Greg's Corner

Updates from July, 2018 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Geebo 9:03 am on July 17, 2018 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Channel 4, content moderation ( 5 ), Facebook ( 180 ), Inside Facebook: Secrets of the Social Network, objectionable content ( 2 )   

  Documentary: Facebook needs controversy to survive 

  

  Have you ever seen something posted on Facebook that was so offensive that you actually took the time to complain to Facebook? I did once. I saw a post accusing a man of a horrible crime even though there was no tangible evidence to support the claim. That was three years ago and this particular post has since been shared millions of times as if it was fact. For all I know, this man’s life could have been ruined due to false accusations. The response I got from Facebook on multiple occasions on why the post wasn’t deleted was because it did not violate their nebulous ‘community standards’. Now, a soon to be released documentary claims this is par for the course when it comes to Facebook moderation.

  British TV broadcaster Channel 4 had a journalist go undercover in a firm that is contracted to moderate Facebook content. The documentary entitled “Inside Facebook: Secrets of the Social Network.” claims that Facebook allows controversial content like this to proliferate on its network because it keeps people more engrossed in Facebook’s walled garden. This, in turn, is said to increase Facebook’s revenue through advertisements. That makes it sound a lot like Facebook is profiting from the suffering of others since most of the controversial material that isn’t deleted consists of instances of child abuse according to Business Insider.

  In a world where discourse is becoming increasingly toxic, Facebook appears to be throwing gasoline on the fire while making money by selling pitchforks and torches. Facebook denies these claims but the evidence seems to indicate the contrary. However, as usual, the problem could be solved if we all did one thing. That is for us to start using social media more responsibly and not sharing every little thing that causes us the slightest bit of outrage. It’s time for us to start using social media with a more discerning eye.

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  Geebo 9:00 am on July 16, 2018 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Amazon ( 108 ), Prime Day ( 8 ), working conditions ( 4 )   

  The true cost of Prime Day 

  

  Later today, Amazon will kick off its annual summer version of Black Friday they call Prime Day. This means anyone with an Amazon Prime account will be able to get great deals on any number of items being offered by the online retail leader. According to an estimate by CNN Money, Amazon is expected to make $3.4 billion this year during its Prime Day rush. However, while you may get a great deal on an Amazon Echo delivered to your door, there’s a human cost to the slashed prices and marketing blitz of Prime Day.

  For the past few years, Amazon has been under fire for allegedly treating its employees at its fulfillment centers like so much chattel. According to a blistering expose released by the New York Times a few years ago, not only does Amazon supposedly overwork their employees in such a way that it’s often referred to as a sweatshop, but Amazon has also been accused of playing fast and loose with labor laws when it comes to its staffing practices. In many cases, an Amazon worker is ‘on the clock’ even when they’re not being paid because they need to be in constant contact with Amazon all hours of the day and night.

  As I posted around this time last year, many people refuse to shop at WalMart due to the supposed poor working conditions their employees have to endure, yet we have no trouble giving Amazon our money when their employees are treated just as bad or worse. Again, is it because we don’t ever see Amazon’s employees work so they’re out of sight and out of mind? Or is it because we value having indulgent computer boxes that we ask inane questions sent to our door with free shipping over the lives of the workers that bring them to us? Please consider that before making your next Amazon purchase.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on July 13, 2018 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: AIM Group ( 5 ), OfferUp ( 23 ), SafeTrade ( 5 )   

  OfferUp teams with AIM Group to bring SafeTradeSpots to users. Welcome to the club. 

  

  Yesterday, it was announced that marketplace app OfferUp is partnering with industry watchdog AIM Group to launch a new website. SafeTradeSpots.com shows a national database of police and sheriff’s departments that have authorized their locations as safe meeting places for online transactions. It’s good to see OfferUp taking this step into user safety considering when you look up OfferUp on YouTube, this is the first video that comes up in the search.

  While we’re glad to see OfferUp start to take its users’ safety more seriously, we here at Geebo can’t help but pat ourselves on the back a little. Back in 2015, Geebo CEO Greg Collier recognized the need for locations where classifieds transactions that require a face to face meeting can be conducted safely. That’s why every Geebo ad contains a link to AIM Group’s SafeTrade Stations that lists a multitude of safe transaction zones all across the country.

  While we’re not in any way trying to take credit for OfferUp’s new safety initiative, we do like to think that Geebo is an industry leader when it comes to user safety. Not only does Gebbo review every ad for potential safety hazards but we constantly strive to educate our users on new and developing risks that are constantly evolving on less concerned sites like craigslist. We take our motto of being the safe community classifieds very seriously and continue to set the bar for safer online classifieds.

   
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  Geebo 9:09 am on July 12, 2018 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: LetGo ( 10 ), murder ( 9 ), Oune Somsanith   

  Missouri man killed during LetGo transaction 

  

  We’re saddened to bring you this story today. This past Sunday, 45-year-old Oune Somsanith of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, was shot and killed in Kansas City, Kansas. Mr. Somsanith made his living by buying electronics off of online marketplaces, fixing them up, then reselling them. On Sunday, Mr. Somsanith went to meet someone he was going to buy an iPhone from through the classified app LetGo. Unfortunately, he never returned from that meeting.

  According to his family, Mr. Somsanith took many precautions when making these transactions such as meeting sellers at a cell phone store to make sure the device had not been reported stolen. If the seller did not want to join him at the store he would not go through with the transaction. He was said to have made many of these transactions without incident in the past. Sadly, Mr. Somsanith leaves behind a wife and five children. A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family.

  As of the time of posting this, no suspect has yet to be captured in Mr. Somsanith’s murder.

  Police continue to investigate his death and ask anyone with information to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

  Even though Mr. Somsanith had many successful and safe transactions, there is always an inherent risk in meeting a buyer or seller for the first time. While Mr. Somsanith’s method of going to the phone stores is an ingenious way of making sure you’re not buying stolen merchandise, those locations are not secure enough to ensure you’re own safety. Over the last few years, thieves and killers have become more brazen when it comes to assaulting their victims. We always recommend completing transactions at a local police department as many police departments now have areas designated for such transactions.

  Our condolences go out to Mr. Somsanith’s friends and family and we hope that his assailant is brought to justice soon.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on July 11, 2018 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Cambridge Analytica ( 3 ), data breach ( 32 ), Facebook ( 180 ), privacy ( 46 )   

  Facebook facing fine from UK government 

  

  Yesterday, it was announced that the British government plans on fining Facebook for their role in the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office claims Facebook failed to ensure another company had deleted users’ data. Because of this, the ICO is looking to fine Facebook the maximum amount allowed by British law. While that may sound impressive, the actual amount is paltry compared to Facebook’s net worth.

  The ICO is planning on levying a fine of £500,000 against the social media juggernaut. That equates to around $663,000 in US figures. If this fine is imposed it will no doubt have little to no impact on Facebook since the house that Mark built probably makes this amount in less than a minute. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg could probably pay this fine just from the change cup in his Acura.

  Fines probably mean nothing to Facebook. Even if they were to be fined $1 billion, they could recoup that loss in a matter of days. Facebook won’t enact any real change until governments start threatening to regulate. It doesn’t even have to be the US government as the EU famously got both Microsoft and Google to curtail some of their more questionable business practices. Until then, Facebook will shake off any fine like so many fleas from a dog.

   
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  Geebo 9:01 am on July 10, 2018 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: computers ( 4 ), hard drives, laptops ( 4 ), personal information ( 2 ), phones ( 5 ), security ( 46 ), tablets ( 3 )   

  Wipe your devices before selling them 

  

  Congratulations. You just bought a shiny new device, but you’re unsure what to do with still functioning older device. You could either donate it, recycle it, gift it, or even sell it on Geebo. However, before you do any of those things, you want to make sure there is no longer any valuable information left on the device.

  Recently, ABC Action News in the Tampa area bought a number of laptops from people who were selling them on online marketplaces. A number of those laptops still had valuable information on them including bank account and social security numbers. Before parting with a device that has been in your service for years you want to make sure that there is no personal information left on it. While Action News mentions taking your device to be professionally wiped, that costs money and could eat into any potential windfall if you’re planning on selling the device. That’s not even taking into account that while most professionals are on the up and up, there are those bad apples who may use this as an opportunity to harvest your data. After backing up the data you want to save, try these tips for wiping the hard drive on your PC or laptop.

  As the video mentions, software like DBAN is probably your best bet for wiping your hard drives of all important information. Apple computers have their own built-in process for wiping the hard drive. The same goes for Android and iOS devices in case you’re selling a phone or tablet.

  In these days of personal information being leaked from just about everywhere taking these few extra steps and a little bit of time are definitely worth the effort and your peace of mind.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on July 9, 2018 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: craigslist ( 129 ), illegal dumping   

  Illegal craigslist dumping can hurt us all 

  

  You may not think that illegal trash dumping is a problem since you either don’t see it often or engage in it. That doesn’t mean it’s not going on and can’t affect you. In too many communities there are places known to locals as a sort of de facto dumping ground. Unfortunately, a multitude of these spots could not only have detrimental effects on the wildlife and environment but in the long run, could lead to substantial health hazards and decreased property values. While local governments can crack down on offenders, it doesn’t seem to be turning the tide.

  So if you have a lot of junk and trash that needs to be hauled away from your home you may think of contacting a professional hauler. So where do you go to find one? Hopefully not craigslist as FOX 5 in Las Vegas points out, a number of businesses on craigslist purport to be legitimate haulers, but instead, these fake haulers are just dumping your junk in the Nevada desert.

  As with most craigslist problems, if it’s happening in one area, it’s probably happening in many more. If you want to responsibly have your junk hauled away and not just dumped somewhere where anyone could find it, you’ll want to use a licensed hauling service. They’ll charge more than illegal dumpers, but that’s because they’re using that money to dispose of your refuse legally and safely. If an illegal dumper dumps your trash and authorities find any of your identifying information you could be held legally responsible and end up getting fined thousands of dollars. So isn’t it worth it to spend the extra money to make sure it’s done right?

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on July 6, 2018 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Backpage ( 69 ), lawsuit ( 47 ), Washington ( 11 )   

  Backpage ordered to pay trafficking victims, may have to pay more 

  

  The now-defunct Backpage is no stranger to lawsuits. The controversial classifieds site has been taken to court by sex trafficking victims for many years now. For the longest time, Backpage would largely escape having to pay any settlements by hiding behind section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. However, even before FOSTA was passed Backpage was starting to lose whatever goodwill they had in the courts when Congress began revealing evidence they were knowingly facilitating prostitution and profiting from it. When this evidence was made public, it started a multi-state set of lawsuits in early 2017.

  Now, in one of those states, a judge has sanctioned Backpage and ordered them to pay $200,000 each to two underage trafficking victims in Washington State. The ruling in Pierce County came earlier this week when attorneys for the victims argued that Carl Ferrer’s admission of guilt contradicts Backpage’s earlier stance of having done nothing wrong. The judge also gave Backpage 60 days to produce 1.2 million documents sought in the lawsuit or pay a fine of $1.2 million.

  Hopefully, more financial penalties will be levied against Backpage and its string-pullers as that may be the only justice they’ll truly understand. Let’s be reasonable, Carl Ferrer, Jim Larkin, and Michael Lacey will probably not see the prison time they deserve. They can afford high-priced lawyers that could potentially keep them out of jail. The only true way to exact justice on them is to take away the money they greedily made off the blood of their victims.

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  Geebo 10:52 am on July 5, 2018 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: predatory lending   

  A new type of predatory lender mails loan checks to you 

  

  With more and more Americans living paycheck to paycheck, any unexpected expense could put you behind for months or years. That could then result in having utilities turned off, or even worse, you could be evicted from your home. There are many predatory lenders out there who are looking to take advantage of your situation. One of those types of lenders is payday advance loans. They would lend you money until you would receive your paycheck but when you pay them back you’re behind again and the payday lenders would encourage you to take out another loan until you were dependent on them to try to make ends meet. A number of states heavily regulated or outright banned payday lending in order to help consumers, but now a new predatory practice has emerged to supposedly take advantage of those of lower economic status.

  According to the Washington Post, at least one lending company is mailing checks to people unsolicited for over $1,000 apiece. The checks are legitimate and can be cashed, however, if you were to cash one, you’d be entering into a loan with the lender. The loans not only have to be paid back with exorbitant interest rates, but the lender will try to get you to borrow more money in the meantime. This lender seems to depend on the fact that most of its customers won’t be able to pay the loan back and end up taking their customers to court where according to the terms of the loan, the customer has to pay the lender’s legal fees as well.

  While it may be tempting to cash one of these checks while you’re in financial straits, they can only make your situation worse. You may think that you’ll be able to dig your way out of such a financial hole but these lenders stack the deck against the consumer so much that it’s almost impossible to pay them back without finding yourself into legal trouble. Having been in financial desperation myself in the past I wish I could tell you there was a magic answer to solve your money problems. The only thing I can do is to try to help you keep an eye out for those looking to take advantage of your situation so you don’t find yourself in even bigger financial distress.

   
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  Geebo 9:03 am on July 3, 2018 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Facebook ( 180 ), privacy ( 46 )   

  Facebook bug only exposes 800,000 accounts this time 

  

  I’m running out of analogies for Facebook’s porous way it retains our private information. I’ve referred to their privacy practices as a sieve and a submarine with a screen door. I guess now I could refer to Facebook as a butterfly net with holes in it as a new bug has compromised the privacy of some 800,000 accounts.

  According to Facebook, If you have blocked someone on Facebook but posted something that was shared beyond friends, such as a post marked public, the blocked person could see your posts. This bug, as Facebook is calling it, is said to have affected around 800,000 users between May 29th and June 5th. This is not to be confused with Facebook’s last faux pas that changed the privacy settings of 14 million users. While 800,000 may not seem like a lot of people compared to Facebook’s supposed 2 billion users, it’s still just a little bit more than the entire population of the U.S. state of North Dakota, or just a little less than the population of San Francisco.

  So, if I had to make a new analogy about Facebook I guess I would compare them to a leaky kitchen faucet. You know the one I’m talking about. It was really bad at first, but you did some home repairs at first to stop most of the leaking. However, it’s still dripping but you never get around to calling a professional to fix it completely. Facebook needs a plumber to fix its leaks before the Federal Government acting as the housing inspector condemns the whole house.