Rob Goldman

Last year, we launched CollectiveMetrics, a nonprofit built on the idea that independently measuring safety and privacy outcomes on the internet can help improve them for everyone. For example; we are all guessing about how many scam and deceptive ads are reaching us every day, but we can do better. I’m excited to share our first piece of software: AdButter, a free Chrome extension that starts to close that gap. The link is in the comments… The name is playful. The mission isn’t. AdButter quietly catalogs the ads you see on platforms you choose to monitor, so we can build the first independent, large-scale measurement of ad quality, and give the public real numbers to point to. You pick which platforms it runs on, and can toggle any off at any time. It does not track your browsing history or targeting data. You can review every ad it’s captured and delete anything, anytime. It takes under a minute to install. You’ll be helping increase the community’s understanding (and safety). Link in the comments (& coming soon, it will tell you how many suspicious ads the community has found!)

33 speed cameras go will be activated tomorrow in San Francisco at these locations. Fines range from $50-$500. SF will become the first city in California to implement them. Oakland and San Jose will also add them. @KTVU Live at 10 pm with the story

Police departments run marketing campaigns blaming pedestrians for not being visible enough. But they know visibility doesn't slow down drivers. Here's an SFPD speed trap 👇

Starting today, 33 speed cameras across San Francisco will begin issuing fines. These cameras have already shown results during the warning period, with fewer notices issued over time—a sign that drivers are slowing down. Speed cameras are a proven tool to make our streets safer. As kids head back to school, we’re focused on protecting everyone. Whether you walk, bike, take Muni, or drive, you deserve to get where you’re going safely.

1/ Earlier today, our teams identified and removed a deepfake video claiming to show President Zelensky issuing a statement he never did. It appeared on a reportedly compromised website and then started showing across the internet.

The Substack app is here. substack.com/app/get-ios

We’re thrilled to introduce Kayrros Carbon Watch, a new #carbonemissions monitoring solution powered by satellite data and artificial intelligence.

Knowledge creators (yes that’s you!) are the entrepreneurs of the future. Organizations are building the learning institutions of the future. At @discolearn, we’re excited to leverage this investment to accelerate our path to building a world-class platform to power your growth.

@SachinMonga Exciting news for Substack! 👏 Congratulations to you and @alexcornell and the rest of the Cocoon team. May your creations at Substack be as beautiful and inspired as Cocoon. 🚀

Some news: our team at Cocoon has been acquired by Substack! The Cocoon app itself will remain independent & online, while our team will continue building the next frontier of social software - powered by subscriptions instead of ads - now from a slightly different angle.

@claybavor Such a cool and simple idea, congrats. I totally want to try it!

This is Project Starline. Years in the making, it works like a magic window, bringing you together with friends, family, and coworkers, even when you're cities (or countries) apart. blog.google/technology/res…

@chrismessina Probably needed. I wonder if people have been surprised to see zoom comments leaking into the public domain recently. Anyone aware of anything like that?

@robleathern @googlechrome cool! also, it could benefit from some design love, its the perfect place to help someone change some settings. ;)

Glad to see this from @googlechrome - "This ad used too many resources for your device, so Chrome removed it". (5 years ago I worked a lot on understanding bandwidth/resource-sapping ads)

@JuddLegum If a law like this were to pass, it would cause many people who would otherwise be banned to run for office in order to make use of this protection.

We'll be keeping a close eye on Florida, which is the epicenter of Trumpism after Trump. Sign up for the newsletter for updates and accountability journalism. popular.info/subscribe

Florida @GovRonDeSantis doesn't want to address his state's 2.7B budget shortfall or raging pandemic so he's introducing legislation to fine social media companies $100,000 a day if they ban politicians who use their platforms to encourage violence popular.info/p/desantis-big…

@chrismichel Here is an amazing video of flamingos over Lake Eyasi. The movement is also amazing. youtube.com/watch?v=Ln9ihw…

@chrismichel wow.

@robleathern Video says 55 million. 🤑

Huge if true! “a $55 billion round”(!!)

Proud of Michigan today. Big push for the win from my home county of Oakland.

@CaseyNewton @alexeheath I assume the ad manager comes with it?

There it is

@robleathern A small but important change that will make the election more safe, thanks for helping make it happen! (also: please consider extending past election night, at least until the election is decided.)

My team specifically worked on the decision to not allow *new* political ads from October 27 through election night, so I wanted to make a few things clear: a) This isn’t a blackout, so campaigns/advertisers can still run ads in the lead-up to the election (3/5)

The US 2020 election (and this year in general!) is like no other! Just one more reason why our teams at Facebook have been doing everything we can to ensure it’s protected (1/5)