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Meta is discontinuing its fact-checking system. On Tuesday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan announced that the tech giant would transition to a community notes model — similar to the system on Elon Musk’s X — to “restore free expression,” according to a news release. “Meta’s platforms are built to be places where people can express themselves freely,” said Kaplan in the release. “That can be messy. On platforms where billions of people can have a voice, all the good, bad, and ugly is on display. But that’s free expression.” Kaplan noted that societal and political pressure to moderate content has pushed the company to develop increasingly complex systems to manage content across its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram , in recent years. “Too much harmless content gets censored, too many people find themselves wrongly locked up in ‘Facebook jail,’ and we are often too slow to respond when they do,” he added. Zuckerberg also believes the...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Corporate companies have gutted and targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs throughout 2024. As we head into 2025, efforts to reverse these changes will only increase. DEI programs have been the center of several political battles since Republicans wrongfully came to attack critical race theory. Just as conservatives have a woeful misunderstanding of critical race theory and where it applies, DEI has become a buzzword associated with the aforementioned cultural wars. What Is DEI? DEI initiatives are implemented in schools, businesses, and government agencies to address inequities within historically marginalized groups. According to Erica Foldy, a professor at NYU’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, initiatives could include training, organizational policies and practices, and organizational culture. DEI isn’t just a rule or legislation created for organizations to pat...
Mexico is launching a new initiative to help migrants alert local consulates if they believe they are about to be detained in the United States. The country is developing a mobile app called “Alert Button,” which, in addition to alerting consulates, will also allow Mexican nationals who fear imminent detention to notify pre-selected family members and report the situation to its secretary of foreign affairs, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, ABC News reported . De la Fuente announced the app is intended for “emergency cases” and is expected to be available in January 2025, coinciding with the beginning of President-elect Donald Trump’s administration . The secretary also outlined additional protective measures, emphasizing that to deport someone from the U.S., “you need a court order, a final sentence of deportation or removal, and that is where the consular team will be very aware that due process is complied with,” according to ABC. Trump has repeatedly pledged to launch mass deportations...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Americans aren’t the only ones prepping for another tedious four years under President-elect Donald Trump. Since the results of the 2024 election projected Donald Trump as the winner, tech leaders from companies like Meta, Amazon, OpenAI, and others have shelled out seven-figure investments to Trump’s inaugural fund. According to CBS News, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has donated $1 million and plans to stream the inauguration on Prime. Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, will donate $1 million, along with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who delivered an optimistic statement about the President-elect’s election win. “President Trump will lead our country into the age of AI, and I am eager to support his efforts to ensure America stays ahead,” Altman said in a statement, per The Associated Press. Elon Musk, CEO of X, Tesla, and SpaceX, and general pop culture menace has been a lurking presence...
Writer, producer, and director Ava DuVernay is painting a brighter future for women through her work. The award-winning filmmaker plans to shift the political landscape as she prepares to release a powerful docuseries highlighting women of color in politics titled, “And She Could Be Next.” “There are more of us than those who seek to do us harm.” AND SHE COULD BE NEXT debuts on @PBS via @POVdocs this summer. pic.twitter.com/CEZDykB20E — Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 17, 2020 The PBS project — set to debut in June — will spotlight the movement of women of color making major strides in American politics. POV — part of PBS’ public television series that features independent nonfiction films — acquired the U.S. broadcast and streaming rights to the docuseries as part of PBS’ summer “Trailblazers” initiative to celebrate the centennial of the women’s vote, Deadline reports . The docuseries aims to pay homage to women of color who are using their voices to inspire change. “If ever there was a...
The 2020 Presidential race has been a battle from the very beginning. Now more than ever, more Black women are getting opportunities to hold leadership positions as the brainpower behind many of the presidential campaigns. “According to an expert, the number of Black women involved in presidential campaigns this go-round is unprecedented,” Essence reported. Whether they’re on the frontlines or behind the scenes, these powerful sisters have been entrusted to help lead the future of politics alongside candidates in the Democratic primary field. Get to know the Black women behind some of these presidential campaigns below. Maya Harris Photo Credit: The Washington Post/Getty Images Maya Harris , a civil rights lawyer and previous senior policy advisor on Hillary Clinton’s campaign, was recruited by her sister, Sen. Kamala Harris to serve as her campaign chair. Although the senator exited the race before the primary votes were tallied, she alongside her sister helped break down political...
The catchphrase “fake news,” which sparked amusement during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, is no longer a laughing matter. Now Facebook is taking steps to prove it. On Tuesday, the social media giant announced that it will now ban deepfake video content from its site, according to a new policy update. Deepfake video is content altered so adroitly by artificial intelligence algorithms that it falsely convinces the reader of its authenticity. New, enhanced digital manipulation software that superimposes content can give undue credibility to media that was once readily identifiable as false. Since the swift and widespread circulation of false information in social media has an exponential effect for the misinformed and their followers, Facebook’s ban may offer a glimmer of hope. While some applaud Facebook for taking this step, the decision does raise eyebrows. Facebook’s timing is questionable, given that this week’s announcement came just days before a congressional hearing...
ISAs allow students to pay no tuition upfront, in exchange for a percentage of their future income after graduation. This fall, 19.9 million people are expected to attend college or university in pursuit of a degree. It is expected that around one million students will default on their student loans as well. In the past, higher education was seen as a ticket toward higher salaries and better jobs, but today, with student debt balances appreciating, people are starting to think twice about pursuing further education. As the price of tuition increases — the price of college is appreciating almost eight times faster than wages — students are increasingly relying on debt to finance their education. One method to address this problem that has already gained traction in the form of a bipartisan bill — is Income Share Agreements (ISAs) . Income Share Agreements Income Share Agreements , for which bipartisan legislation is being considered, allow students to pay no tuition upfront, in...