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Google Suspends Advertising in Russia
NewYork Times | Mar 03, 2022
Company Listed: Google
The move came after a Russian regulator demanded that the company stop showing ads with what the regulator claimed was false information about the invasion of Ukraine.
Google said on Thursday night that it had suspended all advertising in Russia after the country’s internet regulator demanded that the company stop showing what it considered ads displaying false information about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Google said it took the rare step of pausing its advertising business in the country, including search, YouTube and display marketing. The move came a few days after the company suspended advertising of content produced by Russian state media. Google said it had already blocked ads related to the conflict because it did not want people to take advantage of the crisis for financial gain.
“In light of the extraordinary circumstances, we’re pausing Google ads in Russia. The situation is evolving quickly, and we will continue to share updates when appropriate,” the company said in a written statement.
UK asks TikTok, Facebook and Twitter to block Russia’s RT and Sputnik after EU ban over propaganda concerns
South China Morning Post | Mar 04, 2022
Company Listed: TikTok, Facebook and Twitter
The UK is seeking to limit the reach of Russian state media on social media after lagging behind the EU in banning such outlets
The EU ban limited Russian media’s access to televisions in the UK, but the sources have remained accessible online
The UK has asked Facebook owner Meta Platforms Inc, Twitter Inc and ByteDance Ltd’s TikTok to ban Russian news channel RT while the UK regulator considers whether to sanction the broadcaster.
British Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries made the request Thursday, a day after the European Union officially banned broadcasts, app downloads and sharing content on social media from RT as well as Sputnik within the bloc. EU officials said its measures were needed to counter the destabilising impact of propaganda concerning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine aired by both services.
Colorado, other states launch probe into TikTok’s effect on kids’ health
The Colorado Sun | Mar 03, 2022
Company Listed: TikTok
U.S. lawmakers and federal regulators have criticized TikTok, citing practices and computer-driven promotion of content they say can endanger the physical and mental health of young users.
WASHINGTON — State attorneys general have launched a nationwide investigation into TikTok and its possible harmful effects on young users’ mental health, widening government scrutiny of the wildly popular video platform.
The investigation was announced Wednesday by a number of states led by California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee and Vermont. Colorado is also among the states investigating the social media site.
“I am committed to protecting our kids from harms related to social media. TikTok has an obligation to manage its platform fairly and responsibly, and this investigation is designed to do just that,” Colorado Attorney General Weiser, a Democrat, said in a written statement.
YouTube restricts viewing of People Power anthem
Philstar Global | Mar 04, 2022
Company Listed: YouTube, TikTok
Video sharing platform YouTube has imposed restrictions on the viewing of a video of the People Power Revolution anthem “Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo,” barring users under 18 from watching it.
When viewing the video uploaded by the song’s composer, Jim Paredes, a prompt will appear saying that the “YouTube community” identified it as “inappropriate or offensive to some audiences.”
Twitter user @unlawyer was among the users who flagged the restriction of the video on the platform. Philstar.com verified this on Friday morning, during which the restriction was still in effect.
According to YouTube, it regularly screens videos as part of its flagging system. In the case of violent or graphic content, like those documenting war zones, YouTube may impose age restrictions instead of taking it down if the video provides enough context.
Facebook Has Rejected Craig Kelly’s Request To Remove Fact-checking Ahead Of Federal Election Campaign
Led Bible | Mar 04, 2022
Company Listed: Meta Facebook
Meta (formerly known as Facebook) has rejected United Australia Party leader Craig Kelly’s demand to remove fact-checking on politicians' posts on the social media platform ahead of the Federal election campaign.
At a Parliamentary committee examining social media and online safety, Kelly called for ‘no foreign interference by Meta in the Australian election’ through blocking, shadow-banning or removing political candidates or parties from the platform.
However, Meta’s Head of Public Policy in Australia, Josh Machin said that removing or restricting fact-checking would violate Facebook Community Standards.
Kelly then asked if posts would still be fact-checked or their reach would be restricted or removed, to which Malin enforced Meta’s policies wouldn’t change ahead of the election campaign.
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Why Snapchat is safer than other traditional social media platforms
iTWire | Mar 04, 2022
Company Listed: Snapchat, Social Media
Snapchat gives five reasons why its app is much safer traditional social media platforms.
1. Snapchat is for real friends
Snapchat was designed for keeping up to date for close friends that users trust, so Snapchatters can only view content from those who allow it. Snapchat has emerged as an alternative to traditional social media, and stayed true to its’ values as a platform around authentic communication between real friends.
Designed for keeping up to date with close friends whom users trust, Snapchatters can only view content from users who allow it. Snapchat has emerged as an alternative to traditional social media and facilitates authentic communication between real friends.
Unlike other platforms, users know that the only people who are going to view their content are those that they have added as a friend. Snapchat doesn't have an open newsfeed, where anyone can broadcast content to the whole world.
Twitch Says It Will Bar Chronic Spreaders of Misinformation
NewYork Times | Mar 03, 2022
Company Listed: Twitch, Social Media
Twitch, the livestreaming site beloved by video gamers that has become a key internet communications service, said on Thursday that it had created new rules aimed at clamping down on egregious purveyors of misinformation.
The company, acknowledging the real-world harms that could come with its rapidly expanding influence, said it would prohibit “harmful misinformation superspreaders who persistently share misinformation on or off of Twitch.”
Twitch will take down only channels that meet a handful of criteria. To fall afoul of the new policy, users must be persistently sharing harmful misinformation that has been widely debunked, the company said, adding that it had “selected these criteria because taken togeth