By Judi McLeod ——Bio and Archives--April 6, 2018
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“Adweek: How would you rate the current administration in Washington? “Jeff Chester: Barack Obama became our first president to win office by using a wide range of interactive online marketing techniques. They know this business from the inside. The administration is immersed in the worlds of digital advertising and social media. They have placed high-ranking officials in the White House who have roots to Silicon Valley giants. The Obama administration has made a very promising digital start in its first year. Perhaps most critically, they’re using social and other new media to make government more open and accessible to the public. A brief review of some of the administration’s online-related initiatives shows that they’re aware that online media requires various regulatory safeguards. For example: the [Food and Drug Administration’s] current review on the role digital advertising plays promoting pharmaceuticals and health issues; the [Federal Trade Commission’s] very focused examination on the impact of digital marketing on personal privacy; the support for a broadband “network neutrality” policy at the [Federal Communications Commission]; and the recent call by Secretary of State Clinton for global Internet freedom.”
“How would you rate the administration in terms of addressing cybertheft? “Given the state of the economy, especially the banking and personal finance sector, as well as the healthcare debate, it’s understandable that the administration has taken a little more time to address cyber crime and security in a comprehensive way. The Obama Justice Department, however, appears to be well-focused on the issue. “And how would you rate it in terms of addressing privacy rights (or the lack thereof)? “Under President Obama, the FTC has finally awakened from its long deregulatory slumber. Industry self-regulation is no longer the digital dogma. Under [FTC] chairman Leibowitz, the commission is thoughtfully analyzing how digital marketing is contributing to the erosion of personal privacy. I believe that it’s possible that the FTC may contribute to one of Obama’s chief legacy’s — helping protect consumers in the online marketing era.”Meanwhile news about Facebook invasion of privacy is leaking out like the proverbial sieve, the latest being that Facebook has deleted some of Mark Zuckerberg's private messages over fears sensitive data could be leaked. (Daily Mail, April 6, 2018) “Fears that sensitive data could be leaked” is the Facebook horse that long ago bolted out of the barn.
“Three sources claim old Facebook messages from Zuckerberg have disappeared from their inbox. (Daly Mail) “The recipients were not notified - raising concerns about what the Facebook CEO could be hiding. “Facebook claims the change was made after the 2014 Sony Pictures hack, when a mass data breach at the movie studio resulted in embarrassing email histories being leaked.”In Mark Zuckerberg’s digital world, it’s always someone else’s fault when Facebook data is breached, The Sony Pictures Hack, Cambridge Analytica being perfect scapegoats. The MSM and social media characteristically send out dramatic tidbits to keep the masses distracted and in the dark from what is really going on. And it so happens that what is really going on is that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is stepping up to the plate to provide the oxygen necessary to keep Mueller’s Russians-stole-the-election conspiracy alive and kicking. “Trump-affiliated” Cambridge Analytics as the new Russia, presented by trained seal Mark Zuckerberg is coming to a television near you on Tuesday. Waiting breathlessly from the sidelines: Hillary Rodham Clinton. Related: Facebook: Most users may have had public data ‘scraped’ NEW YORK (AP) — Facebook’s acknowledgement that most of its 2.2 billion members have probably had their personal data scraped by “malicious actors” is the latest example of the social network’s failure to protect its users’ data. Not to mention its apparent inability to even identify the problem until the company was already embroiled in scandal.
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