Search engine giant Google opts out from any April fools’ pranks this year, due to the Coronavirus pandemic impacting the world
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Coronavirus: Google Pledges $800 Million For Covid-19 Crisis
Search engine giant pledges $800 million to fight against Coronavirus, mostly with the provision of free advertising for organisations
Coronavirus: Facebook Admits Covid-19 Is Hurting Advertising Sales
Social networking giant Facebook says that Coronavirus is hitting its principle money-making capability, namely advertising sales
Coronavirus: Facebook Lowers Video Quality In South America
Following similar move in Europe, social networking giant confirms it is lowering video quality in South America to ease network congestion
Coronavirus: Facebook Joins Netflix, YouTube In Streaming Downgrade
Facebook confirms it will downgrade video streaming quality on its platform and on Instagram in Europe, until bandwidth concerns ease
Coronavirus: Netflix, YouTube Lower Streaming Quality To Ease Network Strain
Streaming platforms respond to requests to halt high-definition streaming, with confirmation that Europe will see reduction in video quality
Coronavirus: Netflix Urged To Stream Low Definition To Ease Network Strain
European Union Commissioner has urged Netflix and other streaming platforms to stop delivering content in high definition
Coronavirus: AI Takes Over Social Network Moderation As Staff Sent Home
Social networks are turning to AI and automated tools to police social networking posts, as staff are sent home due to Covid-19 pandemic
NSO Asks US Court To Sanction Facebook Over Lawsuit
NSO alleges Facebook failed to follow ‘international law’, after the Israeli firm failed to show up in US court to contest WhatsApp lawsuit
Coronavirus: Google Orders All North American Staff To Work From Home
Alphabet’s Google division has ordered all of its Northern American staff to work from home, if possible, until at least 10 April
Twitter’s Dorsey Survives Shareholder Revolt, Reconsiders Africa Move
Jack Dorsey survives intervention by activist shareholder group, after admitting he will reevaluate plans to move to Africa due to coronavirus outbreak
Twitter Tests Disappearing ‘Fleets’ In Brazil
Twitter is testing tweets that disappear which it calls ‘fleets’, similar to features found in Snapchat and Instagram
Facebook Rethinks Libra Digital Currency Plans – Report
Resistance from regulators around the world prompts Facebook to ‘rethink’ its plan for its Libra digital currency, it is reported
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Faces Ousting Attempt By Shareholder
Activist shareholder Elliott Management has reportedly taken a sizeable stake in Twitter and is seeking Jack Dorsey’s removal
Martin Lewis Calls For Action As Fake Ad Reports His Death
No, the founder of MoneySavingExpert and well known money saving expert Martin Lewis, is not dead, despite fake adverts to the contrary
Facebook Cancels F8 Developer Conference Over Coronavirus
As shares on Wall Street and global market continue to tumble, Facebook cancels its annual developer conference due to coronavirus concerns
Facial Recognition Firm Clearview AI Hacked
Privacy compromise. American company that has a database of more than three billion photographs of people has been hacked
US Questions Tech Firm Liability Exemption For User Posts
Does Facebook and Google still need immunity from legal liability for user post? US Attorney General doesn’t seem to think so
WhatsApp Hits Two Billion Users, Defends Encryption
Facebook-owned messaging app now used by a staggering 2 billion people, as platform defends its default use of end-to-end encryption
Government To Put Ofcom In Charge Of Regulating Internet Content
More powers on the way for British communications watchdog Ofcom, after Government decides Internet firms cannot regulate themselves
Facebook Accounts On Twitter, Instagram Hacked
Facebook has been targeted by Saudi-based hacking collective OurMine after compromise of its Twitter and Instagram accounts
Twitter Warns ‘State-Sponsored Actors’ Accessed Phone Numbers
Platform warns IP addresses with ‘ties to state-sponsored actors’ attempted to access phone numbers associated with user accounts
Facebook Settles Facial Recognition Lawsuit
Social networking giant pays out nearly half a billion dollars to settle long running biometric data lawsuit in the United States
Facebook Shares Fall Amid Sharp Rise In Costs
Social networking giant delivers strong financial results, but investors took fright at big increase in expenses and costs
Facebook Oversight Board Appoints Human Rights Expert
Can independent oversight board restore faith in Facebook’s and Mark Zuckerberg’s handling of questionable content?
Ring Doorbell App Reveals Personal Data, EFF Warns
Privacy threat? Ring app for Android is packed with third-party tracking software, Electronic Frontier Foundation has warned
Facebook To Hire 1,000 UK Staff
London engineering centre will see significant increase in workforce, as Facebook seeks growth in post Brexit United Kingdom
Twitter Apologises For Adverts For Neo-Nazis
Twitter says sorry after it is found that it’s ad tool allowed for discriminatory terms to be used for targetted adverts
Facebook Refuses To Ban Misleading Political Adverts
Platform makes limited changes to its stance on political adverts, but still refuses to ban ads that are misleading or spread lies
CES 2020: Twitter To Test Reply-Limiting Tech
Platform to test four settings to allow users to control who can reply to a user’s tweets, in effort to halt Twitter’s toxic culture