The US government-funded ‘private social network’ attacking pesticide critics

v-Fluence had new prospects with the US government in the 2020s. 

In 2020 the USDA contracted with a "strategic communications firm" called White House Writers Group (WHWG) for up to $4.9m. It was part of a USDA strategy to undermine Europe's Farm to Fork, an environmental policy which aimed to reduce pesticide use by 50% by 2030...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/26/government-funded-social-network-attacking-pesticide-critics

Trump’s new social network Truth Social already defaced by pranksters - The Washington Post

…But the site's early hours revealed lax security, rehashed features and a flurry of bizarre design decisions. An open signup page allowed anyone to use the site shortly after it was revealed, sparking the creation of the "donaldjtrump" account and the pig posting. A Washington Post reporter was able to register and post under the account name "mikepence" without any stops in place. New signups were blocked shortly after…

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/10/21/trump-truth-social-fake-accounts/

Facebook says 100 developers may have improperly accessed user data

Facebook discloses that as many as 100 software developers may have improperly accessed user data, including the names and profile pictures of people in specific groups on the social network. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/05/facebook-says-100-developers-may-have-improperly-accessed-user-data.html

Extremists find new home in online app Telegram - The Hill

Experts say that two months after 8chan, the fringe social network known as a breeding ground for white supremacists, went offline, other platforms are now attracting extremist voices.....
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/464943-extremists-find-new-home-in-online-app-telegram

The White House Readies Draft of Executive Order That Could Break the Internet - Gizmodo

It appears the Trump administration is drafting an executive order that has the potential to radically change how the content posted on social networks are governed, stripping crucial protections from tech companies and inserting much more government oversight. This is being done under the guise of a popular political talking point claiming that social media networks are censoring conservatives....
https://gizmodo.com/the-white-house-readies-draft-of-executive-order-that-c-1837110097

Stephen Colbert Can't Believe That Facebook Took Away the 'One Skill' Trump Had - TIME

The social network has some explaining to do ....
http://time.com/5208869/stephen-colbert-facebook-data-scandal/