Apps
Facebook Employees Criticize Campaign Against Apple in Leaked Comments
Amid a barrage of public attacks on Apple from Facebook over privacy measures, Facebook employees have expressed their displeasure with the direction of the campaign in comments obtained by BuzzFeed News.
Last week, Facebook launched a campaign in print newspapers explaining that it was “standing up to Apple for small businesses everywhere,” and created a website encouraging people to “Speak Up for Small Businesses.”
Facebook argues that Apple’s privacy changes in iOS 14, which give users the option to opt-out of ad tracking, will harm small businesses that see increased sales from personalized ads. However, some Facebook employees are reportedly complaining about what they perceived to be a self-serving campaign.
BuzzFeed News obtained internal comments from one of Facebook’s private message boards and audio of a presentation to Facebook workers, revealing that there is discontentment among employees about the angle used to attack Apple’s privacy changes. One Facebook engineer, in response to an internal post about the campaign from Facebook’s advertising chief Dan Levy, said:
“It feels like we are trying to justify doing a bad thing by hiding behind people with a sympathetic message.“
Ahead of an internal meeting to explain the rationale of the campaign against Apple, Facebook employees asked and voted up several questions that focused on the consequences of the campaign on Facebook’s public image. The most popular questions asked reportedly all expressed skepticism or concern:
“Aren’t we worried that our stance protecting [small- and medium-sized businesses] will backfire as people see it as “Facebook protecting their own business” instead?“
“People want “privacy,” Facebook objecting here will be viewed with cynicism. Did we know this would be bad PR, and decide to publish anyway?“
“How do we pick a message that looks less self-serving?“
In response, Facebook vice president of product marketing Graham Mudd said that the company has been “really clear” that Apple’s changes do “have a financial impact on us,” in addition to small businesses:
“We’re not trying to sweep that under the rug. We are, you know, a profitable, big company and we’re going to get through this and adapt our products and so forth. But the real folks that are going to get hit by this are small businesses, and that’s why we made them the focus of the message.“
Following the presentation, many Facebook employees were apparently unconvinced. Some did not understand how Apple’s changes would negatively affect small businesses, while one highlighted that Apple’s privacy changes also prevent “malicious actors” from tracking people:
“We’re not going to… be the only ones that should be allowed to track people without their consent — any company can do that, even smaller startups and malicious actors.“
The same employee launched a scathing attack on Levy’s post, accompanied by a popular meme with the text “Are we the baddies?”
“The only thing I’m hearing, again and again, is “this is bad for the businesses,” and I’d really like someone at the top to explicitly say, “People are better off if they don’t know what we’re doing, if we don’t have to explain ourselves to them, if they don’t get a choice to opt-in or opt-out of our practices, if we obscure it as much as possible behind interesting features and then get them to accept surreptitious tracking on the back end as long as we downplay it.”
Other critics suggested that Facebook incentivizes opting-in to ad tracking in a positive campaign rather than attacking the notion of a choice to opt-in or out. Levy responded to criticisms explaining that the campaign was simply “not about our business model.”
“That’s Apple’s marketing working and convincing you to scapegoat us so they can decide how the internet should work — even beyond their devices. I’m an optimist who works in technology because I think tech can be a lever for democratizing access and giving opportunity. Including for businesses. And if you think this is going to stop with personalized ads… well, then I disagree.“
Other comments from employees highlighted that the spirited defense of small businesses was hypocritical because Facebook has repeatedly disabled the ad accounts of small business advertisers by mistake and increasingly uses automated customer support, leading to a plethora of public complaints from small businesses:
“[They] highlight that we’re probably not doing everything we can to “stand up for small [businesses]” when we don’t provide human customer service support to small advertisers.“
Facebook spokesperson Ashley Zandy responded to BuzzFeed News, insisting that the stories of small businesses are Facebook’s priority:
“Since launching this effort we have heard from small businesses literally around the world who are worried about how these changes could hurt their businesses. Because this is such a critical time for [small- and medium-sized businesses], we will continue to share those stories with the public and our employees.“
Following the launch of the campaign, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a non-profit organization that defends civil liberties in the digital world, called Facebook’s criticisms of tracking-related privacy measures “laughable.”
Mobile gaming fans around the world can prepare for a brand-new take on a strategy classic as Age of Empires Mobile will officially launch on the Apple App Store and Google Play on October 17. Co-developed by TiMi Studio Group (Call of Duty: Mobile, Pokémon Unite) and World’s Edge, an Xbox Games Studio, Age of Empires Mobile is a fresh and innovative experience for the beloved series, bringing familiar elements from the iconic Age of Empires games with brand-new and mobile-specific gameplay to mobile players.
On the road to global launch, players will have the opportunity to participate in on-site events at the Xbox booth, and the stage event with fun engagement activities at the Level Infinite booth, during Gamescom in Cologne, Germany. Media and creators will be invited to preview the game in the business area. Players can pre-register now for the official launch on the App Store and Google Play, join the game’s official Discord or head to the game’s website for more information.
“We expect players to mystify, mislead and surprise their enemies through the realistic, immersive, medieval gameplay featured in Age of Empires Mobile,” said TiMi Studios team leader and studio general manager Brayden Fan. “We’ve already seen alliances form and alliances crumble through our multi-month playtesting. Through it all, players have shown strategic wit, savvy teamwork and a passion for an entirely new Age of Empires experience.”
Built from the ground up for mobile and social play, Age of Empires Mobile includes a variety of game features:
- Multiple single-player modes built on the Age of Empires lineage and featuring iconic elements from the original series
- Build your empire in a lively, realistic medieval world featuring stunning civilizations, imperial cities and historical figures
- Immersive battlefields offer one-of-a-kind original gameplay with large-scale castle sieges featuring realistic weapons taking on multi-dimensional defences in a fight with thousands of players worldwide
- Be strategic as you encounter realistic and interactive terrain and weather and manage multiple troops with real-time micro-control
Built to expand on the series’ lineage, Age of Empires Mobile offers players the opportunity to select from some of the world’s most legendary historical figures to lead their armies. Players choose from dozens of these leaders, such as Barbarossa, Darius the Great, Hammurabi, Joan of Arc and Leonidas I, each featuring unique individual talents and synergies with each other to unleash on your foes.
“Our goal at World’s Edge is to bring the magic of Age of Empires to as many different types of players around the world as possible. Partnering with TiMi Studio Group means we can combine their expertise in mobile gaming with the strength of our franchise and history – to bring a brand-new take on Age of Empires to even more gamers, in even more places,” said Michael Mann, Studio Head at World’s Edge.
WhatsApp is set to revolutionize user interaction with the introduction of real-time voice conversations powered by Meta AI. This new feature, currently in development, will allow users to engage in natural, spoken dialogue with the AI chatbot.
Key Features:
- Personalized Experience: Users can select from various voice options for Meta AI, tailoring the interaction to their preference.
- User Control: The voice chat mode will be optional, ensuring users have complete control over their conversations.
- Privacy Focus: WhatsApp is implementing a privacy indicator to inform users when their microphone is active, safeguarding user data.
- Accessibility: Captions and transcripts will be available, enhancing accessibility and providing a visual record of conversations.
- Customizable Responses: Users can choose between brief or full responses from Meta AI, adapting the AI’s output to their needs.
This exciting development promises to make AI interactions more engaging, accessible, and personalized for WhatsApp users.
Smiles, the UAE’s premier everyday rewards SuperApp, has launched a unified subscription model that combines its Unlimited Free Delivery and Unlimited Buy-One-Get-One subscriptions into one super subscription. Called “Smiles Unlimited,” the new subscription model is the only super subscription that unifies all the benefits of unlimited free food and grocery delivery, service fee waiver for home services, and unlimited Buy-One-Get-One on thousands of brands into one subscription package. Priced at just AED 29 per month with a 14 day free trial period, the service saves over AED 300 per month on delivery fees, service fees and Buy-One-Get-One deals, rewarding back more than 10 times.
Khaled ElKhouly, Chief Consumer Officer, e& UAE, said: “Building on Smiles’ position as the UAE’s leading everyday rewards SuperApp, we are excited to introduce Smiles Unlimited, our new super subscription that enhances customers’ everyday lives. This offering goes beyond traditional rewards programmes by consolidating all the benefits our customers love into one convenient package, on top of the earning and redemption of points that are currently available with Smiles. It reaffirms our commitment to being an essential partner, supporting and rewarding people for simply living their lives in the UAE.”
In the UAE’s dynamic market, consumers are increasingly focused on maximising their savings while managing multiple subscriptions for essential services. However, managing a fragmented landscape of subscriptions is cumbersome and costly. Smiles Unlimited solves this by introducing a single, convenient package that unifies all these benefits, simplifying subscription management and increasing customers’ savings.
As part of its evolution into a full-service lifestyle SuperApp, Smiles enables customers to earn and redeem points for everyday activities like ordering food and groceries, booking home services, dining out, shopping, entertainment, travelling, and much more. “Reward Your Everyday” underscores Smiles’ commitment to enhancing every aspect of daily life and integrating the SuperApp more deeply into the lifestyles of UAE residents by making each interaction convenient and rewarding.
With over five million loyal members across the UAE, Smiles has become a premier lifestyle SuperApp in the region. Backed by an extensive network of over 11,000 restaurants, 500+ grocery stores and pharmacies, 35+ home services and 6,500 brand partners nationwide, members can access a vast selection of everyday essentials and experiences
Smiles further sets itself apart through its uniquely generous rewards structure. Customers can also earn points through their e& UAE bill and recharge payments, co-branded credit card usage, and orders and purchases made through Smiles.
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