Skip to main content

DT Daily: Facebook’s privacy scandal continues with smartphone data revelation

After a week of bad news for both Facebook and its users, the social network’s data collection scandal doesn’t seem to be going away quietly. Facebook is denying that it collects call and text data from users… at least without their permission. Over the weekend, some Facebook archives were found to contain this call and text data from connected Android smartphones. It wasn’t very difficult to find this out either. Users downloaded their Facebook data records and discovered entire call and SMS records in the data dump.

If these scandals have looking to take control of your Facebook data, Take a look at our guides that show you how to boost your Facebook privacy, or even delete your account permanently.

As Spotify gears up for its eagerly anticipated initial stock listing early next week, the streaming music leader is offering up a rosy forecast for prospective investors. By the end of this year nearly 100 million people are predicted to be paying members of Spotify. The streaming music service currently has around 75 million paid subscribers. That’s roughly double Apple Music’s 36 million users. Predicting 25% growth in paid subscribers this year, Spotify is prioritizing growth over profits to compete with Apple.

Spotify will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange on April 3rd under the ticker symbol SA. This isn’t a typical IPO with most of the shares sold ahead of time. Spotify is opting for a rare direct listing which means the initial stock price will be anyone’s guess.

For some people, going to a car dealership to test drive cars is about as pleasant as going to the dentist. Well, leave it to Ford and Alibaba to solve that problem. This car vending machine is now operating in Guangzhou, China. The “Super Test-Drive Center” is an un-staffed, digital vending machine that lets customers test drive any car in stock for free, but there’s a catch. It only works for people with a social credit score of 700 or more. Yes, if you didn’t already know, the Chinese government rates citizens behavior. Think of it as a credit score, but a little more intrusive. Anyway, the vehicle vending machine lets drivers keep the car for 3 days and even buy the car on the spot.

Greg Nibler
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Greg has worked as a Host, Producer, and Writer in radio and television since the early 2000s, working for such companies as…
Digital Trends Live: Facebook fights misinformation, TikTok’s parental controls
digital trends live episode 359 byhw4ghkbjhmtgkx2md3lu 1200 80

On this episode of Digital Trends Live, host Greg Nibler discusses the top-trending tech topics of the day, including Facebook’s plans for more updates to fight misinformation, Apple’s rumored over-ear headphones, TikTok's amped-up parental controls, how to build your own Switch, the Respawn 110 gaming chair, and more.
Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist

We then take a look at how the state of Michigan is responding to the COVID-19 outbreak with Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist, who discusses the efforts to keep its people and businesses safe.

Read more
Digital Trends Live: MWC cancellation, fact-checking Facebook, and more
mwc 2020 cancelled due to the coronavirus poster for 6131977432001

On this episode of Digital Trends Live, hosts Greg Nibler and Jeremy Kaplan discuss the biggest trending stories in tech, including the cancellation of MWC, Reuters fact-checks Facebook, the Los Angeles Fire Department’s electric fire truck, applying to be an astronaut, designing cities on Mars, and more.

We then turn to the world of streaming and gaming, as Twitch, Mixer, YouTube, and Facebook Gaming are signing streamers and competing for viewers.
Ammad Khan

Read more
Digital Trends Live: Facebook’s off-activity tool, Super Bowl players talk tech
digital trends live 1 28 20 super bowl players answer question on social and gaming poster for 6127309272001

On this episode of Digital Trends Live, hosts Greg Nibler and Luke Larsen dive into the biggest-trending tech topics of the day, including the new “Off-Facebook Activity” tool, Ring’s data troubles, Huawei 5G headed to the U.K., Atari’s video game-themed hotels, and more.

We then go to Riley Winn in Miami for our continuing coverage of the Super Bowl. He talks to some of the NFL's top players about social media, video games, and if new camera technology has affected their game play.
Jason Yim

Read more