The Nation Newspaper

Tag: facebook

  • Facebook sues over sale of ‘fake engagement services’ to users

    Facebook is suing a company and three individuals, based in New Zealand, over allegations they sold fake likes, views and followers to users of its photo-sharing platform Instagram, it said on Friday.

    The company said it suspended accounts associated with the defendants, who had been formally warned they were in violation of the company’s terms of use.

    “However their activity persisted.

    “By filing the lawsuit, we are sending a message that this kind of fraudulent activity is not tolerated on our services and we will act to protect the integrity of our platform,’’ Facebook said in a statement.

    The company claimed that the defendants in the lawsuit, which was filed in a U.S. federal court, profited from a service which sold fake engagement services to Instagram users.

    Users with large numbers of followers are often able to attract lucrative sponsorship deals and sell products on their platform if they are considered to be influencers.

    In 2018, Instagram said it would step up its efforts against users artificially increasing their follower numbers as Facebook dealt with the aftermath of a number of scandals, including the Cambridge Analytica data-sharing one.

    The company has also been removing pages, groups and accounts showing “inauthentic behaviour’’ in countries including the Philippines, Russia and Iran.

    It followed accusations that the platform played a role in influencing 2016’s U.S. presidential election and Brexit referendum.

    dpa/NAN

  • FACEBOOK RESTATES COMMITMENT TO NIGERIAN CREATIVES

    LEADING social network, Facebook, has restated its commitment to continuously supporting and investing in the development of various Nigerian communities on its platform, including startups, small and medium businesses, creators, and youths through its various empowerment programmes.

    The event which held at the African Artists Foundation, Victoria Island, Lagos featured multiple training workshops for Nigerian entrepreneurs on how to boost their businesses, use Facebook’s platforms to generate more followers and customers, as well as how to maximize their brands, among others.

    The company said it is already doing this by equipping future creatives, communities, SMBs and youths with the tools to grow their network on its various platforms, namely Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

    The company said this last week when it hosted an informal evening to mark its two-day pop-up event for Nigerian entrepreneurs, tagged ‘It’s Your Facebook.’

    The event also featured a Creators Panel made up of popular comedian Bright Okpocha, aka Basketmouth, Nkechi ‘Ink’ Eze of Asoebi Bella, and Hadiza Lawal founder of Woven Blends, a food and style blog.

    According to Facebook’s Communications Manager for Sub Saharan Africa, Kezia Anim-Addo, Nigeria is important to Facebook, prompting it to bring its first ever pop-up in Africa to the city of Lagos.

    “For our users, the event was really a chance to come down and have our experts give them advice and take them through global best practices, and help to answer their questions, whilst interacting directly,” she said.

    The event was also an opportunity for the company to take users through the some of the services Facebook provides, including how to personalise their newsfeeds, carry out their security settings and lots more.

    The event had previously been held in Dublin, Cologne and Dubai.

  • Facebook confirms uploading 1.5 million users’ email contact without consent

    The social media giant, Facebook, uploaded the contact details of 1.5 million new users without their permission in the last three years, Facebook confirmed in a statement on Thursday.

    READ ALSO: Facebook partners MainOne on metro internet infrastructure expansion in Edo

    “The error was discovered amid a change to the sign-up process made in March,’’ Facebook stated in a publication by the U.S. news website Business Insider.

    The California-based company said the details were not shared with anyone and are now being deleted.

    “The mistake has been rectified and affected users are being informed,’’ Facebook added.

    The company has seen a string of gaffes involving users’ sensitive information in recent years.

    For example, posts from several million users who wanted them to be only view able to their Facebook friends were shared publicly, making them visible to the whole world.

    Business Insider broke the news about the mistake, reporting that in some cases, a new user’s email address was inadvertently uploaded during the password verification process.

    “Facebook removed the email password verification step from the sign-up process last month,’’ the company said in the statement.

  • We’ll stop interference in 2020 US presidential election, Facebook’s Zuckerberg assures

    Facebook Inc’s Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg is confident the world’s biggest social network will do better in 2020 at stopping “bad actors’’ from manipulating the U.S. presidential election.

    “We’ve learned a lot since 2016, where, obviously, we were behind where we needed to be on defences for nation

    states trying to interfere,” he said in a “Good Morning America’’ interview released on Thursday.

    “These aren’t things that you ever fully solve, right? They’re ongoing arms races, where we need to make sure

    that our systems stay ahead of the sophisticated bad actors, who are just always going to try to game them.”

    U.S. intelligence agencies say there was an extensive Russian cyber-influence operation during the 2016 campaign aimed at helping Donald Trump, a Republican, defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.

    Russia has repeatedly denied the allegations.

    Zuckerberg said that he social media giant had implemented a lot of different measures since 2016 to verify any advertiser

    who is running a political ad and create an archive so anyone could see what advertisers are running, who they are targeting and how much they are paying.

    Advertising practices at Facebook, the world’s largest social network with 2.7 billion users and 56 billion dollars in annual revenue, have been in the spotlight for two years amid growing discontent over its approach to privacy and user data.

    Read Also: Obaseki’s reforms: Facebook, MainOne to invest in Edo, says Opeke

    The company said in a congressional testimony in 2018 that Russian agents created 129 events on the network during the 2016 U.S. election campaign, shedding more light on Russia’s purported disinformation drive aimed at voters.

    “At this point, (we) have probably some of the most-advanced systems of any company or government in the world for preventing the kind of tactics that Russia and now other countries, as well, have tried,” Zuckerberg said.

    Asked if he could guarantee that there would not be interference in the election, Zuckerberg said, “What I can guarantee is that they’re definitely going to try.”

  • MTN unveils smart feature phone

    MTN Nigeria on Thursday unveiled an affordable smart feature phone known as the MTN Smart, designed as a compact, high-quality device available at a very affordable price.

    It said it is in keeping to its promise of making access to advanced digital services a reality for everyone to bridge the digital divide, enhance connectivity to grow the economy.

    This first of its kind 3G KaiOS smart feature phone, allows customers to upgrade from a typical feature phone with only voice and text capabilities, to a fully connected device with a fast 3G internet connection, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, dual SIM 3G capabilities. It has an App Store and comes pre-loaded with the most popular Apps available in the market today, including but not limited to WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google Maps.

    Read Also: MTN Foundation upgrades lab

    Commenting on this innovation, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, Rahul De said: “Despite rising mobile phone penetration and increased data consumption, device affordability remains a significant disincentive for most Nigerians. The MTN Smart feature phone is a great, affordable and tailor-made solution aimed at bridging this device gap and ensuring that every Nigerian is able to benefit from the modern, connected life.”

    The phone which boasts of two cameras, a 2-day battery life with 2000mAh battery, is powered by the SC7731EF processor, has a 2.4-inch screen, 256MB RAM and 512MB of storage and runs on the increasingly popular KaiOS operating system.

    Suitable for individuals who are digital savvy and desire affordable smartphones, the MTN Smart is available in all MTN stores across Nigeria for just N8,000 and comes with free 500MB monthly data for the first six  months.

  • Facebook partners MainOne on metro internet infrastructure expansion in Edo

    Riding on the wave of Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki’s reforms in investment promotion and determination to build a robust technology ecosystem in the state, global technology giant, Facebook has invested in providing broadband internet in Edo State, in partnership with MainOne, a submarine cable system operator.

    The investment is part of a 750km terrestrial fibre infrastructure project being implemented by the two companies in Edo and Ogun states. The project would provide an open-access transport network for metro fibre connectivity to reach more than 1,000,000 people in over 12 cities, including Benin City.

    The Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government has prioritised technology as one of the cardinal pillars of his reform agenda in Edo State, introducing Information Communication Technology (ICT)-compliant pedagogy in primary schools; building the Edo Innovation Hub, where school leavers and graduates undergo beginner and advanced training in technology, as well as revamping technical education to increase productivity.

    The new internet infrastructure by Facebook and MainOne will connect mobile operators’ base stations, Internet Service providers (ISPs), Points of Presence (POPs), and public locations including schools and hospitals.

    In Benin City, extensive work has been done in laying the cables, as manholes with MainOne markings now dot different parts of the city, indicating that fibre cables lay underneath.

    Speaking on the project, Network Investments Lead for Emerging Markets at Facebook, Ibrahima Ba, said: “We are working closely with MainOne and other partners to accelerate broadband deployment. In Nigeria, we are bringing together Facebook’s learnings from scaling our global infrastructure with MainOne’s knowledge of the local environment to develop and test new working models for multiple operators to access common infrastructure.”

    MainOne’s Chief Executive Officer, Funke Opeke, lauded the collaboration and the commitment of Facebook and authorities in Nigeria to improving broadband penetration across the country.

    Commenting on the partnership, she added, “MainOne has always been committed to broadband innovation, job creation as well as growing the digital economy of West Africa. We believe that this partnership and the open-access network we have developed, will be beneficial to improving the quality of access and accelerating the digital transformation in Ogun and Edo states.”

  • MainOne, Facebook partner fiber network

    MainOne and Facebook have partnered over  metro fiber infrastructure project in two states of Nigeria. The collaboration in infrastructure is part of Facebook’s efforts to connect more people to broadband internet. As part of this project, MainOne is building and operating approximately 750 km terrestrial fiber infrastructure in Edo and Ogun states, two of Nigeria’s fastest growing states.

    These open-access transport networks will provide metro fiber connectivity to reach more than 1,000,000 people in Benin City, Abeokuta, Sagamu and 10 other towns by connecting mobile operators’ base stations, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Points of Presence (PoPs), and public locations including schools and hospitals. The partnership will leverage MainOne’s strength as a wholesale telecoms infrastructure service provider with investment from Facebook and support from local regulatory and state authorities to further deepen broadband penetration in Nigeria.

  • Facebook partners Nigerian hubs to promote entrepreneurship

    Facebook says it is unveiling a new incubation programme, in partnership with its Nigerian satellite hubs to help local start-ups and upcoming entrepreneurs realise their business goals.

    Facebook Developer Programme Manager Kendra Nnachi said in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos that, the programme was in continuation of Facebook’s desire to empower and promote the spirit of entrepreneurship among young people in Nigeria.

    The participating hubs in the 8-week programme include: Colab, Roar Nigeria, nHub, Ken Saro Wiwa Innovation Hub, Ventures Platform, Di-Hub, Start Innovation Hub and NG_Hub, according to Nnachi.

    Facebook Developer Programme Manager said the programme would be officially launched on Feb.4, adding that the social platform had begun accepting applications from interested candidates.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Facebook Inc.is an American online social media and social networking service company based in Menlo Park, California.

    She said that designed and run in collaboration with the satellite hubs spread across Nigeria, the programme also aimed to help new start-ups and entrepreneurs-to-be take their respective solutions from ideation stage to prototype.

    Nnachi said that the programme would be done through mentorship with industry experts and practical training sessions, providing foundational skills necessary for building a successful business.

    ”Our aim for this kind of initiative is to empower entrepreneurs. We believe that this programme will increase the quality and longevity of the Nigerian start-up scene.

    ”It will not only provide specialist knowledge and mentoring to the participants, but also create a community that gives them room to share and grow,” she said.

    The Partnership Director of Ventures Platform, Mimshach Obioha, commended Facebook for its commitment to the growth and development of startups across the continent.

    Obioha said that the collaboration and essence of the programme coincided with objectives of the hub.

    Read Also: Facebook to invest $300m to help local news survive

    ”Ventures Platform backs Africa’s boldest entrepreneurs and helps them grow great companies around their ideas.

    ”We have always been in the business of incubating ideas and bringing them to life and we are excited that this partnership will give us an opportunity to do more.

    ”We are certain that the young people of this country will take due advantage of the opportunities the programme will offer and we are willing to nudge them along,” he said.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Di-hub, Alhaji Idris Dangana, said that with the programme, more young people would be given opportunity to showcase their ideas.

    ”Young people, especially in Nigeria, are known to be bursting with the entrepreneurial spirit and we are only too glad to provide the needed boost with this workshop.

    ”As we have always done, we would be providing support services for the duration of the training and we are very thrilled to see what the participants have to offer,” he said.

  • Facebook’s WhatsApp limits users to five text forwards to curb rumours

    Facebook Inc’s (FB.O) WhatsApp is limiting worldwide the number of times a user can forward a message to five, starting on Monday, the popular messaging service looks to fight “misinformation and rumours”, company executives said on Monday.

    Previously, a WhatsApp user could forward a message to 20 individuals or groups.

    The limit of five is in expansion of a measure WhatsApp put in place in India in July after the spread of rumours on social media led to killings and lynching attempts.

    “We’re imposing a limit of five messages all over the world as of today,” Victoria Grand, Vice President for Policy and Communications at WhatsApp, said at an event in the Indonesian capital.

    WhatsApp, which has around 1.5 billion users, has been trying to find ways to stop misuse of the app.

    This followed global concern that the platform was being used to spread fake news, manipulated photos, videos without context, and audio hoaxes, with no way to monitor their origin or full reach.

    The messaging service became part of the political battleground in Brazil’s presidential election on Oct., 2019, with far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro facing claims of using the app to spread falsehoods related to his main opponent.

    Bolsonaro, who ended up coasting to victory, has denied the charges.

    Read also: NBA asks FG to discontinue CJN’s trial at CCT

    The messaging app was also used to mobilise support for a massive truckers strike in Brazil during May 2018.

    The truckers strike blocked the country’s main roadways for about 10 days and hampered everything from fuel deliveries to gas stations to shipments of commodities at ports.

    The app’s end-to-end encryption allows groups of hundreds of users to exchange texts, photos and video beyond the oversight of independent fact checkers or even the platform itself.

    WhatsApp will roll out an update to activate the new forward limit, starting on Monday, WhatsApp’s head of communications Carl Woog said.

    Users of devices running Google’s Android system will receive the update first, followed by users of Apple Inc’s (AAPL.O) iOS. (Reuters/NAN)

  • Google Developers trains youths in mobile applications development in Nasarawa

    Google Developers Group (GDG) says, it has organised free training for 100 youths on how to build mobile applications for iOS, Android and iPhone to solve real life problems in Nasarawa State.

    Auwal Muhammad, Lafia (GDG) facilitator, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lafia.

    Muhammad said the training was organised for young people, who had passion for new technology particularly mobile applications development.

    “Today Google developers group are training 100 young people for free on how to build mobile applications that can solve real life problems in the society.

    “By the end of the training, this young people will be able to build mobile applications for iOS, Android and iPhone that can solve problems.

    “We are training them on how to write a sentence in a particular language and convert it to English and other languages,” he said.

    According to him, the current Facebook, Whatsapp, camera, are mobile applications developed by people to solve problems as well as sending messages without paying the network providers.

    One of the participants, Tasiu Kwaplong, told NAN that the training would help him in mobile applications development, which he was already into.

    “The training is very interesting, I got to learn a lot about the new technology in mobile applications development and the best practices in mobile applications in general,” he said.

    On his part, Emmanuel Omaku, said he was grateful to GDG for bringing the training to Lafia, saying that the training has exposed him the more to new technology.

    NAN reports that GDG are a group of young people, recognised and supervised by Google to use Google to solve real life problems.