Frances Haugen Criticizes Meta's Shift in Content Moderation under Trump's Influence
Meta's suspension of fact-checking reflects Trump's stance on social media regulation, posing widespread hazards, warns Haugen.
Frances Haugen, the former Facebook whistleblower known for exposing significant security concerns on social media platforms in 2021, has raised alarms over recent decisions by the parent company, Meta, which she believes align closely with the ideologies of the incoming U.S. administration led by Donald Trump.
Haugen contends that Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, has ostensibly heeded Trump's message on reducing restrictions on online content and expects a diminishing role of intervention by Meta's platforms, specifically Facebook and Instagram, in user posts under Trump's presidency.
This week, Zuckerberg announced that Meta would cease its fact-checking initiatives in the United States, alongside introducing other changes in content moderation policies.
According to Haugen, these changes signal a clear response to the newly elected U.S. President's view that social media should operate with minimal restrictions.
"Mark's announcement essentially means: 'Hey, I've heard the message – we will not interfere in the United States,'" Haugen remarked.
In a statement released Tuesday, Zuckerberg committed to cooperating with Trump's administration against governments worldwide aiming for extensive censorship.
His statement mentioned regions like Latin America, China, and Europe, where countries such as the United Kingdom and the European Union have implemented online safety laws, as reported by The Guardian.
Haugen further expressed her apprehensions concerning the influence of these policy changes on Facebook's safety standards, particularly in the Global South.
Referring to a 2018 report by the United Nations highlighting Facebook's role in propagating hate speech against Rohingya Muslims, subsequently contributing to genocide in Myanmar, she pondered, "What happens if another spiral of hate, similar to Myanmar, emerges?
Will Trump consult Facebook?
Should Facebook be concerned about facing any consequences for failing to manage its operations effectively?"
Surveying Meta's evolutionary policy landscape, the co-chair of Meta’s Oversight Board assured The Guardian that the independent body would safeguard human rights while scrutinizing the adjustment of Meta's contentious content moderation policy.
Michael McConnell, director at the Stanford Constitutional Law Center, noted that following Meta's decision to disassociate from certain fact-checkers and ease regulations on 'hateful conduct,' the Oversight Board remains the sole entity sanctioned to evaluate high-level, disputed content moderation decisions.
He emphasized that this body can issue impactful recommendations aimed at improving the user experience, promoting free speech, and defending human rights for billions globally.
On the same day, Hope Not Hate, a British organization monitoring far-right activities, warned of a projected 'dramatic rise in toxic content' on Meta platforms, potentially facilitating far-right groups in coordinating local activities, akin to the August riots in England.
The organization called on the Labour Party to reinforce online safety laws following Meta's actions, cautioning that "Incendiary online content has repeatedly been shown to have violent effects on our streets."
Further underscoring the potential risks, Maria Ressa, recipient of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for her journalistic work in the Philippines, similarly acknowledged the 'extraordinary dangers' posed to journalism, democracy, and social media users due to Meta's moderation changes.
To this, Haugen added, 'They're creating the worst of all possible worlds.'
Haugen contends that Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, has ostensibly heeded Trump's message on reducing restrictions on online content and expects a diminishing role of intervention by Meta's platforms, specifically Facebook and Instagram, in user posts under Trump's presidency.
This week, Zuckerberg announced that Meta would cease its fact-checking initiatives in the United States, alongside introducing other changes in content moderation policies.
According to Haugen, these changes signal a clear response to the newly elected U.S. President's view that social media should operate with minimal restrictions.
"Mark's announcement essentially means: 'Hey, I've heard the message – we will not interfere in the United States,'" Haugen remarked.
In a statement released Tuesday, Zuckerberg committed to cooperating with Trump's administration against governments worldwide aiming for extensive censorship.
His statement mentioned regions like Latin America, China, and Europe, where countries such as the United Kingdom and the European Union have implemented online safety laws, as reported by The Guardian.
Haugen further expressed her apprehensions concerning the influence of these policy changes on Facebook's safety standards, particularly in the Global South.
Referring to a 2018 report by the United Nations highlighting Facebook's role in propagating hate speech against Rohingya Muslims, subsequently contributing to genocide in Myanmar, she pondered, "What happens if another spiral of hate, similar to Myanmar, emerges?
Will Trump consult Facebook?
Should Facebook be concerned about facing any consequences for failing to manage its operations effectively?"
Surveying Meta's evolutionary policy landscape, the co-chair of Meta’s Oversight Board assured The Guardian that the independent body would safeguard human rights while scrutinizing the adjustment of Meta's contentious content moderation policy.
Michael McConnell, director at the Stanford Constitutional Law Center, noted that following Meta's decision to disassociate from certain fact-checkers and ease regulations on 'hateful conduct,' the Oversight Board remains the sole entity sanctioned to evaluate high-level, disputed content moderation decisions.
He emphasized that this body can issue impactful recommendations aimed at improving the user experience, promoting free speech, and defending human rights for billions globally.
On the same day, Hope Not Hate, a British organization monitoring far-right activities, warned of a projected 'dramatic rise in toxic content' on Meta platforms, potentially facilitating far-right groups in coordinating local activities, akin to the August riots in England.
The organization called on the Labour Party to reinforce online safety laws following Meta's actions, cautioning that "Incendiary online content has repeatedly been shown to have violent effects on our streets."
Further underscoring the potential risks, Maria Ressa, recipient of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for her journalistic work in the Philippines, similarly acknowledged the 'extraordinary dangers' posed to journalism, democracy, and social media users due to Meta's moderation changes.
To this, Haugen added, 'They're creating the worst of all possible worlds.'
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