Instagram

Instagram is tightening rules for AI-generated profiles, requiring clearer disclosure and limiting the reach of accounts that use AI-generated people without telling users

Meta could pay up to $16.7 billion to settle a case brought by 29 US states over allegations that its platforms were designed to keep young users hooked and collected data from children.

If Meta is forced to abandon the engagement-algorithm for its most committed users, and if other platforms follow suit, the industry will undergo a tectonic shift

The new protections will first apply in participating US states and territories, subject to judicial approval. Meta has not announced these measures as a global rollout

Instagram's temporary removal of a PM Modi video has revived questions over intermediary liability, AI-led content moderation and the limits of safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the IT Act

Instagram's new First Draft feature creates a rough Reel from selected clips, trimming footage and removing pauses automatically, with iPhone users able to edit and refine the video before publishing

In a landmark deal with state attorneys general across the US, Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion and implement design changes

Of the overall amount, the company has pledged to shell out about $12.7 billion in installments to states over the next 10 years as a starting point

The deal requires Meta to put new guardrails on its platforms, including restricting how much time youths can scroll and preventing them from switching off certain safety settings

Meta's automated systems do not send every flagged post to a human reviewer at the same stage. Its technology helps determine which content should be reviewed by people and in what order

A 29-state coalition sued Meta in 2023 over child safety and privacy; California, Colorado, Kentucky, New Jersey are leading the current trial, while other states will pursue their cases separately

A former engineering director at Meta who has testified before Congress about child safety on Instagram told jurors Wednesday at a landmark trial that the company took a "don't ask, don't tell" approach on kids under 13 on its platforms. During his second day of testimony, Arturo Bejar said Meta consistently prioritized profits over safety in designing its products, focusing on how often and for how long people used them, even if it was detrimental to their mental well-being. "If you step away from the product, they are not going to make any money," he said. The trial that began Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, California, pits Meta against the states of California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey and is expected to last about six weeks. The four states were among 29 that sued the tech giant in 2023 over child safety and privacy - the other 25 will go to trial later. The company also faces lawsuits in state courts, including one underway in Tennessee. The lawsuit accuses Meta

4 lead states - California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey - accused Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to hook young users

The government's hard talk with Meta has led to action and increased sensitivity on the issue of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), IT Ministry sources said on Tuesday, adding that the Centre has been unequivocal that such content is a clear violation and there is no safe harbour when law is violated in this manner. Sources said the government's intent is not about censorship or restricting coverage in any way, but ensuring Indian laws and norms are followed and that social media harms are mitigated. "The message has gone home," they said. During discussions, Meta explained how its algorithms and systems work, ministry sources said, noting that discussions are on and such matters involve "judgment calls, and tweaks". On the WhatsApp username row, sources said the matter is under examination as it doesn't involve just that particular platform, but other messaging apps as well. Sources said concerns over social media harms is not something specific only to India, it is a concern sha

All was sweet innocent fun for a while. Then the algorithm came along and ruined everything

The figure includes more than 500,000 accounts Meta removed before the law came into effect in December, along with those it has shut down since, the company said

The court sought Meta's eligibility criteria for Rights Manager after a creator alleged that fraudsters had used the tool to make bogus copyright claims against his content

PM Modi's deleted social media post highlights the need for transparency, due process and accountability from Big Tech platforms over content moderation

Government may seek legal opinion on further action against Meta after reviewing outcome of recent meetings; other digital platforms could also come under scrutiny

A New Mexico court has ordered Instagram and Facebook parent company Meta to pay USD 567 million to address harms to young people from its platforms in the second phase of a landmark trial the social media giant lost in March. In a ruling late Thursday, Judge Bryan Biedcheid said the bulk of the money - USD 420 million - will be used for treatment services for young people. The rest will go toward awareness and prevention, screening services and other costs over the next five years. In the first phase, jurors had ordered USD 375 million in civil penalties against Meta, determining that it knowingly harmed children's mental health and concealed what it knew about child sexual exploitation on its platforms. In the second phase, prosecutors had asked the judge to impose fundamental changes at Meta aimed at reining in addictive features, improving age verification and preventing child sexual exploitation through default privacy settings and closer oversight. The court said federal ...