Page 24 - ARUBA TODAY

Friday 27 OctOber 2017 TECHNOLOGY
A24

Twitter toughens abuse rules - and now has to enforce them

By BARBARA ORTUTAY tions into alleged Russian
AP Technology Writer interference with the U.S.
NEW YORK (AP) — Twitter presidential election. The
is enacting new policies rules require election-relat-
around hate, abuse and ed ads by and about can-
advertisements, but having didates to disclose who is
rules is only half the battle paying for them and how
— the easy half. they are targeted.
The bigger problem is en- Other advertisers will also
forcement, and there the have to provide more infor-
company has had some mation, including how long
high-profile bungles re- ads have been running
cently. That includes its and information for users
much-criticized suspension who are being targeted.
of actress Rose McGowan But the stricter policy, which
while she was speaking out includes requiring the orga-
against Harvey Weinstein, nization funding the ads to
and the company’s ban, disclose its identity, along
later reversed , of an ad with how much money it
from a Republican Senate is spending on each ad
candidate that mentioned campaign, only applies to
the “the sale of baby body so-called “electioneering”
parts.” ads This is a clearly defined
Such twists and turns sug- In this Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013, file photo, the Twitter logo appears on an updated phone post category that includes only
gest that Twitter doesn’t on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. those ads that refer to a
always communicate the Associated Press candidate or a party asso-
intent of its rules to the ably impossible to have just the period, down 4 percent when enforcing its rules. ciated with a candidate for
people enforcing them. one set of rules that works from a year earlier but in Since mistakes will happen, an elected office.
In McGowan’s case, her all the time. There will defi- line with forecasts. Twitter needs “clear chan- Twitter says it’s still working
suspension resulted from nitely be mistakes.” Twitter had 330 million nels” so users can signal on a policy for “issue-based
a straightforward applica- The company said it will monthly users, up 1 percent when something has gone ads,” those often divisive
tion of Twitter privacy rules “be clearer about these from the second quarter. awry, Llanso said. “If you messages on hot-button
to a tweet that broadcast policies and decisions in CLEARER APPEALS don’t have a really robust social issues such as immi-
a private phone number. the future.” To make things more clear, appeals process, then you gration and race relations.
But the moderators who EARNINGS RESULTS Twitter will give users sus- only have half of a pro- Russian agents reportedly
enforced the rules didn’t On Thursday, Twitter re- pected of abuse more cess.” used many such ads on so-
seem to take into account ported a third-quarter loss information after they ap- Of course, some things are cial media in an apparent
McGowan’s central role in of $21 million, or 3 cents peal a suspension verdict. unlikely to change. Despite attempt to exacerbate so-
speaking out against alle- per share. Excluding one- Appeals themselves aren’t calls by liberal activists to cial divisions ahead of the
gations of abuse by Harvey time items, the company new, but now the com- ban Donald Trump from its election last year.
Weinstein. A widespread earned 10 cents per share pany says it will provide service, Twitter is highly un- Neither Twitter’s new poli-
outcry followed, and the in the latest quarter. “detailed descriptions” of likely to do so , whether or cies nor the “Honest Ads”
company reinstated her. The results exceeded Wall rule violations as part of the not the president follows its bill introduced last week
Twitter has users “coming Street expectations. The process. rules against harassment. addresses election med-
from lots of different parts average estimate of 12 The company said last GRAY AREAS dling efforts outside of ad-
of the world with differ- analysts surveyed by Zacks week that it will also email This week, Twitter also un- vertisements. Twitter, Face-
ent kinds of context,” said Investment Research was users when they are sus- veiled new rules governing book, Google and others
Emma Llanso, director of for earnings of 6 cents per pected of account vio- advertisements, especially are also dealing with spam
the Center for Democracy share. lations, and next month political paid messages and fake accounts that
& Technology’s Free Expres- The company posted rev- will post details about the that have come under spread fake news and pro-
sion Project. “And it’s prob- enue of $589.6 million in different factors it weighs scrutiny during investiga- paganda. q

Self-driving in snow: Waymo

to start tests in Michigan

DETROIT (AP) — Waymo’s ler Pacifica minivans hoe. The company says
autonomous vehicles are equipped with cameras, the Michigan tests will
heading to Michigan for sensors and self-driving build on that experience.
some cold-weather test- software. Backup drivers Waymo also is testing vehi-
ing. The Google spinoff, will be at the wheel for cles in Arizona, California,
which is now owned by safety reasons. Texas and other states.
Alphabet Inc., says it will Waymo has been testing Waymo has had a re-
In this Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017, file photo, a Chrysler Pacifica start testing next week on in cold weather for about search center in Michigan
hybrid outfitted with Waymo’s suite of sensors and radar is public roads in suburban five years, and has tested since 2016, but this is the
shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. its vehicles in the snowy first time it will be testing in
Detroit.
Associated Press The company uses Chrys- mountains near Lake Ta- the state.q