It only takes about five minutes to buy a Facebook ad with a link to a fake anti-Muslim story and aim it at residents of a Michigan electoral battleground county whom the social network's algorithms perceive to be "very conservative." This capability is at the heart of an ongoing controversy around revelations that a Russian troll farm gamed Facebook's ad targeting apparatus with exactly these sorts of purchases. Facebook has admitted that it sold 3,000 ads to entities aligned with the Russian government’s campaign to influence the presidential election. The Kremlin-linked actors reportedly used Facebook’s tools to target ads around electoral geography, feelings toward Muslims, and racial divisions, among other political pressure points. Facebook claims around 10 million Americans saw them. But one social media analyst estimates the actual number to be at least double that when accounting for free posts. Upon alerting Facebook to these findings, the company promptly … [Read more...] about Here’s how easy it is for anyone to use Facebook like Russian actors did
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After Math: Everything sucks
It's another week down and we're all a bit closer to death. Huzzah. While the moron-in-chief continues to systematically dismantle everything good and decent about our country, the tech industry did its part to help hasten that process along. The heads of Twitter and Facebook respectively showed that they're not just spineless incompetents but also tone deaf stooges, Tesla had to recall a metric shit-ton of Model Xs because sitting in the middle seat could kill you, and Porsche rolled out a new service to make the lives of the 1 percenters that much more luxurious. Numbers, because screw it, nothing matters. … [Read more...] about After Math: Everything sucks
How to use Facebook like a Russian political troll
It only takes about five minutes to buy a Facebook ad with a link to a fake anti-Muslim story and aim it at residents of a Michigan electoral battleground county whom the social network's algorithms perceive to be "very conservative." This capability is at the heart of an ongoing controversy around revelations that a Russian troll farm gamed Facebook's ad targeting apparatus with exactly these sorts of purchases. Facebook has admitted that it sold 3,000 ads to entities aligned with the Russian government’s campaign to influence the presidential election. The Kremlin-linked actors reportedly used Facebook’s tools to target ads around electoral geography, feelings toward Muslims, and racial divisions, among other political pressure points. Facebook claims around 10 million Americans saw them. But one social media analyst estimates the actual number to be at least double that when accounting for free posts. Upon alerting Facebook to these findings, the company promptly … [Read more...] about How to use Facebook like a Russian political troll
Report: Twitter deleted tweets related to the Russian investigation
Twitter has deleted tweets that could be helpful to investigators currently examining Russia's suspected manipulation of the social network during the 2016 presidential election, U.S. government cybersecurity officials told Politico. According to the officials, Twitter is either unable or unwilling to retrieve a "substantial amount" of tweets from bots and fake users spreading disinformation. Those users, which have been tied to Russia, have since deleted those tweets. SEE ALSO: Russians coordinated their election attacks across Twitter and Facebook The lost tweets are apparently casualties of Twitter's privacy policy, which states that when an account deletes a tweet, it will be permanently deleted from Twitter's servers after 30 days through an automated process. After the account holders deleted their tweets and the accounts, which are suspected of having spread false or exaggerated pro-Trump and anti-Clinton narratives, they were also removed from Twitter's system — … [Read more...] about Report: Twitter deleted tweets related to the Russian investigation
Oculus’ standalone headsets point to a changing VR landscape
Last year was the year that VR went mainstream. The Oculus Rift finally shipped to consumers, as did the HTC Vive and the PS VR. But even as the VR industry is finally starting to take off, it's already beginning to splinter. Before, we had phone-based VR like Samsung's Gear VR and Google's Daydream, and then higher-end PC models like the Rift and the Vive. Now, the standalone VR headset is emerging as a category unto itself. And it stands to make the VR landscape a lot more accessible -- and possibly more divisive -- than ever before. The idea of standalone VR headsets is not a new one. Intel explored the field with Project Alloy for a while before killing it earlier this year, Alcatel made one that didn't quite take off and Google announced it's working with standalone Daydream headsets from HTC and Lenovo too. But it's Oculus -- the pioneer of modern VR -- that is the first to come out swinging with two … [Read more...] about Oculus’ standalone headsets point to a changing VR landscape
Director Oliver Stone sticks up for Harvey Weinstein, is immediately accused of sexual misconduct
Harvey Weinstein was never the only sexual predator in Hollywood – he was just one of the most powerful and most prolific. And his fall from grace is dragging down others as well. Director Oliver Stone has been accused of sexual assault by Carrie Stevens, a former Playboy model who says he groped her at a party about 26 years ago. SEE ALSO: Here are all the women who have accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual abuse so far She wrote on Facebook: I was only 22 years old. Oliver walked past me & grabbed my boob as he waltzed out the front door of a party. I still remember the cocky grin on his face like he got away with something...These douche bags are not above the law, and they should be held to the same standard as every other man. It's common decency NOT to grab boobs, pussies (like our President does)...or any other body part of another uninvited. They should go back to preschool, because they must've missed the lesson... "keep your hands to yourself." Stevens described … [Read more...] about Director Oliver Stone sticks up for Harvey Weinstein, is immediately accused of sexual misconduct
Russia investigation hits an unexpected wall: Twitter’s deletion policy
Twitter has deleted tweets that could be helpful to investigators currently examining Russia's suspected manipulation of the social network during the 2016 presidential election, U.S. government cybersecurity officials told Politico. According to the officials, Twitter is either unable or unwilling to retrieve a "substantial amount" of tweets from bots and fake users spreading disinformation. Those users, which have been tied to Russia, have since deleted those tweets. SEE ALSO: Russians coordinated their election attacks across Twitter and Facebook The lost tweets are apparently casualties of Twitter's privacy policy, which states that when an account deletes a tweet, it will be permanently deleted from Twitter's servers after 30 days through an automated process. After the account holders deleted their tweets and the accounts, which are suspected of having spread false or exaggerated pro-Trump and anti-Clinton narratives, they were also removed from Twitter's system — … [Read more...] about Russia investigation hits an unexpected wall: Twitter’s deletion policy
You can now order food on Facebook and it’s called ‘Order Food’
No need to eat that plain dry toast anymore, Mark. Everyone's favorite social network launched its food delivery function across the U.S. on Friday. It is called "Order Food." In a blog post, Alex Himel, Facebook's vice president of local, makes ordering food on Seamless sound like a byzantine adventure. "Ordering food for takeout or delivery is supposed to be simple. That’s the point. But somehow it’s gotten complicated. First you need to decide what to eat, then you have to sift through a bunch of options and services," he wrote. To fix this...uh...issue?... Facebook is introducing its own way to order food that seems exactly like Seamless and every other online food delivery service. It will be great for people who look for food on Facebook, Himel wrote. "Today, we’re taking the time out of finding what you want to eat by officially launching the ability to order food for pick-up or delivery, directly on Facebook. People already go to Facebook to … [Read more...] about You can now order food on Facebook and it’s called ‘Order Food’
Now director Oliver Stone has also been accused of sexual misconduct
Harvey Weinstein was never the only sexual predator in Hollywood – he was just one of the most powerful and most prolific. And his fall from grace is dragging down others as well. Director Oliver Stone has been accused of sexual assault by Carrie Stevens, a former Playboy model who says he groped her at a party about 26 years ago. SEE ALSO: Here are all the women who have accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual abuse so far She wrote on Facebook: I was only 22 years old. Oliver walked past me & grabbed my boob as he waltzed out the front door of a party. I still remember the cocky grin on his face like he got away with something...These douche bags are not above the law, and they should be held to the same standard as every other man. It's common decency NOT to grab boobs, pussies (like our President does)...or any other body part of another uninvited. They should go back to preschool, because they must've missed the lesson... "keep your hands to yourself." Stevens described … [Read more...] about Now director Oliver Stone has also been accused of sexual misconduct
Dubai police will ride hoverbikes straight out of ‘Star Wars’
Dubai is aggressively turning itself into a "Future City," putting self-flying taxis in the skies and a facial recognition system in its airport. The Dubai police department's latest ride is now adding another sci-fi transportation staple: the hoverbike. The Dubai police, which already has luxury patrol cars, self-driving pursuit drones, and a robot officer, just announced it will soon have officers buzzing around on hoverbikes, which look like an early version of the speeder bikes used by the scout troopers on Endor in Return of the Jedi. The force (see what I did there?) unveiled its new Hoversurf Scorpion craft at the Gitex Technology Week conference, according to UAE English language publication Gulf News. The police force will use the hoverbike for emergency response scenarios, giving officers the ability to zoom over congested traffic conditions by taking to the air. SEE ALSO: Airbus is working on a self-flying taxi, and the prototype could fly as early as 2018 The … [Read more...] about Dubai police will ride hoverbikes straight out of ‘Star Wars’
