It didn’t take long for lies and misinformation to spread in the wake of Friday’s Texas school shooting that left 10 people dead. Within minutes, fake Facebook accounts popped up showing the suspected shooter with a doctored image of him wearing a “Hillary 2016” hat, for example.

Some of the fakes were quickly flagged by users and deleted by the social network. But according to Chris Sampson, a disinformation analyst for a counterterrorism think tank, new fakes were being spawned fast and filled out with false information that included images trying to link the 17-year-old suspect, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, to anti-fascist groups, while others had “Trump/Pence 2020” as his banner image.

The onslaught of fake and false information has become a regular feature in the aftermath of mass shootings and terrorist attacks in the U.S. and elsewhere. The perpetrators are typically trying to sow discord, score political points or simply make readers question the very concept of truth.

Sampson was watching the clock to see how fast it would take for a fake account to be created after law enforcement officials released the suspect’s name: less than 20 minutes. After a second fake account was taken down, another popped up in only four minutes.

FACEBOOK HIT WITH ANOTHER DATA BREACH, 3 MILLION USERS EXPOSED

“It seemed this time like they were more ready for this,” he said. “Like someone just couldn’t wait to do it.”

Facebook officials told the Washington Post that the suspect’s real account was removed and they were working to shut down the impersonating accounts. The tech giant, which has come under fire for its response to disinformation and questions about users’ data privacy, said this week that it disabled more than 500 million fake accounts in the first three months of 2018.

According to Christopher Bouzy, whose site Bot Sentinel tracks more than 12,000 automated Twitter accounts that are often used to spread disinformation, four of the top 10 phrases tweeted by bot or troll accounts in the immediate 24-hour aftermath were related to the Santa Fe shooting — which he called “significant activity,” reports the Post.

FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE STILL STRUGGLING TO STOP TERRORIST CONTENT

Hoaxes, conspiracy theories and fake news reports have spread like wildfire in our digital age, often blossoming on message boards like 4chan or platforms like Reddit before being picked up by far-right news sites.

Misinformation can also reach the mainstream, as happened in the wake of the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School, when a video labeling a shooting survivor a “crisis actor” zoomed to the top of YouTube’s “Trending” list and eventually resulted in the student being forced to respond and YouTube apologizing.

Facebook has 10,000 human moderators monitoring the site, plans to hire many more in the coming year and utilizes artificial intelligence to remove certain types of banned or fake content. Mark Zuckerberg’s firm recently announced a partnership with the Atlantic Council, a think tank that has received money from a wide range of foreign corporations and governments, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey, to battle disinformation.

YouTube seems to have avoided some of the mistakes following the Parkland rampage, but there were seven videos posted as of Sunday morning claiming without evidence that the incident was a “false flag” operation.

A recently surfaced Google video discusses a creepy concept for collecting vast quantities of user data that could span generations.

The video, which was obtained by The Verge, paints an unsettling picture of how data could theoretically be harnessed on an epic scale. The Verge reports that the video was produced in 2016 by X, a research and development subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet.

X, formerly known as Google X, describes itself as a “moonshot factory” focused on developing technologies to make the world “a radically better place.”

ELON MUSK SAYS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS HUMANITY'S 'BIGGEST RISK'

The Verge reports that the 9-minute video, entitled “The Selfish Ledger,” was shared internally within Google. The video examines the possibility of a dystopian world where our use of devices such as smartphones creates a sort of digital DNA, which, like physical DNA, could exist within the context of future generations.

“When we use contemporary technology a trail of information is created in the form of data,” it says. “When analyzed it describes our actions, decisions, preferences, movement and relationships. This codified version of who we are becomes ever more complex, developing, changing and deforming based on our actions.”

This creates a constantly evolving representation of who we are, which the video describes as a “ledger” of our data.

X has not yet responded to a request for comment on this article from Fox News.

STEPHEN HAWKING: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COULD END HUMAN RACE

“User data has the capability to survive beyond the limits of our biological selves in much the same way as genetic code is released and propagated in nature,” the video explains. “It becomes possible for emerging users to benefit from the preceding generation’s behaviors and discussions.”

The video’s title is an homage to “The Selfish Gene” Richard Dawkins’ highly influential 1976 book on evolutionary biology.

In a statement provided to The Verge, an X spokesperson acknowledged that the concepts discussed in the video are unsettling.

HOW HACKERS CAN USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AGAINST US

“We understand if this is disturbing -- it is designed to be. This is a thought-experiment by the Design team from years ago that uses a technique known as ‘speculative design’ to explore uncomfortable ideas and concepts in order to provoke discussion and debate. It’s not related to any current or future products.”

One concept described in the video would involve users selecting a life goal in an area such as health or environmental impact. The ledger would then guide users toward the goal as they interact with their phones.

The video has surfaced at a time when a number of high-profile figures are voicing their concern about the potential harmful effects of technologies such as artificial intelligence. In a recent column in The Atlantic, for example, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger described how society is unprepared for the rise of AI. The world he warns, may find itself relaying on data and algorithms “ungoverned by ethical or philosophical norms.”

DOOMSDAY AI MACHINES COULD LEAD TO NUCLEAR WAR, THINK TANK PAPER WARNS

Others are also worried. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, for example, has described AI as humanity’s “biggest risk,” while the late Stephen Hawking gave a stark warning about rise of highly intelligent machines.

The video, which was made by Nick Foster, the head of design at X, aims to fuel discussion about the role of technology in society by challenging our existing perceptions of data. “User-centered design principles have dominated the world of computing for many decades, but what if we looked at things a little differently?” it asks. “What if the ledger could be given a volition or purpose rather than simply acting as an historical reference? What if we focused on creating a richer ledger by introducing more sources of information? What if we thought of ourselves not as the owners of this information, but as custodians, transient carriers or caretakers?”

The video, which does not make tackle the issue of privacy, says that comparisons of data spanning generations could potentially benefit society. “As cycles of collection and comparison extend, it may be possible to develop a species-level understanding of species-level issues such as depression, health and poverty.”

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers

A security flaw in the Ring camera-equipped doorbell could allow people to spy on you.

Amazon purchased Ring for $1 billion in February. According to reporting by The Information, a security flaw in the software allowed people who were logged into the doorbell app to stay logged in even after the password had been changed.

In its article, The Information cites Miami resident Jesus Echezarreta, who didn't know he was being spied on by his ex-boyfriend via Ring. His ex told Echezarreta he needed to walk his dog more; when asked how he would know that, he confessed to watching Echezarreta with the app.

Although Ring doesn’t currently lock and unlock doors, it can be used to connect with other security firms like ADT. In addition, Amazon has said it may integrate Ring with its Amazon Key service, which allows delivery people to gain access to Amazon customers’ homes.

Ring, which has pitched itself as a home security company, told The Information the app was updated in January to kick people off when a password is changed—and require a new login.

GOOGLE EMPLOYEES RESIGN IN PROTEST OVER CONTROVERSIAL PENTAGON AI PROJECT

However, the company’s CEO Jamie Siminoff said Ring doesn’t kick users off immediately because that would slow the app down.

Although Siminoff said they are lowering the time it takes for people to be kicked off to one hour, The Information’s reporter was able to access his app several hours after changing the password.

A security expert told The Information that when a password changes, every device logged in should be automatically logged off.

“It’s certainly not a security best practice to implement the authentication the way they have,” Jay Kaplan, CEO of security firm Synack, said.

Unfortunately, Echezarreta’s experience showed how easily these apps can be manipulated. When he complained to Ring, reports The Information, the company’s internal logs showed that someone had downloaded video from his doorbell several times since August, when Echezarreta broke up with his boyfriend.

The app also discovered that someone was ringing Echezarreta’s doorbell remotely during late night hours. The man’s ex eventually apologized and Ring also sent him a new doorbell.

In a statement to Fox News, a Ring spokesperson said: "Ring values the trust our neighbors place in us and we are committed to the highest level of customer information and data security.

We strongly recommend that customers never share their username or password. Instead, they should add family members and other users to their devices through Ring’s “Shared Users” feature. This way, owners maintain control over who has access to their devices and can immediately remove users.

Our team is taking additional steps to further improve the password change experience."

This story has been updated to include comment from Ring.

Apple is reportedly kicking third-party apps out of the App Store that are sharing users' locations, as privacy remains in the spotlight in the wake of the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal and pending regulation across the Atlantic.

9to5Mac reports that Apple has recently been removing apps that are sharing location data with third parties and sending the app developers a notice that the app is violating two different parts of the App Store Review Guidelines.

The two sections in question are Legal 5.1.1 and Legal 5.1.2 which state:

The app transmits user location data to third parties without explicit consent from the user and for unapproved purposes.

APPLE'S SIRI IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR POTTY MOUTH

9to5Mac noted that Apple also wants developers to explain what the location data is used for, how it is shared, as well as asking for permission.

The Apple-focused website highlighted one developer who has received the letter from Apple and has made it public. 

Apple has not responded to a request for comment from Fox News.

The crackdown by Apple comes ahead of the new privacy laws in Europe, known as General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR. The GDPR was passed in April 2016 and is slated to go into effect later this month, regulating how companies protect EU citizen's personal data.

If companies are found in violation of the GDPR, they can be fined $23 million (€20 million) or 4 percent of annual revenue, whichever is greater, according to the law.

Apple has ramped up its privacy focus in recent months, in light of the aforementioned Facebook/Cambridge Analytica data breach. A reported 87 million Facebook users had their accounts improperly accessed by Cambridge Analytica, a data marketing research company with ties to the 2016 Donald Trump presidential campaign.

GOOGLE HITS HARD ON PRIVACY, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AT I/0 2018

As part of its iOS 11.3 update, Apple unveiled a new privacy icon that lets users know when an Apple feature is asking for a user's personal information.

After installing the update, Apple added a message saying that it believes "privacy is a fundamental human right, so every Apple product is designed to minimize the collection and use of your data, use on-device processing whenever possible, and provide transparency and control over your information."

In March, Apple CEO Tim Cook called for stronger privacy regulations to prevent the abuse and misuse of data.

“I think that this certain situation is so dire and has become so large that probably some well-crafted regulation is necessary,” Cook said, speaking at the annual China Development Forum in Beijing, which he co-hosted.

AFTER MEETING WITH TRUMP, APPLE CEO TIM COOK 'OPTIMISTIC' TRADE WAR WON'T HAPPEN

He continued: "The ability of anyone to know what you’ve been browsing about for years, who your contacts are, who their contacts are, things you like and dislike and every intimate detail of your life—from my own point of view it shouldn’t exist.”

Fox News' Chris Carbone contributed to this story. Follow Chris Ciaccia on Twitter @Chris_Ciaccia

Finally some news that Facebook should "like."

The majority of U.S. Facebook users still continue to use the service as much as they did or more since news of the Cambridge Analytica data scandal has come to light, according to a new survey.

The poll, conducted by Reuters/Ipsos, surveyed 2,194 adults in the U.S. (including those that used other social media services) and found that 75 percent of Facebook users said they use "it more" or "haven't changed how much I used it."

FACEBOOK OUTLINES STEPS TO COMPLY WITH NEW PRIVACY LAWS FOLLOWING CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA SCANDAL

In an interview with Reuters, Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter said, "I have yet to read an article that says a single person has been harmed by the breach. "Nobody’s outraged on a visceral level."

Other findings from the Reuters/Ipsos survey show that the remaining 25 percent of users said they used it less or had left the service.

Seventy-four percent of users said they were aware of their current privacy settings, while 78 percent of users said they knew how to change them. Those figures are drastically higher than other social media services, such as Twitter and Instagram (also owned by Facebook). Just 55 percent and 60 percent of Twitter/Instagram users said they were aware of current privacy settings, while 58 and 65 percent said they knew how to change their settings.

Some 43 percent of respondents to a recent Fox News poll said that they had considered deleting their Facebook account.

In recent weeks, the Mark Zuckerberg-led company has taken several steps to improve user privacy, most recently announcing a "Clear History " privacy tool.

FOR MANY ONLINE AMERICANS, FACEBOOK IS A HABIT

No business impact yet

Facebook, which has over 2 billion monthly active users, depends on its users spending significant amounts of time on the service, which is roughly 90 percent supported by ad revenue.

The results of the Reuters/Ipsos survey are a stark contrast to a recent survey done by the Ponemon Institute, a U.S.-based think tank, when it comes to Facebook and privacy.

A mid-April survey conducted by the Ponemon Institute, a U.S.-based think tank, found that just 27 percent of 3,000 respondents believe Facebook will protect their privacy and user data, down from 79 percent in 2017.

ZUCKERBERG ADMITS FACEBOOK COLLECTS DATA ON NON-USERS

The findings of the poll, which was conducted from April 26 to 30, may give clues to advertisers and analysts as to whether Facebook's business suffered any blowback from the scandal, which came to light in late March, after reports by The Guardian and The New York Times.

Facebook's first-quarter results easily surpassed Wall Street’s expectations, as the embattled social media giant reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.69, well above Wall Street expectations of $1.35 a share. Revenue jumped 50 percent year-over-year to $11.97 billion, topping the $11.41 billion analysts had anticipated.

Follow Chris Ciaccia on Twitter @Chris_Ciaccia