theverge--2020-11-04--DJI’s palm-sized Mini 2 drone flies further and shoots 4K for $449

Last year ’ s DJI Mavic Mini might have been the smallest and lightest full-featured drone on the market , but it was also a little compromised out of the gate .
Today , the DJI Mini 2 — don ’ t call it a Mavic — is addressing some of its limitations .
While the new $ 449 drone might look identical to the original , even weighing the same 249 grams ( which means you don ’ t need to register it with the FAA ) , it now comes with DJI ’ s OcuSync 2 wireless connectivity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ range and more stable connectivity .
The original was unusual among DJI ’ s drones for relying on relatively shaky Wi-Fi , which was definitely a dealbreaker for me .
It uses the same controller as the new Mavic Air 2 , though of course you won ’ t get that drone ’ s advanced obstacle avoidance and tracking because it has far fewer sensors .
The Mini 2 also bumps its maximum video resolution up to 4K at 30 frames per second at a 100Mbps bitrate , up from the 2.7K , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and you can grab RAW photos now instead of just JPG , as well as do auto exposure bracketing .
You ’ re still looking at a fairly small 1/2.3-inch sensor when all ’ s said and done , though , so keep your expectations in check .
It also still shoots 1080p at up to 60fps .
DJI also says it ’ s upgraded the Mini ’ s flight motors for faster acceleration and a top speed of 35.8 mph ( up from 29 mph ) and quotes an extra minute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vs. 30 minutes ) .
It should also withstand 24 mph gusts of wind , compared to 18 mph previously .
The only downside we can see so far is a $ 50 higher starting price ( and possibly the elimination of the vertical photo mode , since DJI didn ’ t mention it in the press release ) .
You ’ ll pay $ 449 for the DJI Mini 2 with a controller and one battery , or $ 599 for the Fly More Combo with three batteries , a charging hub @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should find it on sale today , right here .
It ’ s worth noting that the original Mavic Mini got a useful software upgrade mid-cycle which added manual exposure , manual white balance and a more cinematic 24fps mode .
If you can find it on deep discount now that its successor is here , it might be worth checking out .

Last year’s DJI Mavic Mini might have been the smallest and lightest full-featured drone on the market, but it was also a little compromised out of the gate. Today, the DJI Mini 2 — don’t call it a Mavic — is addressing some of its limitations.
While the new $449 drone might look identical to the original, even weighing the same 249 grams (which means you don’t need to register it with the FAA), it now comes with DJI’s OcuSync 2 wireless connectivity for up to 2.5 times the wireless range and more stable connectivity. The original was unusual among DJI’s drones for relying on relatively shaky Wi-Fi, which was definitely a dealbreaker for me.
It uses the same controller as the new Mavic Air 2, though of course you won’t get that drone’s advanced obstacle avoidance and tracking because it has far fewer sensors.
Image: DJI
The Mini 2 also bumps its maximum video resolution up to 4K at 30 frames per second at a 100Mbps bitrate, up from the 2.7K, 25/30p @ 40Mbps video it shot before — and you can grab RAW photos now instead of just JPG, as well as do auto exposure bracketing. You’re still looking at a fairly small 1/2.3-inch sensor when all’s said and done, though, so keep your expectations in check. It also still shoots 1080p at up to 60fps.
DJI also says it’s upgraded the Mini’s flight motors for faster acceleration and a top speed of 35.8 mph (up from 29 mph) and quotes an extra minute of battery life (31 minutes, vs. 30 minutes). It should also withstand 24 mph gusts of wind, compared to 18 mph previously.
Accessories include propeller guards, the charging hub, and a charging pod that props up the Mini 2 upright — though you may not see prop guards in the US due to weight restrictions. Image: DJI
The only downside we can see so far is a $50 higher starting price (and possibly the elimination of the vertical photo mode, since DJI didn’t mention it in the press release). You’ll pay $449 for the DJI Mini 2 with a controller and one battery, or $599 for the Fly More Combo with three batteries, a charging hub, and a carrying case. You should find it on sale today, right here.
It’s worth noting that the original Mavic Mini got a useful software upgrade mid-cycle which added manual exposure, manual white balance and a more cinematic 24fps mode. If you can find it on deep discount now that its successor is here, it might be worth checking out.


theverge--2020-11-04--YouTube says video claiming Trump won does not violate its election misinformation policies

YouTube says a video claiming President Donald Trump won the election does not violate any of its policies and has allowed it to stay on the platform , despite the election not being called by major news outlets for either candidate yet .
The decision stands in contrast to Twitter and Facebook ’ s more aggressive attempts to clamp down on misleading claims and misinformation over election results .
The video , titled “ Trump Won .
MSM hopes you don ’ t believe your eyes , ” was published by pro-Trump network One American News Network ( OANN ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violates its advertising guidelines but not its content policies , so it can stay online but will run without ads , the company confirmed to The Verge .
The story was first reported by CNBC .
In the video , an OANN anchor says Trump won another term , baselessly claims that Trump would win a number of swing states if it weren ’ t for voter fraud , and then equates counting outstanding mail-in ballots with an attempt to steal the election .
Despite this information being incorrect , the video doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
YouTube ’ s current policies regarding misinformation and the election pertain to content “ aiming to mislead voters about the time , place , means or eligibility requirements for voting , or false claims that could materially discourage voting , ” according to a company spokesperson .
YouTube took down several livestreams related to the election between yesterday and today for violating its spam policies , according to the company , although Bloomberg reporter Mark Bergen has tracked instances where misleading content has managed to appear on the site via livestreams .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the specific OANN video A panel appears below the OANN video stating that election results “ may not be final , ” with a link to Google ’ s main search page that shows updated election coverage .
“ All search results and videos about this election — including this video — surface an information panel noting that election results may not be final and we are continuing to raise up authoritative content in search results and recommendations , ” the spokesperson added .
YouTube also has a policy that says creators or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ description , or tags to trick users into believing the content is something it is not , ” but declined to tell The Verge why this video is allowed to remain up if Trump , in fact , hadn ’ t won the election at the time the video was posted .
Instead , YouTube has removed ads from the specific OANN video .
The company does not allow ads to run on videos undermining election confidence through demonstrably false information .
Since the election has not been called at this time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s advertising policy .
YouTube has routinely in the past kept borderline content ( videos that YouTube doesn ’ t promote , but won ’ t take down as they don ’ t violate any policies ) on its platform but removed the ability for creators and organizations to monetize said content .
While YouTube is known for its confusing policies , its handling of election misinformation looks even worse against the backdrop of Twitter and Facebook ’ s more aggressive actions .
Facebook removed a specific feature within Instagram ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of misinformation that could result in voter suppression , according to the New York Times .
The company has also turned off political group recommendations for similar reasons .
On election day , Facebook also added a notification at the top of people ’ s news feeds to try and prevent users seeing false claims that one party won the election prematurely .
Facebook relied on verified news results from publications like Reuters and the Associated Press .
As election results come in , Facebook has also labeled false claims from parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Twitter has aggressively labeled tweets from people , including President Trump , falsely claiming that mail-in voting has led to inaccurate results .
False claims about winning specific states and the election at large have also been amended with warning labels saying that final results have yet to be counted and the election is not over .
YouTube claims that it ’ s also doing its part through information boxes that relate back to Google search results , which also relies on authoritative voices like Reuters and the Associated Press .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specific OANN video claiming that Trump won the election .

YouTube says a video claiming President Donald Trump won the election does not violate any of its policies and has allowed it to stay on the platform, despite the election not being called by major news outlets for either candidate yet. The decision stands in contrast to Twitter and Facebook’s more aggressive attempts to clamp down on misleading claims and misinformation over election results.
The video, titled “Trump Won. MSM hopes you don’t believe your eyes,” was published by pro-Trump network One American News Network (OANN) on Wednesday. YouTube says the video violates its advertising guidelines but not its content policies, so it can stay online but will run without ads, the company confirmed to The Verge. The story was first reported by CNBC.
In the video, an OANN anchor says Trump won another term, baselessly claims that Trump would win a number of swing states if it weren’t for voter fraud, and then equates counting outstanding mail-in ballots with an attempt to steal the election. Despite this information being incorrect, the video doesn’t cross the line on YouTube.
YouTube’s current policies regarding misinformation and the election pertain to content “aiming to mislead voters about the time, place, means or eligibility requirements for voting, or false claims that could materially discourage voting,” according to a company spokesperson. YouTube took down several livestreams related to the election between yesterday and today for violating its spam policies, according to the company, although Bloomberg reporter Mark Bergen has tracked instances where misleading content has managed to appear on the site via livestreams.
Instead, YouTube has removed ads from the specific OANN video
A panel appears below the OANN video stating that election results “may not be final,” with a link to Google’s main search page that shows updated election coverage. “All search results and videos about this election — including this video — surface an information panel noting that election results may not be final and we are continuing to raise up authoritative content in search results and recommendations,” the spokesperson added.
YouTube also has a policy that says creators or organizations can not use “thumbnails, description, or tags to trick users into believing the content is something it is not,” but declined to tell The Verge why this video is allowed to remain up if Trump, in fact, hadn’t won the election at the time the video was posted.
Instead, YouTube has removed ads from the specific OANN video. The company does not allow ads to run on videos undermining election confidence through demonstrably false information. Since the election has not been called at this time, the video is in violation of YouTube’s advertising policy. YouTube has routinely in the past kept borderline content (videos that YouTube doesn’t promote, but won’t take down as they don’t violate any policies) on its platform but removed the ability for creators and organizations to monetize said content.
While YouTube is known for its confusing policies, its handling of election misinformation looks even worse against the backdrop of Twitter and Facebook’s more aggressive actions.
Facebook removed a specific feature within Instagram’s hashtags to try and slow down the spread of misinformation that could result in voter suppression, according to the New York Times. The company has also turned off political group recommendations for similar reasons. On election day, Facebook also added a notification at the top of people’s news feeds to try and prevent users seeing false claims that one party won the election prematurely. Facebook relied on verified news results from publications like Reuters and the Associated Press. As election results come in, Facebook has also labeled false claims from parties that they’ve won specific states.
Twitter has aggressively labeled tweets from people, including President Trump, falsely claiming that mail-in voting has led to inaccurate results. False claims about winning specific states and the election at large have also been amended with warning labels saying that final results have yet to be counted and the election is not over.


theverge--2020-11-05--Facebook will announce presidential election result in Facebook and Instagram notifications

Facebook plans to put the name of the winner of the US presidential election at the top of Facebook and Instagram once it ’ s been projected by a majority of media outlets , the company says .
The company also will label presidential candidates ’ posts with a link to its voting information center , according to Facebook spokesperson Tom Reynolds .
The company plans to “ show the candidate ’ s name in notifications at the top of Facebook and Instagram that say ‘ A Presidential Winner Has Been Projected — < name > is the projected winner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ” Reynolds explained in an email to The Verge .
Facebook will rely on “ a majority opinion from Reuters as well as independent decision desks at major media outlets , including ABC News , CBS News , Fox News , NBC News , CNN , and The Associated Press to determine when a presidential winner is projected , ” Reynolds says .
Facebook has seen “ more inaccurate claims about the election ” as ballot-counting in several key states continued Thursday , Reynolds says , adding that many of the claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platform .
“ We are taking additional temporary steps , which we ’ ve previously discussed , to keep this content from reaching more people , ” he says , including demoting content that its systems consider misinformation , and debunked claims about voting .
It ’ s also limiting the distribution of live videos on Facebook related to the election .
Facebook previously announced several steps it was taking ahead of November 3rd to reduce the spread of misinformation on its platforms .
It put an indefinite ban on US-based political ads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ad sales before the election , specifically banning ads that falsely claimed victory .
On Thursday , Facebook pulled down a group of 300,000 people called “ Stop the Steal , ” over “ worrying calls for violence from members of the group , ” and blocked several hashtags related to unfounded claims about election fraud .

Facebook plans to put the name of the winner of the US presidential election at the top of Facebook and Instagram once it’s been projected by a majority of media outlets, the company says. The company also will label presidential candidates’ posts with a link to its voting information center, according to Facebook spokesperson Tom Reynolds.
The company plans to “show the candidate’s name in notifications at the top of Facebook and Instagram that say ‘A Presidential Winner Has Been Projected — is the projected winner of the 2020 US Presidential Election,’” Reynolds explained in an email to The Verge.
Facebook will put the name of the winner of the US election on Facebook and Instagram Facebook
Facebook will rely on “a majority opinion from Reuters as well as independent decision desks at major media outlets, including ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, NBC News, CNN, and The Associated Press to determine when a presidential winner is projected,” Reynolds says.


theverge--2020-11-05--Facebook sees a rise in misinformation as reports warn of incitement

Facebook is seeing an increase in worrying activity around the US election , according to reports from The New York Times and BuzzFeed News .
According to BuzzFeed News , which viewed a post on Facebook ’ s internal message board , the company has been tracking a rise in “ violence and incitement trends ” associated with hashtags and keywords .
Facebook did not respond for comment about a potential rise in the organization of violent activity on its platform by the time of publication , but Facebook spokesperson Liz Bourgeois told BuzzFeed News that the company is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incite violence during this time of heightened uncertainty.
” In a statement given to The Verge and others , Facebook said that the company is seeing a rise in misinformation about the election .
“ As vote counting continues , we are seeing more reports of inaccurate claims about the election , ” a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement to The Verge .
“ While many of these claims have low engagement on our platform , we are taking additional temporary steps , which we ’ ve previously discussed , to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The company had reportedly planned to deal with the spread of viral misinformation about the election with tools designed for “ at-risk ” countries such as Sri Lanka and Myanmar .
Facebook took down a group with more than 300,000 members called “ Stop the Steal ” that was organizing rallies to challenge election results earlier on Thursday .
Facebook plans to institute “ demotions for content on Facebook and Instagram that our systems predict may be misinformation , including debunked claims about voting , ” the spokesperson said .
“ We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that may relate to the election on Facebook.
” The company will also make it harder to share content as soon as today , according to The New York Times .
That means , for example , Facebook could require an extra click when sharing content .
A lot of that misinformation is coming directly from President Donald Trump .
In one post , Trump claimed that any vote coming in after election day can ’ t be counted ; Facebook applied a label to that post directing readers to the company ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he demanded that election officials stop counting votes , which Facebook also labeled .
It ’ s unclear if Facebook has limited the reach of those posts or others that have received labels .
Like Facebook , Twitter has taken action on a number of Trump ’ s tweets since the election , often placing tweets entirely behind a label and preventing replies or retweets of those tweets .
( Quote tweets of the labeled tweets are still allowed , however . )
Major news organizations have not yet called a winner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still expected from Arizona , Alaska , Georgia , Nevada , North Carolina , and Pennsylvania , where votes continue to be counted .

Facebook is seeing an increase in worrying activity around the US election, according to reports from The New York Times and BuzzFeed News. According to BuzzFeed News, which viewed a post on Facebook’s internal message board, the company has been tracking a rise in “violence and incitement trends” associated with hashtags and keywords.
Facebook did not respond for comment about a potential rise in the organization of violent activity on its platform by the time of publication, but Facebook spokesperson Liz Bourgeois told BuzzFeed News that the company is “staying vigilant in detecting content that could incite violence during this time of heightened uncertainty.” In a statement given to The Verge and others, Facebook said that the company is seeing a rise in misinformation about the election. “As vote counting continues, we are seeing more reports of inaccurate claims about the election,” a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement to The Verge. “While many of these claims have low engagement on our platform, we are taking additional temporary steps, which we’ve previously discussed, to keep this content from reaching more people.
The company had reportedly planned to deal with the spread of viral misinformation about the election with tools designed for “at-risk” countries such as Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Facebook took down a group with more than 300,000 members called “Stop the Steal” that was organizing rallies to challenge election results earlier on Thursday.
Facebook plans to institute “demotions for content on Facebook and Instagram that our systems predict may be misinformation, including debunked claims about voting,” the spokesperson said. “We are also limiting the distribution of Live videos that may relate to the election on Facebook.” The company will also make it harder to share content as soon as today, according to The New York Times. That means, for example, Facebook could require an extra click when sharing content.
A lot of that misinformation is coming directly from President Donald Trump. In one post, Trump claimed that any vote coming in after election day can’t be counted; Facebook applied a label to that post directing readers to the company’s voting information center. In another, he demanded that election officials stop counting votes, which Facebook also labeled. It’s unclear if Facebook has limited the reach of those posts or others that have received labels.
Like Facebook, Twitter has taken action on a number of Trump’s tweets since the election, often placing tweets entirely behind a label and preventing replies or retweets of those tweets. (Quote tweets of the labeled tweets are still allowed, however.)


theverge--2020-11-05--Apple will require apps to add privacy ‘nutrition labels’ starting December 8th

Apple debuted a collection of privacy features when it announced iOS 14 , but the company ’ s privacy “ nutrition label ” concept did not arrive with the launch of the new operating system in September .
Today , Apple announced that developers will be required to provide the information for those “ labels ” starting December 8th .
Like a normal nutrition label that lists ingredients and caloric content , these privacy “ labels ” should give you a better idea of what ’ s going on inside an app before you download it from the iOS App @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labels will list what information an app collects , and present that visually on the app page , much like looking at the backs of labels in a grocery store .
The catch , of course , is that while developers are required to disclose this information to continue releasing and updating apps , all of the information developers provide will be self-reported , which could still leave some possibility for foul play .
Apple ’ s Developer site cautions that developers will be required to disclose all the information they and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labels ” up to date .
For example , if an app needs to know your precise location to work , you ’ ll know that before you even download it .
If GPS functionality is ever removed from the app , a new label will have to reflect that .
Apple does offer some exceptions when these label disclosures are optional , but the important thing to know that if an app intends to track you consistently , you ’ ll know about it before it ’ s on your phone .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep users informed on how exactly their phone is being used to track them .
Apple already aggressively manages permissions inside apps , but these labels could be an even earlier line of defense .
Developers can start submitting their apps ’ information now ahead of the December 8th deadline .

Apple debuted a collection of privacy features when it announced iOS 14, but the company’s privacy “nutrition label” concept did not arrive with the launch of the new operating system in September. Today, Apple announced that developers will be required to provide the information for those “labels” starting December 8th.
Like a normal nutrition label that lists ingredients and caloric content, these privacy “labels” should give you a better idea of what’s going on inside an app before you download it from the iOS App Store or Mac App Store. The labels will list what information an app collects, and present that visually on the app page, much like looking at the backs of labels in a grocery store.
A mockup of an iPhone displaying the App Store labels Image: Apple
The catch, of course, is that while developers are required to disclose this information to continue releasing and updating apps, all of the information developers provide will be self-reported, which could still leave some possibility for foul play.
Apple’s Developer site cautions that developers will be required to disclose all the information they and their third-party partners collect and keep their “labels” up to date. For example, if an app needs to know your precise location to work, you’ll know that before you even download it. If GPS functionality is ever removed from the app, a new label will have to reflect that. Apple does offer some exceptions when these label disclosures are optional, but the important thing to know that if an app intends to track you consistently, you’ll know about it before it’s on your phone.


theverge--2020-11-05--TV networks cut away from Trump’s ‘most dishonest speech’ ever

Cable networks , broadcast networks and Twitter cut short their broadcasts of President Donald Trump ’ s speech from the White House briefing room Thursday ; some outlets fact-checked the president ’ s unproven statements rather than carry them live .
Trump began his remarks by baselessly claiming that Democrats were committing “ fraud ” and trying to “ steal ” the election .
“ If you count the legal votes , I easily win , ” the president said , even though the counting of legal votes is still happening .
There are several key states , including Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still tallying votes .
Neither the president nor the Democratic nominee , former Vice President Joe Biden , has enough electoral college votes yet to win .
Many of those votes are mail-in ballots , including from active military .
“ There are no illegal votes that we know of , there has been no Trump victory that we know of.
” MSNBC , ABC , CBS , CNBC , and NBC cut away from his speech .
It ’ s not the first time networks have opted not to carry Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , several ended their live broadcasts of one of the president ’ s briefings on the coronavirus , after he contradicted his own health experts .
While there has been a great deal of focus on how social networks moderate election-related disinformation , there has been less scrutiny on TV news — and the clips it generates usually aren ’ t moderated by the platforms , even if they contain disinformation .
Shortly after the president began speaking , MSNBC cut away to anchor Brian Williams .
“ Here we are again in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the President of the United States but correcting the President of the United States , ” Williams said .
“ There are no illegal votes that we know of , there has been no Trump victory that we know of.
” ABC cut away to anchor David Muir , who asked reporter Jon Karl to help “ discern what he ’ s talking about , ” adding there was “ a lot to fact-check.
” Karl said there was “ simply no evidence that ’ s been presented in any of these states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking about something , making an allegation with absolutely no evidence whatsoever.
” “ We ’ re interrupting this because what the president of the us is saying in large part is absolutely untrue.
” CBS cut to anchor Norah O ’ Donnell and reporter Nancy Cordes for its own fact check .
Trump ’ s numbers dropped as more votes were counted , but as Cordes pointed out , that was what election analysts had expected .
The president had told his supporters to vote in person ; with in-person votes counted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be ahead .
Mail-in ballots , which would likely skew Democratic , would cause the numbers to shift .
“ There was no miracle there , ” she said .
On CNBC , anchor Shepard Smith said , “ We ’ re interrupting this because what the president of the us is saying in large part is absolutely untrue.
” NBC News anchor Lester Holt said the president had made “ a number of false statements , including the notion that there has been fraudulent voting .
There has been no evidence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Fox News continued to carry the speech live , but CNN reporter Daniel Dale , known for his rigorous fact-checking of the president ’ s statements , tweeted “ I ’ ve read or watched all of Trump ’ s speeches since 2016 .
This is the most dishonest speech he has ever given.
” MSNBC reporter Hayes Brown tweeted that even Twitter had ended the live feed of Trump ’ s speech in its app , removing the “ watch live ” option .
Twitter didn ’ t reply to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to end the feed .
The president ’ s tweets also were getting fact-checked on Thursday ; Twitter flagged eight of his nearly two dozen tweets as “ potentially misleading .
And both Facebook and TikTok blocked hashtags that were spreading misinformation about “ stealing ” the election .

Cable networks, broadcast networks and Twitter cut short their broadcasts of President Donald Trump’s speech from the White House briefing room Thursday; some outlets fact-checked the president’s unproven statements rather than carry them live.
Trump began his remarks by baselessly claiming that Democrats were committing “fraud” and trying to “steal” the election. “If you count the legal votes, I easily win,” the president said, even though the counting of legal votes is still happening. There are several key states, including Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Arizona, which are still tallying votes. Neither the president nor the Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, has enough electoral college votes yet to win. Many of those votes are mail-in ballots, including from active military.
“There are no illegal votes that we know of, there has been no Trump victory that we know of.”
MSNBC, ABC, CBS, CNBC, and NBC cut away from his speech. It’s not the first time networks have opted not to carry Trump’s remarks live; in March, several ended their live broadcasts of one of the president’s briefings on the coronavirus, after he contradicted his own health experts. While there has been a great deal of focus on how social networks moderate election-related disinformation, there has been less scrutiny on TV news — and the clips it generates usually aren’t moderated by the platforms, even if they contain disinformation.
Shortly after the president began speaking, MSNBC cut away to anchor Brian Williams. “Here we are again in the unusual position of not only interrupting the President of the United States but correcting the President of the United States,” Williams said. “There are no illegal votes that we know of, there has been no Trump victory that we know of.”
ABC cut away to anchor David Muir, who asked reporter Jon Karl to help “discern what he’s talking about,” adding there was “a lot to fact-check.” Karl said there was “simply no evidence that’s been presented in any of these states that there are illegal votes he is talking about something, making an allegation with absolutely no evidence whatsoever.”
“We’re interrupting this because what the president of the us is saying in large part is absolutely untrue.”
CBS cut to anchor Norah O’Donnell and reporter Nancy Cordes for its own fact check. Trump’s numbers dropped as more votes were counted, but as Cordes pointed out, that was what election analysts had expected. The president had told his supporters to vote in person; with in-person votes counted first, the president would appear to be ahead. Mail-in ballots, which would likely skew Democratic, would cause the numbers to shift. “There was no miracle there,” she said.
On CNBC, anchor Shepard Smith said, “We’re interrupting this because what the president of the us is saying in large part is absolutely untrue.”
NBC News anchor Lester Holt said the president had made “a number of false statements, including the notion that there has been fraudulent voting. There has been no evidence of that,” he said.
CNN and Fox News continued to carry the speech live, but CNN reporter Daniel Dale, known for his rigorous fact-checking of the president’s statements, tweeted “I’ve read or watched all of Trump’s speeches since 2016. This is the most dishonest speech he has ever given.”
MSNBC reporter Hayes Brown tweeted that even Twitter had ended the live feed of Trump’s speech in its app, removing the “watch live” option. Twitter didn’t reply to a request for comment Thursday about why it decided to end the feed.


theverge--2020-11-05--Tesla’s Tequila exists, pricily

Tesla’s Tequila exists, pricily

Elon Musk has branched out from rockets and cars into booze — as Tesla has launched Tesla Tequila on its website today .
If you have $ 250 burning a hole in your pocket , you can pick up your very own lightning-shaped bottle .
The original branding was Teslaquila , but that must have been jettisoned somewhere along the way .
( Well , the idea did start as an April Fools ’ Day joke . )
Orders are limited to two bottles , and only people in some states can receive them because of “ industry regulations.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ booze is “ an exclusive , small-batch premium 100 % de agave tequila añejo.
” An añejo is typically aged from one to three years in oak ; this one was aged for 15 months .
Tequila , like Champagne , is subject to strict denomination-of-origin rules ; tequila must be manufactured in one of five Mexican states .
It must also be made from blue agave , among other rules .
( Mezcal , a similar drink , can be made from several varieties of agave . )
According to the website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tequila , a California-based brand .
On Nosotros Tequila ’ s website , it says its agave is sourced in Jalisco , one of the permitted states .
In 2018 , Musk ran into some trouble with the Tequila Regulatory Council in Mexico ( CRT ) , after he ’ d tweeted a “ visual approximation ” of a bottle .
The problem had to do with a patent application that didn ’ t fit with the tequila denomination-of-origin rules .
At the time , Reuters reported the CRT said that if Tesla @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would have to associate itself with an authorized tequila producer , comply with certain standards and request authorization from Mexico ’ s Industrial Property Institute.
” Merch is normal for car companies — though it could be argued that alcohol is in poor taste .
But Tesla won ’ t be liable if consumers drink and drive ; besides , alcohol companies are probably more excited than anybody about self-driving cars .
Tesla isn ’ t yet at full automation , though it did recently release a feature called “ Full Self-Driving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention .

Elon Musk has branched out from rockets and cars into booze — as Tesla has launched Tesla Tequila on its website today. If you have $250 burning a hole in your pocket, you can pick up your very own lightning-shaped bottle.
A screenshot of Tesla’s website.
The original branding was Teslaquila, but that must have been jettisoned somewhere along the way. (Well, the idea did start as an April Fools’ Day joke.) Orders are limited to two bottles, and only people in some states can receive them because of “industry regulations.”
According to the marketing copy, the booze is “an exclusive, small-batch premium 100% de agave tequila añejo.” An añejo is typically aged from one to three years in oak; this one was aged for 15 months.
Tequila, like Champagne, is subject to strict denomination-of-origin rules; tequila must be manufactured in one of five Mexican states. It must also be made from blue agave, among other rules. (Mezcal, a similar drink, can be made from several varieties of agave.) According to the website, the product was produced by Nosotros Tequila, a California-based brand. On Nosotros Tequila’s website, it says its agave is sourced in Jalisco, one of the permitted states.
In 2018, Musk ran into some trouble with the Tequila Regulatory Council in Mexico (CRT), after he’d tweeted a “visual approximation” of a bottle. The problem had to do with a patent application that didn’t fit with the tequila denomination-of-origin rules. At the time, Reuters reported the CRT said that if Tesla wanted to produce a tequila, “it would have to associate itself with an authorized tequila producer, comply with certain standards and request authorization from Mexico’s Industrial Property Institute.”


theverge--2020-11-05--Facebook and TikTok block hashtags used to spread election conspiracy theories

Facebook and TikTok have blocked hashtags that were being used to spread misinformation and conspiracy theories about the presidential election .
The hashtags generally revolved around unfounded claims that Democrats are trying to manipulate the election to defeat President Trump .
On Facebook , the blocked hashtags include # stopthesteal , which has been broadly used to make unsubstantiated claims of election fraud by Democrats , and # sharpiegate , which incorrectly alleges that the use of Sharpie markers caused Trump votes to go uncounted in Arizona .
TikTok blocked # sharpiegate , # stopthesteal , and the more general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blocked hashtags were spotted by TechCrunch .
Social media companies have been trying to quickly stamp out election misinformation this week While Twitter doesn ’ t appear to have blocked any election conspiracy theory hashtags , the company has been adding warning labels to some tweets , saying that they may contain inaccurate information .
Other tweets have been tagged with a message encouraging readers to learn more about election security efforts .
The moderation of these conspiracy-theory-focused hashtags is part of a broader effort by social platforms this week to quickly stamp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has aggressively labeled tweets from Trump that make baseless claims of fraud or misstate how the election total is counted .
Facebook has added similar labels , and earlier today pulled down a group of 300,000 people called “ Stop the Steal , ” which included claims of fraud with no backing evidence .
Facebook also said it “ saw worrying calls for violence from members of the group.
” TikTok said the block on those hashtags was part of its “ normal moderation and approach to misinformation , hate speech , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those two hashtags were removed yesterday because “ content with these hashtags often violate our misleading information policy , ” a spokesperson told The Verge .
Twitter has been “ proactively monitoring the hashtag # StopTheSteal and related Tweets since Tuesday morning and are continuing to do so , ” a spokesperson told The Verge .
Twitter typically does not block hashtags , but it may prevent hashtags that violate the company ’ s content policies from trending .
This hashtag , the spokesperson said , also contains “ a significant amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not immediately respond to a request for comment .

Facebook and TikTok have blocked hashtags that were being used to spread misinformation and conspiracy theories about the presidential election. The hashtags generally revolved around unfounded claims that Democrats are trying to manipulate the election to defeat President Trump.
On Facebook, the blocked hashtags include #stopthesteal, which has been broadly used to make unsubstantiated claims of election fraud by Democrats, and #sharpiegate, which incorrectly alleges that the use of Sharpie markers caused Trump votes to go uncounted in Arizona. TikTok blocked #sharpiegate, #stopthesteal, and the more general term #riggedelection. Both sets of blocked hashtags were spotted by TechCrunch.
Social media companies have been trying to quickly stamp out election misinformation this week
While Twitter doesn’t appear to have blocked any election conspiracy theory hashtags, the company has been adding warning labels to some tweets, saying that they may contain inaccurate information. Other tweets have been tagged with a message encouraging readers to learn more about election security efforts.
The moderation of these conspiracy-theory-focused hashtags is part of a broader effort by social platforms this week to quickly stamp out misinformation around the election. Twitter has aggressively labeled tweets from Trump that make baseless claims of fraud or misstate how the election total is counted.
Facebook has added similar labels, and earlier today pulled down a group of 300,000 people called “Stop the Steal,” which included claims of fraud with no backing evidence. Facebook also said it “saw worrying calls for violence from members of the group.”
TikTok said the block on those hashtags was part of its “normal moderation and approach to misinformation, hate speech, and other content that violates our guidelines.” Those two hashtags were removed yesterday because “content with these hashtags often violate our misleading information policy,” a spokesperson told The Verge.
Twitter has been “proactively monitoring the hashtag #StopTheSteal and related Tweets since Tuesday morning and are continuing to do so,” a spokesperson told The Verge. Twitter typically does not block hashtags, but it may prevent hashtags that violate the company’s content policies from trending. This hashtag, the spokesperson said, also contains “a significant amount of counter speech across the country.”


theverge--2020-11-05--Sizing up the iPhone 12 mini and 12 Pro Max

Apple ’ s iPhone 12 and 12 Pro are the “ default ” size iPhones this year .
But Apple also has two more new devices : the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max .
One is Apple ’ s smallest iPhone in years — and the other is its biggest iPhone ever .
If you ’ ve seen the iPhone 12 already , it ’ s basically that , but smaller .
Same processor , same cameras , same design , same everything .
But instead of a 6.1-inch screen , the iPhone mini has a 5.4-inch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ X-style bezel-less design , the 12 mini is actually a physically smaller phone compared to the bezeled , 4.7-inch design that Apple has used on the iPhone 6 , 6S , 7 , 8 , and the new version of the SE .
And by the standards of 2020 flagship smartphones , it ’ s really small .
The 12 mini is also Apple ’ s lowest-priced new iPhone , starting at $ 729 .
Compare that to last year , where the least expensive new iPhone was the 6.1-inch , $ 699 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compact iPhone 11 Pro ( which , at 5.8 inches , was Apple ’ s smallest 2019 model ) you had to shell out a whopping $ 999 .
The 12 mini , on the other hand , offers a compact size with a smaller price tag .
And that smaller size is really nice to hold .
iOS scales well to the 5.4-inch display , and the iPhone 12 design looks and feels just as nice on the slightly more compact version as it does on the full-sized model .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 / 5S / SE , though , the 12 mini feels like the closest Apple has come to that style of device in a long time .
It ’ s honestly a bit weird to hold at first , especially if you ’ re coming from a big phone .
Some things do take a bit of an adjustment , like typing — but other parts of using an iPhone , like swiping down from the top of the display for notifications or the control center , are easier than they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time since arguably the iPhone 8 , Apple has made a flagship phone that nearly anyone should be able to comfortably use and hold in one hand .
There are some concerns : the smaller physical size means that the mini has a smaller battery , which could translate to lower battery life , too — especially with 5G in the mix .
We ’ ll have more on that , along with a much more comprehensive look at the 12 mini , once we ’ ve done a full review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spectrum is the iPhone 12 Pro Max , which — with a 6.7-inch display — is the biggest phone Apple ’ s ever made .
It ’ s also the most expensive model in this year ’ s lineup , starting at $ 1,099 .
And it is big , bigger than both Apple ’ s older iPhone Plus models and last year ’ s iPhone 11 Pro Max in terms of sheer size .
The 12 Pro Max benefits from the same squared-off design as the smaller iPhone 12 models , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big of an increase as the bump in screen size might suggest .
But unlike the mini , which is just a smaller version of the 12 , there are bigger ( pun intended ) differences between the standard 12 Pro and its Max counterpart : Apple is taking advantage of the extra space to debut a whole new camera system , including a much bigger sensor and a new telephoto lens .
Given how good the regular iPhone 12 and 12 Pro ’ s cameras are , that ’ s exciting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on that new camera — and how it compares to the standard 12 and 12 Pro — in our full review , so stay tuned for that , too .
As for how the 12 Pro Max is to actually use and hold , it ’ s still very much a surfboard of a phone , just like Apple ’ s other Plus and Max-sized devices .
Looking at it on its own is somewhat deceptive , since it ’ s proportionally similar to the regular-sized models .
It ’ s only when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another iPhone that the scale of it really hits you .
Despite the big size , it doesn ’ t feel too heavy in hand : I ’ d describe it as comfortably solid , although between the steel frame and the size , it ’ s not the sort of thing that I ’ d want to drop on my face , either .
Plus , while the screen size on the 12 Pro Max is bigger than ever , Apple still isn ’ t doing much to take advantage of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ option to run apps side by side , like many supersized Android phones have , and it still seems like Apple is scratching the surface when it comes to utilizing the extra space .
Right now , using it just feels like using a regular iPhone that ’ s been scaled up .
We ’ ll have a lot more on these devices soon , once we ’ re able to do full reviews for both the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 mini , along with how they stack up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 Pro .

Apple’s iPhone 12 and 12 Pro are the “default” size iPhones this year. But Apple also has two more new devices: the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max. One is Apple’s smallest iPhone in years — and the other is its biggest iPhone ever.
Here’s a first look:
From left to right: the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
iPhone 12 mini
If you’ve seen the iPhone 12 already, it’s basically that, but smaller. Same processor, same cameras, same design, same everything. But instead of a 6.1-inch screen, the iPhone mini has a 5.4-inch display.
But thanks to the iPhone X-style bezel-less design, the 12 mini is actually a physically smaller phone compared to the bezeled, 4.7-inch design that Apple has used on the iPhone 6, 6S, 7, 8, and the new version of the SE.
And by the standards of 2020 flagship smartphones, it’s really small.
From left to right: the iPhone 5S, iPhone 12 mini, and iPhone 7.
The 12 mini is also Apple’s lowest-priced new iPhone, starting at $729. Compare that to last year, where the least expensive new iPhone was the 6.1-inch, $699 iPhone 11: to get a more compact iPhone 11 Pro (which, at 5.8 inches, was Apple’s smallest 2019 model) you had to shell out a whopping $999. The 12 mini, on the other hand, offers a compact size with a smaller price tag.
Related Here are the best preorder deals on the iPhone 12 mini and 12 Pro Max
And that smaller size is really nice to hold. iOS scales well to the 5.4-inch display, and the iPhone 12 design looks and feels just as nice on the slightly more compact version as it does on the full-sized model. If you liked the size of the the old 5 / 5S / SE, though, the 12 mini feels like the closest Apple has come to that style of device in a long time.
The iPhone 12 (left) and iPhone 12 mini (right).
It’s honestly a bit weird to hold at first, especially if you’re coming from a big phone. Some things do take a bit of an adjustment, like typing — but other parts of using an iPhone, like swiping down from the top of the display for notifications or the control center, are easier than they’ve been in years. But for the first time since arguably the iPhone 8, Apple has made a flagship phone that nearly anyone should be able to comfortably use and hold in one hand.
There are some concerns: the smaller physical size means that the mini has a smaller battery, which could translate to lower battery life, too — especially with 5G in the mix. We’ll have more on that, along with a much more comprehensive look at the 12 mini, once we’ve done a full review.
Previous Next
1 / 3 The iPhone 5S (left) and iPhone 12 mini (right). Photo by Chaim Gartenberg / The Verge Previous Next
1 / 3 The iPhone 5S (left) and iPhone 12 mini (right). Photo by Chaim Gartenberg / The Verge
iPhone 12 Pro Max
On literally the other end of the spectrum is the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which — with a 6.7-inch display — is the biggest phone Apple’s ever made. It’s also the most expensive model in this year’s lineup, starting at $1,099.
And it is big, bigger than both Apple’s older iPhone Plus models and last year’s iPhone 11 Pro Max in terms of sheer size. The 12 Pro Max benefits from the same squared-off design as the smaller iPhone 12 models, meaning that it’s not as big of an increase as the bump in screen size might suggest.
The iPhone 12 mini (left) and iPhone 12 Pro Max (right). Photo by Chaim Gartenberg / The Verge and Photo by Chaim Gartenberg / The Verge
But unlike the mini, which is just a smaller version of the 12, there are bigger (pun intended) differences between the standard 12 Pro and its Max counterpart: Apple is taking advantage of the extra space to debut a whole new camera system, including a much bigger sensor and a new telephoto lens. Given how good the regular iPhone 12 and 12 Pro’s cameras are, that’s exciting.
We’ll have a lot more on that new camera — and how it compares to the standard 12 and 12 Pro — in our full review, so stay tuned for that, too.
As for how the 12 Pro Max is to actually use and hold, it’s still very much a surfboard of a phone, just like Apple’s other Plus and Max-sized devices. Looking at it on its own is somewhat deceptive, since it’s proportionally similar to the regular-sized models. It’s only when you see it in context next to another iPhone that the scale of it really hits you.
From left to right: the iPhone 12, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 12 Pro Max. From left to right: the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Despite the big size, it doesn’t feel too heavy in hand: I’d describe it as comfortably solid, although between the steel frame and the size, it’s not the sort of thing that I’d want to drop on my face, either.
Plus, while the screen size on the 12 Pro Max is bigger than ever, Apple still isn’t doing much to take advantage of the larger display. There’s no option to run apps side by side, like many supersized Android phones have, and it still seems like Apple is scratching the surface when it comes to utilizing the extra space. Right now, using it just feels like using a regular iPhone that’s been scaled up.
From left to right: the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
We’ll have a lot more on these devices soon, once we’re able to do full reviews for both the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 mini, along with how they stack up to the already released iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro.


theverge--2020-11-05--YouTube’s lax misinformation rules are letting election lies spread

For people who stumbled their way onto One American News Network ( OANN ) ’ s YouTube channel over the last few days , it might be easy to think President Trump won the 2020 election .
Videos titled “ Trump won .
Dems try to pull a fast one ” and “ Trump Won .
MSM hopes you don ’ t believe your eyes , ” started appearing on OANN ’ s YouTube channel on November 4th — one day after people cast their votes in the federal election .
The videos are full of lies predicated on people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on another network , including : “ It appears that Trump won by such a large margin , now they ’ re actually pumping out illegal ballots into the battleground states to actually beat him.
” “ They think that they can add 100,000 votes that no one gets to see or review , and all 100,000 votes are for Joe Biden and that Republicans will just accept those votes as fact ?
They think they can just play Republicans.
” “ Joe Biden didn ’ t campaign much — he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removed from office if elected.
” To be clear : there has been no public evidence of voter fraud so far , and even less evidence to support that Biden will be removed from office after the election .
The videos have more than 500,000 views combined , at the time of this writing .
Even after high-profile coverage of the videos ’ demonstrably false claims , YouTube has decided to leave the videos live OANN has become a poster child for Trump-focused misinformation on YouTube , but the problem is much larger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ channel .
It ’ s a network-wide issue , the result of YouTube staking out a position as one of the most permissive major social networks .
That stance has served YouTube well for years , but it ’ s become a liability in the face of the Trump campaign ’ s ongoing scramble to delegitimize the results of the 2020 election .
While Facebook and Twitter tighten their moderation rules and supercharge enforcement , YouTube is still struggling with how to respond to misinformation around the election .
YouTube ’ s response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s policy in practice : even after high-profile coverage of the videos ’ demonstrably false claims , YouTube has decided to leave the videos live .
The videos simply don ’ t violate YouTube ’ s content policy , a spokesperson told The Verge .
Instead , the company will remove ads from them , because alleging who won an election before the election is called is “ in the scope of our demonstrably false policy.
” YouTube will also include an information box noting that the election results aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s main election hub — but that ’ s only when the video is clicked .
It ’ s not just OANN using YouTube to spread misinformation , either .
Steven Crowder , a controversial right-wing pundit who lost his ability to monetize his channel for more than a year after he incited harassment against another YouTube creator , spread misinformation about ballot counting during one of his livestreams .
During the livestream , which resulted in millions of views , Crowder and his fellow hosts talked about suspicious-looking activity outside of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theory Crowder helped spread insinuated that a man wheeling in a device was carrying in ballots , according to BuzzFeed .
When the man in question loaded a box onto a moving device , Crowder said , “ you wouldn ’ t be able to trust it because some ballots could fly off the back , ” BuzzFeed noted .
The man in question ended up being a photographer for a local media organization .
He was not handling ballots , but carrying equipment , according to BuzzFeed .
OANN has become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the problem is much larger than a single video or a single channel Elsewhere , former White House adviser and right-wing commentator Seb Gorka used a different YouTube livestream to spread misinformation about Trump winning certain states .
In Gorka ’ s livestream , entitled “ They ’ re trying to steal the President ’ s victory , ” Gorka suggests that stations stopped counting votes in Democrat-controlled states while trying to find new mail-in ballots to help Biden win .
At one point early on , Gorka notes that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president victorious as the snapshot was taken yesterday evening.
” No plausible evidence has been produced for any of these claims .
In a livestream earlier today about a number of topics related to the current election , former White House strategist and former executive chairman of Breitbart News , Steve Bannon , said he ’ d not only fire FBI Director Christopher Wray and Dr. Anthony Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , but “ put the heads on pikes.
” He added he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two corners of the White House as a warning to federal bureaucrats — you either get with the program , or you ’ re gone.
” YouTube later removed the video for “ violating our policy against inciting violence , ” a spokesperson told The Verge .
Around the same time as the video came down , Twitter banned Bannon ’ s podcast-specific Twitter account for “ violating the Twitter Rules , specifically our policy on the glorification of violence , ” a spokesperson told The Verge .
YouTube has policies about misinformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like OANN have become adept at evading them .
The company will step in when a video misleads people about voting .
This can include “ content aiming to mislead voters about the time , place , means or eligibility requirements for voting , or false claims that could materially discourage voting , ” according to a spokesperson .
By that definition , it appears content that misled viewers about premature wins in certain states , outright incorrect information about who won the election , or insinuations about one party tampering with another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being counted , would not violate YouTube ’ s policies .
YouTube ’ s team prepared for Election Day — but weren ’ t ready for what came after , says Angelo Carusone , president of Media Matters for America , a watchdog group that has been reporting on YouTube ’ s misinformation struggles .
“ That ’ s been their biggest failure , ” Carusone said .
“ How they choose to label content really comes down to what ’ s inside the video , but the most critical part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and how it ’ s framed in both the headline and the description , because that ’ s going to give people an interpretive lens for the rest of what they see.
” “ The most critical part of a video oftentimes is that straight thumbnail , and how it ’ s framed in both the headline and the description ” YouTube tends to be strictest about titles and thumbnails , which aren ’ t permitted to mislead users about the nature of the video .
The policy states that creators and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ title , thumbnails , description , or tags to trick users into believing the content is something it is not.
” Under those rules , you might think that videos with titles claiming point blank that Trump won should violate YouTube ’ s policy , since a winner has not yet been declared .
But YouTube has not been enforcing the policy by that logic , and could not tell The Verge why the video ’ s title didn ’ t trigger moderation .
YouTube has faced criticism for its lax policies in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a high-stakes political crisis .
Controversial videos like anti-vaccination content , are often classified as “ borderline content ” : ineligible for advertising and often downgraded in search results , but still present on platforms for audiences that search them out .
But as a result , outright bans on the platform are still rare , and content like OANN ’ s recent videos can gain as much as 500,000 views even while struggling against the limitations placed on borderline content .
YouTube ’ s lack of action is particularly noticeable because other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken a more aggressive approach to try and prevent the spread of misinformation .
Since election night , Twitter has flagged more than a third of the president ’ s tweets for misleading readers about the ongoing election , although it has resisted calls to ban the president from the platform entirely .
More recently , Facebook shut down a 300,000-person group called “ Stop the Steal , ” aimed at halting the ongoing vote-counting efforts , after observing “ worrying calls for violence from members of the group.
” In contrast , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carusone wondering if the election caught them off guard .
“ I can ’ t tell how much of it is that they didn ’ t do the homework or want to put the work in , ” he says .
“ I think they made an intentional decision not to do this .
They were taking a temporary approach to a limited set of content on their platform.
” Update November 5th , 6:37pm ET : The story has been updated to note that YouTube removed a video where Steve Bannon made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy against inciting violence .
Update 2 November 5th , 7:25pm ET : The story has been updated to include Twitter ’ s statement .

For people who stumbled their way onto One American News Network (OANN)’s YouTube channel over the last few days, it might be easy to think President Trump won the 2020 election.
Videos titled “Trump won. Dems try to pull a fast one” and “Trump Won. MSM hopes you don’t believe your eyes,” started appearing on OANN’s YouTube channel on November 4th — one day after people cast their votes in the federal election. The videos are full of lies predicated on people’s fears that would trigger moderation on another network, including:
“It appears that Trump won by such a large margin, now they’re actually pumping out illegal ballots into the battleground states to actually beat him.”
“They think that they can add 100,000 votes that no one gets to see or review, and all 100,000 votes are for Joe Biden and that Republicans will just accept those votes as fact? They think they can just play Republicans.”
“Joe Biden didn’t campaign much — he’s senile, and is expected to be removed from office if elected.”
To be clear: there has been no public evidence of voter fraud so far, and even less evidence to support that Biden will be removed from office after the election. The videos have more than 500,000 views combined, at the time of this writing.
Even after high-profile coverage of the videos’ demonstrably false claims, YouTube has decided to leave the videos live
OANN has become a poster child for Trump-focused misinformation on YouTube, but the problem is much larger than a single video or a single channel. It’s a network-wide issue, the result of YouTube staking out a position as one of the most permissive major social networks. That stance has served YouTube well for years, but it’s become a liability in the face of the Trump campaign’s ongoing scramble to delegitimize the results of the 2020 election. While Facebook and Twitter tighten their moderation rules and supercharge enforcement, YouTube is still struggling with how to respond to misinformation around the election.
YouTube’s response to the OANN videos shows the company’s policy in practice: even after high-profile coverage of the videos’ demonstrably false claims, YouTube has decided to leave the videos live. The videos simply don’t violate YouTube’s content policy, a spokesperson told The Verge. Instead, the company will remove ads from them, because alleging who won an election before the election is called is “in the scope of our demonstrably false policy.” YouTube will also include an information box noting that the election results aren’t final, and pointing people to Google’s main election hub — but that’s only when the video is clicked.
It’s not just OANN using YouTube to spread misinformation, either. Steven Crowder, a controversial right-wing pundit who lost his ability to monetize his channel for more than a year after he incited harassment against another YouTube creator, spread misinformation about ballot counting during one of his livestreams.
During the livestream, which resulted in millions of views, Crowder and his fellow hosts talked about suspicious-looking activity outside of a polling center in Detroit. The theory Crowder helped spread insinuated that a man wheeling in a device was carrying in ballots, according to BuzzFeed. When the man in question loaded a box onto a moving device, Crowder said, “you wouldn’t be able to trust it because some ballots could fly off the back,” BuzzFeed noted.
The man in question ended up being a photographer for a local media organization. He was not handling ballots, but carrying equipment, according to BuzzFeed.
OANN has become a poster child for Trump-focused misinformation on YouTube, but the problem is much larger than a single video or a single channel
Elsewhere, former White House adviser and right-wing commentator Seb Gorka used a different YouTube livestream to spread misinformation about Trump winning certain states. In Gorka’s livestream, entitled “They’re trying to steal the President’s victory,” Gorka suggests that stations stopped counting votes in Democrat-controlled states while trying to find new mail-in ballots to help Biden win. At one point early on, Gorka notes that “every single one of those states saw the president victorious as the snapshot was taken yesterday evening.” No plausible evidence has been produced for any of these claims.
In a livestream earlier today about a number of topics related to the current election, former White House strategist and former executive chairman of Breitbart News, Steve Bannon, said he’d not only fire FBI Director Christopher Wray and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, but “put the heads on pikes.” He added he’d put them “at the two corners of the White House as a warning to federal bureaucrats — you either get with the program, or you’re gone.”
YouTube later removed the video for “violating our policy against inciting violence,” a spokesperson told The Verge. Around the same time as the video came down, Twitter banned Bannon’s podcast-specific Twitter account for “violating the Twitter Rules, specifically our policy on the glorification of violence,” a spokesperson told The Verge.
YouTube has policies about misinformation pertaining to the election, but organizations like OANN have become adept at evading them. The company will step in when a video misleads people about voting. This can include “content aiming to mislead voters about the time, place, means or eligibility requirements for voting, or false claims that could materially discourage voting,” according to a spokesperson. By that definition, it appears content that misled viewers about premature wins in certain states, outright incorrect information about who won the election, or insinuations about one party tampering with another party’s votes while those ballots are being counted, would not violate YouTube’s policies.
YouTube’s team prepared for Election Day — but weren’t ready for what came after, says Angelo Carusone, president of Media Matters for America, a watchdog group that has been reporting on YouTube’s misinformation struggles.
“That’s been their biggest failure,” Carusone said. “How they choose to label content really comes down to what’s inside the video, but the most critical part of a video oftentimes is that straight thumbnail, and how it’s framed in both the headline and the description, because that’s going to give people an interpretive lens for the rest of what they see.”
“The most critical part of a video oftentimes is that straight thumbnail, and how it’s framed in both the headline and the description”
YouTube tends to be strictest about titles and thumbnails, which aren’t permitted to mislead users about the nature of the video. The policy states that creators and organizations are prohibited from “using the title, thumbnails, description, or tags to trick users into believing the content is something it is not.” Under those rules, you might think that videos with titles claiming point blank that Trump won should violate YouTube’s policy, since a winner has not yet been declared. But YouTube has not been enforcing the policy by that logic, and could not tell The Verge why the video’s title didn’t trigger moderation.
YouTube has faced criticism for its lax policies in the past — but never during such a high-stakes political crisis. Controversial videos like anti-vaccination content, are often classified as “borderline content”: ineligible for advertising and often downgraded in search results, but still present on platforms for audiences that search them out. But as a result, outright bans on the platform are still rare, and content like OANN’s recent videos can gain as much as 500,000 views even while struggling against the limitations placed on borderline content.
YouTube’s lack of action is particularly noticeable because other social networks like Facebook and Twitter have taken a more aggressive approach to try and prevent the spread of misinformation. Since election night, Twitter has flagged more than a third of the president’s tweets for misleading readers about the ongoing election, although it has resisted calls to ban the president from the platform entirely. More recently, Facebook shut down a 300,000-person group called “Stop the Steal,” aimed at halting the ongoing vote-counting efforts, after observing “worrying calls for violence from members of the group.”
In contrast, YouTube’s response has critics like Carusone wondering if the election caught them off guard. “I can’t tell how much of it is that they didn’t do the homework or want to put the work in,” he says. “I think they made an intentional decision not to do this. They were taking a temporary approach to a limited set of content on their platform.”
Update November 5th, 6:37pm ET: The story has been updated to note that YouTube removed a video where Steve Bannon made comments that violated the company’s policy against inciting violence.


theverge--2020-11-05--Uber takes a victory lap on Prop 22 and talks about taking it national

Uber is ready to take its Prop 22 victory show on the road .
The ride-hail company celebrated its stunning win in California , where voters approved Proposition 22 , a ballot measure that exempts gig economy companies from having to classify their workers as employees .
In an earnings call with investors , Uber also outlined its plan to push for similar legislation at the national level .
“ We feel strongly that this is the right approach , ” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said Thursday .
“ We should be adding benefits to gig work to make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ altogether in favor of an employment only system.
” Going forward , Uber plans to “ loudly advocate ” for more Prop-22 style legislation , and is making it a priority to “ work with governments across the US and the world to make this a reality.
” “ We feel strongly that this is the right approach ” Companies including Uber , Lyft , and DoorDash poured over $ 200 million into the “ Yes on 22 ” campaign to exempt them from a California state law that would require them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies aggressively opposed the law , arguing it would eliminate driver flexibility , while also increasing consumer prices and wait times .
The law , AB5 , represented an existential crisis for the companies , none of which have ever turned a profit , and have pursued costly efforts to develop autonomous technology in the hopes of eventually replacing drivers and delivery workers entirely .
In response , the companies proposed a ballot measure that would keep their workers as contractors , while also providing a modicum of added benefits .
For example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gig workers with 120 percent of the state ’ s minimum wage , but only for hours when they have a passenger or are en route to a pickup .
Those active hours also apply to access to health insurance : gig workers who log 15 hours of active time a week are promised a health care contribution equivalent to 50 percent of the employer-provided average under the Affordable Care Act .
Opponents of Prop 22 say the proposal falls short of the economic security provided by regular employment .
But the measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permanent too .
Prop 22 includes a provision that requires a seven-eighths majority of the state legislature for any modification , ensuring that it will be all but impossible to overturn .
The measure passed , and it ’ s likely permanent too Now these Prop 22 victors are interested in exporting its model to the rest of the country .
“ Now , we ’ re looking ahead and across the country , ready to champion new benefits structures that are portable , proportional and flexible , ” said DoorDash CEO Tony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lyft ’ s head of policy , former Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx , said the company “ stands ready to work with all interested parties , including drivers , labor unions and policymakers , to build a stronger safety net for gig workers in the US.
” But among the gig economy companies , Uber has been the most forceful about taking its vision for the future of work to the national stage .
The company has long advocated for a “ third way ” to classify gig workers .
During the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 infections , Khosrowshahi penned a letter to President Trump advocating for federal legislation that would provide drivers with certain financial benefits while still classifying them as independent contractors .
And the company has been lobbying for Prop 22-like legislative action in multiple states across the country .
Uber ’ s appeal to the Trump administration for legal support isn ’ t surprising given the federal government ’ s endorsement of Uber ’ s worker classification .
Last year , the US Department of Labor issued an opinion stating that gig workers like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minimum wages and overtime pay .
A federal judge ruled basically the same way in 2018 in what is said to be the first classification of Uber drivers under federal law .
And more recently , the federal labor board ’ s general counsel said that Uber drivers are independent contractors , not employees of the ride-hailing company .
Uber has been the most forceful about taking its vision for the future of work to the national stage But so far , federal lawmakers have failed to take Uber up on its offer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposite direction , signaling a willingness to add new layers of regulation for companies that utilize independent contractors .
In September , a coalition of top Democratic officials introduced a bill that would tighten the federal test for classifying workers as independent contractors .
“ As corporations continue to find new ways to evade labor laws , it ’ s clear we need to update the rules , ” Sen. Patty Murray ( D-WA ) , a co-sponsor of the bill , said in a statement .
“ This legislation will close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skirt their responsibility to ensure basic workplace rights , and hold them accountable for violating the law .
”

Uber is ready to take its Prop 22 victory show on the road.
The ride-hail company celebrated its stunning win in California, where voters approved Proposition 22, a ballot measure that exempts gig economy companies from having to classify their workers as employees. In an earnings call with investors, Uber also outlined its plan to push for similar legislation at the national level.
“We feel strongly that this is the right approach,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said Thursday. “We should be adding benefits to gig work to make it better, not getting rid of it altogether in favor of an employment only system.”
Going forward, Uber plans to “loudly advocate” for more Prop-22 style legislation, and is making it a priority to “work with governments across the US and the world to make this a reality.”
“We feel strongly that this is the right approach”
Companies including Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash poured over $200 million into the “Yes on 22” campaign to exempt them from a California state law that would require them to treat their workers like employees. The companies aggressively opposed the law, arguing it would eliminate driver flexibility, while also increasing consumer prices and wait times. The law, AB5, represented an existential crisis for the companies, none of which have ever turned a profit, and have pursued costly efforts to develop autonomous technology in the hopes of eventually replacing drivers and delivery workers entirely. In response, the companies proposed a ballot measure that would keep their workers as contractors, while also providing a modicum of added benefits.
For example, Prop 22 provides drivers and other gig workers with 120 percent of the state’s minimum wage, but only for hours when they have a passenger or are en route to a pickup. Those active hours also apply to access to health insurance: gig workers who log 15 hours of active time a week are promised a health care contribution equivalent to 50 percent of the employer-provided average under the Affordable Care Act. Opponents of Prop 22 say the proposal falls short of the economic security provided by regular employment.
But the measure passed, and it’s likely permanent too. Prop 22 includes a provision that requires a seven-eighths majority of the state legislature for any modification, ensuring that it will be all but impossible to overturn.
The measure passed, and it’s likely permanent too
Now these Prop 22 victors are interested in exporting its model to the rest of the country. “Now, we’re looking ahead and across the country, ready to champion new benefits structures that are portable, proportional and flexible,” said DoorDash CEO Tony Xu shortly after the ballot measure passed. Lyft’s head of policy, former Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, said the company “stands ready to work with all interested parties, including drivers, labor unions and policymakers, to build a stronger safety net for gig workers in the US.”
But among the gig economy companies, Uber has been the most forceful about taking its vision for the future of work to the national stage. The company has long advocated for a “third way” to classify gig workers. During the spring, in the midst of rising COVID-19 infections, Khosrowshahi penned a letter to President Trump advocating for federal legislation that would provide drivers with certain financial benefits while still classifying them as independent contractors. And the company has been lobbying for Prop 22-like legislative action in multiple states across the country.
Uber’s appeal to the Trump administration for legal support isn’t surprising given the federal government’s endorsement of Uber’s worker classification. Last year, the US Department of Labor issued an opinion stating that gig workers like Uber drivers are contractors, ineligible for minimum wages and overtime pay. A federal judge ruled basically the same way in 2018 in what is said to be the first classification of Uber drivers under federal law. And more recently, the federal labor board’s general counsel said that Uber drivers are independent contractors, not employees of the ride-hailing company.
Uber has been the most forceful about taking its vision for the future of work to the national stage
But so far, federal lawmakers have failed to take Uber up on its offer. Some appear to be trending in the opposite direction, signaling a willingness to add new layers of regulation for companies that utilize independent contractors. In September, a coalition of top Democratic officials introduced a bill that would tighten the federal test for classifying workers as independent contractors.


theverge--2020-11-05--These Ghost of Tsushima art prints let you get lost in the game’s stunning landscapes

Sucker Punch Productions ’ Ghost of Tsushima is one of the most visually breathtaking games of the last generation , making it a fitting swan song for the PlayStation 4 in the lead-up to next week ’ s launch of the PlayStation 5 .
Now , you can take some of the role-playing adventure ’ s most iconic scenes and frame them on your wall , thanks to a new partnership the studio formed with video game concept art store Cook and Becker .
The new six-print series contains a blend of visual styles , from traditional Japanese woodblock printing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all giclée with white bordering , cost between $ 100 and $ 125 , with options to have Cook and Becker frame the print in various material options for an added fee .
( It ’ s usually much cheaper to buy your own frames , as professional framing like this can be quite expensive , but to each their own . )
Cook and Becker have a nice description of how Sucker Punch approached its concept art creation : To pull off this adventure story , Sucker Punch Productions had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to recreate a true-to-life thirteenth-Century Tsushima island .
This meant understanding the interlocking aspects of the island ’ s geography , nature and inhabitants , often extrapolating ideas from an incomplete historical record .
Designers dug deep into the history of the so-called Kamakura Era , visiting Tsushima island for photo reference shots and criss-crossing Japan for museum exhibits that shed light on the era ’ s culture and history .
The concept art for the game reflects that .
By means of bold color choices , distinct environmental themes and stunning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is submerged in a fantasy that pays homage to the Japan of old .
It ’ s not clear how long the sale will last , as Cook and Becker typically does not disclose how long it intends to keep a collection live or what the terms of its license or partnership with a game studio are .
For instance , the company ’ s license for thatgamecompany ’ s Journey expires at the end of the year , but the Journey collection has been available for years now .
And Cook and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of other first-party Sony games , like God of War and Horizon Zero Dawn .
That said , it ’ s a wise idea to put an order in earlier rather than later if you ’ re eyeing any of the prints , as orders with Cook and Becker , in my experience , can sometimes take weeks to months to arrive depending on production , framing choice , and other factors .

To pull off this adventure story, Sucker Punch Productions had to dig deep into the history of Japan, to recreate a true-to-life thirteenth-Century Tsushima island.
This meant understanding the interlocking aspects of the island’s geography, nature and inhabitants, often extrapolating ideas from an incomplete historical record.
Designers dug deep into the history of the so-called Kamakura Era, visiting Tsushima island for photo reference shots and criss-crossing Japan for museum exhibits that shed light on the era’s culture and history.
The concept art for the game reflects that. By means of bold color choices, distinct environmental themes and stunning landmarks like pagodas or villages the player is submerged in a fantasy that pays homage to the Japan of old.


theverge--2020-11-06--Here’s how Call of Duty: Warzone will share content across Modern Warfare and Black Ops Cold War

The latest entry in the Call of Duty franchise , Call of Duty : Black Ops Cold War , will launch on November 13th .
But what does that mean for the series ’ free-to-play battle royale , Call of Duty : Warzone , which is itself based on 2019 ’ s Call of Duty : Modern Warfare ?
In a lengthy blog post , the games ’ developers , Infinity Ward and Raven Software , break down how content will be synchronized across the three titles in the future .
The big takeaway is that weapons , cosmetics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perks , and killstreaks ) will be shared across the games .
That means weapons from both Cold War and Modern Warfare , including blueprints and camo variants , will be available in Warzone , creating “ the largest weapons arsenal ever seen in Call of Duty.
” Sharing content and player progression across games is a huge challenge Player progression will also be synchronized across the three games ’ multiplayer modes , no matter which title you ’ re playing .
What are currently called Enlisted Ranks ( levels 1 to 55 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while Seasonal Officer Progression will become Season Levels , which itself will feed into a new Prestige system .
All of these changes will kick in with the launch of Black Ops Cold War Season One on December 10th .
Ranks will reset with this launch , but not unlockables .
The Battle Pass system will also be unified across titles .
In addition to these changes , the launch of Black Ops Cold War will mean new content for Warzone .
Specifically , Operators from Cold War will be available in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9PM PT , including all skins , quips , and finishing moves .
The launch of Black Ops Cold War Season One on December 10th will also come with new standard multiplayer maps and modes , including a new Zombies mode and the return of 2v2 gunfights .
Nuketown is also back , with a new remix of the classic map available from November 24th .
There ’ s a lot of detail to parse here , but be sure to check out the full blog for any unanswered questions .
The big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Activision wants players to have their cake and eat it .
Warzone will get new content while dedicated players who ’ ve spent hours unlocking rare items won ’ t lose their loot .
At the same time , the standard multiplayer experience for Black Ops Cold War will sync with the older titles through a unified leveling system .
It ’ s a little confusing to read about , but hopefully the experience for players will be relatively seamless .
The question is , can Activision pull this off smoothly ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems likely they ’ ll be at least some hiccups , and this week ’ s blog post includes a caveat stating just that : “ There are no current plans to remove content from Warzone but to ensure the best possible player experience , there may be occasions where content is delayed , or becomes temporarily or permanently inaccessible.
” We also imagine there will be some inevitable balancing issues given the hugely expanded arsenal available to players .
That aside , though , it ’ s clear Warzone is only going @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The latest entry in the Call of Duty franchise, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, will launch on November 13th. But what does that mean for the series’ free-to-play battle royale, Call of Duty: Warzone, which is itself based on 2019’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare? In a lengthy blog post, the games’ developers, Infinity Ward and Raven Software, break down how content will be synchronized across the three titles in the future.
The big takeaway is that weapons, cosmetics, and other unlockables (including attachments, perks, and killstreaks) will be shared across the games. That means weapons from both Cold War and Modern Warfare, including blueprints and camo variants, will be available in Warzone, creating “the largest weapons arsenal ever seen in Call of Duty.”
Sharing content and player progression across games is a huge challenge
Player progression will also be synchronized across the three games’ multiplayer modes, no matter which title you’re playing. What are currently called Enlisted Ranks (levels 1 to 55) will be renamed as Military Ranks, while Seasonal Officer Progression will become Season Levels, which itself will feed into a new Prestige system. All of these changes will kick in with the launch of Black Ops Cold War Season One on December 10th. Ranks will reset with this launch, but not unlockables. The Battle Pass system will also be unified across titles.
A rough roadmap for new content coming to Warzone with the launch of Season One. Image: Activision
In addition to these changes, the launch of Black Ops Cold War will mean new content for Warzone. Specifically, Operators from Cold War will be available in the battle royale from November 12th at 9PM PT, including all skins, quips, and finishing moves. The launch of Black Ops Cold War Season One on December 10th will also come with new standard multiplayer maps and modes, including a new Zombies mode and the return of 2v2 gunfights. Nuketown is also back, with a new remix of the classic map available from November 24th.
There’s a lot of detail to parse here, but be sure to check out the full blog for any unanswered questions. The big tl;dr, though, is that Activision wants players to have their cake and eat it. Warzone will get new content while dedicated players who’ve spent hours unlocking rare items won’t lose their loot. At the same time, the standard multiplayer experience for Black Ops Cold War will sync with the older titles through a unified leveling system. It’s a little confusing to read about, but hopefully the experience for players will be relatively seamless.
Player progression will be synchronized across all three titles. Image: Activision
The question is, can Activision pull this off smoothly? That remains to be seen. It seems likely they’ll be at least some hiccups, and this week’s blog post includes a caveat stating just that: “There are no current plans to remove content from Warzone but to ensure the best possible player experience, there may be occasions where content is delayed, or becomes temporarily or permanently inaccessible.” We also imagine there will be some inevitable balancing issues given the hugely expanded arsenal available to players.


theverge--2020-11-06--Trump tweets more false election fraud claims, gets restricted again

Three days after Election Day , President Trump is still tangling with moderators in an effort to spread false claims about supposed election fraud .
The president tweeted eight times on Thursday night and saw fully half of the tweets restricted by Twitter , blocking retweets and replies as it has done with previous infractions .
The tweets came after a lull of several hours , during which a number of the president ’ s surrogates sent out tweet-length statements through other channels .
“ Twitter is out of control , ” the president said in one of the unlabeled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government gift of Section 230 !
” The tweets include the allegation that election observers were prevented from entering counting stations in Philadelphia and Detroit , a claim contradicted by direct testimony from observers in both cities .
Two of the tweets consisted entirely of broadcast clips from Trump ’ s recent press conference , in which he made baseless claims of election fraud .
The speech included many of the same groundless accusations as his previously labeled tweets , and several TV networks cut away from the press conference during broadcast because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Still , the move represents a potential escalation from Twitter ’ s moderators , who had previously taken a lax approach to publicly broadcast video clips .
Twitter tells The Verge that it will not take action against press organizations that report on the videos in question — and it will review individual tweets including the statements to determine whether to take action .
“ This action is in line with our Civic Integrity Policy , and as is standard with this warning , we will significantly restrict engagements on these tweets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been strictly enforcing its Civic Integrity Policy in the fraught period after Election Day , and much of the new moderation has been directed toward President Trump .
The president has tweeted 30 times since Tuesday evening , and 12 of those tweets have now been restricted in some way .
Restricted tweets include the plainly false claim that no mail-in ballots received after Election Day will be counted , as well as claims to have definitive proof of voter fraud by the Biden campaign .
( No such proof has been produced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not visibly limited engagement with Trump content .
However , it has added fact-check boxes to all posts Trump has made since the election , including his most recent ones .
“ As expected , election results have taken longer this year .
The US has laws , procedures , and established institutions to ensure the integrity of our elections , ” reads the label attached to his video clip posts .

Three days after Election Day, President Trump is still tangling with moderators in an effort to spread false claims about supposed election fraud. The president tweeted eight times on Thursday night and saw fully half of the tweets restricted by Twitter, blocking retweets and replies as it has done with previous infractions. The tweets came after a lull of several hours, during which a number of the president’s surrogates sent out tweet-length statements through other channels.
“Twitter is out of control,” the president said in one of the unlabeled tweets, “made possible through the government gift of Section 230!”
The tweets include the allegation that election observers were prevented from entering counting stations in Philadelphia and Detroit, a claim contradicted by direct testimony from observers in both cities.
Two of the tweets consisted entirely of broadcast clips from Trump’s recent press conference, in which he made baseless claims of election fraud. The speech included many of the same groundless accusations as his previously labeled tweets, and several TV networks cut away from the press conference during broadcast because of the sheer volume of falsehood. Still, the move represents a potential escalation from Twitter’s moderators, who had previously taken a lax approach to publicly broadcast video clips.
Twitter tells The Verge that it will not take action against press organizations that report on the videos in question — and it will review individual tweets including the statements to determine whether to take action. “This action is in line with our Civic Integrity Policy, and as is standard with this warning, we will significantly restrict engagements on these tweets,” a spokesperson said.
Twitter has been strictly enforcing its Civic Integrity Policy in the fraught period after Election Day, and much of the new moderation has been directed toward President Trump. The president has tweeted 30 times since Tuesday evening, and 12 of those tweets have now been restricted in some way. Restricted tweets include the plainly false claim that no mail-in ballots received after Election Day will be counted, as well as claims to have definitive proof of voter fraud by the Biden campaign. (No such proof has been produced.)
Facebook, unlike Twitter, has not visibly limited engagement with Trump content. However, it has added fact-check boxes to all posts Trump has made since the election, including his most recent ones. “As expected, election results have taken longer this year. The US has laws, procedures, and established institutions to ensure the integrity of our elections,” reads the label attached to his video clip posts.


theverge--2020-11-06--The Verge guide to the PS5 and Xbox Series X

Over the span of just a few days , console gaming will change in a big way .
That ’ s because both Sony and Microsoft are launching their next-generation consoles in the form of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X ( along with the cheaper Series S ) .
As with previous new consoles , a big focus is on power : these machines can play games in 4K , support features like ray tracing , and load gameplay experiences incredibly fast , thanks to SSDs .
And with the exception of the budget-priced Series S , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , towering gaming consoles that will likely dominate your living room .
But the biggest differences between the next Xbox and PlayStation have little to do with specs ; they ’ re much more philosophical .
For the Series X , Microsoft has focused on creating a unified experience , one where games move with you no matter what Xbox you ’ re using .
That means features like extensive backwards compatibility and the Netflix-style subscription service Game Pass .
Sony , meanwhile , is taking a more traditional approach , selling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games and unique DualSense controller .
To keep track of everything happening in this new generation of consoles , we ’ ve put together this landing page .
Here , you ’ ll find reviews of the consoles themselves , tips on how to get the most out of them , recommendations on what games to play , and much more .
Now that next-gen is finally here , things are only getting started .

The Verge guide to the PS5 and Xbox Series X
Your cheat code for next-gen gaming
Over the span of just a few days, console gaming will change in a big way. That’s because both Sony and Microsoft are launching their next-generation consoles in the form of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X (along with the cheaper Series S).
As with previous new consoles, a big focus is on power: these machines can play games in 4K, support features like ray tracing, and load gameplay experiences incredibly fast, thanks to SSDs. And with the exception of the budget-priced Series S, they’re also massive pieces of hardware, towering gaming consoles that will likely dominate your living room.
But the biggest differences between the next Xbox and PlayStation have little to do with specs; they’re much more philosophical. For the Series X, Microsoft has focused on creating a unified experience, one where games move with you no matter what Xbox you’re using. That means features like extensive backwards compatibility and the Netflix-style subscription service Game Pass. Sony, meanwhile, is taking a more traditional approach, selling the PS5 on the strength of its exclusive games and unique DualSense controller.
To keep track of everything happening in this new generation of consoles, we’ve put together this landing page. Here, you’ll find reviews of the consoles themselves, tips on how to get the most out of them, recommendations on what games to play, and much more.