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EU scrutiny says Twitter and others erred in removing hate speech
EU data shows that Twitter will take longer to censor hateful content and remove less content in 2022 than it did the previous year. The figures were released on Thursday as part of an annual assessment of online platforms’ compliance with the EU’s disinformation code. Twitter isn’t alone — most of the other tech companies that signed up to the voluntary code also scored worse. But the numbers could herald Twitter’s troubles complying with the European Union’s tough new online rules, as owner Elon Musk fired many of the platform’s 7,500 full-time employees and countless contractors responsible for content moderation and other critical tasks. business.
Bombed, not battered: Ukrainian capital shifts to survival mode
Bombarded but undaunted residents of the Ukrainian capital are holding empty bottles in search of water and flocking to cafes for electricity and heating after the latest Russian missile strike. In some unbelievable scenes in a city so stylish and sophisticated, some Kyiv residents resorted to collecting rainwater from drains as maintenance teams struggled to reconnect the supply on Thursday. About 70 percent of the Ukrainian capital remained without electricity Thursday morning, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Many had doggedly entered survival mode after the latest barrage of missile attacks the day before plunged the city of three million and much of the country into a cold and dark winter.
Eyewitness: Walmart shooter appeared to target some people
A Walmart executive who shot and killed six co-workers in Virginia appeared to target some people and opened fire after some victims had already been shot and appeared dead, a witness said. Jessica Wilczewski said workers had gathered in the Walmart break room to start their night shift late Tuesday when team leader Andre Bing came in and started firing a pistol shooting. While another witness described Bing shooting frantically, Wilczewski said she observed him targeting certain people. She said he looked at people’s faces and picked out who he was going to shoot.
Musk says he will ‘amnesty’ suspended Twitter accounts
Twitter’s new boss, Elon Musk, said he would grant “amnesty” to suspended accounts, which online safety experts predict will spur an increase in harassment, hate speech and misinformation. The billionaire made the announcement on Thursday after he posted a poll on his timeline calling for votes on reinstating accounts that did not “break the law or engage in egregious spam.” The vote in favor was 72%. After running a similar, highly unscientific poll last weekend, Musk reinstated former President Donald Trump’s account, which was banned by Twitter for encouraging the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Trump has said he will not return to Twitter, but has not deleted his account. While Musk has previously said the status quo would not be reverted until the content moderation committee is established, he has accused activist groups of sabotaging agreements reached by the committee.
Russia’s Duma finally approves LGBTQ ‘propaganda’ bill
Russian lawmakers have finally approved a bill that significantly expands restrictions on activities seen as promoting LGBTQ rights in the country. The new bill expands a ban on what authorities call “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships” to minors. The legislation, commonly known as the “gay propaganda law,” prohibits depictions of homosexuality to those under the age of 18. The Kremlin passed the law in 2013 to promote “traditional values” in Russia. The new bill bans all advertisements, media and online sources books, films and theater productions deemed to contain such “propaganda,” a concept loosely defined in the bill.
Malaysia’s new PM Anwar vows to heal divided country and economy
Longtime reformist leader Anwar Ibrahim has been sworn in as Malaysia’s prime minister. It was a victory for political reformers, who battled Malay nationalists for days after a divisive general election produced a hung parliament. Malaysia’s king named Anwar, 75, the country’s 10th leader, saying he was satisfied that Anwar was the candidate likely to command a majority. In his first news conference, Anwar vowed to heal an ethnically divided country, fight corruption and revive an economy struggling with rising living costs. He said his coalition of hope would form a coalition government made up of two smaller blocs. Anwar said his government would call for a vote of confidence in him when parliament resumes on Dec. 19.
China extends lockdown as COVID-19 cases hit daily records
China is extending its pandemic lockdown, including in cities where factory workers clashed with police this week as its number of COVID-19 cases hit daily records. Across China, 31,444 new cases were reported on Thursday, the highest since the virus was first detected in late 2019. A total of 6.6 million residents in parts of Zhengzhou have been told to stay at home for five days, except to buy food, get tests or receive treatment. Although the number of cases in China is still low compared to other countries, the number of cases is increasing every day. The ruling Communist Party remains committed to its “Zero COVID” strategy, which aims to isolate every case and wipe out the virus. The daily workload has been steadily increasing. This week, authorities reported China’s first COVID-19 death in six months, bringing the total to 5,232.
via wired source
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