OnlyFans, an online subscription platform known for adult content has come under the scanner for bribing Meta (more colloquially known as Facebook) employees to put adult stars of rival platforms on a terror watchlist, according to an explosive lawsuit filed in a US court.

OnlyFans, an online subscription platform known for adult content has come under the scanner for bribing Meta (more colloquially known as Facebook) employees to put adult stars of rival platforms on a terror watchlist, according to an explosive lawsuit filed in a US court. Reportedly, adult performers who sold their pictures, videos and other content on rival platforms of OnlyFans had their Instagram and Facebook accounts tagged as containing terrorist content. It is pertinent to note that Meta works with a non-profit named Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) which maintains a database of terror-linked accounts. GIFCT was formed by big tech giants such as Microsoft, Twitter, YouTube and Meta in 2017 to stop the spread of online terror-related content. Any individual flagged as a terrorist by Meta is then censored on other platforms rather quickly, thereby reducing the reach of the creator, forcing them to make an account on OnlyFans, which remained the only platform to enjoy immunity from the crackdown. The scam had been ongoing since 2018 The complainants have argued that more than one Meta employees, including a senior executive had been in on the bribery scam since October 2018. Read More: OnlyFans will ban 'sexually explicit' content, but keep nudity Moreover, the plaintiffs claim that bribes were routed through Fenix International, the parent company of OnlyFans. Fenix International diverted the money through a secret Hong Kong company that deposited it eventually into an offshore Philippines account, allegedly operated by the Meta employees. OnlyFans' owner Leonid Radvinsky has also been named in the lawsuit. Reportedly, through the blacklisting, OnlyFans managed to quash its competitors and managed to remain the only company with such an IP. OnlyFans responded to the allegations by terming them devoid of any merit, “We are aware that these cases have been filed. We are not aware of any evidence which supports these allegations. The alleged participants have all publicly stated that these cases have no merit.” As reported by WION, earlier in February this year, FanCentro, a rival of OnlyFans had begun legal action against the company. However, at the time, the social media company taking part in the scam was unidentified. Read more: Rival websites accuse OnlyFans of conspiring to blacklist them (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

OnlyFans bribed Meta employees to put rival creators on terror watchlist

Meta, more colloquially known as Facebook has been served a seven-day ultimatum by the Kenyan government to tackle hate speech and incitement on its platform. Failing to do so will lead to the suspension of its operations in the African country.&nbsp;

Reportedly, the ultimatum was served by Kenya's National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) ahead of the country's presidential elections, scheduled to take place next month.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>"Facebook is in violation of the laws of our country. They have allowed themselves to be a vector of hate speech and incitement, misinformation and disinformation," Danvas Makori, NCIC commissioner was quoted as saying.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Facebook is in violation of the laws of our country. They have allowed themselves to be a vector of hate speech and incitement, misinformation and disinformation, Danvas Makori, NCIC commissioner was quoted as saying. " target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">×</a></div>
</div>
</div>

Makori further alleged that Meta was violating the East African country's&nbsp;constitution and laws regarding hate speech by allowing hateful content to be spread on its platform.&nbsp;

Nigeria bans Twitter

This is not the first time that a big tech company has been challenged in the continent of Africa. Last year, Nigeria banned Twitter after the microblogging platform&nbsp;removed&nbsp;President Muhammadu Buhari's tweet&nbsp;referring to the 1967-70 Nigerian Civil War.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Read More:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nigeria-bans-twitter-indefinitely-after-muhammadu-buharis-account-suspension-389533"> Nigeria bans Twitter 'indefinitely' after Muhammadu Buhari's account suspension</a>

Citing that the post violated Twitter's "abusive behaviour" policy, the Nigerian President's account was suspended for 12 hours. However, soon, Buhari took the matters in his own hands and suspended the company indefinitely.&nbsp;

Nigerian government claimed Twitter was banned as it was being misused for activities that were "capable of undermining Nigeria's corporate existence".

It was only in January earlier this year after Twitter agreed to the Nigerian government's demands that it was allowed to come out of its seven-month exile. Reportedly, Twitter agreed to set up a local office among other agreements with authorities to be allowed back in the Nigerian market.&nbsp;

As for Facebook, for the first time in its history, the company reported a drop in revenue. This came on the back of Facebook users declining in the first few months of the year. The company cannot afford to lose the Kenyan market where&nbsp;over 13 million users used the social media app in March 2022.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

Meta, more colloquially known as Facebook has been served a seven-day ultimatum by the Kenyan government to tackle hate speech and incitement on its platform. Failing to do so will lead to the suspension of its operations in the African country.

Meta, more colloquially known as Facebook has been served a seven-day ultimatum by the Kenyan government to tackle hate speech and incitement on its platform. Failing to do so will lead to the suspension of its operations in the African country. Reportedly, the ultimatum was served by Kenya's National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) ahead of the country's presidential elections, scheduled to take place next month. "Facebook is in violation of the laws of our country. They have allowed themselves to be a vector of hate speech and incitement, misinformation and disinformation," Danvas Makori, NCIC commissioner was quoted as saying. × Makori further alleged that Meta was violating the East African country's constitution and laws regarding hate speech by allowing hateful content to be spread on its platform. Nigeria bans Twitter This is not the first time that a big tech company has been challenged in the continent of Africa. Last year, Nigeria banned Twitter after the microblogging platform removed President Muhammadu Buhari's tweet referring to the 1967-70 Nigerian Civil War. Read More: Nigeria bans Twitter 'indefinitely' after Muhammadu Buhari's account suspension Citing that the post violated Twitter's "abusive behaviour" policy, the Nigerian President's account was suspended for 12 hours. However, soon, Buhari took the matters in his own hands and suspended the company indefinitely. Nigerian government claimed Twitter was banned as it was being misused for activities that were "capable of undermining Nigeria's corporate existence". It was only in January earlier this year after Twitter agreed to the Nigerian government's demands that it was allowed to come out of its seven-month exile. Reportedly, Twitter agreed to set up a local office among other agreements with authorities to be allowed back in the Nigerian market. As for Facebook, for the first time in its history, the company reported a drop in revenue. This came on the back of Facebook users declining in the first few months of the year. The company cannot afford to lose the Kenyan market where over 13 million users used the social media app in March 2022. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Meta served a seven-day ultimatum by Kenya. Could be suspended if it fails to act

Two of the most popular social media firms Meta and Twitter, both of the companies are struggling with handling competition. Meta reported a 36% drop in quarterly profit.

Tech Talk: What's wrong with Facebook-owner Meta? | Is Meta in panic mode?

Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, Meta, reported second-quarter sales of $28.8 billion, which was in line with expectations of $28 to $30 billion but represented a 1 per cent decline in revenue year on year. The company’s net income declined by 36 per cent&nbsp;to $6.7 billion for the second quarter, while total expenses increased by 22 per cent. Daily active users on Meta’s family apps were low, while Meta’s primary social media platform, Facebook, saw a modest 3 per cent growth in the second quarter, despite the fact that the social media giant is facing fierce competition from rivals like Tik Tok.

As per Meta’s latest earnings release, a weak advertising demand environment is expected for the third quarter. The CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, stated, "We seem to have entered an economic downturn that will have a broad impact on the digital advertising business." He continued, "Given the more recent revenue trajectory that we’re seeing, we’re slowing the pace of [our] investments and pushing some expenses that would have come in the next year or two off to a somewhat longer timeline."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/in-a-first-facebooks-parent-company-meta-platforms-reports-revenue-drop-501290">In a first, Facebook's parent company Meta Platforms reports revenue drop</a>

Zuckerberg said, "Many teams are going to shrink so that we can shift energy to other areas inside the company, and I want to give our leaders the ability to decide within their teams where to double down, where to double down, where to backfill attrition, and where to restructure teams while minimising [the impact] on the long-term initiatives," the Hollywood reporter reported.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-need-to-evolve-instagram-ceo-doubles-down-criticism-over-tiktok-like-features-501104">‘We need to evolve’: Instagram CEO doubles down criticism over TikTok like features</a>

The release of Meta’s financial report coincides with a drop in ad revenue experienced by other large internet firms, such as Snap, which has caused stock values to plummet. Another instance includes Alphabet CFO Ruth Porat. The firm disclosed an earning loss on Tuesday with YouTube ad revenue reaching $7.3 billion despite a persistent pullback in adviser spending.

Zuckerberg reportedly instructed staff internally earlier this month to be ready to face the biggest turndown they’ve seen in history. However, during the Meta’s earning call, the reels received a mention from Zuckerberg, who noted that users’ engagement with reels on Facebook and Instagram had increased by 30 per cent, Reuters reported.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, Meta, reported second-quarter sales of $28.8 billion, which was in line with expectations of $28 to $30 billion but represented a 1 per cent decline in revenue year on year.

Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, Meta, reported second-quarter sales of $28.8 billion, which was in line with expectations of $28 to $30 billion but represented a 1 per cent decline in revenue year on year. The company’s net income declined by 36 per cent to $6.7 billion for the second quarter, while total expenses increased by 22 per cent. Daily active users on Meta’s family apps were low, while Meta’s primary social media platform, Facebook, saw a modest 3 per cent growth in the second quarter, despite the fact that the social media giant is facing fierce competition from rivals like Tik Tok. As per Meta’s latest earnings release, a weak advertising demand environment is expected for the third quarter. The CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, stated, "We seem to have entered an economic downturn that will have a broad impact on the digital advertising business." He continued, "Given the more recent revenue trajectory that we’re seeing, we’re slowing the pace of [our] investments and pushing some expenses that would have come in the next year or two off to a somewhat longer timeline." Also read | In a first, Facebook's parent company Meta Platforms reports revenue drop Zuckerberg said, "Many teams are going to shrink so that we can shift energy to other areas inside the company, and I want to give our leaders the ability to decide within their teams where to double down, where to double down, where to backfill attrition, and where to restructure teams while minimising [the impact] on the long-term initiatives," the Hollywood reporter reported. Also read | ‘We need to evolve’: Instagram CEO doubles down criticism over TikTok like features The release of Meta’s financial report coincides with a drop in ad revenue experienced by other large internet firms, such as Snap, which has caused stock values to plummet. Another instance includes Alphabet CFO Ruth Porat. The firm disclosed an earning loss on Tuesday with YouTube ad revenue reaching $7.3 billion despite a persistent pullback in adviser spending. Zuckerberg reportedly instructed staff internally earlier this month to be ready to face the biggest turndown they’ve seen in history. However, during the Meta’s earning call, the reels received a mention from Zuckerberg, who noted that users’ engagement with reels on Facebook and Instagram had increased by 30 per cent, Reuters reported. (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.

‘We seem to have entered economic downturn:’ Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg as revenues decline

As per recent court documents, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook parent firm Meta, will take a six-hour deposition about Meta’s handling of user data in relation to the Cambridge Analytica crisis. This deposition is related to a lawsuit brought in a California court by Facebook users who were harmed by the social media site’s collaboration with Cambridge Analytica. A consultancy accused collaborated with the Donald Trump campaign team and was able to acquire the personal information of 50 million Facebook users, which was then used to create voter profiles. The business was also involved in UK’s 2016 Brexit vote, The Guardian reported.&nbsp;

As per the documents, additional witnesses, including platform partnership executive Konstantinos Papamiltiadis, former director of product management Eddie O’Neil, and Facebook privacy officer Rob Sherman.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/musk-bezos-zuckerberg-among-billionaires-who-lost-14-trillion-in-first-half-of-2022-493786">Musk, Bezos, Zuckerberg among billionaires who lost $1.4 trillion in first half of 2022</a>

The lawsuit might shed new light on the Cambridge Analytica debacle, which has devasted the company’s reputation and resulted in congressional hearings where Mark Zuckerberg was interrogated about Facebook’s privacy practices.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: How Mark Zuckerberg lost his fortune

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-how-mark-zuckerberg-lost-his-fortune-475057/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) imposed a record $5 billion fine on the company in the year 2019 as a result of the scandal, but detractors have advocated for the enormous organisation, the Guardian reported.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-to-allow-upto-five-accounts-on-a-single-profile-zuckerberg-attempts-to-drum-up-user-numbers-497671">Facebook to allow upto five accounts on a single profile; Zuckerberg attempts to drum up user numbers</a>

Numerous lawsuits have been filed against Facebook in connection with the case, including four before 2018. &nbsp;The first lawsuit to feature in-depth depositions from senior Facebook executives. Plaintiffs are asking for damages of up to $5 million.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

As per recent court documents, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook parent firm Meta, will take a six-hour deposition about Meta’s handling of user data in relation to the Cambridge Analytica crisis.

As per recent court documents, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook parent firm Meta, will take a six-hour deposition about Meta’s handling of user data in relation to the Cambridge Analytica crisis. This deposition is related to a lawsuit brought in a California court by Facebook users who were harmed by the social media site’s collaboration with Cambridge Analytica. A consultancy accused collaborated with the Donald Trump campaign team and was able to acquire the personal information of 50 million Facebook users, which was then used to create voter profiles. The business was also involved in UK’s 2016 Brexit vote, The Guardian reported. As per the documents, additional witnesses, including platform partnership executive Konstantinos Papamiltiadis, former director of product management Eddie O’Neil, and Facebook privacy officer Rob Sherman. Also read | Musk, Bezos, Zuckerberg among billionaires who lost $1.4 trillion in first half of 2022 The lawsuit might shed new light on the Cambridge Analytica debacle, which has devasted the company’s reputation and resulted in congressional hearings where Mark Zuckerberg was interrogated about Facebook’s privacy practices. Watch | Gravitas: How Mark Zuckerberg lost his fortune The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) imposed a record $5 billion fine on the company in the year 2019 as a result of the scandal, but detractors have advocated for the enormous organisation, the Guardian reported. Also read | Facebook to allow upto five accounts on a single profile; Zuckerberg attempts to drum up user numbers Numerous lawsuits have been filed against Facebook in connection with the case, including four before 2018. The first lawsuit to feature in-depth depositions from senior Facebook executives. Plaintiffs are asking for damages of up to $5 million. (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 to face six-hour deposition over Cambridge Analytica scandal

An ex-employee of Facebook has made an explosive revelation: Staff members at the social media network have access to users' erased data. As per PetaPixel, the whistleblower claims that he was fired for raising concerns about a new company protocol that allows staff to not only access deleted user data but also share it with law enforcement. Brennan Lawson, who formerly worked as Meta's content screener, a role similar to a Facebook Content Moderator claims that the protocol has been there for three years.&nbsp;Lawson alleges that he was made aware of the new protocol during a staff meeting in late 2018 and that he became concerned about its legality.

Watch |&nbsp;Facebook parent Meta slashes hiring plans for new engineers by 30 per cent

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/facebook-parent-meta-slashes-hiring-plans-for-new-engineers-by-30-per-cent-493437/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He further claims that upon questioning the legal standing of the said protocol he was fired and consequently spent 18 months unemployed. In addition to more than $3 million in compensation, he's seeking punitive damages from Facebook and its parent company Meta.

As per an NYPost report, Lawson also made mentioned Facebook content moderators being able to access deleted data and messages from the platform's Messenger application.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitters-massive-layoff-leaves-30-without-a-job-495497">Twitter's massive layoff leaves 30% without a job!</a>

Bloomberg reports that in his complaint,&nbsp;he further mentions that “Law enforcement would ask questions about the suspect’s use of the platform, such as who the suspect was messaging, when messages were sent, and even what those messages contained.”&nbsp;

Lawson claims that to keep Facebook in the good graces of the government, "the Escalations Team would utilise the back-end protocol to provide answers for the law enforcement agency and then determine how much to share."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/meta-shares-sink-22-as-facebook-loses-one-million-daily-users-450000">Meta shares sink 22% as Facebook loses one million daily users</a>

According to the complaint, the protocol appeared to go against both a Federal Trade Commission ruling requiring Facebook to provide users with proper information about its data retention policy and European Union digital privacy laws.

Meta's official statement stated, "These claims are without merit," and that the company will "defend ourselves against them vigorously."

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION LIVE HERE:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

An ex-employee of Facebook has made an explosive revelation: Staff members at the social media network have access to users' erased data. As per PetaPixel, the whistleblower claims that he was fired for raising concerns about a new company protocol that allows staff to not only access deleted user data but also share it with law enforcement.

An ex-employee of Facebook has made an explosive revelation: Staff members at the social media network have access to users' erased data. As per PetaPixel, the whistleblower claims that he was fired for raising concerns about a new company protocol that allows staff to not only access deleted user data but also share it with law enforcement. Brennan Lawson, who formerly worked as Meta's content screener, a role similar to a Facebook Content Moderator claims that the protocol has been there for three years. Lawson alleges that he was made aware of the new protocol during a staff meeting in late 2018 and that he became concerned about its legality. Watch | Facebook parent Meta slashes hiring plans for new engineers by 30 per cent He further claims that upon questioning the legal standing of the said protocol he was fired and consequently spent 18 months unemployed. In addition to more than $3 million in compensation, he's seeking punitive damages from Facebook and its parent company Meta. As per an NYPost report, Lawson also made mentioned Facebook content moderators being able to access deleted data and messages from the platform's Messenger application. Also read | Twitter's massive layoff leaves 30% without a job! Bloomberg reports that in his complaint, he further mentions that “Law enforcement would ask questions about the suspect’s use of the platform, such as who the suspect was messaging, when messages were sent, and even what those messages contained.” Lawson claims that to keep Facebook in the good graces of the government, "the Escalations Team would utilise the back-end protocol to provide answers for the law enforcement agency and then determine how much to share." Also read | Meta shares sink 22% as Facebook loses one million daily users According to the complaint, the protocol appeared to go against both a Federal Trade Commission ruling requiring Facebook to provide users with proper information about its data retention policy and European Union digital privacy laws. Meta's official statement stated, "These claims are without merit," and that the company will "defend ourselves against them vigorously." (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.

Meta ex-employee makes explosive revelation, Facebook can read your messages even after deletion

The British government has said it is proposing a new law that will require social media companies to proactively tackle disinformation posted by foreign states such as Russia.

Fake accounts set up on behalf of foreign states to influence elections or court proceedings on platforms such as Meta's Facebook and Twitter will be tackled under the law.

Through an amendment to link the National Security Bill and Online Safety Bill the law is likely to be passed during this parliamentary session.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-in-full-control-of-luhansk-region-zelensky-vows-to-regain-lost-ground-494411/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Digital Secretary Nadine Dorries said that regulator Ofcom will draw up codes of practice to help social media companies comply with the law.

Highlighting how Russia uses social media to spread lies about its actions following its invasion of Ukraine, Dorries said "We cannot allow foreign states or their puppets to use the internet to conduct hostile online warfare unimpeded."

"That's why we are strengthening our new internet safety protections to make sure social media firms identify and root out state-backed disinformation," she added.

As tensions rage over the Kremlin's offensive, Russian authorities said Monday that a square outside the British embassy in Moscow will be named after pro-Kremlin separatists in Ukraine.

Since the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine on February 24, London does not recognise the self-proclaimed People's Republics in eastern Ukraine and staunchly supported Kyiv.

A number of Western countries changed the names of the streets hosting Russian missions after President Vladimir Putin announced his ''special military operation'' to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION's live TV here:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

The British government has said it is proposing a new law that will require social media companies to proactively tackle disinformation posted by foreign states such as Russia.

The British government has said it is proposing a new law that will require social media companies to proactively tackle disinformation posted by foreign states such as Russia. Fake accounts set up on behalf of foreign states to influence elections or court proceedings on platforms such as Meta's Facebook and Twitter will be tackled under the law. Through an amendment to link the National Security Bill and Online Safety Bill the law is likely to be passed during this parliamentary session. × Digital Secretary Nadine Dorries said that regulator Ofcom will draw up codes of practice to help social media companies comply with the law. Highlighting how Russia uses social media to spread lies about its actions following its invasion of Ukraine, Dorries said "We cannot allow foreign states or their puppets to use the internet to conduct hostile online warfare unimpeded." "That's why we are strengthening our new internet safety protections to make sure social media firms identify and root out state-backed disinformation," she added. As tensions rage over the Kremlin's offensive, Russian authorities said Monday that a square outside the British embassy in Moscow will be named after pro-Kremlin separatists in Ukraine. Since the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine on February 24, London does not recognise the self-proclaimed People's Republics in eastern Ukraine and staunchly supported Kyiv. A number of Western countries changed the names of the streets hosting Russian missions after President Vladimir Putin announced his ''special military operation'' to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Britain proposing new law that requires social media companies to proactively tackle Russian disinformation

Facebook-owner Meta Platforms Inc has cut plans to hire engineers by at least 30 per cent this year, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced, as he warned to brace for a deep economic downturn.

Meta plans to slash hiring by 30%, tech giant to hire 3000 less workers

Facebook parent Meta slashes hiring plans for new engineers by 30 per cent

Instagram has flagged posts referring to abortion as sensitive. Since Monday Instagram users have noticed that some posts mentioning abortion have been flagged as sensitive content and hidden.

Why is Instagram blocking abortion posts?

Demanding tech companies take action in the wake of America's revocation of abortion rights, privacy groups are warning that pregnancy-related information online might present a serious legal risk.

According to experts geolocation data or an internet search history might serve to incriminate women or those who help them in states that opt to ban abortion as states move to restrict or ban the procedure after the Supreme Court's landmark reversal.

Centre for Democracy and Technology president Alexandra Reeve Givens told news agency AFP "This decision opens the door to law enforcement and private bounty hunters seeking vast amounts of private data."

Tech giants such as Meta and Google, which have come forward to help female employees relocate and sponsor travel to abortion clinics in different states, track their users in order to sell ultra-targeted and personalized advertising space.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-why-are-women-being-denied-the-right-to-abortion-491788/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

With a warrant, the information is accessible to authorities and can be misued as a data dragnet weaponised against women seeking abortions and those helping them.

Eight US states have already banned abortion after the Supreme Court ruling gave them the freedom to do so by overturning Roe v. Wade.

Over 40 US Democratic lawmakers have written a letter to Google chief executive Sundar Pichai warning him about the risks posed by its data practices and urging changes.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-automatic-bans-to-complex-patchwork-abortion-access-threatened-in-half-of-us-states-491572">From automatic bans to complex patchwork: Abortion access threatened in half of US states</a>

Demanding that Google get rid of location data that could be "weaponised against abortion patients and doctors," nonprofit digital rights group Fight For The Future echoed the legislators' plea in an online petition.

From text messages to emails, data from apps, especially those used to track menstrual cycles, can hold significant pregnancy-related data.

In light of the Supreme Court ruling, company behind an app called Natural Cycles which lets women track fertility is working on letting users remain completely anonymous.

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION's live TV here:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1&lt;/div">&amp;times;</iframe></div>

&nbsp;
</div>

Demanding tech companies take action in the wake of America's revocation of abortion rights, privacy groups are warning that pregnancy-related information online might present a serious legal risk.

Demanding tech companies take action in the wake of America's revocation of abortion rights, privacy groups are warning that pregnancy-related information online might present a serious legal risk. According to experts geolocation data or an internet search history might serve to incriminate women or those who help them in states that opt to ban abortion as states move to restrict or ban the procedure after the Supreme Court's landmark reversal. Centre for Democracy and Technology president Alexandra Reeve Givens told news agency AFP "This decision opens the door to law enforcement and private bounty hunters seeking vast amounts of private data." Tech giants such as Meta and Google, which have come forward to help female employees relocate and sponsor travel to abortion clinics in different states, track their users in order to sell ultra-targeted and personalized advertising space. × With a warrant, the information is accessible to authorities and can be misued as a data dragnet weaponised against women seeking abortions and those helping them. Eight US states have already banned abortion after the Supreme Court ruling gave them the freedom to do so by overturning Roe v. Wade. Over 40 US Democratic lawmakers have written a letter to Google chief executive Sundar Pichai warning him about the risks posed by its data practices and urging changes. Also see | From automatic bans to complex patchwork: Abortion access threatened in half of US states Demanding that Google get rid of location data that could be "weaponised against abortion patients and doctors," nonprofit digital rights group Fight For The Future echoed the legislators' plea in an online petition. From text messages to emails, data from apps, especially those used to track menstrual cycles, can hold significant pregnancy-related data. In light of the Supreme Court ruling, company behind an app called Natural Cycles which lets women track fertility is working on letting users remain completely anonymous. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

Roe v. Wade overturned: SCOTUS ruling spurs online data fears

Meta, which was formerly known as Facebook, has been slammed over the last few years for several reasons. Once again, the company is under fire. This time for a move that many find ridiculous. Watch the video to know more.

Internet rejects Meta's virtual designer clothes

After the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in the country, companies such as Meta and Disney have said they will cover employees' expenses if they have to travel for abortion services.

Handing a victory to Republicans and religious conservatives, the SCOTUS overturned the landmark 1973 ruling that recognised a woman's constitutional right to an abortion.

Making it difficult for female employees to terminate pregnancies unless they travel to states where the procedure is allowed, many states are expected to further restrict or ban abortions following the ruling.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/americans-deeply-divided-over-scotus-ruling-on-abortion-rights-as-it-sparks-widespread-protests-491619/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

According to a Disney spokesperson, the company remains committed to providing comprehensive access to quality healthcare, including for abortions.

Disney had faced criticism after it was revealed that it sponsored the “Don’t Say Gay” legislation and had later apologised for the decision.

As a result, it opposed Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill, and in return governor, Ron DeSantis stripped Disney of its self-governing status for Disney World.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-automatic-bans-to-complex-patchwork-abortion-access-threatened-in-half-of-us-states-491572" hreflang="en">From automatic bans to complex patchwork: Abortion access threatened in half of US states</a>

A spokesperson of Meta, Facebook's parent company, said the company will reimburse travel expenses for employees seeking out-of-state reproductive care.

It is currently &nbsp;"assessing how best to do so given the legal complexities involved," the spokesperson added.

Citing a "respectful communications" policy, Meta also moved to limit internal discussion of the ruling and took down links to Facebook posts by outgoing Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg that condemned it.

Disney and Meta were joined by Dick's Sporting Goods which announced that if abortion was not available nearby it will pay up to $4,000 in travel for employees.

Saying it would expand a recent policy as new state laws were passed, ride-hailing company Lyft said it would legally shield drivers in abortion cases.

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION's live TV here:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1&lt;/div">&amp;times;</iframe></div>

&nbsp;
</div>

After the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in the country, companies such as Meta and Disney have said they will cover employees' expenses if they have to travel for abortion services.

After the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in the country, companies such as Meta and Disney have said they will cover employees' expenses if they have to travel for abortion services. Handing a victory to Republicans and religious conservatives, the SCOTUS overturned the landmark 1973 ruling that recognised a woman's constitutional right to an abortion. Making it difficult for female employees to terminate pregnancies unless they travel to states where the procedure is allowed, many states are expected to further restrict or ban abortions following the ruling. × According to a Disney spokesperson, the company remains committed to providing comprehensive access to quality healthcare, including for abortions. Disney had faced criticism after it was revealed that it sponsored the “Don’t Say Gay” legislation and had later apologised for the decision. As a result, it opposed Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill, and in return governor, Ron DeSantis stripped Disney of its self-governing status for Disney World. Also see | From automatic bans to complex patchwork: Abortion access threatened in half of US states A spokesperson of Meta, Facebook's parent company, said the company will reimburse travel expenses for employees seeking out-of-state reproductive care. It is currently "assessing how best to do so given the legal complexities involved," the spokesperson added. Citing a "respectful communications" policy, Meta also moved to limit internal discussion of the ruling and took down links to Facebook posts by outgoing Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg that condemned it. Disney and Meta were joined by Dick's Sporting Goods which announced that if abortion was not available nearby it will pay up to $4,000 in travel for employees. Saying it would expand a recent policy as new state laws were passed, ride-hailing company Lyft said it would legally shield drivers in abortion cases. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

Roe v Wade overturned: Meta, Disney to pay for employees’ abortion-related travel costs after SCOTUS ruling

After an investigation by UK-based media outlet BBC News, Meta has said that it has removed a large number of groups and accounts which were apparently sharing upskirting content.&nbsp;

The probe by the media outlet found that images and videos of upskirting were being circulated on the social media platform. The term 'upskirting' means people using hidden (or small) cameras, and cell phones to surreptitiously take pictures up women's skirts. &nbsp;

After the BBC report, the social media giant took action and deleted such accounts and groups. However, the report mentioned that some content which was reported to Facebook by the investigation was not immediately removed. The site said that it did not appear to breach Facebook's community standards.&nbsp;

In a statement, a Meta spokesman said the company knows "our work is never finished on the issue". It added that the company will continue to remove any violating content when "we become aware of it".&nbsp;

"Sharing intimate images without consent, including upskirting, is not allowed on Facebook. Following the BBC's investigation, we've removed a large number of groups and accounts, and have taken further action to block multiple associated hashtags," it added.&nbsp;

Notably, the adult exploitation policies of Facebook do not allow secretly taken images of a real person's body parts to be posted to the platform.&nbsp;

Social media giants are often criticised for handling content online that can be harmful or unsuitable for a section of society, especially minors.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

After an investigation by UK-based media outlet BBC News, Meta has said that it has removed a large number of groups and accounts which were apparently sharing upskirting content.

After an investigation by UK-based media outlet BBC News, Meta has said that it has removed a large number of groups and accounts which were apparently sharing upskirting content. The probe by the media outlet found that images and videos of upskirting were being circulated on the social media platform. The term 'upskirting' means people using hidden (or small) cameras, and cell phones to surreptitiously take pictures up women's skirts. After the BBC report, the social media giant took action and deleted such accounts and groups. However, the report mentioned that some content which was reported to Facebook by the investigation was not immediately removed. The site said that it did not appear to breach Facebook's community standards. In a statement, a Meta spokesman said the company knows "our work is never finished on the issue". It added that the company will continue to remove any violating content when "we become aware of it". "Sharing intimate images without consent, including upskirting, is not allowed on Facebook. Following the BBC's investigation, we've removed a large number of groups and accounts, and have taken further action to block multiple associated hashtags," it added. Notably, the adult exploitation policies of Facebook do not allow secretly taken images of a real person's body parts to be posted to the platform. Social media giants are often criticised for handling content online that can be harmful or unsuitable for a section of society, especially minors. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Facebook: Meta removes a large number of groups and accounts for sharing upskirting images

Meta-owned Facebook has agreed to settle with the US government for $115,000 and has assured to change its ad technology following allegations that the tech firm engaged in discriminatory advertising policy that violated a federal housing law.

According to terms of the settlement, Facebook will stop using an advertising tool for housing ads that the government said employed a discriminatory algorithm to locate users who “look like” other users based on characteristics protected by the Fair Housing Act, like race, national origin and sex, the Justice Department said.

Under the settlement, which still needs to be approved by the court, Facebook has agreed that by December 31 it would stop using the tool once called “Lookalike Audience”, which relies on an algorithm on the basis of race, sex and other characteristics, and create a new system for housing ads.

That new system has to be approved by the government. If the system is accepted, Meta will have to submit to regular third-party reviews to ensure it remains in compliance. The settlement will be dissolved and the case will return to federal court if the new ad system doesn’t sufficiently address the issues.

Apart from that, Meta has been asked to pay the maximum penalty under the Fair Housing Act of $115,054 under the settlement.

“As technology rapidly evolves, companies like Meta have a responsibility to ensure their algorithmic tools are not used in a discriminatory manner,” said Kristen Clarke, DOJ assistant attorney general of the civil rights division, in a statement.

The case came to the light during an investigation in 2019 discrimination charge by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD referred the case to the DOJ after the company elected to have the charge heard in federal court, according to the release.

In a&nbsp;blog post&nbsp;following the announcement, Meta described the agreement as the result of “more than a year of collaboration with HUD to develop a novel use of machine learning technology that will work to ensure the age, gender and estimated race or ethnicity of a housing ad’s overall audience matches the age, gender and estimated race or ethnicity mix of the population eligible to see that ad.”

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Meta-owned Facebook has agreed to settle with the US government for $115,000 and has assured to change its ad technology following allegations that the tech firm engaged in discriminatory advertising policy that violated a federal housing law.

Meta-owned Facebook has agreed to settle with the US government for $115,000 and has assured to change its ad technology following allegations that the tech firm engaged in discriminatory advertising policy that violated a federal housing law. According to terms of the settlement, Facebook will stop using an advertising tool for housing ads that the government said employed a discriminatory algorithm to locate users who “look like” other users based on characteristics protected by the Fair Housing Act, like race, national origin and sex, the Justice Department said. Under the settlement, which still needs to be approved by the court, Facebook has agreed that by December 31 it would stop using the tool once called “Lookalike Audience”, which relies on an algorithm on the basis of race, sex and other characteristics, and create a new system for housing ads. That new system has to be approved by the government. If the system is accepted, Meta will have to submit to regular third-party reviews to ensure it remains in compliance. The settlement will be dissolved and the case will return to federal court if the new ad system doesn’t sufficiently address the issues. Apart from that, Meta has been asked to pay the maximum penalty under the Fair Housing Act of $115,054 under the settlement. “As technology rapidly evolves, companies like Meta have a responsibility to ensure their algorithmic tools are not used in a discriminatory manner,” said Kristen Clarke, DOJ assistant attorney general of the civil rights division, in a statement. The case came to the light during an investigation in 2019 discrimination charge by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD referred the case to the DOJ after the company elected to have the charge heard in federal court, according to the release. In a blog post following the announcement, Meta described the agreement as the result of “more than a year of collaboration with HUD to develop a novel use of machine learning technology that will work to ensure the age, gender and estimated race or ethnicity of a housing ad’s overall audience matches the age, gender and estimated race or ethnicity mix of the population eligible to see that ad.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Facebook, US govt agree to settle in discriminatory housing ad algorithm case

Meta Platforms, which is Facebook's parent company, is launching an avatar fashion store where users can purchase virtual designer clothes for real money.

According to Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, the outfits will be designed by fashion brands Balenciaga, Prada, and Thom Browne.

Speaking in a live video stream with Instagram's head of fashion, he said “Digital goods will be an important way to express yourself in the metaverse and a big driver of the creative economy.”

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/facebook-owner-meta-gives-an-early-glimpse-of-physical-store-476537/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The outfits, which can be bought in a price range between $2.99 and $8.99, cost much less than the real outfits by those designers.

Joking about his own avatar, which was previewed wearing a cropped T-shirt, low-rise jeans, and a white belt, Zuckerberg said “I don’t know that I ever could have pulled that off.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/parents-of-teenager-sue-meta-after-alleging-that-she-suffered-eating-disorder-because-of-instagram-addiction-486881">Also read |&nbsp;Parents of teenager sue Meta after alleging that she suffered eating disorder because of Instagram addiction</a>

In a statement, Meta said that the digital outfits will be available only on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.

It comes after Fortnite introduced Balenciaga skins so players could purchase garments like a branded hoodie while players can visit Gucci Town in Roblox.

Last year, Meta redesigned its virtual reality avatars to be more expressive and three-dimensional following which they were made available on all platforms under Meta in January. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION's live TV here:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1&lt;/div">&amp;times;</iframe></div>

&nbsp;
</div>

Meta Platforms, which is Facebook's parent company, is launching an avatar fashion store where users can purchase virtual designer clothes for real money. According to Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, the outfits will be designed by fashion brands Balenciaga, Prada, and Thom Browne.

Meta Platforms, which is Facebook's parent company, is launching an avatar fashion store where users can purchase virtual designer clothes for real money. According to Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, the outfits will be designed by fashion brands Balenciaga, Prada, and Thom Browne. Speaking in a live video stream with Instagram's head of fashion, he said “Digital goods will be an important way to express yourself in the metaverse and a big driver of the creative economy.” × The outfits, which can be bought in a price range between $2.99 and $8.99, cost much less than the real outfits by those designers. Joking about his own avatar, which was previewed wearing a cropped T-shirt, low-rise jeans, and a white belt, Zuckerberg said “I don’t know that I ever could have pulled that off.” Also read | Parents of teenager sue Meta after alleging that she suffered eating disorder because of Instagram addiction In a statement, Meta said that the digital outfits will be available only on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. It comes after Fortnite introduced Balenciaga skins so players could purchase garments like a branded hoodie while players can visit Gucci Town in Roblox. Last year, Meta redesigned its virtual reality avatars to be more expressive and three-dimensional following which they were made available on all platforms under Meta in January. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

Designer virtual clothes for real money? Meta is launching avatar fashion store

Google, Meta, Twitter and Microsoft agreed on Thursday to take a firm stance against disinformation as part of an amended European Union of conduct, which could result in large fines if they don’t. The new Code of Practice on Disinformation has more than 30 signatories, including advertising groups. They agreed to do more combat deep fakes, fake accounts and political advertising with fines of up to 6 per cent of a company’s global revenue, as per the European Commission, confirmed by a Reuters report last week. The firms including, Amazon’s live streaming, TikTok, and Twitch, have six months to meet their commitments. They must submit a progress report at the start of 2023, the Reuters report added.&nbsp;

Vera Jourova, Vice-President of the Commission said, "The new code is a testimony that Europe has learned its lessons and that we are not naive any longer." She further added that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Brexit have expedited the Union’s fight against fake news.&nbsp;

According to Thierry Breton, industry chief of the European Union the sanctions could include barring companies from operating in Europe.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/twitter-says-fake-accounts-comprise-of-less-than-5-users-476032">Twitter says fake accounts comprise of less than 5% users</a>&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;EU signs gas deal with Israel, Egypt to reduce dependency on Russia&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/eu-signs-gas-deal-with-israel-egypt-to-reduce-dependency-on-russia-488610/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-artist-accused-of-spreading-fake-news-after-replacing-grocery-price-tags-with-anti-war-slogans-471629">Russian artist accused of spreading 'fake news' after replacing grocery price tags with anti-war slogans</a>&nbsp;

The critics such as the Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand and Video on Demand Services in Europe (ACT) pointed out some serious flaws in the updated code of the Union.&nbsp;

It stated, “The Review does not offer concrete commitments to limit 'impermissible manipulative behavior'. Commitments go no further than a blanket statement to follow the law which is obvious and does not require a Code.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

&nbsp;

Google, Meta, Twitter and Microsoft agreed on Thursday to take a firm stance against disinformation as part of an amended European Union of conduct, which could result in large fines if they don’t.

Google, Meta, Twitter and Microsoft agreed on Thursday to take a firm stance against disinformation as part of an amended European Union of conduct, which could result in large fines if they don’t. The new Code of Practice on Disinformation has more than 30 signatories, including advertising groups. They agreed to do more combat deep fakes, fake accounts and political advertising with fines of up to 6 per cent of a company’s global revenue, as per the European Commission, confirmed by a Reuters report last week. The firms including, Amazon’s live streaming, TikTok, and Twitch, have six months to meet their commitments. They must submit a progress report at the start of 2023, the Reuters report added. Vera Jourova, Vice-President of the Commission said, "The new code is a testimony that Europe has learned its lessons and that we are not naive any longer." She further added that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Brexit have expedited the Union’s fight against fake news. According to Thierry Breton, industry chief of the European Union the sanctions could include barring companies from operating in Europe. Also read | Twitter says fake accounts comprise of less than 5% users Watch | EU signs gas deal with Israel, Egypt to reduce dependency on Russia Also read | Russian artist accused of spreading 'fake news' after replacing grocery price tags with anti-war slogans The critics such as the Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand and Video on Demand Services in Europe (ACT) pointed out some serious flaws in the updated code of the Union. It stated, “The Review does not offer concrete commitments to limit 'impermissible manipulative behavior'. Commitments go no further than a blanket statement to follow the law which is obvious and does not require a Code.” (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.

Google, Twitter and Meta pledge to fight fake news

Meta announced on Tuesday that Whatsapp is beta testing a new feature that would allow Android users to transfer Whatsapp chat history to iOS. Earlier you could either move to the same type of phone, such as Android to Android or move to a different type of phone, such as iPhone to Android.

Making the announcement, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the ‘ability to securely switch between phones’ is now being added to WhatsApp.

If you’re moving to a different type of phone you can keep your account information including your profile photo, about, individual chats, group chats, and settings.

To transfer chat history, after you have selected the "Move data from Android" option, your new iPhone will look for the Move to iOS app on your older device and create a peer-to-peer connection.&nbsp;

Here, you will be able to choose the apps, files, contacts and more to bring over to your iPhone, and starting today the option for WhatsApp will join that list.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-ukraine-bids-farewell-to-its-war-heroes-488400">In pics: Ukraine bids farewell to its war heroes</a>

The time taken for the transfer will depend on the amount of content you have.&nbsp;

Users can only transfer data from devices with Android version 5.0 and above to iPhones with iOS 15.5 or above. WhatsApp must be updated to the latest version on the Android device and both phones must be connected to a power source and connected on the same WiFi network.

Whatsapp introduced the feature to transfer chat backup from iOS to Android last year.

(with inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Meta announced on Tuesday that Whatsapp is beta testing a new feature that would allow Android users to transfer Whatsapp chat history to iOS. Earlier you could either move to the same type of phone, such as Android to Android or move to a different type of phone, such as iPhone to Android.

Meta announced on Tuesday that Whatsapp is beta testing a new feature that would allow Android users to transfer Whatsapp chat history to iOS. Earlier you could either move to the same type of phone, such as Android to Android or move to a different type of phone, such as iPhone to Android. Making the announcement, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the ‘ability to securely switch between phones’ is now being added to WhatsApp. If you’re moving to a different type of phone you can keep your account information including your profile photo, about, individual chats, group chats, and settings. To transfer chat history, after you have selected the "Move data from Android" option, your new iPhone will look for the Move to iOS app on your older device and create a peer-to-peer connection. Here, you will be able to choose the apps, files, contacts and more to bring over to your iPhone, and starting today the option for WhatsApp will join that list. Also Read: In pics: Ukraine bids farewell to its war heroes The time taken for the transfer will depend on the amount of content you have. Users can only transfer data from devices with Android version 5.0 and above to iPhones with iOS 15.5 or above. WhatsApp must be updated to the latest version on the Android device and both phones must be connected to a power source and connected on the same WiFi network. Whatsapp introduced the feature to transfer chat backup from iOS to Android last year. (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.

Meta announces Whatsapp chat transfer from Android to iOS possible now

Meta, which is Facebook's parent company, will open a 'metaverse academy' in collaboration with a French digital training firm.

Aiming to recreate real-life via augmented or virtual reality and take the web from 2D to 3D, the metaverse is being seen as the internet's next great technological development.

Meta's vice president for southern Europe Laurent Solly told news agency AFP that in its first year, the metaverse academy will train for free around 100 students in two roles.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/facebook-owner-meta-gives-an-early-glimpse-of-physical-store-476537/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to Frederic Bardeau, co-founder and boss of Simplon, the French firm working with Meta, the teaching method will be in-person and revolve around projects, with a focus on the interactions in the virtual universes as well as on the 3D world.

The metaverse academy will train 20 students per city each year which has multiple locations in cities including Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Nice.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/parents-of-teenager-sue-meta-after-alleging-that-she-suffered-eating-disorder-because-of-instagram-addiction-486881">Also read |&nbsp;Parents of teenager sue Meta after alleging that she suffered eating disorder because of Instagram addiction</a>

Focusing on diversity, the school's goal will be for 30 percent of the first cohort to be women as per Solly.

With the goal tied to predictions that future job skills demanded by employers will be closely tied with the metaverse, the US technology giant's new strategic priority in Europe is the creation of 10,000 jobs in the next five years to provide a strong foundation for building the metaverse.

Highlighting the need to develop training schemes now, Meta and Simplon said 80 percent of the careers that will exist in 2030 have not been invented yet.

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION's live TV here:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1&lt;/div">&amp;times;</iframe></div>

&nbsp;
</div>

Meta, which is Facebook's parent company, will open a 'metaverse academy' in collaboration with a French digital training firm. Aiming to recreate real-life via augmented or virtual reality and take the web from 2D to 3D, the metaverse is being seen as the internet's next great technological development.

Meta, which is Facebook's parent company, will open a 'metaverse academy' in collaboration with a French digital training firm. Aiming to recreate real-life via augmented or virtual reality and take the web from 2D to 3D, the metaverse is being seen as the internet's next great technological development. Meta's vice president for southern Europe Laurent Solly told news agency AFP that in its first year, the metaverse academy will train for free around 100 students in two roles. According to Frederic Bardeau, co-founder and boss of Simplon, the French firm working with Meta, the teaching method will be in-person and revolve around projects, with a focus on the interactions in the virtual universes as well as on the 3D world. The metaverse academy will train 20 students per city each year which has multiple locations in cities including Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Nice. Also read | Parents of teenager sue Meta after alleging that she suffered eating disorder because of Instagram addiction Focusing on diversity, the school's goal will be for 30 percent of the first cohort to be women as per Solly. With the goal tied to predictions that future job skills demanded by employers will be closely tied with the metaverse, the US technology giant's new strategic priority in Europe is the creation of 10,000 jobs in the next five years to provide a strong foundation for building the metaverse. Highlighting the need to develop training schemes now, Meta and Simplon said 80 percent of the careers that will exist in 2030 have not been invented yet. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

Meta to open 'metaverse academy' in collaboration with French digital training firm

Meta employees were interviewed by lawyers as Meta's outgoing COO Sheryl Sandberg comes under the scanner for use of the company's resources. Sandberg is leaving Meta after 14 years.

Meta's outgoing COO Sheryl Sandberg under scanner for use of company's resources

The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that lawyers are looking into Meta Platforms Inc's departed operations head Sheryl Sandberg's use of company resources over a period of years, with an emphasis on the extent to which personnel worked on her personal projects.

According to the people familiar with the matter, a number of employees have been interrogated as part of Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc.'s inquiry, which has been ongoing since at least last fall.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/parents-of-teenager-sue-meta-after-alleging-that-she-suffered-eating-disorder-because-of-instagram-addiction-486881">Parents of teenager sue Meta after alleging that she suffered eating disorder because of Instagram addiction</a>

The sources said it looks into how Facebook employees helped her foundation, Lean In, advocate for women in the workplace, as well as the writing and promotion of her second book, "Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy," which focused on her grieving process after her husband, SurveyMonkey CEO Dave Goldberg, died suddenly in 2015, according to the sources.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the probe looked into Ms. Sandberg's use of corporate resources to help her prepare for her upcoming wedding. According to people familiar with the case, this is only a minor part of the probe, which includes a broader evaluation of Ms. Sandberg's personal usage of Facebook's resources over a long period of time.

Watch |&nbsp;Sheryl Sandberg steps down as Meta COO after 14 years

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sheryl-sandberg-steps-down-as-meta-coo-after-14-years-484297/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Ms. Sandberg, 52, revealed last week that she would be stepping down from her day-to-day role after 14 years, but she would remain on the board of directors. Ms. Sandberg has been Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg's longstanding lieutenant, and as the author of the leadership book "Lean In," she has become one of the most powerful women in business.

Sandberg said she was looking forward to spending more time on her foundation and women’s issues.

Sandberg, whose strong working relationship with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg fueled the firm's growth, announced her retirement from the company earlier this month after 14 years.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/end-of-an-era-this-is-what-mark-zuckerberg-told-meta-employees-about-sheryl-sandbergs-exit-484604">'End of an era': Leaked transcript reveals what Zuckerberg told Meta employees about Sandberg’s exit</a>

Although Zuckerberg stated that he would not intend to replace Sandberg's post directly inside the company's existing structure, Chief Growth Officer Javier Olivan is scheduled to take over as chief operational officer.

Sandberg has stated that she will remain on Meta's board of directors after leaving the firm in the fall.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that lawyers are looking into Meta Platforms Inc's departed operations head Sheryl Sandberg's use of company resources over a period of years, with an emphasis on the extent to which personnel worked on her personal projects.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that lawyers are looking into Meta Platforms Inc's departed operations head Sheryl Sandberg's use of company resources over a period of years, with an emphasis on the extent to which personnel worked on her personal projects. According to the people familiar with the matter, a number of employees have been interrogated as part of Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc.'s inquiry, which has been ongoing since at least last fall. Also read | Parents of teenager sue Meta after alleging that she suffered eating disorder because of Instagram addiction The sources said it looks into how Facebook employees helped her foundation, Lean In, advocate for women in the workplace, as well as the writing and promotion of her second book, "Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy," which focused on her grieving process after her husband, SurveyMonkey CEO Dave Goldberg, died suddenly in 2015, according to the sources. According to the Wall Street Journal, the probe looked into Ms. Sandberg's use of corporate resources to help her prepare for her upcoming wedding. According to people familiar with the case, this is only a minor part of the probe, which includes a broader evaluation of Ms. Sandberg's personal usage of Facebook's resources over a long period of time. Watch | Sheryl Sandberg steps down as Meta COO after 14 years Ms. Sandberg, 52, revealed last week that she would be stepping down from her day-to-day role after 14 years, but she would remain on the board of directors. Ms. Sandberg has been Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg's longstanding lieutenant, and as the author of the leadership book "Lean In," she has become one of the most powerful women in business. Sandberg said she was looking forward to spending more time on her foundation and women’s issues. Sandberg, whose strong working relationship with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg fueled the firm's growth, announced her retirement from the company earlier this month after 14 years. Also read | 'End of an era': Leaked transcript reveals what Zuckerberg told Meta employees about Sandberg’s exit Although Zuckerberg stated that he would not intend to replace Sandberg's post directly inside the company's existing structure, Chief Growth Officer Javier Olivan is scheduled to take over as chief operational officer. Sandberg has stated that she will remain on Meta's board of directors after leaving the firm in the fall. 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 investigates Sheryl Sandberg's use of company resources: Report

Alleging their daughter developed an Instagram addiction that led to an eating disorder and other mental health struggles, the parents of a teenager living in New York have sued Meta.

According to the&nbsp;lawsuit, Alexis started using Instagram two years younger than the platform's required minimum age of 13.

She did not inform her parents Kathleen and Jeff Spence as per a court filing in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.

She soon developed "addiction, anxiety, depression, self-harm, eating disorders, and, ultimately, suicidal ideation."

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/whats-wrong-with-meta-trouble-mounts-for-facebook-owned-meta-472514/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Her parents have claimed they "were emotionally and financially harmed by Meta's addictive design and continued and harmful distribution and/or provision of multiple Instagram accounts to their minor child."

Kathleen Spence told ABC News "The fact that Alexis is here is truly a miracle because we fought tooth-and-nail for her."

"We did everything we possibly could for her. We got her the help that she needed on multiple levels, and there were times when we were very concerned for her safety."

"When I'm 11 years old, what am I to do but keep looking at this content?" Spence said.

"And when you're being told every day, 'This is how [to] be pretty ... this is what you're supposed to look like,' what am I to think? I was a child," she added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-google-to-meta-tech-giants-dominating-wall-streets-trillion-dollar-club-477022">Also see |&nbsp;From Google to Meta: Tech giants dominating Wall Street's trillion-dollar club</a>

Frances Haugen, a former product manager at the tech company, had also claimed that Meta compromises with policies to earn profit.

According to Kathleen, "When Alexis first started going on Instagram without our consent or knowledge at 11 years old, we didn't know what was going on."

"We just know that our daughter was disappearing. Slowly, piece by piece, we were losing our confident, loving child, and she was becoming depressed, angry, withdrawn."&nbsp;

Haugen's leaked documents suggested executives knew their platforms could fuel hate speech and damage the mental health of young people.

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION's live TV here:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Alleging their daughter developed an Instagram addiction that led to an eating disorder and other mental health struggles, the parents of a teenager living in New York have sued Meta.

Alleging their daughter developed an Instagram addiction that led to an eating disorder and other mental health struggles, the parents of a teenager living in New York have sued Meta. According to the lawsuit, Alexis started using Instagram two years younger than the platform's required minimum age of 13. She did not inform her parents Kathleen and Jeff Spence as per a court filing in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. She soon developed "addiction, anxiety, depression, self-harm, eating disorders, and, ultimately, suicidal ideation." Her parents have claimed they "were emotionally and financially harmed by Meta's addictive design and continued and harmful distribution and/or provision of multiple Instagram accounts to their minor child." Kathleen Spence told ABC News "The fact that Alexis is here is truly a miracle because we fought tooth-and-nail for her." "We did everything we possibly could for her. We got her the help that she needed on multiple levels, and there were times when we were very concerned for her safety." "When I'm 11 years old, what am I to do but keep looking at this content?" Spence said. "And when you're being told every day, 'This is how [to] be pretty ... this is what you're supposed to look like,' what am I to think? I was a child," she added. Also see | From Google to Meta: Tech giants dominating Wall Street's trillion-dollar club Frances Haugen, a former product manager at the tech company, had also claimed that Meta compromises with policies to earn profit. According to Kathleen, "When Alexis first started going on Instagram without our consent or knowledge at 11 years old, we didn't know what was going on." "We just know that our daughter was disappearing. Slowly, piece by piece, we were losing our confident, loving child, and she was becoming depressed, angry, withdrawn." Haugen's leaked documents suggested executives knew their platforms could fuel hate speech and damage the mental health of young people. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Parents of teenager sue Meta after alleging that she suffered eating disorder because of Instagram addiction

Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook owner of Meta Platforms Inc's Chief Operating Officer is leaving the company after 14 years. Announcing the move on Facebook, Sandberg wrote "When I took this job in 2008, I hoped I would be in this role for five years. Fourteen years later, it is time for me to write the next chapter of my life."

Taking over for her is the current Chief Growth Officer Javier Olivan.

Who is Olivan?

Javier Olivan has worked at Meta for over 14 years and has led teams handling the company's many projects, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger.

As per a Reuters report, he has played a crucial, albeit behind the scenes role in Meta's growth over the last 15 years.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meta-coo-sheryl-sandberg-to-step-down-after-14-year-stint-484276" hreflang="en">Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg to step down after 14-year stint</a>

Background:

Before joining Facebook in late 2007, Olivan worked at Japan's NTT and Siemens.

He grew up in the Pyrenees region of Spain and holds a degree in Electrical and Industrial engineering from the University of Navarra. He also has a Stanford master's degree in business administration.

Journey at Facebook:

Back when Olivan joined Facebook, the then young company had only about 40 million users. Today this number has reached nearly 3.6 billion (including Facebook, Instagram and other apps).

As per a 2010 interview with VentureBeat, Javier was instrumental in Facebook's expansion into countries like India, Japan, Russia, Indonesia and Brazil.

Watch |&nbsp;Sheryl Sandberg steps down as Meta COO after 14 years

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sheryl-sandberg-steps-down-as-meta-coo-after-14-years-484297/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Current position:

Currently, he's the Chief Growth Officer of Meta, and as part of this job, he managed features and functions that span Facebook and its other applications like Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger.

New role:

As per a post by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in his new role as the COO (Chief Operating Officer), Olivan will continue to lead infrastructure and development. Additionally, he would also look after advertising and business products.

However, he will continue to stay out of the limelight.

"This role will be different from what Sheryl has done. It will be a more traditional COO role where Javi will be focused internally and operationally, building on his strong track record of making our execution more efficient and rigorous," Zuckerberg said.

Olivan may have less autonomy now that Meta is a mature firm with $118 billion in revenue than Sandberg did when she arrived in the company's early years, says&nbsp;to Brian Wieser, global head of business intelligence at ad agency GroupM.

(With inputs from agencies)

Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook owner of Meta Platforms Inc's Chief Operating Officer is leaving the company after 14 years. Announcing the move on Facebook, Sandberg wrote "When I took this job in 2008, I hoped I would be in this role for five years.

Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook owner of Meta Platforms Inc's Chief Operating Officer is leaving the company after 14 years. Announcing the move on Facebook, Sandberg wrote "When I took this job in 2008, I hoped I would be in this role for five years. Fourteen years later, it is time for me to write the next chapter of my life." Taking over for her is the current Chief Growth Officer Javier Olivan. Who is Olivan? Javier Olivan has worked at Meta for over 14 years and has led teams handling the company's many projects, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. As per a Reuters report, he has played a crucial, albeit behind the scenes role in Meta's growth over the last 15 years. Also read | Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg to step down after 14-year stint Background: Before joining Facebook in late 2007, Olivan worked at Japan's NTT and Siemens. He grew up in the Pyrenees region of Spain and holds a degree in Electrical and Industrial engineering from the University of Navarra. He also has a Stanford master's degree in business administration. Journey at Facebook: Back when Olivan joined Facebook, the then young company had only about 40 million users. Today this number has reached nearly 3.6 billion (including Facebook, Instagram and other apps). As per a 2010 interview with VentureBeat, Javier was instrumental in Facebook's expansion into countries like India, Japan, Russia, Indonesia and Brazil. Watch | Sheryl Sandberg steps down as Meta COO after 14 years Current position: Currently, he's the Chief Growth Officer of Meta, and as part of this job, he managed features and functions that span Facebook and its other applications like Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. New role: As per a post by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in his new role as the COO (Chief Operating Officer), Olivan will continue to lead infrastructure and development. Additionally, he would also look after advertising and business products. However, he will continue to stay out of the limelight. "This role will be different from what Sheryl has done. It will be a more traditional COO role where Javi will be focused internally and operationally, building on his strong track record of making our execution more efficient and rigorous," Zuckerberg said. Olivan may have less autonomy now that Meta is a mature firm with $118 billion in revenue than Sandberg did when she arrived in the company's early years, says to Brian Wieser, global head of business intelligence at ad agency GroupM. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Javier Olivan, Meta's new Chief Operating Officer?

Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg held a virtual meeting for over 70,000 employees of Meta Platforms Inc after Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg announced she is leaving the company after 14 years.

''I think it’s hard for us to have, sitting where we are today, where we have this really successful company, to put ourselves in what things were like from when Sheryl joined in order to understand just how big of an impact she’s had on this place,'' he said during the meeting. as per a leaked transcript.

Reminiscing about the time he met Sandberg, Zuckerberg recalled he was a 23-years-old man who had no idea about what he was doing.

According to Zuckerberg, ''A lot of what Sheryl did is she architected our ads business, she hired a lot of great people, she built our management culture, and taught me and so many other people here how to run a company.''

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sheryl-sandberg-steps-down-as-meta-coo-after-14-years-484297/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

''I think a lot of her legacy is that she just created opportunities for millions of people around the world and I think she deserves a lot of the credit for what Meta is today,'' Zuckerberg said glossing over any questions about his relationship with Sandberg.

''I think it’s been really unusual for a partnership like this to last so long, Sheryl will say that she thought it would last for five years but it lasted for 14. I was a little more optimistic that it would have lasted a little more than five years,'' he added.

Explaining why his partnership with Sandberg lasted so long, Zuckerberg said ''Sheryl is just such an amazing person and leader and partner and friend and like so much of what she did, she really focused on making the partnership work and she focuses on nurturing the relationships and helping the people around her grow.''

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-javier-olivan-metas-new-chief-operating-officer-484547">Also read |&nbsp;Who is Javier Olivan, Meta's new Chief Operating Officer?</a>

Expressing his gratitude towards Sandberg, Zuckerberg said ''I’m just super grateful for having had this opportunity to build this company and work so closely with Sheryl, and I feel like she’s leaving us in a great place having trained so many other awesome and talented people here.''

''She’s not going that far because she’s gonna be on our board going forward. So anyway, it’s difficult to overstate how big of an impact Sheryl’s had on this place, he added.

Sandberg’s departure comes at a time when Meta is shifting focus toward hardware products and the "metaverse".

Mired in controversies, the world's biggest social network is facing unparalleled uncertainty about its future amid the ongoing threat of regulatory scrutiny.

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION's live TV here:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1&lt;/div">&amp;times;</iframe></div>

&nbsp;
</div>

Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg held a virtual meeting for over 70,000 employees of Meta Platforms Inc after Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg announced she is leaving the company after 14 years.

Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg held a virtual meeting for over 70,000 employees of Meta Platforms Inc after Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg announced she is leaving the company after 14 years. ''I think it’s hard for us to have, sitting where we are today, where we have this really successful company, to put ourselves in what things were like from when Sheryl joined in order to understand just how big of an impact she’s had on this place,'' he said during the meeting. as per a leaked transcript. Reminiscing about the time he met Sandberg, Zuckerberg recalled he was a 23-years-old man who had no idea about what he was doing. According to Zuckerberg, ''A lot of what Sheryl did is she architected our ads business, she hired a lot of great people, she built our management culture, and taught me and so many other people here how to run a company.'' ''I think a lot of her legacy is that she just created opportunities for millions of people around the world and I think she deserves a lot of the credit for what Meta is today,'' Zuckerberg said glossing over any questions about his relationship with Sandberg. ''I think it’s been really unusual for a partnership like this to last so long, Sheryl will say that she thought it would last for five years but it lasted for 14. I was a little more optimistic that it would have lasted a little more than five years,'' he added. Explaining why his partnership with Sandberg lasted so long, Zuckerberg said ''Sheryl is just such an amazing person and leader and partner and friend and like so much of what she did, she really focused on making the partnership work and she focuses on nurturing the relationships and helping the people around her grow.'' Also read | Who is Javier Olivan, Meta's new Chief Operating Officer? Expressing his gratitude towards Sandberg, Zuckerberg said ''I’m just super grateful for having had this opportunity to build this company and work so closely with Sheryl, and I feel like she’s leaving us in a great place having trained so many other awesome and talented people here.'' ''She’s not going that far because she’s gonna be on our board going forward. So anyway, it’s difficult to overstate how big of an impact Sheryl’s had on this place, he added. Sandberg’s departure comes at a time when Meta is shifting focus toward hardware products and the "metaverse". Mired in controversies, the world's biggest social network is facing unparalleled uncertainty about its future amid the ongoing threat of regulatory scrutiny. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

'End of an era': Leaked transcript reveals what Zuckerberg told Meta employees about Sandberg’s exit

Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Meta is stepping down from her post after a 14-year stint. She made her decision public in a Facebook post on Wednesday (June 1).

Sheryl Sandberg steps down as Meta COO after 14 years

Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Meta is stepping down from her post after a 14-year stint. Sandberg's close partnershio with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has powered growth of Facebook, world's biggest social network. She made her decision public in a Facebook post on Wednesday (June 1).

The announcement made Facebook shares plummet by 4 per cent. &nbsp;Sandberg is one of the most visible executives at Meta and has long been a staunch defender of the company’s often-criticized business model and its founder, Zuckerberg

"When I took this job in 2008, I hoped I would be in this role for five years. Fourteen years later, it is time for me to write the next chapter of my life," she wrote.

Meta's Chief Growth Officer Javier Oliva will take over as next chief operating officer. He has worked at Meta for 14 years and has handled teams within Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger

Sandberg said she was not sure what the future holds for her, but that she plans to focus on her foundation and philanthropic work. She will continue to serve on Meta's board after leaving the company in the fall, she said.

Prior to joining Facebook, Sandberg was vice president of Global Online Sales and Operations at Google, chief of staff for the United States Treasury Department under former President Bill Clinton, a management consultant with McKinsey &amp; Company, and an economist with the World Bank.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Meta is stepping down from her post after a 14-year stint. Sandberg's close partnershio with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has powered growth of Facebook, world's biggest social network.

Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Meta is stepping down from her post after a 14-year stint. Sandberg's close partnershio with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has powered growth of Facebook, world's biggest social network. She made her decision public in a Facebook post on Wednesday (June 1). The announcement made Facebook shares plummet by 4 per cent. Sandberg is one of the most visible executives at Meta and has long been a staunch defender of the company’s often-criticized business model and its founder, Zuckerberg "When I took this job in 2008, I hoped I would be in this role for five years. Fourteen years later, it is time for me to write the next chapter of my life," she wrote. Meta's Chief Growth Officer Javier Oliva will take over as next chief operating officer. He has worked at Meta for 14 years and has handled teams within Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger Sandberg said she was not sure what the future holds for her, but that she plans to focus on her foundation and philanthropic work. She will continue to serve on Meta's board after leaving the company in the fall, she said. Prior to joining Facebook, Sandberg was vice president of Global Online Sales and Operations at Google, chief of staff for the United States Treasury Department under former President Bill Clinton, a management consultant with McKinsey & Company, and an economist with the World Bank. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg to step down after 14-year stint

Metaverse was launched with much fanfare and optimism by Mark Zuckerberg for connecting people online that encompasses augmented and virtual reality.

However, as is the case with social media platforms where bullying and cybercrime are rampant, Metaverse, too, has its own share of vices.

According to an online watchdog, within an hour of entering the Metaverse, a 21-year-old woman was sexually assaulted and harassed virtually.

A report — titled “Metaverse: another cesspool of toxic content” — said that the woman was raped within one hour of being in the metaverse, according to a new report from SumOfUs, a “nonprofit advocacy organization and online community that campaigns to hold corporations accountable” for a variety of alleged infractions, reports Daily Mail.

The unnamed woman, who works as a researcher for SumOfUs‚ claimed that her avatar was raped while other users watched after he led her into a private room at a party on “Horizon Worlds,”—a metaverse platform released by Meta last December in the US and Canada that allows users to gather with others, play games and build their own virtual worlds.

Even though everything is happening virtually, the woman could sense the unwanted touch and grope through the VR controllers.

In the Metaverse, when a user is touched by another, the hand controllers vibrate, “creating a very disorienting and even disturbing physical experience during a virtual assault.”

“It happened so fast I kind of disassociated. One part of my brain was like ‘WTF is happening,’ the other part was like ‘this isn’t a real body,’ and another part was like, ‘this is important research,’” the unnamed researcher said in the report.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/what-is-metaverse-the-new-buzzword-in-internet-technology-412364">What is metaverse, the new buzzword in internet technology?</a>

The watchdog also pointed out that “VR users have long reported problems with sexual harassment, verbal abuse, racial slurs and invasion of personal space on a myriad of apps.”

Also read |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/metaverse-electric-cars-brain-tech-take-a-look-at-how-the-future-of-technology-will-look-like-443374">Metaverse, electric cars, brain tech: Take a look at how the future of technology will look like</a>

Responding to the incident, a representative for Meta told the Daily Mail, “We don’t recommend turning off the safety feature with people you do not know.”

The SumOfUs report also listed other cases of sexual harassment that have occurred in the metaverse.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Metaverse was launched with much fanfare and optimism by Mark Zuckerberg for connecting people online that encompasses augmented and virtual reality. However, as is the case with social media platforms where bullying and cybercrime are rampant, Metaverse, too, has its own share of vices.

Metaverse was launched with much fanfare and optimism by Mark Zuckerberg for connecting people online that encompasses augmented and virtual reality. However, as is the case with social media platforms where bullying and cybercrime are rampant, Metaverse, too, has its own share of vices. According to an online watchdog, within an hour of entering the Metaverse, a 21-year-old woman was sexually assaulted and harassed virtually. A report — titled “Metaverse: another cesspool of toxic content” — said that the woman was raped within one hour of being in the metaverse, according to a new report from SumOfUs, a “nonprofit advocacy organization and online community that campaigns to hold corporations accountable” for a variety of alleged infractions, reports Daily Mail. The unnamed woman, who works as a researcher for SumOfUs‚ claimed that her avatar was raped while other users watched after he led her into a private room at a party on “Horizon Worlds,”—a metaverse platform released by Meta last December in the US and Canada that allows users to gather with others, play games and build their own virtual worlds. Even though everything is happening virtually, the woman could sense the unwanted touch and grope through the VR controllers. In the Metaverse, when a user is touched by another, the hand controllers vibrate, “creating a very disorienting and even disturbing physical experience during a virtual assault.” “It happened so fast I kind of disassociated. One part of my brain was like ‘WTF is happening,’ the other part was like ‘this isn’t a real body,’ and another part was like, ‘this is important research,’” the unnamed researcher said in the report. Also read | What is metaverse, the new buzzword in internet technology? The watchdog also pointed out that “VR users have long reported problems with sexual harassment, verbal abuse, racial slurs and invasion of personal space on a myriad of apps.” Also read | Metaverse, electric cars, brain tech: Take a look at how the future of technology will look like Responding to the incident, a representative for Meta told the Daily Mail, “We don’t recommend turning off the safety feature with people you do not know.” The SumOfUs report also listed other cases of sexual harassment that have occurred in the metaverse. (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.

21-year-old woman virtually raped, harassed in metaverse: Report

Social media platform Meta, formerly Facebook, has started sending out notification to users about privacy policy update which it will roll out from July 26, the company said on Thursday.

Meta in its post said that it has rewritten and re-designed its privacy Policy to make it easier to understand and clearer about how it uses users' information.

"Notifications that people will start to receive today on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger will direct them to information about what to expect from the relevant privacy policy and terms of service in their region. They'll also see a summary of what's different. These updates go into effect on July 26, and people don't need to act on this notification by this date to continue using our products," Meta said.

Meta is also updating "Terms of Service" to explain expectation from it and those who use its platforms.

"The updated Meta Privacy Policy covers Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and other Meta products. It doesn't cover WhatsApp, Workplace, Free Basics, Messenger Kids or the use of Quest devices without a Facebook account, which have their own privacy policies," Meta said.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Social media platform Meta, formerly Facebook, has started sending out notification to users about privacy policy update which it will roll out from July 26, the company said on Thursday.

Social media platform Meta, formerly Facebook, has started sending out notification to users about privacy policy update which it will roll out from July 26, the company said on Thursday. Meta in its post said that it has rewritten and re-designed its privacy Policy to make it easier to understand and clearer about how it uses users' information. "Notifications that people will start to receive today on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger will direct them to information about what to expect from the relevant privacy policy and terms of service in their region. They'll also see a summary of what's different. These updates go into effect on July 26, and people don't need to act on this notification by this date to continue using our products," Meta said. Meta is also updating "Terms of Service" to explain expectation from it and those who use its platforms. "The updated Meta Privacy Policy covers Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and other Meta products. It doesn't cover WhatsApp, Workplace, Free Basics, Messenger Kids or the use of Quest devices without a Facebook account, which have their own privacy policies," Meta said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Facebook informs users rollout of updated privacy policy from July 26

Facebook's parent company gives an early glimpse of its first physical store which is set to open on May 9 and will give people an opportunity to buy oculus virtual reality headset and further promote its idea of metaverse.