This is big. Not just the fine. Not just that that are being fined for the future.
It’s that they have to change their culture.
It’s something I’ve blogged about a lot previously. I’m really pleased the FTC have made this decision.
Facebook fined $5B by FTC over Cambridge Analytica scandal charges
http://appleinsider.com/articles/19/07/24/facebook-fined-5b-by-ftc-over-cambridge-analytica-scandal-charges
The BBC Horizon programme focused on various aspects of Facebook.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0006w19
There’s some great stuff and I admire the ideals espoused in the programme.
However, there’s a big “but” in what they do and offer. They’ve determined what to show based on trained algorithms which learn from what people do on their accounts.
I found that what they showed was based on flawed information. I often research items on behalf of others, something many of us do. That “teaches” their algorithms that we like such items, even if we personally dislike the topic or item.
Their algorithms are good at spotting fake accounts or activity, which is great. This needs sharing to other social platforms, make it a service.
There is still a concern in my mind about data privacy as well. I’ll remain off the main platform until the privacy concerns and quality of recommendations are sufficiently accurate.
The end of the programme highlights the need for the company to better manage and decrease the negative uses and access to its amazing data.
That’s essential.
50 years ago, on 16 July 1969, Apollo 11 launched towards the moon.
I’ve been listening to Kevin Fong’s podcast “13 minutes to the moon” and I’ve been fascinated by it.
This evening Channel 4 has started its coverage with amazing colour footage of the launch.
I truly can’t believe that it was 50 years ago, I was at my grandparents, watching them land on the moon.
Aged 6 it’s one of my enduring memories and maybe why I got into a technical job. Computers were key to the success of the mission.
We take them for granted now, but boy are they vital to so much, from landing on the moon to guiding you to work.
Thanks to Kennedy, NASA and many many more, they successfully landed – and returned.
I look forward to the world getting back into space. It’s the only way we’ll handle how we’re outgrowing the Earth.
I hope I can be there in my lifetime.
Whatever the name for what’s happening to our planet, it’s real, it’s happening now and we’ve got to do something about it.
Alabama is a state that has taken significant steps back from allowing women to do what they should without interference.
This article from the BBC highlights just how bad it is…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-48789836#
Net, a pregnant woman is shot, loses her baby (she wasn’t the shooter), and is prosecuted for her baby’s death – because in Alabama women are not allowed to abort babies.
Clearly that is not a way any woman would seek to abort a foetus.
Alabama needs to move back in to the 21st century and remove that horrid legislation.
CNN is not based in the UK and has a good reputation for even-handed reporting.
Their analysis of Brexit, after Trump’s recent bust, is a great reminder why Brexit is a can of worms that should have remained unopened.
Read and see what you think.
One definition of insanity is repeatedly doing the same thing and expecting different results.
Mrs May, currently the British PM, has done so twice and now it sounds as if she may do so again.
However, she will not allow the public a second vote on the whole concept of Brexit.
One of the most fundamental findings post the referendum was that some weren’t voting about Leave or Remain and instead used the vote to vote against what they perceived was the government’s idea of Remain and thus “stick it to ’em”.
Further the dischord between Remain and Leave continues apace.
This only shows how badly dis-United our Kingdom is at present – and no one, from any party, has done anything noteworthy to address that aspect.
We need a new set of people to represent us who are true representatives and not just entitled “whatsits”.
I’m just watching an advert from the government offering advice on what to do about Brexit.
They can’t organise a plan that can pass parliament’s review…
We’re divided as a country, as a parliament – as a nation.
Rather than addressing the divisions, some of which caused the mess we’re in, the government messed around with “Brexit means Brexit” and only at the last minute have a plan, which it seems isn’t good enough.
Labour are just as bad.
We have May, a Remainer taking us into Brexit. Corbyn is a Leaver but trying to muddle through with his party and semi-pretending to be a Remainer.
None of the parties has taken the stand of finding a way to make us a United Kingdom, instead they’re focused on trying to make us a Great Britain.
We really do need a new way of doing politics.
Other countries have had revolutions, peaceful ones, we need to make changes like they have done and fix this mess properly.
Seems there’s little Android users can do by default to keep their data private from Facebook, based on this research.
Read and action as you see fit, yet another reason, for me, to stay more secure with iOS.
Every so often I stumble on a story which just feels wrong. Or even completely made up.
The feud between Megan and Kate feels like one of theee stories.
Shappi highlights that women are generally seen to make friends easily and natter often.
I know from work that while such friendships occur, they also break down and not everyone gets on with everyone else.
So who cares if they do or don’t get on, they’re human. That happens. The fact that they haven’t fought with bare knuckles shows that perhaps they can tolerate each other and behave like adults.
If only the readers, let alone the journalists reporting such tripe, could do the same.
Leave them be.
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/meghan-markle-kate-feud-prince-harry-william-royal-family-friendships-women-a8702056.html
