Alex Reid

WikiLeaks has a pretty sweet Mastercard Parody video going around these days, soliciting funds for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s personal legal and security costs.

France’s broadcast regulator has prohibited the use of the words “Facebook” and “Twitter” from being mentioned on radio and television, unless that social network is the central part of a news story. So a newscaster can no longer say ‘follow us on Twitter’ or ‘give us your feedback on Facebook’ but could run a story about a politician who used Twitter to send pictures of his private parts.

The thinking is that mentioning these household brands is a form of “clandestine advertising”. The regulator, Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA), cites a 1992 statute governing the relationship between journalists and advertising, sponsorship, and “teleshopping”.

Now if this was enacted in Canada, the CBC would lose half of their news content.

(source)

Facebook rolled out “Tag Suggestions” which reads an image for “Facebook friends” face makeups. It’s pretty easy software, if the photo is a head shot. Nevertheless, people should rightfully feel that this is “creepy“. The State isn’t happy either.

Here is how you can opt-out.