Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is showing no interest in compromising with meta and Google his decision comes over a liberal bill that would make these Tech Giants pay Canadian Publishers for their content right and in the latest statement in fact Odo is also accused meta and Google of using bullying tactics against this initiative a strong statement coming there the bill known as the online news Act was introduced in April 2022.

Justin Trudeau accuses tech giants of using bullying tactics

<p>Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has initiated the rolling out of its paid verification subscription in India. The same can be purchased after paying ₹699 ($8.47)&nbsp;on iOS and Android. Meta has also said that it is planning to introduce a web purchase option for ₹599 ($7.26) a month soon.</p>

<p>"We’re expanding our test of Meta Verified to India after seeing good results from our early testing in several countries globally," the tech giant said.</p>

<h2><strong>What is Meta Verified?</strong></h2>

<p>Meta Verified is a new subscription package that includes account verification with government ID, impersonation protections, and account support, as reported by the Hindustan Times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This comes after Elon Musk's Twitter rolled out Twitter Blue, a paid subscription at a monthly subscription of ₹900 ($10.90) for mobile, ₹650 ($7.87) for the website, which offered the coveted blue checkmark.</p>

<h2><strong>What does the paid subscription offer?</strong></h2>

<p>A verified badge verifies your entity and that your account has been authenticated with a government ID. The identification is of value as it is often associated with notability. Additionally, it offers protection from impersonation with the help of account monitoring for impersonators who might target people, Meta claims. At the moment, help when you need it for common account issues is available in English only, but Meta says it will soon be available in Hindi too.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/meta-sets-up-task-force-to-probe-claims-of-instagram-hosting-trade-of-child-sex-abuse-materials-reports-602038">Instagram 'most important platform' for child sex abuse networks: Report</a></p>

<h2><strong>Will the blue tick on Instagram and Facebook go away?</strong></h2>

<p>When Twitter rolled out its Twitter Blue subscription that offered a verification badge, it removed all the other legacy blue tick marks. Although it restored it for a select group of users for free. However, Meta has decided to retain verified badges that were granted previously based on existing criteria. “Any previously verified account will maintain its status on Instagram and Facebook for free,” CEO Zuckerberg said on his official Instagram broadcast channel.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Justin Trudeau accuses tech giants of using bullying tactics</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Five critical points about&nbsp;Meta Verification</strong></h2>

<p>- &nbsp;In a few cases, subscribers may be required to submit a selfie video as part of the authentication process.</p>

<p>- The rollout process began on Wednesday (June 7) and will be open to all who meet the eligibility criteria over the next few weeks.</p>

<p>- Businesses are not eligible to apply for Meta Verified at this stage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>- People interested in purchasing on the web can sign up for the waitlist through the Facebook web Account Center and will be notified when web purchasing is available.</p>

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Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has initiated the rolling out of its paid verification subscription in India. The same can be purchased after paying ₹699 ($8.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has initiated the rolling out of its paid verification subscription in India. The same can be purchased after paying ₹699 ($8.47) on iOS and Android. Meta has also said that it is planning to introduce a web purchase option for ₹599 ($7.26) a month soon. "We’re expanding our test of Meta Verified to India after seeing good results from our early testing in several countries globally," the tech giant said. What is Meta Verified? Meta Verified is a new subscription package that includes account verification with government ID, impersonation protections, and account support, as reported by the Hindustan Times. This comes after Elon Musk's Twitter rolled out Twitter Blue, a paid subscription at a monthly subscription of ₹900 ($10.90) for mobile, ₹650 ($7.87) for the website, which offered the coveted blue checkmark. What does the paid subscription offer? A verified badge verifies your entity and that your account has been authenticated with a government ID. The identification is of value as it is often associated with notability. Additionally, it offers protection from impersonation with the help of account monitoring for impersonators who might target people, Meta claims. At the moment, help when you need it for common account issues is available in English only, but Meta says it will soon be available in Hindi too. Also read | Instagram 'most important platform' for child sex abuse networks: Report Will the blue tick on Instagram and Facebook go away? When Twitter rolled out its Twitter Blue subscription that offered a verification badge, it removed all the other legacy blue tick marks. Although it restored it for a select group of users for free. However, Meta has decided to retain verified badges that were granted previously based on existing criteria. “Any previously verified account will maintain its status on Instagram and Facebook for free,” CEO Zuckerberg said on his official Instagram broadcast channel. Also watch | Justin Trudeau accuses tech giants of using bullying tactics Five critical points about Meta Verification - In a few cases, subscribers may be required to submit a selfie video as part of the authentication process. - The rollout process began on Wednesday (June 7) and will be open to all who meet the eligibility criteria over the next few weeks. - Businesses are not eligible to apply for Meta Verified at this stage. - People interested in purchasing on the web can sign up for the waitlist through the Facebook web Account Center and will be notified when web purchasing is available. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Meta launches paid verification subscription in India: What does it entail?

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Alphabet's Google and Meta platforms of using "bullying tactics" in response to Canadian efforts to secure financial support for news publishers.

Canada's Justin Trudeau slams Google and Meta of using 'bullying tactics'

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidqktRZq1z287h" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidqktRZq1z287h" /><meta charset="utf-8" />American technology giant Meta has set up a task force to investigate claims that Instagram is hosting the distribution and sale of self-generated child sexual abuse material, according to a report by The Guardian early Thursday (June 8). Meta's action comes <strong><a href="https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:jd797tp7663/20230606-sio-sg-csam-report.pdf">after a report from the Stanford Internet Observatory</a></strong> (SIO) said that a large network of accounts putatively operated by minors are openly advertising self-generated child sexual abuse material (SG-CSAM) for sale. Instagram is currently the most important platform for these networks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement, a Meta spokesperson said the company had set up an internal task force to deal with the claims, adding "We’re continuously exploring ways to actively defend against this behaviour, and we set up an internal task force to investigate these claims and immediately address them."</p>

<h2><strong>Claims in the SIO report</strong></h2>

<p>The SIO report published on Wednesday said that Instagram's recommendation algorithms are a key reason for the social media platform's effectiveness in advertising SG-CSAM.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The creation and trading of Child Sexual Abuse Material, or CSAM, is often regarded as the most harmful of the widespread abuses of online communication and social media platforms," the report said. The SIO identified 405 accounts advertising the sale SG-CSAM on Instagram, as well as 128 seller accounts on Twitter.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/instagram-gearing-up-to-take-on-twitter-with-new-text-based-app-report-594481">Instagram gearing up to take on Twitter with new text-based app: Report</a></strong></p>

<p>Fifty-eight accounts within the Instagram follower network appeared to be probable content buyers who used their real names, many of which were matched to Facebook, LinkedIn or TikTok profiles using social links and profile picture similarity transforms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"While it is likely that some seller accounts (on different social media platforms) may be impostors redistributing content, scammers, or a third party coercing the child, it appears that by and large underage sellers are producing and marketing content of their own accord," the report added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is SG-CSAM?</strong></h2>

<p>SG-CSAM is a type of content when an image or video appears to be created by the minor subject in the image. While SG-CSAM is often still illegal to possess "and distribute in the United States, the fact that children (often teenagers) are sharing these images amongst each other voluntarily has reduced the focus on this vector of CSAM creation," the SIO said in its Wednesday report.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Such type of content can sometimes be initially distributed voluntarily (such as to a romantic partner) but then redistributed or posted publicly leading to uncontrolled redistribution of images.</p>

<p>This issue can overlap with Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII, sometimes referred to as “revenge porn”), in which sexual images are distributed without the consent of the subject, the report said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The SIO also pointed out that in recent years, the creation and distribution of SG-CSAM increasingly became a commercial venture.</p>

<p>The observatory had acted on a tip from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), which in a report mentioned Instagram's SG-CSAM issues along with the SIO's findings. The WSJ report on Tuesday said that Instagram connects paedophiles and guides them to content sellers via recommendation systems that excel at linking those who share niche interests.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It added that Instagram enabled people to search explicit hashtags such as "#pedowhore and #preteensex" and connected them to accounts that used the terms to advertise child-sex material for sale.&nbsp;</p>

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American technology giant Meta has set up a task force to investigate claims that Instagram is hosting the distribution and sale of self-generated child sexual abuse material, according to a report by The Guardian early Thursday (June 8).

American technology giant Meta has set up a task force to investigate claims that Instagram is hosting the distribution and sale of self-generated child sexual abuse material, according to a report by The Guardian early Thursday (June 8). Meta's action comes after a report from the Stanford Internet Observatory (SIO) said that a large network of accounts putatively operated by minors are openly advertising self-generated child sexual abuse material (SG-CSAM) for sale. Instagram is currently the most important platform for these networks. In a statement, a Meta spokesperson said the company had set up an internal task force to deal with the claims, adding "We’re continuously exploring ways to actively defend against this behaviour, and we set up an internal task force to investigate these claims and immediately address them." Claims in the SIO report The SIO report published on Wednesday said that Instagram's recommendation algorithms are a key reason for the social media platform's effectiveness in advertising SG-CSAM. "The creation and trading of Child Sexual Abuse Material, or CSAM, is often regarded as the most harmful of the widespread abuses of online communication and social media platforms," the report said. The SIO identified 405 accounts advertising the sale SG-CSAM on Instagram, as well as 128 seller accounts on Twitter. Also read | Instagram gearing up to take on Twitter with new text-based app: Report Fifty-eight accounts within the Instagram follower network appeared to be probable content buyers who used their real names, many of which were matched to Facebook, LinkedIn or TikTok profiles using social links and profile picture similarity transforms. "While it is likely that some seller accounts (on different social media platforms) may be impostors redistributing content, scammers, or a third party coercing the child, it appears that by and large underage sellers are producing and marketing content of their own accord," the report added. What is SG-CSAM? SG-CSAM is a type of content when an image or video appears to be created by the minor subject in the image. While SG-CSAM is often still illegal to possess "and distribute in the United States, the fact that children (often teenagers) are sharing these images amongst each other voluntarily has reduced the focus on this vector of CSAM creation," the SIO said in its Wednesday report. Such type of content can sometimes be initially distributed voluntarily (such as to a romantic partner) but then redistributed or posted publicly leading to uncontrolled redistribution of images. This issue can overlap with Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII, sometimes referred to as “revenge porn”), in which sexual images are distributed without the consent of the subject, the report said. The SIO also pointed out that in recent years, the creation and distribution of SG-CSAM increasingly became a commercial venture. The observatory had acted on a tip from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), which in a report mentioned Instagram's SG-CSAM issues along with the SIO's findings. The WSJ report on Tuesday said that Instagram connects paedophiles and guides them to content sellers via recommendation systems that excel at linking those who share niche interests. It added that Instagram enabled people to search explicit hashtags such as "#pedowhore and #preteensex" and connected them to accounts that used the terms to advertise child-sex material for sale. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Instagram 'most important platform' for child sex abuse networks: Report

We have some good news for gamers, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta platforms has just unveiled the supercool Quest 3 headset. The next gen mixed reality gadget is thinner, lighter and even more impressive than its predecessor.

Meta Quest 3 officially unveiled: All details you need to know

<p>Meta is soon to launch its Twitter rival, which reportedly goes by the codename P92 or Barcelona, by June-end, reported The Verge citing a leaked Substack newsletter.&nbsp;If reports are to be believed, the new character length provided by this new text-based Twitter competitor will be 500 characters. Users will also be able to have links, pictures, and videos in the post, similar to Elon Musk's microblogging site.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/indian-scientists-discover-62-plants-that-can-live-without-water-in-western-ghats-599626">Indian scientists discover 62 plants that can live without water in Western Ghats</a></p>

<p>The reports of this new rival application gained fire when The Verge quoted Lia Haberman sharing some leaked documents. Lia teaches Social Media and Influencer Marketing at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Verge reported that the leaked ICYMI Substack newsletter showed marketing slides and other details about the rumoured app. In the leaked slides, no specific name has been assigned to the application and it is only referred to as “Instagram’s new text-based app for conversations."</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mumbai-2611-attack-accused-tahawwur-rana-challenges-extradition-to-india-599609">US: Mumbai 26/11 attack accused Tahawwur Rana challenges order of his extradition to India</a></p>

<p>But there is a catch! Users can use the same Instagram credentials and voila! All of your information, including your followers, bio information, and verified tick will get transported to the new app.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The looks of the app appear to be that of an offspring of Twitter and Instagram.&nbsp;The leaked slides said the text-based app will be “equipping you with settings to control who can reply to you and mention your account."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Decentralised application</strong></h2>

<p>“Soon, our app will be compatible with certain other apps like Mastodon,” Instagram’s slide said.&nbsp;“Users on these other apps will be able to search for, follow and interact with your profile and content if you’re public, or if you’re private and approve them as followers.”</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Hollywood star Bruce Willis' daughter Tallulah talks about her father's daily battle with dementia</strong></p>

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<p>Instagram is already so much popular among the masses, and with the genesis of this new text-based beast, the media platform is believed to gain more traction.&nbsp;The app is perceived to provide competition to platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Meta response over the new Twitter-like application&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Meta has so far not commented over any future launch of a Twitter-like app. The tech giant in March reportedly said, “We’re exploring a standalone decentralized social network for sharing text updates. We believe there’s an opportunity for a separate space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about their interests.”</p>

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Meta is soon to launch its Twitter rival, which reportedly goes by the codename P92 or Barcelona, by June-end, reported The Verge citing a leaked Substack newsletter.

Meta is soon to launch its Twitter rival, which reportedly goes by the codename P92 or Barcelona, by June-end, reported The Verge citing a leaked Substack newsletter. If reports are to be believed, the new character length provided by this new text-based Twitter competitor will be 500 characters. Users will also be able to have links, pictures, and videos in the post, similar to Elon Musk's microblogging site. Also Read | Indian scientists discover 62 plants that can live without water in Western Ghats The reports of this new rival application gained fire when The Verge quoted Lia Haberman sharing some leaked documents. Lia teaches Social Media and Influencer Marketing at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles). The Verge reported that the leaked ICYMI Substack newsletter showed marketing slides and other details about the rumoured app. In the leaked slides, no specific name has been assigned to the application and it is only referred to as “Instagram’s new text-based app for conversations." Also Read | US: Mumbai 26/11 attack accused Tahawwur Rana challenges order of his extradition to India But there is a catch! Users can use the same Instagram credentials and voila! All of your information, including your followers, bio information, and verified tick will get transported to the new app. The looks of the app appear to be that of an offspring of Twitter and Instagram. The leaked slides said the text-based app will be “equipping you with settings to control who can reply to you and mention your account." Decentralised application “Soon, our app will be compatible with certain other apps like Mastodon,” Instagram’s slide said. “Users on these other apps will be able to search for, follow and interact with your profile and content if you’re public, or if you’re private and approve them as followers.” Watch | Hollywood star Bruce Willis' daughter Tallulah talks about her father's daily battle with dementia × Instagram is already so much popular among the masses, and with the genesis of this new text-based beast, the media platform is believed to gain more traction. The app is perceived to provide competition to platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky. Meta response over the new Twitter-like application Meta has so far not commented over any future launch of a Twitter-like app. The tech giant in March reportedly said, “We’re exploring a standalone decentralized social network for sharing text updates. We believe there’s an opportunity for a separate space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about their interests.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

'Barcelona': Instagram to launch new text-based app to rival Twitter by June-end

<p>Meta's latest tests on its social media platforms Facebook and Instagram will limit some users and publishers from viewing or sharing some news content in Canada. While the specific timeline for the supposed testing has not been shared, Meta Platforms Inc. said that the testing period will run several weeks.</p>

<p>The minor percentage of Canadian users enrolled in testing will be notified if they attempt to share news content.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/google-meta-threaten-to-withdraw-news-access-if-online-news-act-becomes-law-588871">Google, Meta threaten to withdraw news access if Online News Act becomes law</a></strong></p>

<p>It must be noted that the supposed disruption in sharing the news content would only occur for the Canadians enrolled for the testing.</p>

<h2><strong>Canada's Online News Act</strong></h2>

<p>The test comes in response to Canada's proposed "Online News Act" which would force platforms like Meta and Google parent Alphabet Inc. to negotiate commercial deals and pay Canadian news publishers for their content.</p>

<p>Meta had, in March, warned it would end the availability of news content for Canadians on its platforms if the proposed bill was passed in its current form.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;WION Business News | Meta preparing large-scale layoffs: Reports</strong></p>

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<p>Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, who introduced the bill last year, called the tests "unacceptable".</p>

<p>"When a big tech company... tells us, 'If you don't do this or that, then I’m pulling the plug' – that’s a threat. I’ve never done anything because I was afraid of a threat," Rodriguez was quoted as saying by&nbsp;Reuters.</p>

<p>Earlier, Google had rolled out similar tests earlier this year blocking news content for some Canadian users as a test run for a potential response to the online news bill.</p>

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Meta's latest tests on its social media platforms Facebook and Instagram will limit some users and publishers from viewing or sharing some news content in Canada.

Meta's latest tests on its social media platforms Facebook and Instagram will limit some users and publishers from viewing or sharing some news content in Canada. While the specific timeline for the supposed testing has not been shared, Meta Platforms Inc. said that the testing period will run several weeks. The minor percentage of Canadian users enrolled in testing will be notified if they attempt to share news content. Also read | Google, Meta threaten to withdraw news access if Online News Act becomes law It must be noted that the supposed disruption in sharing the news content would only occur for the Canadians enrolled for the testing. Canada's Online News Act The test comes in response to Canada's proposed "Online News Act" which would force platforms like Meta and Google parent Alphabet Inc. to negotiate commercial deals and pay Canadian news publishers for their content. Meta had, in March, warned it would end the availability of news content for Canadians on its platforms if the proposed bill was passed in its current form. Also watch | WION Business News | Meta preparing large-scale layoffs: Reports × Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, who introduced the bill last year, called the tests "unacceptable". "When a big tech company... tells us, 'If you don't do this or that, then I’m pulling the plug' – that’s a threat. I’ve never done anything because I was afraid of a threat," Rodriguez was quoted as saying by Reuters. Earlier, Google had rolled out similar tests earlier this year blocking news content for some Canadian users as a test run for a potential response to the online news bill. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Canada: Meta to withdraw news access on Facebook, Instagram for some users. Here's why

<p>Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta platforms—the parent company of Facebook and Instagram—has threatened to pull down news content from its social media apps in California in protest against the state’s new proposed bill that requires big tech companies to pay news outlets for showcasing their content.</p>

<p>The Journalism Preservation Act requires digital companies such as Google and Facebook to pay local news publishers a “journalism usage fee” whenever their news content is used or posted on those platforms.</p>

<p>The bill, which is sponsored by a Democrat&nbsp;assembly member from Oakland, Buffy Wicks, also requires news publishers to invest 70 per cent of usage fee profits into journalism jobs.</p>

<p>The move was slammed by Meta’s communications director Andy Stone who called the bill “a slush fund that primarily benefits big, out-of-state media companies under the guise of aiding California publishers.”</p>

<p>“The bill fails to recognise that publishers and broadcasters put their content on our platform themselves and that substantial consolidation in California’s local news industry came over 15 years ago, well before Facebook was widely used,” Stone said on Twitter on Wednesday.</p>

<p>"If the Journalism Preservation Act passes, we will be forced to remove news from Facebook and Instagram, rather than pay into a slush fund that primarily benefits big, out-of-state media companies under the guise of aiding California publishers," he added.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Meta statement on the California Journalism Preservation Act. <a href="https://t.co/ssgk1vSryB">pic.twitter.com/ssgk1vSryB</a></p>
— Andy Stone (@andymstone) <a href="https://twitter.com/andymstone/status/1663951770052067338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Lawmaker condemns Meta’s threat</strong></h2>

<p>Responding to the remarks, Wicks in a statement condemned Meta for using a “scare tactic” in an attempt to “silence journalists”.</p>

<p>“This threat from Meta is a scare tactic that they’ve tried to deploy, unsuccessfully, in every country that’s attempted this,” Wicks said in a statement, according to CNN.</p>

<p>“It’s egregious that one of the wealthiest companies in the world would rather silence journalists than face regulation.”</p>

<p>A spokesperson for Wicks said that the bill is due for a vote in the California State Assembly on Thursday.</p>

<h2><strong>Evokes mixed response </strong></h2>

<p>The bill has garnered mixed responses among the media fraternity in California.</p>

<p>While the Media Guild of the West and Pacific Media Workers Guild have praised the bill, Free Press Action, a non-profit media advocacy organisation, has criticised it.</p>

<p>In a joint letter, the two unions called Meta and Google “powerful landlords overseeing an ever-expanding slum of low-quality information, happy to collect advertising rents from struggling tenants while avoiding paying for upkeep".</p>

<p><a name="_Hlk136524370">The Free Press Action, on the other hand, </a>said the proposed bill does “nothing to support trustworthy local reporting and would instead pad the profits of massive conglomerates".</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta platforms—the parent company of Facebook and Instagram—has threatened to pull down news content from its social media apps in California in protest against the state’s new proposed bill that requires big tech companies to pay news outlets for showcasing their content.

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta platforms—the parent company of Facebook and Instagram—has threatened to pull down news content from its social media apps in California in protest against the state’s new proposed bill that requires big tech companies to pay news outlets for showcasing their content. The Journalism Preservation Act requires digital companies such as Google and Facebook to pay local news publishers a “journalism usage fee” whenever their news content is used or posted on those platforms. The bill, which is sponsored by a Democrat assembly member from Oakland, Buffy Wicks, also requires news publishers to invest 70 per cent of usage fee profits into journalism jobs. The move was slammed by Meta’s communications director Andy Stone who called the bill “a slush fund that primarily benefits big, out-of-state media companies under the guise of aiding California publishers.” “The bill fails to recognise that publishers and broadcasters put their content on our platform themselves and that substantial consolidation in California’s local news industry came over 15 years ago, well before Facebook was widely used,” Stone said on Twitter on Wednesday. "If the Journalism Preservation Act passes, we will be forced to remove news from Facebook and Instagram, rather than pay into a slush fund that primarily benefits big, out-of-state media companies under the guise of aiding California publishers," he added. Meta statement on the California Journalism Preservation Act. pic.twitter.com/ssgk1vSryB — Andy Stone (@andymstone) May 31, 2023 × Lawmaker condemns Meta’s threat Responding to the remarks, Wicks in a statement condemned Meta for using a “scare tactic” in an attempt to “silence journalists”. “This threat from Meta is a scare tactic that they’ve tried to deploy, unsuccessfully, in every country that’s attempted this,” Wicks said in a statement, according to CNN. “It’s egregious that one of the wealthiest companies in the world would rather silence journalists than face regulation.” A spokesperson for Wicks said that the bill is due for a vote in the California State Assembly on Thursday. Evokes mixed response The bill has garnered mixed responses among the media fraternity in California. While the Media Guild of the West and Pacific Media Workers Guild have praised the bill, Free Press Action, a non-profit media advocacy organisation, has criticised it. In a joint letter, the two unions called Meta and Google “powerful landlords overseeing an ever-expanding slum of low-quality information, happy to collect advertising rents from struggling tenants while avoiding paying for upkeep". The Free Press Action, on the other hand, said the proposed bill does “nothing to support trustworthy local reporting and would instead pad the profits of massive conglomerates". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Meta threatens to pull news content from social media sites over California's proposed bill

After falling in revenue growth Meta has begun its latest layoff cycle after around 11,000 employees were laid off in the previous cycle between February and March. Meta is now gearing up for another round of layoffs and restructuring probably will shed another 10,000 job roles which will hit sales and marketing roles.

Meta begins new layoff cycle, will shed 10, 000 roles

Meta's losses have hit its employees, the hardest Meta platforms on Wednesday completed the third and last round of layoffs related to job cut announcement in March. Meta made history this year and became the first big tech company to announce a second wave of mass layoffs.

Meta's layoffs shrink workforce to 2021 level

<p>The Chinese government convened top tech companies this week and warned them of consequences if they cut off technology sales to the country, US media reported on Saturday.</p>

<p>The meeting followed US President Donald Trump's move last month to blacklist Chinese tech giant Huawei over national security concerns, threatening the firm's global ambitions and ramping up the months-long trade battle between the two countries.</p>

<p>Earlier this week, the Chinese government summoned executives from American firms Dell and Microsoft and South Korea's Samsung, among others, to warn them that any moves to ramp down their businesses in China may lead to retaliation, The New York Times reported.</p>

<p>American companies were told "that the Trump administration's move to cut off Chinese companies from American technology had disrupted the global supply chain, adding that companies that followed the policy could face permanent consequences," the newspaper reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Companies based outside the United States were told that as long as they maintained business as usual, they wouldn't be punished, the newspaper reported.</p>

<p>Last Friday, Facebook announced it would cut Huwaei off from its popular social networking app to comply with the US sanctions, further isolating the company that has become the world's second-largest smartphone vendor.</p>

<p>Google made a similar announcement in May.</p>

<p>Washington and Beijing resumed their trade battle last month when negotiations in the US ended without a deal and US President Donald Trump raised tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods.</p>

<p>Beijing retaliated with its own tariff hike on billions of dollars worth of US goods.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US move to cut Huawei off from American hardware came next, but was delayed by 90 days to prevent economic disruptions.</p>


The Chinese government convened top tech companies this week and warned them of consequences if they cut off technology sales to the country, US media reported on Saturday.

The Chinese government convened top tech companies this week and warned them of consequences if they cut off technology sales to the country, US media reported on Saturday. The meeting followed US President Donald Trump's move last month to blacklist Chinese tech giant Huawei over national security concerns, threatening the firm's global ambitions and ramping up the months-long trade battle between the two countries. Earlier this week, the Chinese government summoned executives from American firms Dell and Microsoft and South Korea's Samsung, among others, to warn them that any moves to ramp down their businesses in China may lead to retaliation, The New York Times reported. American companies were told "that the Trump administration's move to cut off Chinese companies from American technology had disrupted the global supply chain, adding that companies that followed the policy could face permanent consequences," the newspaper reported. Companies based outside the United States were told that as long as they maintained business as usual, they wouldn't be punished, the newspaper reported. Last Friday, Facebook announced it would cut Huwaei off from its popular social networking app to comply with the US sanctions, further isolating the company that has become the world's second-largest smartphone vendor. Google made a similar announcement in May. Washington and Beijing resumed their trade battle last month when negotiations in the US ended without a deal and US President Donald Trump raised tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods. Beijing retaliated with its own tariff hike on billions of dollars worth of US goods. The US move to cut Huawei off from American hardware came next, but was delayed by 90 days to prevent economic disruptions.

Facebook's parent company Meta eliminates jobs, sacks India's top executives

<p>In a strategic move to streamline its operations and optimize its workforce, Facebook-owner Meta has initiated its&nbsp;latest round of layoffs, representing the final phase of a three-part plan announced in March.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The latest&nbsp;job cuts will eliminate&nbsp;10,000 positions, mostly non-engineering&nbsp;roles like content design and user experience research.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meta's international headquarters in Dublin will bear a significant impact from the latest wave of cuts, with around 490 employees expected to be affected, representing nearly 20 percent of its Irish workforce.</p>

<p>Moreover, two prominent executives in India, Avinash Pant (Director of Marketing) and Saket Jha Saurabh (Director and Head of Media Partnerships) have also been let go.</p>

<p>CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also hinted at smaller rounds of layoffs in the future, indicating the company's ongoing efforts to optimize its operations.</p>

<p>Meta's previous&nbsp;layoffs, which took place in the fall of 2022,&nbsp;resulted in the termination of over 11,000 employees and brought the company's headcount back to mid-2021 levels.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Stock Intact, Job Isn't</strong></p>

<p>Despite the massive reduction in workforce, Meta's stock has more than doubled in value this year, positioning Meta as one of the standout performers in the prestigious S&amp;P 500 index.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The rising stock value of Meta&nbsp;in 2023 can be attributed to the tech giant's&nbsp;unwavering commitment to artificial intelligence and its strategic implementation of cost-cutting measures, reports said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The decision to downsize the workforce comes in response to Meta's months of slowing revenue growth, influenced by factors such as high inflation and a decline in digital advertising due to the contraction of the pandemic-driven e-commerce boom.</p>

<p>Meta has also been channeling substantial investments into its Reality Labs unit, focused on developing the metaverse and enhancing the infrastructure to support artificial intelligence endeavors. However, these investments incurred a loss of $13.7 billion for the Reality Labs unit in 2022.</p>

<p>(Inputs from various agencies)</p>


In a strategic move to streamline its operations and optimize its workforce, Facebook-owner Meta has initiated its latest round of layoffs, representing the final phase of a three-part plan announced in March.

In a strategic move to streamline its operations and optimize its workforce, Facebook-owner Meta has initiated its latest round of layoffs, representing the final phase of a three-part plan announced in March. The latest job cuts will eliminate 10,000 positions, mostly non-engineering roles like content design and user experience research. Meta's international headquarters in Dublin will bear a significant impact from the latest wave of cuts, with around 490 employees expected to be affected, representing nearly 20 percent of its Irish workforce. Moreover, two prominent executives in India, Avinash Pant (Director of Marketing) and Saket Jha Saurabh (Director and Head of Media Partnerships) have also been let go. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also hinted at smaller rounds of layoffs in the future, indicating the company's ongoing efforts to optimize its operations. Meta's previous layoffs, which took place in the fall of 2022, resulted in the termination of over 11,000 employees and brought the company's headcount back to mid-2021 levels. Stock Intact, Job Isn't Despite the massive reduction in workforce, Meta's stock has more than doubled in value this year, positioning Meta as one of the standout performers in the prestigious S&P 500 index. The rising stock value of Meta in 2023 can be attributed to the tech giant's unwavering commitment to artificial intelligence and its strategic implementation of cost-cutting measures, reports said. The decision to downsize the workforce comes in response to Meta's months of slowing revenue growth, influenced by factors such as high inflation and a decline in digital advertising due to the contraction of the pandemic-driven e-commerce boom. Meta has also been channeling substantial investments into its Reality Labs unit, focused on developing the metaverse and enhancing the infrastructure to support artificial intelligence endeavors. However, these investments incurred a loss of $13.7 billion for the Reality Labs unit in 2022. (Inputs from various agencies)

Meta's 10,000 layoff target: Non-engineering roles take a hit

Meta Platforms Inc., the company that owns Facebook, was slammed with a record fine of $1.2 billion by European Union privacy regulators for moving user data to the US. The Wall Street Journal covered the development on Monday. As soon as the verdict was made public, Meta reassured users that access to Facebook in Europe wouldn't be impacted

European Union rejects Meta challenge, fined with 1.2 billion

Meta Platforms Inc., the company that owns Facebook, was slammed with a record fine of $1.3 billion by European Union privacy regulators for moving user data to the US. The Wall Street Journal covered the development on Monday. As soon as the verdict was made public, Meta reassured users that access to Facebook in Europe wouldn't be impacted.

Meta fined $1.3 billion by European Union for sending user data to US: Report

<p>Facebook parent Meta was fined with a record amount of $1.3 billion (1.2 billion euros), on Monday (May 22). The fine was levied for the company’s failure to comply with a warning by the top European Union court related to the data transfer of Facebook’s EU users to servers in the United States, said Ireland’s regulator.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The social media giant has also been given orders to stop transferring user data across the Atlantic by October.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why is Facebook being fined?</strong></h2>

<p>According to Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), which acts on behalf of the EU, the social media giant failed&nbsp;to heed a top court warning aimed at protecting users’ data from the security services in the US&nbsp;once it’s shipped to servers across the Atlantic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The commission also alleged that Meta continued data transfers to the US without addressing “the risks to the fundamental rights and freedoms” of people whose data was being transferred to the US. The DPC had been investigating Meta Ireland’s transfer of personal data from the EU to the US since 2020.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The social media giant was given five months to “suspend any future transfer of personal data to the US” and six months to stop “the unlawful processing, including storage, in the US” of transferred personal EU data.</p>

<h2><strong>EU about the fine on Meta</strong></h2>

<p>The supposed privacy breach has prompted the largest fine “ever” under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), said the European Data Protection Board (EDPB).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) chair Andrea Jelinek following the announcement said, Meta’s breach is “very serious since it concerns transfers that are systematic, repetitive and continuous.”</p>

<p>Jelinek also said that since Facebook has millions of users in Europe “the volume of personal data transferred is massive. The unprecedented fine is a strong signal to organizations that serious infringements have far-reaching consequences.”</p>

<p>The announcement also coincides with the fifth anniversary of the GDPR which is seen as the world’s benchmark for privacy.&nbsp;The penalty doled out for Meta surpassed the highest previous record fine imposed by the EU for Amazon $821 million (746 million euros).<br />
<br />
This comes after Amazon was forced to pay a fine of the previously mentioned amount by Luxembourg, in 2021 for similarly flouting the EU’s privacy standards.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Meta reacts to announcement</h2>

<p>Meta following the announcement of the fine, on Monday, said it would appeal the decision, including the “unjustified and unnecessary fine,” and seek a stay of the orders through the courts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meta president of global affairs Nick Clegg and chief legal officer Jennifer Newstead said the company was “disappointed to have been singled out,” and called the ruling “flawed”. Meta’s representatives also warned that the ruling sets a “dangerous precedent for the countless other companies”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They added, “There is no immediate disruption to Facebook in Europe.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>The company which also owns WhatsApp and Instagram had also previously warned that suspending data transfers on the basis of (SCCs) could have “a far-reaching effect on businesses that rely on SCCs (Facebook and other tech giants) and on the online services many people and businesses rely on”.</p>

<p>Earlier this year, Meta reiterated that without SCCs or “other alternative means of data transfers” it would “likely” not be able to offer access to social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, across Europe.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>DCP’s authority questioned</h2>

<p>As per AFP, the Irish regulators only wanted to force Meta to suspend the offending data transfers and that the fine would “exceed the extent of powers that could be described as being ‘appropriate, proportionate and necessary’”. However, their EU counterpart, Concerned Supervisory Authorities (CSAs), disagreed and said, “All four CSAs took the view that Meta Ireland should be subject to an administrative fine.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since there was no consensus the matter was sent to the EDPB who ruled that Meta should not only stop the transfers but also pay the record amount of fine. Notably, this is the third fine imposed by the EU on Meta this year and the fourth one in the past six months.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Clegg and Newstead said the EDPB decision to overrule the DPC “raises serious questions,” adding that the US has done more than any other country to comply with EU’s standards and “their latest reforms, while transfers continue largely unchallenged to countries such as China.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>This comes as EU regulators back in December unveiled proposals to replace the previous “Privacy Shield” pact that had been rejected by the EU’s top court. This led to months of negotiations ending with US President Joe Biden’s executive order assuring EU citizens’ data is safe once it’s shipped across the Atlantic.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why now?</strong></h2>

<p>The decision follows revelations by Edward Snowden, the former US National Security Agency contractor back in 2013 and a legal challenge brought by an Austrian privacy campaigner, Max Schrems.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Schrems has expressed concerns that European users’ data is not sufficiently protected from US’ intelligence agencies after Snowden disclosed that officials across the Atlantic have repeatedly accessed people’s information via tech companies like Facebook, Google, and so on.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, Scherms’ lawsuit began a decade-long legal battle over the legality of transferring EU data to the US. According to Reuters, EU regulators led by Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon have also been in the midst of finalising the ban on a legal tool used by Facebook to transfer European user data.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This comes as the Irish DPC was given one month, back in April to chalk out the details of the order to block Facebook’s transatlantic data flows, as per which, the ban would take place sometime in mid-May, reported Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Europe’s highest court, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), also ruled in 2020 and repeatedly said that an agreement between the EU-US for data transfer was invalid and concluded that Washington does not have sufficient systems in place to protect European data.</p>

<p>However, the judges at the time did not strike down an alternative tool based on contractual clauses but prompted the Irish authorities to issue a preliminary order stating that Facebook can no longer move data to the US via this other method either.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Facebook parent Meta was fined with a record amount of $1.3 billion (1.2 billion euros), on Monday (May 22). The fine was levied for the company’s failure to comply with a warning by the top European Union court related to the data transfer of Facebook’s EU users to servers in the United States, said Ireland’s regulator.

Facebook parent Meta was fined with a record amount of $1.3 billion (1.2 billion euros), on Monday (May 22). The fine was levied for the company’s failure to comply with a warning by the top European Union court related to the data transfer of Facebook’s EU users to servers in the United States, said Ireland’s regulator. The social media giant has also been given orders to stop transferring user data across the Atlantic by October. Why is Facebook being fined? According to Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), which acts on behalf of the EU, the social media giant failed to heed a top court warning aimed at protecting users’ data from the security services in the US once it’s shipped to servers across the Atlantic. The commission also alleged that Meta continued data transfers to the US without addressing “the risks to the fundamental rights and freedoms” of people whose data was being transferred to the US. The DPC had been investigating Meta Ireland’s transfer of personal data from the EU to the US since 2020. The social media giant was given five months to “suspend any future transfer of personal data to the US” and six months to stop “the unlawful processing, including storage, in the US” of transferred personal EU data. EU about the fine on Meta The supposed privacy breach has prompted the largest fine “ever” under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), said the European Data Protection Board (EDPB). The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) chair Andrea Jelinek following the announcement said, Meta’s breach is “very serious since it concerns transfers that are systematic, repetitive and continuous.” Jelinek also said that since Facebook has millions of users in Europe “the volume of personal data transferred is massive. The unprecedented fine is a strong signal to organizations that serious infringements have far-reaching consequences.” The announcement also coincides with the fifth anniversary of the GDPR which is seen as the world’s benchmark for privacy. The penalty doled out for Meta surpassed the highest previous record fine imposed by the EU for Amazon $821 million (746 million euros). This comes after Amazon was forced to pay a fine of the previously mentioned amount by Luxembourg, in 2021 for similarly flouting the EU’s privacy standards. Meta reacts to announcement Meta following the announcement of the fine, on Monday, said it would appeal the decision, including the “unjustified and unnecessary fine,” and seek a stay of the orders through the courts. Meta president of global affairs Nick Clegg and chief legal officer Jennifer Newstead said the company was “disappointed to have been singled out,” and called the ruling “flawed”. Meta’s representatives also warned that the ruling sets a “dangerous precedent for the countless other companies”. They added, “There is no immediate disruption to Facebook in Europe.” The company which also owns WhatsApp and Instagram had also previously warned that suspending data transfers on the basis of (SCCs) could have “a far-reaching effect on businesses that rely on SCCs (Facebook and other tech giants) and on the online services many people and businesses rely on”. Earlier this year, Meta reiterated that without SCCs or “other alternative means of data transfers” it would “likely” not be able to offer access to social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, across Europe. DCP’s authority questioned As per AFP, the Irish regulators only wanted to force Meta to suspend the offending data transfers and that the fine would “exceed the extent of powers that could be described as being ‘appropriate, proportionate and necessary’”. However, their EU counterpart, Concerned Supervisory Authorities (CSAs), disagreed and said, “All four CSAs took the view that Meta Ireland should be subject to an administrative fine.” Since there was no consensus the matter was sent to the EDPB who ruled that Meta should not only stop the transfers but also pay the record amount of fine. Notably, this is the third fine imposed by the EU on Meta this year and the fourth one in the past six months. Clegg and Newstead said the EDPB decision to overrule the DPC “raises serious questions,” adding that the US has done more than any other country to comply with EU’s standards and “their latest reforms, while transfers continue largely unchallenged to countries such as China.” This comes as EU regulators back in December unveiled proposals to replace the previous “Privacy Shield” pact that had been rejected by the EU’s top court. This led to months of negotiations ending with US President Joe Biden’s executive order assuring EU citizens’ data is safe once it’s shipped across the Atlantic. Why now? The decision follows revelations by Edward Snowden, the former US National Security Agency contractor back in 2013 and a legal challenge brought by an Austrian privacy campaigner, Max Schrems. Schrems has expressed concerns that European users’ data is not sufficiently protected from US’ intelligence agencies after Snowden disclosed that officials across the Atlantic have repeatedly accessed people’s information via tech companies like Facebook, Google, and so on. Notably, Scherms’ lawsuit began a decade-long legal battle over the legality of transferring EU data to the US. According to Reuters, EU regulators led by Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon have also been in the midst of finalising the ban on a legal tool used by Facebook to transfer European user data. This comes as the Irish DPC was given one month, back in April to chalk out the details of the order to block Facebook’s transatlantic data flows, as per which, the ban would take place sometime in mid-May, reported Reuters. Europe’s highest court, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), also ruled in 2020 and repeatedly said that an agreement between the EU-US for data transfer was invalid and concluded that Washington does not have sufficient systems in place to protect European data. However, the judges at the time did not strike down an alternative tool based on contractual clauses but prompted the Irish authorities to issue a preliminary order stating that Facebook can no longer move data to the US via this other method either. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | EU fines Facebook parent company Meta record $1.3 billion over data transfer to US

<p>Instagram, owned by Meta Platforms, is set to launch a text-based app to compete with Twitter, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the development. According to the report, Facebook's parent company is testing the application with influencers and select creators.</p>

<p>Meta has been contacting talent agencies and celebrities to assess their interest in using an early version of the app, which will be connected with Instagram, according to Alex Heath, a reporter at the Verge, in a newsletter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The decentralized app is built on the back of Instagram but will be compatible with some other apps like Mastodon," according to a newsletter by Lia Haberman, who teaches social and influencer marketing at UCLA in California.</p>

<p>Instagram, which is owned by Meta Platforms Inc., did not immediately reply to a comment request from Bloomberg.&nbsp;Elon Musk's chaotic takeover of Twitter has forced some users to explore for alternatives, creating a market opportunity.</p>

<h2 id="Who-is-Linda-Yaccarino" tabindex="-1"><strong>Linda Yaccarino: Twitter's new CEO</strong></h2>

<p>Elon Musk has appointed a new CEO of Twitter, little over six months after his contentious purchase of the social media company.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Linda Yaccarino, the former chief of advertising at NBCUniversal, would be in charge of the site's business operations, according to the billionaire, as reported by the BBC.</p>

<p>"Looking forward to working with Linda to transform this platform into X, the everything app," he said on Twitter, confirming his decision a day after stoking anticipation by announcing that he had found a new employer but did not divulge their name.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Instagram likely to launch Twitter-like micro-blogging app by June end</strong></p>

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<p>Yaccarino grew up in an Italian-American household. She worked for Turner Entertainment for 15 years after graduating from Penn State before joining NBCUniversal, where she handled around 2,000 employees and was engaged in the creation of its streaming service.</p>

<p>Her work has been distinguished by tight cooperation with major companies, where she has found chances for product placement and persuaded them to advertise alongside television series, including those with a reputation for edgy material, such as Sex and the City when it initially aired.</p>

<p>She has also established ties in new media with companies such as Apple News, Snapchat, and YouTube.</p>

<p>In a 2005 article in an industry newspaper, she was described as a busy, married mother of two children, then ages 13 and 9.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/google-ceo-sundar-pichais-ancestral-home-sold-father-breaks-down-during-property-transfer-594474">Google CEO Sundar Pichai's ancestral home sold. Father breaks down during property transfer</a></p>

<p>Claire Atkinson of Business Insider has tracked Yaccarino's career for two decades and believes her history in advertising might benefit Twitter, which has seen its ad revenues decline drastically since Musk's acquisition.<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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Instagram, owned by Meta Platforms, is set to launch a text-based app to compete with Twitter, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the development.

Instagram, owned by Meta Platforms, is set to launch a text-based app to compete with Twitter, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the development. According to the report, Facebook's parent company is testing the application with influencers and select creators. Meta has been contacting talent agencies and celebrities to assess their interest in using an early version of the app, which will be connected with Instagram, according to Alex Heath, a reporter at the Verge, in a newsletter. "The decentralized app is built on the back of Instagram but will be compatible with some other apps like Mastodon," according to a newsletter by Lia Haberman, who teaches social and influencer marketing at UCLA in California. Instagram, which is owned by Meta Platforms Inc., did not immediately reply to a comment request from Bloomberg. Elon Musk's chaotic takeover of Twitter has forced some users to explore for alternatives, creating a market opportunity. Linda Yaccarino: Twitter's new CEO Elon Musk has appointed a new CEO of Twitter, little over six months after his contentious purchase of the social media company. Linda Yaccarino, the former chief of advertising at NBCUniversal, would be in charge of the site's business operations, according to the billionaire, as reported by the BBC. "Looking forward to working with Linda to transform this platform into X, the everything app," he said on Twitter, confirming his decision a day after stoking anticipation by announcing that he had found a new employer but did not divulge their name. ALSO WATCH | Instagram likely to launch Twitter-like micro-blogging app by June end Yaccarino grew up in an Italian-American household. She worked for Turner Entertainment for 15 years after graduating from Penn State before joining NBCUniversal, where she handled around 2,000 employees and was engaged in the creation of its streaming service. Her work has been distinguished by tight cooperation with major companies, where she has found chances for product placement and persuaded them to advertise alongside television series, including those with a reputation for edgy material, such as Sex and the City when it initially aired. She has also established ties in new media with companies such as Apple News, Snapchat, and YouTube. In a 2005 article in an industry newspaper, she was described as a busy, married mother of two children, then ages 13 and 9. ALSO READ | Google CEO Sundar Pichai's ancestral home sold. Father breaks down during property transfer Claire Atkinson of Business Insider has tracked Yaccarino's career for two decades and believes her history in advertising might benefit Twitter, which has seen its ad revenues decline drastically since Musk's acquisition. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Instagram gearing up to take on Twitter with new text-based app: Report

<p>If you thought of Facebook and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg as a&nbsp;quintessential nerd who only stared at a computer screen all day long, then be prepared to have your notions turned upside down. Zuckerberg recently won a gold and silver medal at his very first&nbsp;Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament in Redwood City, California.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The billionaire CEO took to Instagram where he talked about competing in the Jiu-Jitsu tournament and winning medals for his team.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Competed in my first jiu jitsu tournament and won some medals&nbsp;for the Guerrilla Jiu Jitsu team. Thanks to @davecamarillo @khaiwu @intense0ne for training me!" Zuckerberg wrote in the post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The post was an instant hit as it received over 400,000 likes and almost 10,000 comments. Some high-profile celebrities such as UFC champion&nbsp;Conor McGregor as well as YouTube creator PewDiePie congratulated Zuckerberg on his achievement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Yo!!! F***ing awesome Mark," wrote McGregor, while PewDiePie added, "Damn, imagine getting zuck'ed by the zuck."</p>

<p>One of his coaches, Khai “the Shadow” Wu, congratulated his student: “Yesterday getting to see Zuck compete was pretty epic. No match was easy and everything was earned. It was an honor to be able to help coach and offer any advice I could.”</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr7Ub8ULkzV/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Mark Zuckerberg (@zuck)</a></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/meta-layoffs-10000-job-cuts-facebook-whatsapp-instagram-indians-affected-facebook-layoffs-584200"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Meta begins layoffs; to leave 10,000 without jobs across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>What is Jiu-Jitsu?</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, Jiu-Jitsu is a Brazilian self-defence martial art and combat sport where grappling, ground fighting and submission holds comprise the basic tenet. The idea is to take down the opponent to the ground, gain a dominant position and use various&nbsp;techniques to force them into submission.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Who all have practised Jiu-Jitsu?</strong></h2>

<p>Recently, Hollywood star Tom Hardy also competed in a Jiu-Jitsu competition in the UK. He has won competitions in&nbsp;Wolverhampton and Milton Keynes.</p>

<p>"That 70s Show" star show Ashton Kutcher has a keen interest in the sport and has a brown belt to his name. Meanwhile, British comedian Russel Brand and actor Jason Statham, both have purple belts.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Another round of mass layoffs begin in Meta, to cut 10,000 more jobs</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Zuckerberg and his hobbies</strong></h2>

<p>In recent weeks, Zuckerberg has been grabbing news headlines, not for his tech companies, but&nbsp;for his hobbies. Last week, the tech mogul shared pictures of 3D-printed&nbsp;dresses he made for his daughter.</p>

<p>The Facebook CEO posted pictures of his daughter wearing the 3D printed clothes with the caption, "I love building things and recently started designing and 3D printing dresses with the girls. A few projects from the last month."</p>

<p>He also revealed that for this special project, he learned to sew. "and yes, I had to learn to sew," he wrote.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/mark-zuckerberg-goes-viral-for-making-3d-printed-dresses-for-daughters-check-it-out-587933"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;Mark Zuckerberg goes viral for making 3D-printed dresses for daughters. Check it out</strong></a></p>

<p>Apart from martial arts and sewing, Zuckerberg is also an avid surfer. He routinely posts videos of himself surfing the dangerous waves.</p>

<p>In one of the videos posted on July 4 - America's Independence Day, Zuckerberg could be seen waving the American flag while riding a surfboard.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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If you thought of Facebook and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg as a quintessential nerd who only stared at a computer screen all day long, then be prepared to have your notions turned upside down.

If you thought of Facebook and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg as a quintessential nerd who only stared at a computer screen all day long, then be prepared to have your notions turned upside down. Zuckerberg recently won a gold and silver medal at his very first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament in Redwood City, California. The billionaire CEO took to Instagram where he talked about competing in the Jiu-Jitsu tournament and winning medals for his team. “Competed in my first jiu jitsu tournament and won some medals for the Guerrilla Jiu Jitsu team. Thanks to @davecamarillo @khaiwu @intense0ne for training me!" Zuckerberg wrote in the post. The post was an instant hit as it received over 400,000 likes and almost 10,000 comments. Some high-profile celebrities such as UFC champion Conor McGregor as well as YouTube creator PewDiePie congratulated Zuckerberg on his achievement. “Yo!!! F***ing awesome Mark," wrote McGregor, while PewDiePie added, "Damn, imagine getting zuck'ed by the zuck." One of his coaches, Khai “the Shadow” Wu, congratulated his student: “Yesterday getting to see Zuck compete was pretty epic. No match was easy and everything was earned. It was an honor to be able to help coach and offer any advice I could.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mark Zuckerberg (@zuck) × ALSO READ | Meta begins layoffs; to leave 10,000 without jobs across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp What is Jiu-Jitsu? Notably, Jiu-Jitsu is a Brazilian self-defence martial art and combat sport where grappling, ground fighting and submission holds comprise the basic tenet. The idea is to take down the opponent to the ground, gain a dominant position and use various techniques to force them into submission. Who all have practised Jiu-Jitsu? Recently, Hollywood star Tom Hardy also competed in a Jiu-Jitsu competition in the UK. He has won competitions in Wolverhampton and Milton Keynes. "That 70s Show" star show Ashton Kutcher has a keen interest in the sport and has a brown belt to his name. Meanwhile, British comedian Russel Brand and actor Jason Statham, both have purple belts. ALSO WATCH | Another round of mass layoffs begin in Meta, to cut 10,000 more jobs × Zuckerberg and his hobbies In recent weeks, Zuckerberg has been grabbing news headlines, not for his tech companies, but for his hobbies. Last week, the tech mogul shared pictures of 3D-printed dresses he made for his daughter. The Facebook CEO posted pictures of his daughter wearing the 3D printed clothes with the caption, "I love building things and recently started designing and 3D printing dresses with the girls. A few projects from the last month." He also revealed that for this special project, he learned to sew. "and yes, I had to learn to sew," he wrote. ALSO READ | Mark Zuckerberg goes viral for making 3D-printed dresses for daughters. Check it out Apart from martial arts and sewing, Zuckerberg is also an avid surfer. He routinely posts videos of himself surfing the dangerous waves. In one of the videos posted on July 4 - America's Independence Day, Zuckerberg could be seen waving the American flag while riding a surfboard. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg competes in Jiu-Jitsu tournament, wins medals. Details inside

<p>A number of verified pages on Facebook with blue checkmarks have been impersonating none other than Meta and Google.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The verified Facebook pages appear to have been hacked, with their page name and Facebook URL changed in the past week, Mashable reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some of these pages had millions of followers. They also display a blue verification badge stating "Facebook confirmed this profile is authentic".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The most concerning element of such impersonation is that each hacked page was approved to run advertisements across Facebook's network and every one appears to have been doing so, the Mashable report added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far, it remains unclear just how far reaching these scam ads went and how many Facebook users have potentially fallen victim.</p>

<h2><strong>Indian singers Miss Pooja, Babbu Maan's Facebook pages targeted by hacks</strong></h2>

<p>According to Mashable, the largest hacked page appears to have belonged to Miss Pooja, a famous singer in India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The page has over 7 million followers. On April 29, the page name was changed to "Google AI." The URL was also changed to "facebook.com/Google.BardAI2" that ran Facebook ads leading to a page impersonating as Google.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/meta-takes-down-40-fake-accounts-of-indian-firm-900-from-china-for-phishing-543702">Meta takes down 40 fake accounts of Indian firm, 900 from China for phishing</a></strong></p>

<p>Other than Miss Pooja, Indian singer Babbu Maan's Facebook page also appears to have been hacked. With 3 million followers, Maan's page was changed to 'Meta Ads, which also ran Facebook ads similar to fake Google page.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the time of filing this report, the Facebook pages that once belonged to Miss Pooja and Babbu Maan, were not publicly available, and appear to have been removed from the platform.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Miss Pooja and Babbu Maan are famed for their acclaimed singing acumen, mostly in and around the Indian&nbsp;and Pakistani states of Punjab and the vast South Asian diaspora settled around the world. While Pooja has been known for breaking the fortress in the male-dominated Punjabi pop scene, Maan has continued to elevate his&nbsp;fan-base right&nbsp;before the dawn of mobile internet took over the trend of music video cassettes in the world's fifth largest economy.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Hackers use Chatgpt to spread malware on Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp</strong></p>

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<p>The latest hacks show how scammers can take over an existing verified page to trick users.</p>

<p>Facebook now tracks and publicly displays a history of name changes for verified accounts. The feature has been hailed as a welcome bit of transparency but the safeguard still doesn't appear enough to flag some obvious scams.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


A number of verified pages on Facebook with blue checkmarks have been impersonating none other than Meta and Google. The verified Facebook pages appear to have been hacked, with their page name and Facebook URL changed in the past week, Mashable reported.

A number of verified pages on Facebook with blue checkmarks have been impersonating none other than Meta and Google. The verified Facebook pages appear to have been hacked, with their page name and Facebook URL changed in the past week, Mashable reported. Some of these pages had millions of followers. They also display a blue verification badge stating "Facebook confirmed this profile is authentic". The most concerning element of such impersonation is that each hacked page was approved to run advertisements across Facebook's network and every one appears to have been doing so, the Mashable report added. So far, it remains unclear just how far reaching these scam ads went and how many Facebook users have potentially fallen victim. Indian singers Miss Pooja, Babbu Maan's Facebook pages targeted by hacks According to Mashable, the largest hacked page appears to have belonged to Miss Pooja, a famous singer in India. The page has over 7 million followers. On April 29, the page name was changed to "Google AI." The URL was also changed to "facebook.com/Google.BardAI2" that ran Facebook ads leading to a page impersonating as Google. ALSO READ | Meta takes down 40 fake accounts of Indian firm, 900 from China for phishing Other than Miss Pooja, Indian singer Babbu Maan's Facebook page also appears to have been hacked. With 3 million followers, Maan's page was changed to 'Meta Ads, which also ran Facebook ads similar to fake Google page. At the time of filing this report, the Facebook pages that once belonged to Miss Pooja and Babbu Maan, were not publicly available, and appear to have been removed from the platform. Miss Pooja and Babbu Maan are famed for their acclaimed singing acumen, mostly in and around the Indian and Pakistani states of Punjab and the vast South Asian diaspora settled around the world. While Pooja has been known for breaking the fortress in the male-dominated Punjabi pop scene, Maan has continued to elevate his fan-base right before the dawn of mobile internet took over the trend of music video cassettes in the world's fifth largest economy. ALSO WATCH | Hackers use Chatgpt to spread malware on Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp × The latest hacks show how scammers can take over an existing verified page to trick users. Facebook now tracks and publicly displays a history of name changes for verified accounts. The feature has been hailed as a welcome bit of transparency but the safeguard still doesn't appear enough to flag some obvious scams. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Indian singers Miss Pooja, Babbu Maan's Facebook pages hacked to impersonate Meta and Google

<p>The United States Federal Trade Commission condemned tech giant Meta for misleading parents about protection for children and not putting proper parental controls in place.</p>

<p>The top US data privacy regulator also said that Meta should be banned from making money from minors' data, proposing to tighten an existing agreement on privacy.</p>

<p>The FTC highlighted that Facebook deluded parents about how much control they had over who their kids are in contact with on the Messenger Kids app and was also deceitful about the access the developers of the application had to the private data of users.</p>

<p>The proposed changes by Federal Trade Commission include banning Facebook for making money from the data collected from users under the age of 18 and would also face expanded limitations on using facial recognition technology.</p>

<h2><strong>Meta calls FTC action a 'political stunt'</strong></h2>

<p>Tech giant Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, called the action by FTC a "political stunt"&nbsp;adding that the regulator failed to act against "Chinese companies, like TikTok".</p>

<p>"We will vigorously fight this action and expect to prevail," the company said.</p>

<p>The company mostly relies on digital target-based ads for more than 98 per cent&nbsp;of its revenue and is currently battling the short-form video app TikTok for young users' attention.</p>

<p>Facebook will have a time period of 30 days to respond. The company can also appeal any commission decision at an appeals court.</p>

<p>"This is a very substantial statement from the FTC about whether or not Meta has fulfilled its duties to protect children," said Debra Williamson of Insider Intelligence, adding that "the revenue implications are not likely very large."</p>

<p>"Facebook has repeatedly violated its privacy promises," said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "The company’s recklessness has put young users at risk, and Facebook needs to answer for its failures."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>FTC to target Artificial Intelligence that infringes civil rights&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Last month, US Federal Trade Commission said that the agency would pursue the organisations that misused artificial intelligence to infringe laws against discrimination.</p>

<p>In a congressional hearing, FTC Chair Lina Khan and Commissioners Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya were asked about concerns that recent innovation in artificial intelligence, which can be used to produce high-quality deep fakes, could be used to make more effective scams or otherwise violate laws.</p>

<p>Bedoya said companies using algorithms or artificial intelligence were not allowed to violate civil rights laws or break rules against unfair and deceptive acts.</p>

<p>"It's not okay to say that your algorithm is a black box" and you can't explain it, he said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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The United States Federal Trade Commission condemned tech giant Meta for misleading parents about protection for children and not putting proper parental controls in place.

The United States Federal Trade Commission condemned tech giant Meta for misleading parents about protection for children and not putting proper parental controls in place. The top US data privacy regulator also said that Meta should be banned from making money from minors' data, proposing to tighten an existing agreement on privacy. The FTC highlighted that Facebook deluded parents about how much control they had over who their kids are in contact with on the Messenger Kids app and was also deceitful about the access the developers of the application had to the private data of users. The proposed changes by Federal Trade Commission include banning Facebook for making money from the data collected from users under the age of 18 and would also face expanded limitations on using facial recognition technology. Meta calls FTC action a 'political stunt' Tech giant Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, called the action by FTC a "political stunt" adding that the regulator failed to act against "Chinese companies, like TikTok". "We will vigorously fight this action and expect to prevail," the company said. The company mostly relies on digital target-based ads for more than 98 per cent of its revenue and is currently battling the short-form video app TikTok for young users' attention. Facebook will have a time period of 30 days to respond. The company can also appeal any commission decision at an appeals court. "This is a very substantial statement from the FTC about whether or not Meta has fulfilled its duties to protect children," said Debra Williamson of Insider Intelligence, adding that "the revenue implications are not likely very large." "Facebook has repeatedly violated its privacy promises," said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "The company’s recklessness has put young users at risk, and Facebook needs to answer for its failures." FTC to target Artificial Intelligence that infringes civil rights Last month, US Federal Trade Commission said that the agency would pursue the organisations that misused artificial intelligence to infringe laws against discrimination. In a congressional hearing, FTC Chair Lina Khan and Commissioners Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya were asked about concerns that recent innovation in artificial intelligence, which can be used to produce high-quality deep fakes, could be used to make more effective scams or otherwise violate laws. Bedoya said companies using algorithms or artificial intelligence were not allowed to violate civil rights laws or break rules against unfair and deceptive acts. "It's not okay to say that your algorithm is a black box" and you can't explain it, he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

FTC proposes ban on Meta for making money off children's data

<p>Google and Meta's executives told Canadian lawmakers on Wednesday that the tech giants would take back access to news articles in Canada if the legislation that compels internet companies to pay money to the news publishers gets a green light.</p>

<p>The proposed legislation, which is part of a broader global trend to make tech firms pay for news, would force platforms like Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc and Google parent Alphabet Inc to negotiate commercial deals and pay Canadian news publishers for their content.</p>

<p>Google's Vice President of News, Richard Gingras, said in testimony to a Senate committee that if this bill is passed, the company may be coerced to withdraw links to news articles found in Canadian search results. He further cited an "uncapped financial liability" if it had to pay publishers for linking to their sites.</p>

<p>Rachel Curran, head of public policy for Meta in Canada, said that if the bill is passed, Meta would also put an end to the availability of news content in the country.</p>

<p>The bill, introduced in April 2022 by Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, is the latest legislation aiming to make digital media platforms pay for linking news content.</p>

<p>"All we're asking the tech giants like Facebook and Google to do is negotiate fair deals with news outlets when they profit from their work," Heritage Ministry spokesperson Laura Scaffidi said.</p>

<h2><strong>'Google carrying out tests blocking news content for some users in Canada a terrible mistake': Trudeau&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Google, earlier this year, tested blocking some Canadian users' access to news as a potential response to the legislation.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called this move a 'terrible mistake'. He said the blocking of news in Canada was an issue "bothering" him.</p>

<p>"It really surprises me that Google has decided that they'd rather prevent Canadians from accessing news than actually paying journalists for the work they do," he said.</p>

<p>"I think that's a terrible mistake and I know Canadians expect journalists to be well paid for the work they do.”</p>

<h2><strong>Australia's ground-breaking law made Facebook and Google pay for news</strong></h2>

<p>Canada's proposal is similar to a trailblazing law passed by Australia in the year 2021 after which Google and Facebook had threatened to withdraw their services but eventually, struck a deal with Australian media companies after amendments to the legislation were offered. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>As per a government report the law has largely worked.</p>

<p>The Treasury Department report said that since the News Media Bargaining Code took effect, the tech firms had inked more than 30 deals with media outlets compensating them for the content which generated clicks and advertising dollars.</p>

<p>"At least some of these agreements have enabled news businesses to, in particular, employ additional journalists and make other valuable investments to assist their operations," said the report.</p>

<p>"While views on the success or otherwise of the Code will invariably differ, we consider it is reasonable to conclude that the Code has been a success to date."</p>

<p>"The review shows the Code has been successful in balancing bargaining power between news media and digital platforms," said Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones.</p>

<p>"Digital platforms must continue to negotiate in good faith with news businesses to ensure they are fairly remunerated for the news content they create."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Google and Meta's executives told Canadian lawmakers on Wednesday that the tech giants would take back access to news articles in Canada if the legislation that compels internet companies to pay money to the news publishers gets a green light.

Google and Meta's executives told Canadian lawmakers on Wednesday that the tech giants would take back access to news articles in Canada if the legislation that compels internet companies to pay money to the news publishers gets a green light. The proposed legislation, which is part of a broader global trend to make tech firms pay for news, would force platforms like Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc and Google parent Alphabet Inc to negotiate commercial deals and pay Canadian news publishers for their content. Google's Vice President of News, Richard Gingras, said in testimony to a Senate committee that if this bill is passed, the company may be coerced to withdraw links to news articles found in Canadian search results. He further cited an "uncapped financial liability" if it had to pay publishers for linking to their sites. Rachel Curran, head of public policy for Meta in Canada, said that if the bill is passed, Meta would also put an end to the availability of news content in the country. The bill, introduced in April 2022 by Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, is the latest legislation aiming to make digital media platforms pay for linking news content. "All we're asking the tech giants like Facebook and Google to do is negotiate fair deals with news outlets when they profit from their work," Heritage Ministry spokesperson Laura Scaffidi said. 'Google carrying out tests blocking news content for some users in Canada a terrible mistake': Trudeau Google, earlier this year, tested blocking some Canadian users' access to news as a potential response to the legislation. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called this move a 'terrible mistake'. He said the blocking of news in Canada was an issue "bothering" him. "It really surprises me that Google has decided that they'd rather prevent Canadians from accessing news than actually paying journalists for the work they do," he said. "I think that's a terrible mistake and I know Canadians expect journalists to be well paid for the work they do.” Australia's ground-breaking law made Facebook and Google pay for news Canada's proposal is similar to a trailblazing law passed by Australia in the year 2021 after which Google and Facebook had threatened to withdraw their services but eventually, struck a deal with Australian media companies after amendments to the legislation were offered. As per a government report the law has largely worked. The Treasury Department report said that since the News Media Bargaining Code took effect, the tech firms had inked more than 30 deals with media outlets compensating them for the content which generated clicks and advertising dollars. "At least some of these agreements have enabled news businesses to, in particular, employ additional journalists and make other valuable investments to assist their operations," said the report. "While views on the success or otherwise of the Code will invariably differ, we consider it is reasonable to conclude that the Code has been a success to date." "The review shows the Code has been successful in balancing bargaining power between news media and digital platforms," said Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones. "Digital platforms must continue to negotiate in good faith with news businesses to ensure they are fairly remunerated for the news content they create." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Google, Meta threaten to withdraw news access if Online News Act becomes law

<p>The Brazilian government is taking a stand against all big tech firms campaigning against the&nbsp;new internet bill&nbsp;which might be one of the world’s strongest legislation on social media. Bill 2630, also known as the "Fake News Law," aims at cracking down on fake news, alleging undue interference in the debate in Congress.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tech firms, including Apple and Google LLC, have strongly campaigned against the law. The search engine in Brazil had added a link connecting blogs against the bill and had been urging users to lobby their representatives, Reuters reported.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-choice-but-to-physically-eliminate-zelensky-russia-after-drone-assassination-attempt-on-putin-588681"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;No choice but to physically eliminate Zelensky: Russia after 'drone assassination attempt' on Putin</strong></a></p>

<p>However, Justice Minister Flavio Dino on Tuesday ordered Google to change the link, warning that the company had two hours after the notification or would have to face fines of one million reais ($198,000) per hour if not done so.</p>

<p>Following this, the US tech firm pulled down the link but defended its right to communicate its concerns through the "marketing campaigns" on its platforms and denied altering search results to favour the bill.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement, the company said, "We support discussions on measures to combat the phenomenon of misinformation. All Brazilians have the right to be part of this conversation, and as such, we are committed to communicating our concerns about Bill 2630 publicly and transparently."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/data-lab-india-and-ai-are-we-ahead-of-the-curve-588533"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Data Lab | India and AI: Are we ahead of the curve?</strong></a></p>

<p>The proposed law was to be voted on Tuesday in the lower house of Congress but was postponed by Speaker Arthur Lira, following&nbsp;opposition from Conservative and Evangelical lawmakers and allowed&nbsp;for more debate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The critics say the bill needs "wider debate" because it was hastily drawn up, allows censorship and states that companies would have to pay content providers and copyrights for material&nbsp;posted on their sites.</p>

<p>The Supreme Court on Tuesday urged the executives of Google, Meta and Spotify to testify within five days explaining their respective concerns.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Brazilian antitrust regulator Cade stated that it would investigate the tech companies' campaigns against the bill.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The bill was hastened even as several new provisions added to it have not been debated in the Congressional committees before going to the vote.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The Brazilian government is taking a stand against all big tech firms campaigning against the new internet bill which might be one of the world’s strongest legislation on social media.

The Brazilian government is taking a stand against all big tech firms campaigning against the new internet bill which might be one of the world’s strongest legislation on social media. Bill 2630, also known as the "Fake News Law," aims at cracking down on fake news, alleging undue interference in the debate in Congress. Tech firms, including Apple and Google LLC, have strongly campaigned against the law. The search engine in Brazil had added a link connecting blogs against the bill and had been urging users to lobby their representatives, Reuters reported. Also read | No choice but to physically eliminate Zelensky: Russia after 'drone assassination attempt' on Putin However, Justice Minister Flavio Dino on Tuesday ordered Google to change the link, warning that the company had two hours after the notification or would have to face fines of one million reais ($198,000) per hour if not done so. Following this, the US tech firm pulled down the link but defended its right to communicate its concerns through the "marketing campaigns" on its platforms and denied altering search results to favour the bill. In a statement, the company said, "We support discussions on measures to combat the phenomenon of misinformation. All Brazilians have the right to be part of this conversation, and as such, we are committed to communicating our concerns about Bill 2630 publicly and transparently." Also read | Data Lab | India and AI: Are we ahead of the curve? The proposed law was to be voted on Tuesday in the lower house of Congress but was postponed by Speaker Arthur Lira, following opposition from Conservative and Evangelical lawmakers and allowed for more debate. The critics say the bill needs "wider debate" because it was hastily drawn up, allows censorship and states that companies would have to pay content providers and copyrights for material posted on their sites. The Supreme Court on Tuesday urged the executives of Google, Meta and Spotify to testify within five days explaining their respective concerns. The Brazilian antitrust regulator Cade stated that it would investigate the tech companies' campaigns against the bill. The bill was hastened even as several new provisions added to it have not been debated in the Congressional committees before going to the vote. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Brazil’s ‘fake news bill’ sparks outcry from big tech firms; judge orders Google, Meta to testify

Meta platforms Facebook and Instagram have become marketplaces for child sex trafficking. 65% of child sex trafficking victims in 2020 were picked from Facebook, 14% from Instagram and 8% from Snapchat.

Gravitas: Meta platforms Facebook & Instagram become marketplaces for child sex trafficking

<p>Meta's net income in the first quarter of 2023 fell by 24 per cent to $5.7bn as the company invested a significant bit of its finances into deploying Artificial Intelligence across its platforms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Overall, the company reported better than expected quarterly results on Wednesday (April 26) after three quarters of straight decline. The small uptick in Meta's revenues came amid chief executive Mark Zuckerberg's "year of efficiency" pitch.</p>

<p>The company's earnings per share, however, dropped 19 per cent to $2.20.</p>

<h2><strong>Meta quarterly results: What do they show?</strong></h2>

<p>Meta's revenue in the first three months of the year was up 3 per cent from a year ago to $28.6bn. The analysts had expected a slight decline in Meta's revenue to $27.7bn.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to S&amp;P Capital IQ, the company also forecast revenue in the ongoing quarter of between $29.5bn and 32bn, Financial Times reported.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/meta-layoffs-10000-job-cuts-facebook-whatsapp-instagram-indians-affected-facebook-layoffs-584200">Meta begins layoffs; to leave 10,000 without jobs across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp</a></strong></p>

<p>Meta also adjusted its guidance for expenses in 2023 in a bid to save about $2bn by the end of the year. From a range of $86bn to $92bn, they are now down between $86bn to $90bn.</p>

<p>Its capital expenditure guidance, however, remains unchanged at between $30bn and $33bn.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meta shares rose 10 per cent on the Wall Street on Wednesday after it beat analysts' expectations and reported better-than-expected quarterly results.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Meta quarterly results and heat from mass layoffs</strong></h2>

<p>Meta announced a restructuring of its staff previously leading to about 20,000 job cuts, among the most in the Silicon Valley. The current quarterly results deem significance in the wake of Zuckerberg's "year of efficiency" pitch entailing mass layoffs at Meta to cut costs.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>'We had a good quarter': Mark Zuckerberg</strong></h2>

<p>"We had a good quarter and our community continues to grow," Zuckerberg said after the release of Meta's quarterly results.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Another round of mass layoffs begin in Meta, to cut 10,000 more jobs</strong></p>

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<p>"Our Artificial Intelligence work is driving good results across our apps and business. We are also becoming more efficient s we can build better products faster and put ourselves in a stronger position to deliver our long-term vision."</p>

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Meta's net income in the first quarter of 2023 fell by 24 per cent to $5.7bn as the company invested a significant bit of its finances into deploying Artificial Intelligence across its platforms.

Meta's net income in the first quarter of 2023 fell by 24 per cent to $5.7bn as the company invested a significant bit of its finances into deploying Artificial Intelligence across its platforms. Overall, the company reported better than expected quarterly results on Wednesday (April 26) after three quarters of straight decline. The small uptick in Meta's revenues came amid chief executive Mark Zuckerberg's "year of efficiency" pitch. The company's earnings per share, however, dropped 19 per cent to $2.20. Meta quarterly results: What do they show? Meta's revenue in the first three months of the year was up 3 per cent from a year ago to $28.6bn. The analysts had expected a slight decline in Meta's revenue to $27.7bn. According to S&P Capital IQ, the company also forecast revenue in the ongoing quarter of between $29.5bn and 32bn, Financial Times reported. ALSO READ | Meta begins layoffs; to leave 10,000 without jobs across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp Meta also adjusted its guidance for expenses in 2023 in a bid to save about $2bn by the end of the year. From a range of $86bn to $92bn, they are now down between $86bn to $90bn. Its capital expenditure guidance, however, remains unchanged at between $30bn and $33bn. Meta shares rose 10 per cent on the Wall Street on Wednesday after it beat analysts' expectations and reported better-than-expected quarterly results. Meta quarterly results and heat from mass layoffs Meta announced a restructuring of its staff previously leading to about 20,000 job cuts, among the most in the Silicon Valley. The current quarterly results deem significance in the wake of Zuckerberg's "year of efficiency" pitch entailing mass layoffs at Meta to cut costs. 'We had a good quarter': Mark Zuckerberg "We had a good quarter and our community continues to grow," Zuckerberg said after the release of Meta's quarterly results. ALSO WATCH | Another round of mass layoffs begin in Meta, to cut 10,000 more jobs × "Our Artificial Intelligence work is driving good results across our apps and business. We are also becoming more efficient s we can build better products faster and put ourselves in a stronger position to deliver our long-term vision." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Meta's net income drops as thousands lose jobs amid AI race

After three consecutive quarters of revenue decline, Meta cheered investors as it beat estimates for the quarter gone by.

Big Tech Earnings: Meta in focus

Meta's Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has come under a lot of flak from his own employees and this is what has happened in his company. Hefty bonuses have been given out to top executives especially at a when Meta is going through a rough time.

Meta Chief Mark Zuckerberg grilled by agitated employees amid cold layoffs | WION Fineprint

The mass layoffs continue at Facebook's parent company Meta. Media reports on Wednesday said that the tech giant has cut nearly 4000, including engineering and tech jobs this time. Prompting meta employees to express their frustration on the ongoing uncertainty regarding their jobs.

Another round of layoffs at Meta

<p>A day after India's information and technology ministry notified rules under which it &nbsp;will set up a dedicated fact-checking unit to act against online misinformation related to the government, a report has emerged which revealed how Meta and Google intend to be the ultimate information arbiters on their platforms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a report in <em>The Indian Express</em>, top social media platforms including Meta and Google in a proposal sent to New Delhi, have detailed their "plans to create a network of fact-checkers", who will verify the content they deem dubious.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This exact network of fact-checkers, is reportedly being billed as 'Misinformation Combat Alliance'.</p>

<p>The alliance of social media platforms will act as a "certification body". They will be the one to verify a "trusted" fact-checker, <em>The Indian Express</em> report added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The paper further reported that the Misinformation Combat Alliance, if and when established, will fact-check information&nbsp;which is not related to the Union Government. "The platforms are proposing that under the Misinformation Combat Alliance, they will create a network of Indian and foreign fact-checkers," a senior government official was quoted as saying.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-government-mulls-identifying-and-banning-fake-news-on-social-media-platform-554208">Indian government mulls identifying and banning ‘fake’ news on social media platforms</a></strong></p>

<p>It has been reported earlier that representatives of a number of social media companies met with India's information and technology ministry officials in February 2023, in which the government insisted on the creation of a network of Indian fact-checkers to combat misinformation online. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Indian authorities ask Twitter to 'comply with India's I-T rules'</strong></p>

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<p>On Thursday, India’s information and technology ministry notified a new rule that will give powers to the Press Information Bureau (PIB) to fact-check any “fake, or false, or misleading” information about the central government and ask social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Google to take it down.</p>

<p>The social media companies will run the risk of losing their safe harbour immunity if they refuse to abide by the order of the PIB fact-check. This immunity guarantees them protection against any illegal or false content posted by users on their platforms, and has been criticised massively for dodging accountability for misleading content posted on them.</p>

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A day after India's information and technology ministry notified rules under which it will set up a dedicated fact-checking unit to act against online misinformation related to the government, a report has emerged which revealed how Meta and Google intend to be the ultimate information arbiters on their platforms.

A day after India's information and technology ministry notified rules under which it will set up a dedicated fact-checking unit to act against online misinformation related to the government, a report has emerged which revealed how Meta and Google intend to be the ultimate information arbiters on their platforms. According to a report in The Indian Express, top social media platforms including Meta and Google in a proposal sent to New Delhi, have detailed their "plans to create a network of fact-checkers", who will verify the content they deem dubious. This exact network of fact-checkers, is reportedly being billed as 'Misinformation Combat Alliance'. The alliance of social media platforms will act as a "certification body". They will be the one to verify a "trusted" fact-checker, The Indian Express report added. The paper further reported that the Misinformation Combat Alliance, if and when established, will fact-check information which is not related to the Union Government. "The platforms are proposing that under the Misinformation Combat Alliance, they will create a network of Indian and foreign fact-checkers," a senior government official was quoted as saying. ALSO READ | Indian government mulls identifying and banning ‘fake’ news on social media platforms It has been reported earlier that representatives of a number of social media companies met with India's information and technology ministry officials in February 2023, in which the government insisted on the creation of a network of Indian fact-checkers to combat misinformation online. ALSO WATCH | Indian authorities ask Twitter to 'comply with India's I-T rules' × On Thursday, India’s information and technology ministry notified a new rule that will give powers to the Press Information Bureau (PIB) to fact-check any “fake, or false, or misleading” information about the central government and ask social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Google to take it down. The social media companies will run the risk of losing their safe harbour immunity if they refuse to abide by the order of the PIB fact-check. This immunity guarantees them protection against any illegal or false content posted by users on their platforms, and has been criticised massively for dodging accountability for misleading content posted on them. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US Big Tech proposes network of 'Indian, foreign fact-checkers' to combat online misinformation

After laying off 10,000 people, Facebook's owner Meta allegedly intends to reduce bonus payments for some workers and conduct more frequent performance evaluations. Employees who obtain a rating of "meets most expectations" in their year-end 2023 assessments would receive a reduced portion of bonuses and restricted stock awards that are due in March 2024.

After job cuts, Facebook owner Meta is now preparing to reduce bonus for some employees : Report

<p>Mark Zuckerberg and other Meta Platforms Inc executives and directors have been accused in a new lawsuit over their inability to address sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation on their platforms. The Meta-owned social media apps, Facebook and Instagram have found themselves in troubled waters over this accusation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The complaint was made public late Monday by several pension and investment funds that own Meta stock. They claimed that Meta’s leadership and board have failed to protect the company’s and shareholders’ interests by turning a blind eye to ‘systemic evidence’ of criminal activity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Talking about the board’s failure to give an explanation on this, the complaint said, “The only logical inference is that the board has consciously decided to permit Meta's platforms to promote and facilitate sex/human trafficking.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/dream-job-alert-this-bengaluru-company-is-looking-for-a-chief-meme-officer-at-1200-a-month-check-details-574561"><strong>Dream job alert! This Bengaluru company is looking for a 'Chief Meme Officer' at $1200 a month, check details</strong></a></p>

<p>Meta has rejected the basis of the lawsuit, which was filed in Delaware Chancery Court. Meta released an official statement on Tuesday saying, “We prohibit human exploitation and child sexual exploitation in no uncertain terms. The claims in this lawsuit mischaracterise our efforts to combat this type of activity. Our goal is to prevent people who seek to exploit others from using our platform.”</p>

<p>In 2019, Zuckerberg, Meta’s co-founder and chief executive told Congress that child exploitation was one of the most serious threats that the company focuses on.</p>

<p><strong>Previous similar accusations on Meta</strong></p>

<p>The California-based multi-billionaire tech company Meta has long faced accusations that its platforms are a safe haven for sexual misconduct. In June 2021, the Texas Supreme Court allowed three people who became entangled with their abusers through Facebook to sue, saying Facebook was not a “lawless no man’s land” immune from liability for human trafficking.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meta separately faces hundreds of lawsuits from families of teenagers and younger children who claimed to suffer mental health problems due to these social media platforms. Some school districts have also filed lawsuits over the problem.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Monday’s lawsuit is also one of many such cases where shareholders sue officers and directors who allegedly breached their duties.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Those behind the suit include the Employees’ Retirement System of the State of Rhode Island, Kiwi Investment Management Wholesale Core Fund, and Teamsters Pension Fund, according to the filing.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Mark Zuckerberg and other Meta Platforms Inc executives and directors have been accused in a new lawsuit over their inability to address sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation on their platforms.

Mark Zuckerberg and other Meta Platforms Inc executives and directors have been accused in a new lawsuit over their inability to address sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation on their platforms. The Meta-owned social media apps, Facebook and Instagram have found themselves in troubled waters over this accusation. The complaint was made public late Monday by several pension and investment funds that own Meta stock. They claimed that Meta’s leadership and board have failed to protect the company’s and shareholders’ interests by turning a blind eye to ‘systemic evidence’ of criminal activity. Talking about the board’s failure to give an explanation on this, the complaint said, “The only logical inference is that the board has consciously decided to permit Meta's platforms to promote and facilitate sex/human trafficking.” Also Read | Dream job alert! This Bengaluru company is looking for a 'Chief Meme Officer' at $1200 a month, check details Meta has rejected the basis of the lawsuit, which was filed in Delaware Chancery Court. Meta released an official statement on Tuesday saying, “We prohibit human exploitation and child sexual exploitation in no uncertain terms. The claims in this lawsuit mischaracterise our efforts to combat this type of activity. Our goal is to prevent people who seek to exploit others from using our platform.” In 2019, Zuckerberg, Meta’s co-founder and chief executive told Congress that child exploitation was one of the most serious threats that the company focuses on. Previous similar accusations on Meta The California-based multi-billionaire tech company Meta has long faced accusations that its platforms are a safe haven for sexual misconduct. In June 2021, the Texas Supreme Court allowed three people who became entangled with their abusers through Facebook to sue, saying Facebook was not a “lawless no man’s land” immune from liability for human trafficking. Meta separately faces hundreds of lawsuits from families of teenagers and younger children who claimed to suffer mental health problems due to these social media platforms. Some school districts have also filed lawsuits over the problem. Monday’s lawsuit is also one of many such cases where shareholders sue officers and directors who allegedly breached their duties. Those behind the suit include the Employees’ Retirement System of the State of Rhode Island, Kiwi Investment Management Wholesale Core Fund, and Teamsters Pension Fund, according to the filing. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Mark Zuckerberg, Meta sued over their failure to address sex trafficking, child exploitation

<p>Meta Platforms Inc, the parent company of social media network Facebook, on Friday (March 17) launched its monthly subscription service in the US. Subcribers will be able to get a verification badge on their Facebook and Instagram profiles, something that's in similar vein as Elon Musk-owned Twitter.</p>

<p>The Meta Verified service will give users a blue badge after they verify their accounts using a government ID and will cost $11.99 per month on the web or $14.99 a month on Apple's iOS system and Google-owned Android, Meta said in a statement.</p>

<p>Meta said that it was testing the subscription service in February. This follows in the footsteps of Snap Inc-owned Snapchat as well as messaging app Telegram and marks the latest effort by a social media company to diversify its revenue away from advertising.</p>

<p>After a $44 billion buyout by Musk last year, Twitter had rolled out its Blue subscription service which lets people pay for the blue check mark previously limited to verified accounts of politicians, journalists and other public figures.</p>

<p>The initial launch of Twitter Blue in November had led to a surge in users impersonating celebrities and brands on the platform, which prompted the company to halt the service and reintroduce it with different coloured checks for individuals, companies and governments.</p>

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Meta Platforms Inc, the parent company of social media network Facebook, on Friday (March 17) launched its monthly subscription service in the US. Subcribers will be able to get a verification badge on their Facebook and Instagram profiles, something that's in similar vein as Elon Musk-owned Twitter.

Meta Platforms Inc, the parent company of social media network Facebook, on Friday (March 17) launched its monthly subscription service in the US. Subcribers will be able to get a verification badge on their Facebook and Instagram profiles, something that's in similar vein as Elon Musk-owned Twitter. The Meta Verified service will give users a blue badge after they verify their accounts using a government ID and will cost $11.99 per month on the web or $14.99 a month on Apple's iOS system and Google-owned Android, Meta said in a statement. Meta said that it was testing the subscription service in February. This follows in the footsteps of Snap Inc-owned Snapchat as well as messaging app Telegram and marks the latest effort by a social media company to diversify its revenue away from advertising. After a $44 billion buyout by Musk last year, Twitter had rolled out its Blue subscription service which lets people pay for the blue check mark previously limited to verified accounts of politicians, journalists and other public figures. The initial launch of Twitter Blue in November had led to a surge in users impersonating celebrities and brands on the platform, which prompted the company to halt the service and reintroduce it with different coloured checks for individuals, companies and governments. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Facebook parent Meta launches its subscription service in USA. Check out the cost

Meta has announced that it will cut 10,000 more jobs, this is the second round of mass layoffs that the tech giants has announced. These layoffs come as Tech industries brace for an economic due to regional and global factors.