GOP: White House pressured Amazon to ‘censor’ COVID-related books
In the wake of the “Twitter Files” and the “Facebook Files,” another example of the federal government allegedly pressuring companies into modifying their content has emerged. Amazon files released by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, on X suggest the White House pressured Amazon to restrict certain books and COVID-related items due to misinformation concerns.
“Who can we talk to about the high levels of propaganda and misinformation and disinformation,” a White House employee emailed Amazon.
The same White House employee sent another email after searching “vaccine” under the book category of Amazon, calling the results “concerning.” In a follow-up email, a different White House employee raised concerns about books without CDC warning labels attached
On March 9, 2021, Amazon met with the White House over COVID content on its website because the company was “feeling pressure.” In the meeting, they were said to have discussed “steps Amazon might want to take to reduce visibility” of anti-vax book titles.
The same White House staffer from the Facebook Files, Andy Slavitt, was the one sending emails to Amazon asking how COVID misinformation is being screened on their platforms.
The White House told Fox News it had a responsibility to encourage companies to do their part in preventing the spread of misinformation
“When confronted with a deadly pandemic, this Administration encouraged responsible actions to protect public health and safety,” the White House said. “But our position has been clear and consistent: Although we believe tech companies and other private actors should take account of the effects their actions are having on the American people, they make independent choices about the information they promote.”
Amazon has yet to give a media statement.
“Amazon caved to the pressure from the Biden White House to censor speech,” Jordan said in his post. “The House Judiciary and Weaponization Committees are investigating. To be continued…”
Why does Gen Z hate Facebook? Social network turns 20 with shrinking teen use
The world’s most popular social network will turn the big 2-0 on Feb. 4. Before Facebook made teens log out in droves, it was one of the most coveted tickets for college students. Here’s a look at why Gen Z has such disdain for the site that inspired the film, “The Social Network.”
When Mark Zuckerberg first launched thefacebook in 2004 as a directory of students at Harvard and it was an instant success. It soon expanded its reach to other Ivy League schools and eventually to most colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. This was mostly before it got wise to drop “the” in its name.
By 2006, two and a half years after its debut, Facebook became available to anyone aged 13 and older with a valid email address. At the time, Facebook earned roughly $30 million per year in revenue, a relatively small social media fish in a pond dominated by MySpace.
The company would go on to purchase Instagram and WhatsApp, become a public company, and later change the parent company’s name to Meta, aligning with its newfound focus on the metaverse to leverage their purchase of virtual reality headset maker Oculus.
But how could a social network, created for college students, get the reputation for being generally uncool and for baby boomers?
It doesn’t appear to be a demographic issue. The biggest cohort is men between the ages of 25 and 34, which would fall within the millennial category. True boomers make up around 10% of its user base, but as any regular Facebook user can tell you, boomers tend to make themselves known on the platform.
Facebook may have 3 billion monthly active users, but it struggles to remain relevant with the youth. Still, Generation Z is expected to outnumber baby boomers on Facebook soon, if they haven’t already.
Ten years ago, 71% of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 said they used Facebook regularly, according to Pew Research. That number dwindled to 33% in 2023.
Teens, for their part, are flocking to short-form video apps like YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.
For Meta’s part, the comapany owns Instagram, which is the third-most-used social network in the world. A substantial portion of its users are in the 18 to 34 demographic, even if many of the videos are just reposts from TikTok.
Teens leaving Facebook might not be a bad thing for the company as it’s facing heated criticism for its harmful effects on teens. In recent years, the company stopped efforts to attract teens and is focusing on bringing in young adults to the social network.
YouTube facing questions after beheading video remained online for hours: The Morning Rundown, Feb. 1, 2024
Questions about YouTube’s policies are being raised after a graphic video related to a murder case in Pennsylvania is left up for hours. And three people are killed and several more injured when a building collapses near an airport in Idaho. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024.
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YouTube video connected to PA murder remained online for hours
YouTube’s policies are being questioned after it was discovered that a graphic video involving a case of a son accused of beheading his father was left on the video-sharing site for hours. Police in Pennsylvania charged 32-year-old Justin Mohn on Wednesday, Jan. 31, with first-degree murder and abusing a corpse.
Authorities said Mohn killed his father and then posted a graphic 14-minute video about the murder on YouTube, showing the severed head. Police said the video was uploaded about 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 30, and remained online for anyone to see for about five hours.
The graphic video was viewed more than 5,000 times before it was eventually taken down. A social media advocacy group told the Associated Press this is “another example of the blatant failure of these companies to protect us.”
Critics have accused YouTube and other social media platforms of not investing in their trust and safety teams. YouTube’s policies were put under the microscope while five social media CEOs were questioned during a Congressional hearing about child safety online.
Representatives for YouTube and its parent company, Google, were not in attendance. YouTube responded to the criticism.
“YouTube has strict policies prohibiting graphic violence and violent extremism. The video was removed for violating our graphic violence policy, and Justin Mohn’s channel was terminated in line with our violent extremism policies,” the company said in a statement. “Our teams are closely tracking to remove any re-uploads of the video.”
YouTube said it uses a combination of artificial intelligence and human moderators to monitor its platform.
Zuckerberg apologizes to families at online child safety hearing
CEOs from five social media companies testified at a Congressional hearing concerning online child safety measures on Wednesday, Jan. 31. CEOs from Meta, TikTok, X, Snapchat, and Discord answered questions from lawmakers about the role their platforms play in the lives of young users, and how social media has led to children suicides and exploitation.
In one key moment in the hearing, Sen. Josh Hawley asked Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg if he apologized to the victims and their families.
“Let me ask you this. There are families of victims here today. Have you apologized to the victims? Would you like to do so now? They’re here, you’re on national television,” Hawley said. “Would you like now to apologize to the victims who’ve been harmed by your product? Show him the pictures. Would you like to apologize for what you’ve done to these good people?”
“No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered. And this is why we’ve invested so much and are going to continue doing industry-leading efforts to make sure no one has to go through the types of things that your families have had to suffer,” Zuckerberg said.
If you’re waiting on the social media industry to regulate itself, you’ll die waiting.
It is unclear if the hearing will lead to any type of legislation, though lawmakers are working on bipartisan bills. You can find Lauren Taylor’s full report on the hearing here.
House passes $78 billion bipartisan tax bill increasing child tax credit
In a bipartisan vote on Wednesday evening, Jan. 31, the House overwhelmingly approved a $78 billion tax cut package, increasing the child tax credit for millions of lower-income families. The bill passed 357-70 and now moves on to the Senate.
Along with expanding the child tax credit, the package also restores business tax breaks related to research and development. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called the bill “important” legislation and added that this was “a good example of how Congress is supposed to make law.”
I voted against tonight’s tax bill that balloons our already out-of-control welfare system.
While Republicans and Democrats came together on the bill, not everyone got what they hoped for. Several New York Republicans were looking for it to include state and local tax deduction limits. And while some Republicans said the bill expanded the child tax credit too much, some Democrats said it did not.
Five of the injured were taken to the hospital in critical condition. Officials said the building’s collapse caused a crane to fall but did not impact the airport. The cause of the collapse is under investigation.
Judge throws out Disney’s lawsuit against DeSantis and Florida’s Commerce Dept.
A federal judge threw out Walt Disney Company’s lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the secretary of Florida’s Commerce Department. Disney sued DeSantis, alleging that he retaliated against the company after it criticized the Parental Rights in Education Act, known to critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” law backed by DeSantis.
Last year, Florida’s Republican-controlled legislature changed the district, renaming it the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, with its board members now selected by Gov. DeSantis and then must be confirmed by the state Senate.
We have consistently fought — and won — the big fights on behalf of the people.
When Disney went after our kids, I stood strong in defense of the rights of parents.
Donald Trump and Nikki Haley sided with Disney. Haley even invited them to her state.
Shortly after its creation, the district voted to throw out a development agreement between Disney and the previous board known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Disney also canceled its plans to build a $1 billion campus in Orlando.
In its lawsuit, Disney alleged DeSantis is punishing the company for exercising its First Amendment rights. Disney said it would appeal Judge Winsor’s ruling.
— The Walt Disney Company (@WaltDisneyCo) March 28, 2022
A spokesperson for DeSantis said the ruling said, “The federal court’s decision made it clear that Governor DeSantis was correct: Disney is still just one of many corporations in the state, and they do not have a right to their own special government.”
The federal lawsuit is separate from Disney’s state lawsuit against the new tourism district for terminating its previous agreement with the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
Donations pour in to replace stolen Jackie Robinson statue
There has been an outpouring of support to replace a symbol honoring one of baseball’s greats. On what would have been Jackie Robinson’s 105th birthday, donations poured in Wednesday, Jan. 31, to replace a statue of the baseball hall of famer who broke the major league’s color barrier in 1947.
One online fundraiser has raised over $156,000, surpassing the statue’s estimated value of $75,000. Major League Baseball has announced it will replace the statue and provide funding for a local youth baseball league called “League 42,” named after Robinson’s uniform number.
NYC becomes first city to label social media ‘environmental toxin’
New York City is now the first major city to label social media an “environmental toxin,” as declared by the New York City Department of Health and Human Services and Mental Hygiene on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Mayor Eric Adams, D, granted Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan the authority to issue the public health emergency during his third State of the City address.
“Companies like TikTok, YouTube, Facebook [sic], are fueling the mental health crisis by designing their platforms with addictive and dangerous features,” Adams said. “We cannot stand by and let Big Tech monetize our children’s privacy and jeopardize their mental health.
The public health advisory urges parents and caregivers to prevent kids from obtaining a smartphone or social media access until at least the age of 14. The advisory also asks health care providers to discuss social media with young patients and parents and to help develop social media usage plans for families.
Adams is also asking lawmakers nationwide to take action on legislation that protects children from the potential harms of social media.
While details are limited on how social media companies will be held accountable by New York City, the mayor did liken the declaration to another historic moment.
We are the first city in America to take this step and call out the dangers of social media like this. Just as the Surgeon General did with tobacco and guns, we’re treating social media like other public health hazards, and it must stop.
Mayor Eric Adams, D-N.Y.
“We are the first city in America to take this step and call out the dangers of social media like this,” Adams said. “Just as the surgeon general did with tobacco and guns, we’re treating social media like other public health hazards, and it must stop.”
Adams vowed more information about his efforts would be released at a later date.
Studies have shown increases in cases of depression and suicide among teens adolescents with experts pointing to a rise in social media use as part of the issue.
A recent Pew Research poll found that most teens report high usage of social media with some reporting they use it “almost constantly.”
The University of Utah Health said that research shows young adults who use social media are three times more likely to suffer from depression.
The information obtained by the University of Utah Health cites the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, which shows the number of suicides among 15-to-24-year-olds rose 87% over the past 20 years.
While a direct connection between the rise in suicides and the use of social media has not been confirmed, the information published by the University of Utah Health does assert that social media has “negative consequences for our mental health.”
Meta, facing heat from all sides, announces safety measures for minors
A bipartisan group of state attorneys general filed a joint lawsuit against Meta, alleging that Facebook’s parent company knowingly used addictive features in its apps, negatively impacting children’s health. Lawmakers, often in disagreement, united together to demand answers from Meta’s leadership on its impact on minors.
“Look, we have a tremendous amount of evidence and information that’s been developed that shows that Meta knowingly has designed its products in a way to maximize its ad revenue by addicting young teenagers onto its products,” District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb said.
“They hid from this committee and from all of Congress evidence of the harms that they knew was credible,” Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal said.
“They are deliberately misleading parents about what’s on their platform,” Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley said. “They are deliberately misleading parents about the safety of their children online.”
Now, Meta announces plans to expand safety measures for children and teens on its social media platforms. The goal is to make it harder for young users to come across sensitive content.
The company will implement restrictive settings on the accounts of teens and children, preventing users from searching “sensitive topics” and prompting teens to update their privacy settings.
In a blog post, Meta said Facebook and Instagram will hide search results for content related to suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, and nudity. Teens can still make posts on these subjects but won’t see them in their feed or stories, even if shared by someone they follow.
Meta aims to automatically place all teens under the most restrictive content control setting. These changes follow a whistleblower’s testimony to a Senate panel in November, stating that Meta knew harmful content was present on its platforms and company executives were taking no action.
“As a parent, I took the work personally,” Arturo Bejar, a former Meta employee, said. “By the time I left in 2015, I thought the work was going in the right direction. A few years later, my 14-year-old daughter joined Instagram. She and her friends began having awful experiences, including repeated unwanted sexual advances and harassment. She reported the incidents to the company, and it did nothing.”
Meta states the new update should be complete in a couple of weeks, just in time for CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s child safety testimony on Capitol Hill.
Cable news ratings fall, more Americans turn to digital sources and social media
News consumption habits are changing. Year-over-year data shows that people are turning away from cable networks and instead turning to digital news.
Fox saw a 20% decline in viewership overall — although the news outlet still ranks No. 1 due to its amount of viewers. Meanwhile, CNN saw a 19% drop in viewership.
In the targeted demographic of adults aged 25-54, Fox lost 38% of its audience, and CNN is down 27%. MSNBC was the only major news network with an increase, gaining 2%.
If major cable networks like Fox and CNN lost roughly one-fifth of their total viewership and one-third of their younger audience, where are those viewers going to get their news and how reliable is it?
Digital news sources saw growth in 2023 while other mediums shrunk. Digital news sites like NewsBreak and Newsweek saw between 60% to 90% growth year-over-year.
According to Pew Research, 86% of Americans turn to their digital devices to stay informed. Two-thirds of Americans said they visit news websites or news apps, and half of Americans said they often or sometimes use social media as a news source.
Some social media outlets can make it difficult to get the full picture for a news piece. For instance, Facebook’s algorithm demotes posts that have news links attached.
According to Meta’s most recent 2023 Q3 statistics, 95% of post views did not include a link to a source outside Facebook. However, 5% of content did include a source link, which is up slightly from 3% in Q1.
Social media also has a complicated history of selective censorship of what content users are allowed to see.
Big Tech can pick and choose posts visible to its users under the current law known as Section 230. However, the law has been challenged by Texas and Florida after alleged suppression of content during the pandemic.
The Supreme Court is poised to potentially decide this summer if Big Tech violates free speech by utilizing algorithms.
Viewership typically slows during an off-election year, however, heading into a general election year, the decline in recent ratings also comes as the public faces high levels of news fatigue and concerns over if the media is accurately reporting the news.
Elon Musk’s X under European investigation for disinformation
X is under investigation over disinformation. The European Union announced Monday, Dec. 18, that it is beginning the first probe opened under Europe’s new Digital Services Act (DSA).
The EU is looking into accusations that Elon Musk’s platform violated new regulations implemented in August. The regulations aimed to crack down on the spread of disinformation across social media.
The probe could last several months as the European Commission assesses “whether X may have breached the Digital Services Act (DSA) in areas linked to risk management, content moderation, dark patterns, advertising transparency and data access for researchers.”
The investigation comes two months after EU officials initially asked X to provide information about “illegal content,” particularly violent content related to the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel.
Regulators are gathering information to decide whether X attempted to counter disinformation regarding the Israel-Hamas war via its Community Notes system.
If the investigation reveals that X engaged in unlawful practices, such as not fighting disinformation, Musk’s platform could be fined up to 6% of its global annual revenue. Based on 2022 figures, X brought in $4.4 billion dollars, which could equate to $282 million in fines.
Musk has not personally commented on the probe, however, X’s Safety page made a post reiterating the company’s commitment to compliance with the law.
“X remains committed to complying with the Digital Services Act and is cooperating with the regulatory process,” the post said. “It is important that this process remains free of political influence and follows the law. X is focused on creating a safe and inclusive environment for all users on our platform, while protecting freedom of expression, and we will continue to work tirelessly towards this goal.”
Other social media companies, such as Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, along with Snapchat and TikTok, have also received requests for information under the DSA. However, the commission has not yet launched any probes into those companies.
The spokesperson told NBC News that the feature has been rolled out after listening to what users want, “a greater ability to decide what they see on our apps.”
“We’re giving people on Facebook and Instagram even more power to control the algorithm that ranks posts in their Feed,” the Meta spokesperson said in a statement. “If someone wants to adjust the demotions on fact-checked content in their Feed, they must change the setting on their own.”
Still, the feature is facing criticism. In the last few days, some pro-Palestinian accounts have criticized the function and said that Instagram is trying to censor their content.
In a post, the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, said that Meta will launch also the fact-checking program on Threads next year.
“Wanted to share that we’re working to extend our fact-checking program on Threads next year,” Mosseri said. “We currently match fact-check ratings from Facebook or Instagram to Threads, but our goal is for fact-checking partners to have the ability to review and rate misinformation on the app.”
House Republicans formally authorize Biden impeachment inquiry: The Morning Rundown, Dec. 14, 2023
House Republicans have formalized their impeachment inquiry into President Biden. And, Meta’s latest attempt at fact checking social media posts is facing criticism. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Dec. 14.
House Republicans vote to authorize impeachment inquiry into President Biden
House Republicans called for Wednesday’s, Dec. 13, vote after the White House challenged subpoenas sent by the committees, calling them illegitimate without a formal House vote to authorize the investigation. Republican leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said voting in favor of the resolution does not mean the president will be impeached.
“We’re not going to prejudge the outcome of this,” Johnson said. “We can’t because, again, it’s not a political calculation. We’re following the law and we are the rule of law team. And I’m going to hold to that as my commitment.”
Hours before the vote, the president’s son, Hunter Biden, defied a subpoena for a closed-door deposition. Instead, he spoke to reporters outside the U.S. Capitol, where he repeated his offer to testify in a public hearing while criticizing the House GOP and defending his father.
“Let me state as clearly as I can,” Hunter Biden said, “my father was not financially involved in any of my business, not as a practicing lawyer, not as a board member of Burisma, not in my partnership with a Chinese private businessman, not in my investments at home nor abroad, and certainly not as an artist.”
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said he plans to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress. Straight Arrow News’ political correspondent Ray Bogan has a full report on Hunter Biden’s comments here.
Senate passes $886 billion defense with pay raise for troops
The bill also establishes a new training program in Taiwan, and it includes the creation of a special inspector general for Ukraine to address concerns on whether American dollars are being spent as intended.
The bill does keep in place the Pentagon’s rule that allows for travel reimbursement for service members going out of state for an abortion, a policy that House Republicans were looking to remove. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 87-13. Now, the bill heads to the House.
Jake Sullivan heads to Israel to meet with Netanyahu
According to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, over the next two days, Sullivan will discuss with Israeli officials “efforts to be more surgical and more precise” in their strikes in Gaza “to reduce harm to civilians.”
Sullivan is also expected to discuss the return of hostages taken by Hamas. Eight Americans are among the more than 100 hostages still being held by the terrorist group in Gaza. On Wednesday, Dec. 13, President Biden met with the families of the American hostages. Kirby said the president was “moved by their stories, by the love they feel, by the hope that they still harbor.”
Biden promised the family members they would be kept informed every step of the way as the U.S. works to get their loved ones home.
Judge orders a pause in Trump’s election interference case
Special Counsel Jack Smith argued against an all-out pause trying to keep the case on track for a March 4 trial. The order handed down by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan could delay the start of the trial and is now at the mercy of the appeal process timeline.
After the ruling, the appeals court set deadlines for briefs to be filed in the next couple of weeks in an effort to expedite the process. Still, prosecutors worry the case could be paused for some time, including until after the next presidential election.
Trump’s legal team called the decision a “a big win for President Trump and our rule of law” and accused Special Counsel Jack Smith of using the trial as a strategic way to interfere in the 2024 presidential election in support of President Joe Biden.
Trump has been brought on federal charges for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election. He has pleaded not guilty.
Meta fact-checking feature sparking censorship concerns
A new fact-checking feature that Meta quietly launched on Instagram has raised concerns over censorship. A meta spokesperson said the company is allowing users to control the algorithm, adding that the feature allows users to customize whether they see more or less fact-checked content in their feed.
The spokesperson also said that the feature has been rolled out after listening to what users want, “a greater ability to decide what they see on our apps.”
Still, the feature is facing criticism. In the last few days, some pro-Palestinian accounts have criticized the function and said that Instagram is trying to censor their content. The fact-checking feature was launched on Facebook in May, but it is unclear when it was set in motion on Instagram, though a Meta blog post about the feature was updated on Tuesday, Dec. 12.
FCC approves proposal to ban cable early termination fees
For cable subscribers thinking of cutting the cord, the Federal Communications Commission just approved a proposal to eliminate early termination fees. The FCC on Wednesday, Dec. 14, voted 3-2 on partisan lines to ban cable and satellite companies from charging what the agency’s chairwoman described as “junk fees.”
According to findings by consumer reports in 2019, cable companies could make an estimated $28 billion a year on fees. The FCC will now solicit public feedback on its proposal before taking a final vote on the rules.
Musk takes on Disney for Facebook ads as New Mexico says Meta exploits kids
Elon Musk wants Disney CEO Bob Iger fired immediately. Musk’s call came after posts on X revealed that Disney is still advertising on Facebook and Instagram, even after New Mexico filed a lawsuit against Meta for alleged child sexual exploitation.
Disney cut advertising ties with Musk’s platform after he was accused of boosting an antisemitic conspiracy theory.
In a series of X posts, Musk said Iger should be let go from Disney immediately.
“Bob Eiger thinks it’s cool to advertise next to child exploitation material. Real stand up guy,” Musk said.
“Don’t advertise,” Musk said on stage. “If someone is trying to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money, go f— yourself. Go f— yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is. Hi Bob, if you’re in the audience.”
Musk was referring to Iger, who had spoke earlier at the summit.
On Tuesday, Dec. 5, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a lawsuit against Meta for knowingly exposing children to the dangers of sexual exploitation and mental health harm.
The civil suit, filed against Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, claims Instagram and Facebook are a “breeding ground for predators who target children for human trafficking,” and allows adults to groom minors into participating in pornographic content.
Torrez’s agency conducted a thorough undercover investigation of Meta, spanning several months. The investigation involved the creation of decoy accounts on the platforms, portraying children aged 14 years and younger.
The investigation found these accounts were directed to a “stream of egregious, sexually explicit images – even when the child expressed no interest in the content.” It also found that Meta recommended these fake accounts to “join unmoderated Facebook groups devoted to facilitating commercial sex.”
Investigators also set up a decoy account that portrayed a mother who wanted to solicit her 13-year-old daughter for sex and “create a professional page to allow her daughter to share revenue from advertising.”
“Mr. Zuckerberg and other Meta executives are aware of the serious harm their products can pose to young users, and yet they have failed to make sufficient changes to their platforms that would prevent the sexual exploitation of children,” Torrez said in a news release.
The lawsuit claims Meta failed to protect children from sexual abuse, online solicitation and human trafficking because the company “profits from its exposure of young users to harmful material” by “monetizing in the form of targeted advertising, the data that Meta gathers about its young users and their usage.”
The lawsuit does not seek to hold Meta liable as the publisher of this material but it does state the platform is responsible for “unlawful conduct in designing and maintaining its products in such a manner so as to cause known harms to its users.”
Torrez says the state will be investigating other companies. Zuckerberg is set to testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on child safety in January.
