If you thought you have protected your personal information enough from the prying eyes of Facebook advertisers, think again. When you create an account on Facebook, at some point, you end up providing your mobile number for two-factor authentication, or someone happens to share your email.
hile this information is not actively visible on the profile, it is hidden in a layer called 'shadow profile', Mashable reported. Facebook is allowing advertisers access to this hidden personal information for 'custom audience'. When you provide your data while shopping online, advertisers get access to this data and then show you tailored ads on Facebook, even when you have set your ad preferences otherwise.
Facebook, Google and other tech firms have also agreed a code of conduct to do more to tackle the spread of fake news, due to concerns it can influence elections, the European Commission said. Intended to stave off more heavy-handed legislation, the voluntary code covers closer scrutiny of advertising on accounts and websites where fake news appears, and working with fact checkers to filter it out, the Commission said.
But a group of media advisors criticised the companies, also including Twitter and lobby groups for the advertising industry, for failing to present more concrete measures. With EU parliamentary elections scheduled for May, Brussels is anxious to address the threat of foreign interference during campaigning. Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Poland, Portugal and Ukraine are also all due to hold national elections next year.
Russia has faced allegations - which it denies - of disseminating false information to influence the U.S. presidential election and Britain's referendum on European Union membership in 2016, as well as Germany's national election last year.
With inputs from ANI
