The indictment of 13 Russians for interfering with the Presidential election has intensified the pressure put on Facebook, which uncovered about three-thousand Russian-linked ads on its platforms before and after November 2016. Cheddar Senior Reporter, Alex Heath, breaks down the the latest developments. Facebook's Vice President for ads, Rob Goldman, tweeted about Russia's disinformation effort. President Trump then cited him. Facebook did not intend for Goldman’s tweets to be quoted by Trump. They thought the tweets would only be seen by a contextually-aware audience of techies and media types who follow Goldman. Heath believes that the tweeting from Goldman and other execs is part of a carefully orchestrated PR campaign by Facebook to make itself appear more transparent and relate-able through engaged spokespeople on Twitter.

Share:
More In Technology
Exclusive: Coinbase Launches Trading Desk For Institutional Investors
Christine Sandler, Coinbase's head of coverage, told Cheddar's Tanaya Macheel that the crypto exchange has released an agency-only OTC desk in response to demand from large, institutional investors. Unlike other offerings, Coinbase will not act as a counterparty to trades and will instead match client orders.
Facebook VP Admits Zuckerberg's Absence at International Hearing Is 'Not Great'
Richard Allan, Facebook's vice president of public policy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, answered inquiries from representatives of nine countries, sitting next to an empty chair left open for Zuckerberg. Early on, Allan, who is a former member of the British Parliament, admitted that the chief executive's absence was "not great."
Apple Ruling May Have Far-Reaching Implications for Big Tech
As Apple waits for a ruling from the Supreme Court, other tech companies may have cause to worry about their own legal futures. Jimmy Hoover, a legal reporter for Law360, said a ruling that favors consumers over Apple would be "an anathema to these companies."
New App from Ex-NFL Player Makes Politics Easy and Simple
Former wide receiver Walter Powell Jr. played for three NFL teams over a span of four years. But now, a year into his retirement, he's decided to tackle a new challenge ー creating a more informed electorate. The athlete created a new an app, Politiscope, to educate political newcomers like Powell with a tool that "broke down politics so people like me could understand it," he told Cheddar Monday.
Load More