsuit by Australia’s privacy watchdog. The charges concern the personality quiz application ‘This is Your Digital Life’, which shared data with the British data analysis firm. The Australian Information Commissioner alleges the personal data of around 311,127 Australian Facebook users was sold and used for purposes including political profiling.
Australia’s Privacy Act states that a civil penalty of up to $1.7 million could be required per contravention, and with the data of more than 300,000 Australians requested by the app in the pool of approximately 86 million profiles worldwide, this equates to around $529 billion – an amount way above the $5 billion paid in the US, or the £500k paid in the UK over misuse of data.
Facebook help WHO tackle coronavirus Mark Zuckerberg has announced that the social network is granting the World Health Organisation (WHO) unlimited free ads and “other in-kind support” to help it share timely, accurate information about Covid-19. In his post on Facebook, Zuckerberg detailed the steps they’re taking to mitigate the spread of false information around the disease, as well as the research project it’s supporting to help find a cure.
Facebook reconsider their cryptocurrency plans Facebook is said to be having second thoughts around its plans to launch its own digital currency, Libra. Initially met with strong resistance from regulators, Facebook is now looking into creating a system with digital versions of established currencies, including the US dollar and the Euro. The social network’s digital wallet is now expected to launch in Q3 2020, several months later than initially planned.
Twitter tests its new ‘manipulated media’ tag On Sunday, the White House’s Director of Social Media, Dan Scavino, published a video of Joe Biden accidentally endorsing Donald Trump for reelection. While the video has since been retweeted by Trump, it has also been tagged by Twitter as a ‘manipulated video’, a feature Twitter revealed recently as part of their policy changes.
Manipulated videos account for those that are “significantly and deceptively altered or fabricated”, and deemed to be deliberately misleading. To determine this, Twitter looks at the video’s metadata, context, and publishing user’s public information. Twitter is currently experiencing issues with the label appearing on the offending tweet, but it has started appearing for some users as of Sunday evening.
Twitter gives us ephemeral tweets, as a treat Twitter is following the likes of Instagram and Snapchat by testing out temporary formats. ‘Fleets’, currently being tested in Brazil, are viewable for just 24 hours by tapping on a user’s profile picture. In addition to their short life span, Fleets cannot be liked or retweeted, nor can Twitter users comment on them.
TikTok adds new analytics tools to its Creator Marketplace TikTok is rolling out some new analytics tools to Creator Marketplace, its native influencer marketing solution, including real-time insights into influencer campaign views, engagement rates, engaged audience demographics and more. Currently only a select number of brands have been invited to trial the Creator Marketplace app, however, those brands wishing to get their hands on it can apply via the TikTok website.
Reddit teams up with Crisis Text Line for suicide prevention Reddit is ramping up its efforts to support those users dealing with self-harm and suicide through a new partnership with mental health text line, Crisis Text Line. Through the new partnership, those who are flagged as struggling with self-harm or suicide will receive an immediate private message containing resources for help, as well as a recommendation that they text CHAT to 741741 in order to be connected with a crisis counsellor. Once contacted, crisis counsellors respond via a secure online platform. Crisis Text Line is also available to Reddit users who report that someone is experiencing issues.
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