Activities
Divisions
Presentations
Activities
Divisions
Presentations
Meta plans to close vital falsehood tracking software ahead of significant US elections
In an unexpected decision that could potentially impact US elections later this year, Meta has declared its plan to discontinue CrowdTangle. This well-known social media surveillance and transparency tool has been instrumental in assisting researchers in monitoring online misinformation and hate speech.
Recently, Meta, which owns Facebook, stated its plans to cease operations of CrowdTangle, a widely-used tool for observing and maintaining transparency on social media. This anticipated action, set for August 14, 2024, has triggered considerable discussions among journalists, researchers, and civic bodies, especially in light of the imminent US presidential election.
CrowdTangle has been instrumental in helping journalists and researchers monitor the spread of incorrect and misleading information on social media. The upcoming closure of the tool has sparked worries about how it might affect the attempts to make tech firms answerable for their part in disseminating falsehoods.
Meta declares its plan to substitute CrowdTangle with a fresh Content Library API. However, this change will require researchers and nonprofits to request permission to use the company's data.
The Mozilla Foundation and various other civic organizations have criticized the new product, pointing out that it misses many of CrowdTangle's crucial features. They have appealed to Meta to keep the original tool operational until January 2025.
Responding to the criticism, Meta's representative, Andy Stone, justified the move by saying that the Content Library will offer a more exhaustive data set than CrowdTangle. He also mentioned that it would be available to nonprofits, scholars, and specialists in election fairness.
Brandon Silverman, who is the co-founder and previous CEO of CrowdTangle and who continued his involvement with the tool even after Facebook bought it in 2016, voiced his opinion that it's crucial for platforms to make their data accessible for external examination, according to a report from Wired. He stressed the importance of having rules and laws set by regulators and politicians concerning transparency and accessibility of data on such platforms.
Silverman emphasized the obligations of transparency in data sharing mandated by the European Union's Digital Services Act. He pointed out an increasing trend among multiple platforms, such as Alibaba and TikTok, to provide programs that allow external researchers to access public content in real-time.
Silverman conceded that there are hurdles in executing such steps, including Twitter's strict data access rules and Meta's cutback in data sharing programs. He underscored the need to find a middle ground between data availability and safeguarding privacy, advocating for more public involvement and discussion on the matter.
As Meta plans to phase out CrowdTangle, there are ongoing worries about the possible effects on openness and responsibility in the online world, especially prior to major political happenings such as the US presidential race. This move highlights the larger discussions about the obligations of technology firms and the necessity for regulatory measures to protect democratic procedures in the digital era.
Look for us on YouTube
Top-Rated Programs
Related Topics
In response to US tech sanctions, China bans the use of Intel and AMD CPUs, GPUs in its government computers
The purpose of marriage and the controversy surrounding no-fault divorce in the US
Eric Garcetti, the US Ambassador to India, celebrates Holi in a unique way, highlighting 'India-US Friendship'
The question of whether Donald Trump has the wealth to cover a $454 million bond in a New York civil fraud case
China's counteraction to US tech sanctions includes prohibiting the use of Intel and AMD CPUs, GPUs in government computers
The discussion around the purpose of marriage and why no-fault divorce is a contentious issue in the US
The US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, marks Holi with a special twist; focusing on 'India-US Friendship'
The debate over whether Donald Trump can afford to post a $454 million bond in a New York civil fraud lawsuit
Available on YouTube
Firstpost holds all rights and protections under copyright law as of 2024
+ There are no comments
Add yours