On Thursday, Facebook said it would be phasing out the use of third-party data for ad targeting on the platform over the next six months. Since the ignition of the firestorm over Facebook’s handling of Cambridge Analytica’s misuse of user data, there has been one group that hasn’t had pitchforks out for the social network: […]
Seeking to reassure users on privacy following Cambridge Analytica and the subsequent fallout, Facebook has taken two related steps. The company is simplifying its famously confusing privacy controls and ending its third party “Partner Categories” program, which allowed the importation of third party “offline” data for targeting. Facebook issued a short statement about the end of Partner
Facebook booting data brokers, simplifying privacy tools to bolster user confidence Read More »
Since the Cambridge Analytica data mining revelations that broke a little over a week ago, a lot has happened. After initially seeking to minimize its role in the scandal, Facebook apologized and opened the door to being regulated. A second, related scandal has arisen around the collection of Android users’ calls and SMS histories, which
After a week of crisis and mea culpas from Facebook, assessing the threats and exposure Read More »
Facebook has quietly removed an ad filter that enabled advertisers to create campaigns targeting users based on their relationship preferences. The filter allowed advertisers to target people based on information from the “interested in” detail on their user profile. Users can select if they are interested in “women” or “men” — making it possible to
Following Facebook’s suspension of Cambridge Analytica, the analytics firm charged with exploiting Facebook user data, the social platform’s chief security officer, Alex Stamos, is said to be leaving. According to the The New York Times, Stamos said he will be leaving by August of this year and had been clashing with executives since 2016 “over
Facebook chief security officer reportedly resigns amid data controversy Read More »
BlackBerry has sued Facebook for patent infringement in federal district court in California. The claim is that Facebook’s various messaging tools, including WhatsApp, are using and infringing on BlackBerry’s intellectual property. Reportedly, the companies were involved in licensing discussions, which didn’t produce the desired outcome for BlackBerry. The suit states seven counts of infringement. The
BlackBerry sues Facebook, claims messaging apps infringe on multiple patents Read More »
Consumer packaged goods maker Unilever, an advertising force with a $9.8 billion annual marketing budget, is ringing the alarm bells that all is still not well in the environments fostered by the likes of Google and Facebook. Unilever Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Keith Weed spoke about the need for platforms to regain consumer trust
A final call? Unilever threatens to pull ads from platforms swamped with ‘toxic’ content Read More »
Last year, Facebook said it would provide all advertisers with reports listing the publishers on whose sites, apps, Instant Articles and native Facebook videos their ads may appear when buying that inventory from the social network. But those reports have not yet become widely available. Facebook has been gradually rolling out the pre-campaign placement lists
Facebook is testing a Reddit-style downvoting option on comments on public Page posts, seemingly as a way to learn what qualifies as meaningful engagement on public posts. A Facebook spokesperson confirmed the test after The Daily Beast first reported on the downvoting feature’s appearance earlier on Thursday. “We are not testing a dislike button. We
Facebook tests downvoting as it learns how to gauge meaningful engagement on Page posts Read More »
Facebook is willing to take a hit to its wallet to make sure its users don’t. Facebook will ban all ads promoting cryptocurrency in an attempt to prevent scammers from using its advertising platform to dupe its users, the company announced on Tuesday. Facebook’s ban applies to all ads that “promote financial products and services
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