Recent studies show that privacy concerns are very much on the minds of Facebook users. Part of being a responsible member of any  online community is educating yourself and your loved ones on how to properly configure the privacy and security settings offered by the platform. The fact that Facebook has over a billion members,…

Last fall, Facebook rolled out a controversial business model for European users that required them to pay a monthly subscription fee to opt out of targeted ad tracking. Not surprisingly, many advocates and lawmakers immediately sounded the alarm about this, criticizing the company for effectively forcing users to pay for privacy. And this week, the…

Facebook has made a big bet on artificial intelligence as the future of content moderation. However, bad actors are becoming equally adept at using this cutting-edge technology to scam users with convincing fake videos and images. One of the most disturbing examples of this is the rising prevalence of deepfake porn, often targeting celebrities. And…

Facebook has been under intense pressure from advocate and lawmakers this year to do a better job keeping young users safe while protecting their privacy. And this week, the company announced a sweeping new set of features intended to do just that — and they could benefit the rest of Facebook’s users, too. According to…

This week, Facebook announced several significant changes to the way it handles AI generated content on its platforms, including clearly labeling all examples of fake photos and videos. However, the company also went out of its way to downplay concerns that this technology could be used by bad actors to influence upcoming elections around the…

Over the past year, multiple US states have banded together to sue Facebook for its privacy practices and its treatment of young users. But this week, the state of Maryland went even further, passing two landmark privacy bills intended to rein in how Facebook and other tech companies collect user data. One bill, called the…

Facebook doesn’t exactly have a sterling reputation when it comes to blocking and removing content. That means that even when the social media giant mistakenly censors posts, many users immediately accuse the company of foul play. For instance, this week, Facebook blocked a small nonprofit newspaper and flagged it as a cybersecurity threat after the…

When it comes to content moderation, Facebook’s rules are often all over the place. That’s why the company’s semi-independent Oversight Board recently blasted the social media giant for its “incoherent” policy related to AI-generated videos. And this week, Facebook agreed to some of the Board’s recommendations, announcing that it will begin “labeling a wider range…

AI image generators are one of the hottest new developments in tech, and every social media platform — including Facebook — has raced to create their own. However, these tools are only as good as the data they’re trained on, and according to experts, that can include potentially offensive information from around the web. This…

Facebook has long had trouble keeping underage users off its platforms, leading to countless scandals and controversy surrounding children’s safety and mental health. However, Facebook wants to make app store providers like Google and Apple responsible for this age verification when users set up their phones. That way, Facebook argues, users won’t have to verify…

Facebook Marketplace is one of the most popular platforms in the world for buying and selling goods. Unfortunately, this means that it’s also a ripe target for scammers and cybercriminals, who are becoming increasingly bold in their strategies to rip off unsuspecting users. This week, the BBC published a disturbing report from a couple who…

When it comes to content moderation, Facebook often finds itself between a rock and a hard place. Either it allows offensive content to remain posted and gets criticized for it, or it takes too much down and is accused of censorship. However, some issues such as removing hate speech are more black and white —…

Facebook loves to tout the power of the artificial intelligence it uses to detect and remove offensive content. However, this technology too often does the opposite of what it’s intended and takes down innocent or even useful posts. For example, this week, the advocacy groups MSI Reproductive Choices and Center for Countering Digital Hate are claiming…