Big tech red flags continue to be ignored

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Researcher and technologist Aviv Ovadya, one of the first to identify the fake news catastrophe in early 2016, says he is worried about an “Information Apocalypse,” which could lead to “reality apathy,” or people just giving up on finding the truth because it is too indistinguishable from misinformation. Critics continue to explore the adverse impacts of automated content and platform abuse:

  • Incoming chairman of the Interactive Advertising Bureau’s Board of Directors Scott Schiller said that brands need to start considering how cheap advertising, presumably on big platforms, isn’t always beneficial to consumer engagement.
  • Public Knowledge CEO Gene Kimmelman said he thinks Congress will step in over the next few years. "I think it'll be about platforms," he said. “I’m not sure they’ll know what to do or think but they will want to do something.”
  • Unilever's Chief Marketing Officer Keith Weed threatened to pull ads from Google and Facebook until they can get divisive content under control. "This is not something that can be brushed aside or ignored," he said.

Big tech red flags continue to be ignored