🛡️ Meta's facial recognition, new data rules, and jet-tracking bans
Good morning. It’s Tuesday, October 22. Today we are covering:
Meta tests facial recognition for spotting 'celeb-bait' ads scams and easier account recovery
Biden administration proposes new rules governing data transfers to adversarial nations
Celebrity jet-tracking accounts have vanished from Threads and Instagram
Hulu and Disney+ No Longer Support Signups and Payment Using App Store
WhatsApp will soon let users add contacts from any device
Let’s dive in
Meta tests facial recognition for spotting 'celeb-bait' ads scams and easier account recovery
By Natasha Lomas via TechCrunch
Meta is testing facial recognition to detect scam ads, particularly those using celebrities (celeb-bait) to deceive users into sharing personal information or money.
These tests involve comparing faces in flagged ads against public figures' profile photos on Facebook and Instagram, with Meta claiming that facial data is deleted after a one-time comparison.
Meta is also trialing facial recognition for account recovery via video selfies, aiming to offer a faster alternative to traditional identity verification methods, but tests are not currently happening in the UK or EU.
𝕏: Today, @meta announced that we’re beginning to test how facial recognition technology can help us protect people and make it harder for scammers to deceive others. Specifically, we’re using this tech to make it harder for scammers to run celeb-bait ads on our platforms and as a means for people to verify their identity and regain access to compromised accounts. - Rob Sherman (@rmsherman)
Biden administration proposes new rules governing data transfers to adversarial nations
By Suzanne Smalley via The Record
The Biden administration has proposed new rules restricting the transfer of sensitive data to adversarial nations, including China, Russia, and Iran, aiming to protect Americans' personal and federal information from misuse.
Data transfers exceeding thresholds—such as 100 Americans' genomic data or 1,000 Americans' geolocation and biometric data—to companies or individuals in six targeted countries will be prohibited under these regulations.
Data brokers and companies selling sensitive data to these nations will face restrictions, with violators subject to civil penalties and criminal prosecution for non-compliance.
𝕏: Ooh. DOJ lists *Macau* - where the GOP gets a lot of money - on the same list as China when it comes to security threats. Bummer for Steve Wynn and Miriam Adelson! - Eric Garland (@ericgarland)
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Celebrity jet-tracking accounts have vanished from Threads and Instagram
By Jess Weatherbed via The Verge
Meta has suspended several Threads and Instagram accounts tracking the private jets of celebrities like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos due to privacy concerns and the risk of physical harm.
The suspended accounts, managed by Jack Sweeney, used publicly available flight data and were disabled without direct warning, as Meta cited violations of their privacy policy.
Sweeney, who has faced similar suspensions on other platforms like X, has seen at least 38 of his jet-tracking accounts deactivated across multiple social media platforms.
Hulu and Disney+ No Longer Support Signups and Payment Using App Store
By Juli Clover via MacRumors
Disney has removed the option for new and returning customers to sign up for Hulu and Disney+ subscriptions via Apple's App Store, avoiding the 15-30% fees Apple charges for in-app purchases.
Existing subscribers who use Apple billing are unaffected, but new users are now directed to the Disney and Hulu websites to manage their subscriptions.
The move aligns with recent price hikes for both services and follows Disney's efforts to boost streaming revenue by eliminating in-app purchase fees and cracking down on password sharing.
𝕏: Disney+/Hulu is pulling out of App Store In-App-Purchase (revenue share) just days after raising prices. Sometimes companies leave IAP to pass on savings (15%-30%) to customer, but that's not happening here. Disney has talked a lot recently about upping its profitability. - Mark Gurman (@markgurman)
WhatsApp will soon let users add contacts from any device
By Lawrence Bonk via Engadget
WhatsApp will soon allow users to add and manage contacts from any device, not just a primary phone, including through the web client and Windows PCs.
Users will be able to save contacts directly to WhatsApp without syncing to their phone, helping prevent contact loss if a phone is misplaced.
Meta is also introducing usernames in WhatsApp, allowing users to share contact info without revealing their phone numbers, enhancing privacy.
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