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Meta Faces Lawsuit from Polish Billionaire Alleging Fake Ad Scandal

Meta Faces Lawsuit from Polish Billionaire Alleging Fake Ad Scandal

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Polish billionaire Rafal Brzoska and his wife are preparing to take legal action against Meta Platforms, Inc. over fake advertisements circulating on Facebook and Instagram. These ads reportedly misuse Brzoska’s image and spread false information about his wife. The couple has expressed frustration over Meta’s handling of the situation, despite notifying the company in early July. This lawsuit, still in its planning stages, is part of a broader global trend where high-profile individuals seek to hold social media giants accountable for the content they allow on their platforms.

A Growing Legal Battle

Meta Faces Lawsuit from Polish Billionaire Alleging Fake Ad Scandal

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Brzoska, who is well-known as the creator of the Polish parcel locker company InPost, has taken a public stand against the fake advertisements featuring his likeness. These ads, which have been linked to various scams, continue to appear on Meta’s platforms despite his complaints. “We plan to file a private lawsuit against Meta,” Brzoska told Reuters, highlighting his dissatisfaction with the company’s response.

However, the billionaire and his legal team have not yet determined the jurisdiction in which they will file the lawsuit. They are considering multiple scenarios, including legal action in the United States if they find European jurisdictions to be unresponsive. This potential lawsuit could join a series of legal challenges globally that aim to curb the spread of fraudulent content on social media platforms. Brzoska’s case could become a significant example of individuals taking on tech giants in court, especially if it proceeds in multiple countries.

Meta’s Response and the Broader Implications

A spokesperson for Meta acknowledged the issue, stating that the company removes false advertisements once it becomes aware of them and works with local authorities to combat scammers. However, the persistence of these ads raises questions about the effectiveness of Meta’s measures to protect users from misleading content. Brzoska’s case underscores the ongoing struggle between individuals and large tech companies over content moderation and accountability.

Also Read: X Faces Austrian Complaint Over Data Usage for AI Training

As Brzoska and his wife deliberate their legal strategy, their actions may inspire others facing similar issues to seek justice. The outcome of this potential lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for how social media platforms manage and respond to reports of fake advertisements, especially when they involve high-profile figures. For Meta, this is yet another reminder of the growing pressure it faces from global users and regulators to tighten its control over the content that appears on its platforms.

Meta Apologizes to Malaysian PM for Social Media Post Removal

Meta Apologizes to Malaysian PM for Social Media Post Removal

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Meta Platforms Inc. issued an apology for the removal of several social media posts by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim that paid tribute to a recently assassinated Hamas leader. The apology, issued on Tuesday, followed a wave of criticism and highlighted the sensitive nature of international politics and social media regulation.

Operational Error Leads to Content Removal

Meta Apologizes to Malaysian PM for Social Media Post Removal

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In its statement, Meta described the incident as an “operational error.” The company explained, “We apologize for an operational error where content from the prime minister’s Facebook and Instagram Pages were removed, and the content has since been restored with the correct newsworthy label.” The posts in question condemned the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a top leader of Hamas, a Palestinian militant organization. 

Haniyeh, who was killed last month, was a prominent figure within Hamas, an organization considered a terrorist group by several countries, including the United States. However, Malaysia does not recognize Israel as a sovereign state and has no diplomatic ties with it, reflecting its longstanding support for Palestinian causes.

Diplomatic Tensions and Social Media Sensitivities

The removal of Prime Minister Ibrahim’s posts came against the backdrop of Malaysia’s staunch support for Palestine. In May, Mr. Ibrahim met with a Hamas delegation led by Haniyeh during a visit to Qatar, signaling Malaysia’s support for the group. This meeting underscored Malaysia’s position in the complex geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.

The incident also drew attention to another related event: the suspension of a Facebook Live broadcast from Malaysian national broadcaster RTM’s news account. The broadcast covered a rally in support of Palestinians on August 4, and its suspension prompted further outrage from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The PMO expressed regret over the disruption, which they viewed as an unnecessary intervention in Malaysia’s domestic affairs.

Meta’s apology aims to mitigate the diplomatic fallout and address concerns about its content moderation practices. The restoration of the posts with the newsworthy label signifies an acknowledgment of the political sensitivity surrounding the issue. 

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The incident highlights the intricate balance social media companies must maintain between enforcing content policies and respecting the diverse political views and sentiments of users globally. As social media continues to play a crucial role in international diplomacy and public discourse, incidents like this emphasize the need for clear and consistent moderation policies that consider the complexities of global geopolitics.

Meta Offers Millions to Hollywood Stars for AI Voice Projects

Meta Offers Millions to Hollywood Stars for AI Voice Projects

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Hollywood celebrities seem to be in discussions to have their voices included in AI initiatives run by Meta, the digital business that created Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Based on articles from Bloomberg as well as The New York Times, the startup hopes to create MetaAI, a virtual assistant that talks similar to Siri as well as Google Assistant, using the voices of prominent individuals.

Integration Across Multiple Platforms

Meta Offers Millions to Hollywood Stars for AI Voice Projects

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As part of its ambitious effort, Meta is recording the voices of celebrities to be used on its messenger and Ray-Ban Meta eyewear, among other platforms. Both parties have been unable to come to a mutually acceptable agreement during the convoluted and sporadic conversations. Present conversations recommend using the voice recordings for a specific amount of time only as opposed to forever.

SAG-AFTRA's Conflict

It has been claimed that preliminary agreements have been made between Meta and the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). However, stakeholder representatives support stricter restrictions: these provisions are needed to protect actors from having their jobs replaced by artificial intelligence, which has already sparked strikes in the industry. The proposed transaction can cost millions of dollars, because Meta should have paid the artists and get their permission before using their subject to AI.

Preparation of the Meta Connect Conference

Before identifying many new products for AI at Meta Connect in September 2024, Meta hoped to obtain these agreements. There are many problems at the conference, especially after Meta announced in September 2023 that Charli D \ ‘Amelio, Paris Hilton, Snoop Dogg, Tom Brady and other celebrities and others were presented.
Users, however, found the idea disconcerting as celebrities voiced fictional characters instead of themselves, therefore this attempt could have sat better with them.

Possibilities and Difficulties

Meta is moving forward with its AI goals despite the chatbot trial receiving mixed reviews. The company previously spent up to $5 million on a two-year chatbot pilot program, with varying degrees of success in terms of user engagement. Snoop Dogg’s 87.5 million Instagram followers pale in comparison to the 15,000 his chatbot Dungeon Master has amassed, illustrating the difficulty of translating celebrity appeal into engagement with AI. What’s next

Also Read: Shiv Nadar’s Success Story: The Visionary Behind HCL Technologies

It remains to be seen whether Meta’s efforts to integrate celebrity voices into its AI programs will be successful. Meta’s partnership with Hollywood could completely change the way users interact with the platform, potentially having a major impact on the digital assistant market.

 
Meta Removes 63,000 Accounts Linked to Sextortion Scams

Meta Removes 63,000 Accounts Linked to Sextortion Scams

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Facebook parent company Meta has taken a decisive stand against sextortion scams, announcing on Wednesday the removal of 63,000 Instagram accounts linked to these fraudulent activities. This significant crackdown highlights Meta’s commitment to user safety and its ongoing battle against cybercriminals exploiting social media platforms.

The Sextortion Scam Network

Meta Removes 63,000 Accounts Linked to Sextortion Scams

Image Source: forbes.com

In a detailed blog post, Meta revealed the extent of the operation, which included the dismantling of a network comprising 2,500 accounts managed by around 20 individuals. These accounts were part of a broader group known as the “Yahoo Boys,” a loosely organized collective of cybercriminals primarily based in Nigeria. Despite the misleading name, this group has no affiliation with the Yahoo website. Their primary focus is on financial scams, with sextortion being a major component of their illicit activities.

The sextortion scam typically involves bad actors reaching out to a vast number of users across social networks, attempting to establish phony romantic relationships. Once a connection is made, the scammers request nude photos or videos from their victims. They then threaten to release these sensitive materials to the victim’s friends, family, or the broader internet unless a ransom, often amounting to hundreds of dollars, is paid.

Meta's Response and Preventive Measures

Meta’s proactive approach to this growing threat has been multifaceted. According to Antigone Davis, Meta’s global head of safety, the company’s automated systems detected the majority of these scam accounts before any harm could be done. Additionally, Meta employed other investigative methods to identify and take down the remaining accounts. This operation extended beyond Instagram, with Meta also removing 7,200 assets from Facebook, including 1,300 accounts, 200 pages, and 5,700 groups based in Nigeria that were dedicated to scamming activities.

Meta has not only focused on removing harmful accounts but also on enhancing user protection. The company has introduced features like on-device nudity protection, which automatically blurs images containing nudity in Instagram direct messages. These measures aim to prevent users from falling victim to sextortion scams in the first place.

Also Read: Elon Musk Polls X Users on $5 Billion Tesla Investment in xAI

The scale of these scams has drawn significant attention from authorities worldwide. In recent years, sextortion has become an escalating threat, with the FBI issuing warnings in 2023 and 2024. High-profile cases, such as the extradition of two Nigerian men to the US in connection with the suicide of a 17-year-old from Michigan, underscore the severe consequences of these crimes.

Meta’s public disclosure of these actions is part of a broader effort to raise awareness and deter criminals. As Davis emphasized, Meta wants to send a clear message to cybercriminals that their activities are being monitored and actively thwarted. This latest crackdown is a testament to Meta’s ongoing efforts to protect its users and ensure a safer online environment.

Elon Musk's X Struggles with User Growth as the rise of Meta threads

Elon Musk’s X Struggles with User Growth as the rise of Meta Threads

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The number of users on X, previously referred to as Twitter, has significantly slowed down after Elon Musk purchased the company for forty-four billion dollars in the middle of 2022. X’s daily rise in active users has dropped to less than two percent in 2024, from an average yearly increase of 30 percent in 2020. X’s daily active user growth over the previous year was barely 1.6 percent, according to new information from the Financial Times, reducing the total to about 251 million daily active users.

App Downloads: Threads vs. X

Elon Musk's X Struggles with User Growth as the rise of Meta threads

Image Source: ft.com

The slowdown in the number of users is reflected in the downloads of X’s apps. AppFigures data indicates that although Meta’s Threads has enjoyed a solid 250,000 to 300,000 daily iOS downloads, X’s per day downloads have remained around 100,000. With 51 million downloads this year, Threads has more than doubled X’s total number of iOS downloads (20 million). On Android, a similar trend can be seen: Threads has received 87 million downloads, almost twice as many as X, with 45 million.

Comparison of Web Traffic

Even with its slow app downloads, X still gets a lot of traffic from web browsers. X surpassed Threads with over 2 billion monthly visitors, according to SimilarWeb data, with 51.5 million monthly visits. Since that Threads is a platform that has only lately begun to expand its online functionality, this discrepancy could be explained by the app-centric design of the platform.

User Interaction

According to Threads, there are 175 million active users each month; Sensor Tower calculates that number to be roughly 38 million users each day. This implies that the user base of X may be more engaged than that of Threads, where users may interact more regularly. The fact that Threads may be attracting more people away from X as it expands suggests that the user bases of the two platforms may not completely overlap.

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In conclusion, Musk’s social media endeavor faces a huge hurdle since, despite maintaining a sizable amount of web traffic, X’s declining user growth and app download rates contrast significantly with Meta’s Threads’ quick development.

 
Meta Introduces AI Chatbot Across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram in India

Meta Introduces AI Chatbot Across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram in India

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Meta has announced the formal rollout of its generative Artificial Intelligence (gen AI) chatbot, Meta AI, for users in India. Following successful tests earlier this year, the AI-powered assistant is now being gradually introduced on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook (including the Messenger app). The complete rollout is expected to be achieved before this weekend, allowing all users across these platforms to access the advanced capabilities of Meta AI.

Introducing Meta AI: A New Digital Assistant

Meta Introduces AI Chatbot Across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram in India

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Meta AI is powered by the latest iteration of the Large Language Model Meta AI, known as Llama 3. This advanced AI engine enables the chatbot to comprehend complex user queries and provide real-time, easily understandable information. Its capabilities extend beyond basic responses, offering features such as trip planning assistance and text-to-image generation.

For instance, users planning a monsoon getaway can simply mention @Meta AI in a group chat and request a trip itinerary for a specific destination. Within seconds, the chatbot can generate detailed travel plans, suggesting activities, accommodations, and local attractions, making group planning both efficient and enjoyable.

Creative Features: From Digital Art to Fun Memes

One of the standout features of Meta AI is its ability to generate images from text descriptions, powered by the Emu image synthesis model. This Imagine feature allows users to create various forms of digital art effortlessly. Whether it’s designing themed invitations for a child’s birthday party or crafting unique digital artwork, Meta AI makes it easy.

Users can also use Meta AI to generate fun memes or transform ordinary 2D photos into animated or brush-painted artworks. This versatility provides a platform for users to explore their creativity and share their creations instantly on social media.

Impact on User Engagement

The introduction of Meta AI is set to enhance user engagement across Meta’s platforms by providing both functional and creative tools at users’ fingertips. The AI’s ability to deliver tailored travel suggestions, design custom digital art, and facilitate creative social media interactions reflects Meta’s commitment to integrating advanced AI technologies into everyday digital communication.

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As Meta AI continues to roll out across India, users can look forward to exploring its diverse capabilities, making their online interactions more dynamic and enjoyable. The phased introduction ensures a smooth transition, with all users expected to have access to the new AI assistant shortly, promising an enriched digital experience across Meta’s suite of apps.