The Mueller investigation produced its first indictment, and the biggest takeaway was the degree of Russian sophistication. This was good news for Facebook, until an executive undid it all.
Bob Lutz on the Future of the Automobile, Uber and Lyft Ban Rider, Twitter’s Verification Mess
If the only way to get a ride is through a transportation company, should your political views matter? Twitter is, unintentionally, making that a moot point by setting the stage for regulation.
Oculus Connect 4, Russian Ads and the Law, Trump and Facebook
Mark Zuckerberg’s keynote at Oculus 4 gave the clearest indication yet why Facebook might be interested in Virtual Reality. Then, Trump challenges the first amendment, so why are folks eager for regulation of content? Plus, Facebook isn’t trustworthy either.
Cloudflare and Daily Stormer, Free Speech and Corporations, Just War and Regulation
Cloudfare finally pulled the plug on the Daily Storm. It may have been an easy call in isolation, but the implications highlight the inevitable push towards regulation online.
Facebook Content Guidelines, Facebook Video, Amazon Prime Video on Apple TV
Facebook faces a daunting challenge when it comes to policing content, but it is a challenge the company brought on itself. Then, Facebook’s video tab is competing against YouTube, not Amazon or Netflix, and business models explain why — and probably explain the Amazon-Apple truce.
Tulips, Myths, and Cryptocurrencies
Did you hear the one about the tulip bubble? It’s almost certainly a myth. It is myths, though, that explain why cryptocurrencies are here to stay.
Not OK, Google
Google is making an algorithmic change to demote fake news, but its lack of transparency around its actions is concerning in its own right.
Ad Agencies and Accountability
Google is in hot water again, this time for ads placed against objectionable content. However, ad agencies and brands are just as responsible, and can no longer live in the past.
Fake News and Facebook, Filter Bubbles and People, Google’s Featured Snippets Problem
Research says truly fake news isn’t much of a problem; filter bubbles are, but algorithms are less responsible than it seems. That, though, is why Google in particular has a responsibility to do better.
Fake News
Facebook is under fire for fake news and filter bubbles; they are a problem, but most of the proposed solutions are far worse.