Page 21 - HOH OCT 15 2020_Neat

A12 technology
Thursday 15 OcTOber 2020
Facebook bans anti-vaccination ads but not antivax posts

By BARBARA ORTUTAY Facebook is addressing the
AP Technology Writer anti-vaxxers of 2014 and
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — 2015 and not the anti-vaxx-
Facebook says it will ban ers of 2020, said David A.
ads on its platform that dis- Broniatowski, an associate
courage vaccinations — professor at George Wash-
with an exception carved ington University's school of
out for advocacy ads engineering and applied
about government vac- science who has published
cine policies. several studies on vaccine
The company already bans misinformation.
ads about vaccine "hoax- Broniatowski published a
es," such as the false idea study in 2019 that found
that vaccinations cause that the majority of anti-
autism. The latest policy ex- vaccine misinformation
pands the ban to ads that being pushed in advertise-
discourage vaccines for ments on Facebook were
any reason. coming from two groups,
But Facebook also said including one led by Rob-
Tuesday that ads that "ad- ert F. Kennedy Jr. and a
vocate for or against legis- California-based organiza-
lation or government poli- tion called Stop Mandatory
cies around vaccines" — In this Sept. 20, 2016, file photo, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, smile Vaccination.
including a COVID-19 vac- as they prepare for a speech in San Francisco. "Facebook by banning an-
cine — will still be allowed. Associated Press ti-vaccine ads is probably
These ads will still have to not banning more than
be approved by the com- The social network said it and pages that spread of which there are thou- half of the ads," he said.
pany as political advertise- will also run an informa- misinformation about vac- sands, on a new informa- "I understand where they
ments and include a "paid tion campaign encourag- cinations from the search tion center called "Get The are coming from that they
for by" label on who is fund- ing people to get their flu function of its site. Facts." It also bans what it want to promote civil en-
ing them. shots this year. Facebook Since the pandemic be- deems "dangerous" misin- gagement but at the same
And unpaid posts by peo- has taken other steps to try gan, the company has formation about the virus time, if their intention is to
ple or groups that discour- to stop the spread of vac- tightened its rules around and has removed posts by reduce the amount of an-
age vaccinations will also cine and coronavirus-re- COVID-related misinforma- President Donald Trump un- ti-vaccine misinformation,
still be allowed — the new lated misinformation on its tion. For instance, it pro- der this policy. they are not addressing
policy only includes paid platform. Last year, it said it motes articles that debunk Some experts were skepti- the largest source of that
advertisements. would begin hiding groups COVID-19 misinformation, cal about the move. misinformation."q

Apple unveils new iPhones for faster 5G wireless networks

tured. That has meant far far, there are no popular and the iPhone 12 Mini,
fewer gotta-have-it inno- new consumer applica- with a 5.4-inch display at
vations that can drive de- tions that require 5G. almost $700. A higher-end
mand and, at least until re- Updates in the new phones iPhone 12 Pro with more
cently, increasingly pricey mostly amount to "incre- powerful cameras will be-
phones. Add to that pan- mental improvements" gin at roughly $1,000; the
demic-related economic over predecessor iPhones, 12 Pro Max, with a 6.7-inch
crisis, and consumers have technology analyst Patrick display, will set buyers back
tended to eke as much Moorhead said, referring to at least $1,100. Apple said
life as possible out of their 5G capabilities and cam- the phones should be more
existing phones. Apple, era upgrades on higher- durable.
however, is clearly betting end phones. But he sug- In a move that may annoy
that 5G speeds could push gested that if carriers build some consumers, Apple will
many users off the fence. out their 5G networks fast no longer include charging
This image provided by Apple shows models of new iPhones, At its event, the company enough, it could launch a adapters with new phones.
along with the iPhone 11 at center, showing prices, which Apple boasted about 5G capa- "supercycle" in which large It says that will mean small-
unveiled Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020. bilities and brought in Ve- numbers of people switch er, lighter boxes that are
Associated Press rizon CEO Hans Vestberg to 5G phones. more environmentally
By MICHAEL LIEDTKE and In a virtual presentation to champion the carrier's That might be a big if. Mo- friendly to ship. Apple, how-
TALI ARBEL Tuesday, the company an- network. 5G is supposed to bile expert Carolina Mila- ever, separately sells power
AP Technology Writers nounced four 5G-enabled mean much faster speeds, nesi of the firm Creative adapters that cost about
Apple unveiled four new versions of the new iPhone making it quicker to down- Strategies said economic $20 and $50, depending
iPhones equipped with 12 ranging in price from al- load movies or games, for pain caused by the global on how fast they charge
technology for use with most $700 to roughly $1,100. instance. But finding those pandemic and accompa- phones.
faster new 5G wireless net- Apple also announced a speeds can be a chal- nying job losses could eas- The iPhone models unveiled
works, hoping that demand new, less expensive ver- lenge. While telecom op- ily restrain that buying im- Tuesday will launch at dif-
for higher data speeds will sion of its HomePod smart erators have been rolling pulse. ferent times. The iPhone 12
spark demand for new speaker. out 5G networks, significant Apple's new models in- and 12 Pro will be available
phones. Smartphone sales have boosts in speed are still un- clude the iPhone 12, which starting Oct. 23; the Mini
That might not happen as been slowing for years as common in much of the features a 6.1-inch display and the Pro Max will follow
quickly as Apple would like. their technology has ma- world, including the U.S. So and starts at almost $800, on Nov. 13. q