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Meta Platforms will be fined one million crowns a day by Norway over privacy breaches unless it takes remedial action

Norway regulator to fine Meta over privacy breaches

Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms will be fined one million crowns ($100,000) per day over privacy breaches unless it takes remedial action, Norway's data protection authority said today, in a move that could have wider European implications.

Business • 17 Jul 23

Making Twitter profitable was already a challenge for Elon Musk - but now he's facing competition from a deep-pocketed rival

Is Twitter's viability hanging by a Thread?

Having floundered since Elon Musk's high-price acquisition last year, Twitter now faces an existential crisis as Meta mounts a full-frontal assault on its business, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 13 Jul 23

The new Meta service will roll out gradually in Ireland over the coming weeks

Meta Verified to be rolled out in Ireland

Meta is to roll out a new subscription service in Ireland for Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Business • 05 Jul 23

Threads, Instagram's text-based conversation app, is expected to be released on Thursday

Meta to launch Twitter challenger app Threads

Meta Platforms plans to launch a microblogging app, Threads, days after Twitter executive chair Elon Musk announced a temporary cap on how many posts users can read on the social media site.

Business • 04 Jul 23

Meta in January said it would lift Trump's suspension "in the coming weeks"

Meta restores Trump's access to Facebook, Instagram

Meta Platforms has restored former US President Donald Trump's access to Facebook and Instagram, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone confirmed today, following a two-year suspension after the deadly Capitol Hill riot on January 6, 2021.

Business • 09 Feb 23

The setting is being rolled out today in Ireland, UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with more countries likely to follow.

Instagram launches 'quiet mode' in Ireland

Irish Instagram users will be able to avail of a new 'quiet mode' option from today.

Science and Technology • 19 Jan 23

Helen Dixon, Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner

'Significant' amount of money pending after Meta fines

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) yesterday fined Facebook and Instagram a total of €390m after the conclusion of two inquiries into the platforms' parent company Meta.

Business • 05 Jan 23

A €210m fine has been imposed on Facebook, while Instagram has been hit with a €180m penalty by the DPC

Facebook & Instagram fined €390m by Irish data watchdog

The Irish Data Protection Commission has announced fines totalling €390 million against Facebook and Instagram following the conclusion of two inquiries into the platforms' parent company Meta.

Business • 04 Jan 23

The board ruled the EU privacy law does not allow Meta's social media platforms to use their terms of service as a justification to permit advertising based on online activity

EU raises concerns over Meta's targeted ad model

European Union regulators have ruled Meta Platforms should not require users to agree to personalised ads based on their digital activity, the Wall Street journal reported, citing people familiar with the decision.

Business • 06 Dec 22

The DPC fined the social media platform for breaches relating to the processing of children's data earlier this month

Meta lodges appeal against record €405m Instagram fine

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has lodged an appeal in the High Court against a record fine of €405m imposed on Instagram by the Irish Data Protection Commission.

Business • 30 Sep 22

Fine followed an investigation into breaches by Instagram relating to children's data

€405m Instagram fine to go to exchequer, DPC confirms

The Data Protection Commission has released details of its decision to impose a record fine of €405m on social media platform Instagram.

Ireland • 15 Sep 22

Instagram is owned by Facebook parent company Meta

Instagram fined €405m for GDPR violations

The Irish Data Protection Commission has fined social media platform Instagram €405 million for violations of the General Data Protection Regulation.

Business • 06 Sep 22

A video by @irishbudgeting showing the ingredients, the receipt and how to make pizza for a family of five for €5 has been viewed nearly a million times on TikTok and Instagram

Turning to TikTok for tips on cutting food costs

"Here we go again, feeding five people for €5.

Business • 17 Aug 22

Snapchat+ offers access to 11 exclusive features not yet available to general users.

Snap reaches one million premium subscribers

Snap, parent company of social media app Snapchat, has reached one million subscribers for its Snapchat+ premium subscription, the company said, after launching the service in June as a new source of revenue.

Business • 15 Aug 22

Changes included playing up short-form video, displaying it full-screen the way TikTok does, and recommending posts from strangers

Instagram sidelines features 'too like TikTok'

Instagram will pause features that users have campaigned against and complained made the social network too much like TikTok.

Business • 29 Jul 22

Disneyland has about 8.4 million followers on Instagram.

Disneyland's Facebook, Instagram accounts hacked

Disneyland Resort's Facebook and Instagram accounts were hacked yesterday with a series of inappropriate posts that were subsequently taken down, Walt Disney said.

Business • 08 Jul 22

Taking a short break from social media saw levels of depression and anxiety drop and well-being levels improve.

How taking a social media break can improve well-being

Taking a break from social media for as little as a week can reduce depression and anxiety, according to new research.

News Lens • 08 May 22

Instagram's CEO is appearing before a US Senate committee tomorrow

Instagram strengthens teen protections as hearing looms

Instagram has tightened protections for teens on the eve of a US Senate hearing about whether it is "toxic" for young users.

Business • 07 Dec 21

Over four million posts were shared as part of the 'We'll plant one tree for every pet picture' trend

Instagram users bark up wrong tree with pet photo trend

Instagram is working to make one of its features clearer after millions of people appeared to be misled by a viral trend claiming a tree would be planted for every pet photo they shared on the platform.

News Lens • 09 Nov 21

Data showed that almost 50,000 people had reported outages on Facebook

Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp begin to come back online

Facebook along with its Instagram and WhatsApp services began returning online late this evening after a massive and lengthy outage that began this afternoon.

Business • 04 Oct 21

Instagram said that building Instagram Kids was the right thing to do, but it was pausing the work

Facebook puts Instagram Kids app on hold

Instagram has hit pause on a new app that it is creating for kids, the Facebook-owned photo-sharing app said todayy, in a move that comes amid growing opposition for the project.

Business • 27 Sep 21

A number of England's soccer players received abusive messages on social media platforms like Instagram following the Euro 2020 final

Instagram offers new tool to help hide abusive comments

Instagram is introducing new features which it says will help reduce the amount of abusive and offensive messages users receive on the platform.

Business • 11 Aug 21

Instagram hacking

What if you are a small business relying on Instagram for sales and you're hacked?

Business • 23 Jul 21

A US judge has dismissed competition complaints against Facebook that sought to force the social media company to sell Instagram and WhatsApp

Facebook hits $1 trillion value as complaints rejected

A US judge yesterday dismissed federal and state competition complaints against Facebook that sought to force the social media company to sell Instagram and WhatsApp, saying the federal complaint was "legally insufficient."

Business • 29 Jun 21

The company is aiming to make money from its short-form video feature

Facebook launches ads globally for Instagram Reels

Facebook is launching ads globally on its TikTok clone Instagram Reels, the company said today.

Business • 17 Jun 21