Facebook suspends 'tens of thousands' of apps in privacy review
San Francisco, Sep 20: Facebook said on Friday it suspended "tens of thousands" of apps on its platform as a result of its review on privacy practices launched following the scandal involving Cambridge Analytica.
The review was launched in 2018 after revelations that the political consultancy hijacked personal data on millions of Facebook users and included attorneys, external investigators, data scientists, engineers, policy specialists and others, according to a Facebook statement.
The suspensions are "not necessarily an indication that these apps were posing a threat to people," said a statement from vice president of partnerships Ime Archibong, adding that some "did not respond to our request for information."
Archibong said the investigation "has addressed millions of apps. Of those, tens of thousands have been suspended for a variety of reasons while we continue to investigate."
The huge social network became the subject of intense scrutiny after acknowledging in 2018 that Cambridge Analytica misappropriated personal data on tens of millions of Facebook users as part of its work for Donald Trump's presidential campaign.
Subsequently, Facebook said it would begin reviewing all apps on the platform to determine how they used data and if they respect its privacy rules.
"In a few cases, we have banned apps completely," Archibong said. "That can happen for any number of reasons including inappropriately sharing data obtained from us, making data publicly available without protecting people's identity or something else that was in clear violation of our policies.
"One app banned was called myPersonality, which shared information with researchers and companies with only limited protections in place, and then refused our request to participate in an audit."
A year ago, Facebook said it had banned some 400 apps including one called myPersonality, which according to Archibong "shared information with researchers and companies with only limited protections in place," and refused to accept an audit.
Facebook said a recent agreement on privacy with the US Federal Trade Commission -- which included a record USD 5 billion fine -- calls for additional oversight on app developers.
It "requires developers to annually certify compliance with our policies," Archibong said. "Any developer that doesn't go along with these requirements will be held accountable."
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Delhi Capitals beat Mumbai Indians by 10 runs
New Delhi, Apr 27: Delhi Capitals beat Mumbai Indians by 10 runs in another high-scoring Indian Premier League match here on Saturday.
Asked to bat first, Delhi Capitals posted a massive 257/4. In reply, MI scored 247/9 in the allotted 20 overs.
DC's young recruit Jake Fraser-McGurk started smashing the ball right from the start, propelling DC to 92 for no loss in the powerplay.
Fraser-McGurk blazed away to a 25-ball 84 before being dismissed by Piyush Chawla, caught in the deep while trying to clear the fence.
Shai Hope sustained the momentum given by Fraser-McGurk's brutal onslaught and hammered 41 off just 17 balls with five sixes, while Tristan Stubbs chipped in with an unbeaten 48 off 25 balls.
For MI, Tilak Varma smashed 63 in 32 balls, Hardik Pandya made 46 off 24balls, and Tim David 37 off just 17 deliveries as the visitors came close after slipping to 65/3 in six overs.
Brief scores:
Delhi Capitals: 257/4 in 20 overs (Jake Fraser-McGurk 84, Shai Hope 41, Tristan Stubbs 48 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 247/9 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 46, Tilak Varma 63, Tim David 37; Rasikh Dar Salam 3/34, Mukesh Kumar 3/59).
