Companies scrutinise our online likes, dislikes, searches and purchases to produce data that can be used commercially. And it’s often done without us understanding the full extent of the surveillance.
A former senior economist with the Reserve Bank of Australia doubts Facebook’s cryptocurrency will take control of monetary policy away from central banks.
With the launch of the Libra cryptocurrency, Mark Zuckerberg reveals his dreams of building a new virtual country, perhaps inspired by the Roman Empire.
Facebook is built on harvesting platform data about its users, crunching that to predict behaviours and allegiances and then selling this package to advertisers. That hasn’t changed yet.
Big tech companies compete over who can gather the most intelligence on their users. Countries like Russia and China turn this information against their citizens.
People know about Facebook’s problems, but assume they are largely immune – even while they imagine that everyone else is very susceptible to influence.
Rather than revealing an advertiser targeted you by your phone number or email address, Facebook may tell you it showed you a particular ad because you like Facebook. That’s not much help.
Facebook’s Mia Garlick on how Australian politicians are using social media
The Conversation44.8 MB(download)
Today's Media Files podcast examines the role of social media in election campaigns, including the spread of 'fake news' and foreign political interference.
Uber’s IPO will value the company at more than $80 billion, yet the data it collects on its users may be worth even more – and creates the potential for dangerous manipulation.
It’s easy to legislate for new offences and more incarceration. It’s harder – and more expensive – to ensure the community is safer in the long term. This involves addressing causes, not effects.