Technology

Meta is highlighting a splintering global approach to online speech

Published

9 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Meta is highlighting a splintering global approach to online speech

Meta’s overhaul of its content moderation and fact-checking policies in the US is bringing into focus a key geopolitical tension likely to grow under the incoming Trump administration: the regulation of speech online.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg made no secret of his attempt to align his interests with those of President-elect Donald Trump, saying he planned to work with Trump to “push back on governments around the world that are going after American companies and pushing to censor more” — naming Europe specifically. The US and the European Union have long had different approaches when it comes to digital regulation, which has at times inflamed tensions since many of the largest tech companies that end up being targeted by Europe’s rules are the US’s crown jewels. That dynamic is likely to be exacerbated under a second Trump administration, with the incoming president’s protectionist policies.

“The inflection point is Trump, and Facebook is just following along,” says Daphne Keller, director of the program on platform regulation at Stanford University’s Cyber Policy Center. Through the policy change, Meta is signaling to Trump that “we want to be part of a fight with Europe. We’re on your side. We’re pro-free speech,” she says.

“The inflection point is Trump, and Facebook is just following along”

Meta says the end of its third-party fact-checking program is a change it’s making “starting in the US.” The company is switching from working with third-party fact-checkers to a crowd-sourced Community Notes model, styled after X, along with fewer restrictions on what negative things users can say — particularly about women and LGBTQ people — on their platforms. Zuckerberg says this combined with other content moderation policy changes will make it so less content is inappropriately removed, a common complaint the right has been making for years, even if that means more unsavory (but legal) content stays up longer.

Under Europe’s Digital Services Act, large platforms like Meta can be held accountable for failing to remove illegal content or that which violates their own terms of service in a timely manner once it’s reported, with fines as high as 6 percent of their annual global revenue. Meta says that under its changes, it will still take down illegal content but is loosening its approach on what’s sometimes referred to as “lawful but awful” content, such as likening women to “household objects.”

Even so, should Meta expand its new approach globally, it could run into trouble in Europe. Some digital law experts worry that the DSA’s risk assessment and risk mitigation provisions could be interpreted to compel platforms to remove speech, even if the law doesn’t directly require the removal of certain harmful content. Those parts of the law require platforms to assess risk and create plans to mitigate the potential negative impact of their services on “fundamental rights,” which may be vague enough for some regulators to make the case that content moderation and fact-checking decisions may be included.

Others, like London School of Economics and Political Science associate law professor Martin Husovec, have said that fears that the DSA would turn the EU into a “Ministry of Truth are misplaced,” since even though there’s opportunity for abuse, the law is not “pre-programmed” to suppress lawful disinformation.

European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier declined to comment on Meta’s announcement but said in a statement that they will continue to monitor designated “very large online platforms” like Meta for compliance with the DSA. “Under the DSA, collaborating with independent fact-checkers can be an efficient way for platforms to mitigate systemic risks stemming from their services, while fully respecting the freedom of expression,” Regnier says. “This applies to risks such as the spread of disinformation, or negative effects to civic discourse and electoral integrity.”

Regnier also noted that Meta signed the voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation, which includes certain commitments about working with fact-checkers. But it could continue to follow X’s footsteps in reversing that commitment.

During a press conference after Meta’s announcement, Regnier said that Europe isn’t asking any platforms to remove lawful content. “We just need to make the difference between illegal content and then content that is potentially harmful … There, we ask just platforms to take appropriate risk mitigation measures.”

Regardless, Meta will still likely need to remove more speech in Europe than it does in the US to comply with local laws. For example, Holocaust denial is illegal in countries like Germany, while the US has no such speech restrictions. Still, Keller points out that European leaders are less unified now than they were a couple years ago when it comes to dealing with issues like gender identity and immigration. “A bunch of right and far-right parties are coming to power in Europe. So there’s far less of a unified European political agenda around culture wars issues than there used to be,” she says.

Even so, Keller says she worries that Zuckerberg’s rhetoric toward Europe in his announcement could create a dynamic that emboldens European regulators who want to go after US platforms over speech concerns. “He will offend them, and they’ll get their backup, and then they really will interpret it to give themselves broader powers and to be able to punish Meta more,” Keller says. “It’s almost like he’s going to drive them into becoming the censors that he claims they are now.”

Technology

X launches Grok’s iPhone app in the US

Published

1 hour ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

xAI has released an iOS app in the US for its Grok chatbot, as spotted earlier by TechCrunch. The standalone app version of the chatbot, which xAI calls a beta, can perform the same functions as the one built into X, as it can field real-time information, answer questions, and generate images.

xAI started testing Grok’s standalone iOS app in December in a handful of countries. There’s no word on when it may come to Android.

Though Grok was initially only available to X Premium subscribers, the platform started letting all users access the chatbot last month, bringing it in line with other free-to-use chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot.

As pointed out by TechCrunch, it seems xAI is also working on a dedicated Grok.com website that currently has a “coming soon” message on it. After raising $6 billion in June, xAI reported another $6 billion funding round, including from “strategic investors” like Nvidia and AMD.

Technology

This fake app clone will steal everything you type on your Android

Published

2 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

This fake app clone will steal everything you type on your Android

Fake apps are a big problem, and their clever social engineering tricks make them hard to catch.

There are tons of these apps out there mimicking popular apps like PayPal and Spotify. Security researchers have found another fake app pretending to be the premium version of Telegram, a messaging app with over a billion downloads. Hackers are using this app to spread malware called FireScam. It can steal everything you type on your Android phone and other personal info.

Since it tracks your keyboard, it also gets all your passwords, which could give hackers access to sensitive data.

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Android phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What you need to know about FireScam

As reported by threat management company Cyfirma, FireScam is a type of malware that targets Android devices to steal personal information. It works like spyware, keeping an eye on what you do on your Android phone, such as reading your notifications, messages, clipboard content and more.

Hackers are spreading FireScam by pretending it’s a premium version of Telegram. They’ve created a fake website on GitHub that looks like RuStore (a real app store in Russia). When people visit this fake site, they’re tricked into downloading an app that looks like “Telegram Premium.” However, this app is actually a trap. Once installed, it downloads the FireScam malware onto your device and starts stealing your personal data.

To avoid detection, the app is heavily disguised using a tool called DexGuard. It asks for permissions to access your storage, check installed apps and install more software. When you open the app, it shows a fake login page that looks like Telegram’s. If you enter your details, it steals your credentials.

The stolen data is first stored in a Firebase Realtime Database, but hackers later move it to private servers. The malware also registers each compromised device with a unique ID so hackers can keep track of their victims.

A man using his phone (Cyfirma)

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FireScam can steal almost everything on your phone

According to Cyfirma’s analysis, the FireScam malware is highly effective at stealing nearly all types of data from an infected Android device. It categorizes and sends anything you type, drag and drop, copy to the clipboard or even data automatically filled by password managers or exchanged between apps directly to the hackers.

The malware also monitors device state changes, such as when the screen turns on or off, and tracks e-commerce transactions to capture financial details. Plus, it spies on messaging apps to steal conversations and monitors screen activity, uploading key events to its server for further exploitation.

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Fake Telegram Premium app (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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6 ways to stay safe from fake apps

1. Download apps only from official stores: Always use trusted app stores like Google Play or the Apple App Store to download apps. These platforms have security measures to detect and remove fake or harmful apps. Avoid downloading apps from random websites, pop-up ads or unofficial third-party stores as these are common sources of fake apps.

2. Verify the app’s developer: Before installing an app, check who created it. Look at the developer’s name and ensure it matches the official company behind the app. Fake apps often copy the names of popular apps but use slightly altered spellings or extra characters. For example, a fake might be called “PayPaal” instead of “PayPal.”

3. Pay attention to reviews and ratings: Reviews and ratings can give you insight into an app’s authenticity. If an app has mostly negative reviews, very few downloads or generic comments like “Great app,” it could be fake. Genuine apps typically have a large number of detailed reviews over time. Be cautious of apps with five-star ratings but no specific feedback.

4. Be cautious of app permissions: Check the permissions the app requests before installing. A flashlight app, for example, shouldn’t need access to your contacts or messages. If an app is asking for permissions that don’t align with its purpose, it could be a red flag. Always deny permissions that seem excessive or unnecessary.

5. Keep your phone and apps updated: Regular updates for your operating system and apps often include important security fixes that protect your device from malware. Turning on automatic updates can ensure you always have the latest protections.

6. Use strong antivirus software: Install strong antivirus software on your Android. These tools can scan apps for malware, detect suspicious activity and block harmful downloads. Strong antivirus software provides an extra layer of defense, especially when browsing or downloading apps. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

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Kurt’s key takeaway

The FireScam malware is a powerful tool that can steal everything on your phone, and it’s tough to detect if you’re not careful. Such apps can’t be distributed through legitimate app stores like the Play Store or the App Store, so they rely on third-party stores and fake websites to spread. To stay safe, the best approach is to stick to verified app stores and avoid downloading from untrustworthy sources.

When was the last time you read through the permissions an app asked for? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Meta makes major move back to free speech and ends 3rd-party fact-checking program

Published

9 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Meta makes major move back to free speech and ends 3rd-party fact-checking program

In 2022, Elon Musk acquired Twitter and made a series of changes to the platform, including changing its name to X and introducing Community Notes, which is a feature that allows users to add context or fact-check potentially misleading posts.

This approach differs from Meta’s model, which relies on third-party, independent fact-checking organizations to flag misleading posts on Instagram, Facebook and Threads (its rival to X).

However, CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that Meta will stop working with these organizations and instead implement an X-like Community Notes feature. Zuckerberg also revealed a series of other major changes to the company’s moderation policies and practices, aimed at offering people more freedom of expression.

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Meta’s logo (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Community Notes coming to Meta platforms

Zuckerberg announced Tuesday that the social media company would stop working with third-party fact-checking organizations. In a video posted on Instagram and Facebook, Zuckerberg said the company’s content moderation approach resulted too often in “censorship.”

“After Trump first got elected in 2016, the legacy media wrote nonstop about how misinformation was a threat to democracy. We tried in good faith to address those concerns without becoming the arbiters of truth,” Zuckerberg said. “But the fact-checkers have just been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created, especially in the U.S.”

Zuckerberg said that Meta will end its fact-checking program with trusted partners and replace it with a community-driven system similar to X’s Community Notes.

For the unaware, Community Notes on X allows users to collaboratively add context or fact-check potentially misleading posts. When a tweet is flagged for misinformation or lack of context, users can submit notes that provide additional information or correct inaccuracies.

These notes are then reviewed by other users, who can upvote or downvote the contributions based on their helpfulness and accuracy. If a note receives enough support, it becomes visible beneath the original tweet, offering a balanced view and helping to inform others.

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Meta’s changes spark backlash from fact-checking community

Independent fact-checkers, however, aren’t happy with the change.

“Fact-checking journalism has never censored or removed posts; it’s added information and context to controversial claims, and it’s debunked hoax content and conspiracy theories. The fact-checkers used by Meta follow a code of principles requiring nonpartisanship and transparency,” said Angie Drobnic Holan, director of the International Fact-Checking Network.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Social media apps on an iPhone’s home screen (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Meta is also reducing censorship

Zuckerberg also revealed plans to overhaul Meta’s recommendation system, which determines the content shown to users. For years, the company has restricted political content, citing user feedback and concerns about the impact of social media on beliefs.

“We built a lot of complex systems to moderate content, but the problem with complex systems is they make mistakes,” Zuckerberg said. “Even if they accidentally censor just 1% of posts, that’s millions of people, and we’ve reached a point where it’s just too many mistakes and too much censorship.”

He added that Meta would eliminate some content policies on controversial issues, including immigration and gender, and refocus its automated moderation on what he described as high-severity violations. The company will now take a more personalized approach to political content so that people who want to see more of it in their feeds can see it.

In addition, Facebook will relocate its trust and safety and content moderation teams from California to Texas. Zuckerberg also said Meta would collaborate with the incoming Trump administration to promote free speech globally, though he did not provide specific details.

Facebook app on an iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Kurt’s key takeaway

Meta’s platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, have been more tightly moderated compared to platforms like X, which has meant less freedom of expression for users. The changes Zuckerberg announced on Tuesday aim to relax those rules, letting people share their thoughts more freely. This could lead to more offensive content, but that’s the trade-off for more freedom. The introduction of Community Notes is a good change, too, as it gives users more control instead of leaving it to a small group of people who might be biased toward a certain political party or issue.

What do you think about the changes Zuckerberg is making to Meta’s content moderation? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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