Facebook said a bug in its anti-spam system temporarily blocked the publication of links to news stories about the coronavirus. Guy Rosen, Facebook's vice president of integrity, said on Twitter Tuesday that the company was working on a fix for the problem. Users complained that links to news stories about school closings...
Markets Down, Facebook Cancels Show: Virus Hits Businesses
The spread of the new coronavirus around the world is hitting companies hard as they suspend production, meetings, events and business travel. Here's a look at the latest developments: Markets Markets are down sharply again. The Dow and S&P were down over 2.5% in afternoon trading and Treasury yields dropped...
Facebook Reverses on Paid Political Messages That Aren't Ads
SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook decided Friday to allow a type of paid political message that had sidestepped many of the social network's rules governing political ads, in a reversal that highlights difficulties tech companies and regulators have in keeping up with the changing nature of paid political messages. Its policy...
Moonstone Beach Sneaker Wave Engulfs Three People
Do you know what a "sneaker wave" is? If you don't, you will after viewing this terrifying caught-on-camera moment at Moonstone Beach in Humboldt County on Jan. 11. Marcella Ogata-Day posted a video of a sneaker wave knocking three unsuspecting people off their feet near the beach parking lot. “Everyone...
Facebook Again Refuses to Ban Political Ads, Even False Ones
SAN FRANCISCO — Despite escalating pressure ahead of the 2020 presidential election, Facebook reaffirmed its freewheeling policy on political ads Thursday, saying it won’t ban them, won’t fact-check them and won’t limit how they can be targeted to specific groups of people. Instead, Facebook said it will offer users slightly more control...
Facebook to Tackle Efforts to Interfere With 2020 US Census
SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook plans to clamp down on attempts to use its services to interfere with the 2020 U.S. census, including the posting of misleading information about when and how to participate, who can participate and what happens when people do. Facebook and other social media companies have been...
For Banks, Data on Your Spending Habits Could Be a Gold Mine
NEW YORK — There’s a powerful new player watching what you buy so it can tailor product offerings for you: the bank behind your credit or debit card. For years, Google and Facebook have been showing ads based on your online behavior. Retailers from Amazon to Walgreens also regularly suction...
Orosi Woman Suspected of Selling Mercury-Laced Skin Cream
Federal prosecutors say an Orosi woman was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of selling skin creams tainted with dangerous levels of mercury. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Tuesday that Maria Estela Esparza Magallanes sold the creams using Facebook ads. It’s not known if she has an attorney. Listen to this article:...
Apple Commits $2.5B to Combat California Housing Crisis
CUPERTINO — Apple has committed $2.5 billion to ease California's housing crisis, eclipsing similar pledges by fellow Silicon Valley giants Google and Facebook to address a lack of affordable housing in the region they call home. Apple's pledge Monday includes a $1 billion fund to build new homes for households...
From Toast of Town to Toxic: Facebook CEO on Outs With Dems
WASHINGTON — Mark Zuckerberg's social network in Washington is shrinking. Bipartisan hostility against Facebook has been building for months, fueled by a series of privacy scandals, the site's role in Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign and accusations that Facebook crushes competitors. Now, with the 2020 elections approaching, Democrats...