Tech News Today 1801

Facebook, Twitter, and other social media companies could face fines of up to 57 million dollars in Germany if they fail to remove illegal, racist, or slanderous comments within 24 hours of receiving report of the offense.

The Washington Post says Twitter is prototyping a new feature that would allow its users to actively flag tweets containing misleading information and fake news in an attempt to control the network effect that comes from bot tweeting, among other related problems. Twitter says they currently have no plans to launch this product.

ReCode reports that Facebook is changing its algorithm to reduce the reach of anyone who posts fifty times a day or more, regardless of the content of the links. Facebook VP Adam Mosseri says they've identified a small group of people, not bots, who post spammy links, which he says are likely to contain low quality content such as clickbait, sensationalism, and misinformation.

Plus, Project Fi might get supported by a non-Google phone, the Surface Mini that never was is shown off in leaked photos,and Sam Machkovech from Ars Technica talks about Blizzard's remaster of Starcraft and the fate of CastAR.

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Links

• Delete Hate Speech or Pay Up, Germany Tells Social Media Companies
• Twitter is looking for ways to let users flag fake news, offensive content
• People who post 50-plus times per day are likely sharing spam or false news, Facebook says.
• Lenovo’s Moto X4 is coming to Google’s Project Fi in Q4
• This is Microsoft's canceled Surface Mini (exclusive photos and details)
• StarCraft Remastered devs unveil price, explain how much is being rebuilt
• Report: Valve’s former augmented reality system is no more
• Why Trump's offensive tweets don't get him kicked off Twitter
• Purrli