Internet Safety & Privacy

New Facebook Malware Is Targeting Government Employees, Business Accounts And More

New Facebook Malware Is Targeting Government Employees, Business Accounts And More

A team of security researchers have identified a new malware threat that has been spreading on Facebook targeting government infrastructure employees, manufacturing companies, and more. According to the researchers, the malware is being spread through malicious ads and fake Facebook accounts. Though the ultimate goal of these bad actors is unknown, the attack is being…

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Online Therapy Company Fined For Sharing Private Consumer Data With Facebook

Online Therapy Company Fined For Sharing Private Consumer Data With Facebook

Facebook’s business model is built on collecting as much of our data as possible — even when it includes sensitive and private medical information. However, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) took a big step toward cracking down on that practice this week when it fined online therapy company BetterHelp $7.8 million for sharing data with…

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Facebook Revamps Controversial Program That Gave Special Content Moderation Treatment To VIPs

Facebook Revamps Controversial Program That Gave Special Content Moderation Treatment To VIPs

In November 2021, Facebook came under fire after it was revealed that the social media giant was giving special treatment to high-profile users by giving them leeway to post content that violated its policies. After this so-called “cross-check” program came to light, Facebook’s independent Oversight Board called on the company to overhaul the system. And…

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One State Throws A Wrench In Facebook Privacy Settlement Plans

One State Throws A Wrench In Facebook Privacy Settlement Plans

This week, Facebook expected to finally put the Cambridge Analytica data breach scandal to bed when a district court in California approved a $725 million settlement. The social media giant thought that this enormous settlement would end all cases against it — however, the state of New Mexico disagreed, intervening at the last second to…

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Facebook Introduces New Tool To Crack Down On Spread Of Teens’ Intimate Images

Facebook Introduces New Tool To Crack Down On Spread Of Teens’ Intimate Images

This week, Facebook introduced an ambitious new tool intended to crack down on “revenge porn,” or the spread of explicit pictures without the victim’s consent. Unfortunately, this practice is common on social media, especially among teen boys. The tool, called Take It Down, was created in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited…

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Facebook Whistleblower Wants To Force The Company To Be More Transparent

Facebook Whistleblower Wants To Force The Company To Be More Transparent

In late 2021, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen released a trove of documents that revealed disturbing aspects of the company’s internal practices, including that it knew it was harmful for young users but did little to address the problem. Now, she’s on the offensive against the social media giant once again, this time by asking investors…

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Meta Is Revamping “Facebook Jail” For Violating Company’s Rules

Meta Is Revamping “Facebook Jail” For Violating Company’s Rules

Facebook’s content moderation rules aren’t always clear — especially to users who break them. The company often tosses violators in “Facebook jail” without explaining what they did wrong, removing their posting privileges after one slip-up. However, this week, the company announced improvements to its penalty system that will give users more leeway if they run…

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Report: Facebook Shows Children Ads For Gambling, Alcohol And More

Report: Facebook Shows Children Ads For Gambling, Alcohol And More

Facebook is the master of monetizing our data by showing us targeted ads. However, the company often gets in trouble for the sensitive info it collects — and for the advertisements it allows on its platform. For instance, this week, a new study from the University of Queensland and Monash University revealed that young Facebook…

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Facebook Introduces Paid Verification Subscription Service With Added Security

Facebook Introduces Paid Verification Subscription Service With Added Security

It’s safe to say that Facebook has a spotty reputation for protecting its users. However, the social media giant announced this week that it’s preparing to roll out extra security features that any user can access — for a price. According to founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the company is introducing a paid verification feature…

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Facebook Is Still Auto-Generating Pages For Terrorist Groups

Facebook Is Still Auto-Generating Pages For Terrorist Groups

Facebook’s algorithm is a source of many problems the company faces, and the latest such controversy reared its head this week when the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) released a study revealing that the company is still auto-generating “business” pages for terrorist groups despite promising to stop. It’s a strange quirk of the platform’s algorithm, but…

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