An open letter is calling for a 6-month pause on AI development tools. The letter has been signed by Elon Musk, the co-founders of Apple, Skype, Pinterest, Getty Images. Vikram Chandra tells you more.

Will Artificial Intelligence be the end of mankind? | This World

When Pinterest went public in 2019, Christine Martinez’s friends sent congratulations. She had worked closely with the founders of the digital pinboard in its earliest days, and her friends thought she would get rich alongside them.

But as Pinterest’s stock price rose, turning its founders into billionaires, Martinez realized she would not be compensated or credited for her contributions, she said.

On Monday, she sued.

In a lawsuit filed in Alameda County Superior Court in California, Martinez accused Ben Silbermann and Paul Sciarra, two of Pinterest’s three co-founders, of breach of implied contract, idea theft, unjust enrichment and unfair business practices. Martinez created Pinterest alongside Silbermann and Sciarra, the lawsuit said, contributing ideas that were “core organizing concepts,” such as organizing images on boards and enabling e-commerce.

Martinez, 40, was never formally employed by Pinterest nor did she ask for a contract. She was not given stock, though she said Pinterest’s founders had verbally agreed to compensate her many times.

Martinez argued that she and the founders had an implied contract, based on their discussions. Pinterest even named a section of its source code after her, according to the complaint.

Pinterest did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit renews questions about whether Pinterest, which caters primarily to female users, is hostile to women and minorities in its workplace.

Over the summer, Ifeoma Ozoma and Aerica Shimizu Banks, two former Pinterest employees, wrote on Twitter about the pay disparities, retaliation and sexist, racist comments they had experienced at the company. Shortly after, Francoise Brougher, Pinterest’s former chief operating officer, sued the company, claiming gender discrimination and retaliation.

In December, the company agreed to a $22.5 million settlement with Brougher, including a $2.5 million donation toward charities for women and underrepresented minorities in tech.

According to the lawsuit, Martinez gave the co-founders the idea of organizing images on “boards,” a core feature of the site; created its call-to-action phrase, “Pin it”; and established its main categories including home décor, fashion and DIY (do-it-yourself). She also helped Silbermann persuade top design and lifestyle bloggers to use Pinterest and promote it. She took him to conferences, gathered feedback from the community and honed the pitch, she said.

Martinez said she realized she would not be compensated only after Pinterest went public in 2019.

When Pinterest went public in 2019, Christine Martinez’s friends sent congratulations. She had worked closely with the founders of the digital pinboard in its earliest days, and her friends thought she would get rich alongside them.

When Pinterest went public in 2019, Christine Martinez’s friends sent congratulations. She had worked closely with the founders of the digital pinboard in its earliest days, and her friends thought she would get rich alongside them. But as Pinterest’s stock price rose, turning its founders into billionaires, Martinez realized she would not be compensated or credited for her contributions, she said. On Monday, she sued. In a lawsuit filed in Alameda County Superior Court in California, Martinez accused Ben Silbermann and Paul Sciarra, two of Pinterest’s three co-founders, of breach of implied contract, idea theft, unjust enrichment and unfair business practices. Martinez created Pinterest alongside Silbermann and Sciarra, the lawsuit said, contributing ideas that were “core organizing concepts,” such as organizing images on boards and enabling e-commerce. Martinez, 40, was never formally employed by Pinterest nor did she ask for a contract. She was not given stock, though she said Pinterest’s founders had verbally agreed to compensate her many times. Martinez argued that she and the founders had an implied contract, based on their discussions. Pinterest even named a section of its source code after her, according to the complaint. Pinterest did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The lawsuit renews questions about whether Pinterest, which caters primarily to female users, is hostile to women and minorities in its workplace. Over the summer, Ifeoma Ozoma and Aerica Shimizu Banks, two former Pinterest employees, wrote on Twitter about the pay disparities, retaliation and sexist, racist comments they had experienced at the company. Shortly after, Francoise Brougher, Pinterest’s former chief operating officer, sued the company, claiming gender discrimination and retaliation. In December, the company agreed to a $22.5 million settlement with Brougher, including a $2.5 million donation toward charities for women and underrepresented minorities in tech. According to the lawsuit, Martinez gave the co-founders the idea of organizing images on “boards,” a core feature of the site; created its call-to-action phrase, “Pin it”; and established its main categories including home décor, fashion and DIY (do-it-yourself). She also helped Silbermann persuade top design and lifestyle bloggers to use Pinterest and promote it. She took him to conferences, gathered feedback from the community and honed the pitch, she said. Martinez said she realized she would not be compensated only after Pinterest went public in 2019.

Pinterest accused of not paying female ‘co-creator’

Facebook&nbsp;is leading the fast-growing&nbsp;market&nbsp;of "social&nbsp;commerce" that is expected to be worth some $36 billion in the United States this year, a research firm said Wednesday.

A report by&nbsp;market&nbsp;tracker eMarketer estimated some 56 million US residents would be making at least one purchase on&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;this year, giving the&nbsp;social&nbsp;media giant a 22.3 per cent share.

Another 32 million people will have bought something on&nbsp;Facebook-owned Instagram, giving it a 12.9 per cent share, according to eMarketer's forecast of&nbsp;social&nbsp;commerce.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/facebook-hits-1-trillion-value-after-judge-rejects-antitrust-complaints-394581">Facebook hits $1 trillion value after judge rejects antitrust complaints</a>

The number three player is Pinterest, with a forecasted 13.9 million buyers, or 5.6 per cent of the&nbsp;market, the report said.

According to eMarketer, US&nbsp;social&nbsp;commerce&nbsp;sales will rise by 35.8 per cent to $36.62 billion this year, a slip deceleration from the pandemic-fueled 39 per cent growth pace in 2020.

Overall, some 90 million Americans will be using&nbsp;social&nbsp;commerce, which could reach around five per cent of US retail sales by 2024, according to the group.

The report is based on direct sales of products or services or through links to retailers from&nbsp;social&nbsp;platforms, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/facebook">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/instagram">Instagram</a>, Pinterest, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/tiktok">TikTok</a>, WeChat and others.

It excludes travel and event tickets, tips and gifts, money transfers, gambling and food services.

Despite the strong growth, the United States lags behind China, which has been a leader in&nbsp;social&nbsp;commerce&nbsp;and is expected to have some 424 million people making purchases on its platforms such as WeChat this year.

"US marketers can look to China as a roadmap for&nbsp;social&nbsp;commerce's development, as many of the trends that will drive its growth, like livestream shopping, originated in China," said eMarketer senior analyst Jasmine Enberg.&nbsp;

"Keep in mind, however, that it's not an apples-to-apples comparison," she added.

"The&nbsp;social&nbsp;and e-commerce&nbsp;landscapes in the US are far more fragmented than those in China, and consumer behavior and attitudes toward digital shopping,&nbsp;social&nbsp;media consumption, online privacy and payments are different as well."

Facebook is leading the fast-growing market of "social commerce" that is expected to be worth some $36 billion in the United States this year, a research firm said Wednesday.

Facebook is leading the fast-growing market of "social commerce" that is expected to be worth some $36 billion in the United States this year, a research firm said Wednesday. A report by market tracker eMarketer estimated some 56 million US residents would be making at least one purchase on Facebook this year, giving the social media giant a 22.3 per cent share. Another 32 million people will have bought something on Facebook-owned Instagram, giving it a 12.9 per cent share, according to eMarketer's forecast of social commerce. Also read | Facebook hits $1 trillion value after judge rejects antitrust complaints The number three player is Pinterest, with a forecasted 13.9 million buyers, or 5.6 per cent of the market, the report said. According to eMarketer, US social commerce sales will rise by 35.8 per cent to $36.62 billion this year, a slip deceleration from the pandemic-fueled 39 per cent growth pace in 2020. Overall, some 90 million Americans will be using social commerce, which could reach around five per cent of US retail sales by 2024, according to the group. The report is based on direct sales of products or services or through links to retailers from social platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, WeChat and others. It excludes travel and event tickets, tips and gifts, money transfers, gambling and food services. Despite the strong growth, the United States lags behind China, which has been a leader in social commerce and is expected to have some 424 million people making purchases on its platforms such as WeChat this year. "US marketers can look to China as a roadmap for social commerce's development, as many of the trends that will drive its growth, like livestream shopping, originated in China," said eMarketer senior analyst Jasmine Enberg. "Keep in mind, however, that it's not an apples-to-apples comparison," she added. "The social and e-commerce landscapes in the US are far more fragmented than those in China, and consumer behavior and attitudes toward digital shopping, social media consumption, online privacy and payments are different as well."

Facebook leads surging 'social commerce' market: Survey

Image-sharing platform&nbsp;Pinterest has announced a ban on all ads with weight loss language and imagery, including ads that idealise or denigrate certain body types.

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Pinterest is committed to building a safe and inspiring space for all our users. That means looking at ways we can keep evolving our policies, starting today. Read more here: <a href="https://t.co/02tPUR2G21">https://t.co/02tPUR2G21</a> <a href="https://t.co/XDsFl02Ryo">pic.twitter.com/XDsFl02Ryo</a>
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The site, which allows users to "pin" or save pictures, GIFs or videos to curated pinboards, said&nbsp;it would also not allow ads with testimonials about weight loss or weight loss products, or ads referencing Body Mass Index (BMI) or similar indexes.

"This stance makes&nbsp;Pinterest&nbsp;the only major platform to prohibit all weight-loss ads. It's an expansion of our ad policies that have long prohibited body shaming and dangerous weight loss products or claims," the company said in a blog post on Thursday.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-blames-the-world-for-eating-disorders-394784/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Ads promoting healthy lifestyles, habits or fitness services and products are still allowed on the platform if they do not "focus on weight loss." The company said it had developed the policy with guidance from the National Eating Disorders Association.

Pinterest's head of policy, Sarah Bromma, said in an interview that the rule change prioritized&nbsp;Pinterest&nbsp;users' "emotional and mental health and wellbeing, especially those directly impacted by eating disorders or diet culture or body shaming."

Pinterest, which has long grappled with combating pro-eating disorder content on its site and has since 2015 blocked such searches and directed users to expert organisations, already has rules against ads promoting weight loss pills or containing before-and-after weight-loss imagery.

The company also said this week that its global head of inclusion and diversity, Tyi McCray, was leaving the company after less than a year. The move was first reported by Protocol.

Pinterest, which went public in 2019, has faced controversies around diversity and inequality in the last year, including when two former policy team employees alleged racial discrimination in the workplace.

(With inputs from agencies)

Image-sharing platform Pinterest has announced a ban on all ads with weight loss language and imagery, including ads that idealise or denigrate certain body types.

Image-sharing platform Pinterest has announced a ban on all ads with weight loss language and imagery, including ads that idealise or denigrate certain body types. Pinterest is committed to building a safe and inspiring space for all our users. That means looking at ways we can keep evolving our policies, starting today. Read more here: https://t.co/02tPUR2G21 pic.twitter.com/XDsFl02Ryo — Pinterest (@Pinterest) July 1, 2021 × The site, which allows users to "pin" or save pictures, GIFs or videos to curated pinboards, said it would also not allow ads with testimonials about weight loss or weight loss products, or ads referencing Body Mass Index (BMI) or similar indexes. "This stance makes Pinterest the only major platform to prohibit all weight-loss ads. It's an expansion of our ad policies that have long prohibited body shaming and dangerous weight loss products or claims," the company said in a blog post on Thursday. Ads promoting healthy lifestyles, habits or fitness services and products are still allowed on the platform if they do not "focus on weight loss." The company said it had developed the policy with guidance from the National Eating Disorders Association. Pinterest's head of policy, Sarah Bromma, said in an interview that the rule change prioritized Pinterest users' "emotional and mental health and wellbeing, especially those directly impacted by eating disorders or diet culture or body shaming." Pinterest, which has long grappled with combating pro-eating disorder content on its site and has since 2015 blocked such searches and directed users to expert organisations, already has rules against ads promoting weight loss pills or containing before-and-after weight-loss imagery. The company also said this week that its global head of inclusion and diversity, Tyi McCray, was leaving the company after less than a year. The move was first reported by Protocol. Pinterest, which went public in 2019, has faced controversies around diversity and inequality in the last year, including when two former policy team employees alleged racial discrimination in the workplace. (With inputs from agencies)

'No size fits all': Pinterest bans all weight loss ads

Microsoft reportedly held talks in recent months to acquire the $51-billion social media firm Pinterest, the media reported on Thursday. 
 
According to The Financial Times, the tech giant aimed to acquire Pinterest, a platform popular for sharing and discovering recipes, home ideas, style inspiration and other ideas, to create a portfolio of active online communities that could run on its Cloud computing platform. 
 
"The talks were currently not active, said one of the people briefed," the report said. 
 
Both Microsoft and Pinterest declined to comment on the report. 
 
Pinterest, whose market value increased more than 600 per cent during the pandemic, plans to remain an independent company. 
 
Microsoft earlier made an attempt to acquire TikTok but the deal did not materialise. 
 
The tech giant has acquired some significant companies under CEO Satya Nadella, like LinkedIn for $26 billionand open source code repository GitHub for $7.5 billion. 
 
Microsoft also cacquired private gaming company ZeniMax for $7.5 billion last year. 
 
Pinterest reported strong fourth quarter financial results last week, with $706 million in revenue. 
 
The company`s US revenue jumped 67 per cent (year over year) to $582 million while its international revenue was up 145 per cent year over year to $123 million. 
 
Pinterest said its international user base expanded 46 per cent to 361 million.

Microsoft reportedly held talks in recent months to acquire the $51-billion social media firm Pinterest, the media reported on Thursday. According to The Financial Times, the tech giant aimed to acquire Pinterest, a platform popular for sharing and discovering recipes, home ideas, style inspiration and other ideas, to create a portfolio of active online communities that could run on its Cloud computing platform.

Microsoft reportedly held talks in recent months to acquire the $51-billion social media firm Pinterest, the media reported on Thursday. According to The Financial Times, the tech giant aimed to acquire Pinterest, a platform popular for sharing and discovering recipes, home ideas, style inspiration and other ideas, to create a portfolio of active online communities that could run on its Cloud computing platform. "The talks were currently not active, said one of the people briefed," the report said. Both Microsoft and Pinterest declined to comment on the report. Pinterest, whose market value increased more than 600 per cent during the pandemic, plans to remain an independent company. Microsoft earlier made an attempt to acquire TikTok but the deal did not materialise. The tech giant has acquired some significant companies under CEO Satya Nadella, like LinkedIn for $26 billionand open source code repository GitHub for $7.5 billion. Microsoft also cacquired private gaming company ZeniMax for $7.5 billion last year. Pinterest reported strong fourth quarter financial results last week, with $706 million in revenue. The company`s US revenue jumped 67 per cent (year over year) to $582 million while its international revenue was up 145 per cent year over year to $123 million. Pinterest said its international user base expanded 46 per cent to 361 million.

Microsoft planned to buy social media firm Pinterest: Report

Popular online bulletin board Pinterest will pay former chief operating officer Francoise Brougher $20 million in a deal reached to settle a gender discrimination suit, a regulatory filing showed Monday. 
 
The settlement includes Pinterest investing another $2.5 million to increase the presence of women and other under-represented groups in the tech industry, according to a joint statement. 
 
"Pinterest recognizes the importance of fostering a workplace environment that is diverse, equitable and inclusive and will continue its actions to improve its culture," read a joint statement by Brougher and Pinterest. 
 
Brougher filed a lawsuit earlier this year, accusing San Francisco-based Pinterest of paying her less than male colleagues, leaving her out of decision making, and subjecting her to a hostile work environment, then firing her after she spoke out against the treatment, according to media reports. 
 
"Although 70 percent of Pinterest’s users are women, the company is steered by men with little input from female executives," Brougher said in a post on Medium when the suit was filed in August. 
 
"Pinterest’s female executives, even at the highest levels, are marginalized, excluded, and silenced." 
 
More than 440 million people around the world use Pinterest each month, according to the online bulletin board's website. 
 
"Women were the first to embrace us; they still make up more than 60 percent of our platform globally - and we're&nbsp;proud of it," Pinterest said in a blog post at the end of July. 
 
Pinterest, launched in 2010, is a virtual bulletin board platform, with users decorating their boards with pictures showcasing interests including food, fashion, travel and lifestyle. 
 
It also enables users to link to online shopping and other services to find items they have "pinned." 
 
"I will continue to advocate for workplace equity, including more women in the C-Suite," Brougher said in a tweet from her verified account on Twitter.

Popular online bulletin board Pinterest will pay former chief operating officer Francoise Brougher $20 million in a deal reached to settle a gender discrimination suit, a regulatory filing showed Monday.

Popular online bulletin board Pinterest will pay former chief operating officer Francoise Brougher $20 million in a deal reached to settle a gender discrimination suit, a regulatory filing showed Monday. The settlement includes Pinterest investing another $2.5 million to increase the presence of women and other under-represented groups in the tech industry, according to a joint statement. "Pinterest recognizes the importance of fostering a workplace environment that is diverse, equitable and inclusive and will continue its actions to improve its culture," read a joint statement by Brougher and Pinterest. Brougher filed a lawsuit earlier this year, accusing San Francisco-based Pinterest of paying her less than male colleagues, leaving her out of decision making, and subjecting her to a hostile work environment, then firing her after she spoke out against the treatment, according to media reports. "Although 70 percent of Pinterest’s users are women, the company is steered by men with little input from female executives," Brougher said in a post on Medium when the suit was filed in August. "Pinterest’s female executives, even at the highest levels, are marginalized, excluded, and silenced." More than 440 million people around the world use Pinterest each month, according to the online bulletin board's website. "Women were the first to embrace us; they still make up more than 60 percent of our platform globally - and we're proud of it," Pinterest said in a blog post at the end of July. Pinterest, launched in 2010, is a virtual bulletin board platform, with users decorating their boards with pictures showcasing interests including food, fashion, travel and lifestyle. It also enables users to link to online shopping and other services to find items they have "pinned." "I will continue to advocate for workplace equity, including more women in the C-Suite," Brougher said in a tweet from her verified account on Twitter.

Pinterest to pay $22.5 million to settle gender discrimination suit

Google's Area 120 has launched a new app called Keen, which, the internet believes, is just like Pinterest, but only a little more complicated.

Area 120 is Google's team&nbsp;that is responsible for&nbsp;experimental projects.

Keen helps you gather more information about whatever you are passionate about, and it helps you find like-minded people.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/to-boost-racial-equity-google-pledges-175-million-to-support-black-owned-businesses-306786/amp">Also read:&nbsp;To boost racial equity, Google pledges $175 million to support black-owned businesses</a>

Once on the app, the user can create 'keens' about any topic that he/she wants to know more about, or want to share information about. After creating a keen, the publisher can add information in form of pictures, videos, text or links.

There's also a feature called 'gems' that allows you to mark the information that you found to be particularly helpful.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-abandons-contact-tracing-app-switches-to-apple-and-google-model-306977">Also read:&nbsp;UK abandons contact tracing app; switches to Apple and Google model</a>

Just like Pinterest, Keen, too, lets you add friends on the app. It provides you the option of sharing your 'keen' with the world or keep it private, and also allows you to follow people with similar interests.

However, considering this is a Google product, your search history, within the app, will play a major role in assisting the AI behind the app in compiling a history-based showcase of products.

The search and&nbsp;machine learning technologies are powering this system, which will able the app to&nbsp;recommend related content, on the basis of users'&nbsp;saved items.

"Keen isn't intended to be a place to spend endless hours browsing. Instead, it's a home for your interests: a place to grow them, share them with loved ones and find things that will help in making this precious life count," Google said about the app.

Google's Area 120 has launched a new app called Keen, which, the internet believes, is just like Pinterest, but only a little more complicated. Area 120 is Google's team that is responsible for experimental projects.

Google's Area 120 has launched a new app called Keen, which, the internet believes, is just like Pinterest, but only a little more complicated. Area 120 is Google's team that is responsible for experimental projects. Keen helps you gather more information about whatever you are passionate about, and it helps you find like-minded people. Also read: To boost racial equity, Google pledges $175 million to support black-owned businesses Once on the app, the user can create 'keens' about any topic that he/she wants to know more about, or want to share information about. After creating a keen, the publisher can add information in form of pictures, videos, text or links. There's also a feature called 'gems' that allows you to mark the information that you found to be particularly helpful. Also read: UK abandons contact tracing app; switches to Apple and Google model Just like Pinterest, Keen, too, lets you add friends on the app. It provides you the option of sharing your 'keen' with the world or keep it private, and also allows you to follow people with similar interests. However, considering this is a Google product, your search history, within the app, will play a major role in assisting the AI behind the app in compiling a history-based showcase of products. The search and machine learning technologies are powering this system, which will able the app to recommend related content, on the basis of users' saved items. "Keen isn't intended to be a place to spend endless hours browsing. Instead, it's a home for your interests: a place to grow them, share them with loved ones and find things that will help in making this precious life count," Google said about the app.

Google launches experimental app 'Keen' resembling Pinterest

Several social networks including Pinterest and YouTube have detailed measures they are taking in response to pressure to combat disinformation on vaccines, which they have been accused of enabling.

Pinterest confirmed to AFP Monday it changed its policy last year with regards to anti-vaccine content, a development first disclosed last week by the Wall Street Journal.

The company said it had started blocking certain searches related to vaccinations and cancer cures last year because results were leading to harmful misinformation.

"We want Pinterest to be an inspiring place for people, and there's nothing inspiring about misinformation," a spokesperson said.

"That's why we continue to work on new ways of keeping misleading content off our platform and out of our recommendations engine."

Besides blocking search results, the site has also barred accounts and removed "pins" that violate its rules on medical disinformation, but the spokesperson was unable to give specific numbers.

YouTube announced Friday it was removing ads on anti-vaccine videos, thus eliminating a key way such videos make money.

"We have strict policies that govern what videos we allow ads to appear on, and videos that promote anti-vaccination content have been and remain a violation of our longstanding harmful or dangerous advertising policy," YouTube said in a statement.

Buzzfeed had drawn attention to instances in which YouTube's automated recommendations system had allowed some anti-vaccine videos to slip through.

Pressure is growing on social networks in the United States and elsewhere to take action in the face of criticism that they have enabled the development of an anti-vaccine movement.

Several outbreaks of measles in the US have sickened 159 people since the start of the year, including 65 in Clark County, Washington state. Most of the cases involved non-vaccinated children.

According to US health authorities, the percentage of children aged two or over who have not been vaccinated has gone from 0.9 per cent of children born in 2011, to 1.3 per cent of those born in 2015.

In 2017-2018, the number of requests for vaccination exemptions rose for the third school year in a row in the United States.

Democratic lawmaker Adam Schiff wrote to the heads of Facebook and Google about the issue on February 14. Facebook responded that it was looking at ways to reduce the visibility of anti-vaccine content.

Several social networks including Pinterest and YouTube have detailed measures they are taking in response to pressure to combat disinformation on vaccines, which they have been accused of enabling.

Several social networks including Pinterest and YouTube have detailed measures they are taking in response to pressure to combat disinformation on vaccines, which they have been accused of enabling. Pinterest confirmed to AFP Monday it changed its policy last year with regards to anti-vaccine content, a development first disclosed last week by the Wall Street Journal. The company said it had started blocking certain searches related to vaccinations and cancer cures last year because results were leading to harmful misinformation. "We want Pinterest to be an inspiring place for people, and there's nothing inspiring about misinformation," a spokesperson said. "That's why we continue to work on new ways of keeping misleading content off our platform and out of our recommendations engine." Besides blocking search results, the site has also barred accounts and removed "pins" that violate its rules on medical disinformation, but the spokesperson was unable to give specific numbers. YouTube announced Friday it was removing ads on anti-vaccine videos, thus eliminating a key way such videos make money. "We have strict policies that govern what videos we allow ads to appear on, and videos that promote anti-vaccination content have been and remain a violation of our longstanding harmful or dangerous advertising policy," YouTube said in a statement. Buzzfeed had drawn attention to instances in which YouTube's automated recommendations system had allowed some anti-vaccine videos to slip through. Pressure is growing on social networks in the United States and elsewhere to take action in the face of criticism that they have enabled the development of an anti-vaccine movement. Several outbreaks of measles in the US have sickened 159 people since the start of the year, including 65 in Clark County, Washington state. Most of the cases involved non-vaccinated children. According to US health authorities, the percentage of children aged two or over who have not been vaccinated has gone from 0.9 per cent of children born in 2011, to 1.3 per cent of those born in 2015. In 2017-2018, the number of requests for vaccination exemptions rose for the third school year in a row in the United States. Democratic lawmaker Adam Schiff wrote to the heads of Facebook and Google about the issue on February 14. Facebook responded that it was looking at ways to reduce the visibility of anti-vaccine content.

Pinterest, YouTube say acting against anti-vaccine messages

After years of refusing to address rumours about his sexuality, Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey said on Sunday he has chosen to live his life as a gay man.

Spacey, 58, who won Oscars for &ldquo;The Usual Suspects&rdquo; and &ldquo;American Beauty,&rdquo; made the declaration in a post on Twitter.

He apologized to fellow actor Anthony Rapp in the same post for an incident Rapp said occurred in 1986. Rapp, who went on to star in the Broadway musical &ldquo;Rent,&rdquo; was 14 at the time and starting his career.

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Spacey said he was &ldquo;horrified&rdquo; to hear Rapp&rsquo;s story of the encounter, which he said &ldquo;I honestly do not remember&rdquo; because it occurred more than 30 years ago. He also said he owed Rapp a &ldquo;sincere apology&rdquo; for what he said would have been &ldquo;deeply inappropriate drunken behavior.&rdquo;

Rapp&rsquo;s story &ldquo;has encouraged me to address other things in my life,&rdquo; Spacey wrote. &ldquo;I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I now choose to live life as a gay man.&rdquo;

&ldquo;I want to deal with this honestly and openly,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and that starts with me examining my own behavior.&rdquo;

Rapp described in an interview attending a party hosted by Spacey in which the actor picked him up, brought him to a bed and lay down on top of him after other guests left. Rapp, who said he had the impression Spacey was drunk, said he pushed him away and left.

Spacey, a Tony Award winner for &ldquo;Lost in Yonkers,&rdquo; stars in the Netflix political drama &ldquo;House of Cards.&rdquo; He also served for 10 years as artistic director of London&rsquo;s Old Vic theater company.

'I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I now choose to live life as a gay man,' Spacey said on Twitter

After years of refusing to address rumours about his sexuality, Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey said on Sunday he has chosen to live his life as a gay man. Spacey, 58, who won Oscars for “The Usual Suspects” and “American Beauty,” made the declaration in a post on Twitter. He apologized to fellow actor Anthony Rapp in the same post for an incident Rapp said occurred in 1986. Rapp, who went on to star in the Broadway musical “Rent,” was 14 at the time and starting his career. pic.twitter.com/X6ybi5atr5 — Kevin Spacey (@KevinSpacey) October 30, 2017 × Spacey said he was “horrified” to hear Rapp’s story of the encounter, which he said “I honestly do not remember” because it occurred more than 30 years ago. He also said he owed Rapp a “sincere apology” for what he said would have been “deeply inappropriate drunken behavior.” Rapp’s story “has encouraged me to address other things in my life,” Spacey wrote. “I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I now choose to live life as a gay man.” “I want to deal with this honestly and openly,” he said, “and that starts with me examining my own behavior.” Rapp described in an interview attending a party hosted by Spacey in which the actor picked him up, brought him to a bed and lay down on top of him after other guests left. Rapp, who said he had the impression Spacey was drunk, said he pushed him away and left. Spacey, a Tony Award winner for “Lost in Yonkers,” stars in the Netflix political drama “House of Cards.” He also served for 10 years as artistic director of London’s Old Vic theater company.

Kevin Spacey declares he has chosen to live life as a gay man

US&nbsp;tech firms such as Facebook Inc and Twitter Inc should be more aggressive in tackling extremism and political misinformation if they want to avoid government action, a report from the World Economic Forum said on Monday.

The study from the Swiss nonprofit organization adds to a chorus of calls for Silicon Valley to stem the spread of violent material from Islamic State militants and the use of their services by alleged Russian propagandists.

Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet Inc&#39;s Google will go under the microscope of US&nbsp;lawmakers on Tuesday and Wednesday when their general counsels will testify before three US&nbsp;congressional committees on alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US&nbsp;presidential election.

The report from the World Economic Forum&#39;s human rights council warns that tech companies risk government regulation that would limit freedom of speech unless they &quot;assume a more active self-governance role.&quot;

It recommends that the companies conduct more thorough internal reviews of how their services can be misused and that they put in place more human oversight of content.

The German parliament in June approved a plan to fine social media networks up to 50 million euros if they fail to remove hateful postings promptly, a law that Monday&#39;s study said could potentially lead to the takedown of massive amounts of content.

The study from the Swiss nonprofit organization adds to a chorus of calls for Silicon Valley to stem the spread of violent material.

US tech firms such as Facebook Inc and Twitter Inc should be more aggressive in tackling extremism and political misinformation if they want to avoid government action, a report from the World Economic Forum said on Monday. The study from the Swiss nonprofit organization adds to a chorus of calls for Silicon Valley to stem the spread of violent material from Islamic State militants and the use of their services by alleged Russian propagandists. Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet Inc's Google will go under the microscope of US lawmakers on Tuesday and Wednesday when their general counsels will testify before three US congressional committees on alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election. The report from the World Economic Forum's human rights council warns that tech companies risk government regulation that would limit freedom of speech unless they "assume a more active self-governance role." It recommends that the companies conduct more thorough internal reviews of how their services can be misused and that they put in place more human oversight of content. The German parliament in June approved a plan to fine social media networks up to 50 million euros if they fail to remove hateful postings promptly, a law that Monday's study said could potentially lead to the takedown of massive amounts of content.

Tech firms must do more on extremism: World Economic Forum

Pinterest, which develops visual search technology and allows users to save images on its website, has raised $150 million from existing investors in its latest round of funding valuing the company at $12.3 billion, a company spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

The latest funding round has slightly increased the company&#39;s valuation from $11 billion when Pinterest raised $367 million in March 2015.

Pinterest, which was founded in 2010, introduced a new search tool in early February called Lens to boost its advertising revenue.

Lens helps users to discover ideas inspired by objects in the real world that are detected through a device camera.

The additional capital will be used for further investments in visual technology and global expansion, the spokeswoman said in a statement over email.

The SanFrancisco-based company has 175 million monthly users collecting and pinning photos related to cooking, designing, travel and other interests on its website. About 60 percent of Pinterest&#39;s user base is outside the United States.

(Reuters)

The latest funding round has slightly increased the company's valuation from $11 billion when Pinterest raised $367 million in March 2015

Pinterest, which develops visual search technology and allows users to save images on its website, has raised $150 million from existing investors in its latest round of funding valuing the company at $12.3 billion, a company spokeswoman said on Tuesday. The latest funding round has slightly increased the company's valuation from $11 billion when Pinterest raised $367 million in March 2015. Pinterest, which was founded in 2010, introduced a new search tool in early February called Lens to boost its advertising revenue. Lens helps users to discover ideas inspired by objects in the real world that are detected through a device camera. The additional capital will be used for further investments in visual technology and global expansion, the spokeswoman said in a statement over email. The SanFrancisco-based company has 175 million monthly users collecting and pinning photos related to cooking, designing, travel and other interests on its website. About 60 percent of Pinterest's user base is outside the United States. (Reuters)

Pinterest raises $150 million, company valued at $12.3 billion

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