In April 2018, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg sat before members of both houses of Congress and told them his company respected the privacy of the roughly two billion people who use it. “Privacy” remained largely undefined throughout Zuckerberg’s televised flagellations, but he mentioned the concept more than two dozen times, including when he told the … Continue reading In Court, Facebook Blames Users for Destroying Their Own Right to Privacy
Mark in the Middle
In 2020, Facebook would be roiled by a global pandemic, internal protests over racial injustice, a deeply polarizing election, and the ongoing threat of multiple state and federal investigations into antitrust and privacy. But on the morning of July 16th, Mark Zuckerberg found his workforce asking for something else: their missing office snacks. A major … Continue reading Mark in the Middle
Before suing NSO Group, Facebook allegedly sought their software to better spy on users
Facebook’s WhatsApp is in the midst of a lawsuit against Israeli mobile surveillance outfit NSO Group. But before complaining about the company’s methods, Facebook seems to have wanted to use them for its own purposes, according to testimony from NSO founder Shalev Hulio. Last year brought news of an exploit that could be used to … Continue reading Before suing NSO Group, Facebook allegedly sought their software to better spy on users
Why each Libra member’s mutiny hurts Facebook
There’s a strategic cost to the defection of Visa, Stripe, eBay, and more from the Facebook-led cryptocurrency Libra Association. They’re not just names dropping off a list. Each potentially made Libra more useful, ubiquitous, or reputable. Now they could become obstacles to the token’s launch or growth. Fearing regulators’ inquiries not just into their Libra … Continue reading Why each Libra member’s mutiny hurts Facebook
Facebook is losing its last Oculus co-founder
Facebook spent billions on Oculus in 2014, and in the years since the organization has been absorbed deeper into Facebook while the startup’s co-founders have stepped back in prominence. Today, the final Oculus co-founder remaining at Facebook, Nate Mitchell, announced in an internal memo sent to employees that he was leaving the company. The news … Continue reading Facebook is losing its last Oculus co-founder
Facebook collected and transcribed users’ audio without permission
“The future is private.” Clearly, Facebook still has a way to go. Facebook has become the latest tech giant to face scrutiny over its handling of users’ data, following a report that said the social media giant collected audio data and recordings from its users and transcribed it using third-party contractors. The report came from … Continue reading Facebook collected and transcribed users’ audio without permission
Forget the fine—we should have taken Facebook to court, says FTC commissioner
The $5 billion fine and accompanying order won’t force accountability or impose any restrictions on the way Facebook collects or uses people’s data, warned one of the FTC's five commissioners. It ain’t about the money: As it announced the fine yesterday, the Federal Trade Commission boasted that it has slapped Facebook with the biggest fine … Continue reading Forget the fine—we should have taken Facebook to court, says FTC commissioner
Facebook collected device data on 187,000 users using banned snooping app
Facebook obtained personal and sensitive device data on about 187,000 users of its now-defunct Research app, which Apple banned earlier this year after the app violated its rules. The social media giant said in a letter to Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s office — which TechCrunch obtained — that it collected data on 31,000 users in the … Continue reading Facebook collected device data on 187,000 users using banned snooping app
Zuckerberg says breaking up Facebook “isn’t going to help”
With the look of someone betrayed, Facebook’s CEO has fired back at co-founder Chris Hughes and his brutal NYT op-ed calling for regulators to split up Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. “When I read what he wrote, my main reaction was that what he’s proposing that we do isn’t going to do anything to help solve … Continue reading Zuckerberg says breaking up Facebook “isn’t going to help”
15 Months of Fresh Hell Inside Facebook
The streets of Davos, Switzerland, were iced over on the night of January 25, 2018, which added a slight element of danger to the prospect of trekking to the Hotel Seehof for George Soros’ annual banquet. The aged financier has a tradition of hosting a dinner at the World Economic Forum, where he regales tycoons, … Continue reading 15 Months of Fresh Hell Inside Facebook
Eric's playground 