<p>NASA is offering Instagram users a way to explore the universe through a new augmented reality (AR) filter that brings stunning celestial bodies to life on your screen.</p>

<p>Using data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and other space telescopes, this "Instagram experience" immerses you in the beauty of space by placing astronomical objects right next to you on camera.</p>

<p>"Travel through the vastness of space and experience several astronomical objects — including the debris fields of exploded stars — with our new interactive Instagram experiences," NASA wrote in an Instagram post.</p>

<p>The AR filter can show cosmic phenomena such as the wreckage of supernovae and dense clouds of gas and dust where stars are being born. This innovative tool is part of the celebration of Chandra's 25th anniversary which was launched on July 23, 1999.</p>

<p>Also Read&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-sun-captured-firing-off-intense-solar-flare-then-gulping-it-back-728981">| Sun captured firing off intense solar flare, then gulping it back</a></p>

<p>An example on the @NASAChandraXray profile showed a woman with the Cat’s Eye Nebula glowing brilliantly behind her.&nbsp;</p>

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<h2><strong>How to use the filter?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>To use the Instagram Chandra experience, search for the "NASAChandraXray" account, select the effects options and choose the desired effect. You can save the effect to your camera or try it instantly.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/hubble-space-telescope-nasas-plan-for-more-cosmic-discoveries-728929">Hubble Space Telescope: NASA's plan for more cosmic discoveries</a></p>

<p>Chandra X-ray Center visualization and emerging technology scientist Kimberly Arcand said, "We are excited to bring data from the universe down to Earth in this way."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Enabling people to access cosmic data on their phones and through AR brings Chandra’s amazing discoveries literally right to your fingertips."</p>

<h2><strong>What&nbsp;all there is to explore?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Some of the celestial bodies you can explore include the Cat’s Eye Nebula, Vela pulsar, and Tycho's supernova remnant. For example, the Cat’s Eye Nebula appears as a round formation with a glowing rim and a diamond-shaped blue centre. It resembles a cat’s eye. Users can back up and point to see the full view of this mesmerising nebula.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Drug overdose death rates rising in US, says study</strong></p>

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<p>The Vela pulsar, located 1,000 light-years away, is a neutron star that emerged from a massive star's collapse. It spins 11 times per second and emits jets from its poles at 70 per cent of the speed of light.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tycho's supernova remnant, found 8,000 to 10,000 light-years from Earth, is another fascinating object you can explore. Named after Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, this remnant is from a Type Ia supernova, which occurs when a white dwarf accumulates material from a companion star until a nuclear explosion obliterates it.</p>

<p>In addition to this, you can view the Helix Nebula, an expanding cloud of stellar material around 650 light-years.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA is offering Instagram users a way to explore the universe through a new augmented reality (AR) filter that brings stunning celestial bodies to life on your screen.

NASA is offering Instagram users a way to explore the universe through a new augmented reality (AR) filter that brings stunning celestial bodies to life on your screen. Using data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and other space telescopes, this "Instagram experience" immerses you in the beauty of space by placing astronomical objects right next to you on camera. "Travel through the vastness of space and experience several astronomical objects — including the debris fields of exploded stars — with our new interactive Instagram experiences," NASA wrote in an Instagram post. The AR filter can show cosmic phenomena such as the wreckage of supernovae and dense clouds of gas and dust where stars are being born. This innovative tool is part of the celebration of Chandra's 25th anniversary which was launched on July 23, 1999. Also Read | Sun captured firing off intense solar flare, then gulping it back An example on the @NASAChandraXray profile showed a woman with the Cat’s Eye Nebula glowing brilliantly behind her. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA Chandra X-ray Observatory (@nasachandraxray) × How to use the filter? To use the Instagram Chandra experience, search for the "NASAChandraXray" account, select the effects options and choose the desired effect. You can save the effect to your camera or try it instantly. Also Read | Hubble Space Telescope: NASA's plan for more cosmic discoveries Chandra X-ray Center visualization and emerging technology scientist Kimberly Arcand said, "We are excited to bring data from the universe down to Earth in this way." "Enabling people to access cosmic data on their phones and through AR brings Chandra’s amazing discoveries literally right to your fingertips." What all there is to explore? Some of the celestial bodies you can explore include the Cat’s Eye Nebula, Vela pulsar, and Tycho's supernova remnant. For example, the Cat’s Eye Nebula appears as a round formation with a glowing rim and a diamond-shaped blue centre. It resembles a cat’s eye. Users can back up and point to see the full view of this mesmerising nebula. Watch | Drug overdose death rates rising in US, says study × The Vela pulsar, located 1,000 light-years away, is a neutron star that emerged from a massive star's collapse. It spins 11 times per second and emits jets from its poles at 70 per cent of the speed of light. Tycho's supernova remnant, found 8,000 to 10,000 light-years from Earth, is another fascinating object you can explore. Named after Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, this remnant is from a Type Ia supernova, which occurs when a white dwarf accumulates material from a companion star until a nuclear explosion obliterates it. In addition to this, you can view the Helix Nebula, an expanding cloud of stellar material around 650 light-years. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA's new Instagram augmented reality filter brings universe to your fingertips

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<p>Two years after the Uvalde school shooting, multiple state lawsuits were filed by the families of the victims in California and Texas in which they sued social media giant Meta and&nbsp;Activision, who are the makers of the popular video game&nbsp;"Call of Duty".</p>

<p>The families also sued Daniel Defense, who is the manufacturer of the AR-15&nbsp;which&nbsp;was used by the teen gunman in the shooting.&nbsp;In the lawsuits, the families claimed that these companies played a role in promoting the gun&nbsp;which&nbsp;was used&nbsp;to kill students.</p>

<p>As per the lawsuit, the companies partnered to market the weapon to underage boys. Salvador Ramos, 18,&nbsp;had purchased the DDM4V7 rifle weeks before using it to kill 19 students and two teachers and injuring 17 others.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He had purchased the weapon months after he started playing a version of the game and also posted different things about weapons on Instagram, said attorney&nbsp;Josh Koskoff, who was representing the families.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/city-of-uvalde-to-pay-2-million-to-families-of-school-shooting-victims-724453">City of Uvalde to pay $2 million to families of school shooting victims</a></p>

<p>The lawsuits&nbsp;were filed&nbsp;two days after the same group,&nbsp;which&nbsp;comprised 19 families, finalised a $2 million settlement&nbsp;with the city of Uvalde.</p>

<p>Among the two lawsuits,&nbsp;one was filed&nbsp;in Los Angeles County Superior Court against&nbsp;both&nbsp;Activision and&nbsp;Instagram's&nbsp;parent company&nbsp;Meta. The attorney filed the second lawsuit against Daniel Defense in Uvalde District Court.</p>

<h2><strong>"Preying&nbsp;upon insecure, adolescent boys"</strong></h2>

<p>The lawsuits have claimed that Instagram, Activision and Daniel Defense have been&nbsp;"partnering…in a scheme that preys upon insecure, adolescent boys,"&nbsp;said&nbsp;attorneys,&nbsp;in a press release.</p>

<p>They said that Meta and Activision&nbsp;"enabled and emboldened firearm&nbsp;manufacturers'&nbsp;efforts to expand the market for their weapons by granting unprecedented, direct and 24/7 access to children."</p>

<p>In the lawsuits, they also alleged that on his 18th birthday, the gunman purchased the AR-15 because&nbsp;"he was targeted and cultivated online by Instagram, Activision and Daniel Defense. This three-headed monster knowingly exposed him to the weapon, conditioned him to see it as a tool to solve his problems and trained him to use it".</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;How gun politics could affect US polls?</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/how-gun-politics-could-affect-us-polls-725168/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"Simultaneously, on Instagram, the shooter was being courted through explicit, aggressive marketing. In addition to hundreds of images depicting and venerating the thrill of combat, Daniel Defense used Instagram to&nbsp;extol&nbsp;the illegal, murderous use of its weapons,"&nbsp;said the attorneys.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, in a&nbsp;statement to the New York Times, Activision said that&nbsp;“we express our deepest sympathies to the families”&nbsp;in&nbsp;Uvalde,&nbsp;but stated&nbsp;that&nbsp;“millions of people around the world enjoy video games without turning to horrific acts.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Two years after the Uvalde school shooting, multiple state lawsuits were filed by the families of the victims in California and Texas in which they sued social media giant Meta and Activision, who are the makers of the popular video game "Call of Duty".

Two years after the Uvalde school shooting, multiple state lawsuits were filed by the families of the victims in California and Texas in which they sued social media giant Meta and Activision, who are the makers of the popular video game "Call of Duty". The families also sued Daniel Defense, who is the manufacturer of the AR-15 which was used by the teen gunman in the shooting. In the lawsuits, the families claimed that these companies played a role in promoting the gun which was used to kill students. As per the lawsuit, the companies partnered to market the weapon to underage boys. Salvador Ramos, 18, had purchased the DDM4V7 rifle weeks before using it to kill 19 students and two teachers and injuring 17 others. He had purchased the weapon months after he started playing a version of the game and also posted different things about weapons on Instagram, said attorney Josh Koskoff, who was representing the families. Also Read: City of Uvalde to pay $2 million to families of school shooting victims The lawsuits were filed two days after the same group, which comprised 19 families, finalised a $2 million settlement with the city of Uvalde. Among the two lawsuits, one was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court against both Activision and Instagram's parent company Meta. The attorney filed the second lawsuit against Daniel Defense in Uvalde District Court. "Preying upon insecure, adolescent boys" The lawsuits have claimed that Instagram, Activision and Daniel Defense have been "partnering…in a scheme that preys upon insecure, adolescent boys," said attorneys, in a press release. They said that Meta and Activision "enabled and emboldened firearm manufacturers' efforts to expand the market for their weapons by granting unprecedented, direct and 24/7 access to children." In the lawsuits, they also alleged that on his 18th birthday, the gunman purchased the AR-15 because "he was targeted and cultivated online by Instagram, Activision and Daniel Defense. This three-headed monster knowingly exposed him to the weapon, conditioned him to see it as a tool to solve his problems and trained him to use it". Watch: How gun politics could affect US polls? "Simultaneously, on Instagram, the shooter was being courted through explicit, aggressive marketing. In addition to hundreds of images depicting and venerating the thrill of combat, Daniel Defense used Instagram to extol the illegal, murderous use of its weapons," said the attorneys. Meanwhile, in a statement to the New York Times, Activision said that “we express our deepest sympathies to the families” in Uvalde, but stated that “millions of people around the world enjoy video games without turning to horrific acts.” (With inputs from agencies)

Uvalde school shooting: Families of victims sue Instagram and Call of Duty game maker

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<p>Former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni has revealed that he prefers Instagram as his preferred mode of social media over X (formerly Twitter). Dhoni, who has a relatively low-key social media presence, is only available to the fans during the Indian Premier League (IPL) and at the odd promotional events.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking&nbsp;on the <em>Dubai Eye 103.8 </em>YouTube channel, Dhoni said the reason for his preference was the less controversial nature of Instagram.</p>

<p>"I prefer Instagram over Twitter. Twitter, I believe that nothing good has happened over Twitter. You know, especially in India, there is always a controversy. Somebody will write something, and it turns into a controversy. I was like, you know, why do I need to be there?" said Dhoni.</p>

<p>"You know, it used to be 140 characters. You cannot elaborate. Imagine me putting something over there, and then it is left up to the people to read it, and they just interpret what they want to interpret," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The CSK batter said even though he preferred&nbsp;Instagram, he liked to stay less active on the platform since&nbsp;fewer distractions in life are better.</p>

<p>"So, I'm like, no, no, that's not really for me. Instagram still, I like it because, you know, I could put up my picture or a video or something and just leave it. That is also changing no," said Dhoni.</p>

<p>"So I still prefer Instagram, but I am not very active because, I don't know, I feel, you know,&nbsp;less&nbsp;distractions are better, but in between, on and off, I will put something for the fans, you know, so that they know, okay, I am somewhere good, you know, in good hands. So I am doing what I like," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2024-we-have-seen-the-last-of-ms-dhoni-to-retire-heres-what-former-csk-batter-says-723139"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;IPL 2024: ‘We have seen the last of MS...,’ Dhoni to retire? Here’s what former CSK batter says</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Dhoni's CSK campaign</strong></h2>

<p>Dhoni had a great IPL 2024 campaign with CSK but the franchise failed to get over the line and qualify for the playoffs.</p>

<p>In the final league match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, CSK fell short by 10 runs as Dhoni got out in the final over after hitting a massive 110-metre six.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since then, speculations have been rife about Dhoni's future.</p>

<p>While some reports claim that Dhoni will announce his retirement soon, a section of fans are hoping that Dhoni turns up for CSK yet again after the mega auctions next year.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni has revealed that he prefers Instagram as his preferred mode of social media over X (formerly Twitter).

Former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni has revealed that he prefers Instagram as his preferred mode of social media over X (formerly Twitter). Dhoni, who has a relatively low-key social media presence, is only available to the fans during the Indian Premier League (IPL) and at the odd promotional events. Speaking on the Dubai Eye 103.8 YouTube channel, Dhoni said the reason for his preference was the less controversial nature of Instagram. "I prefer Instagram over Twitter. Twitter, I believe that nothing good has happened over Twitter. You know, especially in India, there is always a controversy. Somebody will write something, and it turns into a controversy. I was like, you know, why do I need to be there?" said Dhoni. "You know, it used to be 140 characters. You cannot elaborate. Imagine me putting something over there, and then it is left up to the people to read it, and they just interpret what they want to interpret," he added. The CSK batter said even though he preferred Instagram, he liked to stay less active on the platform since fewer distractions in life are better. "So, I'm like, no, no, that's not really for me. Instagram still, I like it because, you know, I could put up my picture or a video or something and just leave it. That is also changing no," said Dhoni. "So I still prefer Instagram, but I am not very active because, I don't know, I feel, you know, less distractions are better, but in between, on and off, I will put something for the fans, you know, so that they know, okay, I am somewhere good, you know, in good hands. So I am doing what I like," he added. Also read | IPL 2024: ‘We have seen the last of MS...,’ Dhoni to retire? Here’s what former CSK batter says Dhoni's CSK campaign Dhoni had a great IPL 2024 campaign with CSK but the franchise failed to get over the line and qualify for the playoffs. In the final league match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, CSK fell short by 10 runs as Dhoni got out in the final over after hitting a massive 110-metre six. Since then, speculations have been rife about Dhoni's future. While some reports claim that Dhoni will announce his retirement soon, a section of fans are hoping that Dhoni turns up for CSK yet again after the mega auctions next year. (With inputs from agencies)

Instagram or Twitter? MS Dhoni reveals his choice for connecting with fans

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<p>The European Union (EU) on Thursday (May 16) started a formal investigation into Facebook and Instagram on allegations that the Meta-owned platforms are leading to addictive behaviour in children.</p>

<p>The investigation is&nbsp;being carried out&nbsp;under a mammoth law called the Digital Services Act (DSA)&nbsp;which&nbsp;forces the largest tech firms in the world to take more steps to protect European users online and remove any illegal content.</p>

<p>This&nbsp;is the second investigation which has&nbsp;been launched&nbsp;into Meta. Last month, another probe&nbsp;was launched&nbsp;by the European Union over concerns that Facebook and Instagram are not countering disinformation.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-flexes-arms-as-it-launches-probe-against-meta-over-disinformation-concerns-716397">EU flexes arms as it launches probe against Meta over disinformation&nbsp;concerns</a></p>

<p>"We&nbsp;are not convinced&nbsp;that it has done enough to comply with the DSA obligations to mitigate the risks of negative effects to the physical and mental health of young Europeans," said EU's internal market commissioner, Thierry Breton.</p>

<p>"We are sparing no effort to protect our children," he stated.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Meta's spokesperson tried to defend the company and claimed&nbsp;that it&nbsp;had&nbsp;taken steps to protect young users.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We want young people to have safe, age-appropriate experiences online and have spent a decade developing more than 50 tools and policies designed to protect them," said the spokesperson.</p>

<p>"This is a challenge the whole industry is facing, and we look forward to sharing details of our work with the European Commission," the spokesperson added.</p>

<h2><strong>EU suspects Meta's systems 'may stimulate behavioural addictions in children'&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The European Commission, which is the tech regulator of the European Union, in Thursday's (May 16)&nbsp;announcement&nbsp;said that it suspected the systems of the platform "may stimulate behavioural addictions in children".</p>

<p>The commission also raised another issue&nbsp;which&nbsp;was the&nbsp;so-called "rabbit hole" effect.&nbsp;This&nbsp;happens when users get related content based on an algorithm, which&nbsp;in&nbsp;a few&nbsp;cases&nbsp;leads to more extreme content.</p>

<p>The commission also expressed concern that the age-verification tools of Meta may not be that effective.</p>

<p>According to DSA, there are strict rules for protecting children and ensuring that their privacy and security&nbsp;are not hampered&nbsp;online. The EU fears that Meta may not be taking enough steps to meet these obligations.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Meta's oversight board probes handling of AI-generated explicit images</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/metas-oversight-board-probes-handling-of-ai-generated-explicit-images-712111/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>In a statement, the European Union&nbsp;said that the "opening of formal proceedings does not prejudge&nbsp;its outcome".&nbsp;No deadline has&nbsp;been set&nbsp;for the completion of the probe.</p>

<p>The DSA is present within the powerful legal armoury of the European Union to keep a check on big tech companies.</p>

<p>Facebook and Instagram fall among 23 "very large" online platforms&nbsp;which&nbsp;need to comply with the DSA or face&nbsp;the risk of&nbsp;fines&nbsp;which&nbsp;can be as high as six per cent of the total global turnover of the platform.</p>

<p>It can also&nbsp;impose a ban on&nbsp;social media platforms for&nbsp;serious&nbsp;and repeated violations. Other social media platforms&nbsp;which have been&nbsp;under the scrutiny of DSA are Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The European Union (EU) on Thursday (May 16) started a formal investigation into Facebook and Instagram on allegations that the Meta-owned platforms are leading to addictive behaviour in children.

The European Union (EU) on Thursday (May 16) started a formal investigation into Facebook and Instagram on allegations that the Meta-owned platforms are leading to addictive behaviour in children. The investigation is being carried out under a mammoth law called the Digital Services Act (DSA) which forces the largest tech firms in the world to take more steps to protect European users online and remove any illegal content. This is the second investigation which has been launched into Meta. Last month, another probe was launched by the European Union over concerns that Facebook and Instagram are not countering disinformation. Also Read: EU flexes arms as it launches probe against Meta over disinformation concerns "We are not convinced that it has done enough to comply with the DSA obligations to mitigate the risks of negative effects to the physical and mental health of young Europeans," said EU's internal market commissioner, Thierry Breton. "We are sparing no effort to protect our children," he stated. Meanwhile, Meta's spokesperson tried to defend the company and claimed that it had taken steps to protect young users. "We want young people to have safe, age-appropriate experiences online and have spent a decade developing more than 50 tools and policies designed to protect them," said the spokesperson. "This is a challenge the whole industry is facing, and we look forward to sharing details of our work with the European Commission," the spokesperson added. EU suspects Meta's systems 'may stimulate behavioural addictions in children' The European Commission, which is the tech regulator of the European Union, in Thursday's (May 16) announcement said that it suspected the systems of the platform "may stimulate behavioural addictions in children". The commission also raised another issue which was the so-called "rabbit hole" effect. This happens when users get related content based on an algorithm, which in a few cases leads to more extreme content. The commission also expressed concern that the age-verification tools of Meta may not be that effective. According to DSA, there are strict rules for protecting children and ensuring that their privacy and security are not hampered online. The EU fears that Meta may not be taking enough steps to meet these obligations. Watch: Meta's oversight board probes handling of AI-generated explicit images In a statement, the European Union said that the "opening of formal proceedings does not prejudge its outcome". No deadline has been set for the completion of the probe. The DSA is present within the powerful legal armoury of the European Union to keep a check on big tech companies. Facebook and Instagram fall among 23 "very large" online platforms which need to comply with the DSA or face the risk of fines which can be as high as six per cent of the total global turnover of the platform. It can also impose a ban on social media platforms for serious and repeated violations. Other social media platforms which have been under the scrutiny of DSA are Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube. (With inputs from agencies)

EU starts formal investigation into Facebook, Instagram over child protection policies

According to report in March Meta got over 27,000 complaints on Facebook and Instagram from India about synthetic content. Watch in for more details!

Meta India: 27,000 complaints in March, fake FB & Instagram profiles key concern

<p>In a move experts have labelled "a grave step backwards", Facebook owner Meta has decided to decommission CrowdTangle, a vital digital tool for tracking viral falsehoods.</p>

<p>The move which is scheduled to take effect on August 14, as per experts, will disrupt efforts to detect political misinformation in a major election year.</p>

<h2><strong>What is CrowdTangle?</strong></h2>

<p>CrowdTangle, as per an AFP report, is a game-changing tool which for years has offered researchers and journalists crucial real-time transparency into the spread of conspiracy theories and hate speech on Meta-owned platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The monitoring tool, as per reports, will be replaced by another tool which researchers say&nbsp;lacks the same functionality and that news organisations will largely not have access to.</p>

<p>CrowdTangle will be replaced by a new Content Library, a technology still under development.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-study-reveals-ais-hidden-bias-in-screening-depression-in-black-people-705484">New study reveals AI's hidden bias in screening depression in Black people</a></strong></p>

<p>The tool, as per tech industry experts, including former CrowdTangle chief executive Brandon Silverman, is currently not an effective replacement, especially in a year when world-over elections are likely to see a proliferation of AI-enabled falsehoods.</p>

<p>While Meta claims that the Content Library will contain more comprehensive data than CrowdTangle and will be available to academics and non-profit election integrity experts, concerns remain about access for independent researchers and journalists.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Meta has announced that the new tool will not be accessible&nbsp;for-profit media. This has raised questions about transparency and accountability.</p>

<h2><strong>What the experts say</strong></h2>

<p>This move comes just three months before the 2024 US Presidential election that will see incumbent Joe Biden and Republican rival Donald Trump face off. Not only that, globally,&nbsp;dozens of countries&nbsp;will hold elections this year.</p>

<p>"In a year when almost half of the global population is expected to vote in elections, cutting off access to CrowdTangle will severely limit independent oversight of harms," warned Melanie Smith, director of research at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musks-x-mulling-over-allowing-adult-content-in-restricted-communities-705626">Elon Musk’s X mulling allowing ‘adult content’ in restricted communities</a></strong></p>

<p>"It represents a grave step backwards for social media platform transparency," she said.</p>

<p>Historically, CrowdTangle has alerted researchers about harmful activities such as foreign interference, online harassment, and incitements to violence. It played an important role in quickly identifying "misinformation, voter interference and suppression," during the 2020 US elections.</p>

<p>Global non-profit Mozilla Foundation, along with dozens of technology watchdogs and researchers, has urged Meta to retain CrowdTangle until at least January 2025, citing concerns about the new tool's limitations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Abandoning CrowdTangle while the Content Library lacks so much of CrowdTangle's core functionality undermines the fundamental principle of transparency," said the letter.</p>

<p>However, defending the decision, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said that the Content Library will offer "more comprehensive data than CrowdTangle" and will be accessible to academics and non-profit election integrity experts.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a move experts have labelled "a grave step backwards", Facebook owner Meta has decided to decommission CrowdTangle, a vital digital tool for tracking viral falsehoods.

In a move experts have labelled "a grave step backwards", Facebook owner Meta has decided to decommission CrowdTangle, a vital digital tool for tracking viral falsehoods. The move which is scheduled to take effect on August 14, as per experts, will disrupt efforts to detect political misinformation in a major election year. What is CrowdTangle? CrowdTangle, as per an AFP report, is a game-changing tool which for years has offered researchers and journalists crucial real-time transparency into the spread of conspiracy theories and hate speech on Meta-owned platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. The monitoring tool, as per reports, will be replaced by another tool which researchers say lacks the same functionality and that news organisations will largely not have access to. CrowdTangle will be replaced by a new Content Library, a technology still under development. Also read | New study reveals AI's hidden bias in screening depression in Black people The tool, as per tech industry experts, including former CrowdTangle chief executive Brandon Silverman, is currently not an effective replacement, especially in a year when world-over elections are likely to see a proliferation of AI-enabled falsehoods. While Meta claims that the Content Library will contain more comprehensive data than CrowdTangle and will be available to academics and non-profit election integrity experts, concerns remain about access for independent researchers and journalists. However, Meta has announced that the new tool will not be accessible for-profit media. This has raised questions about transparency and accountability. What the experts say This move comes just three months before the 2024 US Presidential election that will see incumbent Joe Biden and Republican rival Donald Trump face off. Not only that, globally, dozens of countries will hold elections this year. "In a year when almost half of the global population is expected to vote in elections, cutting off access to CrowdTangle will severely limit independent oversight of harms," warned Melanie Smith, director of research at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. Also read | Elon Musk’s X mulling allowing ‘adult content’ in restricted communities "It represents a grave step backwards for social media platform transparency," she said. Historically, CrowdTangle has alerted researchers about harmful activities such as foreign interference, online harassment, and incitements to violence. It played an important role in quickly identifying "misinformation, voter interference and suppression," during the 2020 US elections. Global non-profit Mozilla Foundation, along with dozens of technology watchdogs and researchers, has urged Meta to retain CrowdTangle until at least January 2025, citing concerns about the new tool's limitations. "Abandoning CrowdTangle while the Content Library lacks so much of CrowdTangle's core functionality undermines the fundamental principle of transparency," said the letter. However, defending the decision, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said that the Content Library will offer "more comprehensive data than CrowdTangle" and will be accessible to academics and non-profit election integrity experts. (With inputs from agencies)

'A grave step backwards': Meta to scrap misinformation monitoring tool CrowdTangle ahead of 2024 US elections

<p>Professional networking platform LinkedIn said Thursday (Mar 29) it was working on a TikTok-like short-form video feed, following the trend set by giants like Instagram and YouTube. A dedicated video feed full of short-form content will appear in the app’s navigation bar. Users will be able to scroll through the videos, while also sharing, commenting on and liking them. The feature was first spotted by Austin Null, a strategy director at an influencer agency called McKinney.</p>

<h2><strong>The difference</strong></h2>

<p>It must be noted that LinkedIn’s video tab won’t look like a copycat of similar features in other apps. While the content on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok encompasses a variety of topics, from comedy, and politics to food and lifestyle, the content on LinkedIn will be carefully themed around career-related topics.</p>

<p>Simply put, the app won’t lose its essence of being a career-oriented app after the introduction of the video feature.</p>

<h2><strong>Feature in early testing</strong></h2>

<p>Microsoft-owned LinkedIn has said the feature is still in the early stages and will take time to get rolled out fully. The company said it was forced to take the step as “videos are becoming one of its users’ desired formats for learning from professionals and experts.”</p>

<p>&nbsp;Many ‘TikTokers’ and content creators on Instagram and YouTube have amassed massive following by posting career-related content on these platforms. LinkedIn now wants to attract this wide community to its own app, leveraging its position as the biggest professional networking platform in the market.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiEu4WIpJmFAxVOcPUHHcQYA5QQxfQBKAB6BAgJEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/linkedin-surpasses-1-billion-members-expands-ai-capabilities-for-job-seekers-654205" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/linkedin-surpasses-1-billion-members-expands-ai-capabilities-for-job-seekers-654205&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiEu4WIpJmFAxVOcPUHHcQYA5QQxfQBKAB6BAgJEAE">LinkedIn surpasses 1 billion members, expands AI capabilities for job seekers</a></strong></p>

<p>The app might also look forward to monetising its video feed, enticing creators to flock to LinkedIn for their career-related content.</p>

<h2><strong>Concerns</strong></h2>

<p>However, not all users are fans of short-form video content. Many express concern about the proliferation of such content across platforms as it may come across as a distracting feature on an app especially dedicated to professional networking.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: Exposed: How China is using LinkedIn for espionage</strong></p>

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<p>It will be interesting to see how users and the creator community respond to the new feature.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Professional networking platform LinkedIn said Thursday (Mar 29) it was working on a TikTok-like short-form video feed, following the trend set by giants like Instagram and YouTube.

Professional networking platform LinkedIn said Thursday (Mar 29) it was working on a TikTok-like short-form video feed, following the trend set by giants like Instagram and YouTube. A dedicated video feed full of short-form content will appear in the app’s navigation bar. Users will be able to scroll through the videos, while also sharing, commenting on and liking them. The feature was first spotted by Austin Null, a strategy director at an influencer agency called McKinney. The difference It must be noted that LinkedIn’s video tab won’t look like a copycat of similar features in other apps. While the content on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok encompasses a variety of topics, from comedy, and politics to food and lifestyle, the content on LinkedIn will be carefully themed around career-related topics. Simply put, the app won’t lose its essence of being a career-oriented app after the introduction of the video feature. Feature in early testing Microsoft-owned LinkedIn has said the feature is still in the early stages and will take time to get rolled out fully. The company said it was forced to take the step as “videos are becoming one of its users’ desired formats for learning from professionals and experts.” Many ‘TikTokers’ and content creators on Instagram and YouTube have amassed massive following by posting career-related content on these platforms. LinkedIn now wants to attract this wide community to its own app, leveraging its position as the biggest professional networking platform in the market. Also read: LinkedIn surpasses 1 billion members, expands AI capabilities for job seekers The app might also look forward to monetising its video feed, enticing creators to flock to LinkedIn for their career-related content. Concerns However, not all users are fans of short-form video content. Many express concern about the proliferation of such content across platforms as it may come across as a distracting feature on an app especially dedicated to professional networking. Watch: Gravitas: Exposed: How China is using LinkedIn for espionage × It will be interesting to see how users and the creator community respond to the new feature. (With inputs from agencies)

LinkedIn to roll out TikTok-like video feed despite concerns of distraction

Elon Musk took a dig at rival Meta after social media platforms Facebook and Instagram faced a global outage on Tuesday evening. Watch in for more details!

Global users report another Meta outage

<p>Meta platforms Facebook and Instagram were down on Tuesday (Mar 5) for tens of thousands of users who faced a global outage caused by a technical issue for more than two hours.&nbsp;</p>

<p>X owner Elon Musk took a jibe at the outage after hashtags #FacebookDown along with #Facebook and #FacebookOutage were trending on the microblogging site formerly known as Twitter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Musk wrote, "If you're reading this post, it’s because our servers are working." He also shared a meme in another post.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/nothing-phone-2a-first-impressions-of-the-new-android-phone-696858">Nothing Phone (2a): First impressions of the new Android phone</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">If you’re reading this post, it’s because our servers are working</p>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1765047740327702665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1765048551023734801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The disruptions started at around 1500 GMT when many users said on rival social media platform X that they had been logged out of Facebook and Instagram.</p>

<p>Facebook automatically kicked the users out, displaying an error message saying that the login had expired. The user ID and passwords were also rejected. Messenger, Instagram and Threads- a microblogging platform similar to X- were also impacted.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-sorry-over-unreliable-platform-gemini-after-controversial-remarks-on-pm-modi-696490">Google sorry over ‘unreliable’ platform Gemini after controversial remarks on PM Modi</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Meta spokesperson&nbsp;Andy Stone said in a post on X that they are "aware people are having trouble accessing our services. We are working on this now".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Stone later said on X, "We resolved the issue as quickly as possible for everyone who was impacted, and we apologise for any inconvenience."&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We're aware people are having trouble accessing our services. We are working on this now.</p>
— Andy Stone (@andymstone) <a href="https://twitter.com/andymstone/status/1765042684132241580?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>As quoted by the news agency Reuters, a spokesperson said that the White House National Security Council was monitoring the incident and was not aware of any specific malicious cyber activity at this time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Outage tracking website Downdetector.com noted that at the peak of the outage, there were more than 550,000 reports of disruptions for Facebook and about 92,000 for Instagram.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Meta platforms Facebook and Instagram were down on Tuesday (Mar 5) for tens of thousands of users who faced a global outage caused by a technical issue for more than two hours.

Meta platforms Facebook and Instagram were down on Tuesday (Mar 5) for tens of thousands of users who faced a global outage caused by a technical issue for more than two hours. X owner Elon Musk took a jibe at the outage after hashtags #FacebookDown along with #Facebook and #FacebookOutage were trending on the microblogging site formerly known as Twitter. Musk wrote, "If you're reading this post, it’s because our servers are working." He also shared a meme in another post. Also read: Nothing Phone (2a): First impressions of the new Android phone If you’re reading this post, it’s because our servers are working — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2024 × pic.twitter.com/VTOACNfb3E — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2024 × The disruptions started at around 1500 GMT when many users said on rival social media platform X that they had been logged out of Facebook and Instagram. Facebook automatically kicked the users out, displaying an error message saying that the login had expired. The user ID and passwords were also rejected. Messenger, Instagram and Threads- a microblogging platform similar to X- were also impacted. Also read: Google sorry over ‘unreliable’ platform Gemini after controversial remarks on PM Modi Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said in a post on X that they are "aware people are having trouble accessing our services. We are working on this now". Stone later said on X, "We resolved the issue as quickly as possible for everyone who was impacted, and we apologise for any inconvenience." We're aware people are having trouble accessing our services. We are working on this now. — Andy Stone (@andymstone) March 5, 2024 × As quoted by the news agency Reuters, a spokesperson said that the White House National Security Council was monitoring the incident and was not aware of any specific malicious cyber activity at this time. Outage tracking website Downdetector.com noted that at the peak of the outage, there were more than 550,000 reports of disruptions for Facebook and about 92,000 for Instagram. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk shares meme mocking Meta after Facebook, Messenger and Instagram face global outage

Technical snag hits Facebook, Instagram & WhatsApp; users complain of login & logout issues

Pakistan is mining a ban on social media as resolution to ban social media platforms such as X, YouTube, Instagram, Tik Tok and Facebook has reached Pakistan's Senate. This resolution is scheduled for debate on Monday. As per Senate Secretariat documents, the resolution is aimed at the younger generation for what it perceives as negative and devastating effects of social media. Watch to know more!

Pakistan Social Media Debate: Resolution to ban social media reaches Pak senate

<p>Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg during his Asia tour this week explored Japan in true American fashion from posting a Threads-worthy scenic photo of a snow-capped mountain top, dining at McDonald’s, and even learning about the making of katanas – a Japanese sword.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On a more serious note of his Japan visit, the Meta chief also met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and discussed the risks of generative artificial intelligence (AI), said a government spokesperson, on Wednesday (Feb 28).&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>‘Give these guys a Michelin star’</strong></h2>

<p>Over the week, Zuckerberg, chief of Meta, Facebook and Instagram parent company, took to his various social media platforms and posted images of him exploring Japan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg learns sword-making in Japan</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/meta-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-learns-sword-making-in-japan-694124/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>On Friday (Feb 23), the 39-year-old posted an image of a snow-capped mountain on his Threads account that he said was taken with the new in-app camera that the company is testing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also posted an image with seasoned sword maker Akihira Kokaji on Instagram along with videos of him making and using a katana – a Japanese sword with a curved, single-edged blade, typically seen in the country’s pop culture.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/the-best-is-yet-to-come-mark-zuckerberg-celebrates-20-years-of-facebook-687251">‘The best is yet to come’: Mark Zuckerberg celebrates 20 years of Facebook</a></strong></p>

<p>“Really special afternoon learning about making katanas with master akihira.kokaji -- thank you for sharing your craft with us!” said the Meta CEO.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a true American tourist fashion, Zuckerberg also dined at a McDonald’s in Japan. “Japanese McDonald’s: 10/10. Give these guys a Michelin star,” said the 39-year-old along with a picture of himself in sunglasses eating a burger and of his wife Priscilla Chan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Meta CEO also posted a picture of his meal – a tray packed with popular Japanese menu items at McDonald’s including a teriyaki chicken burger, edamame bean salad, and of course fries.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Zuckerberg’s meeting with PM Kishida</h2>

<p>It was not all fun and games during Meta chief’s mini-tour of Asia which also involved stops in Japan, India and South Korea.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Zuckerberg and Kishida met on Tuesday (Feb 27) and “discussed a broad range of topics including the status of AI’s technological advancement...(and) the risk surrounding generative AI,” top Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters on Wednesday.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-how-ai-generated-propaganda-poses-a-real-threat-this-historic-election-year-694344">Explained: How AI-generated propaganda poses a real threat this historic election year</a></strong></p>

<p>“We had a good, productive conversation about AI and the future of technology,” the 39-year-old had said in brief comments to reporters at the PM’s residence in Tokyo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I’m really excited for the work that is happening here in Japan.” He left without taking any questions after the 30-minute meeting.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in late 2022 marked a pivotal moment in the development of AI, but the rampant development of the platform and others similar to it, have raised concerns about its impact.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meta was one of 20 major tech firms which signed a pledge to crack down on AI content intended to deceive voters amid a historic election year.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Arrival in South Korea</strong></h2>

<p>Zuckerberg arrived in Seoul, on Tuesday night for the second leg of his Asia trip and is expected to meet South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, according to local media reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We are coordinating with Meta to arrange a meeting,” a spokesperson for Yoon’s office told AFP on Wednesday.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg during his Asia tour this week explored Japan in true American fashion from posting a Threads-worthy scenic photo of a snow-capped mountain top, dining at McDonald’s, and even learning about the making of katanas – a Japanese sword.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg during his Asia tour this week explored Japan in true American fashion from posting a Threads-worthy scenic photo of a snow-capped mountain top, dining at McDonald’s, and even learning about the making of katanas – a Japanese sword. On a more serious note of his Japan visit, the Meta chief also met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and discussed the risks of generative artificial intelligence (AI), said a government spokesperson, on Wednesday (Feb 28). ‘Give these guys a Michelin star’ Over the week, Zuckerberg, chief of Meta, Facebook and Instagram parent company, took to his various social media platforms and posted images of him exploring Japan. WATCH | Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg learns sword-making in Japan On Friday (Feb 23), the 39-year-old posted an image of a snow-capped mountain on his Threads account that he said was taken with the new in-app camera that the company is testing. He also posted an image with seasoned sword maker Akihira Kokaji on Instagram along with videos of him making and using a katana – a Japanese sword with a curved, single-edged blade, typically seen in the country’s pop culture. Also Read | ‘The best is yet to come’: Mark Zuckerberg celebrates 20 years of Facebook “Really special afternoon learning about making katanas with master akihira.kokaji -- thank you for sharing your craft with us!” said the Meta CEO. In a true American tourist fashion, Zuckerberg also dined at a McDonald’s in Japan. “Japanese McDonald’s: 10/10. Give these guys a Michelin star,” said the 39-year-old along with a picture of himself in sunglasses eating a burger and of his wife Priscilla Chan. The Meta CEO also posted a picture of his meal – a tray packed with popular Japanese menu items at McDonald’s including a teriyaki chicken burger, edamame bean salad, and of course fries. Zuckerberg’s meeting with PM Kishida It was not all fun and games during Meta chief’s mini-tour of Asia which also involved stops in Japan, India and South Korea. Zuckerberg and Kishida met on Tuesday (Feb 27) and “discussed a broad range of topics including the status of AI’s technological advancement...(and) the risk surrounding generative AI,” top Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters on Wednesday. Also Read | Explained: How AI-generated propaganda poses a real threat this historic election year “We had a good, productive conversation about AI and the future of technology,” the 39-year-old had said in brief comments to reporters at the PM’s residence in Tokyo. “I’m really excited for the work that is happening here in Japan.” He left without taking any questions after the 30-minute meeting. The launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in late 2022 marked a pivotal moment in the development of AI, but the rampant development of the platform and others similar to it, have raised concerns about its impact. Meta was one of 20 major tech firms which signed a pledge to crack down on AI content intended to deceive voters amid a historic election year. Arrival in South Korea Zuckerberg arrived in Seoul, on Tuesday night for the second leg of his Asia trip and is expected to meet South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, according to local media reports. “We are coordinating with Meta to arrange a meeting,” a spokesperson for Yoon’s office told AFP on Wednesday. (With inputs from agencies)

Zuckerberg explores Japan as the typical American tourist; talks AI fears with PM Kishida

<p>So NASA sends rockets in space and clicks nice pictures. Yes, we know. But the space agency has a robust social media presence and even if a post is sort of a repeat, the way it is presented sparks a renewed interest about that particular celestial body. On Thursday (Feb 22), NASA threw a riddle at its followers on Instagram.</p>

<p>"We’ve got another Hubble puzzle for you to solve. What do you think this image is? Comment your guess before time runs out!...," says NASA in its post. The actual post is not a usual image but one that is revealed gradually in tiles that resemble pieces of a puzzle.</p>

<p>The black spots give way to a splendid, yet intriguing picture that resembles a cat's eye. And indeed this nebula is called Cat's Eye Nebula.</p>

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<p>The Cat's Eye Nebula is also designated as 'NGC 6543'. It is a planetary nebula that's in the northern constellation called Draco. This particular image was taken by Hubble Space Telescope, the predecessor of James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).</p>

<p>It is often tricky to find distance between Earth and such nebulae as the latter are just mass of gas and dust. But after years of careful observation through the lenses of Hubble, scientists have concluded that the Cat's Eye Nebula is 3,300 lightyears away from us.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | NASA seeking volunteers to simulate a mission to Mars. Here's how to apply</strong></p>

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<p>The Cat's Eye Nebula was formed when a star caused mass ejections in intervals of 1,500 years. This led to formation of 'dust shells'. Such a process forms an onion skin-like structure as it is visible in case of the Cat's Eye Nebula.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/james-webb-space-telescope-spots-evidence-for-neutron-star-from-supernova-remnant-692998">James Webb Space Telescope spots evidence of neutron star from supernova remnant</a></strong></p>

<p>Scientists are still intrigued by the unique structure of the Cat's Eye Nebula. It has been postulated before that the mass ejections from the dying star may have been the result of a process in that star similar to 'magnetic flip' in the Sun.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


So NASA sends rockets in space and clicks nice pictures. Yes, we know. But the space agency has a robust social media presence and even if a post is sort of a repeat, the way it is presented sparks a renewed interest about that particular celestial body.

So NASA sends rockets in space and clicks nice pictures. Yes, we know. But the space agency has a robust social media presence and even if a post is sort of a repeat, the way it is presented sparks a renewed interest about that particular celestial body. On Thursday (Feb 22), NASA threw a riddle at its followers on Instagram. "We’ve got another Hubble puzzle for you to solve. What do you think this image is? Comment your guess before time runs out!...," says NASA in its post. The actual post is not a usual image but one that is revealed gradually in tiles that resemble pieces of a puzzle. The black spots give way to a splendid, yet intriguing picture that resembles a cat's eye. And indeed this nebula is called Cat's Eye Nebula. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hubble Space Telescope (@nasahubble) × The Cat's Eye Nebula is also designated as 'NGC 6543'. It is a planetary nebula that's in the northern constellation called Draco. This particular image was taken by Hubble Space Telescope, the predecessor of James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). It is often tricky to find distance between Earth and such nebulae as the latter are just mass of gas and dust. But after years of careful observation through the lenses of Hubble, scientists have concluded that the Cat's Eye Nebula is 3,300 lightyears away from us. Watch | NASA seeking volunteers to simulate a mission to Mars. Here's how to apply × The Cat's Eye Nebula was formed when a star caused mass ejections in intervals of 1,500 years. This led to formation of 'dust shells'. Such a process forms an onion skin-like structure as it is visible in case of the Cat's Eye Nebula. Also Read | James Webb Space Telescope spots evidence of neutron star from supernova remnant Scientists are still intrigued by the unique structure of the Cat's Eye Nebula. It has been postulated before that the mass ejections from the dying star may have been the result of a process in that star similar to 'magnetic flip' in the Sun. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA posts intriguing image of 'cat's eye' in the sky

<p>Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, as per reports, is considering removing posts on social media that use the word "Zionist." This step is being considered to counter a surge of antisemitism, hate speech online, especially during the Israel-Gaza conflict, reports The Washington Post citing people familiar with private deliberations and internal guidance on the topic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reportedly, the social media giant has told some civil society groups that 'Zionist' at times is being used as a hurtful substitute for 'Jews' or 'Israelis'.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/released-israeli-hostages-plead-with-netanyahu-to-push-for-ceasefire-deal-688786">Released Israeli hostages plead with Netanyahu to push for ceasefire deal</a></strong></p>

<p>The CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt, as per the report said "Whether the culprit is a hardened antizionist or a White nationalist, the term 'Zionist' is often used as an ugly synonym for 'Jew'". He also said that he had not been consulted on Meta's potential policy changes.</p>

<h2><strong>Antisemitism online</strong></h2>

<p>Since the start of the Israel and Hamas there has been a lot more hate speech online.</p>

<p>On platforms including Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Greenblatt said "antisemitic posts … directly invoke the words 'Zionist' or 'Zionism' in a manner that is not just pejorative but antisemitic, threatening and shameful."</p>

<p>In a statement Meta spokeswoman Erin McPike said that the company doesn't allow&nbsp;people to attack others on the basis of religion or nationality.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-possible-offensive-netanyahu-orders-plan-for-rafah-evacuation-688806">Ahead of possible offensive, Netanyahu orders plan for Rafah evacuation</a></strong></p>

<p>"While the term 'Zionist' often refers to a person’s ideology, which is not a protected characteristic, it can also be used to refer to Jewish or Israeli people."</p>

<p>"Given the increase in polarised public discourse due to events in the Middle East, we believe it’s important to assess our guidance for reviewing posts that use the term 'Zionist.'"</p>

<h2><strong>People against the move</strong></h2>

<p>However, not everyone is okay with the move. It has triggered an alarm among digital rights activists and pro-Palestinians who have alleged that the group would stifle legitimate political critiques of the Israeli government, its armed forces and Zionism, during the ongoing war.</p>

<p>Nadim Nashif, co-founder of the pro-Palestinian digital rights group 7amleh said that "Zionism is an ideology. It's not a race."</p>

<p>"As I told them, in my opinion, this is a slippery slope. From there, you can remove a lot of content that is criticizing Israel and Zionism that is part of legitimate political discussion."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, as per reports, is considering removing posts on social media that use the word "Zionist." This step is being considered to counter a surge of antisemitism, hate speech online, especially during the Israel-Gaza conflict, reports The Washington Post citing people familiar with private deliberations and internal guidance on the topic.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, as per reports, is considering removing posts on social media that use the word "Zionist." This step is being considered to counter a surge of antisemitism, hate speech online, especially during the Israel-Gaza conflict, reports The Washington Post citing people familiar with private deliberations and internal guidance on the topic. Reportedly, the social media giant has told some civil society groups that 'Zionist' at times is being used as a hurtful substitute for 'Jews' or 'Israelis'. Also read | Released Israeli hostages plead with Netanyahu to push for ceasefire deal The CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt, as per the report said "Whether the culprit is a hardened antizionist or a White nationalist, the term 'Zionist' is often used as an ugly synonym for 'Jew'". He also said that he had not been consulted on Meta's potential policy changes. Antisemitism online Since the start of the Israel and Hamas there has been a lot more hate speech online. On platforms including Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Greenblatt said "antisemitic posts … directly invoke the words 'Zionist' or 'Zionism' in a manner that is not just pejorative but antisemitic, threatening and shameful." In a statement Meta spokeswoman Erin McPike said that the company doesn't allow people to attack others on the basis of religion or nationality. Also read | Ahead of possible offensive, Netanyahu orders plan for Rafah evacuation "While the term 'Zionist' often refers to a person’s ideology, which is not a protected characteristic, it can also be used to refer to Jewish or Israeli people." "Given the increase in polarised public discourse due to events in the Middle East, we believe it’s important to assess our guidance for reviewing posts that use the term 'Zionist.'" People against the move However, not everyone is okay with the move. It has triggered an alarm among digital rights activists and pro-Palestinians who have alleged that the group would stifle legitimate political critiques of the Israeli government, its armed forces and Zionism, during the ongoing war. Nadim Nashif, co-founder of the pro-Palestinian digital rights group 7amleh said that "Zionism is an ideology. It's not a race." "As I told them, in my opinion, this is a slippery slope. From there, you can remove a lot of content that is criticizing Israel and Zionism that is part of legitimate political discussion." (With inputs from agencies)

Meta considers removing posts with word 'zionist'. Here's why

Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg apologized to families at a U.S. Senate hearing about the impact that social media has on children. Watch this video to know more.

Zuckerberg apologizes to parents at US Senate social media hearing

CEOs of Meta, X, TikTok, Snap, and Discord face tough questions on combating online child exploitation at Senate hearing.

US: Social Media CEOs testify at hearing, heated Senate hearing on child safety

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced the implementation of new direct messaging restrictions aimed at enhancing the safety of teenage users on its platforms.

Meta limits messages for teen safety on Instagram, Facebook

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<p>The US state of New Mexico has said that children using Instagram and Facebook have been frequent targets of sexual harassment. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Wednesday (Jan 17), an internal Meta Platforms presentation in 2021 estimated that 100,000 minors each day received photos of adult genitalia or other sexually abusive content.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This finding is among newly unredacted material about the company’s child-safety policies in a lawsuit filed by New Mexico last month.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The lawsuit alleged that Meta recommended sexual content to underage users and promoted underage accounts to predatory adult users. In a 2021 internal document, Meta employees noted that "People You May Know" (PYMK)- one of the recommended algorithms of the platform, was known among employees to connect child users with potential predators.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dark-side-of-social-media-do-x-facebook-instagram-care-about-your-mental-health-wion-investigates-679040">Dark side of social media: Do X, Facebook, Instagram care about your mental health? WION&nbsp;investigates</a></strong></p>

<p>According to the lawsuit, the above finding had been flagged to the executive several years earlier. The report said that the executives rejected a staff recommendation that Meta adjust the design of PYMK to stop it from recommending minors to adults.</p>

<h2><strong>'Meta failed to address widespread predation'</strong></h2>

<p>New Mexico alleged that Meta has failed to address widespread predation on its platform or limit design features that recommended children to adults with malicious intentions. The state's lawsuit further said that instead of publicly acknowledging internal findings, the company falsely assured people that its platforms were safe.</p>

<p>The report said that much of the internal discussion in the unredacted material focused on Instagram.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In an internal email in 2020, employees reported that the prevalence of “sex talk” to minors was 38 times greater on Instagram than on Facebook Messenger in the US. The employees urged Meta to enact more safeguards on the platform.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Meta's Instagram under fire for showing sexual videos of young users</strong></p>

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<p>In that year, a presentation called “Child Safety: State of Play” said that Instagram employed “minimal child safety protections” and described policies regarding “minor sexualisation” as “immature.”</p>

<p>Meta officials did not take action to prevent adults from sexually soliciting children until late 2022, the lawsuit further alleged.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The WSJ report also said that rather than broadly stopping recommendations of&nbsp;the accounts of children to adults,&nbsp;Instagram and Facebook&nbsp;sought to block such suggestions to adults who already demonstrated suspicious behaviour towards children.</p>

<p>Apart from New Mexico, over 40 other states in the US sued Meta in October last year alleging the company misled people about the dangers that its platforms posed to young people.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The US state of New Mexico has said that children using Instagram and Facebook have been frequent targets of sexual harassment. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Wednesday (Jan 17), an internal Meta Platforms presentation in 2021 estimated that 100,000 minors each day received photos of adult genitalia or other sexually abusive content.

The US state of New Mexico has said that children using Instagram and Facebook have been frequent targets of sexual harassment. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Wednesday (Jan 17), an internal Meta Platforms presentation in 2021 estimated that 100,000 minors each day received photos of adult genitalia or other sexually abusive content. This finding is among newly unredacted material about the company’s child-safety policies in a lawsuit filed by New Mexico last month. The lawsuit alleged that Meta recommended sexual content to underage users and promoted underage accounts to predatory adult users. In a 2021 internal document, Meta employees noted that "People You May Know" (PYMK)- one of the recommended algorithms of the platform, was known among employees to connect child users with potential predators. Also read | Dark side of social media: Do X, Facebook, Instagram care about your mental health? WION investigates According to the lawsuit, the above finding had been flagged to the executive several years earlier. The report said that the executives rejected a staff recommendation that Meta adjust the design of PYMK to stop it from recommending minors to adults. 'Meta failed to address widespread predation' New Mexico alleged that Meta has failed to address widespread predation on its platform or limit design features that recommended children to adults with malicious intentions. The state's lawsuit further said that instead of publicly acknowledging internal findings, the company falsely assured people that its platforms were safe. The report said that much of the internal discussion in the unredacted material focused on Instagram. In an internal email in 2020, employees reported that the prevalence of “sex talk” to minors was 38 times greater on Instagram than on Facebook Messenger in the US. The employees urged Meta to enact more safeguards on the platform. Also watch | Meta's Instagram under fire for showing sexual videos of young users × In that year, a presentation called “Child Safety: State of Play” said that Instagram employed “minimal child safety protections” and described policies regarding “minor sexualisation” as “immature.” Meta officials did not take action to prevent adults from sexually soliciting children until late 2022, the lawsuit further alleged. The WSJ report also said that rather than broadly stopping recommendations of the accounts of children to adults, Instagram and Facebook sought to block such suggestions to adults who already demonstrated suspicious behaviour towards children. Apart from New Mexico, over 40 other states in the US sued Meta in October last year alleging the company misled people about the dangers that its platforms posed to young people. (With inputs from agencies)

US state says children on Instagram, Facebook are often targets of sexual harassment: Report

To comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the European Union (EU), Meta announced on Monday that users will be able to unlink their Instagram and Facebook accounts, as well as other services.

Meta to let EU users unlink their Instagram, FB and Messenger accounts

Newly unredacted documents from New Mexico's lawsuit against Meta underscore the the company's "historical reluctance" to keep children safe on its platforms, the complaint says. New Mexico's Attorney General Raul Torrez sued Meta in December, saying the company failed to protect young users from exposure to child sexual abuse material and allowed adults to solicit explicit imagery from them.

Meta dragged to court for ignoring child safety on its platforms

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms- Kanye West teased a new set of dentures made of titanium. He shared an Instagram story of the latest addition to his mouth as he wrote that it was heavily inspired by James Bond’s iconic villain, Jaws. The new titanium dentures have reportedly been done exclusively for Kanye and cost $850,000. Watch to know more!

Kanye West shocks fans as he gets $850,000 titanium teeth

<p>Meta Platforms on Tuesday said it would hide more content from teens on its social media platforms: Instagram and Facebook. This comes, as regulators around the globe urged the social media giant to protect children from harmful content on its apps.</p>

<p>In a blog post, Meta said that all teens will now be placed into the most restrictive content control settings on its&nbsp;apps. Furthermore,&nbsp;additional search terms will be limited on Instagram, said the tech giant.</p>

<p>This means that now it will be more difficult for teens to access&nbsp;sensitive content such as suicide, self-harm and eating disorders, even&nbsp;while using features like Search and Explore on Instagram.</p>

<h2><strong>When will Meta implement the measures?</strong></h2>

<p>As per a Reuters report, Meta said the measures which would help deliver a more "age-appropriate" experience are&nbsp;expected to roll out over the coming weeks.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/melania-trumps-mother-amalija-knavs-passes-away-after-long-illness-678470">Melania Trump's mother Amalija Knavs passes away after long illness</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>Why these new steps?</strong></h2>

<p>It has been alleged that Meta apps Instagram and Facebook are addictive and have contributed to a youth mental health crisis.</p>

<p>Arturo Bejar, a&nbsp;former Meta employee, testified before the US&nbsp;Senate, claiming the company was aware of the harassment and other issues faced by teens on its platforms, but that it failed to take action.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/us-sec-claims-its-x-account-hacked-after-giving-fake-nod-to-bitcoin-etfs-678529">US: SEC claims its X account hacked after giving fake nod to Bitcoin ETFs</a></strong></p>

<p>Bejar has urged Facebook and Instagram to change the design of Facebook and Instagram to nudge users towards positive behaviours&nbsp;and give young people better ways to handle the bad experiences. On Tuesday, he&nbsp;said that Meta's changes did not address his concerns. He remarked that&nbsp;the company was relying on "'grade your own homework' definitions of harm" and that it still fails to offer a way for a teen to easily report an unwanted advance. Talking to Reuters, he said,&nbsp;"This should be a conversation about goals and numbers, about harm as experienced by teens."</p>

<p>The company faces&nbsp;pressure both in the United States and Europe. In October, the social media giant was sued by the attorneys general of 33 US&nbsp;states, including California and New York. The attorneys general alleged that the company repeatedly misled the public about the dangers of its platforms.</p>

<p>In Europe, the European Commission has demanded information from Meta about its methods of safeguarding children from illegal and harmful content.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Meta Platforms on Tuesday said it would hide more content from teens on its social media platforms: Instagram and Facebook. This comes, as regulators around the globe urged the social media giant to protect children from harmful content on its apps.

Meta Platforms on Tuesday said it would hide more content from teens on its social media platforms: Instagram and Facebook. This comes, as regulators around the globe urged the social media giant to protect children from harmful content on its apps. In a blog post, Meta said that all teens will now be placed into the most restrictive content control settings on its apps. Furthermore, additional search terms will be limited on Instagram, said the tech giant. This means that now it will be more difficult for teens to access sensitive content such as suicide, self-harm and eating disorders, even while using features like Search and Explore on Instagram. When will Meta implement the measures? As per a Reuters report, Meta said the measures which would help deliver a more "age-appropriate" experience are expected to roll out over the coming weeks. Also read | Melania Trump's mother Amalija Knavs passes away after long illness Why these new steps? It has been alleged that Meta apps Instagram and Facebook are addictive and have contributed to a youth mental health crisis. Arturo Bejar, a former Meta employee, testified before the US Senate, claiming the company was aware of the harassment and other issues faced by teens on its platforms, but that it failed to take action. Also read | US: SEC claims its X account hacked after giving fake nod to Bitcoin ETFs Bejar has urged Facebook and Instagram to change the design of Facebook and Instagram to nudge users towards positive behaviours and give young people better ways to handle the bad experiences. On Tuesday, he said that Meta's changes did not address his concerns. He remarked that the company was relying on "'grade your own homework' definitions of harm" and that it still fails to offer a way for a teen to easily report an unwanted advance. Talking to Reuters, he said, "This should be a conversation about goals and numbers, about harm as experienced by teens." The company faces pressure both in the United States and Europe. In October, the social media giant was sued by the attorneys general of 33 US states, including California and New York. The attorneys general alleged that the company repeatedly misled the public about the dangers of its platforms. In Europe, the European Commission has demanded information from Meta about its methods of safeguarding children from illegal and harmful content. (With inputs from agencies)

Meta to provide more ‘age appropriate’ content to teens, limit harmful items

Big Tech made billions in Advertisements targeting children. Social Media giants earn nearly $11 billion from minors in U.S. Watch the video to get more insights!

Instagram tops advertisement revenue chart with $4.4 Billion

Oversharing online invites for unauthorised access. The new Instagram viral trend can expose answers to common security questions. Watch the video to know more!

nstagram trend raises 'Privacy concern' | Viral Trends

Experts warn against 'Get to Know Me' trend over 'Privacy concerns'

<p>In the fast-paced world of social media trends, as the fad of joining popular challenges often overshadows potential risks, the spotlight has fallen on a recent trend named "Get to Know Me on Instagram".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The trend has caught the attention of cybersecurity experts and consequently concerns about online safety have grown.</p>

<p>Eliana Shiloh, known as @elshiloh on TikTok, a cyber security analyst at Deloitte, has sounded the alarm on the unsuspected dangers lurking within this seemingly harmless social media challenge.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Meta's Instagram under fire for showing sexual videos of young users | WION Dispatch</strong></p>

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<p>According to a report by the New York Post, Shiloh's video, posted on December 23 and viewed by over 1.5 million people, highlights the critical need for caution.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In her warning, Shiloh urged viewers to refrain from participating in the trend.</p>

<h2><strong>'Get to know me on Instagram': What is the concern?</strong></h2>

<p>Shiloh's primary concern revolves around the inadvertent disclosure of answers to common security questions, potentially exposing individuals to cyber threats such as hacking attempts.</p>

<p>Shiloh revealed that she nearly fell victim to the trend herself. The information shared in the challenge closely aligned with her security questions, raising alarms about potential security breaches.</p>

<h2><strong>What is 'Get to know me on Instagram' trend?</strong></h2>

<p>The "Get to Know Me" challenge prompts users to share personal details like age, height, birthdate, preferences, tattoos, piercings, and phobias – information frequently used in security checks.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/wion-business-wrap-instagram-reels-reshape-beauty-openais-86-bn-valuation-in-limbo-more-660711">Wion Business Wrap | Instagram reels reshape beauty, OpenAI's $86 bn valuation in limbo &amp; more</a></strong></p>

<p>Shiloh, the online cybersecurity influencer said that while direct security question answers might not be explicitly disclosed, sharing this personal information could inadvertently create a goldmine of identifiable data for hackers.</p>

<p>Expressing her concern, Shiloh warned against sharing sensitive details online and raised the alarm about the possibility of even more confidential information, such as Social Security numbers, becoming unwittingly public.</p>

<h2><strong>How to mitigate risks associated with this trend?</strong></h2>

<p>Shiloh cautioned against oversharing on social media and advocated following the US Department of Justice's advice in related matters: avoiding the disclosure of personal information online or integrating it into passwords.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In the fast-paced world of social media trends, as the fad of joining popular challenges often overshadows potential risks, the spotlight has fallen on a recent trend named "Get to Know Me on Instagram".

In the fast-paced world of social media trends, as the fad of joining popular challenges often overshadows potential risks, the spotlight has fallen on a recent trend named "Get to Know Me on Instagram". The trend has caught the attention of cybersecurity experts and consequently concerns about online safety have grown. Eliana Shiloh, known as @elshiloh on TikTok, a cyber security analyst at Deloitte, has sounded the alarm on the unsuspected dangers lurking within this seemingly harmless social media challenge. Also watch | Meta's Instagram under fire for showing sexual videos of young users | WION Dispatch × According to a report by the New York Post, Shiloh's video, posted on December 23 and viewed by over 1.5 million people, highlights the critical need for caution. In her warning, Shiloh urged viewers to refrain from participating in the trend. 'Get to know me on Instagram': What is the concern? Shiloh's primary concern revolves around the inadvertent disclosure of answers to common security questions, potentially exposing individuals to cyber threats such as hacking attempts. Shiloh revealed that she nearly fell victim to the trend herself. The information shared in the challenge closely aligned with her security questions, raising alarms about potential security breaches. What is 'Get to know me on Instagram' trend? The "Get to Know Me" challenge prompts users to share personal details like age, height, birthdate, preferences, tattoos, piercings, and phobias – information frequently used in security checks. Also read | Wion Business Wrap | Instagram reels reshape beauty, OpenAI's $86 bn valuation in limbo & more Shiloh, the online cybersecurity influencer said that while direct security question answers might not be explicitly disclosed, sharing this personal information could inadvertently create a goldmine of identifiable data for hackers. Expressing her concern, Shiloh warned against sharing sensitive details online and raised the alarm about the possibility of even more confidential information, such as Social Security numbers, becoming unwittingly public. How to mitigate risks associated with this trend? Shiloh cautioned against oversharing on social media and advocated following the US Department of Justice's advice in related matters: avoiding the disclosure of personal information online or integrating it into passwords. (With inputs from agencies)

Social media users warned against oversharing amid ‘Get to know me on Instagram’ challenge

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuid4msRSJDNAM4x" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Facebook parent Meta's Oversight Board has criticised the social media platform for removing two videos depicting hostages and injured people in the Israel-Gaza war. The board said the videos should never have been removed as they were valuable to understanding human suffering on both sides during the war.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One of the videos posted on Facebook showed an Israeli woman begging Hamas terrorists not to kill her as she was taken hostage after the dastardly October 7 attacks. The other video showed the aftermath of an Israeli strike near al-Shifa hospital in Gaza.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The Board focused on protecting the right to the freedom of expression of people on all sides about these horrific events, while ensuring that none of the testimonies incited violence or hatred,” Michael McConnell, a co-chair of the board, said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“These testimonies are important not just for the speakers, but for users around the world who are seeking timely and diverse information about ground-breaking events," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Meta reinstated the videos, soon after the quasi-independent board came into the picture, experts argue that the company's policy in policing the content leaves a lot to be desired.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The social media giant uses an automatic moderation system which was seemingly responsible for deleting the two videos. Although the videos contained injured children and disturbing images, the board argued that Meta needs to maintain “freedom of expression and access to information".&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-hamas-video-shows-three-elderly-israeli-hostages-pleading-for-release-wion-671352"><strong>Watch | Israel-Hamas war: Hamas video shows three elderly Israeli hostages pleading for release</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Oversight Board - Supreme Court of Meta</strong></h2>

<p>It also urged Meta to “respond more quickly to changing circumstances on the ground, which affect the balance between the values of voice and safety”.</p>

<p>Usually, the Oversight Board takes 90 days to access a single case but this verdict took only 12 days, given the gravity and complexity of the matter.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-abu-ubaida-hamas-masked-spokesperson-who-resurfaced-with-a-chilling-warning-for-israel-668488" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | Who is Abu Ubaida? Hamas' masked spokesperson resurfaces with chilling warning for Israel</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, the board, comprising of experts in freedom of expression and human rights is often described as the "Supreme Court for Meta". It allowed users to appeal content decisions on Meta platforms, viz. Instagram and Facebook.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since the war first broke out, there has been renewed scrutiny over Meta's content moderation practices. According to the board, it has seen a nearly threefold increase in content removal appeals in the Middle East and North Africa.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Facebook parent Meta's Oversight Board has criticised the social media platform for removing two videos depicting hostages and injured people in the Israel-Gaza war.

Facebook parent Meta's Oversight Board has criticised the social media platform for removing two videos depicting hostages and injured people in the Israel-Gaza war. The board said the videos should never have been removed as they were valuable to understanding human suffering on both sides during the war. One of the videos posted on Facebook showed an Israeli woman begging Hamas terrorists not to kill her as she was taken hostage after the dastardly October 7 attacks. The other video showed the aftermath of an Israeli strike near al-Shifa hospital in Gaza. “The Board focused on protecting the right to the freedom of expression of people on all sides about these horrific events, while ensuring that none of the testimonies incited violence or hatred,” Michael McConnell, a co-chair of the board, said in a statement. “These testimonies are important not just for the speakers, but for users around the world who are seeking timely and diverse information about ground-breaking events," he added. While Meta reinstated the videos, soon after the quasi-independent board came into the picture, experts argue that the company's policy in policing the content leaves a lot to be desired. The social media giant uses an automatic moderation system which was seemingly responsible for deleting the two videos. Although the videos contained injured children and disturbing images, the board argued that Meta needs to maintain “freedom of expression and access to information". Watch | Israel-Hamas war: Hamas video shows three elderly Israeli hostages pleading for release × Oversight Board - Supreme Court of Meta It also urged Meta to “respond more quickly to changing circumstances on the ground, which affect the balance between the values of voice and safety”. Usually, the Oversight Board takes 90 days to access a single case but this verdict took only 12 days, given the gravity and complexity of the matter. Also read | Who is Abu Ubaida? Hamas' masked spokesperson resurfaces with chilling warning for Israel Notably, the board, comprising of experts in freedom of expression and human rights is often described as the "Supreme Court for Meta". It allowed users to appeal content decisions on Meta platforms, viz. Instagram and Facebook. Since the war first broke out, there has been renewed scrutiny over Meta's content moderation practices. According to the board, it has seen a nearly threefold increase in content removal appeals in the Middle East and North Africa. (With inputs from agencies)

Oversight Board criticises Meta for removing two Israel-Hamas war videos

<p>Meta Platforms used thousands of pirated books to train its AI models, alleges a new copyright lawsuit filed on Monday (Dec 11) night.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The tech giant reportedly did this despite warnings from their lawyers about the legal peril of doing so. The lawsuit as per Reuters was initially brought this summer.</p>

<h2><strong>Skipping permissions</strong></h2>

<p>Monday's filing consolidates two separate lawsuits brought against Facebook and Instagram by comedian Sarah Silverman, Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Chabon and other prominent authors. They allege that Meta has used their works to train its artificial intelligence language model, Llama, without permission.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/epic-games-epic-win-jury-finds-google-guilty-of-monopolistic-practices-in-antitrust-trial-668853">Epic Games' 'epic' win: Jury finds Google guilty of monopolistic practices in antitrust trial</a></strong></p>

<p>Previously, their claims also said that the AI model's output also violates their copyrights. However, in November, US District Judge Vince Chhabri criticised the claim that the text generated by Llama copies or resembles the author's work. Dismissing the claim, Chhabri allowed the authors to amend most of their claims.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As evidence, the authors have submitted Discord chat logs of a Meta-affiliated researcher, who can be seen discussing the procurement of the dataset. This, as per the news agency, can be a potentially significant piece of evidence that could prove that Meta knew that its use of the books may not be protected by US copyright law.</p>

<h2><strong>What is there in the chat logs?</strong></h2>

<p>In the chat logs, as quoted in the complaint, researcher Tim Dettmers, a doctoral student at the University of Washington, describes his back-and-forth with Meta's legal department. In it, he talks about whether the use of book files as training data would be "legally OK".</p>

<p>"At Facebook, there are a lot of people interested in working with (T)he (P)ile, including myself, but in its current form, we are unable to use it for legal reasons," Dettmers wrote in 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here, The Pile refers to an open-source language modelling data set Meta has acknowledged it was using to train its first version of Llama.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-to-ban-use-of-ai-biometric-surveillance-by-police-without-judicial-authorisation-report-668888">EU to ban use of AI biometric surveillance by police without judicial authorisation: Report</a></strong></p>

<p>According to the complaint, a month before this, Dettmers wrote that Meta lawyers told him "the data cannot be used or models cannot be published if they are trained on that data."</p>

<p>Here, the researcher refrains from describing the specific concerns voiced by lawyers, however, his counterpart makes mention of "books with active copyrights," and says they are the biggest likely source of worry. They also say that training on the data should "fall under fair use."</p>

<p>As per the US Copyright Office, the fair use doctrine allows for the use of "limited portions of a work including quotes, for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, and scholarly reports".</p>

<h2><strong>Llama</strong></h2>

<p>Llama is Meta's large language model (LLM). The tech giant released its first version in February 2023. At the time, it published a list of datasets used to train the language model. The list included "the Books3 section of ThePile," which, as per the complaint quoting the person who assembled the dataset, contains 196,640 books.</p>

<p>A second version, dubbed Llama 2 was made available for commercial use this summer. It is free for use for companies with monthly active users of less than 700 million.</p>

<h2><strong>AI and copyrights</strong></h2>

<p>As Artificial Intelligence drives a craze, artists across art forms have come forward alleging unlawful use of their content. In 2023, big tech companies were met with a slew of lawsuits that accuse them of ripping-off copyright protected works. IF successful, these lawsuits would not only generate significant compensation for the content creators, but also drive up the cost of building the data dependent models, somewhat dampening the generative AI craze.</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Meta Platforms used thousands of pirated books to train its AI models, alleges a new copyright lawsuit filed on Monday (Dec 11) night. The tech giant reportedly did this despite warnings from their lawyers about the legal peril of doing so.

Meta Platforms used thousands of pirated books to train its AI models, alleges a new copyright lawsuit filed on Monday (Dec 11) night. The tech giant reportedly did this despite warnings from their lawyers about the legal peril of doing so. The lawsuit as per Reuters was initially brought this summer. Skipping permissions Monday's filing consolidates two separate lawsuits brought against Facebook and Instagram by comedian Sarah Silverman, Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Chabon and other prominent authors. They allege that Meta has used their works to train its artificial intelligence language model, Llama, without permission. Also read | Epic Games' 'epic' win: Jury finds Google guilty of monopolistic practices in antitrust trial Previously, their claims also said that the AI model's output also violates their copyrights. However, in November, US District Judge Vince Chhabri criticised the claim that the text generated by Llama copies or resembles the author's work. Dismissing the claim, Chhabri allowed the authors to amend most of their claims. As evidence, the authors have submitted Discord chat logs of a Meta-affiliated researcher, who can be seen discussing the procurement of the dataset. This, as per the news agency, can be a potentially significant piece of evidence that could prove that Meta knew that its use of the books may not be protected by US copyright law. What is there in the chat logs? In the chat logs, as quoted in the complaint, researcher Tim Dettmers, a doctoral student at the University of Washington, describes his back-and-forth with Meta's legal department. In it, he talks about whether the use of book files as training data would be "legally OK". "At Facebook, there are a lot of people interested in working with (T)he (P)ile, including myself, but in its current form, we are unable to use it for legal reasons," Dettmers wrote in 2021. Here, The Pile refers to an open-source language modelling data set Meta has acknowledged it was using to train its first version of Llama. Also read | EU to ban use of AI biometric surveillance by police without judicial authorisation: Report According to the complaint, a month before this, Dettmers wrote that Meta lawyers told him "the data cannot be used or models cannot be published if they are trained on that data." Here, the researcher refrains from describing the specific concerns voiced by lawyers, however, his counterpart makes mention of "books with active copyrights," and says they are the biggest likely source of worry. They also say that training on the data should "fall under fair use." As per the US Copyright Office, the fair use doctrine allows for the use of "limited portions of a work including quotes, for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, and scholarly reports". Llama Llama is Meta's large language model (LLM). The tech giant released its first version in February 2023. At the time, it published a list of datasets used to train the language model. The list included "the Books3 section of ThePile," which, as per the complaint quoting the person who assembled the dataset, contains 196,640 books. A second version, dubbed Llama 2 was made available for commercial use this summer. It is free for use for companies with monthly active users of less than 700 million. AI and copyrights As Artificial Intelligence drives a craze, artists across art forms have come forward alleging unlawful use of their content. In 2023, big tech companies were met with a slew of lawsuits that accuse them of ripping-off copyright protected works. IF successful, these lawsuits would not only generate significant compensation for the content creators, but also drive up the cost of building the data dependent models, somewhat dampening the generative AI craze.

Meta flouted copyrights to train its AI 'Llama' despite warning from lawyers, claims lawsuit by authors

<p>Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms will now start fully encrypting messages on its social media platforms by default.</p>

<p>Announcing the launch, Loredana Crisan, Head of Messenger on the Meta website said, "We take our responsibility to protect your messages seriously, and we’re thrilled that after years of investment and testing, we’re able to launch a safer, more secure and private service."</p>

<h2><strong>Here's what to expect from Meta's new update</strong></h2>

<p>From this week onwards, the social media giant&nbsp;will begin automatically shifting Facebook users to end-to-end encryption for their messages. The global rollout, she said, will "take a number of months to complete".</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ancestry-website-23andme-confirms-recent-data-breach-affected-69-million-users-666347">Ancestry website 23andMe confirms recent data breach affected 6.9 million users&nbsp;</a></strong></p>

<p>Facebook Messenger had the option for users to turn on end-to-end encryption since 2016. However, now this will be the default setting for both calls and messages.</p>

<p>On Instagram, too, users will be shifted to Meta's new end-to-end encryption by default.</p>

<h2><strong>What is end-to-end encryption?</strong></h2>

<p>The encryption feature secures communication, making it so that messages etc. can only be read by the sender and the recipient. This can help keep users safe from hackers, fraudsters, and criminals.</p>

<p>Users will be prompted to set up a PIN for the recovery of the encrypted messages in case they lose, change or add a device.</p>

<p>Meta's product WhatsApp, another popular instant messaging app, introduced the feature back in 2014, completing the rollout in April 2016.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/landmark-stability-ai-vs-getty-images-copyright-lawsuit-to-move-ahead-to-trial-666377">Landmark Stability AI vs Getty Images copyright lawsuit to move ahead to trial</a></strong></p>

<p>Crisan says that Meta "has taken years to deliver because we've taken our time to get this right."</p>

<p>"Our engineers, cryptographers, designers, policy experts and product managers have worked tirelessly to rebuild Messenger features from the ground up. We’ve introduced new privacy, safety and control features along the way like delivery controls that let people choose who can message them, as well as app lock, alongside existing safety features like report, block and message requests," she added.</p>

<p>The change means that Facebook and Instagram users would not have to turn on the encryption feature, which allows a message to be read only by the sender and its recipients.</p>

<h2><strong>What other features have been introduced?</strong></h2>

<p>Messenger users can now edit their messages for up to 15 minutes after sending them. Disappearing messages on the application will now last for 24 hours.</p>

<p>Furthermore, to increase privacy controls, Messenger will now allow users to control their read receipts. Additionally, there is an upgrade to the quality of images users can share, along with the introduction of "added fun layouts".</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-launches-gemini-its-most-advanced-ai-model-that-powers-bard-intensifying-competition-with-openai-666952">Google launches Gemini, its most advanced AI model that powers Bard, intensifying competition with OpenAI</a></strong></p>

<p>Another feature similar to that available in WhatsApp is that voice messages can now be sped up to 1.5x and 2x speeds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>End-to-end encryption has been a bone of contention between companies and governments. The British government had urged Meta back in September not to roll out encryption on Instagram and Facebook Messenger without safety measures to protect children from sexual abuse.</p>


Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms will now start fully encrypting messages on its social media platforms by default. Announcing the launch, Loredana Crisan, Head of Messenger on the Meta website said, "We take our responsibility to protect your messages seriously, and we’re thrilled that after years of investment and testing, we’re able to launch a safer, more secure and private service.

Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms will now start fully encrypting messages on its social media platforms by default. Announcing the launch, Loredana Crisan, Head of Messenger on the Meta website said, "We take our responsibility to protect your messages seriously, and we’re thrilled that after years of investment and testing, we’re able to launch a safer, more secure and private service." Here's what to expect from Meta's new update From this week onwards, the social media giant will begin automatically shifting Facebook users to end-to-end encryption for their messages. The global rollout, she said, will "take a number of months to complete". Also read | Ancestry website 23andMe confirms recent data breach affected 6.9 million users Facebook Messenger had the option for users to turn on end-to-end encryption since 2016. However, now this will be the default setting for both calls and messages. On Instagram, too, users will be shifted to Meta's new end-to-end encryption by default. What is end-to-end encryption? The encryption feature secures communication, making it so that messages etc. can only be read by the sender and the recipient. This can help keep users safe from hackers, fraudsters, and criminals. Users will be prompted to set up a PIN for the recovery of the encrypted messages in case they lose, change or add a device. Meta's product WhatsApp, another popular instant messaging app, introduced the feature back in 2014, completing the rollout in April 2016. Also read | Landmark Stability AI vs Getty Images copyright lawsuit to move ahead to trial Crisan says that Meta "has taken years to deliver because we've taken our time to get this right." "Our engineers, cryptographers, designers, policy experts and product managers have worked tirelessly to rebuild Messenger features from the ground up. We’ve introduced new privacy, safety and control features along the way like delivery controls that let people choose who can message them, as well as app lock, alongside existing safety features like report, block and message requests," she added. The change means that Facebook and Instagram users would not have to turn on the encryption feature, which allows a message to be read only by the sender and its recipients. What other features have been introduced? Messenger users can now edit their messages for up to 15 minutes after sending them. Disappearing messages on the application will now last for 24 hours. Furthermore, to increase privacy controls, Messenger will now allow users to control their read receipts. Additionally, there is an upgrade to the quality of images users can share, along with the introduction of "added fun layouts". Also read | Google launches Gemini, its most advanced AI model that powers Bard, intensifying competition with OpenAI Another feature similar to that available in WhatsApp is that voice messages can now be sped up to 1.5x and 2x speeds. End-to-end encryption has been a bone of contention between companies and governments. The British government had urged Meta back in September not to roll out encryption on Instagram and Facebook Messenger without safety measures to protect children from sexual abuse.

'Taken our time to get this right': Meta to roll out end-to-end encryption for Facebook & Instagram

<p>A new lawsuit brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez against Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has claimed that subsidiaries Facebook and Instagram are steering explicit content towards children even when no interest is expressed, allowing child predators to find and contact minors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Torrez said instead of providing a safe space for children, the platforms are allowing predators to establish contact with unsuspecting minors and solicit them for sex. The AG said Meta was unwilling to take required protections due to the potential hit on advertising revenue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Meta has allowed Facebook and Instagram to become a marketplace for predators in search of children upon whom to prey," the lawsuit alleges.</p>

<p>The suit was filed after an undercover investigation carried out by Torrez's office. Phony accounts of fictional teens and preteens were created using artificial intelligence-generated images. As soon as the accounts were created, Meta flooded sexual content in the feed using its algorithm, which in turn led to a stream of&nbsp;explicit messages and propositions from adults on the platforms.</p>

<p>An account that had images of a fictional 13-year-old girl in Albuquerque received thousands of adult followers in no time. On Facebook Messenger, the fictional teen received graphic videos and photos three to four times a week from predators.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Mr Zuckerberg and other Meta executives are aware of the serious harm their products can pose to young users, and yet they have failed to make sufficient changes to their platforms that would prevent the sexual exploitation of children," Torrez said in a statement.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/metas-instagram-under-fire-for-showing-sexual-videos-of-young-users-wion-dispatch-664357"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Meta's Instagram under fire for showing sexual videos of young users</strong></a></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" data-gtm-yt-inspected-7="true" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="lazy" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/metas-instagram-under-fire-for-showing-sexual-videos-of-young-users-wion-dispatch-664357/embed?autoplay=0" title="live tv" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<h2><strong>EU serves deadline to Meta</strong></h2>

<p>The new suit comes days after the European Union regulators pulled Meta, asking the company to&nbsp;provide more details on measures it had taken to tackle self-generated child sexual abuse material (SC-CSAM) available on&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The EU has given a December 22 deadline to the company to submit its reply. Failure to do so will result in a formal investigation under the new EU online content rules.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meta-served-deadline-by-eu-to-come-up-with-answers-regarding-child-abuse-material-on-instagram-665284"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Meta served deadline by EU to come up with answers regarding child abuse material on Instagram</strong></a></p>

<p>A year ago, Meta was fined nearly half a billion dollars after the platform was found to have violated the bloc's data protection rules for minors. It is the largest&nbsp;General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)&nbsp;penalty that the EU has&nbsp;imposed on a social media giant to date.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A new lawsuit brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez against Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has claimed that subsidiaries Facebook and Instagram are steering explicit content towards children even when no interest is expressed, allowing child predators to find and contact minors.

A new lawsuit brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez against Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has claimed that subsidiaries Facebook and Instagram are steering explicit content towards children even when no interest is expressed, allowing child predators to find and contact minors. Torrez said instead of providing a safe space for children, the platforms are allowing predators to establish contact with unsuspecting minors and solicit them for sex. The AG said Meta was unwilling to take required protections due to the potential hit on advertising revenue. "Meta has allowed Facebook and Instagram to become a marketplace for predators in search of children upon whom to prey," the lawsuit alleges. The suit was filed after an undercover investigation carried out by Torrez's office. Phony accounts of fictional teens and preteens were created using artificial intelligence-generated images. As soon as the accounts were created, Meta flooded sexual content in the feed using its algorithm, which in turn led to a stream of explicit messages and propositions from adults on the platforms. An account that had images of a fictional 13-year-old girl in Albuquerque received thousands of adult followers in no time. On Facebook Messenger, the fictional teen received graphic videos and photos three to four times a week from predators. "Mr Zuckerberg and other Meta executives are aware of the serious harm their products can pose to young users, and yet they have failed to make sufficient changes to their platforms that would prevent the sexual exploitation of children," Torrez said in a statement. Watch | Meta's Instagram under fire for showing sexual videos of young users EU serves deadline to Meta The new suit comes days after the European Union regulators pulled Meta, asking the company to provide more details on measures it had taken to tackle self-generated child sexual abuse material (SC-CSAM) available on Instagram. The EU has given a December 22 deadline to the company to submit its reply. Failure to do so will result in a formal investigation under the new EU online content rules. Also read | Meta served deadline by EU to come up with answers regarding child abuse material on Instagram A year ago, Meta was fined nearly half a billion dollars after the platform was found to have violated the bloc's data protection rules for minors. It is the largest General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) penalty that the EU has imposed on a social media giant to date. (With inputs from agencies)

Facebook, Instagram turn haven for child predators as algorithm preys on kids, new lawsuit claims

Meta is in hot water as they are facing pressure from EU tech regulators. Meta has been asked to provide more details on how they are handling child sexual abuse material on Instagram.

EU demands strict action from Meta for online content contro

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