10 million Facebook accounts deleted in crackdown on ‘spammy' content
The company said the action is aimed at cracking down on 'spammy' content and promoting authentic accounts, with over one million accounts removed monthly in the first half of 2025.
Many legitimate users have reported their accounts being wrongly deleted, with some blaming artificial intelligence systems for misidentifying them as inauthentic.
Referred to as the 'Meta ban wave', the mass deletions have also impacted Instagram accounts, which is also owned by Meta.
Affected users receive an email notification and have 180 days to appeal any account suspension before their profile is permanently deleted.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
21 minutes ago
- Reuters
Onsemi posts quarterly revenue drop, sees dull third-quarter profit on market uncertainty
Aug 4 (Reuters) - U.S. automotive chipmaker Onsemi on Monday forecast lackluster profit for the third quarter, after reporting a sharp decline in second-quarter revenue, sending its shares down by more than 10%. Sales growth in battery electric vehicles has slowed due to an uncertain economic environment, brought on by global import duties, and elevated borrowing costs in the U.S. Consumers have hit the breaks on big-ticket spending as tariffs threaten to increase the costs of automobiles by thousands of dollars and drive up inflation. This has been forcing automakers to reassess production plans and withhold financial investments, affecting companies such as Onsemi. The company acknowledged during its earnings call that the EV market remains soft, especially in North America and Europe, with recovery being slower than hoped. However, Onsemi said it sees "signs of stabilization" across its end markets, after a prolonged slump in demand due to excess chip supply. The company is among a select group of suppliers providing silicon carbide chips, which are critical for extending the range of EVs. It added that it has not yet seen a broad-based recovery in automotive and expects only low single-digit growth in the third quarter. An end to the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric cars has also cast a cloud over the EV industry's outlook, with some firms expecting a hit to the market growth, opens new tab. Onsemi expects third-quarter adjusted earnings between 54 cents and 64 cents per share, compared with analysts' average estimate of 59 cents, according to data compiled by LSEG. It forecast revenue of $1.47 billion and $1.57 billion for the third quarter, the midpoint of which is slightly above estimates of $1.50 billion. The company's second-quarter revenue of $1.47 billion beat expectations of $1.45 billion, but fell about 15% from a year ago.
Reuters
22 minutes ago
- Reuters
Amazon overhauls Wondery podcast studio, cuts 110 jobs
Aug 4 (Reuters) - (AMZN.O), opens new tab is restructuring the Wondery podcast studio by shifting its award-winning narrative podcasts such as "Business Wars" to Audible and consolidating creator-led shows into a new unit, according to a memo seen by Reuters. About 110 employees will be laid off as part of the process, while many Wondery employees will transition to other parts of Amazon, the company said in an emailed statement on Monday. Wondery CEO Jen Sargent will depart the company following a transition period, the memo said. Intense competition in the expensive podcast industry as well as a growing focus on creator-led video content have prompted audio streaming companies including Spotify (SPOT.N), opens new tab to diversify their podcasts as they look to lower costs and attract more users to their platforms. "As video podcasting has grown in popularity, we have learned that creator-led, video-integrated shows have different audience needs and require distinct discovery, growth and monetization strategies compared to audio-first, narrative series," Steve Boom, vice president of audio, Twitch and games at Amazon, wrote in the memo. Wondery was acquired by Amazon in 2021 and has seen podcast revenue quadruple since then as the studio expanded its slate to include video podcasts and creator-driven series, according to the memo. Under the new structure, Wondery's narrative podcast studio - home to shows such as "Dr. Death" and "American Scandal" - along with the Wondery+ subscription service, will move to Audible, the e-commerce giant's audio platform. Its creator-focused podcast team that produces shows including "Mind the Game", "New Heights", and "Armchair Expert" will join a new Creator Services group within Amazon's Talent Services division. This new team will continue to operate the creator-focused podcast studio under the Wondery brand. "By making these changes, we can better support creators in monetizing their content across multiple channels," Amazon said. Bloomberg News first reported on the Wondery overhaul.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Apple wins US court ruling to allow 'Reality' software trademarks
Aug 4 (Reuters) - A Virginia federal judge has ordered the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to award Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab federal trademarks covering its augmented reality software-development tools "Reality Composer" and "Reality Converter." U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema said on Friday, opens new tab that the two phrases were distinctive enough to merit trademark protection, reversing a USPTO decision that the phrases could not be trademarked. A spokesperson for the USPTO declined to comment on the decision. Spokespeople for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Apple's Reality Composer and Reality Converter enable developers to create and edit 3D augmented-reality content for the company's apps. That content is compatible with Apple devices including the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset. Turkish visual-effects company Zero Density challenged Apple's applications for federal trademarks covering the two phrases at the USPTO, arguing that they were not entitled to trademark protection because they merely describe the software's function. Zero Density also said Apple's trademarks would cause confusion with its own "Reality"-related marks. A USPTO tribunal agreed with Zero Density in 2023 that Apple's marks were too descriptive to receive trademark protection. Apple sued last year to overturn the decision, arguing its phrases were unique "made-up terms" that "do not describe the underlying software development tools." Brinkema agreed with Apple and overturned the USPTO's decision on Friday. "Although the term 'Reality' is likely descriptive of augmented reality software to the consumers to whom Apple advertises this product, the term stretches beyond its descriptive meaning when combined with 'composer' and 'converter,'" Brinkema said. Zero Density's attorney Jeffrey Greger said the decision was "a win-win" and should allow Zero Density to fend off separate Apple challenges to its "Reality" trademarks at the USPTO on the same grounds. The case is Apple Inc v. Zero Density Yazilim Anonim Sirketi, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, No. 1:24-cv-00284. For Apple: Dale Cendali and Mary Mazzello of Kirkland & Ellis For ZeroDensity: Jeffrey Greger Read more: Apple sues to win trademarks for augmented-reality software
