Social networks & apps

From illegitimate data-sharing to tracking “interest in treason:” Facebook’s handling of private data raises concerns in Russia

August 8, 2018

Roskomnadzor, the Russian telecom and Internet regulator, has requested Facebook to provide explanations about its past data-sharing partnerships with at least 60 mobile device makers, including Apple, BlackBerry, Microsoft and Samsung. As reported last week by the business daily Kommersant, Roskomnadzor’s move followed a request from the Association of Professional Social Media and Messengers Users (APPSIM in Russian) …

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US senator worries that Mail.ru might be the next ‘Cambridge Analytica scandal’

July 12, 2018

Until 2015, several applications developed for Facebook by third-party companies had access to personal information shared by users and their friends. The apps could see names, genders, birth dates, places of birth, photos, and “liked” posts and pages. One of the businesses that collaborated with Facebook like this was the Russian company Mail.ru [part of …

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Russian lawmakers plan to tighten screws on social media

April 10, 2018

Deputies in the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, have drafted a new version of legislation that would impose additional regulations on social networks. The draft legislation includes, in particular, the following points: Every major social network would be required to establish representation in Russia, to make it easier for the Russian authorities to communicate with these …

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Ukrainian-Russian startup YouScan acquires BrandSpotter

March 16, 2018

On Wednesday YouScan, a social media software startup with Ukrainian and Russian roots, announced the acquisition of BrandSpotter, a leading social media monitoring service in Russian-speaking countries. The parties did not specify the amount of the deal, but announced that the BrandSpotter technology and trademark have been transfered to YouScan. YouScan helps businesses monitor, analyze and compare …

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The birth of a market: Mail.Ru Group now accepts bitcoin payments for ads, several startups in the running

March 12, 2018

Earlier this week Mail.Ru Group, an LSE-listed leading Russian Internet company, announced that its ad platform myTarget began accepting Bitcoin (BTC) and Bitcoin cash (BCH) as payment means for running ads on the group’s properties. These properties include Russia’s top social networks Vkontakte (VK) and Onoklassniki (OK) as well as two dozens of online resources …

The birth of a market: Mail.Ru Group now accepts bitcoin payments for ads, several startups in the running Read More

Softline Venture Partners invests in social media brand pages analytics

January 25, 2018

Softline Venture Partners, the venture arm of software publishing group Softline, has invested an undisclosed amount in JagaJam in exchange for a minority stake. The company will use the fresh investment to develop its technological platform, create new adjacent analytical products and scale up its business in Russia and beyond. A pioneer in the segment …

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An ad conundrum from Russia

November 22, 2017

As new data emerges on the political activity of Russian entities in the 2016 election year, research from HubSpot finds that US adults aren’t sure about how much to trust ads on social networks. In fact, the level of distrust discovered by HubSpot was nearly identical no matter the platform, whether it was Facebook, Twitter or Google. …

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“Trust nothing:” Russian social network allows users to become anonymous for a day

November 8, 2017

Russian social media network VKontake has possibly made the dreams of many users come true after it allowed them to remain “anonymous” for a day. The event was dedicated to mark Guy Fawkes Night. “The rules are simple. Everyone can write an anonymous post which will appear on his [VKontakte] friends’ timeline. It would not …

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Twitter bans RT and Sputnik from advertising, RT denies any illegitimate activity

October 27, 2017

Twitter is banning advertising from all accounts owned by RT (Russia Today) and Sputnik effective immediately, after US investigators concluded the Russian media companies attempted to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, reports Bloomberg. This is one of the biggest changes made yet by social media companies who have been called to respond to the US government’s concerns. …

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Russian Internet regulator threatens to block Facebook for non-compliance with personal data storage law

September 27, 2017

Will Facebook be banned in Russia? This might happen next year, warned Roskomnadzor’s head Alexander Zharov yesterday, should the social network still fail to comply with the local legislation on personal data storage. “The law is mandatory for everyone. Either we will [have it] applied or the company will stop operating in Russia,” the RIA …

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Medvedev claims victory over Navalny on social media and in ‘real life’

September 27, 2017

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev declared victory over opposition leader Alexei Navalny on social media and ‘real life’ on Monday, following a social media post comparing the politicians’ following on social media. The caption of an Instagram post shared by Navalny, which compares Medvedev’s 2.8 million Instagram followers to Navalny’s 236,000, reads “the ruling party is winning decisively …

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