TechScape: Why Donald Trump’s return to Facebook could mark a rocky new age for online discourse

The former president was banned from Instagram and Facebook following the Jan 6 attacks, but Meta argues that new ‘guardrails’ will keep his behaviour in check. Plus: is a chatbot coming for your job?

Social media companies in the US brace to battle onslaught of legal challenges

State and federal lawsuits and bills with far-reaching regulatory implications for TikTok, Meta and others come to a head this year

Facebook is allowing Trump back. The platform hasn’t learned its lesson

Trump has never shown the slightest repentance for his role in what Facebook gingerly calls ‘civil unrest’

Biden vows to veto Republican plans that threaten economic ‘chaos’ – as it happened

‘I will not let that happen – not on my watch’, president says of House Republican proposals

Donald Trump’s Truth Social posts bode ill for his return to Facebook

As Trump was reinstated, Meta’s Nick Clegg stressed ‘guardrails’ were in place. He could soon find them tested

Trump’s Facebook and Instagram ban to be lifted, Meta announces

Ex-president to be allowed back ‘in coming weeks … with new guardrails in place’ after ban that followed January 6 attack

Twitter hit by 40% revenue drop amid ad squeeze, say reports

More than 500 advertising clients have reportedly paused spending since Elon Musk’s takeover in October

Free the nipple: Facebook and Instagram told to overhaul ban on bare breasts

Meta’s advisory board says policy impedes right to expression for women and trans and nonbinary people

Prosecute tech chiefs who endanger children, says Molly Russell’s father

Ian Russell says inquest into daughter’s death is ‘unique’ opportunity to make online platforms safer

Saudi prosecutors seek death penalty for academic over social media use

Court documents reveal reasons for Awad Al-Qarni’s arrest – even though rulers are major investors in social media platforms

Minister refuses to rule out changes to UK online safety bill

Social media bosses who breach child safety rules may face jail if Ofcom given powers to prosecute

Meta alleges surveillance firm collected data on 600,000 users via fake accounts

Lawsuit targets Voyager after Guardian investigation uncovered police partnership and company’s claims it could predict crime

WhatsApp and other messaging services left out of new Australian misinformation code, regulator says

Australian Communications and Media Authority wants social media companies to hand over information on how they respond to complaints

Job cuts and falling shares: how did it all go so wrong for the US tech sector?

As Amazon axes 18,000 roles and Tesla loses 65% of its value, we examine the causes of the glitch hitting Silicon Valley

Meta dealt blow by EU ruling that could result in data use ‘opt-in’

Irish regulator fines Facebook owner €390m after EU rejects argument for use of data to drive personalised ads