Union Minister Vaishnaw refutes Mark Zuckerberg's "false claim" that India's 2024 election results were due to COVID-19 handling. Watch this report for more details!

Indian Union Minister Vaishnaw calls out Zuckerberg over his Poll Remarks

India's Minister for Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday (Jan 13) called out Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for making an inaccurate claim about India&rsquo;s 2024 elections. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/meta-ceo-zuckerberg-says-cia-can-access-your-whatsapp-messages">Zuckerberg</a> had said in a podcast with Joe Rogan that incumbent governments in all countries, including India, lost elections in 2024. The minister called the comments "disappointing" and accused the tech billionaire of spreading misinformation.
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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won India&rsquo;s 2024 general election, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi securing a third consecutive term in office. However, Zuckerberg said during the podcast that this was not the case. 
Zuckerberg said, "2024 was a big election year around the world. All these countries, like India, had elections. The incumbents basically lost every single one. There is some sort of a global phenomenon &ndash; whether it was because of inflation or the economic policies to deal with Covid or just how the governments dealt with Covid - seems to have had this global effect...There was a broad decrease in trust in incumbents and maybe in these sorts of democratic institutions overall."
<h2>'Factually incorrect'</h2>
In response, Vaishnaw said, "As the world&rsquo;s largest democracy, India conducted the 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. The people of India reaffirmed their trust in the NDA led by PM Narendra Modi's leadership. Mr. Zuckerberg&rsquo;s claim that most incumbent governments, including India in the 2024 elections, lost post-COVID is factually incorrect."
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"From free food for 800 million, 2.2 billion free vaccines, and aid to nations worldwide during COVID, to leading India as the fastest-growing major economy, PM Modi&rsquo;s decisive 3rd-term victory is a testament to good governance and public trust. @Meta, it&rsquo;s disappointing to see misinformation from Mr. Zuckerberg himself. Let&rsquo;s uphold facts and credibility," Vaishnaw wrote on X.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/almost-every-violent-or-sexual-offence-in-england-wales-went-unsolved-in-2024-report-8618637">Amid grooming gangs menace in UK, report says almost every violent or sexual offence went unsolved in 2024</a>
This is not the only reason why Meta CEO Zuckerberg is making headlines. Last week, Zuckerberg announced that Meta will be making some changes to the moderation policies and practices, citing its aim to embrace free speech. The company will be altering the way posts, videos, and other content are moderated online. It will be getting rid of fact-checkers and will replace them with user-generated "Community notes", which is similar to Elon Musk's X. This decision has sparked widespread backlash, with countries like Australia and Brazil labeling it a threat to democracy and mental health.
(With inputs from agencies)

India news: Zuckerberg had said in a podcast with Joe Rogan that incumbent governments in all countries, including India, lost elections in 2024. The minister called the comments "disappointing".

India's Minister for Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday (Jan 13) called out Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for making an inaccurate claim about India’s 2024 elections. Zuckerberg had said in a podcast with Joe Rogan that incumbent governments in all countries, including India, lost elections in 2024. The minister called the comments "disappointing" and accused the tech billionaire of spreading misinformation. Also read: Delhi polls: BJP, AAP intensify poster-video war ahead of elections The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won India’s 2024 general election, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi securing a third consecutive term in office. However, Zuckerberg said during the podcast that this was not the case. Zuckerberg said, "2024 was a big election year around the world. All these countries, like India, had elections. The incumbents basically lost every single one. There is some sort of a global phenomenon – whether it was because of inflation or the economic policies to deal with Covid or just how the governments dealt with Covid - seems to have had this global effect...There was a broad decrease in trust in incumbents and maybe in these sorts of democratic institutions overall." 'Factually incorrect' In response, Vaishnaw said, "As the world’s largest democracy, India conducted the 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. The people of India reaffirmed their trust in the NDA led by PM Narendra Modi's leadership. Mr. Zuckerberg’s claim that most incumbent governments, including India in the 2024 elections, lost post-COVID is factually incorrect." Also read: Earthquake of 6.8 magnitude strikes Japan, tsunami advisory issued "From free food for 800 million, 2.2 billion free vaccines, and aid to nations worldwide during COVID, to leading India as the fastest-growing major economy, PM Modi’s decisive 3rd-term victory is a testament to good governance and public trust. @Meta, it’s disappointing to see misinformation from Mr. Zuckerberg himself. Let’s uphold facts and credibility," Vaishnaw wrote on X. Also read: Amid grooming gangs menace in UK, report says almost every violent or sexual offence went unsolved in 2024 This is not the only reason why Meta CEO Zuckerberg is making headlines. Last week, Zuckerberg announced that Meta will be making some changes to the moderation policies and practices, citing its aim to embrace free speech. The company will be altering the way posts, videos, and other content are moderated online. It will be getting rid of fact-checkers and will replace them with user-generated "Community notes", which is similar to Elon Musk's X. This decision has sparked widespread backlash, with countries like Australia and Brazil labeling it a threat to democracy and mental health. (With inputs from agencies)

'Factually incorrect,' Indian minister calls out Zuckerberg over false claim about 2024 election results

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Saturday said that US authorities like the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) can read our WhatsApp messages by physically accessing devices.&nbsp; He added that this is possible despite the app&rsquo;s end-to-end encryption. While speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Zuckerberg addressed questions about how government agencies can bypass encryption to access private communications. Zuckerberg explained that while WhatsApp&rsquo;s encryption ensures that Meta&rsquo;s servers cannot see the content of messages, this protection does not extend to data stored on a user&rsquo;s device. 
&ldquo;The thing that encryption does is, it makes it so that the company running the service doesn&rsquo;t see it. If you&rsquo;re using WhatsApp, there&rsquo;s no point at which the Meta servers see the contents of that message,&rdquo; he said. However, authorities can exploit vulnerabilities in devices themselves, bypassing encryption entirely, according to him. Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/mark-zuckerberg-slams-joe-biden-administration-claims-officials-would-scream-and-curse-to-get-certain-covid-19-content-removed-from-facebook-8609556">Zuckerberg claims Biden officials would 'scream' to enforce Covid 'censorship' on Facebook</a> This revelation came during a discussion about journalist Tucker Carlson&rsquo;s allegations that US intelligence agencies, including the National Security Agency (NSA) and CIA, interfered with his attempts to interview Russian President Vladimir Putin by accessing his private messages. Carlson had claimed that these agencies leaked his plans, disrupting the interview process with the Russian leader. Zuckerberg also told Rogan that tools such as spyware, including the controversial Pegasus software, are enabling agencies to directly access data stored on devices. According to him, these tools allow surveillance, including reading encrypted messages, viewing photos, and accessing call logs, without needing to intercept communications in transit. In response to these risks, Zuckerberg said that measures are being introduced by WhatsApp to enhance user privacy, for example disappearing messages. 
This feature automatically deletes messages after a set time, reducing the amount of sensitive data stored on devices. Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-fact-checking-meta-dismantles-diversity-programmes-is-mark-zuckerberg-trying-to-appease-president-elect-donald-trump-8609188">Meta dismantles diversity programmes after ending fact-checks. Is Zuckerberg trying to appease Trump?</a>&nbsp;
&ldquo;If someone has compromised your phone, they can see everything as it comes in. Having it encrypted and disappearing is a good standard of security and privacy,&rdquo; he said. While encryption protects communications during transmission, governments argue it can hinder efforts to combat crime and terrorism. A 2021 FBI document revealed that agencies can gain limited access to encrypted communications on platforms like WhatsApp and iMessage through methods such as cloud backups or device access.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said that US agencies like the CIA can potentially access WhatsApp messages by obtaining physical access to users' devices, bypassing encryption.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Saturday said that US authorities like the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) can read our WhatsApp messages by physically accessing devices. He added that this is possible despite the app’s end-to-end encryption. While speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Zuckerberg addressed questions about how government agencies can bypass encryption to access private communications. Zuckerberg explained that while WhatsApp’s encryption ensures that Meta’s servers cannot see the content of messages, this protection does not extend to data stored on a user’s device. “The thing that encryption does is, it makes it so that the company running the service doesn’t see it. If you’re using WhatsApp, there’s no point at which the Meta servers see the contents of that message,” he said. However, authorities can exploit vulnerabilities in devices themselves, bypassing encryption entirely, according to him. Also read: Zuckerberg claims Biden officials would 'scream' to enforce Covid 'censorship' on Facebook This revelation came during a discussion about journalist Tucker Carlson’s allegations that US intelligence agencies, including the National Security Agency (NSA) and CIA, interfered with his attempts to interview Russian President Vladimir Putin by accessing his private messages. Carlson had claimed that these agencies leaked his plans, disrupting the interview process with the Russian leader. Zuckerberg also told Rogan that tools such as spyware, including the controversial Pegasus software, are enabling agencies to directly access data stored on devices. According to him, these tools allow surveillance, including reading encrypted messages, viewing photos, and accessing call logs, without needing to intercept communications in transit. In response to these risks, Zuckerberg said that measures are being introduced by WhatsApp to enhance user privacy, for example disappearing messages. This feature automatically deletes messages after a set time, reducing the amount of sensitive data stored on devices. Also read: Meta dismantles diversity programmes after ending fact-checks. Is Zuckerberg trying to appease Trump? “If someone has compromised your phone, they can see everything as it comes in. Having it encrypted and disappearing is a good standard of security and privacy,” he said. While encryption protects communications during transmission, governments argue it can hinder efforts to combat crime and terrorism. A 2021 FBI document revealed that agencies can gain limited access to encrypted communications on platforms like WhatsApp and iMessage through methods such as cloud backups or device access.

Can CIA read your WhatsApp messages? This is what Mark Zuckerberg has to say...

US President Joe Biden blasted Meta for scrapping fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram in the United States, calling the move "really shameful". Watch this report for more details!

Joe Biden slams Meta's plan to scrap US fact-checking feature

Joe Biden blasts 'really shameful' Meta decision to scrap US fact-checking

Joe Biden slams Meta's move to scrap fact-checking

International Fact-Checking Network denies Mark Zuckerberg's claim that their program is censorship, calling it false. Watch this report for more details!

Fact-checking network refutes Zuckerberg's claims of censorship on Meta platform

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has recently been in the headlines for moves that are seen as appeasement for the incoming US president Donald Trump. Now, the Meta boss has alleged that Trump's political rival and current US President Joe Biden's administrators would &ldquo;scream&rdquo; and &ldquo;curse&rdquo; at Meta executives while demanding they remove any negative posts about the coronavirus vaccine.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-fact-checking-meta-dismantles-diversity-programmes-is-mark-zuckerberg-trying-to-appease-president-elect-donald-trump-8609188">After fact-checking, Meta dismantles diversity programmes. Is Zuckerberg trying to appease Trump?</a>
During an interview on the &ldquo;Joe Rogan Experience&rdquo; show,&nbsp; Zuckerberg also said he was &ldquo;optimistic&rdquo; about President-elect Donald Trump.
<h2>Zuckerberg slams Biden administration</h2>
Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook alleged that officials from the Biden administration would make calls to his firms and berate his employees.
&ldquo;Basically, these people from the Biden administration would call up our team and, like, scream at them and curse,&rdquo; Zuckerberg told Rogan.&nbsp;
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&ldquo;It was brutal,&rdquo; he said.
Watch the interview here:
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&ldquo;It just got to this point where we were like, 'No, we're not gonna, we're not gonna take down things that are true. That's ridiculous',&rdquo; he claimed.
&ldquo;The US government should be defending its companies, not be at the tip of the spear attacking its companies,&rdquo; he added.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meta-faces-72-hour-deadline-from-brazil-over-transparency-in-fact-checking-practicesmeta-faces-72-hour-deadline-from-brazil-over-transparency-in-fact-checking-practices-8608999">Meta faces 72-hour deadline from Brazil over transparency in fact-checking practices</a>
Asked by the host if these calls were recorded, Zuckerberg said he didn't think so.
Praising Trump, the tech boss said he thinks the Republican &ldquo;just wants America to win.&rdquo;
<h2>First such allegations against Biden?</h2>
This is not the first time Zuckerberg has made censorship allegations against the Biden administration. Last year, in a letter to Representative Jim Jordan, the Republican chair of the House Judiciary Committee, he claimed the White House &ldquo;repeatedly pressured&rdquo; Facebook to remove &ldquo;certain COVID-19 content including humor and satire.&rdquo;
He also accepted that Facebook did at times acquiesce to the demands, but said the certain choices the company made, &ldquo;with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn&rsquo;t make today.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-extends-protections-for-nearly-1-million-migrants-just-days-before-donald-trumps-inauguration-8609118">Biden extends protections for nearly 1 million migrants, just days before Trump&rsquo;s inauguration</a>
At the time, the White House in a statement claimed that, faced with a deadly pandemic, &ldquo;this Administration encouraged responsible actions to protect public health and safety.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Our position has been clear and consistent: we believe tech companies and other private actors should take into account the effects their actions have on the American people while making independent choices about the information they present&rdquo;.
(With inputs from agencies)

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg alleges Biden officials pressured Meta for Covid content censorship, claiming they would often scream and curse at executives for compliance.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has recently been in the headlines for moves that are seen as appeasement for the incoming US president Donald Trump. Now, the Meta boss has alleged that Trump's political rival and current US President Joe Biden's administrators would “scream” and “curse” at Meta executives while demanding they remove any negative posts about the coronavirus vaccine. Also read | After fact-checking, Meta dismantles diversity programmes. Is Zuckerberg trying to appease Trump? During an interview on the “Joe Rogan Experience” show, Zuckerberg also said he was “optimistic” about President-elect Donald Trump. Zuckerberg slams Biden administration Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook alleged that officials from the Biden administration would make calls to his firms and berate his employees. “Basically, these people from the Biden administration would call up our team and, like, scream at them and curse,” Zuckerberg told Rogan. Also read | Gay men in Italy can now become priests, but there's a catch “It was brutal,” he said. Watch the interview here: “It just got to this point where we were like, 'No, we're not gonna, we're not gonna take down things that are true. That's ridiculous',” he claimed. “The US government should be defending its companies, not be at the tip of the spear attacking its companies,” he added. Also read | Meta faces 72-hour deadline from Brazil over transparency in fact-checking practices Asked by the host if these calls were recorded, Zuckerberg said he didn't think so. Praising Trump, the tech boss said he thinks the Republican “just wants America to win.” First such allegations against Biden? This is not the first time Zuckerberg has made censorship allegations against the Biden administration. Last year, in a letter to Representative Jim Jordan, the Republican chair of the House Judiciary Committee, he claimed the White House “repeatedly pressured” Facebook to remove “certain COVID-19 content including humor and satire.” He also accepted that Facebook did at times acquiesce to the demands, but said the certain choices the company made, “with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn’t make today.” Also read | Biden extends protections for nearly 1 million migrants, just days before Trump’s inauguration At the time, the White House in a statement claimed that, faced with a deadly pandemic, “this Administration encouraged responsible actions to protect public health and safety.” “Our position has been clear and consistent: we believe tech companies and other private actors should take into account the effects their actions have on the American people while making independent choices about the information they present”. (With inputs from agencies)

Zuckerberg claims Biden officials would 'scream' to enforce Covid 'censorship' on Facebook

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced on Friday (Jan 10) that it is dismantling its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes. This move marks a significant shift in Meta's corporate strategy and is the second move in recent days - after ending fact-checks- that aligns closely with conservative political priorities.
On Tuesday (Jan 7), Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg had announced that his company was ditching third-party fact-checking in the US and turning over the task of debunking falsehoods to ordinary users under a model known as "Community Notes," popularised by Elon Musk's X.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-extends-protections-for-nearly-1-million-migrants-just-days-before-donald-trumps-inauguration-8609118">Biden extends protections for nearly 1 million migrants, just days before Trump&rsquo;s inauguration</a>
<h2>Meta's DEI programme</h2>
In an internal memo to employees, Meta on Friday revealed sweeping changes, including scrapping its diverse slate hiring practices and dissolving its DEI team.
The company said "the legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing" &mdash; in what could be an apparent reference to the incoming US President-elect Donald Trump, a Republican.&nbsp;
"We serve everyone," the internal memo stated, affirming that Meta will continue recruiting from a wide range of backgrounds. However, the company will no longer maintain specific diversity benchmarks for hiring women and ethnic minorities, a notable departure from its previous goals.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meta-faces-72-hour-deadline-from-brazil-over-transparency-in-fact-checking-practicesmeta-faces-72-hour-deadline-from-brazil-over-transparency-in-fact-checking-practices-8608999">Meta faces 72-hour deadline from Brazil over transparency in fact-checking practices</a>
As part of the restructuring, Meta&rsquo;s Chief Diversity Officer, Maxine Williams, will transition to a new role focused on accessibility and user engagement.
Meta&rsquo;s supplier diversity program&mdash;which prioritised partnerships with diverse-owned businesses&mdash;will also be terminated. The company says it will instead concentrate on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.
The memo, first reported by Axios, comes just days after Meta reversed several content moderation policies&mdash;most notably ending its fact-checking program in the US on both Facebook and Instagram.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/international-fact-checking-network-calls-out-meta-ceo-zuckerbergs-censorship-claim-as-false-8608243">International Fact-Checking Network calls out Meta CEO Zuckerberg's censorship claim as 'false'</a>
<h2>Zuckerberg's new-found love for Trump&nbsp;</h2>
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's move to disable fact-checking echoes longstanding Republican criticisms, including those from incoming president Trump and his close aide, X owner Musk. The two have previously accused social media giants of suppressing conservative voices under the guise of fact-checking and hate speech regulation.
The techie has been taking notable steps to mend relations with Trump following his election victory in November. Reports indicate Zuckerberg contributed $1 million to Trump&rsquo;s inauguration fund and hired a Republican to lead Meta&rsquo;s public affairs division.
In a Friday interview with podcast host Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg also sharply criticised Trump predecessor Joe Biden's administration for asking Meta to censor content during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/big-tech-bets-big-on-donald-trump-google-donates-1-mn-to-us-president-elects-inauguration-fund-8606136">Big Tech bets big on Trump: Google donates $1mn to US President-elect&rsquo;s inauguration fund</a>
<h2>Why Zuckerberg's sudden change of heart?</h2>
Trump has been a vocal critic of Zuckerberg and Meta for years, accusing the platform of political bias and vowing retribution once he returns to the White House. His return to the presidency has also brought to the forefront Republican opposition to corporate DEI programmes, many of which gained momentum in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and nationwide calls for racial equity.
Meta isn&rsquo;t alone in scaling back diversity initiatives. Following Trump&rsquo;s election, major corporations like Walmart, Ford, John Deere, Lowe&rsquo;s, Harley-Davidson, and Jack Daniels also reduced or dismantled programs aimed at supporting minority communities.
(With inputs from agencies)

Word | Science & Tech | Business & Economy | Meta blames changing legal and policy landscapes for dissolving DEI efforts, including diverse hiring and supplier diversity programs.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced on Friday (Jan 10) that it is dismantling its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes. This move marks a significant shift in Meta's corporate strategy and is the second move in recent days - after ending fact-checks- that aligns closely with conservative political priorities. On Tuesday (Jan 7), Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg had announced that his company was ditching third-party fact-checking in the US and turning over the task of debunking falsehoods to ordinary users under a model known as "Community Notes," popularised by Elon Musk's X. Also read | Biden extends protections for nearly 1 million migrants, just days before Trump’s inauguration Meta's DEI programme In an internal memo to employees, Meta on Friday revealed sweeping changes, including scrapping its diverse slate hiring practices and dissolving its DEI team. The company said "the legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing" — in what could be an apparent reference to the incoming US President-elect Donald Trump, a Republican. "We serve everyone," the internal memo stated, affirming that Meta will continue recruiting from a wide range of backgrounds. However, the company will no longer maintain specific diversity benchmarks for hiring women and ethnic minorities, a notable departure from its previous goals. Also read | Meta faces 72-hour deadline from Brazil over transparency in fact-checking practices As part of the restructuring, Meta’s Chief Diversity Officer, Maxine Williams, will transition to a new role focused on accessibility and user engagement. Meta’s supplier diversity program—which prioritised partnerships with diverse-owned businesses—will also be terminated. The company says it will instead concentrate on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. The memo, first reported by Axios, comes just days after Meta reversed several content moderation policies—most notably ending its fact-checking program in the US on both Facebook and Instagram. Also read | International Fact-Checking Network calls out Meta CEO Zuckerberg's censorship claim as 'false' Zuckerberg's new-found love for Trump Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's move to disable fact-checking echoes longstanding Republican criticisms, including those from incoming president Trump and his close aide, X owner Musk. The two have previously accused social media giants of suppressing conservative voices under the guise of fact-checking and hate speech regulation. The techie has been taking notable steps to mend relations with Trump following his election victory in November. Reports indicate Zuckerberg contributed $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund and hired a Republican to lead Meta’s public affairs division. In a Friday interview with podcast host Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg also sharply criticised Trump predecessor Joe Biden's administration for asking Meta to censor content during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also read | Big Tech bets big on Trump: Google donates $1mn to US President-elect’s inauguration fund Why Zuckerberg's sudden change of heart? Trump has been a vocal critic of Zuckerberg and Meta for years, accusing the platform of political bias and vowing retribution once he returns to the White House. His return to the presidency has also brought to the forefront Republican opposition to corporate DEI programmes, many of which gained momentum in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and nationwide calls for racial equity. Meta isn’t alone in scaling back diversity initiatives. Following Trump’s election, major corporations like Walmart, Ford, John Deere, Lowe’s, Harley-Davidson, and Jack Daniels also reduced or dismantled programs aimed at supporting minority communities. (With inputs from agencies)

Meta dismantles diversity programmes after ending fact-checks. Is Zuckerberg trying to appease Trump?

Meta&rsquo;s founder and CEO, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meta-revises-policies-to-permit-mentally-ill-labels-for-lgbtq-people-8602519">Mark Zuckerberg</a>, is&nbsp;facing criticism following his recent announcement to reduce content moderation policies in the United States. 
Zuckerberg said that Meta will "get rid of fact-checkers" and replace them with community-based posts, initially in the US. He said that the fact-checking programme had led to "too many mistakes and too much censorship".
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/big-tech-bets-big-on-donald-trump-google-donates-1-mn-to-us-president-elects-inauguration-fund-8606136">Big Tech bets big on Trump: Google donates $1mn to US President-elect&rsquo;s inauguration fund</a>
<h2>Zuckerberg's censorship claims "false"</h2>
Zuckerberg claimed that fact-checkers were "too politically biased". However, the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) refuted his censorship claims, calling them "false". "We want to set the record straight, both for today's context and for the historical record," the IFCN stated.
Currently, Facebook collaborates with approximately 80 fact-checking organisations worldwide, using their services across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The IFCN warned that expanding Meta&rsquo;s new policy beyond the US could have dire consequences in over 100 countries where these programmes operate.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/save-us-from-elon-musk-biographer-makes-big-claims-on-billionaires-mental-health-elon-musk-going-mad-8608103">'Save US from Elon Musk': 'Biographer' makes big claims on billionaire's mental health</a>
"Some of these countries are highly vulnerable to misinformation that spurs political instability, election interference, mob violence, and even genocide," the IFCN said. 
"If Meta decides to stop the programme worldwide, it is almost certain to result in real-world harm in many places," it added.
<h2>UN human rights chief says regulating harmful online content 'is not censorship'</h2>
On Friday, UN human rights chief Volker Tyrk stated that regulating harmful online content "is not censorship". "Allowing hate speech and harmful content online has real-world consequences. Regulating such content is not censorship," T&uuml;rk wrote on X. He further called for "accountability and governance in the digital space, in line with human rights."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/la-wildfires-update-death-toll-climbs-to-10-curfew-in-place-amid-reports-of-looting-8607848">LA wildfires update: Death toll climbs to 10; curfew in place amid reports of looting</a>
Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers&nbsp;said, "We&rsquo;ve seen it really explode in the last few years. It&rsquo;s a damaging development, harmful to our democracy and to people&rsquo;s mental health when they receive false information on social media," Chalmers said.
Meta first introduced its fact-checking programme after criticism of widespread disinformation on Facebook during the 2016 US presidential election. 
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Zuckerberg claimed that fact-checkers were "too politically biased". However, the International Fact-Checking Network refuted his censorship claims, calling them "false".

Meta’s founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is facing criticism following his recent announcement to reduce content moderation policies in the United States. Zuckerberg said that Meta will "get rid of fact-checkers" and replace them with community-based posts, initially in the US. He said that the fact-checking programme had led to "too many mistakes and too much censorship". Also read: Big Tech bets big on Trump: Google donates $1mn to US President-elect’s inauguration fund Zuckerberg's censorship claims "false" Zuckerberg claimed that fact-checkers were "too politically biased". However, the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) refuted his censorship claims, calling them "false". "We want to set the record straight, both for today's context and for the historical record," the IFCN stated. Currently, Facebook collaborates with approximately 80 fact-checking organisations worldwide, using their services across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The IFCN warned that expanding Meta’s new policy beyond the US could have dire consequences in over 100 countries where these programmes operate. Also read: 'Save US from Elon Musk': 'Biographer' makes big claims on billionaire's mental health "Some of these countries are highly vulnerable to misinformation that spurs political instability, election interference, mob violence, and even genocide," the IFCN said. "If Meta decides to stop the programme worldwide, it is almost certain to result in real-world harm in many places," it added. UN human rights chief says regulating harmful online content 'is not censorship' On Friday, UN human rights chief Volker Tyrk stated that regulating harmful online content "is not censorship". "Allowing hate speech and harmful content online has real-world consequences. Regulating such content is not censorship," Türk wrote on X. He further called for "accountability and governance in the digital space, in line with human rights." Also read: LA wildfires update: Death toll climbs to 10; curfew in place amid reports of looting Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said, "We’ve seen it really explode in the last few years. It’s a damaging development, harmful to our democracy and to people’s mental health when they receive false information on social media," Chalmers said. Meta first introduced its fact-checking programme after criticism of widespread disinformation on Facebook during the 2016 US presidential election. (With inputs from agencies)

International Fact-Checking Network calls out Meta CEO Zuckerberg's censorship claim as 'false'

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and Threads, has rolled out significant changes to its content moderation rules, sparking outrage, particularly from LGBTQ+ people.
The revised hate speech guidelines released on Tuesday (Jan 7), now permit users to make allegations that connect mental illness or &ldquo;abnormality&rdquo; to someone's gender or sexual orientation. &nbsp;
The updated guidelines state: &ldquo;We do allow allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation, given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality and common non-serious usage of words like &lsquo;weird.&rsquo;&rdquo;
This decision has been widely criticised for legitimising negative stereotypes and opening the door to harmful rhetoric.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/girl-youre-no-longer-governor-musk-slams-trudeau-for-rejecting-canada-us-merger-pitch-by-trump-8601912">'Girl, you&rsquo;re no longer governor...': Musk slams Trudeau for rejecting Trump's Canada-US 'merger' pitch</a>
<h2>Removal of discrimination protections</h2>
Another significant change is the removal of policies that protected users from insults and hate speech based on characteristics like race, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and religion. Meta also eliminated rules that previously banned dehumanising language, such as referring to transgender and nonbinary individuals as "it."
<h2>Shift in content moderation and fact-checking</h2>
Along with changes to hate speech policies, Meta also revealed a shift in its approach to content moderation. CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta will replace its traditional fact-checking programme, which involved external partners, with a new community-driven system.&nbsp;
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-inauguration-which-world-leaders-will-attend-is-pm-modi-invited-8601972">Donald Trump&rsquo;s inauguration: Which world leaders will attend? Is PM Modi invited?</a>
<h2>Concerns about Meta&rsquo;s political ties</h2>
The timing of these changes has also raised questions about Meta&rsquo;s political and business interests. Recently, Meta, along with companies like Amazon and Apple, donated $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump&rsquo;s second inaugural fund.&nbsp;
GLAAD, a leading LGBTQ advocacy group, has condemned Meta&rsquo;s new policies. Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD's President and CEO, criticised the company, saying, &ldquo;With these changes, Meta is continuing to normalise anti-LGBTQ hatred for profit&mdash;at the expense of its users and true freedom of expression. Fact-checking and hate speech policies protect free speech.&rdquo;
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(With inputs from agencies)
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World | The revised hate speech guidelines released on Tuesday (Jan 7) now permit users to make allegations that connect mental illness or “abnormality” to someone's gender or sexual orientation. 

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and Threads, has rolled out significant changes to its content moderation rules, sparking outrage, particularly from LGBTQ+ people. The revised hate speech guidelines released on Tuesday (Jan 7), now permit users to make allegations that connect mental illness or “abnormality” to someone's gender or sexual orientation. The updated guidelines state: “We do allow allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation, given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality and common non-serious usage of words like ‘weird.’” This decision has been widely criticised for legitimising negative stereotypes and opening the door to harmful rhetoric. Also Read | 'Girl, you’re no longer governor...': Musk slams Trudeau for rejecting Trump's Canada-US 'merger' pitch Removal of discrimination protections Another significant change is the removal of policies that protected users from insults and hate speech based on characteristics like race, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and religion. Meta also eliminated rules that previously banned dehumanising language, such as referring to transgender and nonbinary individuals as "it." Shift in content moderation and fact-checking Along with changes to hate speech policies, Meta also revealed a shift in its approach to content moderation. CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta will replace its traditional fact-checking programme, which involved external partners, with a new community-driven system. Also Read | Donald Trump’s inauguration: Which world leaders will attend? Is PM Modi invited? Concerns about Meta’s political ties The timing of these changes has also raised questions about Meta’s political and business interests. Recently, Meta, along with companies like Amazon and Apple, donated $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s second inaugural fund. GLAAD, a leading LGBTQ advocacy group, has condemned Meta’s new policies. Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD's President and CEO, criticised the company, saying, “With these changes, Meta is continuing to normalise anti-LGBTQ hatred for profit—at the expense of its users and true freedom of expression. Fact-checking and hate speech policies protect free speech.” (With inputs from agencies)

Meta revises policies to permit 'mentally ill' labels for LGBTQ people

The European Union (EU) said on Wednesday (Jan 8) that it rejected Meta Chief Mark Zuckerberg's charge that the bloc engaged in censorship with its tech regulations.&nbsp;
Addressing a press conference, European Commission Chief Spokesperson Paula Pinho said, "We absolutely refute any claims of censorship on our side."
The European Commission is the EU's politically independent executive arm.&nbsp;
<h2>Meta scraps its US fact-checking programme</h2>
The EU's remarks came a day after Meta scrapped its US fact-checking programme and reduced curbs on discussions around contentious topics such as immigration and gender identity.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meta-to-toss-out-factcheckers-reduce-censorship-and-restore-free-expression-8599677" rel="dofollow">Meta to toss out factcheckers to reduce censorship, restore 'free expression'</a>
"We're going to get rid of fact-checkers (that) have just been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they've created, especially in the US," Zuckerberg said in a post.&nbsp;
Zuckerberg also took a shot at the EU "that has an ever-increasing number of laws institutionalising censorship and making it difficult to build anything innovative there."
The remark referred to new laws in Europe that require Meta and other major platforms to maintain content moderation standards or risk hefty fines.
<h2>Meta's decision criticised by disinformation experts</h2>
Meta's decision to end its US fact-checking programme was criticised by disinformation experts.&nbsp;
Speaking to the news agency AFP, Ross Burley, co-founder of the nonprofit Centre for Information Resilience, said that Meta's decision was "a major step back for content moderation at a time when disinformation and harmful content are evolving faster than ever."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bending-of-knee-to-trump-condemn-critics-as-meta-ceo-announces-to-ditch-factchecking-8600485" rel="dofollow">'Bending of knee to Trump', say critics as Meta CEO ditches fact-checking</a>
"While efforts to protect free expression are vital, removing fact-checking without a credible alternative risks opening the floodgates to more harmful narratives," Burley added.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: The EU's remarks came a day after Meta scrapped its US fact-checking programme. Mark Zuckerberg criticised the bloc by saying it had an ever-increasing number of laws institutionalising censorship.

The European Union (EU) said on Wednesday (Jan 8) that it rejected Meta Chief Mark Zuckerberg's charge that the bloc engaged in censorship with its tech regulations. Addressing a press conference, European Commission Chief Spokesperson Paula Pinho said, "We absolutely refute any claims of censorship on our side." The European Commission is the EU's politically independent executive arm. Meta scraps its US fact-checking programme The EU's remarks came a day after Meta scrapped its US fact-checking programme and reduced curbs on discussions around contentious topics such as immigration and gender identity. Also read | Meta to toss out factcheckers to reduce censorship, restore 'free expression' "We're going to get rid of fact-checkers (that) have just been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they've created, especially in the US," Zuckerberg said in a post. Zuckerberg also took a shot at the EU "that has an ever-increasing number of laws institutionalising censorship and making it difficult to build anything innovative there." The remark referred to new laws in Europe that require Meta and other major platforms to maintain content moderation standards or risk hefty fines. Meta's decision criticised by disinformation experts Meta's decision to end its US fact-checking programme was criticised by disinformation experts. Speaking to the news agency AFP, Ross Burley, co-founder of the nonprofit Centre for Information Resilience, said that Meta's decision was "a major step back for content moderation at a time when disinformation and harmful content are evolving faster than ever." Also read | 'Bending of knee to Trump', say critics as Meta CEO ditches fact-checking "While efforts to protect free expression are vital, removing fact-checking without a credible alternative risks opening the floodgates to more harmful narratives," Burley added. (With inputs from agencies)

'We absolutely refute...': EU rejects Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg's censorship claim

Meta announces the termination of its fact-checking program, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg committing to re-establishing free expression on Facebook and Instagram, signaling a shift in the platform’s approach to content moderation.

Mark Zuckerberg Announces Meta Will End Fact-Checking Program in the U.S

E-commerce giant Amazon is donating $1 million to United States President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural fund. The company will also air the event on Prime Video, an Amazon spokesperson said on Thursday (Dec 12). The Wall Street Journal reported that Prime Video will be an in-kind donation worth another $1 million.&nbsp;

Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos is expected to meet the Republican leader next week, Trump said in his interview with CNBC on Thursday (Dec 12).&nbsp;

Trump has criticised the Washington Post (Owned by Bezos) for its coverage during his first term in the White House.

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In the November 2024 US presidential election, the Post blocked the endorsement of the Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, which led to the resignation of several editors from the media outlet.&nbsp;

But Bezos defended the move, saying, "Most people believe the media is biased," and the WaPo&nbsp;and other newspapers needed to boost their credibility.&nbsp;

<h2>Meta's donation</h2>

Amazon's reported donation comes just after Mark Zuckerberg's Meta announced a $1 million donation to Trump's inaugural fund for the inauguration on&nbsp;January 20.&nbsp;

Zuckerberg's donation was made after Trump openly threatened repercussions for any perceived meddling by technology leaders in his election campaigns. The Republican had threatened Zuckerberg that he would “spend the rest of his life in prison” if he tried to interfere in the 2024 US presidential election.&nbsp;

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Zuckerberg or Meta did not contribute to Trump's or incumbent President Joe Biden's inaugural fund in 2017 and 2021 respectively.&nbsp; 
 
But in recent years, the Meta CEO has worked to bridge the gaps between him and Republicans as he hosted dinners and meetings with important personalities. This also includes a meeting with the incoming president at his Mar-a-Lago residence. At one such event, Zuckerberg gifted Trump a pair of Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses.&nbsp; 
​​​​​​​ 
The donation worth $1 million is reportedly an effort by Zuckerberg to report Meta as neutral in political matters.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

E-commerce giant Amazon is donating $1 million to United States President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural fund. The company will also air the event on Prime Video, an Amazon spokesperson said on Thursday (Dec 12).

E-commerce giant Amazon is donating $1 million to United States President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural fund. The company will also air the event on Prime Video, an Amazon spokesperson said on Thursday (Dec 12). The Wall Street Journal reported that Prime Video will be an in-kind donation worth another $1 million. Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos is expected to meet the Republican leader next week, Trump said in his interview with CNBC on Thursday (Dec 12). Trump has criticised the Washington Post (Owned by Bezos) for its coverage during his first term in the White House. Watch | Allu Arjun Arrested By Hyderabad Police In Sandhya Theatre Woman Death Case In the November 2024 US presidential election, the Post blocked the endorsement of the Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, which led to the resignation of several editors from the media outlet. But Bezos defended the move, saying, "Most people believe the media is biased," and the WaPo and other newspapers needed to boost their credibility. Meta's donation Amazon's reported donation comes just after Mark Zuckerberg's Meta announced a $1 million donation to Trump's inaugural fund for the inauguration on January 20. Zuckerberg's donation was made after Trump openly threatened repercussions for any perceived meddling by technology leaders in his election campaigns. The Republican had threatened Zuckerberg that he would “spend the rest of his life in prison” if he tried to interfere in the 2024 US presidential election. Also read | Nvidia expands workforce in China amid growth plans Zuckerberg or Meta did not contribute to Trump's or incumbent President Joe Biden's inaugural fund in 2017 and 2021 respectively. But in recent years, the Meta CEO has worked to bridge the gaps between him and Republicans as he hosted dinners and meetings with important personalities. This also includes a meeting with the incoming president at his Mar-a-Lago residence. At one such event, Zuckerberg gifted Trump a pair of Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses. The donation worth $1 million is reportedly an effort by Zuckerberg to report Meta as neutral in political matters. (With inputs from agencies)

After Meta, Amazon to donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta has donated $1 million to United States President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural fund, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The donation was made after Trump openly threatened repercussions for any perceived meddling by technology leaders in his election campaigns. The Republican had threatened Zuckerberg that he would “spend the rest of his life in prison” if he tried to interfere in the 2024 US presidential election.&nbsp;

Trump and Zuckerberg's relations have soured over the years. Be it the criticisms of Trump's immigration policies in 2017 or Facebook suspending former US president's account after the January 6 Capitol riot.

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In 2021, Trump even accused Zuckerberg of trying to rig the election against the Republicans.

Zuckerberg or Meta did not contribute to Trump's or incumbent President Joe Biden's inaugural fund in 2017 and 2021 respectively.&nbsp;

But in recent years, the Meta CEO has worked to bridge the gaps between him and Republicans as he hosted dinners and meetings with important personalities. This also includes a meeting with the incoming president at his Mar-a-Lago residence. At one such event, Zuckerberg gifted Trump a pair of Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses.&nbsp;

The donation worth $1 million is reportedly an effort by Zuckerberg to report Meta as neutral in political matters.&nbsp;

<h2>Zuckerberg 'apologised'&nbsp;</h2>

In March, Trump said that Zuckerberg called him to apologise for censoring him and assured him that he would "not support a Democrat."

"Mark Zuckerberg called me recently. First of all, he called me a few times. He called me after the event and he said, 'That was amazing, it was very brave,'" Trump told Fox News in an interview.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-launches-scathing-attack-at-trudeau-calls-him-insufferable-tool-783499">Musk launches scathing attack at Trudeau, calls him 'insufferable tool'</a>

"He announced he's not gonna support a Democrat because he can't because he respected me for what I did that day," Trump said.

"They are working on it, and I think they’ve fixed it. I don’t believe he’s doing what he did five years ago with the $500 million," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta has donated $1 million to United States President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural fund, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The donation was made after Trump openly threatened repercussions for any perceived meddling by technology leaders in his election campaigns.

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta has donated $1 million to United States President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural fund, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The donation was made after Trump openly threatened repercussions for any perceived meddling by technology leaders in his election campaigns. The Republican had threatened Zuckerberg that he would “spend the rest of his life in prison” if he tried to interfere in the 2024 US presidential election. Trump and Zuckerberg's relations have soured over the years. Be it the criticisms of Trump's immigration policies in 2017 or Facebook suspending former US president's account after the January 6 Capitol riot. Watch | Elon Musk's Net Worth Soars Past $400 Billion After SpaceX Boost In 2021, Trump even accused Zuckerberg of trying to rig the election against the Republicans. Zuckerberg or Meta did not contribute to Trump's or incumbent President Joe Biden's inaugural fund in 2017 and 2021 respectively. But in recent years, the Meta CEO has worked to bridge the gaps between him and Republicans as he hosted dinners and meetings with important personalities. This also includes a meeting with the incoming president at his Mar-a-Lago residence. At one such event, Zuckerberg gifted Trump a pair of Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses. The donation worth $1 million is reportedly an effort by Zuckerberg to report Meta as neutral in political matters. Zuckerberg 'apologised' In March, Trump said that Zuckerberg called him to apologise for censoring him and assured him that he would "not support a Democrat." "Mark Zuckerberg called me recently. First of all, he called me a few times. He called me after the event and he said, 'That was amazing, it was very brave,'" Trump told Fox News in an interview. Also read | Musk launches scathing attack at Trudeau, calls him 'insufferable tool' "He announced he's not gonna support a Democrat because he can't because he respected me for what I did that day," Trump said. "They are working on it, and I think they’ve fixed it. I don’t believe he’s doing what he did five years ago with the $500 million," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Meta donates $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund

Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, reacted with fury after Australia passed a law banning children under 16 from social media, while a minister warned tech firms the government will 'get after them' if they don't 'play ball'.

In the first such move in the world, Australia passed a law on Thursday (Nov 28) to ban under-16s from social media, citing mental health issues among other things.

The law stipulates that failure to comply would incur penalties worth up to $50 million on social media companies.

Watch: UNESCO: Influencers Don't Verify Information | 62% Digital Content Creators Don't Check Facts: Study

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Despite their initial resistance, most major tech companies with social media platforms have grudgingly agreed to comply with the ban.

But after the law was passed, a Meta spokesperson accused the government of failing to consider young people’s voices and rushing the legislation.

“We are concerned about the process which rushed the legislation through while failing to properly consider the evidence, what industry already does to ensure age-appropriate experiences, and the voices of young people,” a Meta spokesperson said as quoted by The Guardian newspaper. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-passes-social-media-ban-on-children-under-16-becomes-first-country-to-take-such-measure-779993">Australia passes social media ban on children under 16, becomes first country to take such measure</a>

The spokesperson of the Mark Zuckerberg-owned tech giant urged 'productive consultation on all rules' of the bill 'to ensure a technically feasible outcome that does not place an onerous burden on parents and teens'.

Meta also sought a commitment that the rules will apply to all social media apps used by teens.

X owner Elon Musk had opposed the law as a 'backdoor way to control access to the Internet' for all Australians.

But the government is digging its heels on the matter.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-pushes-ahead-bill-banning-children-from-social-media-linkedin-says-its-too-dull-for-kids-779519">Australia clears bill banning children from social media, LinkedIn says its platform is 'too dull for kids'</a> 
 
Cabinet minister Murray Watt warned that social media firms "should take the ban seriously."

“Between those fines and social pressure, we will see social media companies play ball – and if they don’t, then we have the ability to go after them,” Watt said.

While the opposition supported the ban saying the benefits outweigh the risks, one independent MP criticised it.&nbsp;

Opposition's shadow communications minister David Coleman speaking to Sky News, asked: "What other generation in history has grown up being exposed to as much damaging content as this generation?”

Independent MP Kylea Tink called the bill a ‘1970 solution for a 2024 problem’, adding the ban was 'headline-grabbing', without saying what it would do.

It's a "piece of legislation that’s grabbing headlines, not only here but right around the world," she said, while speaking to ABC RN channel.

"But will it make any child under 16 safer on social media today? No. And in fact, it will create a high degree of anxiety amongst young Australians who are using their social media platforms to feel like they’re part of a community that may not be in their immediate circle," she added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, reacted with fury after Australia passed a law banning children under 16 from social media, while a minister warned tech firms the government will 'get after them' if they don't 'play ball'.

Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, reacted with fury after Australia passed a law banning children under 16 from social media, while a minister warned tech firms the government will 'get after them' if they don't 'play ball'. In the first such move in the world, Australia passed a law on Thursday (Nov 28) to ban under-16s from social media, citing mental health issues among other things. The law stipulates that failure to comply would incur penalties worth up to $50 million on social media companies. Watch: UNESCO: Influencers Don't Verify Information | 62% Digital Content Creators Don't Check Facts: Study × Despite their initial resistance, most major tech companies with social media platforms have grudgingly agreed to comply with the ban. But after the law was passed, a Meta spokesperson accused the government of failing to consider young people’s voices and rushing the legislation. “We are concerned about the process which rushed the legislation through while failing to properly consider the evidence, what industry already does to ensure age-appropriate experiences, and the voices of young people,” a Meta spokesperson said as quoted by The Guardian newspaper. Australia passes social media ban on children under 16, becomes first country to take such measure The spokesperson of the Mark Zuckerberg-owned tech giant urged 'productive consultation on all rules' of the bill 'to ensure a technically feasible outcome that does not place an onerous burden on parents and teens'. Meta also sought a commitment that the rules will apply to all social media apps used by teens. X owner Elon Musk had opposed the law as a 'backdoor way to control access to the Internet' for all Australians. But the government is digging its heels on the matter. Australia clears bill banning children from social media, LinkedIn says its platform is 'too dull for kids' Cabinet minister Murray Watt warned that social media firms "should take the ban seriously." “Between those fines and social pressure, we will see social media companies play ball – and if they don’t, then we have the ability to go after them,” Watt said. While the opposition supported the ban saying the benefits outweigh the risks, one independent MP criticised it. Opposition's shadow communications minister David Coleman speaking to Sky News, asked: "What other generation in history has grown up being exposed to as much damaging content as this generation?” Independent MP Kylea Tink called the bill a ‘1970 solution for a 2024 problem’, adding the ban was 'headline-grabbing', without saying what it would do. It's a "piece of legislation that’s grabbing headlines, not only here but right around the world," she said, while speaking to ABC RN channel. "But will it make any child under 16 safer on social media today? No. And in fact, it will create a high degree of anxiety amongst young Australians who are using their social media platforms to feel like they’re part of a community that may not be in their immediate circle," she added. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia social media ban for under-16s: Meta slams law, minister says 'play ball' or will 'get after them'

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg surpasses Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to become the world's second-richest person. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Zuckerberg's net worth reached $206.2 billion in 2024, surpassing Bezos' $205.1 billion. This development comes on the heels of Meta's 70 per cent stock surge in 2024, fueled by investor confidence in AI-based technologies. Zuckerberg's wealth increased by $78 billion in 2024

Zuckerberg is now placed just behind Tesla &amp; SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who boasts a net worth of over $250 billion.&nbsp;

Meta's substantial expenditures in AI, which have significantly increased revenue, have notably excited investors. Particularly noteworthy is Meta's achievement in 2024 following a difficult 2022, during which 21,000 people were let go as a result of Zuckerberg's cost-cutting efforts. One financial analyst remarked, "This is a huge turnaround for the company," citing how those difficult choices helped the business regain investor confidence and streamline operations.

Investor confidence has been further enhanced by Meta's recent release of its Orion AR glasses, which has received positive early reviews for its cutting-edge capabilities. The company's core advertising business is still strong despite spending billions on virtual and augmented reality technology. This tells investors that the company's key sources of income are secure.

Top 5 richest people in the world:

1. Elon Musk: $256 billion

2. Mark Zuckerberg: $206.2 billion

3. Jeff Bezos: $205.1 billion

4. Bernard Arnault: $203 billion

5. Warren Buffett: $121.7 billion

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg surpasses Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to become the world's second-richest person. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Zuckerberg's net worth reached $206.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg surpasses Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to become the world's second-richest person. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Zuckerberg's net worth reached $206.2 billion in 2024, surpassing Bezos' $205.1 billion. This development comes on the heels of Meta's 70 per cent stock surge in 2024, fueled by investor confidence in AI-based technologies. Zuckerberg's wealth increased by $78 billion in 2024 Zuckerberg is now placed just behind Tesla & SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who boasts a net worth of over $250 billion. Meta's substantial expenditures in AI, which have significantly increased revenue, have notably excited investors. Particularly noteworthy is Meta's achievement in 2024 following a difficult 2022, during which 21,000 people were let go as a result of Zuckerberg's cost-cutting efforts. One financial analyst remarked, "This is a huge turnaround for the company," citing how those difficult choices helped the business regain investor confidence and streamline operations. Investor confidence has been further enhanced by Meta's recent release of its Orion AR glasses, which has received positive early reviews for its cutting-edge capabilities. The company's core advertising business is still strong despite spending billions on virtual and augmented reality technology. This tells investors that the company's key sources of income are secure. Top 5 richest people in the world: 1. Elon Musk: $256 billion 2. Mark Zuckerberg: $206.2 billion 3. Jeff Bezos: $205.1 billion 4. Bernard Arnault: $203 billion 5. Warren Buffett: $121.7 billion

Shifting crowns: Mark Zuckerberg becomes world's second-richest person, surpasses Jeff Bezos

CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiling the conglomerates first working prototype of augmented reality glasses. Plans are underway to make orion smaller, sleeker and cheaper. Watch to know more.

Mark Zuckerberg Unveils 'Orion': Meta Introduces First Prototype of Augmented Reality Glasses

#Gravitas The titans of tech, the CEOs who were once considered untouchable, are now finding themselves in the crosshairs of governments worldwide. French authorities reportedly handed preliminary charges to Pavel Durov, the co-founder of Telegram on Wednesday for allowing alleged criminal activity on his messaging app and barred him from leaving France pending further investigation. As per reports, the Brazilian Supreme Court has issued an ultimatum to Elon Musk to appoint a legal representative for X in Brazil within 24 hours or face a nationwide ban. Watch in for more details!

Gravitas: Nations Target Social Media Tycoon Disruptors

In a recent revelation, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has alleged that the Biden administration exerted undue pressure on the company to censor Covid-19-related content. On August 27, 2024, Zuckerberg claimed that the White House and other senior officials from the Biden administration repeatedly urged Meta to remove certain content, including humour and satire, related to the pandemic, as detailed in a report by CNBC.&nbsp;

Zuckerberg's comments were made in a letter addressed to the House Judiciary Committee, led by Republican Jim Jordan. In the letter, Zuckerberg acknowledged that while Meta had the ultimate authority to decide which content to remove, he believed the government's influence was inappropriate. "In 2021, senior officials from the Biden Administration, including the White House, repeatedly pressured our teams for months to censor certain COVID-19 content," Zuckerberg wrote. He added, "I regret that we were not more outspoken about it."&nbsp;

The White House has responded by stating that their actions were intended to ensure public health and safety during a critical time. "When confronted with a deadly pandemic, this Administration encouraged responsible actions to protect public health and safety," a White House spokesperson told Politico. The statement emphasized that the administration's goal was for technology companies to consider the impact of their actions on the American people, while still making independent decisions.&nbsp;

This controversy highlights ongoing debates about the extent of government influence over social media platforms. In August 2021, Meta reported removing over 20 million COVID-19-related posts for violating its content policies across Facebook and Instagram. The Biden administration had previously criticized social media platforms for not doing enough to combat misinformation about the virus.&nbsp;

Zuckerberg's letter adds to the broader discussion on the role of tech companies in content moderation and the pressures they face from various stakeholders. As the debate continues, Zuckerberg has pledged that Meta will be more cautious and assertive in maintaining its content standards in the future.&nbsp;

In a recent revelation, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has alleged that the Biden administration exerted undue pressure on the company to censor Covid-19-related content.

In a recent revelation, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has alleged that the Biden administration exerted undue pressure on the company to censor Covid-19-related content. On August 27, 2024, Zuckerberg claimed that the White House and other senior officials from the Biden administration repeatedly urged Meta to remove certain content, including humour and satire, related to the pandemic, as detailed in a report by CNBC. Zuckerberg's comments were made in a letter addressed to the House Judiciary Committee, led by Republican Jim Jordan. In the letter, Zuckerberg acknowledged that while Meta had the ultimate authority to decide which content to remove, he believed the government's influence was inappropriate. "In 2021, senior officials from the Biden Administration, including the White House, repeatedly pressured our teams for months to censor certain COVID-19 content," Zuckerberg wrote. He added, "I regret that we were not more outspoken about it." The White House has responded by stating that their actions were intended to ensure public health and safety during a critical time. "When confronted with a deadly pandemic, this Administration encouraged responsible actions to protect public health and safety," a White House spokesperson told Politico. The statement emphasized that the administration's goal was for technology companies to consider the impact of their actions on the American people, while still making independent decisions. This controversy highlights ongoing debates about the extent of government influence over social media platforms. In August 2021, Meta reported removing over 20 million COVID-19-related posts for violating its content policies across Facebook and Instagram. The Biden administration had previously criticized social media platforms for not doing enough to combat misinformation about the virus. Zuckerberg's letter adds to the broader discussion on the role of tech companies in content moderation and the pressures they face from various stakeholders. As the debate continues, Zuckerberg has pledged that Meta will be more cautious and assertive in maintaining its content standards in the future.

Zuckerberg accuses White House of pressuring Meta to censor Covid-19 content 

Mark Zuckerberg has said that he will not spend any money in the 2024 US election cycle. In a letter to the US House Judiciary Committee meta CEO said that he will not repeat the 2020 efforts to fund local elections. Meta CEO has also said that facebook was pressured by US government to censor covid content.

US 'pressurised'  Meta to censor COVID-19 content

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has alleged that the US government had pressured his company to censor content related to COVID-19 at the peak of the global pandemic. The billionaire said he regretted the company's decision to comply with the demands.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In a letter to the House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg revealed the demands put forth by the White House.&nbsp;

"In 2021, senior officials from the Biden Administration, including the White House, repeatedly pressured our teams for months to censor certain COVID-19 content, including humour and satire, and expressed a lot of frustration with our teams when we didn't agree," said Zuckerberg in the letter.&nbsp;

"Ultimately, it was our decision whether or not to take content down, and we own our decisions, including COVID-19-related changes we made to our enforcement in the wake of this pressure," the letter further read.

During the pandemic, Facebook and other Meta platforms drew ire from critics worldwide for pushing lockdown, vaccine and mask mandates. Contrary viewpoints were actively censored as Meta claimed they contained misinformation related to the virus.&nbsp;

According to reports, Facebook took down more than 20 million pieces of content in just over a year, related to COVID-19.&nbsp;

"I believe the government pressure was wrong, and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it. I also think we made some choices that, with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn't make today," said Zuckerberg.&nbsp;

"Like I said to our teams at the time, I feel strongly that we should not compromise our content standards due to pressure from any Administration in either direction and we're ready to push back if something like this happens again," he added.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mark-zuckerberg-loses-3-billion-after-meta-outage-697410">Watch |&nbsp;Mark Zuckerberg loses $3 billion after Meta outage</a>

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<h2>Hunter Biden story demoted</h2>

Apart from censoring COVID-19 posts, Meta also buried the Hunter Biden laptop story, as confirmed by Zuckerberg in the letter&nbsp;himself.

According to him, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had approached Meta about a potential Russian disinformation operation about the Biden family and Burism before the 2020 presidential election.&nbsp;

"That fall, when we saw a New York Post story reporting on corruption allegations involving then-Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's family, we sent that story to fact-checkers for review and temporarily demoted it while waiting for a reply,"&nbsp;Zuckerberg said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hunter-biden-sought-father-joe-bidens-influence-to-help-land-lucrative-energy-deal-report-749963">Also read |&nbsp;Hunter Biden sought father Joe Biden's influence to help land 'lucrative' energy deal: Report</a>

"It's since been made clear that the reporting was not Russian disinformation, and in retrospect, we shouldn't have demoted the story."

Meta demoting the story allowed Joe Biden to carry on his presidential campaign unperturbed which in hindsight, may have cost him dearly if the report was allowed to remain at the forefront of the social media platform.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has alleged that the US government had pressured his company to censor content related to COVID-19 at the peak of the global pandemic. The billionaire said he regretted the company's decision to comply with the demands.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has alleged that the US government had pressured his company to censor content related to COVID-19 at the peak of the global pandemic. The billionaire said he regretted the company's decision to comply with the demands. In a letter to the House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg revealed the demands put forth by the White House. "In 2021, senior officials from the Biden Administration, including the White House, repeatedly pressured our teams for months to censor certain COVID-19 content, including humour and satire, and expressed a lot of frustration with our teams when we didn't agree," said Zuckerberg in the letter. "Ultimately, it was our decision whether or not to take content down, and we own our decisions, including COVID-19-related changes we made to our enforcement in the wake of this pressure," the letter further read. During the pandemic, Facebook and other Meta platforms drew ire from critics worldwide for pushing lockdown, vaccine and mask mandates. Contrary viewpoints were actively censored as Meta claimed they contained misinformation related to the virus. According to reports, Facebook took down more than 20 million pieces of content in just over a year, related to COVID-19. "I believe the government pressure was wrong, and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it. I also think we made some choices that, with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn't make today," said Zuckerberg. "Like I said to our teams at the time, I feel strongly that we should not compromise our content standards due to pressure from any Administration in either direction and we're ready to push back if something like this happens again," he added. Watch | Mark Zuckerberg loses $3 billion after Meta outage × Hunter Biden story demoted Apart from censoring COVID-19 posts, Meta also buried the Hunter Biden laptop story, as confirmed by Zuckerberg in the letter himself. According to him, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had approached Meta about a potential Russian disinformation operation about the Biden family and Burism before the 2020 presidential election. "That fall, when we saw a New York Post story reporting on corruption allegations involving then-Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's family, we sent that story to fact-checkers for review and temporarily demoted it while waiting for a reply," Zuckerberg said. Also read | Hunter Biden sought father Joe Biden's influence to help land 'lucrative' energy deal: Report "It's since been made clear that the reporting was not Russian disinformation, and in retrospect, we shouldn't have demoted the story." Meta demoting the story allowed Joe Biden to carry on his presidential campaign unperturbed which in hindsight, may have cost him dearly if the report was allowed to remain at the forefront of the social media platform. (With inputs from agencies)

Mark Zuckerberg reveals Biden administration 'pressured' Meta to censor Covid-related posts

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Spotify CEO Daniel Ek have come out against European regulations surrounding open-source artificial intelligence, saying the continent risks falling behind because of its complex rules.

The CEOs indicated in a joint statement Friday that Europe—which hosts "more open source developers than America"—is well placed to ride the wave of openness in AI.

"Yet its fragmented regulatory structure, riddled with inconsistent implementation, is hampering innovation and holding back developers."

The CEOs indicated that the tech industry in Europe faces "overlapping regulations and inconsistent guidance on how to comply with them" instead of clear rules.

Streamlining the regulatory framework would help increase the pace of development of open-source AI; it would also support European developers and the wider creator ecosystem, they said.

The Irish privacy regulator asked Meta in June not to launch its AI models in Europe for the time being after the company was told to delay plans of harnessing data from Facebook and Instagram users.

Under the current regulations, Meta will not be in a position to release upcoming AI models such as Llama multimodal—capable of understanding images—in Europe.

This would mean Europeans will be "left with AI built for someone else," the CEOs said.

Spotify touts AI investment as key to success: According to Spotify, early investment in AI for creating personalised experiences for users has been instrumental to the streaming service's success.

What has resulted from laws designed to increase European sovereignty and competitiveness is precisely the reverse, they said, adding Europe should be "simplifying and harmonising regulations by leveraging the benefits of a single yet diverse market."

The CEOs concluded that Europe needs a different path with more explicit policies and greater consistency of implementation; otherwise, it will miss a "once-in-a-generation opportunity".

The EU Commission did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Spotify CEO Daniel Ek have come out against European regulations surrounding open-source artificial intelligence, saying the continent risks falling behind because of its complex rules.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Spotify CEO Daniel Ek have come out against European regulations surrounding open-source artificial intelligence, saying the continent risks falling behind because of its complex rules. The CEOs indicated in a joint statement Friday that Europe—which hosts "more open source developers than America"—is well placed to ride the wave of openness in AI. "Yet its fragmented regulatory structure, riddled with inconsistent implementation, is hampering innovation and holding back developers." The CEOs indicated that the tech industry in Europe faces "overlapping regulations and inconsistent guidance on how to comply with them" instead of clear rules. Streamlining the regulatory framework would help increase the pace of development of open-source AI; it would also support European developers and the wider creator ecosystem, they said. The Irish privacy regulator asked Meta in June not to launch its AI models in Europe for the time being after the company was told to delay plans of harnessing data from Facebook and Instagram users. Under the current regulations, Meta will not be in a position to release upcoming AI models such as Llama multimodal—capable of understanding images—in Europe. This would mean Europeans will be "left with AI built for someone else," the CEOs said. Spotify touts AI investment as key to success: According to Spotify, early investment in AI for creating personalised experiences for users has been instrumental to the streaming service's success. What has resulted from laws designed to increase European sovereignty and competitiveness is precisely the reverse, they said, adding Europe should be "simplifying and harmonising regulations by leveraging the benefits of a single yet diverse market." The CEOs concluded that Europe needs a different path with more explicit policies and greater consistency of implementation; otherwise, it will miss a "once-in-a-generation opportunity". The EU Commission did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Tech giants warn of regulatory hurdles hindering Europe's AI progress

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reveals his first email ID that he used to create his first-ever profile on Facebook. Zuckerberg made the revelation on Threads, a counterpart of Instagram while replying to a funny post by a user.

All the frenzy started with an artist's post, “I’m you had to have a .edu email address to join Facebook years old.” To which, the Facebook founder reacted with, “Real ones know. First account was mzuckerb@fas.harvard.edu.”

It is widely known that Zuckerberg was the first person to create an account on Facebook but he was not the first one to have an ID. Apparently, three more IDs were created on the platform before Zuckerberg’s for testing, as per the Guardian.

The other three IDs were later deleted, hence, making Zuckerberg the first person to have a Facebook ID.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/india-trumps-china-as-manufacturer-of-apples-most-expensive-iphone-pro-and-pro-max-models-751537">India trumps China as manufacturer of Apple's most expensive iPhone Pro and Pro Max models</a>

Chris Hughes and Dustin Moscovitz, both Facebook co-founders, are the second and third persons to have a Facebook ID, respectively.&nbsp;

Take a look at the exchange here.

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Soon netizens started reacting to Zuckerberg’s reply with comments like “time flies” and some started sharing their first email IDs.

“Pretty sure I took an adult education class at the local university so I could get a .edu account at least partially so I could meet this requirement. (Still the only college credit I have today.)” shared a user.&nbsp;

Another added, “I remember being a senior in high school and the thing I was most excited about was graduating so I could finally apply for a Facebook account with my college email. It was all I cared about at the time.”

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/over-200-flights-disrupted-at-japanese-airport-after-scissors-go-missing-751519">Over 200 flights disrupted at Japanese airport after scissors go missing</a>

A third posted, “So many people will now test that email.” A fourth wrote, “I entered college in fall 2004. I remember when we had to switch Facebook from our .edu addresses to the accounts we had now! I think late 2005 or 2006 or so?”

Facebook was launched in February 2004, almost two decades ago with the website name- “thefacebook.com.”

In its initial years, the platform was started as a “directory of information for college students.” As time went on, several changes were made after its first launch and over the years, Facebook emerged as one of the most used social networking sites worldwide.&nbsp;

Apart from Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook was co-founded by his classmates at Harvard- Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, Andrew McCollum, and Chris Hughes.

(With inputs from agencies)

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reveals his first email ID that he used to create his first-ever profile on Facebook. Zuckerberg made the revelation on Threads, a counterpart of Instagram while replying to a funny post by a user.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reveals his first email ID that he used to create his first-ever profile on Facebook. Zuckerberg made the revelation on Threads, a counterpart of Instagram while replying to a funny post by a user. All the frenzy started with an artist's post, “I’m you had to have a .edu email address to join Facebook years old.” To which, the Facebook founder reacted with, “Real ones know. First account was mzuckerb@fas.harvard.edu.” It is widely known that Zuckerberg was the first person to create an account on Facebook but he was not the first one to have an ID. Apparently, three more IDs were created on the platform before Zuckerberg’s for testing, as per the Guardian. The other three IDs were later deleted, hence, making Zuckerberg the first person to have a Facebook ID. Also Read | India trumps China as manufacturer of Apple's most expensive iPhone Pro and Pro Max models Chris Hughes and Dustin Moscovitz, both Facebook co-founders, are the second and third persons to have a Facebook ID, respectively. Take a look at the exchange here. Post by @zuck View on Threads × Soon netizens started reacting to Zuckerberg’s reply with comments like “time flies” and some started sharing their first email IDs. “Pretty sure I took an adult education class at the local university so I could get a .edu account at least partially so I could meet this requirement. (Still the only college credit I have today.)” shared a user. Another added, “I remember being a senior in high school and the thing I was most excited about was graduating so I could finally apply for a Facebook account with my college email. It was all I cared about at the time.” Also Read | Over 200 flights disrupted at Japanese airport after scissors go missing A third posted, “So many people will now test that email.” A fourth wrote, “I entered college in fall 2004. I remember when we had to switch Facebook from our .edu addresses to the accounts we had now! I think late 2005 or 2006 or so?” Facebook was launched in February 2004, almost two decades ago with the website name- “thefacebook.com.” In its initial years, the platform was started as a “directory of information for college students.” As time went on, several changes were made after its first launch and over the years, Facebook emerged as one of the most used social networking sites worldwide. Apart from Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook was co-founded by his classmates at Harvard- Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, Andrew McCollum, and Chris Hughes. (With inputs from agencies)

'Time flies': Mark Zuckerberg reveals email ID he used to create his first Facebook account

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has once again gone viral but this time for doing something really sweet for his wife Priscilla Chan.&nbsp;

Zuckerberg, expressing his admiration for his wife, has set up a&nbsp;giant statue of her in his garden, in accordance with Roman tradition.&nbsp;

“Bringing back the Roman tradition of making sculptures of your wife,” wrote Zuckerberg in the caption as he shared the images on&nbsp;Instagram&nbsp;on Tuesday (August 13).&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zuckerberg-who-once-banned-trump-from-meta-calls-him-badass-after-surviving-assassination-bid-742445">Zuckerberg who once banned Trump from Meta, calls him 'badass' after surviving assassination bid</a>

In the photo, Zuckerberg's 39-year-old wife Chan stood beside her massive turquoise statue.

The founder of Facebook said that he had commissioned world-renowned sculptor and artist Daniel Arsham for the sculpture.

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“I’ve joked about making a sculpture of her for years and when the opportunity to work with Arsham came up I finally did it!” said Zuckerberg.

<h2>Here's how netizens reacted to Zuckerberg's viral photo</h2>

After Zuckerberg posted the video, it received more than 190,400&nbsp;likes and many people appreciated the Facebook founder for giving such a thoughtful gift to his wife.

“Husbands everywhere are shaking,” wrote one Instagram user. “Setting the bar high for all the husbands out there markiepoo,” commented another.

“Was literally about to get the same thing for my wife. Now I have to pivot,” a social media user joked.

Watch:&nbsp;Elon Musk says will fight Zuckerberg “any place, any time, any rules”

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"I love this appreciation for your wife," said another, while a netizen wrote, "Get yourself a man who makes sculptures of you."

Roma ns&nbsp;had the tradition of making sculptures of women, especially of wives. This tradition was based on the Roman ideal of&nbsp;“pietas” which underlined duty, loyalty, and devotion to family, the gods, and the state, as per the&nbsp;Roman Empire Times.

The outlet further said that the sculpture represented the woman's embodiment of these virtues, as she publicly showed her “moral integrity, fertility, and loyalty to her husband and family.”

In 2003, the billionaire couple&nbsp;first met during a college party at Harvard. In May 2012, the couple got married in an outdoor ceremony. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has once again gone viral but this time for doing something really sweet for his wife Priscilla Chan. Zuckerberg, expressing his admiration for his wife, has set up a giant statue of her in his garden, in accordance with Roman tradition.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has once again gone viral but this time for doing something really sweet for his wife Priscilla Chan. Zuckerberg, expressing his admiration for his wife, has set up a giant statue of her in his garden, in accordance with Roman tradition. “Bringing back the Roman tradition of making sculptures of your wife,” wrote Zuckerberg in the caption as he shared the images on Instagram on Tuesday (August 13). Also Read: Zuckerberg who once banned Trump from Meta, calls him 'badass' after surviving assassination bid In the photo, Zuckerberg's 39-year-old wife Chan stood beside her massive turquoise statue. The founder of Facebook said that he had commissioned world-renowned sculptor and artist Daniel Arsham for the sculpture. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mark Zuckerberg (@zuck) × “I’ve joked about making a sculpture of her for years and when the opportunity to work with Arsham came up I finally did it!” said Zuckerberg. Here's how netizens reacted to Zuckerberg's viral photo After Zuckerberg posted the video, it received more than 190,400 likes and many people appreciated the Facebook founder for giving such a thoughtful gift to his wife. “Husbands everywhere are shaking,” wrote one Instagram user. “Setting the bar high for all the husbands out there markiepoo,” commented another. “Was literally about to get the same thing for my wife. Now I have to pivot,” a social media user joked. Watch: Elon Musk says will fight Zuckerberg “any place, any time, any rules” "I love this appreciation for your wife," said another, while a netizen wrote, "Get yourself a man who makes sculptures of you." Roma ns had the tradition of making sculptures of women, especially of wives. This tradition was based on the Roman ideal of “pietas” which underlined duty, loyalty, and devotion to family, the gods, and the state, as per the Roman Empire Times. The outlet further said that the sculpture represented the woman's embodiment of these virtues, as she publicly showed her “moral integrity, fertility, and loyalty to her husband and family.” In 2003, the billionaire couple first met during a college party at Harvard. In May 2012, the couple got married in an outdoor ceremony. (With inputs from agencies)

Mark Zuckerberg sets up giant 'Roman' statue of his wife in garden, netizens call it 'couple goals'

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said that Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg called him to apologise for censoring him and assured him that he would "not support a Democrat."

"Mark Zuckerberg called me recently. First of all, he called me a few times. He called me after the event and he said, 'That was really amazing, it was very brave,'" Trump told Fox News in an interview.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/trumps-net-worth-has-dropped-by-900m-since-harris-entered-the-race-746512">Trump’s net worth has dropped by $900m since Kamala Harris entered the race</a>

"He actually announced he's not gonna support a Democrat because he can't because he respected me for what I did that day," Trump said.

"They are working on it, and I think they’ve fixed it. I don’t believe he’s doing what he did five years ago with the $500 million," he added.

Google is ‘censoring news about me: Trump

Donald Trump criticised Google for allegedly censoring news and photos related to him.&nbsp;

Trump claimed that it was difficult to find any information or images regarding the failed assassination attempt on him on July 13 through Google’s platform.

"Google has been very bad. They’ve been very irresponsible, and I have a feeling that Google might be on the brink of being shut down because I don’t think Congress is going to tolerate it. I really don’t think so. Google needs to be careful," Trump told Fox News in the interview.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-becomes-official-democratic-nominee-for-us-president-746728">Kamala Harris is Democratic nominee for US president: 'I am honoured'</a>

However, Google has refuted these claims, denying any censorship.

Google clarified that its autocomplete feature failed to provide predictions for searches related to the assassination attempt on former President Trump because its systems designed to safeguard against political violence were outdated.

(With inputs from agencies)

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said that Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg called him to apologise for censoring him and assured him that he would "not support a Democrat.

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said that Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg called him to apologise for censoring him and assured him that he would "not support a Democrat." "Mark Zuckerberg called me recently. First of all, he called me a few times. He called me after the event and he said, 'That was really amazing, it was very brave,'" Trump told Fox News in an interview. Also read: Trump’s net worth has dropped by $900m since Kamala Harris entered the race "He actually announced he's not gonna support a Democrat because he can't because he respected me for what I did that day," Trump said. "They are working on it, and I think they’ve fixed it. I don’t believe he’s doing what he did five years ago with the $500 million," he added. Google is ‘censoring news about me: Trump Donald Trump criticised Google for allegedly censoring news and photos related to him. Trump claimed that it was difficult to find any information or images regarding the failed assassination attempt on him on July 13 through Google’s platform. "Google has been very bad. They’ve been very irresponsible, and I have a feeling that Google might be on the brink of being shut down because I don’t think Congress is going to tolerate it. I really don’t think so. Google needs to be careful," Trump told Fox News in the interview. Also read: Kamala Harris is Democratic nominee for US president: 'I am honoured' However, Google has refuted these claims, denying any censorship. Google clarified that its autocomplete feature failed to provide predictions for searches related to the assassination attempt on former President Trump because its systems designed to safeguard against political violence were outdated. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump says Zuckerberg apologised and pledged not to support democrats

Elon Musk threw down the gauntlet and challenged the Meta CEO to a cage match last year. Zuckerberg accepted the challenge, but the epic showdown never happened. Now, more than a year later, Musk said that he’s again open to fighting - this time on Zuckerberg’s terms. Elon Musk said he will fight Zuckerberg “any place, any time, any rules.” Watch in for more details!

Elon Musk says will fight Zuckerberg “any place, any time, any rules” | WION Originals

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has called Donald Trump 'badass' and inspiring after the former United States&nbsp;president narrowly escaped an assassination attempt before raising his fist and mouthing 'Fight, fight, fight', to the public gathered to see him&nbsp;during a Republican rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.&nbsp;

Zuckerberg, whose company Meta banned Trump from all its social media platforms in the aftermath of the January 6 insurrection attempt, waxed lyrical about the former president, without endorsing him.&nbsp;

“Seeing Donald Trump get up after getting shot in the face and pump his fist in the air with the American flag is one of the most badass things I’ve ever seen in my life,” Meta CEO&nbsp;told Bloomberg in an interview.

“On some level as an American, it’s like hard to not get kind of emotional about that spirit and that fight, and I think that that’s why a lot of people like the guy.”

Trump, however, may not be flattered by Zuckerberg's statements as he recently said he had not forgiven Meta or its founder for their actions. The former president&nbsp;has called Facebook the "enemy of the people" and said he preferred to use his platform&nbsp;Truth Social to communicate with his followers.&nbsp;

The billionaire added that he was "not planning" to endorse either Trump or his rival Joe Biden in the upcoming elections.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-rally-shooting-biden-condemns-shooting-at-donald-trump-rally-in-pennsylvania-740625" target="_blank">Watch |&nbsp;US Presidential Elections | Joe Biden or Donald Trump: Who is favoured?</a>

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&nbsp;

<h2>Less political content on Meta</h2>

As for his social media site, Meta, Zuckerberg said his company was making changes to ensure people saw less political content on it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The main thing that I hear from people is that they actually want to see less political content on our services because they come to our services to connect with people," said the Meta CEO.&nbsp;

“I think you’re going to see our services play less of a role in this election than they have in the past.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-throws-his-weight-behind-donald-trump-with-sizable-donation-740383" target="_blank">Also read |&nbsp;Elon Musk throws his weight behind Donald Trump with 'sizeable' donation</a>

While Zuckerberg trudged a careful line, his compatriot, Tesla and X CEO, Elon Musk, openly came in support of Trump after the events of July 13.&nbsp;

“I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk wrote on X, which he owns.&nbsp;

The Tesla CEO, who has been siding towards the GOP lawmakers in the last few years, reportedly&nbsp;made a sizeable donation to Trump's presidential campaign in recent days as well.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has called Donald Trump 'badass' and inspiring after the former United States president narrowly escaped an assassination attempt before raising his fist and mouthing 'Fight, fight, fight', to the public gathered to see him during a Republican rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has called Donald Trump 'badass' and inspiring after the former United States president narrowly escaped an assassination attempt before raising his fist and mouthing 'Fight, fight, fight', to the public gathered to see him during a Republican rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Zuckerberg, whose company Meta banned Trump from all its social media platforms in the aftermath of the January 6 insurrection attempt, waxed lyrical about the former president, without endorsing him. “Seeing Donald Trump get up after getting shot in the face and pump his fist in the air with the American flag is one of the most badass things I’ve ever seen in my life,” Meta CEO told Bloomberg in an interview. “On some level as an American, it’s like hard to not get kind of emotional about that spirit and that fight, and I think that that’s why a lot of people like the guy.” Trump, however, may not be flattered by Zuckerberg's statements as he recently said he had not forgiven Meta or its founder for their actions. The former president has called Facebook the "enemy of the people" and said he preferred to use his platform Truth Social to communicate with his followers. The billionaire added that he was "not planning" to endorse either Trump or his rival Joe Biden in the upcoming elections. Watch | US Presidential Elections | Joe Biden or Donald Trump: Who is favoured? × Less political content on Meta As for his social media site, Meta, Zuckerberg said his company was making changes to ensure people saw less political content on it. “The main thing that I hear from people is that they actually want to see less political content on our services because they come to our services to connect with people," said the Meta CEO. “I think you’re going to see our services play less of a role in this election than they have in the past.” Also read | Elon Musk throws his weight behind Donald Trump with 'sizeable' donation While Zuckerberg trudged a careful line, his compatriot, Tesla and X CEO, Elon Musk, openly came in support of Trump after the events of July 13. “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk wrote on X, which he owns. The Tesla CEO, who has been siding towards the GOP lawmakers in the last few years, reportedly made a sizeable donation to Trump's presidential campaign in recent days as well. (With inputs from agencies)

Zuckerberg who once banned Trump from Meta, calls him 'badass' after surviving assassination bid

Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram were back up after a two-hour outage impacted thousands of users globally. While the company blamed it on a technical issue, reports predict that the outage must have cost CEO Mark Zuckerberg almost $100 million in revenue loss.

Gravitas | Meta Blackout: How much money did Mark Zuckerberg lose?

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's net worth declined by nearly $3 billion in a day after Facebook and Instagram faced a global outage on Tuesday. Watch in for more details!

Mark Zuckerberg loses $3 billion after Meta outage

A seismic shift in the financial world as billionaire CEOs, founders, and heirs make headlines with unprecedented stock sell-offs. Amid soaring market highs, these high-profile figures are cashing in billions, raising questions about insider trading, strategic diversification, and the broader implications for both their companies and the market at large.

Billionaire CEOs sell off billions in company stock amid record highs

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