Category: Social Media

Republicans Tell Oversight Board Facebook’s Trump Ban Example of Uneven Standards

Republicans in Congress told Facebook’s oversight board in a new letter that the social media company’s suspension of former President Donald Trump is an example of uneven deplatforming standards. Top House GOP members, including Reps. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told the board that they see violent speech published from all parts of…


Australia Report Says Make Google and Facebook Pay for News

CANBERRA, Australia—Australia’s Parliament will debate making Google and Facebook pay for news after a Senate committee on Friday recommended no changes to drafts of the world’s first such laws. The Senate Economics Legislation Committee has been scrutinizing the bill since it was introduced in Parliament in December. The senators rejected Facebook and Google’s arguments that…


Deep Dive (Feb. 11): Disney Fires ‘The Mandalorian’ Star Over Social Media Post

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and President Joe Biden have opposing views on the impeachment trial outcome. Graham is predicting the trial will conclude by Sunday. He argues the number of senators who will vote against the article of impeachment is growing. Biden meanwhile says that some Republican senators may change their minds during the impeachment…


Canada Pushing Legislation That Would Make Tech Giants Pay for News Content: Guilbeault

Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault said the federal government will continue to push for legislation that would make major tech companies pay news outlets for posting content on their platform, even in cases of voluntary agreements like Google’s News Showcase. News Showcase provides a licensing program that pays publishers to curate content on story panels that…


Growing Up in a Culture of Empty Cheers

My babysitter gave my 10-year-old daughter a scrapbook. The sparkly pink binder was filled with adorable photos of the two of them eating ice cream, drinking smoothies, ice skating, wearing rainbow wigs, dancing to TikTok videos, and all the other Instagram-ready photos we’re so familiar with these days. In between the photos, my sitter had…


Instagram Bans Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Over COVID-19 Vaccine Claims

Facebook-owned Instagram this week banned Robert Kennedy Jr. from the photograph sharing service over claims he circulated regarding COVID-19 vaccines. “We removed this account for repeatedly sharing debunked claims about the coronavirus or vaccines,” Facebook said in a statement to news outlets. Kennedy founded the Children’s Health Defense organization and regularly highlights safety concerns about…


States Push to Rein in Big Tech as Federal Gears Grind Slow

States are moving with urgency in seeking to rein in alleged abuses by Big Tech companies, while the federal government is preoccupied with COVID-19 relief and former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. Spurred by various motivations, like fighting censorship, shoring up data privacy protections of constituents, or looking to punish or raise revenue from cash-flush…


White House: No New ‘Proactive Step’ on TikTok Deal Under Biden

WASHINGTON—The White House said on Wednesday it has an ongoing review of the risks TikTok may present to U.S. data but stressed it has taken no new “proactive step” related to a pending plan for the Chinese-owned company’s American operations to be acquired by U.S. investors. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Wednesday that…


Telegram Messaging App Tops Worldwide Downloads Chart

The Telegram messaging app was the top non-game app downloaded worldwide in January. Analysis firm Sensor Tower’s chart shows Telegram at the top of overall downloads and downloads through Google Play. Video application TikTok was second overall and on top of the Apple store’s downloads. Signal, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Zoom, MX TakaTak, Snapchat, and Facebook…


Texas Lawmaker on Bill Against Big Tech Censorship: ‘The Law Is on Our Side’

State Sen. Brian Hughes (R-Texas) was interviewed by NTD on Tuesday about his recent endeavors to fight big tech censorship. Hughes is working with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and state legislators on a bill to prevent big tech companies from taking action to moderate user content based on political viewpoints. Hughes said that he believes having…