Jan 30, 2018

Facebook bans cryptocurrency and ICO ads

A Facebook logo is seen on an iPhone screen in this photo illustration. Photo: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Facebook is banning all ads for cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings, including on Instagram, it said in a blog post.

Why it matters: With the current boom in cryptocurrencies and ICOs, there's been a fair share of fraud as well.

Yes, but: While Facebook has moved swiftly to stop potential scam ads in their tracks, it had a more laissez-faire approach to political ads during the last U.S. presidential election, which led to meddling from Russian actors.

Ironically, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said earlier this month that he was interested in whether and how cryptocurrencies could help the social network.

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Axios

29 mins ago - Politics & Policy

U.S. cities crackdown on protests against police brutality

Photo: Megan Jelinger/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Major U.S. cities have implemented curfews and called on National Guard to mobilize as thousands of protesters gather across the nation to continue protesting the death of George Floyd.

The state of play: Hundreds have already been arrested as tensions continue to rise between protesters and local governments. Protesters are setting police cars on fire as freeways remain blocked and windows are shattered, per the Washington Post. Law enforcement officials are using tear gas and rubber bullets to try to disperse crowds and send protesters home.

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Rebecca Falconer

35 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Trump to invite Russia and other non-member G7 countries to summit

President Trump at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Saturday. Photo: Saul Martinez/Getty Images

President Trump told reporters on Saturday evening he would postpone the G7 summit to September and expand the meeting to more nations that are not members of the Group of 7.

Details: Trump said he would invite Russia, South Korea, Australia and India to the summit, according to a pool report. "I don’t feel that as a G7 it properly represents what’s going on in the world. It’s a very outdated group of countries," he said.

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Axios

Updated 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

George Floyd protests: What you need to know

Thousands of protesters march in Denver, Colorado, on May 30. Photo: Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)

Curfews are being imposed in Portland, Oregon, and Cincinnati, while the governors of Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio and Texas activated the National Guard following unrest in the states, per AP.

The big picture: Floyd's fatal run-in with police is the latest reminder of the disparities between black and white communities in the U.S. and comes as African Americans grapple with higher death rates from the coronavirus and higher unemployment from trying to stem its spread.

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