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Facebook resisted changes to dial back viral content, report says

Leaked company documents are providing more insight into how Facebook moderates political content.

Facebook’s executives reportedly resisted efforts to dial back features that help amplify false and inflammatory content ahead of the 2020 US election because they feared doing so could harm the platform’s usage and growth.

The Wall Street Journal, citing leaked internal documents, said Facebook’s employees suggested changes such as killing the reshare button or stop promoting reshared content unless it was from a user’s friend that could slow the spread of viral content for everyone. A proponent of making these types of changes has been Kang-Xing Jin, who heads Facebook’s health initiatives, according to the report. But executives such as John Hegeman, Facebook’s head of ads, raised concerns about stifling viral content.

«If we remove a small percentage of reshares from people’s inventory,» Hegeman wrote in internal communications cited by The Journal. «they decide to come back to Facebook less.»

The report is the latest in a series of leaked internal documents and communications that The Journal says shows Facebook has put its profits over the safety of its users. Frances Haugen, who used to work as a Facebook product manager, publicly identified herself as the whistleblower who gathered leaked documents used by The Journal. The findings from these internal documents has reignited scrutiny from US and UK lawmakers. Haugen, who already appeared before Congress, is scheduled to testify before the UK Parliament on Monday.

Facebook has repeatedly said its internal research and correspondence is being mischaracterized. «Provocative content has always spread easily among people. It’s an issue that cuts across technology, media, politics and all aspects of society, and when it harms people, we strive to take steps to address it on our platform through our products and policies,» a Facebook spokesman said in a statement.

The moderation of political content, though, has been a hot-button issue for the company as it tries to balance safety with concerns about hindering free speech. Conservatives have also accused Facebook of intentionally censoring their content, allegations the company denies.

Instead of making changes that would be less likely to raise alarms about free speech, Facebook’s approach to moderating content from groups that it considers dangerous has been described as a game of whack-a-mole by The Journal.

The New York Times, also citing internal documents, reported Friday that Facebook failed to address misinformation and inflammatory content before and after the 2020 US presidential election even though employees had raised red flags about the issue.

Supporters of Donald Trump, who lost the presidential election to Joe Biden, were posting false claims that the election had been stolen. Facebook has suspended Trump from its platform until at least 2023 because of concerns his comments could incite violence following the deadly US Capitol Hill riot in January.

One Facebook data scientist found that 10 percent of all US views of political content were of posts that alleged the vote was fraudulent, according to The Times. Facebook employees also felt like the company could have done more to crack down on misinformation and conspiracy theories.

A Facebook spokesperson said the company spent more than two years preparing for the 2020 election and more than 40,000 people now work on safety and security. The company adjusted some of its measures before, during and after the election following more information from law enforcement. «It is wrong to claim that these steps were the reason for January 6th — the measures we did need remained in place well into February, and some like not recommending new, civic, or political groups remain in place to this day,» Facebook said.

The Times story is part of a series expected from an international group of news organizations that also received documents Haugen, according to The Information. More stories are expected next week, when Facebook reports earnings and holds its Connect conference on artificial and virtual reality.

Technologies

Ted Lasso Kicks Off Filming for Season 4 in Kansas City. Here’s What We Know So Far

Jason Sudeikis and the AFC Richmond gang are back with a new pitch and new faces now that filming is underway in the US and London.

Cue the biscuits and believe signs: Ted Lasso is back on the pitch as Apple TV Plus confirmed Monday that production on the Emmy-winning comedy’s fourth season has begun. Filming has started in Kansas City, Missouri — Jason Sudeikis’s hometown — with additional scenes planned for London.

Season 4 of the streaming series will find Ted tackling an entirely new challenge as he takes on coaching a second division women’s football team. According to Apple’s logline, you can expect plenty of leaps of faith and signature pep talks as Ted and his players navigate unfamiliar turf.

Most of the beloved cast returns for the next chapter, including Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt and Jeremy Swift. A handful of newcomers are joining the squad, too: Tanya Reynolds, Jude Mack, Faye Marsay, Rex Hayes, Aisling Sharkey, Abbie Hern and Grant Feely, who steps in as Ted’s son, Henry.

Read also: 16 Funniest Ted Lasso Quotes: Tea Is ‘Garbage Water,’ and God Hates Tie Scores

Behind the scenes, Ted Lasso brings on Emmy-winner Jack Burditt (Modern Family, 30 Rock) as executive producer under a new overall deal with Apple. Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt, Brett Goldstein and Bill Lawrence return as executive producers, alongside series vets Joe Kelly and Jane Becker.

The feel-good comedy has been a cultural juggernaut for Apple TV Plus since it premiered in 2020, racking up back-to-back Outstanding Comedy Series Emmys for its first two seasons and helping boost Apple’s original streaming slate alongside titles like CODA.

There is no release date set for Season 4 yet.

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Technologies

Microsoft Will Erase Your Passwords on Aug.1: Do This ASAP

If Microsoft Authenticator is your password manager, you’re running out of time to move your passwords.

As of Aug. 1, Microsoft will be deleting passwords from its Authenticator app. This means that passwords stored there will no longer be accessible, which could be a problem for a lot of users. 

Microsoft Authenticator has been one of the best password managers for years, offering options for saved passwords, two-factor authentication and auto-fill. However in just a few short days, all of that is going away as Microsoft moves to passkeys instead. This means that logins will move from remembering specific passwords, to using PINs, fingerprint scans, facial recognition or pattern using a device’s lock screen. 

Using a passkey can make your account safer, and it’s a move I’m excited about. I recently uncovered that 49% of US adults have risky password habits that can open the door to scammers getting access to your sensitive data.

If you’re a fan of Authenticator and not sure where to start before the switch, here are other password managers CNET recommends and steps you should take before August.

When will Microsoft Authenticator stop supporting passwords?

Microsoft Authenticator houses your passwords and lets you sign into all your Microsoft accounts using a PIN, facial recognition like Windows Hello, or other biometric data like a fingerprint. Authenticator can be used in other ways, such as verifying you’re logging in if you forgot your password, or using two-factor authentication as an extra layer of security for your accounts. In June, the company stopped letting users add passwords to Authenticator.

Starting this month, you won’t be able to use the autofill password function. And next month, you’ll no longer be able to use saved passwords.

If you still want to use passwords instead of passkeys, you can store them in Microsoft Edge. However, CNET experts recommend adopting passkeys during this transition. «Passkeys use public key cryptography to authenticate users, rather than relying on users themselves creating their own (often weak or reused) passwords to access their online accounts,» Tomaschek said.

Why are passkeys a better alternative to passwords?

So what exactly is a passkey? It’s a credential created by the Fast Identity Online Alliance that uses biometric data or a PIN to verify your identity and access your account. Think about using your fingerprint or Face ID to log into your account. That’s generally safer than using a password that is easy to guess or susceptible to a phishing attack.

«Passwords can be cracked, whereas passkeys need both the public and the locally stored private key to authenticate users, which can help mitigate risks like falling victim to phishing and brute-force or credential-stuffing attacks,» said Attila Tomaschek, CNET’s software senior writer and digital security expert.

Passkeys aren’t stored on servers like passwords. Instead, they’re stored only on your personal device. More conveniently, this takes the guesswork out of remembering your passwords and the need for a password manager.

How to set up a passkey in Microsoft Authenticator

Microsoft said in a May 1 blog post that it will automatically detect the best passkey to set up and make that your default sign-in option. «If you have a password and ‘one-time code’ set up on your account, we’ll prompt you to sign in with your one-time code instead of your password. After you’re signed in, you’ll be prompted to enroll a passkey. Then the next time you sign in, you’ll be prompted to sign in with your passkey,» according to the blog post.

To set up a new passkey, open your Authenticator app on your phone. Tap on your account and select «Set up a passkey.» You’ll be prompted to log in with your existing credentials. After you’re logged in, you can set up the passkey.

Other password manager alternatives 

Since Microsoft will get rid of all of your passwords in two weeks, you’ll need a new place to store your passwords safely. Tomaschek has a few of the best password manager recommendations after testing and reviewing several. 

The top recommendation is Bitwarden for its transparency. It’s open-source and audited annually. From a price perspective, the free plan lets you store infinite passwords across unlimited devices. The free plan also includes features most password managers would charge for, including password sharing and a username and password generator. 

Bitwarden’s upgraded plans have other upgraded features that could be worth the cost, too. 

Personally, Tomaschek has been using 1Password for a while, and he likes the interface and family plan. Even though it’s second on the list, Tomaschek says it’s just as good as Bitwarden. 

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Technologies

Don’t Miss Your Second Chance to Grab the 30th Anniversary DualSense Controller

A new wave of preorders just went live at Sony, so PS Plus members can grab one of these sweet retro PS5 controllers for $80 right now.

Looking to relive the glory days of gaming? Then you won’t want to miss out on this surprise restock at Sony. The special edition 30th Anniversary DualSense controller was released last year to celebrate the release of the original PlayStation, and it’s been tough to get your hands on one since it originally sold out in December. But a second wave of preorders just went live at Sony, which means you’ve got another chance to pick one up for just $80 right now. Just note that preorders are only available to PlayStation Plus members, and it sold out in no time during the last round, so we’d act fast if you don’t want to miss this rare opportunity to snag one.

The 30th Anniversary DualSense controller features a throwback design that mimics the controllers of the original PlayStation that first hit shelves all the way back in 1994. That includes a grayscale color scheme along with the classic green, blue, red and pink buttons and PlayStation logo. It’s also relatively versatile, and is compatible with the PlayStation 5 console, PC, Mac and mobile devices. Preorders will start shipping on September 9, and are limited to one controller per order.

Sony also released a special 30th Anniversary console last year. There hasn’t been any news about a new wave of availability in the US yet, but there was a recent restock for UK shoppers, so we’re tentatively hopeful that you’ll have another chance to grab one of these retro consoles as well. The CNET team will be keeping a close eye on Sony’s shopping page for any updates.

Why this restock matters

There are plenty of cool color variants for the DualSense controller, but this 30th Anniversary edition certainly stands out from the crowd with a retro design that takes you back to the PS1 days. Plus, it sold out fast during the original release, and it’s unclear if or when we’ll see another round of restocks, so we’d take advantage of this rare opportunity to grab one while you can.

If you’re looking for more ways to expand your Sony gaming setup, you can check out our full roundup of all the best PlayStation 5 deals for bargains on games and accessories.

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