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This Week's Updates:
TTP Report: Facebook Allows Spanish-Language Misinformation to Target Migrants in Mexico:
Social media platforms that don't invest in content moderation can easily become vehicles for misinformation, and Facebook is no exception. On Thursday, CfA's Tech Transparency Project (TTP) published a new report on Facebook's failure to address Spanish-language misinformation and hate speech directed at migrants traveling through Mexico on their way to the United States. TTP found multiple instances of fake news stories being used to demonize migrants and stir up xenophobia in Mexican communities – a formula which laid the groundwork for collective violence against migrants four years ago in Tijuana. TTP's report received Spanish-language coverage in Univision.
The content TTP uncovered violates Meta's own policies against hate speech, but enforcement has been lacking. This is part of a larger pattern for Meta, which stands accused of similar failures in Ethiopia, where its algorithms allegedly amplified violent posts and enabled targeted killings.
CfA Blog: In the Age of Influencers, New Political Ad Rules Fall Short: The Federal Election Commission’s “internet exemption” has allowed campaigns to undermine disclaimer rules and covertly shape narratives on social media. Read more here on political influencers and the future of digital ad regulations.
Telehealth Startups Send Sensitive Data to Big Tech: New reporting from STAT and The Markup revealed that dozens of health tech startups have been sharing sensitive patient data with companies like Google and Facebook – data which could then be used to sell targeted advertisements. This incident is yet another justification for stronger FTC rules protecting consumer data, which could place more emphasis on user consent and minimize the ways that information is allowed to be used.
‘Dark money in politics an even darker place’ now, judges warn
This week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld an earlier decision which blocked courts from reviewing Federal Election Commission (FEC) decisions. While not unexpected, the ruling is a loss for transparency advocates, who hoped to use judicial review to stop the FEC from killing investigations.
Viral Lensa AI Art App Revamps Privacy Policy Amid Backlash
Artificial intelligence apps like Lensa have gained popularity by allowing users to generate high-quality portraits of themselves – but for some users, especially women, the app raised privacy concerns by producing heavily-sexualized portraits. In response, Lensa's creators released new privacy guidelines to clarify that users' personal data or photos are not used to create images. Still, these complaints raise questions about algorithm bias and the objectification of women in the art the AI was trained on.
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