SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook said it would not disclose information about political campaign advertising or related data such as how many users click on ads and if advertising messages are consistent across demographics, despite arguments from political scientists who want the data for research.
Details such as the frequency of ads, how much money was spent on them, where they were seen, what the messages were and how many people were reached would remain confidential under the company’s corporate policy, which is the same for political advertising as for commercial customers.
“Advertisers consider their ad creatives and their ad targeting strategy to be competitively sensitive and confidential,” Rob Sherman, Facebook’s deputy chief privacy officer, said in an interview on Wednesday, when asked about political ads.
“In many cases, they’ll ask us, as a condition of running ads on Facebook, not to disclose those details about how they’re running campaigns on our service,” he said. “From our perspective, it’s confidential information of these advertisers.”
Sherman said it would not make an exception for political advertising. “We try to have consistent policies across the board, so that we’re imposing similar requirements on everybody.”
Academics who study political campaigns worldwide said this kind of information fosters accountability by analyzing how candidates compete for votes and whether election systems live up to expectations of fairness. Transparency can also deter fraudulent ads, they said.
“We don’t have the capacity right now to track it, and nobody does, as far as we can tell,” said Bowdoin College Prof. Michael Franz, a co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project, which catalogs political ads on traditional television but has no means of doing so on Facebook.
Television has been the backbone of political advertising for decades, and local US broadcasters are required to disclose a wealth of details about the cost and schedules of ads. The ads can be seen by anyone with a television provided they are aired in their markets.
Online advertising, though, often targets narrow, more carefully constructed audiences, so for example an ad could be directed only to Democrats under 25 years of age.
Thousands of variations of online ads can be directed at select groups and the targeting can be extreme. Academics argue this is where the process can become very opaque.
“Candidates can speak out of both sides of their mouths,” said Daniel Kreiss, a communications professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “Having some kind of digital repository of ads that are purchased during a particular cycle and linked to a particular source is a good, democratic thing for the public.”
No such repository exists, and the quandary for researchers is expected to worsen as more politicians use digital advertising because of its relatively low cost and opportunities for target marketing.
According to US President Donald Trump’s campaign, $70 million was spent for its ads on Facebook, more than on any other digital platform including Google, and Trump has credited Facebook with helping him defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton last November.
Advertising on Facebook also figured prominently in recent elections in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, researchers said.
Britain is investigating how candidates use data to target voters.
Facebook ads generally disappear with the scroll of a thumb on a smartphone, and they have no permanent links. Advocates for transparency call them “dark ads.” Facebook calls them “unpublished posts.”
Researchers said that disclosure reports from the US Federal Election Commission are unhelpful because they show what campaigns pay to intermediaries, not to Internet platforms.
The role of advertising online is as important to study as the effect of so-called “fake news,” which has received more attention than ads, scholars said.
“The holy grail, I think, of political analysis for the 2016 election is to figure out which communications from which entities had an effect on which jurisdictions in the United States,” said Nathan Persily, a Stanford University professor who writes about elections.
Facebook has such information and should make it available for study, Persily said.
Facebook’s Sherman said the company was open to hearing research proposals, but he doubted much could be achieved.
“Even if we were able to be more transparent in this area, it would only be a very small piece of an overall story,” he said.
Facebook to keep wraps on political ads data despite researchers’ demands
Facebook to keep wraps on political ads data despite researchers’ demands
Saudi Aramco maintains propane, butane prices for December
RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Oil Co., also known as Saudi Aramco, kept its December contract prices unchanged month on month at $635 per tonne, according to an official statement
The company also maintained butane prices for the month at $630 per tonne.
Propane and butane are types of liquefied petroleum gas with different boiling points. LPG is commonly used as a fuel for vehicles, heating, and as a feedstock for various petrochemicals.
Aramco’s OSPs for LPG are used as a benchmark for contracts supplying the product from the Middle East to the Asia-Pacific region.
In winter, the demand for propane rises significantly due to its use in heating homes, which can lead to higher prices if supply struggles to keep up.
Such fluctuations are a normal part of the market and are expected during colder months. The increase in prices reflects the basic economic principle of supply and demand, with higher demand resulting in higher costs.
Mawani, Lloyd’s Register ink deal to streamline maritime operations
RIYADH: The Saudi Ports Authority has signed an agreement with the UK’s Lloyd’s Register to unify and streamline operational and maritime procedures across Saudi ports.
The deal is set to enhance efficiency by developing comprehensive manuals and guidelines, including quality and environmental procedure manuals that align with International Organization for Standardization standards, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The collaboration aligns with Mawani’s efforts to improve operational excellence at ports and strengthen Saudi Arabia’s connectivity with global markets, thus boosting national exports. As part of the partnership, the Saudi Ports Authority aims to double the container throughput capacity at its ports, from 20 million containers to over 40 million.
This goal is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader vision to modernize its logistics infrastructure under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which targets increasing the sector's contribution to gross domestic from 6 percent to 10 percent.
The deal also seeks to define clear responsibilities through a code of good practices, ensuring compliance with updated International Maritime Organization agreements.
Additionally, the partnership will help secure international certifications such as ISO 9001:2015 for quality management and ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management, further enhancing operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and sustainability practices.
As part of the cooperation, comprehensive training programs will be offered to port employees, including courses on ISO standards, maritime certifications, and the latest inspection and safety protocols. Digital solutions and cutting-edge technologies will also be integrated to support sustainable operations and improve overall port competence.
Lloyd’s Register, a renowned maritime classification society established over 260 years ago, is one of the most prestigious organizations in the global maritime sector. The company operates in 81 offices worldwide and serves over 40,000 clients across the maritime and logistics industries.
Aramco launches global innovation award for robotics excellence at WRO 2024
Aramco has partnered with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team and World Robot Olympiad to launch the Aramco Innovation Award, a new global honor recognizing excellence in robotics design and technology.
The award aims to inspire and reward young innovators who excel in creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking and technical skills.
The first Aramco Innovation Award will be presented at the 2024 World Robot Olympiad international final, which will take place from Nov. 28-30 in İzmir, Turkiye.
It will be given to the winning team of the future innovators category (senior age group). More than 5,500 teams and 15,000 students from around the world will compete for the award.
At the international final, 48 teams from 45 countries are eligible to win.
The prize includes an exclusive Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team Innovation Experience, which features a tour of the AMR Technology Campus in Silverstone, the home of British motorsport.
Khalid A. Al-Zamil, Aramco vice president of public affairs, said: “We’re excited to launch the Aramco Innovation Award as part of our dedication to developing future science, technology, engineering and math innovators. By partnering with Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team and World Robot Olympiad, we aim to inspire young minds to explore new possibilities in robotics and encourage the next generation of STEM careers.”
Luca Furbatto, engineering director, Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team, said: “We are thrilled to work with our partner Aramco to offer this insightful tour of our technology campus in Silverstone to the winners of the Aramco Innovation Award. It allows students the chance to see how a Formula One® team operates, and we expect it will help to inspire the next generation of designers and engineers through STEM opportunities.”
The Aramco Innovation Award celebrates young innovators who use robotics to address real-world challenges. By recognizing these achievements, Aramco and its partners are investing in future technology leaders who will help to shape the technologies of tomorrow’s world.
Claus Ditlev Christensen, secretary general of WRO, said: “Introducing the Aramco Innovation Award at this year’s WRO international final represents our ongoing mission to inspire young innovators. This collaboration with Aramco and Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team gives students an extraordinary chance to experience the latest technology. We believe these future leaders have the potential to drive the next wave of advancements in robotics.”
Saudi Arabia strengthens cybersecurity leadership at Black Hat MENA
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia reinforced its commitment to cybersecurity by hosting the Black Hat Middle East and Africa conference and exhibition this week. The event, held from Nov. 26-28, highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts to advance digital security and technological innovation as part of its broader Vision 2030 goals.
Organized by the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones in partnership with Tahaluf, Informa Global, and the Events Investment Fund, Black Hat MENA brought together global experts to discuss critical cybersecurity issues and share insights on protecting digital infrastructures, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
One day before the gathering, Mutab Al-Qunai, CEO of the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, told SPA that the event aims to foster innovation and collaboration in digital safety
The conference included a series of technical sessions and workshops centered on the role of cybersecurity in safeguarding emerging technologies. The Kingdom’s efforts to cultivate local talent and align with international cybersecurity standards were key themes. Notably, the event featured a drone challenge zone, aimed at engaging Saudi youth in drone technology and the cybersecurity challenges it presents.
Experts such as Nikhil Shrivastava, an Indian security researcher, and Bianca Lewis, founder of Girls Who Hack, contributed to discussions on the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats and solutions.
Black Hat MENA also featured five national pavilions, with representatives from the US, Canada, India, Egypt, and Pakistan, alongside 43 exhibitors. The event hosted over 300 speakers, 450 exhibitors, and 350 workshops covering a wide array of cybersecurity topics.
The Activity Zone, sponsored by Haboob, presented cybersecurity challenges with prizes totaling more than SR2 million ($532,000). These included tests on smart home security, medical device hacking, and infrastructure vulnerabilities. The Capture the Flag tournament also took place, awarding SR790,000 in prizes, including SR90,000 for Saudi teams.
Faisal Al-Khamisi, chairman of the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, emphasized that hosting Black Hat MENA aligns with Saudi Arabia’s goal to lead in cybersecurity. He said the event demonstrated the Kingdom’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and developing the cybersecurity skills necessary to protect the digital future.
Saudi Arabia’s efforts to strengthen its cybersecurity infrastructure and cultivate talent position the Kingdom as a growing hub for technological innovation in the region.
FMCG and tech drive UAE spending to $3.7bn in Q3 2024
RIYADH: UAE consumer spending saw robust growth in the third quarter of 2024, with total expenditures reaching $3.7 billion across fast-moving consumer goods, technology, and durable products, new data showed.
This represents a 4.8 percent year-on-year increase, reflecting the market’s resilience and evolving consumer habits, according to the latest NielsenIQ Retail Spend Barometer, powered by GfK intelligence. The index provides quarterly insights into UAE spending across FMCG and technical consumer goods.
The FMCG sector spearheaded growth, achieving $2.1 billion in sales during the third quarter, a 6.4 percent rise compared to the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, the technology and durable goods sector contributed $1.5 billion, marking a 2.5 percent year-on-year increase.
Strong back-to-school sales
The quarter’s performance was bolstered by back-to-school promotions, the expansion of convenience retail, and the ongoing rise of digital shopping platforms. QuickCommerce services and online grocery delivery gained traction, especially among younger, tech-savvy consumers.
David Cantatore, retail lead NIQ Middle East, said: “In the third quarter 2024, we’ve witnessed sustained growth in UAE’s retail landscape, with strong consumer spending driven by targeted promotions and increased demand in both FMCG and tech sectors.”
He added: “The growth of new communities is fueling convenience retail, while online grocery shopping is reshaping the landscape, especially among younger and busy professionals. This digital evolution demonstrates the market’s appetite to adapt and thrive in response to changing consumer preferences.”
FMCG outpaces tech
The FMCG sector demonstrated a strong recovery, with year-on-year growth rising from 3.2 percent in the third quarter of 2023 to 6.4 percent a year later. This resurgence followed a notable slowdown earlier in the year, when growth declined from 9.4 percent in the first quarter of 2023 to 3.5 percent in the corresponding period of 2024.
In contrast, the tech and durable goods sector faced a significant slowdown, as growth dropped from 7.7 percent in the third quarter of 2023 to 2.5 percent in 2024. However, back-to-school promotions and new product launches, such as the Samsung Galaxy S24, helped sustain consumer interest.
Retail evolution
The rise of new residential communities across the UAE has driven the expansion of convenience retail, encouraging more frequent but smaller shopping trips. This trend aligns with an increasing preference for sustainable and healthier products, supported by the rapid adoption of digital grocery platforms.
“The positive growth we’re seeing across both sectors reflects the UAE’s dynamic retail environment and strong consumer confidence,” Cantatore said.
He added: “As we continue to witness the evolution of shopping behaviors and the rise of digital solutions, the retail sector remains well-positioned for sustained growth and innovation.”
Digital trade in the UAE is expected to grow at an annual rate of 12.3 percent between 2023 and 2028, fueled by the increasing adoption of “buy now, pay later” models and advanced fintech systems.
A joint report released in May by the Ministry of Economy and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce highlighted that over 40 percent of UAE consumers rely on innovative payment solutions, underscoring the nation’s rapid shift toward digital commerce.
