Gannett Asks FBI to Investigate Fake Facebook Followers
Gannett has enlisted the help of the FBI to look into a number of fake accounts following its page on Facebook. According to MediaPost, the number of fake accounts is so big that it "accounted for half of the newspaper's following on Facebook." In April, Facebook purged a number of accounts that it said were fake or spam.
Amazon Introduces New Echo Device
Amazon has unveiled a new touchscreen device, Echo Show. The device has the same basic capabilities as Amazon’s original Echo device, with one key distinction—a built-in display. Users will be able to play videos, including news briefings and content from YouTube and Amazon Video. The device will cost $230 and is available for preorder now.
Tencent Funds Music App Smule
Smule, a social media music company based in San Francisco, raised $54 million in a new funding round led by Tencent, parent company to popular messaging service WeChat. Smule, which offers some karaoke functions, is looking to use the funds and Tencent’s expertise to expand its presence in Southeast Asia, where about 40% of its users reside.
Grab Sets Taxi-Sharing for Singapore
Residents of Singapore will soon be able to book a shared taxi using on-demand transportation service Grab. That means users can carpool and give their driver multiple destinations. Grab, which is based in Singapore, said the new service would begin rolling out May 16.
Austrian Court: Facebook Must Remove Hate Speech Globally
A court in Austria this week ruled that Facebook posts considered hate speech in that country much be removed by the social media platform not only in Austria but worldwide, according to the BBC. Facebook has yet to comment on the ruling but has upped its efforts to react to controversial content in the face of escalating external pressure; last week it announced a plan to increase its team of content screeners by 3,000.
Malaysia’s Media Prima Bags REV Asia
Media Prima, a Malaysia-based traditional media company, is acquiring digital media firm REV Asia for $24.2 million. With the purchase, Media Prima, which owns TV stations, radio networks and newspapers, will gain 12 media sites operated by REV Asia on a range of topics. According to Media Prima, the combined companies will have a reach rivaling that of Facebook and Google.
Amazon Prime Offering Live Music Events in UK
Concerts by Blondie and singer-songwriter Alison Moyet this month will be the first events held by Amazon’s new live music business in the UK, Prime Live Events. The events will be held in small but “iconic” venues, with tickets available only to Prime members. The shows will also be filmed and made exclusively available on Prime Video internationally, allowing Prime members to watch the recorded concerts at no extra cost to their membership.
—Cliff Annicelli, Rahul Chadha and Rimma Kats