Bits & Bytes: Meta’s oversight board seeks public comments on hate speech moderation

Facebook and WhatsApp parent Meta has invited comments from the public on the posting of immigration-related content that may be harmful to immigrants and shared two cases that Facebook moderators decided to keep on the platform.

The board plans to assess whether Meta’s decision to only protect refugees, migrants, immigrants, and asylum seekers from the most severe attacks on its social media platforms under its hate speech policy is adequate.

The board is funded by the social media giant but operates independently. After gathering public comments, it can issue non-binding policy recommendations to Meta.

Trump says Apple CEO Cook called him with concerns about EU penaltiesUS presidential candidate Donald Trump said he received a call from Apple CEO Tim Cook over concerns about the financial penalties that have been imposed by the European Union on the iPhone maker.

European regulators have launched a series of investigations into Big Tech firms in recent years, with the aim of curbing their power and ensuring a level playing field for smaller rivals.

Last month, Apple lost a long-running court battle with the European Union, resulting in Apple’s being forced to pay 13 billion euros ($14.08 billion) in back taxes to Ireland, as part of a wider crackdown.

Earlier this year, the company was hit with a $2 billion EU antitrust fine for thwarting competition from music streaming rivals via restrictions on its App StoreBiden administration eases restrictions on space-related exports to alliesThe Biden administration has eased export restrictions on US commercial space companies to ship certain satellite and spacecraft-related items to allies and partners.

The changes are intended to make it easier for the growing U.S. commercial space industry to expand sales while also protecting national security and foreign policy interests.

“As the diversity of commercial activity in space grows, these rules will reduce the burden for U.S. industry to continue innovating and leading in the space sector,” Don Graves, deputy secretary of the Department of Commerce, said in a statement.

Britain to publish online safety demands for platforms in December

Britain’s media regulator Ofcom said on Thursday it would detail what action it expected social media companies to take over illegal content on their platforms in December, saying it expected swift action or they would face consequences.

Ofcom, which is responsible for implementing the government’s Online Safety Bill, said the platforms would have three months to complete their own illegal harms risk assessments after the publication of its demands.

Ofcom said better protections had already been introduced by Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, and Snapchat which have brought in changes to help prevent children from being contacted by strangers.

Britain’s new online safety regime, which became law last year, requires social media companies to tackle the causes of harm, particularly for children, by making their services safer.