NPR Series: Tech Titans And The Information Complex https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=560815928 Facebook, Google and Twitter head to Washington for hearings on Russian interference in the 2016 campaign. NPR explores the growing social media landscape, the spread of false information and the tech firms that build the platforms. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:03:52 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: Tech Titans And The Information Complex https://www.npr.org/series/560815928/tech-titans-and-the-information-complex Tough Questions, Hours Of Hearings But No Silver Bullet On Russian Tech Interference A marathon on Capitol Hill this week yielded new details about the scale and nature of Russian interference in the 2016 election, but no easy solution for preventing the next effort by the Kremlin. Thu, 02 Nov 2017 05:00:04 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2017/11/02/561446855/tough-questions-hours-of-hearings-but-no-silver-bullet-on-russian-tech-interfere https://www.npr.org/2017/11/02/561446855/tough-questions-hours-of-hearings-but-no-silver-bullet-on-russian-tech-interfere A marathon on Capitol Hill this week yielded new details about the scale and nature of Russian interference in the 2016 election, but no easy solution for preventing the next effort by the Kremlin.

]]> Philip Ewing How Russian-Backed Agitation Online Spilled Into The Real World In 2016 Facebook, Twitter and Google faced questions from the Senate and House Intelligence Committees on Wednesday, revealing more than ever about last year's Russian interference campaign. Wed, 01 Nov 2017 09:38:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2017/11/01/560481387/how-russian-backed-agitation-online-spilled-into-the-real-world-in-2016 https://www.npr.org/2017/11/01/560481387/how-russian-backed-agitation-online-spilled-into-the-real-world-in-2016 Facebook, Twitter and Google faced questions from the Senate and House Intelligence Committees on Wednesday, revealing more than ever about last year's Russian interference campaign.

]]> Miles Parks Russian Interference Campaign Was Broader Than First Known, Big Tech Tells Hill Facebook, Twitter and Google are telling members of Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday they've discovered even more use of their platforms by influence-mongers in 2016. Tue, 31 Oct 2017 14:29:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2017/10/31/560481040/russian-interference-campaign-was-broader-than-first-known-big-tech-tells-hill https://www.npr.org/2017/10/31/560481040/russian-interference-campaign-was-broader-than-first-known-big-tech-tells-hill

Facebook, Twitter and Google are telling members of Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday they've discovered even more use of their platforms by influence-mongers in 2016.

(Image credit: Liam James Doyle)

]]> Miles Parks Mark Zuckerberg's Big Blind Spot And The Conflict Within Facebook In whatever corner of the world Facebook is operating, it has become clear that people are using this powerful platform as a communications tool in ways that founder Mark Zuckerberg never envisioned. Tue, 31 Oct 2017 14:28:28 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/10/31/560667628/mark-zuckerbergs-big-blind-spot-and-the-conflict-within-facebook https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/10/31/560667628/mark-zuckerbergs-big-blind-spot-and-the-conflict-within-facebook

In whatever corner of the world Facebook is operating, it has become clear that people are using this powerful platform as a communications tool in ways that founder Mark Zuckerberg never envisioned.

(Image credit: Justin Sullivan)

]]> Aarti Shahani With Huge Fines, German Law Pushes Social Networks To Delete Abusive Posts Social media companies could be penalized by as much as $58.3 million if they don't remove a malicious post from their platforms soon after it is reported — in some cases within 24 hours. Tue, 31 Oct 2017 07:44:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/10/31/561024666/with-huge-fines-german-law-pushes-social-networks-to-delete-abusive-posts https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/10/31/561024666/with-huge-fines-german-law-pushes-social-networks-to-delete-abusive-posts

Social media companies could be penalized by as much as $58.3 million if they don't remove a malicious post from their platforms soon after it is reported — in some cases within 24 hours.

(Image credit: Thomas Lohnes)

]]> Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson Facebook's Advertising Tools Complicate Efforts To Stop Russian Interference Facebook says 126 million people may have seen Russian content aimed at influencing Americans. Marketing gurus say Facebook is unlikely to solve the problem because of its ad-based business model. Mon, 30 Oct 2017 19:18:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/10/30/560836775/facebooks-advertising-tools-complicate-efforts-to-stop-russian-interference https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/10/30/560836775/facebooks-advertising-tools-complicate-efforts-to-stop-russian-interference

Facebook says 126 million people may have seen Russian content aimed at influencing Americans. Marketing gurus say Facebook is unlikely to solve the problem because of its ad-based business model.

(Image credit: Drew Angerer)

]]> Aarti Shahani Are Social Media Sites Doing Enough To Combat Rumors And False News? As they struggle with disasters and other crises, police, fire and other public officials are spending an increasing amount of time and resources knocking down rumors spreading on social media. Sun, 29 Oct 2017 14:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2017/10/29/560569373/are-social-media-sites-doing-enough-to-combat-rumors-and-false-news https://www.npr.org/2017/10/29/560569373/are-social-media-sites-doing-enough-to-combat-rumors-and-false-news

As they struggle with disasters and other crises, police, fire and other public officials are spending an increasing amount of time and resources knocking down rumors spreading on social media.

(Image credit: Spencer Platt)

]]> David Schaper How Russian Propaganda Spreads On Social Media Experts say such propaganda sows divisions within society by confirming beliefs. Facebook, Google and Twitter officials are testifying this week about Russian influence on the 2016 election. Sun, 29 Oct 2017 07:05:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/10/29/560461835/how-russian-propaganda-spreads-on-social-media https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/10/29/560461835/how-russian-propaganda-spreads-on-social-media

Experts say such propaganda sows divisions within society by confirming beliefs. Facebook, Google and Twitter officials are testifying this week about Russian influence on the 2016 election.

]]> Laura Sydell Twitter Bans Ads From Russian State Media, Citing Election Interference Efforts The microblog service announced the move "effective immediately" ahead of a congressional hearing about Russia's use of social media in its influence campaign. Thu, 26 Oct 2017 11:50:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2017/10/26/560199026/twitter-ends-russian-state-media-advertisements-citing-2016-interference-efforts https://www.npr.org/2017/10/26/560199026/twitter-ends-russian-state-media-advertisements-citing-2016-interference-efforts

The microblog service announced the move "effective immediately" ahead of a congressional hearing about Russia's use of social media in its influence campaign.

]]> Miles Parks Under Congressional Microscope, Twitter Vows New 'Transparency' On Ads The microblogging service has promised a new wave of disclosure about who uses it to advertise as the Hill continues probing the Russia imbroglio. Wed, 25 Oct 2017 05:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2017/10/25/559905735/under-congressional-microscope-twitter-vows-new-transparency-on-ads https://www.npr.org/2017/10/25/559905735/under-congressional-microscope-twitter-vows-new-transparency-on-ads The microblogging service has promised a new wave of disclosure about who uses it to advertise as the Hill continues probing the Russia imbroglio.

]]> Philip Ewing