A brief outage disrupted services across Meta platforms, including Whatsapp, Instagram and Facebook, on Wednesday. According to the outage tracker website Downdetector.com, the services on the apps were restored shortly after thousands of users reported issues with the Meta app network. At the peak of the outage, more than 17,000 users reported issues with Instagram in the United States. More than 13,000 cases involving the Facebook app were also reported.

Microsoft faced similar outages earlier on Wednesday when millions of users across the world reported they were unable to access MS Teams and Outlook.Downdetector.com reported that the outages were reported with Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram and Whatsapp on Wednesday.

Watch: Gravitas: Why are Tech Giants laying off thousands?

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It’s not uncommon for tech companies to experience network outages. Google Ads services also saw service disruptions earlier this week on Monday, when the campaigners could not access their ad campaigns for more than 3 hours.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/microsoft-investigates-teams-outlook-outage-555809">Microsoft investigating Teams, Outlook outage</a>

The reports of network outages come as American tech companies have gone on a firing spree in recent months. Last week, Google announced it was laying off 6 per cent of its workforce, which roughly accounts for 12,000 employees. Facebook last year laid off 11,000 employees. Furthermore, Microsoft recently announced to lay off 10,000 jobs globally. The business announced that it is permanently shutting down its VR platform.

While it’s unclear what led to the recent service disruptions across Meta and Microsoft networks, the tech firms have stayed mum and refused to share details.

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A brief outage disrupted services across Meta platforms, including Whatsapp, Instagram and Facebook, on Wednesday. According to the outage tracker website Downdetector.

A brief outage disrupted services across Meta platforms, including Whatsapp, Instagram and Facebook, on Wednesday. According to the outage tracker website Downdetector.com, the services on the apps were restored shortly after thousands of users reported issues with the Meta app network. At the peak of the outage, more than 17,000 users reported issues with Instagram in the United States. More than 13,000 cases involving the Facebook app were also reported. Microsoft faced similar outages earlier on Wednesday when millions of users across the world reported they were unable to access MS Teams and Outlook.Downdetector.com reported that the outages were reported with Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram and Whatsapp on Wednesday. Watch: Gravitas: Why are Tech Giants laying off thousands? × It’s not uncommon for tech companies to experience network outages. Google Ads services also saw service disruptions earlier this week on Monday, when the campaigners could not access their ad campaigns for more than 3 hours. Also Read | Microsoft investigating Teams, Outlook outage The reports of network outages come as American tech companies have gone on a firing spree in recent months. Last week, Google announced it was laying off 6 per cent of its workforce, which roughly accounts for 12,000 employees. Facebook last year laid off 11,000 employees. Furthermore, Microsoft recently announced to lay off 10,000 jobs globally. The business announced that it is permanently shutting down its VR platform. While it’s unclear what led to the recent service disruptions across Meta and Microsoft networks, the tech firms have stayed mum and refused to share details. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

After Microsoft, Meta network hit by brief outage; services restored now

After two years former President will be back on Facebook and Instagram as parent company Meta says it will allow Trump back on its platforms in the coming weeks. Trump was banned from the platform over his online behaviour during January 6, 2021 insurrection.

Former US Pres Donald Trump back on Meta platforms as it reinstates his Facebook, Insta accounts

The Indian government has expressed its support to the news publishing companies and called on the big tech content aggregators to share revenues with them.&nbsp;Speaking at the inaugural session of a day-long conclave organised by the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA), Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Information and Broadcasting Secretary Apurva Chandra both emphasised on the “future of journalism” and financial health of the news industry.

Raising the issue of the ‘strained financial health’ of the Indian news publishing industry, Chandra said, "For the growth of the news industry, it is important that digital news platforms of all these publishers, who are the creators of original content, get a fair share of revenues from the big tech platforms which act as aggregators of content created by others," he said.

Chandra took the examples of the initiatives taken by EU, Australia and Canada, who have passed legislation and strengthened their competition commissions to ensure a fair split of revenue between news content creators and aggregators.

Echoing similar sentiments, Chandrasekhar said, "We hope to address this issue of disproportionate control and imbalance of dynamics between content creation and its monetisation and the power that ad-tech companies and platforms hold today.”

Australia’s Member of Parliament Paul Fletcher, who was the minister of communications when Australia passed the landmark News Media Bargaining Code, shared his country’s experience as to how they resisted Google and Facebook when they shared the draft of the code with them.

“There was a bit of turbulence along the way. Google, at one point, threatened to withdraw Google Search services in Australia. In response to that, the PM (then Prime Minister Scott Morrison) and I met with the global experts of&nbsp;Microsoft, who said they will be interested in expanding Bing (Microsoft’s search engine) in Australia. We didn’t hear much more of the threat (from Google),” he said.

“In the face of that, we held firm and there was a strong political leadership from Josh Frydenberg (former Treasurer of Australia) and the legislation passed Parliament. I am pleased to say that both Google and Facebook have since negotiated commercial deals with news media businesses,” he added.

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The Indian government has expressed its support to the news publishing companies and called on the big tech content aggregators to share revenues with them. Speaking at the inaugural session of a day-long conclave organised by the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA), Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Information and Broadcasting Secretary Apurva Chandra both emphasised on the “future of journalism” and financial health of the news industry.

The Indian government has expressed its support to the news publishing companies and called on the big tech content aggregators to share revenues with them. Speaking at the inaugural session of a day-long conclave organised by the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA), Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Information and Broadcasting Secretary Apurva Chandra both emphasised on the “future of journalism” and financial health of the news industry. Raising the issue of the ‘strained financial health’ of the Indian news publishing industry, Chandra said, "For the growth of the news industry, it is important that digital news platforms of all these publishers, who are the creators of original content, get a fair share of revenues from the big tech platforms which act as aggregators of content created by others," he said. Chandra took the examples of the initiatives taken by EU, Australia and Canada, who have passed legislation and strengthened their competition commissions to ensure a fair split of revenue between news content creators and aggregators. Echoing similar sentiments, Chandrasekhar said, "We hope to address this issue of disproportionate control and imbalance of dynamics between content creation and its monetisation and the power that ad-tech companies and platforms hold today.” Australia’s Member of Parliament Paul Fletcher, who was the minister of communications when Australia passed the landmark News Media Bargaining Code, shared his country’s experience as to how they resisted Google and Facebook when they shared the draft of the code with them. “There was a bit of turbulence along the way. Google, at one point, threatened to withdraw Google Search services in Australia. In response to that, the PM (then Prime Minister Scott Morrison) and I met with the global experts of Microsoft, who said they will be interested in expanding Bing (Microsoft’s search engine) in Australia. We didn’t hear much more of the threat (from Google),” he said. “In the face of that, we held firm and there was a strong political leadership from Josh Frydenberg (former Treasurer of Australia) and the legislation passed Parliament. I am pleased to say that both Google and Facebook have since negotiated commercial deals with news media businesses,” he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Big tech should pay news publishers for content: Indian govt’s strong pushback

Mounting a comeback to the White House, Donald Trump is reportedly looking to resurrect his social media account including Twitter and Facebook to reach his followers.

Former US President Donald Trump eyeing a social media comeback?

With access to his Twitter account back, Donald Trump's campaign is formally petitioning Facebook's parent company to unblock his account there after it was locked in response to the US Capitol riot two years ago.

After Twitter, will Facebook reinstate Donald Trump's account?

Donald Trump has urged&nbsp;Meta to grant him access to Facebook once again&nbsp;as he allegedly attempts to intensify his 2024 US presidential campaign, as reported by the Guardian. More than two years ago, the former US president was banned from Facebook after some of his supporters attempted to prevent the certification of Joe Biden's win in the 2020 presidential election by attacking the US Capitol.

In a letter to Meta obtained by&nbsp;NBC News on Wednesday, Trump's advisors said that the ban "dramatically distorted and inhibited the public discourse" and should be repealed.&nbsp;

Meta stated that it will "announce a decision in the coming weeks."

Trump was banned from Facebook and Twitter a day after the attack on January 6, 2021—which has been connected to nine deaths, including police officer suicides

Trump urged his supporters to congregate near the Capitol using his Twitter account. Before the assault, he urged supporters to "fight like hell" in a speech. He later criticised his vice president, Mike Pence, on Twitter for continuing certification while the assault was ongoing.

Also watch |&nbsp;US: NYC Mayor Eric Adams says, 'No room for migrants' | English News | WION

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Trump's account was reinstated on Twitter when Elon Musk acquired it last year. However, Trump has chosen to stick with the competing social media platform, Truth Social, and has not tweeted since.

Trump has roughly 88 million followers on Twitter and 34 million followers on Facebook, respectively. He has fewer than 5 million followers on Truth Social.

Throughout his term in office and during his presidential campaign in 2016, Trump made extensive use of Twitter and Facebook.

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Donald Trump has urged Meta to grant him access to Facebook once again as he allegedly attempts to intensify his 2024 US presidential campaign, as reported by the Guardian.

Donald Trump has urged Meta to grant him access to Facebook once again as he allegedly attempts to intensify his 2024 US presidential campaign, as reported by the Guardian. More than two years ago, the former US president was banned from Facebook after some of his supporters attempted to prevent the certification of Joe Biden's win in the 2020 presidential election by attacking the US Capitol. In a letter to Meta obtained by NBC News on Wednesday, Trump's advisors said that the ban "dramatically distorted and inhibited the public discourse" and should be repealed. Meta stated that it will "announce a decision in the coming weeks." Trump was banned from Facebook and Twitter a day after the attack on January 6, 2021—which has been connected to nine deaths, including police officer suicides Trump urged his supporters to congregate near the Capitol using his Twitter account. Before the assault, he urged supporters to "fight like hell" in a speech. He later criticised his vice president, Mike Pence, on Twitter for continuing certification while the assault was ongoing. Also watch | US: NYC Mayor Eric Adams says, 'No room for migrants' | English News | WION Trump's account was reinstated on Twitter when Elon Musk acquired it last year. However, Trump has chosen to stick with the competing social media platform, Truth Social, and has not tweeted since. Trump has roughly 88 million followers on Twitter and 34 million followers on Facebook, respectively. He has fewer than 5 million followers on Truth Social. Throughout his term in office and during his presidential campaign in 2016, Trump made extensive use of Twitter and Facebook. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Trump urges Facebook to reinstate his account as he gears up for 2024 run

Let's take a look at what's trending across the news - Amazon begins laying off 18,000 people from its cart of employees, in a first, scientists use car-sized laser to divert lightning strikes.

Trending on WION: Meta to lift breast images ban rule in Facebook, Instagram

Meta’s independent oversight board has reportedly decided to lift its strict rule that had banned photos of bare breasts to be posted on Instagram and Facebook, following a decade-long “free the nipple” campaign.&nbsp;

The oversight board, which is composed of academics, politicians and journalists, on January 17 advised the tech firm to change its adult nudity and sexual activity community standard “so that it is governed by clear criteria that respect international human rights standards”, reports the Guardian.&nbsp;

The recommendations of the board are said to be binding and it is expected that Meta will most likely follow them.&nbsp;

In its recommendation, the board said that “the [old] policy is based on a binary view of gender and a distinction between male and female bodies,” which makes rules about baring nipples “unclear” for those who do not identify as women. &nbsp;

It argued that the policy hindered inclusivity on the platforms, especially for women, intersex, non-binary and transgender people.&nbsp;

The move comes after the board overturned Meta’s decision to strike out two Instagram posts featuring transgender and non-binary people with bare chests.&nbsp;

Meta’s strict nudity policy has been the subject of an intense debate over its strict guidelines in cutting the exposure of women’s nipples. This rule had often come in the way of breastfeeding women who have had their content censured.&nbsp;

The movement, which began in 2000 in an attempt to de-sexualise the image of breasts, went mainstream in 2012 after Facebook took down clips from the actor/director Lina Esco’s documentary Free the Nipple.&nbsp;

The move was heavily criticised, with protests breaking out at Facebook headquarters at the time demanding the right for women to bare their breasts on social media if they choose to do so.&nbsp;

They have been contending that the platforms often allow hate speech to go uncensored, while female nipples are barred.&nbsp;

CEO Mark Zuckerburg tried to justify this in 2018 saying, "It's easier to build an AI system to detect a nipple than what is hate speech."&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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Meta’s independent oversight board has reportedly decided to lift its strict rule that had banned photos of bare breasts to be posted on Instagram and Facebook, following a decade-long “free the nipple” campaign.

Meta’s independent oversight board has reportedly decided to lift its strict rule that had banned photos of bare breasts to be posted on Instagram and Facebook, following a decade-long “free the nipple” campaign. The oversight board, which is composed of academics, politicians and journalists, on January 17 advised the tech firm to change its adult nudity and sexual activity community standard “so that it is governed by clear criteria that respect international human rights standards”, reports the Guardian. The recommendations of the board are said to be binding and it is expected that Meta will most likely follow them. In its recommendation, the board said that “the [old] policy is based on a binary view of gender and a distinction between male and female bodies,” which makes rules about baring nipples “unclear” for those who do not identify as women. It argued that the policy hindered inclusivity on the platforms, especially for women, intersex, non-binary and transgender people. The move comes after the board overturned Meta’s decision to strike out two Instagram posts featuring transgender and non-binary people with bare chests. Meta’s strict nudity policy has been the subject of an intense debate over its strict guidelines in cutting the exposure of women’s nipples. This rule had often come in the way of breastfeeding women who have had their content censured. The movement, which began in 2000 in an attempt to de-sexualise the image of breasts, went mainstream in 2012 after Facebook took down clips from the actor/director Lina Esco’s documentary Free the Nipple. The move was heavily criticised, with protests breaking out at Facebook headquarters at the time demanding the right for women to bare their breasts on social media if they choose to do so. They have been contending that the platforms often allow hate speech to go uncensored, while female nipples are barred. CEO Mark Zuckerburg tried to justify this in 2018 saying, "It's easier to build an AI system to detect a nipple than what is hate speech." WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

‘Free the nipple’: Meta to lift breast images ban rule in Facebook, Instagram 

Tightening the advertising policy for young users, especially teens, Meta on Tuesday announced it was removing gender as an option for advertisers to target the said demography.

Tightening the advertising policy for young users, especially teens, Meta on Tuesday announced it was removing gender as an option for advertisers to target the said demography. In a blog post, Meta informed that beginning next month, the advertisers will only get their hands over the age and location data of teens globally. "Beginning in February, advertisers will only be able to use age and location to reach teens; we are removing gender as a targeting option." The social media giant noted that teens did not have the bandwidth to make decisions about their online data which necessitated the policy change. "We recognise that teens aren’t necessarily as equipped as adults to make decisions about how their online data is used for advertising, particularly when it comes to showing them products available to purchase. "For that reason, we’re further restricting the options advertisers have to reach teens, as well as the information we use to show ads to teens." WATCH | Meta fined more than $400 million over European Union data breaches × Additionally, any teenagers' previous engagement across Meta's subsidiary applications will not affect the kind of ads they see. Starting March, the teens will have a greater say in the kind of ads they see on their feeds. Ad Topics Controls, a feature already available on Meta will allow teens to choose their preferences and control the ads. Currently, Meta does not allow advertisements related to alcohol, financial products and weight loss products to be served to minors. Why is Meta changing the policy? The changes rolled in by Meta, owner of Instagram of Facebook come in the backdrop of accusations that dubbed the platform harmful for young users. Moreover, the changes may have been fast-tracked after European Union (EU) regulators slapped the company with a $414 million fine over data breaches. Read more: Meta hit with US$413 million fine over EU privacy breach The 27-nation bloc also banned the company from persuading users to accept tailored advertisements based on their online behaviour. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Meta bans targeted ads at teenagers based on gender

A Malaysian study has deduced that there is a link between the overuse of social media platform – facebook and your mental health.

Facebook overuse lowers self-worth

A Malaysian study found that the excessive use of Facebook is harmful to depressed users, worsening their present and future depression severity.&nbsp;The findings, published in 'Computers in Human Behaviour', further suggest that overuse of Facebook can lower a person’s sense of self-worth.&nbsp;

The findings are&nbsp;in line with past research suggesting that overuse of Facebook can have a detrimental effect on individuals undergoing medical help to overcome depression and related mental health issues.&nbsp;

Findings from the studies like this have given rise to the term ‘Facebook depression,’ which defines depression resulting from the prolonged use of Facebook.

Time spent Vs. Addictive use

The study found that it is not time spent on Facebook in itself that contributes to depression. Instead, addictive use of the platform appears to be most detrimental to an individual's well-being.&nbsp;

Facebook-related dependency, self-criticism represent depression severity

The study indicates that Facebook addiction can predict depression severity through two distinct depressive experiences: dependency and self-criticism.

“We have a growing reliance on technology, as we heavily rely on it to effectively live our lives,” Study author Sun Li Lee, a psychology lecturer at Monash University Malaysia told neuroscience news website Psypost.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/metas-targeted-advertisements-could-to-face-restrictions-in-the-eu-report-540691">Meta’s targeted advertisements could face restrictions in the EU</a>

"This makes it integral to understand how this reliance affects our well-being, both physically and psychologically. Understanding how it affects those with clinical diagnoses is important as well, as most studies were conducted with healthy young adults."

The study participants were 250 Malaysian Facebook users who had been diagnosed with depression.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-children-are-getting-addicted-to-the-virtual-world-446043">Gravitas: Children are getting addicted to the virtual world</a>

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Participants with higher addictive use of Facebook reported more salient depressive experiences and more severe depression, according to the study. The relationship between Facebook addiction and depression was mediated by dependency and self-criticism, it added.&nbsp;

“It will be helpful to monitor the use of Facebook for those with clinical depression, as findings suggest such usage will increase the severity of depression,” Lee said.

If you or someone you know wants help for mental well being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, 98204 66726, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata), Parivarthan (Bangalore) +91 76766 02602

WION is not associated with any of these organisations and does not make any recommendations.

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A Malaysian study found that the excessive use of Facebook is harmful to depressed users, worsening their present and future depression severity. The findings, published in 'Computers in Human Behaviour', further suggest that overuse of Facebook can lower a person’s sense of self-worth.

A Malaysian study found that the excessive use of Facebook is harmful to depressed users, worsening their present and future depression severity. The findings, published in 'Computers in Human Behaviour', further suggest that overuse of Facebook can lower a person’s sense of self-worth. The findings are in line with past research suggesting that overuse of Facebook can have a detrimental effect on individuals undergoing medical help to overcome depression and related mental health issues. Findings from the studies like this have given rise to the term ‘Facebook depression,’ which defines depression resulting from the prolonged use of Facebook. Time spent Vs. Addictive use The study found that it is not time spent on Facebook in itself that contributes to depression. Instead, addictive use of the platform appears to be most detrimental to an individual's well-being. Facebook-related dependency, self-criticism represent depression severity The study indicates that Facebook addiction can predict depression severity through two distinct depressive experiences: dependency and self-criticism. “We have a growing reliance on technology, as we heavily rely on it to effectively live our lives,” Study author Sun Li Lee, a psychology lecturer at Monash University Malaysia told neuroscience news website Psypost. ALSO READ | Meta’s targeted advertisements could face restrictions in the EU "This makes it integral to understand how this reliance affects our well-being, both physically and psychologically. Understanding how it affects those with clinical diagnoses is important as well, as most studies were conducted with healthy young adults." The study participants were 250 Malaysian Facebook users who had been diagnosed with depression. WATCH | Gravitas: Children are getting addicted to the virtual world × Participants with higher addictive use of Facebook reported more salient depressive experiences and more severe depression, according to the study. The relationship between Facebook addiction and depression was mediated by dependency and self-criticism, it added. “It will be helpful to monitor the use of Facebook for those with clinical depression, as findings suggest such usage will increase the severity of depression,” Lee said. If you or someone you know wants help for mental well being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, 98204 66726, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata), Parivarthan (Bangalore) +91 76766 02602 WION is not associated with any of these organisations and does not make any recommendations. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Facebook overuse lowers self-worth, worsens depression: Study

Facebook parent Meta has agreed to pay $725 million to settle a long-running privacy lawsuit that accused the social media giant of allowing third parties to access users' personal data.

However, Facebook has not yet admitted any wrongdoing as a part of the settlement which still needs approval by the US judge, AFP reported.&nbsp;

As per reports, it was claimed that Facebook reached a preliminary agreement in August but the amount was not announced. The amount was revealed on Thursday (Dec 22).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/mark-zuckerberg-defends-meta-in-front-of-antitrust-judge-545054">Also read |&nbsp;Mark Zuckerberg defends Meta before antitrust judge on bid for dominance in virtual reality segment</a>

The plaintiff's lawyers said in the filing, "The proposed settlement of $725,000,000 is the largest recovery ever achieved in a data privacy class action and the most Facebook has ever paid to resolve a private class action."

Meta's spokesperson said, "We pursued a settlement as it's in the best interest of our community and shareholders. Over the last three years, we revamped our approach to privacy and implemented a comprehensive privacy programme."

The lawsuit was filed&nbsp;in 2018 when Facebook was accused of violating privacy rules by sharing users' private data with third parties that included Cambridge Analytica firm from the UK that was also linked to former US President Trump's 2016 election campaign.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/bytedance-finds-former-tiktok-employees-hacked-data-of-2-us-journalists-545948">Also read |&nbsp;ByteDance finds former TikTok employees hacked data of two US journalists</a>

It was claimed that the information was used to turn US voters in favour of Trump.&nbsp;

In response to this, the firm was shut down then, only for collecting and using data of over 87 million users without their consent, the lawsuit alleged.&nbsp;

Since then, Facebook removed its access to users' data, restricted the amount of information available to developers and made it simple and easy for users to calibrate restrictions on personal data sharing.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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Facebook parent Meta has agreed to pay $725 million to settle a long-running privacy lawsuit that accused the social media giant of allowing third parties to access users' personal data.

Facebook parent Meta has agreed to pay $725 million to settle a long-running privacy lawsuit that accused the social media giant of allowing third parties to access users' personal data. However, Facebook has not yet admitted any wrongdoing as a part of the settlement which still needs approval by the US judge, AFP reported. As per reports, it was claimed that Facebook reached a preliminary agreement in August but the amount was not announced. The amount was revealed on Thursday (Dec 22). Also read | Mark Zuckerberg defends Meta before antitrust judge on bid for dominance in virtual reality segment The plaintiff's lawyers said in the filing, "The proposed settlement of $725,000,000 is the largest recovery ever achieved in a data privacy class action and the most Facebook has ever paid to resolve a private class action." Meta's spokesperson said, "We pursued a settlement as it's in the best interest of our community and shareholders. Over the last three years, we revamped our approach to privacy and implemented a comprehensive privacy programme." The lawsuit was filed in 2018 when Facebook was accused of violating privacy rules by sharing users' private data with third parties that included Cambridge Analytica firm from the UK that was also linked to former US President Trump's 2016 election campaign. Also read | ByteDance finds former TikTok employees hacked data of two US journalists It was claimed that the information was used to turn US voters in favour of Trump. In response to this, the firm was shut down then, only for collecting and using data of over 87 million users without their consent, the lawsuit alleged. Since then, Facebook removed its access to users' data, restricted the amount of information available to developers and made it simple and easy for users to calibrate restrictions on personal data sharing. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Facebook parent Meta agrees to pay $275 million to settle 2018 privacy lawsuit

Facebook parent Meta has agreed to pay $725 million to settle a class action lawsuit. The claim is that the social media giant gave third-party access to user data without their consent.

Facebook accused of violating privacy rules by sharing data, to pay $725 mn to settle suit

Facebook's parent company meta has been sued for $2 billion. The social media platform is facing allegations that its algorithm helped fuel hate and violence during Ethiopia's civil war. Priyanka Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Son sues Meta over father's killing in Ethiopia

In a series of decisions, European Union’s privacy regulators have said that Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta Platforms’ Inc should not require users to agree to personalised advertisements based on their digital activity, said a report by the Wall Street Journal. This could affect the company’s access to sell such ads which also reportedly contribute a significant amount to Meta’s revenue.&nbsp;

The personalised advertisements in question are the ones that the social media platforms show tp their users based on their activity, clicks and what they watch within Meta’s own apps. Notably, Meta users can opt out of ads based on their activity on other websites and apps, a provision that has been in place for years but is not applicable for ads data based on user activity on its own platforms.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-parent-meta-threatens-to-remove-news-from-platform-if-us-passes-media-bill-540386">Facebook parent Meta threatens to remove news from platform if US passes media bill</a>

This comes after the European Union privacy regulators approved a series of decisions, in line with their privacy laws, which cannot be evaded by Meta using their terms of service as a justification, said a person familiar with the matter to the WSJ. However, the board’s ruling which was approved on Monday has not been made public yet.&nbsp;

According to the report, if users are allowed to opt out of such targeted ads, platforms like Facebook and Instagram would have less access to user information which is used to build these ads, and people close to the company say these ads contribute significantly to the platforms’ revenue.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-and-eu-held-meet-to-resolve-trade-tensions-between-them-540647">U.S. and EU held meet to resolve trade tensions between them</a>

Notably, the EU does not plan on directly ordering Meta to change its advertising practices, as it plans to call upon Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DCP) to issue public orders and levy significant fines which would be in line with its decision, said the WSJ report, citing people familiar with the matter. Ireland is also home to Meta’s headquarters in the 27-country bloc. &nbsp;

However, Meta can appeal the potential Irish as well as the EU decision which would at least lead to suspension of the potentially lengthy litigation, but if it is upheld the company would have to make changes to its practices.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/meta-warns-one-million-users-about-potential-data-leak-through-malicious-apps-523435">Meta warns one million users about potential data leak through malicious apps</a>

Meta’s spokesperson told the WSJ, that EU law could allow for other legal justifications for its advertising practices and that it is too early to speculate since this is not the final decision. “We’ve engaged fully with the DPC on their inquiries and will continue to engage with them as they finalise their decision,” said the spokesperson. &nbsp; 
 
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In a series of decisions, European Union’s privacy regulators have said that Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta Platforms’ Inc should not require users to agree to personalised advertisements based on their digital activity, said a report by the Wall Street Journal.

In a series of decisions, European Union’s privacy regulators have said that Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta Platforms’ Inc should not require users to agree to personalised advertisements based on their digital activity, said a report by the Wall Street Journal. This could affect the company’s access to sell such ads which also reportedly contribute a significant amount to Meta’s revenue. The personalised advertisements in question are the ones that the social media platforms show tp their users based on their activity, clicks and what they watch within Meta’s own apps. Notably, Meta users can opt out of ads based on their activity on other websites and apps, a provision that has been in place for years but is not applicable for ads data based on user activity on its own platforms. ALSO READ | Facebook parent Meta threatens to remove news from platform if US passes media bill This comes after the European Union privacy regulators approved a series of decisions, in line with their privacy laws, which cannot be evaded by Meta using their terms of service as a justification, said a person familiar with the matter to the WSJ. However, the board’s ruling which was approved on Monday has not been made public yet. According to the report, if users are allowed to opt out of such targeted ads, platforms like Facebook and Instagram would have less access to user information which is used to build these ads, and people close to the company say these ads contribute significantly to the platforms’ revenue. ALSO WATCH | U.S. and EU held meet to resolve trade tensions between them Notably, the EU does not plan on directly ordering Meta to change its advertising practices, as it plans to call upon Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DCP) to issue public orders and levy significant fines which would be in line with its decision, said the WSJ report, citing people familiar with the matter. Ireland is also home to Meta’s headquarters in the 27-country bloc. However, Meta can appeal the potential Irish as well as the EU decision which would at least lead to suspension of the potentially lengthy litigation, but if it is upheld the company would have to make changes to its practices. ALSO READ | Meta warns one million users about potential data leak through malicious apps Meta’s spokesperson told the WSJ, that EU law could allow for other legal justifications for its advertising practices and that it is too early to speculate since this is not the final decision. “We’ve engaged fully with the DPC on their inquiries and will continue to engage with them as they finalise their decision,” said the spokesperson. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Meta’s targeted advertisements could face restrictions in the EU: Report

Facebook parent Meta platforms Inc has warned that it will be forced to remove news from its platform entirely if the US Congress passed the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act. Meta argued that broadcasters benefitted by posting content on their platform. If passed, the act will make it easier for news companies to negotiate with tech giants like Meta and Alphabet for their content. Meta had taken a similar stance in Australia where a similar law was passed.

Meta spokesperson Andy Stone in a tweet said the Act fails to recognize that publishers and broadcasters put content on the platform because "it benefits their bottom line - not the other way around."

The law in Australia took effect in March 2021 after talks with the big tech firms led to a brief shutdown of Facebook news feeds in the country, has largely worked, a government report said.

Since the News Media Bargaining Code took effect, various tech firms including Meta and Alphabet had inked more than 30 deals with media outlets, compensating them for content which generated clicks and advertising dollars, the report added.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Facebook parent Meta platforms Inc has warned that it will be forced to remove news from its platform entirely if the US Congress passed the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act.

Facebook parent Meta platforms Inc has warned that it will be forced to remove news from its platform entirely if the US Congress passed the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act. Meta argued that broadcasters benefitted by posting content on their platform. If passed, the act will make it easier for news companies to negotiate with tech giants like Meta and Alphabet for their content. Meta had taken a similar stance in Australia where a similar law was passed. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone in a tweet said the Act fails to recognize that publishers and broadcasters put content on the platform because "it benefits their bottom line - not the other way around." The law in Australia took effect in March 2021 after talks with the big tech firms led to a brief shutdown of Facebook news feeds in the country, has largely worked, a government report said. Since the News Media Bargaining Code took effect, various tech firms including Meta and Alphabet had inked more than 30 deals with media outlets, compensating them for content which generated clicks and advertising dollars, the report added. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Facebook parent Meta threatens to remove news from platform if US passes media bill

The Australian law, which was passed last year for big tech companies to pay for news content shared on their platforms, has been a success and the authorities should consider extending it further to social media forums such as TikTok and Twitter, a recent government report found.&nbsp;

The world watched the implementation of the law and its impact very closely. The law basically gives power to the government to make internet giants Facebook and Google negotiate content supply deals with media outlets.&nbsp;

The landmark law—News Media Bargaining Code—became a controversy when Facebook removed all news from its Australian platform. But the government report suggests that the law must be extended to other media platforms.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-rejects-joe-bidens-terms-for-ukraine-talks-says-offensive-will-continue-539410">Russia rejects Joe Biden's terms for Ukraine talks, says offensive will continue</a>&nbsp;

The report said, "On the evidence available to the review, at least some of these agreements have enabled news businesses to, in particular, employ additional journalists and make other valuable investments to assist their operations."&nbsp;

"While views on the success or otherwise of the Code will invariably differ, we consider it is reasonable to conclude that the Code has been a success to date," it added.&nbsp;

The Treasury Department report, which was published late Thursday,&nbsp;stated that the tech firms had signed more than 30 deals with media outlets compensating them for the content which generated clicks and advertising dollars.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-pleased-to-see-china-ease-zero-covid-restrictions-amid-massive-protests-539548">WHO 'pleased' to see China ease zero-Covid restrictions amid massive protests</a>&nbsp;

As quoted by the news agency Reuters, Google director of government affairs and public policy in Australia, Lucinda Longcroft, said that the company had "furthered our significant contribution to the Australian news industry" by signing deals representing 200 mastheads across the country and "the majority of these outlets are regional or local".&nbsp;

Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones said: "The review shows the Code has been successful balancing bargaining power between news media and digital platforms. Digital platforms must continue to negotiate in good faith with news businesses to ensure they are fairly remunerated for the news content they create."&nbsp;

The report is aimed at recommending new methods the government can take to assess the administration and effectiveness of the law.&nbsp;

The report did not suggest changing the law itself, but it did mention that the law lacked "a formal mechanism to extend the Code to other platforms".&nbsp;

It also suggested the government order the competition regulator, which led to the design of the law, to "prepare reports on this question".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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The Australian law, which was passed last year for big tech companies to pay for news content shared on their platforms, has been a success and the authorities should consider extending it further to social media forums such as TikTok and Twitter, a recent government report found.

The Australian law, which was passed last year for big tech companies to pay for news content shared on their platforms, has been a success and the authorities should consider extending it further to social media forums such as TikTok and Twitter, a recent government report found. The world watched the implementation of the law and its impact very closely. The law basically gives power to the government to make internet giants Facebook and Google negotiate content supply deals with media outlets. The landmark law—News Media Bargaining Code—became a controversy when Facebook removed all news from its Australian platform. But the government report suggests that the law must be extended to other media platforms. ALSO READ | Russia rejects Joe Biden's terms for Ukraine talks, says offensive will continue The report said, "On the evidence available to the review, at least some of these agreements have enabled news businesses to, in particular, employ additional journalists and make other valuable investments to assist their operations." "While views on the success or otherwise of the Code will invariably differ, we consider it is reasonable to conclude that the Code has been a success to date," it added. The Treasury Department report, which was published late Thursday, stated that the tech firms had signed more than 30 deals with media outlets compensating them for the content which generated clicks and advertising dollars. ALSO READ | WHO 'pleased' to see China ease zero-Covid restrictions amid massive protests As quoted by the news agency Reuters, Google director of government affairs and public policy in Australia, Lucinda Longcroft, said that the company had "furthered our significant contribution to the Australian news industry" by signing deals representing 200 mastheads across the country and "the majority of these outlets are regional or local". Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones said: "The review shows the Code has been successful balancing bargaining power between news media and digital platforms. Digital platforms must continue to negotiate in good faith with news businesses to ensure they are fairly remunerated for the news content they create." The report is aimed at recommending new methods the government can take to assess the administration and effectiveness of the law. The report did not suggest changing the law itself, but it did mention that the law lacked "a formal mechanism to extend the Code to other platforms". It also suggested the government order the competition regulator, which led to the design of the law, to "prepare reports on this question". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Law that makes Facebook and Google pay media outlets for news is a 'success' in Australia: Report

Amid mass layoffs by Facebook parent company Meta denies reports of Zuckerberg quitting. However, Mark Zuckerberg has apologised for mass layoffs.

WION Fineprint: Meta denies reports of Zuckerberg quitting

More than two dozen employees and contractors of Meta platforms were sacked over the last year for allegedly taking control of user accounts in lieu of cash, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported citing relevant documents and people familiar with the matter.

Some of those sacked contractors worked as security guards at Meta facilities and were given access to the platform’s internal redressal mechanism used by employees to help users having trouble with their accounts.

The said mechanism being referred to here is called “Oops”, an acronym for Online Operations, which has been in existence since Facebook’s formative years.

This platform is used by employees to help users they know who have forgotten their passwords or emails, or had their accounts taken over by hackers.

It was reported that these axed workers used to take thousands of dollars in bribes from hackers to access user accounts.

These terminations took place as part of a lengthy internal probe led by Meta executives, according to the report.

“Individuals selling fraudulent services are always targeting online platforms, including ours, and adapting their tactics in response to the detection methods that are commonly used across the industry,” Meta spokesman&nbsp;Andy Stone was quoted as saying.

He said that the company “will keep taking appropriate action against those involved in these kinds of schemes.”

Oops is used in special cases like friends, family, business partners and public figures, but its usage has soared with increasing employee headcount.

In 2020, the channel serviced about 50,270 tasks, up from 22,000 three years earlier, according to an internal document reviewed by the WSJ newspaper.

(With inputs from agencies)

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More than two dozen employees and contractors of Meta platforms were sacked over the last year for allegedly taking control of user accounts in lieu of cash, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported citing relevant documents and people familiar with the matter.

More than two dozen employees and contractors of Meta platforms were sacked over the last year for allegedly taking control of user accounts in lieu of cash, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported citing relevant documents and people familiar with the matter. Some of those sacked contractors worked as security guards at Meta facilities and were given access to the platform’s internal redressal mechanism used by employees to help users having trouble with their accounts. The said mechanism being referred to here is called “Oops”, an acronym for Online Operations, which has been in existence since Facebook’s formative years. This platform is used by employees to help users they know who have forgotten their passwords or emails, or had their accounts taken over by hackers. It was reported that these axed workers used to take thousands of dollars in bribes from hackers to access user accounts. These terminations took place as part of a lengthy internal probe led by Meta executives, according to the report. “Individuals selling fraudulent services are always targeting online platforms, including ours, and adapting their tactics in response to the detection methods that are commonly used across the industry,” Meta spokesman Andy Stone was quoted as saying. He said that the company “will keep taking appropriate action against those involved in these kinds of schemes.” Oops is used in special cases like friends, family, business partners and public figures, but its usage has soared with increasing employee headcount. In 2020, the channel serviced about 50,270 tasks, up from 22,000 three years earlier, according to an internal document reviewed by the WSJ newspaper. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Meta sacks two dozen employees, security guards for hijacking user accounts

Facebook parent company Meta has let go around 13 per cent&nbsp;of its workforce. In a letter to his employees,&nbsp;Zuckerberg explained how he had&nbsp;hired aggressively during the pandemic and had anticipated quick growth&nbsp;even after the pandemic ended.&nbsp;The mass layoffs, which are the first in Meta's 18-year existence, came shortly after&nbsp;massive job&nbsp;cuts at Microsoft Corp. and Twitter, now owned by Elon Musk. But, why did Meta fire so many employees in the first place? What are the ramifications of this move for its Indian employees? How does it reflect on the larger structural problems of the company? We explain the same in-depth.&nbsp;

<h2>What is Meta exactly doing?</h2>

As it struggles with rising costs and plummeting ad revenues, Meta has adopted various cost-cutting strategies&nbsp;in addition to firing almost 11,000 employees. By extending its freeze on fresh recruitment until the first quarter, the firm intends to reduce discretionary spending. However, it hasn't mentioned the areas that would be affected by the transfers or the estimated cost cuts. Before the firings, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/facebook-parent-to-combine-voice-video-unit-with-messaging-teams-533587">Meta</a> had been indirectly hinting at cost-cutting measures by reducing its real estate holdings and doing away with some of the benefits it provided to its employees, such as free laundry&nbsp;and dry cleaning services,&nbsp;dinners they were permitted to pack&nbsp;home to their families and avail&nbsp;free valet services.&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gravitas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gravitas</a> | Mark Zuckerberg is set to pull off an <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a>. His company<a href="https://twitter.com/Meta?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Meta</a> is about to unleash its biggest round of layoffs in history. 
 
Thousands of Meta employees are set to be sacked. Why? <a href="https://twitter.com/PriyankaSh25?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PriyankaSh25</a> reports <a href="https://t.co/IQtfiVyxHq">pic.twitter.com/IQtfiVyxHq</a>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1590054768675762176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote>
<h5>“Unfortunately, this did not play out the way I expected,” Zuckerberg wrote. “Not only has online commerce returned to prior trends, but the macroeconomic downturn, increased competition, and ads signal loss have caused our revenue to be much lower than I’d expected. I got this wrong, and I take responsibility for that.”</h5>
</blockquote>

<h2>Reasons behind downsizing</h2>

There are&nbsp;two key factors at play.&nbsp;First, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, social media companies&nbsp;embarked on a recruiting spree.&nbsp;The reason being that more people stayed indoors&nbsp;during the pandemic lockdown and spent more time on the internet.&nbsp;

<blockquote>
<h5>&nbsp;Second, investors are concerned about Meta's massive $10 billion investment in the "metaverse."</h5>
</blockquote>

However, once the lockdowns ended and people resumed venturing outdoors, the upward trend faded.&nbsp;“In its earnings report last month, Meta disclosed that Reality Labs, the part of the company working on the metaverse, had $3.67 billion in operating losses. Reality Labs also experienced its lowest revenue since the final quarter of 2020. The company expects the operating losses for Reality Labs to increase next year,”&nbsp;The New York Times&nbsp;reported.

Also WATCH |&nbsp;Twitter, Meta: Tech 'bloodbath' continues as tech giants on firing spree

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The United States' economic slump made everything worse. This past summer, Meta recorded its first-ever quarterly sales decrease, which was followed by a larger decline in the following season.

<h2>What next for Meta?</h2>

A impending&nbsp;recession has Meta and its advertisers on high alert. The difficulty of using Apple's privacy settings, which make it harder for social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Snap to monitor users without their permission and target them with adverts, is another issue. As more young people choose TikTok over Instagram, which Meta also owns, competition from TikTok is becoming a greater concern.

<blockquote>
<h5>“We’ve cut costs across our business, including scaling back budgets, reducing perks, and shrinking our real estate footprint,” Zuckerberg said. ”We’re restructuring teams to increase our efficiency. But these measures alone won’t bring our expenses in line with our revenue growth, so I’ve also made the hard decision to let people go.”</h5>
</blockquote>

More cost cuts at Meta will be rolled out in coming months, Zuckerberg said.&nbsp;However, Zuckerberg has made it clear&nbsp;that his commitment&nbsp;to the metaverse&nbsp;is unwavering.

<h2>What happens to the Indians who got fired?</h2>

Many affected Indians have expressed their concern on social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn. These affected Indians are on H1B visas and must find jobs within 60 days of the termination date. Any H1B visa holder who is unable to obtain employment within 60 days will have to return to their country of origin. In this situation, Indians who are jobless after the grace period must go&nbsp;back. The original employer will need to bear the cost of&nbsp;their return ticket in accordance with H1B visa policy.

Unlike Musk, Zuckerberg said that he will assist migrant employees with their immigration.

<blockquote>
<h5>“I know this is especially difficult if you’re here on a visa. There’s a notice period before termination and some visa grace periods, which means everyone will have time to make plans and work through their immigration status. We have dedicated immigration specialists to help guide you based on what you and your family need. Outside the US, support will be similar, and we’ll follow up soon with separate processes that take into account local employment laws,”&nbsp;Zuckerberg said in a letter addressing the employees.&nbsp;</h5>
</blockquote>

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/india-dream11-co-founder-offers-jobs-to-people-fired-from-twitter-meta-and-others-533728">Fantasy platform Dream11 co-founder offers jobs to people fired from Twitter, Meta and others</a>

Employees in the United States will get 16 weeks of severance compensation in addition to two&nbsp;"additional weeks for every year of service, with no cap." All remaining Paid time off leave, or PTO (an employee leave policy under which the company sanctions a pool of leaves for its employees) vesting on 15 November,&nbsp;2022, the cost of healthcare for them and their families for six months, and three months of career support from an outside vendor will be provided to laid-off staff.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Facebook parent company Meta has let go around 13 per cent of its workforce. In a letter to his employees, Zuckerberg explained how he had hired aggressively during the pandemic and had anticipated quick growth even after the pandemic ended.

Facebook parent company Meta has let go around 13 per cent of its workforce. In a letter to his employees, Zuckerberg explained how he had hired aggressively during the pandemic and had anticipated quick growth even after the pandemic ended. The mass layoffs, which are the first in Meta's 18-year existence, came shortly after massive job cuts at Microsoft Corp. and Twitter, now owned by Elon Musk. But, why did Meta fire so many employees in the first place? What are the ramifications of this move for its Indian employees? How does it reflect on the larger structural problems of the company? We explain the same in-depth. What is Meta exactly doing? As it struggles with rising costs and plummeting ad revenues, Meta has adopted various cost-cutting strategies in addition to firing almost 11,000 employees. By extending its freeze on fresh recruitment until the first quarter, the firm intends to reduce discretionary spending. However, it hasn't mentioned the areas that would be affected by the transfers or the estimated cost cuts. Before the firings, Meta had been indirectly hinting at cost-cutting measures by reducing its real estate holdings and doing away with some of the benefits it provided to its employees, such as free laundry and dry cleaning services, dinners they were permitted to pack home to their families and avail free valet services. #Gravitas | Mark Zuckerberg is set to pull off an @elonmusk. His company@Meta is about to unleash its biggest round of layoffs in history. Thousands of Meta employees are set to be sacked. Why? @PriyankaSh25 reports pic.twitter.com/IQtfiVyxHq — WION (@WIONews) November 8, 2022 × “Unfortunately, this did not play out the way I expected,” Zuckerberg wrote. “Not only has online commerce returned to prior trends, but the macroeconomic downturn, increased competition, and ads signal loss have caused our revenue to be much lower than I’d expected. I got this wrong, and I take responsibility for that.” Reasons behind downsizing There are two key factors at play. First, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, social media companies embarked on a recruiting spree. The reason being that more people stayed indoors during the pandemic lockdown and spent more time on the internet. Second, investors are concerned about Meta's massive $10 billion investment in the "metaverse." However, once the lockdowns ended and people resumed venturing outdoors, the upward trend faded. “In its earnings report last month, Meta disclosed that Reality Labs, the part of the company working on the metaverse, had $3.67 billion in operating losses. Reality Labs also experienced its lowest revenue since the final quarter of 2020. The company expects the operating losses for Reality Labs to increase next year,” The New York Times reported. Also WATCH | Twitter, Meta: Tech 'bloodbath' continues as tech giants on firing spree The United States' economic slump made everything worse. This past summer, Meta recorded its first-ever quarterly sales decrease, which was followed by a larger decline in the following season. What next for Meta? A impending recession has Meta and its advertisers on high alert. The difficulty of using Apple's privacy settings, which make it harder for social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Snap to monitor users without their permission and target them with adverts, is another issue. As more young people choose TikTok over Instagram, which Meta also owns, competition from TikTok is becoming a greater concern. “We’ve cut costs across our business, including scaling back budgets, reducing perks, and shrinking our real estate footprint,” Zuckerberg said. ”We’re restructuring teams to increase our efficiency. But these measures alone won’t bring our expenses in line with our revenue growth, so I’ve also made the hard decision to let people go.” More cost cuts at Meta will be rolled out in coming months, Zuckerberg said. However, Zuckerberg has made it clear that his commitment to the metaverse is unwavering. What happens to the Indians who got fired? Many affected Indians have expressed their concern on social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn. These affected Indians are on H1B visas and must find jobs within 60 days of the termination date. Any H1B visa holder who is unable to obtain employment within 60 days will have to return to their country of origin. In this situation, Indians who are jobless after the grace period must go back. The original employer will need to bear the cost of their return ticket in accordance with H1B visa policy. Unlike Musk, Zuckerberg said that he will assist migrant employees with their immigration. “I know this is especially difficult if you’re here on a visa. There’s a notice period before termination and some visa grace periods, which means everyone will have time to make plans and work through their immigration status. We have dedicated immigration specialists to help guide you based on what you and your family need. Outside the US, support will be similar, and we’ll follow up soon with separate processes that take into account local employment laws,” Zuckerberg said in a letter addressing the employees. Also read | Fantasy platform Dream11 co-founder offers jobs to people fired from Twitter, Meta and others Employees in the United States will get 16 weeks of severance compensation in addition to two "additional weeks for every year of service, with no cap." All remaining Paid time off leave, or PTO (an employee leave policy under which the company sanctions a pool of leaves for its employees) vesting on 15 November, 2022, the cost of healthcare for them and their families for six months, and three months of career support from an outside vendor will be provided to laid-off staff. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Meta layoffs EXPLAINED: Why did Meta fire 13% of its employees? What next for the Facebook parent company?

Meta owner told its employees that the company would stop developing smart displays and smart watches. Adding that, nearly half of the 11,000 job cuts were technology roles.

Facebook parent to combine voice, video unit with messaging teams

In what could possibly be more trouble for Meta, the EU anti-trust regulators are drawing charges against the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Meta is being charged over its use of customer data.

WION Business News | EU regulators about to charge Meta: Reports

European Union might slap Facebook with charges as the bloc's antitrust enforcers are all set to prepare a case against the social media giant, over the anti-competitive abuses on its marketplace platform, media outlet POLITICO reported citing sources.&nbsp;

The antitrust regulators are apparently drawing up charges against Meta over its use of customer data and the tying of classified advertisements service known as Marketplace, the sources mentioned.&nbsp;

Facebook Marketplace, which is Meta's classified ads business, was launched in 2016. It is used in 70 countries to buy and sell items.&nbsp;

ALSO READ&nbsp;| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zoom-calls-on-tesla-screens-soon-to-be-a-reality-532963">Zoom video calls on Tesla cars soon to be a reality?</a>&nbsp;

News agency Reuters also reported it, noting that the European Commission can impose fines up to 10 per cent of a company's global turnover for antitrust violations.&nbsp;

The news agency also said that Meta has declined to comment on this update.&nbsp;

As per the report by POLITICO, the EU regulator might probe how the firm could use data obtained from its advertisers to give an advantage to the Marketplace over competing services unfairly.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/twitter-blue-paywall-advertisers-how-musk-plans-to-bring-in-more-money-532894">Twitter Blue, paywall, advertisers: How Musk plans to bring in more money</a>&nbsp;

Urgent calls have been made by EU regulators to the rivals of Facebook to provide evidence of the abuse. The calls were made to know where the alleged harmful conduct across Facebook’s Marketplace actually occurs.&nbsp;

The investigation began into the social network company in June of last year and Britain's competition agency also began an enquiry on the same day. Now it is also reported that the charge sheet might be issued before the Christmas break.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Twitter to become an 'everything app'? Twitter entering the payments markets?&nbsp;

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European Union might slap Facebook with charges as the bloc's antitrust enforcers are all set to prepare a case against the social media giant, over the anti-competitive abuses on its marketplace platform, media outlet POLITICO reported citing sources.

European Union might slap Facebook with charges as the bloc's antitrust enforcers are all set to prepare a case against the social media giant, over the anti-competitive abuses on its marketplace platform, media outlet POLITICO reported citing sources. The antitrust regulators are apparently drawing up charges against Meta over its use of customer data and the tying of classified advertisements service known as Marketplace, the sources mentioned. Facebook Marketplace, which is Meta's classified ads business, was launched in 2016. It is used in 70 countries to buy and sell items. ALSO READ | Zoom video calls on Tesla cars soon to be a reality? News agency Reuters also reported it, noting that the European Commission can impose fines up to 10 per cent of a company's global turnover for antitrust violations. The news agency also said that Meta has declined to comment on this update. As per the report by POLITICO, the EU regulator might probe how the firm could use data obtained from its advertisers to give an advantage to the Marketplace over competing services unfairly. ALSO READ | Twitter Blue, paywall, advertisers: How Musk plans to bring in more money Urgent calls have been made by EU regulators to the rivals of Facebook to provide evidence of the abuse. The calls were made to know where the alleged harmful conduct across Facebook’s Marketplace actually occurs. The investigation began into the social network company in June of last year and Britain's competition agency also began an enquiry on the same day. Now it is also reported that the charge sheet might be issued before the Christmas break. WATCH | Twitter to become an 'everything app'? Twitter entering the payments markets? × You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

European Union antitrust regulators to hit Facebook with new charges: Report

Facebook’s parent company Meta has decided to follow the examples of tech giants like Twitter and Microsoft to announce massive job cuts. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg said on Wednesday that the company will be firing over 11,000 employees following a severe dip in revenue.

"Today I'm sharing some of the most difficult changes we've made in Meta's history. I've decided to reduce the size of our team by about 13% and let more than 11,000 of our talented employees go."

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"We are also taking a number of additional steps to become a leaner and more efficient company by cutting discretionary spending and extending our hiring freeze through Q1," he wrote in a blog.

According to CNBC, the employees will receive 16 weeks of base pay as severance and the company will be paying for their healthcare for six months. Zuckerberg apologised to the workers and said, "I want to take accountability for these decisions and for how we got here”.

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The announcement came amid similar steps taken by Twitter with new owner Elon Musk looking to complete an overhaul of the social media platform. This will be the first budget cut in Facebook’s history and according to experts, it was mainly caused by the failure of the metaverse project.

Apart from the job cuts, Meta has also extended their hiring freeze since March 23 in an attempt to “become a leaner organisation”. &nbsp;The global economy has taken a major hit after the COVID-19 pandemic and that was cited by Zuckerberg while explaining the board’s “tough decisions”.

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Facebook’s parent company Meta has decided to follow the examples of tech giants like Twitter and Microsoft to announce massive job cuts. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg said on Wednesday that the company will be firing over 11,000 employees following a severe dip in revenue.

Facebook’s parent company Meta has decided to follow the examples of tech giants like Twitter and Microsoft to announce massive job cuts. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg said on Wednesday that the company will be firing over 11,000 employees following a severe dip in revenue. "Today I'm sharing some of the most difficult changes we've made in Meta's history. I've decided to reduce the size of our team by about 13% and let more than 11,000 of our talented employees go." Also read | US midterms LIVE | 'Bloodbath!!!': Trump's son tweets as Republicans surge "We are also taking a number of additional steps to become a leaner and more efficient company by cutting discretionary spending and extending our hiring freeze through Q1," he wrote in a blog. According to CNBC, the employees will receive 16 weeks of base pay as severance and the company will be paying for their healthcare for six months. Zuckerberg apologised to the workers and said, "I want to take accountability for these decisions and for how we got here”. Also read | Exit polls show most voters don’t want Joe Biden to run for president in 2024 The announcement came amid similar steps taken by Twitter with new owner Elon Musk looking to complete an overhaul of the social media platform. This will be the first budget cut in Facebook’s history and according to experts, it was mainly caused by the failure of the metaverse project. Apart from the job cuts, Meta has also extended their hiring freeze since March 23 in an attempt to “become a leaner organisation”. The global economy has taken a major hit after the COVID-19 pandemic and that was cited by Zuckerberg while explaining the board’s “tough decisions”.

'Sorry to those impacted': Facebook's parent company Meta fires more than 11,000 workers

Just a couple of days back Twitter underwent massive layoffs, firing around 50 per cent of its employees, now another social media company is reportedly going to travel the same path. As per a report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Facebook's parent company Meta is planning to begin large-scale layoffs this week.

Reuters reports that the layoffs will affect thousands of employees and the announcement will likely come as early as Wednesday.

Watch |&nbsp;WION Business News | Facebook-parent Meta's India head Ajit Mohan quits

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The discouraging news comes as Meta battles a sluggish global economy, TikTok rivalry, Apple privacy changes, worries about big spending on the metaverse, and the looming danger of regulation.

Meta had reduced its ambitions to hire engineers by at least 30 per cent in June, and Mark Zuckerberg had advised staff to prepare for a slowdown in the economy.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musks-twitter-calls-back-some-of-the-fired-employees-says-they-got-laid-off-by-mistake-531720" hreflang="en">Elon Musk's Twitter calls back some of the fired employees, says they got laid off 'by mistake'</a>

A few months later, in October, Meta had predicted a dismal Christmas quarter and much higher costs in 2023, which as per its estimates will reduce its stock's market value by around $67 billion and add to the more than half a trillion dollars in value already lost this year.&nbsp;

According to Zuckerberg, it will take around ten years for the investments in the metaverse to pay off. To save costs in the interim, he has been forced to halt employment, cancel projects, and rearrange teams.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-will-twitter-layoffs-breach-american-law-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-531676">Explained: Will Twitter layoffs breach American law? Here's everything you need to know</a>

"In 2023, we're going to focus our investments on a small number of high priority growth areas. So that means some teams will grow meaningfully, but most other teams will stay flat or shrink over the next year. In aggregate, we expect to end 2023 as either roughly the same size, or even a slightly smaller organization than we are today" he said last month.

Increased interest rates, rising inflation, and the European energy crisis have in recent times not only forced Twitter and Meta, to cut staff, rather several technological businesses, including Microsoft Corp., and Snap Inc., have also reduced employment in recent months.

Just a couple of days back Twitter underwent massive layoffs, firing around 50 per cent of its employees, now another social media company is reportedly going to travel the same path.

Just a couple of days back Twitter underwent massive layoffs, firing around 50 per cent of its employees, now another social media company is reportedly going to travel the same path. As per a report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Facebook's parent company Meta is planning to begin large-scale layoffs this week. Reuters reports that the layoffs will affect thousands of employees and the announcement will likely come as early as Wednesday. Watch | WION Business News | Facebook-parent Meta's India head Ajit Mohan quits The discouraging news comes as Meta battles a sluggish global economy, TikTok rivalry, Apple privacy changes, worries about big spending on the metaverse, and the looming danger of regulation. Meta had reduced its ambitions to hire engineers by at least 30 per cent in June, and Mark Zuckerberg had advised staff to prepare for a slowdown in the economy. Also read | Elon Musk's Twitter calls back some of the fired employees, says they got laid off 'by mistake' A few months later, in October, Meta had predicted a dismal Christmas quarter and much higher costs in 2023, which as per its estimates will reduce its stock's market value by around $67 billion and add to the more than half a trillion dollars in value already lost this year. According to Zuckerberg, it will take around ten years for the investments in the metaverse to pay off. To save costs in the interim, he has been forced to halt employment, cancel projects, and rearrange teams. Also read | Explained: Will Twitter layoffs breach American law? Here's everything you need to know "In 2023, we're going to focus our investments on a small number of high priority growth areas. So that means some teams will grow meaningfully, but most other teams will stay flat or shrink over the next year. In aggregate, we expect to end 2023 as either roughly the same size, or even a slightly smaller organization than we are today" he said last month. Increased interest rates, rising inflation, and the European energy crisis have in recent times not only forced Twitter and Meta, to cut staff, rather several technological businesses, including Microsoft Corp., and Snap Inc., have also reduced employment in recent months.

After Twitter, now Facebook parent company Meta will undergo massive layoffs: Report

Meta Platforms Inc's India head Ajit Mohan has quit after four years in the role to join rival Snap Inc, the companies said on Thursday, a high-profile exit for the Facebook parent in its biggest market.

WION Business News | Facebook-parent Meta's India head Ajit Mohan quits

Ajit Mohan, the India head of Facebook's parent Meta Platforms Inc, has resigned after four years in the role, the company said on Thursday (November 3), adding that it remains "deeply committed to India".&nbsp;

Meanwhile, a company spokesperson told the news agency Reuters that Manish Chopra, the director and head of partnerships at Meta India, will take over as interim head.&nbsp;

Nicola Mendelsohn, who is the vice president of the Global Business Group at Meta, said in a statement: "Ajit Mohan has decided to step down from his role at Meta to pursue another opportunity outside of company."&nbsp;

"Over last 4 yrs, he has played imp role in shaping &amp; scaling our India ops so they can serve millions of Indian businesses, partners &amp; people," added Mendelsohn.&nbsp;

The company is still "strongly committed to India," according to Nicola Mendelsohn, vice president of Meta's worldwide business group, in a statement.&nbsp;

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A source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters that Mohan will join rival Snap Inc as a senior executive. He will be overseeing the Asia Pacific region. However, there's no confirmation yet on his next role.&nbsp;

In India, the government has been tightening regulations controlling Big Tech corporations, Facebook is currently facing a number of regulatory problems. For years, the business has come under fire for not doing more to stop the spread of false information and hate speech in India.&nbsp;

By comparison, the Meta-owned messaging service WhatsApp has 563 million users as of November 2021, whilst the platform had close to 450 million users in India.&nbsp;

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Ajit Mohan, the India head of Facebook's parent Meta Platforms Inc, has resigned after four years in the role, the company said on Thursday (November 3), adding that it remains "deeply committed to India".

Ajit Mohan, the India head of Facebook's parent Meta Platforms Inc, has resigned after four years in the role, the company said on Thursday (November 3), adding that it remains "deeply committed to India". Meanwhile, a company spokesperson told the news agency Reuters that Manish Chopra, the director and head of partnerships at Meta India, will take over as interim head. Nicola Mendelsohn, who is the vice president of the Global Business Group at Meta, said in a statement: "Ajit Mohan has decided to step down from his role at Meta to pursue another opportunity outside of company." "Over last 4 yrs, he has played imp role in shaping & scaling our India ops so they can serve millions of Indian businesses, partners & people," added Mendelsohn. The company is still "strongly committed to India," according to Nicola Mendelsohn, vice president of Meta's worldwide business group, in a statement. ALSO READ | Elon Musk to cut up to half of Twitter's workforce, revoke work from home: Report × A source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters that Mohan will join rival Snap Inc as a senior executive. He will be overseeing the Asia Pacific region. However, there's no confirmation yet on his next role. In India, the government has been tightening regulations controlling Big Tech corporations, Facebook is currently facing a number of regulatory problems. For years, the business has come under fire for not doing more to stop the spread of false information and hate speech in India. By comparison, the Meta-owned messaging service WhatsApp has 563 million users as of November 2021, whilst the platform had close to 450 million users in India. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Meta's India head Ajit Mohan resigns after four years in the role, may join Snap

A new report by the human rights organisation Global Witness claims that YouTube and Facebook have contributed to the spread of disinformation during the ongoing election campaign in Brazil.

According to the report, the social platforms have allowed misleading campaign ads to be posted as the race between President Jair Bolsonaro and challenger Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva heats up. The ads included fake information, doctored images and misleading news about both the candidates.

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“It’s frankly shocking that these massive firms with the technological prowess they clearly have, are unable to weed out such blatant disinformation being pushed onto their users,” said Jon Lloyd, Global Witness’s senior adviser, according to a report in The Guardian.

“If it wasn’t already obvious it should now be undeniable to even the biggest sceptic – social media firms are fundamentally failing in their responsibility to stop democratic processes being undermined by false, misleading and purposeful deceit,” he added.

The report identified 11 ads which ran on Facebook and more than 20 ads which ran on YouTube to fall under the “disinformation” category, and they were allowed to stay on the platform for 30 days.

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The accusations were refuted by Meta – the parent company of Facebook – and the spokesperson said that they have rejected 135,000 Brazil-related ad submissions till September 30.

“These reports were based on a very small sample of ads,” the official statement from the company stated according to The Guardian, “and are not representative given the number of political ads we review daily across the world.”

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A new report by the human rights organisation Global Witness claims that YouTube and Facebook have contributed to the spread of disinformation during the ongoing election campaign in Brazil.

A new report by the human rights organisation Global Witness claims that YouTube and Facebook have contributed to the spread of disinformation during the ongoing election campaign in Brazil. According to the report, the social platforms have allowed misleading campaign ads to be posted as the race between President Jair Bolsonaro and challenger Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva heats up. The ads included fake information, doctored images and misleading news about both the candidates. Also read | Russian fighter jet released missile near British RAF aircraft over Black Sea “It’s frankly shocking that these massive firms with the technological prowess they clearly have, are unable to weed out such blatant disinformation being pushed onto their users,” said Jon Lloyd, Global Witness’s senior adviser, according to a report in The Guardian. “If it wasn’t already obvious it should now be undeniable to even the biggest sceptic – social media firms are fundamentally failing in their responsibility to stop democratic processes being undermined by false, misleading and purposeful deceit,” he added. The report identified 11 ads which ran on Facebook and more than 20 ads which ran on YouTube to fall under the “disinformation” category, and they were allowed to stay on the platform for 30 days. Also read | Japanese yen hits 150-mark against US dollar - worst since August 1990 The accusations were refuted by Meta – the parent company of Facebook – and the spokesperson said that they have rejected 135,000 Brazil-related ad submissions till September 30. “These reports were based on a very small sample of ads,” the official statement from the company stated according to The Guardian, “and are not representative given the number of political ads we review daily across the world.”

YouTube and Facebook letting disinformation spread during Brazil election: Report

Meta, more colloquially known as Facebook has been ordered by the UK&nbsp;antitrust watchdog&nbsp;Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to sell GIPHY Inc. This is the second instance when Meta has been ordered to sell the popular gif library.&nbsp;

Meta conceded the defeat and said it was disappointed by the decision.&nbsp;

“We are disappointed by the CMA’s decision but accept today’s ruling as the final word on the matter.&nbsp;We are grateful to the Giphy team during this uncertain time for their business, and wish them every success,” said a Meta spokesperson.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;Stuart McIntosh, chair of the independent inquiry into the buyout said,&nbsp;“This deal would significantly reduce competition in two markets. It has already resulted in the removal of a potential challenger in the UK display ad market, while also giving Meta the ability to further increase its substantial market power in social media."

“The only way this can be addressed is by the sale of Giphy. This will promote innovation in digital advertising, and also ensure UK social media users continue to benefit from access to Giphy.”

As reported by WION, the watchdog, in November last year issued the first order to Meta citing the deal could harm the competitors. Reportedly, Meta bought GIPHY in 2020 for an estimated $400 million to integrate it with its other platforms viz. Instagram and WhatsApp.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/facebook-owner-meta-asked-to-sell-giphy-by-british-regulator-432991">Read more:&nbsp;Facebook-owner Meta asked to sell Giphy by British regulator</a>

However, CMA feared that the deal could limit other social media platforms' access to GIFs, which, in turn, would have made those sites less attractive to users.&nbsp;

"Without action, it will also allow Facebook to increase its significant market power in social media even further, through controlling competitors' access to Giphy GIFs," said Stuart McIntosh, who headed an inquiry into the buyout.&nbsp;

However, after the order, Meta decided to appeal the decision and went to&nbsp;Competition Appeal Tribunal in January, earlier this year.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/meta-appeals-british-regulators-ruling-that-asked-facebook-to-sell-giphy-442512">Read more:&nbsp;Meta appeals British regulator's ruling that asked Facebook to sell Giphy</a>

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Meta, more colloquially known as Facebook has been ordered by the UK antitrust watchdog Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to sell GIPHY Inc. This is the second instance when Meta has been ordered to sell the popular gif library.

Meta, more colloquially known as Facebook has been ordered by the UK antitrust watchdog Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to sell GIPHY Inc. This is the second instance when Meta has been ordered to sell the popular gif library. Meta conceded the defeat and said it was disappointed by the decision. “We are disappointed by the CMA’s decision but accept today’s ruling as the final word on the matter. We are grateful to the Giphy team during this uncertain time for their business, and wish them every success,” said a Meta spokesperson. Meanwhile, Stuart McIntosh, chair of the independent inquiry into the buyout said, “This deal would significantly reduce competition in two markets. It has already resulted in the removal of a potential challenger in the UK display ad market, while also giving Meta the ability to further increase its substantial market power in social media." “The only way this can be addressed is by the sale of Giphy. This will promote innovation in digital advertising, and also ensure UK social media users continue to benefit from access to Giphy.” As reported by WION, the watchdog, in November last year issued the first order to Meta citing the deal could harm the competitors. Reportedly, Meta bought GIPHY in 2020 for an estimated $400 million to integrate it with its other platforms viz. Instagram and WhatsApp. Read more: Facebook-owner Meta asked to sell Giphy by British regulator However, CMA feared that the deal could limit other social media platforms' access to GIFs, which, in turn, would have made those sites less attractive to users. "Without action, it will also allow Facebook to increase its significant market power in social media even further, through controlling competitors' access to Giphy GIFs," said Stuart McIntosh, who headed an inquiry into the buyout. However, after the order, Meta decided to appeal the decision and went to Competition Appeal Tribunal in January, earlier this year. Read more: Meta appeals British regulator's ruling that asked Facebook to sell Giphy (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Meta ordered to sell GIPHY for the second time by UK antitrust watchdog

Facebook, rechristened as Meta, is struggling with numbers, nearly a year after the rebranding, as per a report by Wall Street Journal. Horizon Worlds, a flagship product of Meta which attempted to provide a comprehensive Metaverse experience to the users, has faltered to take off.

Facebook, rechristened as Meta, is struggling with numbers, nearly a year after the rebranding, as per a report by Wall Street Journal. Horizon Worlds, a flagship product of Meta which attempted to provide a comprehensive Metaverse experience to the users, has faltered to take off. According to the publication, after the launch last year, Mark Zuckerberg-owned Meta had kept an ambitious target of having 500,000 monthly active users on board. However, the current number of users stands at a rather unflattering 200,000, thereby failing to meet internal performance expectations. Read more: Mark Zuckerberg 'loses' more than 118 million followers on Facebook - Here's why Consequently, the analysts at Meta have already reduced the projection to 280,000 by the end of the year. While the user numbers being low is an alarming situation, what's more distressing is that those logging in to Horizon Worlds, did not return to the platform after the first month. The report states that only nine per cent of the free virtual reality online video game has been explored by at least 50 people while the majority of the Metaverse has been left relatively unexplored. Notably, Horizon Worlds was Zuckerberg's USP for the platform. In the game, individuals can pick an avatar and pop into the virtual space to interact with one another. To double down on his venture, Zuckerberg earlier this week launched the $1,500 Quest Pro VR which contains an advanced mobile Snapdragon computer chip. The attempt is to further drum up excitement around the product Meta has developed. Read more: Meta's new Quest Pro headset, mixing real and virtual worlds, makes debut Since last year, Meta's shares have gone down more than 60 per cent, losing $700 billion in market value in the process. The problems have only been exacerbated in recent times for other platforms as well. As reported by WION, last week Meta issued a warning that the login information of around a million users was potentially compromised. Read more: Meta warns one million users about potential data leak through malicious apps According to the official statement, the leak happened due to “malicious apps”. The applications were listed on Google Play Store and the Apple Store as games and other types of apps to trick people into downloading them and accessed the phone through the Facebook welcome page. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Metaverse fails to take off, Horizon Worlds largely unexplored; shares tumble: Report

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg lost more than 118 million followers on Facebook within seconds due to a bug affecting users all around the world. Several people reported similar problems on Wednesday with their friend lists showing a significant fall without any explanation from the platform.&nbsp;

Zuckerberg had 119 million followers on Facebook, but it dropped straight to 10,000.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-updates-live-russian-strike-kills-seven-at-market-in-east-ukraine-governor-524760" hreflang="en">Russia-Ukraine war LIVE | Russia 'expects' Erdogan to offer Ukraine mediation</a>

Following the complaints, Meta was quick to acknowledge the error and said that it was working on rectifying the situation. However, no explanation was given about when the error happened.&nbsp;

"We're aware that some people are seeing inconsistent follower count on their Facebook profiles. We're working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible and we apologize for any inconvenience," a Meta spokesperson told PTI when asked about the problems faced by a number of users.&nbsp;

Prominent author Taslima Nasreen also lost thousands of Facebook followers due to the glitch.&nbsp;

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“Facebook created a tsunami that wiped away my almost 900,000 followers and left only 9000 something on the shore. I kind of like Facebook’s comedy,” she posted on Twitter.&nbsp;

It has been a turbulent week for Meta as the tech giant was added to the list of “terrorists and extremists” by Russia. The decision was taken by Russia's financial monitoring agency Rosfinmonitoring which said that Meta was allowing posts that called for violence against the Russian military in Ukraine.&nbsp;

Zuckerberg was already barred from entering Russia as part of restrictions imposed by the Kremlin on several American citizens including US Vice President Kamala Harris and CEO of LinkedIn Ryan Roslansky.&nbsp;

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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg lost more than 118 million followers on Facebook within seconds due to a bug affecting users all around the world. Several people reported similar problems on Wednesday with their friend lists showing a significant fall without any explanation from the platform.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg lost more than 118 million followers on Facebook within seconds due to a bug affecting users all around the world. Several people reported similar problems on Wednesday with their friend lists showing a significant fall without any explanation from the platform. Zuckerberg had 119 million followers on Facebook, but it dropped straight to 10,000. Also read | Russia-Ukraine war LIVE | Russia 'expects' Erdogan to offer Ukraine mediation Following the complaints, Meta was quick to acknowledge the error and said that it was working on rectifying the situation. However, no explanation was given about when the error happened. "We're aware that some people are seeing inconsistent follower count on their Facebook profiles. We're working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible and we apologize for any inconvenience," a Meta spokesperson told PTI when asked about the problems faced by a number of users. Prominent author Taslima Nasreen also lost thousands of Facebook followers due to the glitch. Also read | Watch: Humanoid robot 'Ai-Da' addresses House of Lords in UK “Facebook created a tsunami that wiped away my almost 900,000 followers and left only 9000 something on the shore. I kind of like Facebook’s comedy,” she posted on Twitter. It has been a turbulent week for Meta as the tech giant was added to the list of “terrorists and extremists” by Russia. The decision was taken by Russia's financial monitoring agency Rosfinmonitoring which said that Meta was allowing posts that called for violence against the Russian military in Ukraine. Zuckerberg was already barred from entering Russia as part of restrictions imposed by the Kremlin on several American citizens including US Vice President Kamala Harris and CEO of LinkedIn Ryan Roslansky.

Mark Zuckerberg 'loses' more than 118 million followers on Facebook - Here's why

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