Judge Dismisses Privacy Case Against Facebook

A privacy case against Facebook has been thrown out of court by a judge in the US District Court, Northern District of California. The case surrounded Facebook's tracking of users via Like buttons on other sites even when they were not logged into their accounts.

Plaintiffs said that Facebook violated wiretapping and privacy laws, but District Judge Edward Davila ruled that there was no evidence that the social network had illegally "intercepted" communications. She said that plaintiffs had failed to show "realistic" economic harm or loss, adding that they could have taken steps to maintain the privacy of their browsing histories. 


The case (In re: Facebook Internet Tracking Litigation, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 12-md-02314) has been running for over five years, and the latest blow is unlikely to be the end of the story. While Judge Davila indicated that the plaintiffs could not pursue their privacy and wiretapping claims again, it would be possible to approach the issue using a breach of contract claim.

As explained by Reuters, it was the tracking of Facebook users' visits to third party sites when logged out of their accounts which was at the heart of the case:

"The fact that a user's web browser automatically sends the same information to both parties," meaning Facebook and an outside website, "does not establish that one party intercepted the user's communication with the other," Davila wrote.

The same judge dismissed a variant of the same case back in 2015.

Android and iPhone Users Can Now Use Facebook's Find Wi-Fi Anywhere In The World

Modern takes on Maslow's hierarchy of needs (jokingly) refer to a wireless internet connection as being a necessity. While Wi-Fi may not be -- in the strictest sense of the word -- necessary, it's certainly true that it has become the prey that we now hunt for.

To make the search a little easier, Facebook is now rolling out its Find Wi-Fi tool globally. What previously started as a small-scale test is now available around the world for Android and iPhone users, so anyone looking to minimize data usage will be able to find an easy way online.

This is clearly a tool that will be of particular interest to travelers who are trying to stay within their monthly data allowance while abroad, but anyone with data limitations -- or anyone who wants to get their laptop online without having to tether -- can take advantage of it.

Facebook says that there are other circumstances in which the tool can prove useful: "We launched Find Wi-Fi in a handful of countries last year and found it’s not only helpful for people who are traveling or on-the-go, but especially useful in areas where cellular data is scarce."

Engineering Director at Facebook, Alex Himel, says:

Find Wi-Fi helps you locate available Wi-Fi hot spots nearby that businesses have shared with Facebook from their Page. So wherever you are, you can easily map the closest connections when your data connection is weak.
To find Wi-Fi hotspots, open your Facebook app, click on the "More" tab and then "Find Wi-Fi." Once in the "Find Wi-Fi" tab you may need to turn it on. You can then browse the closest available hotspots on a map, and learn more about the businesses hosting them.

FACEBOOK UPDATE: Posting Too Much On Facebook Is Now Seen As Spreading Fake News By FB

Facebook's ongoing battle against fake news continues, and the social network has a new weapon in its arsenal. To cut down on the amount of spam and fake news appearing in News Feeds, users who post a lot each day will have their visibility reduced.

The thinking behind this is that there are some Facebook users who "routinely share vast amounts of public posts per day," and the company has found that the content shared tends to be spammy or fabricated stories. Facebook says that the change could mean that even legitimate publishers find that their reach is reduced, however. 


With its latest algorithm -- which is rather simple compared to others that have been deployed -- Facebook says that it is not interested in analyzing the content of what is being shared. Its research has shown that the sheer volume of posts from an individual is a string enough indicator of the quality of the content they share.

Facebook's vice president of News Feed, Adam Mosseri, says:
Our research shows that there is a tiny group of people on Facebook who routinely share vast amounts of public posts per day, effectively spamming people’s feeds. Our research further shows that the links they share tend to include low quality content such as clickbait, sensationalism, and misinformation. As a result, we want to reduce the influence of these spammers and deprioritize the links they share more frequently than regular sharers. Of course, this is only one signal among many others that may affect the ranking prioritization of this type of post. This update will only apply to links, such as an individual article, not to domains, Pages, videos, photos, check-ins or status updates.

If you're wondering what counts as a lot of posts, Recode says that 50 posts per day is the cut-off point. While it's easy to see what Facebook is trying to achieve here, it's hard to see how this particular change won't impact on large, legitimate news organizations who make use of the social network.

Facebook Unveils Plans To Fight Spammy Link Sharers

Facebook plans to fight fake news and spam sites by filtering out chronic over-sharers, who – so the social network’s research suggest – routinely end up filling your wall with clickbait. It’s the latest in the company’s attempts to cut down on the sort of often-baseless sensationalism that was particularly highlighted as a problem in the run-up to the US election last year. Now, Facebook will shape its news feed algorithm to reduce the number of low-quality links you see. 

All Facebook users probably have at least one among their “friends”: the compulsive over-sharer. Pushing out dozens of links every day, many of questionable accuracy, they not only contribute to the spread of misinformation but sap Facebook itself of some of its usefulness. That can mean people coming back and checking their account less frequently, something the company is unsurprisingly averse to.



Now, it says it has identified who those people are. “Our research shows that there is a tiny group of people on Facebook who routinely share vast amounts of public posts per day,” Adam Mosseri, VP of the Facebook News Feed, says, “effectively spamming people’s feeds. Our research further shows that the links they share tend to include low quality content such as clickbait, sensationalism, and misinformation.”

“As a result,” Mosseri concludes, “we want to reduce the influence of these spammers and deprioritize the links they share more frequently than regular sharers.”

The decision shouldn’t impact most users or publishers, Facebook insists, just as long as they’re sharing quality content. It’ll also only apply to links that are shared on the site, and then specifically to those leading to individual articles. General website domains, along with Facebook Pages, videos, photos, check-ins, and status updates will not be included in the changes.

It’s not Facebook’s first push to control the tenor of what gets shared. Back in May, the company tweaked its algorithms to reduce the number of links shown to “sensational,” “misleading,” or “spammy” sites. To do that, it first assessed hundreds of thousands of sites to figure out their accuracy, while also filtering through adverts that could be considered “disruptive, shocking or malicious”.

An artificial intelligence was taught the results, and then put in charge of managing what links get through and what don’t. However, Facebook has been cautious not to appear too strict with the systems, presumably in the hope of avoiding cries of censorship.

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Nascar Rev'd Up Concert

Carrera of America will participate in the NASCAR Rev'd Up event being held May 18th in the Plaza at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The event will run from 4pm until about 10pm. Carrera of America will have a DIGITAL132 high-banked oval track at the event with a selection of NASCAR's on hand for racing all evening.

Where:
NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza, Charlotte
400 East Martin Luther King Blvd
Charlotte, NC

When:
Wednesday, May 18 · 4:00pm - 10:00pm

RSVP for this event on the Carrera of America Facebook page.

50k for BMW

Pretty impressive stuff, BMW Motorsport has over 50,000 fans on their Facebook page.

1/43 slot racing video

A really excellent video from a slotbrother from Facebook! Excellent video Peter!

Farrari: Taiwan's greatest sports car

JUST last weekend I was offered a glimpse into a strange and exciting new world; one of someone who wasn't into their cars!

I know this because my friend - who, at the tender age of 23, is facing a midlife crisis - has decided she's got to start saving up for the ultimate Italian sports car. Yes, she wants to ditch her ageing Vauxhall Corsa for a Farrari.

A what, sorry? I thought it was Ferrari, with an 'e', that petrolheads the globe over get all misty-eyed over, but apparently no more. Lexus proved years ago that you can make a far-eastern motor that closely mimics a Mercedes - and still sell - so the idea of a cheap, knock-off Ferrari doesn't seem so far-fetched either.

Like Guccy watches and Nikey trainers, all Farraris would be made not by skilled Italian craftsman, but by small children in Taiwanese workshops, and then sold for £14.99. Compared to the £143,000 needed for the California, the real Ferrari's entry-level model, it's a bit of a bargain.

All Farraris would get plenty of power from their evocative two-stroke scooter engines, but then they'd need it to see off tough competition like the Porch 911 and the Lamburgini Murky Lager.

Luckily Farrari's fine racing heritage gives it a great pedigree and a following like no other. It might not be in F1, mind, but where better to showcase your sporting credentials than in the village cricket championship?

It's just a shame some of the models wearing that evocative prancing bull badge aren't quite up to scratch. The newest model, the 458 Ital, is clearly a minicab repainted in Italian Racing Red, while their entry-level roadster doesn't even have wheels.

As car firms go, I don't think Farrari's a bad one. Its cars might be a little lacking in some of the more important aspects - such as working - but five minutes of illustrious and imaginary heritage can't be wrong.

Once I'd finished my pint, I got back to the rather more pressing issue of cars that actually exist, and asked my co-drinker if she had anything else in mind.

"Definitely," she said sagely.

"A Kia Sedona would be lovely"...

The Lake District: a police state, apparently

ONE of my mates is convinced we’re living in some brutal and unfair police state.

She’d felt the full force of the police – that’s a £60 fine to you and me – for breaching the laws of the land, and reckons it’s all the fault of evil, target-hungry coppers. The only problem is, I agree with them.

Her crime was not being bothered to belt up, which I honestly think is one of the riskiest things you can do on the road, short of being drunk or drugged up. The last thing I’d want to do is pretend I’m a brilliant driver dancing around gingerly on the moral high ground – I’m not – but a £60 fine probably wasn’t enough.

I took a break from being a Champion reporter last Friday (even journalists get holidays sometimes) and headed for the Lake District, and at least twice on the rutted rivers they call roads up there I remembered why cars have seatbelts at all.

The old chap in Hawkshead who reversed his van into the side of a line of traffic – my car included – luckily didn’t do any damage, but I still breathed a sigh of relief that nobody was hurt. I had a couple of words with him about his breathtaking stupidity, but I don’t think he liked either of them.

But worst of all was Mondeo Man, who dawdled onto a busy dual carriageway somewhere near Barrow. Despite it being a 70mph road, he stopped dead in the outside lane, and I’m glad my usually hopeless drum brakes actually worked for a change. The consequences of ramming a modern motor with a machine made mainly from rust and gaffer tape doesn’t bear thinking about.

I don’t believe speed is the main cause of accidents – usually it’s hitting things – but I know I’d want to be strapped in if my luck ran out. The boys in blue weren’t being unfair to my Facebook fury friend, but trying to save her life.

£60 to stay alive? Probably a price worth paying.