Facebook sues two Ukranians over data-stealing browser add-ons Facebook is all too aware of how developers can make off with private data, and it's willing to go to court to fight that behavior. The Verge has learned that the social network sued two Ukranian men, Andrey Gorbachov and Gleb Sluchevsky, for allegedly swiping private user data through deceptive browser extensions. (Engadget)
Facebook Policy Facebook has made a rather perverse decision that could see it further enrage lawmakers in the EU. As part of its attempt to crack down on foreign election interference, Facebook won't allow cross-border ad campaigns for the upcoming European elections—which are by definition cross-border elections. The European Commission and Parliament and the Council of the EU have all complained, but to no avail. Politico
Giving Facebook a voice. Facebook's augmented reality and virtual reality unit is developing a digital voice assistant akin to Amazon's Alexa and Apple's Siri, CNBC reported. The digital assistant could let users of the company's Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets or Portal video conferencing device, which already comes installed with Alexa, give voice commands to the devices.
Facebook Fine Facebook is expecting a fine of as much as $5 billion from the Federal Trade Commission over privacy violations that may have violated a 2011 order. The company set aside $3 billion in its quarterly earnings report yesterday, which hit its Q1 net income hard even though revenue was up by over a quarter. ABC
I suspect that slowly, but surely FB will lose market share due to their inability to keep up with the new technology coming and also their left wing bent---FB down 85 percent in the next 6 yrs.
Facebook Changes Apart from discovering that others don't find Facebook's abysmal privacy record as hilarious as he does, Mark Zuckerberg used yesterday's speech to unveil changes to a bunch of Facebook products. Facebook Messenger is now encrypted by default, Instagram is trialling a "private like counts" feature, WhatsApp's Indian secure payments feature will expand elsewhere this year—and the Facebook app will lose its distinctive blue branding. BBC
Facebook Payments Facebook is reportedly talking to dozens of financial and e-commerce companies, including Visa and MasterCard, about the cryptocurrency-based payment system it is developing. The scheme carries the codename Project Libra and involves a dollar-pegged virtual currency that could be used for payments between WhatsApp users. Facebook is apparently considering giving users small amounts of the cryptocurrency for looking at ads. Wall Street Journal
Fixing Facebook Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes says it's time to break up the company. Why? It has too much power over people and the ad market, and has become inescapable. The illusion of choice allows for poor privacy practices, he argues—and there are no checks and balances. Hughes implicitly backs the Elizabeth Warren plan for rolling back Facebook's Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions. Here's the video he did for the New York Times. YouTube
Facebook is building out its team of antitrust experts Facebook is hiring a bevy of new lawyers and policy experts with expertise in competition law. The job openings come as a cofounder of the social network calls for the company to be broken up under antitrust regulation. (Business Insider)