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🇺🇸 META abandons fact-checking and aligns with controversial vision of freedom of expression
“It’s time to get back to our roots about free expression on Facebook and Instagram” it is in these terms that Mark Zuckerberg announced the end of fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram, replaced by a user rating system inspired by ex-Twitter). Criticizing the political biases of fact-checkers, Meta will move his moderation team from California to Texas, a signal that conservative circles should appreciate.
This decision comes as Mark Zuckerberg speaks of collaboration with Donald Trump to counter foreign restrictions on freedom of expression, particularly targeting China, Latin America, and potentially Europe. This shift aligns Meta with positions close to those of Elon Musk and Donald Trump, raising serious concerns about the impact of this orientation on public debate and disinformation.
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🇪🇺 Clara Chappaz, Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, in charge of Artificial Intelligence and Digital, announces via X that she has spoken with the management of META FRANCE led by Laurent Solly , which assures him that this functionality will only be deployed in the United States for the moment. “In Europe, the Digital Service Act will be respected, believe in my vigilance on the subject,” she asserts strongly.
🇺🇸 META accused of censoring internal criticism of Dana White
It is in this context that Meta’s HR team allegedly deleted internal criticism aimed at Dana White, president of the UFC and new member of the board of directors, according to information from 404 Media. Posts from employees questioning this censorship were also reportedly deleted.
🇺🇸 Donald Trump announces $20 billion investment in American data centers
Donald Trump unveiled a $20 billion investment project in data centers in the United States, led by Emirati businessman Hussain Sajwani, president of DAMAC Group. This commitment, planned over several years, is part of a strategy aimed at strengthening American technological infrastructure.
🇬🇧 UK plans to criminalize sexually explicit deepfakes
The UK announces plans to make creating and sharing sexually explicit deepfakes a crime. Although revenge porn has been illegal since 2015, current legislation does not specifically cover deepfakes, leaving a legal loophole that this measure aims to close.
🇨🇳 Tencent completes its largest share buyback since 2006
Tencent repurchased 3.93 million Hong Kong-listed shares for about $193 million on January 7, marking its largest repurchase since April 2006. The move comes shortly after Tencent was added to the list American black, which we reported to you in yesterday’s edition of GOOD MORNING.
💸 ANTHROPIC seeking $2 billion to face OPENAI
Anthropic, an artificial intelligence player, is seeking to raise $2 billion in a financing round that would bring its valuation to $60 billion, according to close sources. Lightspeed Venture Partners, already involved in AI startups like Mistral and Stability AI, would lead the round.
With an annualized turnover of 875 million dollars, Anthropic’s growth is significant, but remains below the objective of one billion for the end of 2024. In comparison, OpenAI would have reached 3.7 billion in revenue for the same period and projects a turnover of 11.6 billion dollars in 2025
This fundraising could triple the valuation of Anthropic compared to 2022, when it reached 18 billion. It is part of a strategy of close collaboration with Amazon, which has injected $4 billion and offers its cloud capabilities to the startup. Amazon also resells Anthropic’s models to its customers, generating shared revenue.
🥐 Previous editions of GOOD MORNING FRENCHWEB:
- META gets closer to TRUMP / The Pentagon targets TENCENT / Donald Trump finally supports Silicon Valley…
- APPLE settles a dispute over SIRI confidentiality / AI is coming to places of worship / HUAWEI trains 300,000 engineers per year
🚀 To read on FRENCHWEB.FR:
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- Bamboo Rose acquires French startup Verteego
- ISAGRI acquires Sencrop to accelerate the digitalization of agriculture
- KOLSQUARE acquires WOOMIO to strengthen its position in Northern Europe
- IBEXA acquires QUABLE to create a European digital experience champion
- SKEZI strengthens its position in the medical sector with the acquisition of Verbatim.Care
- EXPANSION VENTURES completes a first tranche of its investment fund dedicated to European Space Tech
