Mass shooting rumour in Facebook Group shows private chats are not risk-free


  • TECH
  • Friday, 11 Oct 2019

The threat of misinformation spreading rapidly in Groups shows a potential vulnerability in a key part of the company’s growth strategy. It could push Facebook to invest in expensive human content monitoring at the risk of limiting the ability to post in real time, a central benefit of Groups and Facebook in general that has attracted millions of users to the platform. — AFP

WASHINGTON: Ahead of the annual Blueberry Festival in Marshall County, Indiana, in early September, a woman broadcast a warning to her neighbours on Facebook.

"I just heard there's supposed to be a mass shooting tonight at the fireworks," the woman, whose name is held to protect her privacy, said in a post in a private Facebook Group with over 5,000 members. "Probably just a rumour or kids trying to scare people, but everyone keep their eyes open," she said in the post, which was later deleted.

Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM5/month

Billed as RM5/month for the 1st 6 months then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Tech News

India's Tech Mahindra posts Q4 revenue miss
Explainer-Where are Wall Street's analyst notes on Trump's Truth Social?
AI spending worries cast gloom over Alphabet, Microsoft
Electric cars and digital connectivity dominate at Beijing auto show
Most global tech leaders see their companies unprepared for AI
India plans curbs on suspect bank accounts to fight cyber fraud, sources say
Tech companies plug into India's smaller cities for talent
Tencent pushes wider adoption of AI-powered smart mobility system from a vehicle’s cockpit to the factory floor
Artificial intelligence offers an opportunity to improve EV batteries
Apple still leads high-end smartphone sales in China, but Huawei and Honor are catching up

Others Also Read